Marie didn’t care how long it took. The paperwork was a mere formality.
She already had her daughter, and Ellen had her mother.
Nothing would ever come between them again.
Chapter 31
“Tell me where we’re going,” Mark said, wheeling his chair alongside Barbie on 4th Avenue. They’d left Seattle Fitness and, after some pestering on her part, Mark had agreed to join her. She refused to allow his mood to taint this lovely May afternoon. The sun was shining, and she was in love. Mark loved her, too, although he wasn’t ready to admit it yet.
“It’s a secret. But we’re going to meet a couple of my friends first,” she explained. He knew that and had already agreed. “Stop acting so cranky.”
He was quiet for a moment. “You might not have noticed, but I don’t do well with most people.”
“I promise you’ll like Anne Marie and Ellen.”
“What makes you so sure?”
“Mark, please, we’ve been through this.” She found it difficult to hold back a smile.
“You cheated,” Mark grumbled. “You lured me here under false pretenses, telling me you had a surprise for me.”
“I do have a surprise for you,” she said, ignoring his protests. “Besides, a deal is a deal.”
Mark slowed his pace. “I might be in a wheelchair, but…”
“A wheelchair doesn’t have anything to do with this.” They’d struck a bargain, and she was going to ensure he kept his part of it. She’d promised him dinner and an evening for just the two of them—after he’d met her friends. She hadn’t told him yet that dinner would be at her house.
“You don’t play fair,” he muttered.
“Doesn’t matter. You agreed.”
“Might I remind you that you had your legs wrapped around my waist at the time?”
“Oh, did I?” She loved being in the pool with Mark, especially when they had the entire area to themselves. It was never more than ten or fifteen minutes at the end of a session, and it didn’t always happen. But when it did…The water seemed to free him, allowing him to show his need for her in ways he never would while sitting in his chair. They played in the water, teased and kissed and chased each other. Gradually, the barriers Mark had erected against her, against the world, were coming down.
“These are two of your gal pals who also have a list of Twenty Wishes, right?”
“Right. Anne Marie has a list and I believe Ellen’s got one, as well.”
Mark still wasn’t satisfied. “But why do I have to meet them?”
She sighed. “Do you need a reason for everything?”
“Well, yes, I do,” he said with a chuckle. “That’s just how I am.”
“I don’t understand why you’re making such a fuss.”
“Okay, okay, but at least tell me where we’re going now.”
“If you must know,” she said, and smiled down at him, “we’re meeting them at a Burger King.” She’d been looking forward to introducing him to Anne Marie for quite a while.
He frowned. “I don’t eat fast food.”
Barbie knew Mark was a real stickler about his diet. For one thing, he had to be careful about his weight.
“We aren’t eating there. I’m making dinner at my place.”
Mark’s frown deepened. “I can’t get into your house,” he muttered.
“Mark,” she said, coming to a halt. “Would I invite you if you couldn’t get your wheelchair into my home?”
He studied her closely. “You have a ramp?”
She nodded.
His eyes revealed his shock. “You’re serious about us. You must be, if you’re going to all this trouble.”
“Are you finished arguing with me now?” She started walking again and had gone several feet before she realized he hadn’t budged. “Are you coming or not?”
Slowly, he wheeled toward her. “You really know how to get to a guy.”
“I’m happy you think so.” The joy that coursed through her was enough to send her dancing through the streets.
When they reached the Burger King restaurant, Barbie held open the door. As soon as they were inside, Ellen skipped toward her. “Barbie! Barbie—” She stopped abruptly when she saw Mark.
“Ellen, this is my friend Mark.”
“Hello,” Ellen said and solemnly held out her hand, which Mark shook. “I saw you before.”
“Did you? Where?”
“At the St. Patrick’s Day party in Freeway Park.”
“Did I see you?”
Ellen shrugged. “You were watching Barbie.”
That wasn’t the way Barbie remembered it. “You were?”
“You didn’t even watch the singers,” Ellen elaborated, studying Mark. “The whole show, all you did was look at Barbie.”
Mark shifted uncomfortably and was saved from having to respond by Anne Marie who’d just joined them.
“You must be Mark,” she said. “Barbie’s told me about you.”
“Has she really?” He twisted around to stare up at her.
“She’s only said the most flattering things,” Anne Marie told him with a grin.
True, Barbie thought; she hadn’t made a secret of how she felt about Mark.
“We’re just finishing our meal.” Anne Marie led them to the table littered with the remains of their dinner. They’d evidently ordered hamburgers and fries.
“Anne Marie and I signed up for karate lessons,” Ellen explained, her excitement unmistakable.
“Karate?” Barbie repeated. “How come?”
“It’s on my list.”
“And I decided I might as well join her,” Anne Marie said.
“We already had one lesson. We’re going to the karate place right after we have our drinks.” She pointed at a carton of chocolate milk.
“Karate, huh? I wouldn’t want to meet either of you alone in a dark alley,” Mark teased. “I can picture it now.
