Happy Birthday Lizzie

Part 14

The games were an absolute blast. I won our little mini race in the go-carts and she destroyed me in bowling. I've never laughed so hard. We went to the classy little restaurant for lunch. We were seated by the window. "Maybe a light lunch. We need room for dinner and dessert."

We had so much fun. I was very much enjoying my birthday and I told him so. We sat down at the restaurant and he suggested eating light. I looked over the menu and I was surprised by the variety. "Do you want to split an order of shredded chicken nachos?"

"Sure. That sounds good. What would you like to drink?" I twisted my hands under the table.

"Iced tea with lemon please." He was trying to hide it, but he seemed awfully nervous. "I reached my hand across the table. "Everything okay?"

"Yup. Should be good. Did you have fun?"

"I had so much fun. I love that we can go out and do things like this. I always have the best time with you."

"Me too." I chuckled. "I'm not very good a bowling." I was going for idle chit-chat to calm my nerves. I ordered our food and drinks and waited for a response to my comment about bowling.

"It's okay. It takes practice. You are a much better go-cart driver than I am." I bit my lip.

"I like to drive fast." I looked at her. "You got to stop doing that. Can you look in your purse for me?" I needed to get this part over with. I was getting too nervous and anxious. "I put something in there this morning."

"Ummm. Okay." I unzipped my purse and found a smallish box wrapped in Sunday Comics. It was about 3 inches by 3 inches and a little under an inch tall. I gasped, pulled it out, and put it on the table. "I thought my gift was back in our room."

"One of them is." I smile and fidgeted a little more. "I think you should wait until our food gets here but I'm getting very anxious. I'm not sure how much more I can take."

I reached for his hand across the table. "I am sure I will love it. I can open it if you want me to."

I get really squirrelly in public when she touches me. I won't pull away or even move away but it always causes me to look around. I hate that about me. I was anxious too and that was pushing toward anxiety. I took several deeps breaths and forced myself to focus on her eyes. "I'mma need you to open it. I can't wait. But you need to know, that gift cost less than three dollars. I think the box cost me more than what is inside it." I said it all in one breath which for a normal person might not have been too easy. The only problem was it came out a little on the high pitched side for me and way too fast. I shrugged. "Please open it and if you like it kiss the hell out of me later when we're alone again."

I pulled my hand back because I needed both, and carefully unwrapped the box. I studied it for a minute before slowly removing the top. I swear I wasn't trying to torture him. I almost dropped the box and I gasped. Tears immediately filled my eyes. Sitting in the box on a square of cotton, was a simple, silver, house key. I assumed it was the key to his apartment. I looked across the table to meet his eyes. "Is this what I think it is?"

I was beyond the ability to speak. I just nodded and chewed on my mustache while tugging at my beard a bit. "It is." I finally managed after feeling my eyes fill up with tears too. I hadn't expected such an emotional response from her. I thought it was just a house key.

This was special in my eyes. He was giving me access to his personal space, basically anytime I wanted. This was a big step for him. I know we had just been talking about this, but I wasn't expecting this. I sniffed and blew my nose. "Thank you. This is a big step. I love it."

I smiled, then I really smiled and relaxed completely. She was happy with the first ever birthday gift I had given her. "I'm glad you like it." Our food arrived right in the middle of everything but it allowed a good break. We ate and talked and laughed some more. "Want to go shopping now or wander around town?"

"I would love to go shopping. What are we shopping for?"

"Dress clothes for us both. We're going out tonight for a dinner that requires a jacket and a dinner dress. I guess we'll need shoes too." I laughed at myself. "I forgot to bring mine."

"Oh, okay. I packed a little black dress, but I do love shopping for new clothes." I gathered my purse and put my present back in it. "Ready when you are."

I paid the bill and we headed out. I was happy and excited. I walked as close to her as I could without actually touching her. I opened the door for her and touched the back of her hand once we were outside. "I love you. Happy Birthday."

"Thank you. I love you too. Are we alone yet?" I was ready to kiss the hell out of him, but the parking lot was still too public.

"Um no, sorry not yet. It's going to have to wait just a little while. There is a small shopping mall with some pretty nice little private shops in it just up the way a bit. There's a park with walking trails and a pond the other way." I touched the back of her hand again and smiled. I think there some antique type places that way. Let's get to the car and you can decide which way we go. We have four hours before our reservation."