45. Makenna
Makenna
Malcolm and I step into the hotel ballroom, and I’m immediately underwhelmed.
The people are dressed nicely, but the decorations and general atmosphere are sterile and bland.
I know the purpose of the gala is to raise funds, but I already have so many ideas of things that could have been done differently for likely the same price.
“Are you alright?” Malcolm asks. Obviously my thoughts have been written all over my face. I shiver as the warmth of his hand seeps through the silk of my dress as he snakes his arm around my waist.
“I’m fine. It’s just not what I expected.”
“I was thinking the same. I wondered if it was just me,” Malcolm says. “But obviously, you would know.”
“It’s fine. This is about raising money, so I’m gonna try not to think about it anymore.”
Malcolm threads my arm under his.
“Was the last one like this?” I ask.
“Good job not thinking about it anymore.” He chuckles.
“I don’t know. They only happen every few years and I wasn’t invited to the last one.
Most of these people are donors. Each department has a representative, or two depending on what the money is being raised for.
This event is raising funds to add a small children’s wing to the hospital, so there are two pediatricians here.
Oddly enough, they are both fairly easy to spot. ”
I take a look around the space, and I immediately notice a woman wearing a sky-blue gown covered in white clouds. “Her?”
“Aye. And …?”
I continue searching the room and find a man wearing a gorgeous navy tux and a clown nose. I point to the man, and Malcolm nods.
“They’re really great people.” We approach a table and each pick up a drink. “If you’re feeling generous tonight you can donate. I can see it now. The Makenna Fore Hospital for Children.”
I almost spit out my drink. When I recover, I say, “Oh, yes. That does sound perfect. Are all the big donors unemployed?”
“Probably more than you would think.”
I think he’s joking for a moment, and then I realize, “Oh, they’ve inherited.”
“Aye.” He grins and continues leading us around the room.
We are approached by a woman in a black lace dress with an absurdly plunging neckline. She’s the kind of woman who even a week ago would have intimidated me. Who am I kidding? She still does, a bit.
But I’ve been working hard on believing Malcolm.
On believing what Mai, my mom and others have told me over the years.
And it’s made me question what made me feel so badly about myself to begin with.
I don’t think it was entirely because of Ross.
Though, I can definitely throw a large share of the blame in his direction.
I wondered if there was some deep seeded insecurity I’d gained, not having a dad, but I don’t believe that to be the case.
I often wished for a father, but I knew his absence had nothing to do with me.
I decided, for me, it was more the tiny day-to-day comparisons I make that have compounded into an adulthood of insecurity. It’s what made it so easy to believe Ross when he began belittling me. And what has made it so hard to free myself from his judgments.
As I stand by this woman, I remind myself that it’s not about measuring up. And that the man beside me likes me the way I am.
“Makenna, this is Robin Fraser. Robin, this is my girlfriend, Makenna Fore.”
“Pleasure meeting you, Makenna.”
“Likewise.”
“Robin’s a cardiologist, so we see each other every now and again at the hospital,” Malcolm tells me.
“I’d heard our favourite hospital bachelor was off the market,” Robin says. “Glad to see it’s true.”
I’m wondering what to think about her comment when we are joined by a handsome dark-haired man.
“This is my husband, John,” Robin says, as her husband wraps an arm around her shoulders.
I’m annoyed with myself at how relieved I feel that this beautiful woman Malcolm works with seems happily married. Then I remind myself … he’s here with me because he likes me and wanted to bring me here.
We talk with them for a few minutes, then spend the rest of the time before dinner perusing the silent auction items. Despite not necessarily being invited to the event to contribute funds, Malcolm bids on a stay in someone’s vacation home on the Isle of Man.
“If I win, you’ll come back and go with me?”
I look more closely at his bid. “Of course. And I’m sure you’ll win with that two-hundred-pound bid.”
He chuckles and takes my hand, leading us to the next item.
Dinner was delicious. Malcolm and I both had steak frites, with some sort of green drizzle, whipped sweet potatoes, and broccolini. Honestly, I didn’t know a vegetable could taste so good.
