“What?” he asked curiously.
“Has anyone ever told you how calming you are?” We began making our way outside.
“Maybe.” His smile was gone now and he sounded sad even.
“Sorry, did I say something—”
“No,” he cut me off. “Connie used to say that too, but not in the most positive way. She called me boring when we broke up.”
“Bitch!” I exclaimed loudly.
Alex looked at me and shrugged. “Maybe she was right. Maybe I’ve got a bit old and boring over the years?” We were outside now and found ourselves standing at the top of an old concrete staircase that crept down to the lawn below.
“Oh, please. You set fires on beaches and run away from the police.” I nudged him with my elbow. “Connie doesn’t know what she’s talking about.”
“Honestly, I’ve never done anything like that before until I met you,” he said.
“I must be a bad influence,” I chuckled.
“Or a good one.” He was smiling again, and then gave me a tiny, playful wink with those big gray eyes. “I think you might be the exact prescription that I need in my life right now, Val.”
I laughed. “Are you comparing me to drugs?”
“I suppose I am.” We walked down the staircase like the lord and lady of the manor.
“I’m not sure whether that’s a compliment,” I said.
Alex stopped walking and turned to face me. “It was meant as one,” he said seriously.
“Well, thanks,” I replied. “I think you might be exactly what I need right now too.”
He smiled. “Then it’s a good thing we found each other, isn’t it?”
“My friend Stormy would call it fate,” I commented as we started walking again.
“I don’t believe in fate,” he said.
“What do you believe in then?” I asked as we meandered through the thick, overgrown garden.
“Science,” he said picking a leaf from a tree.
“How boring of you,” I teased as we found ourselves walking on a long, wide path. The top of a church steeple was just visible from behind a large tree and we headed in the direction of what soon turned out to be a stone chapel. It looked so unassuming from the outside. So small. Nothing over the top or fancy. But the inside told a totally different story.
It was huge. The outside was deceptive, completely concealing its grand interior. The floor was covered in shiny black and white tiles and a huge vaulted ceiling rose up above us. It was spectacular.
“I don’t know when last I went to church,” I whispered after our moment of silent awe.
“Me neither,” Alex said. He sat down on one of the many pews and I sat next to him.
“What kind of wedding did you want to have?” I suddenly asked.
“Not a church wedding. I’ve always liked the idea of a very small wedding. Close friends and family, maybe in a forest, or a beach somewhere. Nothing fancy. Simple. Maybe even in an old museum.”
“Sounds nice,” I said.
“But I guess that won’t be happening anytime soon for me.” He sounded deflated.
“Me neither,” I admitted. “Every single one of my friends is either married, or about to get married. I’m the last single one and I’m no spring chicken anymore either.”
