14. Malcolm
Malcolm
“So much for protect yourself, she’s leaving ,” I mutter to myself as I walk from the stairs to the kitchen to grab a banana.
Here I am saying she was made for this place.
Was she made for this place? I don’t know, I only wanted to plant the idea that she might be.
I need to wind my neck in. If she comes to that conclusion, it doesn't need to be because I’ve influenced her. I barely know her.
But she certainly didny help matters by talking about exposing her bits and blushing like a rose. I’ve seen a lot of bodies in my years of being a doctor, but the thought of hers was not very clinical.
“Aghh.” I peel the banana a little too aggressively and half of it falls to the floor. “Get yourself together, man.”
A few minutes later Makenna takes the turn from the staircase, a proud grin on her face. My heart studders at the sight.
“I walked down the stairs like I normally would. Aren’t you so proud?”
“I knew I learned the arts of healing magic for a good reason.”
Makenna rolled her eyes at my bad joke and smiled. “Way to go, wizard.”
“I prefer Doctor Wizard.”
This catches her off guard and she laughs. “I’m afraid you’ve just given yourself a fantastic nickname.”
“Ach. Can’t be worse than what my sisters sometimes call me.”
She raises her eyebrows, highly interested. “And that is?”
“’Fraid I can’t tell you that. Maybe one day.”
“One day? I won’t be here forever, Malcolm. You’ll just have to go ahead and tell me.”
She won’t be here forever. That was the reminder I needed. “Still, I think I’ll hold on to it.” There’s no chance I’ll tell her they still call me Brother Pee Breeks on occasion. That’s more something you share after a fifth anniversary.
“Alright.” She looks at me with exaggerated disappointment, then drops it and smiles. “Ready to go outside?”
I nod, pull a jacket from a peg by the door, and hand it to her.
“It’s July.”
“It’s chilly out there in the shade. Or I imagine it might feel chilly to you.”
She slides on the jacket, taking my word for it. “I much prefer being cold to being hot. Summer in Georgia is the worst. I mean, obviously not the literal worst … I just try to avoid being outside. At all costs.”
“Did you never do an outdoor summer wedding?”
“Nope. I always had plenty of work and would pass on those. My boss would usually handle them. Maybe that’s why I got fired.
She was tired of doing sweaty weddings as people’s second choice.
” She puts her hand over her mouth as she steps out the back door.
“I’m sorry that makes me sound so conceited. ”
“Nah. It didny. You can’t help it if you were better at your job than your boss.
” I close the door behind us and join Makenna on the same path we’d walked yesterday.
I offer her my arm, just like yesterday, and she takes it.
Her eyes in the sunshine remind me of the ocean sparkling on a bright summer day. I’ve got to quit noticing these things.
She’s just so noticeable.
“I saw a chess set folded up on your bookshelf. Could we play after we walk? I’m assuming you play, since you have a set.”
“Oh, aye. My dad taught us all, though Fiona and I are the only ones who still enjoy playing. We practice every time she comes and visits, just so we can beat Da.”
She grins over at me, and I’m glad she’s tall. I don’t have to strain my neck to see her when she’s close.
“Do you ever beat him?”
“Not even once.”
She bursts out laughing. “I thought doctors were supposed to be smart.”
“Not me. That’s why I have to use magic.” I smile my biggest smile and feel her laughing against me. She’s intoxicating, and it makes me feel close to throwing caution to the wind.
“Couldn’t you just use your magic to beat your dad at chess?”
“I could, but that feels like cheating, ya know?”
“A wizard with integrity." Makenna grins then stops, and lifts her face to the sun, closing her eyes. With her so close, I can’t help but look at her dark lashes fanning out over her creamy cheeks and her pink, highly kissable lips.
I look away just in time for her to open her eyes and not find me creepily staring.
“Could we play at the table out here? It feels so nice out. I’ll even let you use your magic.”
“Oh aye? You think you can beat me even with my magic?” I ask, eyebrows raised. She is so much fun.
“Oh aye.” The sparkle in her eyes when she mimics me sends me over the edge.
I’m in trouble.
As it turns out, Makenna is a master chess player. She beat me twice in the span of thirty minutes. If I can get her to stay around long enough, she has to play my da. I could probably sell tickets to such a match.
I begin packing up the set after my second loss.
“Had enough?” she teases.
“For sure, yes. My ego couldn’t take another hit so soon. You’re incredible. Who taught you?”
“My mom. She and I played a lot growing up. And I think I have a gift for strategy.”
“That’s probably part of why you’re such a good wedding planner.”
She cocks her head to the side, considering. “You’re probably right. I’ve never thought of it like that.”
I stand, taking the set in one hand and offering Makenna my other. “Do you wanna watch the rest of that movie? Then maybe we can go out and get some lunch. Walk around a bit.”
“Sounds great.”
As soon as we settle onto the couch my phone buzzes in my pocket.
CAIT
I saw a flyer for that band you like, and it made me miss you. How’ve you been?
It’s been months since I’ve heard from my former fiancée. And she messages me now? The pain of her leaving strikes me again, like scratching a barely healed wound. I can’t do that again. I can’t get attached to someone who will ultimately leave.
I look over at Makenna who’s fully immersed in the movie. I want to help her, and show her around, but I can’t let things go any further than that. I can already tell losing her, if I got any closer, has the potential to hurt more than the loss of Cait ever did.
There’s no chance I’m responding. I delete the message and turn my attention back to Alexander Henry’s face on the telly.