One Winter Weekend

Chapter 5

Chapter 5

W hile we’d sat chatting on the grass, it had gradually darkened into early evening.

The sky was still a light pink from the setting sun, but also dark blue from the oncoming night. But right then, as if out of nowhere and without ceremony, some of the nearby trees lit up.

Sitting up immediately I gasped.

“That’s incredible … so beautiful.”

I looked around and it seemed like the entire park came to life with twinkling lights.

The bare trees all around were decorated with delicate hanging bulb strands. It was so beautiful it almost brought me to tears.

I took it all in, absorbing the magic.

Now it truly felt like Christmas.

I looked at Blake, but he wasn’t looking at the lights, he was looking at me. His face was lit from the glow of the nearby trees and I got the feeling he had been watching my reaction the entire time.

“I can’t believe this is real,” I said.

“Me neither,” he replied gently, and again I got the feeling he wasn’t talking about the lights.

Then he looked me directly in the eye and leaned in a little closer.

“Madeline, I don’t normally do this. Meet a stranger on the steps and take off and spend an afternoon with them. It’s been really special, and unusual for me. I just thought I should say something to give you a little insight as to who I am. It’s as if I can’t separate myself from you…”

My eyes got wide. I had never had a man be so forthright with me. To just put his cards on the table like that. Things like this just didn’t happen. At least, not outside of the movies.

Was this guy playing games with me? Did he have something else in mind? Was that statement about not wanting to separate from me just a ploy to get me back to his place or something?

My warmed heart was beginning to turn a little cooler and now I felt very naive.

“I’ve said too much, I can tell I’ve made you uncomfortable,” he said.

Yet, he had done nothing to make me not trust him, I realised. I was the one planting these negative thoughts in my head. I had only just met him and I was already assuming the worst. The break-up had done a number on me. The experience of being cheated on had scared me more than I had known. I willed myself to stop all the chatter in my head and to just stay in the moment.

“No, I’m fine. I’m sorry, I’m just not used to such honesty,” I admitted.

“Right, it was a bit too much. I’m sorry I don’t know where that came from.”

The awkwardness was broken and everything was well again.

“Let’s take a closer look,” I said as I stood up. I made my way to the trees and the closer I got the more I realised just how many tiny lights there were.

They twinkled and glowed in the fading daylight. Now, it was beginning to look and feel a lot more like A New York Christmas.

This was that festive magic I had expected from the city. It was all so lovely. My feelings of paranoia and lack of trust began to melt away. The season had that effect on people I supposed.

It made them softer, more trusting, and more open. It was affecting me in that way now. The lights made Blake’s eyes now seem a crystal watery grey. Like the sea during a storm.

“I want to show you more; more of the city’s festivity, if you’ll let me,” he said.

“I would love that.”

He arched his elbow out and I duly wrapped my arm under his. He then led me down the path.

“Where are we going now?”

“It’s a surprise. But I think you will like it.”

I grinned. This guy seemed to like surprising me, and I loved being surprised.

I wondered what next he had in store.