Page 62 of My Dearest Mackenzie

I was about to ask what kind of more when Mack’s phone buzzed, interrupting the moment. I wasn’t sure if it was a blessing or a curse.

“One sec,” he said. “It’s Corey. And I want to continue the more talk, but I have to hear what he needs.”

I took advantage of him answering the call and went to the bathroom before padding toward the kitchen. Someone had come in during the wee hours and set up coffee service and laid out a fruit platter, and I wondered what Mack’s childhood was like when it came to holiday mornings. Did his dad spend time with him? Certainly, Milly was a cornerstone. I smiled to no one. At least he’d had my Paps’s Rosie…

Pouring a cup of coffee, I heard Mack strolling in while on the phone.

“Yes. That’s fine. Sydney can handle all this, and tell the tech department to attach the discount to every cart. We don’t want any unnecessary complaints,” he said, before he disconnected the call.

I walked toward the panoramic window in the corner of the living space and took in the blue sky, betting it was brisk and cold despite the sunny day.

“Gorgeous,” Mack whispered, his arm snaking around my middle.

“It is.”

“I meant you. In my place. I’d like more, you know?”

Turning, I asked, “Everything okay? With work?” It was a feeble attempt at distracting Mack.

“Yes. There was a tech error with the website, and it’s being resolved. Hopefully, all smooth sailing from here…but none of it matters. Don’t try and derail me…”

“What? Me?” I feigned innocence, but he wasn’t buying it.

Mack continued to gaze into my eyes. “When you’re ready, we’ll talk about it. But know this—I’ll only wait so long for you to say you’re ready to chat.”

I ran my hand over his bare chest, hoping he’d say we should go back to bed—the ultimate distraction.

“I think this corner would be a perfect place for a tree and, ironically, tonight is the start of Hanukkah. It’s one of those years where the Jewish holidays are early,” was what I got instead.

I nodded, knowing the Jewish calendar didn’t always sync up with ours. “I don’t know how it works, but your holidays fall on different days every year.”

“Something along the lines of the Jewish calendar following the moon.”

We stood like that, my hand on his chest, his lips meeting the top of my head, chatting by the window. It was commonplace and special in equal measure.

“What do you think about a tree in this space? Is it a good place?” he asked.

“Are you rhyming on purpose?” I couldn’t help but tease. I had no idea where this conversation was heading.

“No, I am most certainly not rhyming on purpose. I am waiting to hear your opinion.”

My head tipped back and I peeked to the side to look at the spot he was mentioning. “What I want to know is what does a tree have to do with the first night of Hanukkah?”

Mack let out a laugh and his breath ghosted my cheek. “Well, we were about to talk about more, and you’re making me wait,” he said while taking my hand in his, “so I decided how about we start by making room for both of our traditions. Then we can talk about making a place here for you…in a steadier fashion. I know you love your apartment and it’s all yours and I don’t want to diminish that.”

“I don’t want to wash away your traditions or replace them. I don’t want to disrespect what you believe in or Milly, or what she stood for…” I interrupted.

“Shhh,” he said, bringing an index finger to my lips. “We are not diminishing anything. Milly believed in love conquers all, and I know you would never strip me of my past, and I wouldn’t do that to you.”

He waited for a response, weaving our hands together, but I was in a trance, stuck on his love conquers all statement.

Mack took it upon himself to bring me back to the moment. “A tree it is! First comes the merging of customs and traditions we grew up with—”

“Then comes marriage…” I interrupted, foolishly.

“And a baby in a carriage.”

He spoke the words, but it was my fault. I’d led with the old grade-school taunt, and he’d finished it. Yet as soon as he said it I felt the blow.

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