“Please don’t tell me you’ve decided the carousel wasn’t enough after all,” Louisa says. “I already checked it off the list, so you can’t take it back now.”
I shoot her a wry look. “Do you really think I’d do that to you?”
A begrudging hum of acknowledgment is the only answer I get.
We’re back at Bellevue Village. It’s past closing time, so the parking lot is nearly empty and the front gates, which are usually bustling with people coming and going, are deserted. A lone figure waits for us, tossing a set of keys from one hand to the other.
“Hi, Meredith,” Louisa calls. “You’re in on tonight’s mystery outing too?”
“I am. I’m actually envious of this one. I’d ask to tag along, but a third wheel would definitely spoil the romance.”
Louisa’s eyebrows fly up at the mention of romance. Meredith and I are only friendly acquaintances, so it’s natural for her to assume Louisa and I are a couple. I don’t bother correcting her.
I can feel Louisa’s curious gaze on me as Meredith continues. “Hugh said you know how everything inside the building works. Here are the keys and a few phone numbers you might need. A pair of security guards make the rounds through the night and they know you’re here. Their numbers are on there, and if you need anything else, you can call me or Hugh anytime.”
We thank Meredith and say our goodbyes.
“I’ll give you one hint about our destination,” I tell Louisa as we set off. “We’re heading for the events center, so it’s a bit of a hike.” We all came to the events center last month for a ’90s roller skating party that Wesley was DJing. “Hugh is working on reconfiguring some things to build an access road and a parking lot so people don’t have to walk through the entire Village if their destination is on the far side.”
“I never realized how huge this place really is,” she says, readjusting her duffle bag on her shoulder. I offered to carry it when we got out of the car, but she assured me it doesn’t weigh much.
“It’s quite the enterprise. Hugh and Ivy have turned it into a must-see attraction.”
“Sylvie told me they had a record-breaking number of visitors this holiday season, and that people came from all over the country and even around the world.” Her eyes are bright as she looks around at the darkened shops and eateries. “If I get a job here, I know it won’t be in the hustle and bustle of the Village itself, but the prospect of getting to be part of this in some way is exciting.”
“I know what you mean. I’m part of community relations for the MacKinnon Group, so I work directly with a lot of different people. It’s amazing to see the reach the group has and how many lives are touched by the work we do.”
We veer off one of the main streets of the Village to a short path that leads to the events center. I use the excuse of our close proximity to rest my hand on the small of Louisa’s back. She peers up at me with a shy smile that nearly turns me inside out.
“Here we are,” I say, guiding us around to the side of the building. I use the keys Meredith gave me to unlock the door and let us inside. When I was here earlier to set up, I left a battery-powered camping lantern turned on in the main room as a guide so I wouldn’t have to turn on all the overhead lights.
“You’re quiet,” I say as we make our way down the hall. “What are you thinking?”
“Well, Evie has been really into true crime stuff lately and she’s always got some podcast or other going whenever we’re in the car together. Not gonna lie, I’m kinda wondering if you’ve brought me here to murder me or…or, I don’t know, harvest my organs for black market purposes or something.”
“Hmm. I suppose I did just tell you how well-connected Hugh is…” I say slowly, as if I’m mulling it over. The way her head snaps in my direction dissolves any chance I had of keeping a straight face.
She laughs along with me. “So I don’t need to be on the lookout for sharp objects or bathtubs full of ice?”
“Consider yourself safe with me, internal organs and all.”
I expect her to laugh again, but she just smiles softly, her gaze lingering on my face before turning forward once more as we enter the main room of the event hall.
“What are you thinking now?” I ask, watching her face as she takes in the cozy arrangement of blankets and pillows, and the cooler in the middle of the room. “Any guesses about why we’re here?”
“When you said we’d be out all night and to pack a bag, I wondered if we were going to cross off ‘sleep under the stars’ from my list. Now that we’re here, I have no clue what you’re up to.”
I didn’t expect her to figure it out and I’m pleased she hasn’t. I take her hand and lead her to the pile of blankets in the center of the room. “All will be revealed shortly. Why don’t you make yourself comfortable in our little nest here, and I’ll be right back.”
I flick on one of the other nearby camping lanterns and then slip into a back room to make sure everything is set up. When I return, Louisa has kicked off her shoes and is sitting with one cushion propped behind her back and another in her lap.
“This is surprisingly comfortable,” she says.
“There are mats under the blankets,” I explain. “I also brought camp chairs we can set up if we get tired of sitting on the floor.”
“Wow, you thought of everything, Fergus. Again.”
“And the night’s just getting started.”
For some reason, my words make her blush. Maybe it’s sinking in that we’re alone and I’ve asked her to put her trust in me and spend the night with me without sharing any details up front. I’m aware of what a big deal that is for Louisa, and I’m determined to make this a night she’ll never forget.