I figure he’s going to lead me to the car, but he doesn’t. He leads me up a small path to the flat spot where we were shooting earlier. When we reach the top, I stop and gasp.
It’s nothing special. It’s not even something amazing. But what it is makes my heart crack into tiny, happy pieces.
He’s gotten an old table and two chairs, and thrown a white sheet over them. There are candles, which look like they might have come from Lynn’s house, and flowers that have been picked from the surrounding bushes. It doesn’t matter. It doesn’t matter, because it’s the most amazing thing someone has ever done for me.
“Raide,” I breathe.
“It’s as romantic as I come, lady.”
“It’s perfect.”
We walk over to the table, and there are plates covered with some sort of foil. Raide pulls my chair out and I sit, then he unwraps my dinner and I laugh out loud. A burger, fries, and a shake.
“This is supercool, Raide.”
He grins down at me and sits in his seat. “Don’t do romantic, but I can give you a piece of me.”
“Burgers?” I smile.
“Yeah, baby, burgers. And fries. And shakes. And fresh-picked flowers. A candle that I stole from Benny’s cabin.”
I laugh softly. “I love it.”
He tilts his head to the side and studies me. “Figured you would.”
We eat in silence, but our eyes remain locked the entire time. When we’re finished, Raide stands and offers me his hand. “Dance?”
“You said you don’t dance.”
His lips quirk. “Do you want romance or not, lady?”
I smile slyly, but then shake my head, confused. “But there’s no music.”
“There doesn’t need to be music for two people to move together and make somethin’ special.”
God.
He’s perfect.
I take his hand and we stand. He pulls me close, resting a hand on my hip while the other clutches mine, then we move across the open field, swaying to the invisible music. He’s right—there doesn’t need to be sound, because in this moment, what Raide and I are creating outweighs everything else beautiful in my life.
“Raide?” I whisper, pressing my cheek to his chest.
“Yeah, lady?”
“I wish we never had to leave.”
He sighs. “Feelin’ you.”
We sway some more, then Raide lets me go and walks to the table. He lifts the sheet and pulls out an old picnic rug. “Best sunset from up here.”
He lays it out on the ground and we both sit on it. I tuck my knees up to my chest and stare out at the sun that’s slowly beginning to set. Birds are quieting down, trees are softly swaying, and there’s nothing around for miles but Raide and me. He tucks me into his side and I hook my fingers through his, staring out at the gorgeous scene in front of me.
“Tell me about your family, Raide,” I whisper.
“Not much to tell.”
“Sure there is.”
He’s silent a moment, then he tells me the story. “My dad was a jerk. From day one, he was always drinkin’ or high. He got locked away when I was old enough to care. He left my mom alone with Kelly and me. She was never the best mom, but there were times I think she wanted to be. She couldn’t take it, and when I hit fourteen, she ran. I still don’t know where she ran to, but it crushed Kelly.”
“It would,” I say softly. “No one deserves to lose both their parents.”
“The funny thing is, I was angrier at him. I mean, if he was a decent man and a good husband and father, he might not have been put away and Mom might not have decided to pack it all up and run. It was obviously too hard for her.”
I don’t entirely agree. I think as a mom, it’s your job to fight no matter what for your children, but I’m not about to drop that on Raide. He’s got no one left, and I don’t pretend to know how horrible that must feel.
“Were there any good foster families?”
“Yeah,” he says, his tone fond. “When we were across the road from Benny, life was good then.”
“Do you think you’ll ever see your mom again?”
He shrugs. “No, and I don’t really want to. What would I say to her?”
“Does she know about Kelly?”
“I honestly don’t know.”
“Do you think it would upset her?”
He’s silent a minute, and I wonder if my question is too invasive. He finally answers. “Yeah, funnily enough, I really think it would. I don’t think she wanted to be a poor mother. I think she just married the wrong man.”
“Maybe.”
“You don’t think so?”
I don’t answer.
“You won’t offend me, Grace.”
I sigh. “I guess … I just couldn’t ever see myself abandoning my children. No matter what, I just couldn’t do it, but I’ve never been in her situation either. Maybe things are different.”
“No,” he murmurs. “You’re right. She should have fought harder. You should always fight for what you love.”
Time for a subject change. “It’s really beautiful up here.”