I’m finishing my last bite of dessert—raspberry ice cream with dark chocolate sauce— when the lights dim, and we’re told it's time to dance.
“Ah. The moment I’ve been waiting for,” Malcolm says, with a playful smirk.
“Oh yeah?”
“A reason to hold you close for long periods of time? Oh, aye, I’ve been waiting for it.”
I feel a flush rise up my neck.
“Oh, you’re so bonnie.” Malcolm pats his napkin over his lips, then stands and extends his hand to me. “May I have this dance?”
I slide my hand into his. “You may.”
Malcolm keeps my hand as he leads us to a nice open space on the already crowded dance floor.
I feel like a princess as he spins me and brings me to him, pulling my arms up and around his neck.
He leaves a trail of tiny explosions in the wake of his hands sliding around my waist. I fight a shiver as a hand slides up my spine, and he lays his cheek against mine.
“I love this dress,” he whispers into my ear.
I grin and he places a kiss on my temple.
I can’t believe this man, and his attraction to me. It’s overwhelming.
“I love it, too. Thank you.”
“No need to thank me, lass.” He pulls me impossibly closer, and his lips find my cheek for a slow lingering kiss.
“Malcolm, there are people all around us.”
He relaxes his hold just enough for him to lean back and grin at me. “Nobody’s looking at us.”
“Maybe not yet, but they will if you keep this up.” I laugh.
“I’m only trying to make sure you don’t forget me when you leave in the morning.” He kisses my forehead. “It’s my entire focus for the evening.”
I tip my face up, bringing our lips close. “On with your work then, I suppose.”
After dancing through several songs, we move to the side of the dance floor to take a break. Malcolm said he had to stop touching me for a few, or he’d never be able to stop. And I was barely able to make it off the dance floor after that heart-stopping statement was whispered into my ear.
“You want something to drink?” Malcolm asks as we come to a stop at an empty high-top table.
“Sure.”
“I’ll be right back.” He kisses my hand, and I’m struck by the fact that he’s the only person to ever kiss my hand like that.
As soon as he’s gone, an older woman I met earlier, whose name I can’t remember, sidles up to me.
“I was hoping to get a moment to speak with you alone,” she says, her voice barely audible over the sound of the music.
I smile at her, not quite sure what to say. What in the world could this be about?
“I don’t want to overstep. I know you don’t know me, but I feel strongly that I need to say something.
” She takes a deep breath. “When I was young, I took a trip to Greece. I met a local man while having coffee one morning and continued to see him during my trip. So much so that by the end we were hardly spending a moment apart. It was a whirlwind romance.”
“Oh wow,” I say. I wonder why she wanted to tell me this while Malcolm wasn’t around. Unless … it didn’t end well.
“Yes, it was exciting. When the time came for me to leave, he asked me to stay. When I was unsure, he asked me to marry him. So I did. Things started off well, just like an extension of vacation, but when life became more real, it was clear I’d made a huge mistake.
I spent a miserable year there, all because of a vacation romance that should have been only that. ”
I’m sure I look horrified. She pats me on the arm.
“I’m not saying this will be your story. I’m only saying, when the time comes, go home, go back to real life and take a break from Malcolm. If after the break, you still want to pursue things with him, and he wants the same, then, go for it.”
I nod. “That makes a lot of sense.” And it does. I really don’t feel like this is simply a vacation romance, but I certainly don’t want to make any big decisions while on the high of contact with Malcolm.
“Well, like I said, my story may not be yours. I just wanted to caution you.” She pats my arm. “Best of luck, dear.”
“Thank you.”
I watch her slide away, and when I turn back Malcolm is standing there with our drinks.
“What was that about? Morvan is nice, but she’s a talker. I can’t believe she walked away.”
“She wanted to talk to me about her vacation romance. I’ll tell you about it later. In fact, I want us to talk about it.”
“Okay. How about one more dance after we finish our drinks, then I’d love to just be with you for a bit.”
“Perfect.”
As we watch the dance floor and finish our drinks, I make plans to slip into the bathroom after our dance and call Mai. I want to make sure I’m not about to make a big mistake.