“Okay, tell me where we’re going.”
“No.”
She frowns as she fastens her seatbelt and then props her fist on the opposite hand. “Best two out of three.”
I raise a brow. “What are we playing for?”
“Whether you’ll tell me where we’re going.”
I laugh, shake my head, and start the car. “Absolutely not. Besides, it won’t take long to get there.”
She sighs, links her fingers with mine, and sits back in the leather seat. My GPS leads me to the right place, just ten minutes from the condo.
I park, walk around the car to open the passenger door for Aubrey, and escort her to the theater.
“We’re going to see a movie?”
I grin down at her and lean in to talk to the woman at the ticket counter.
“We’re ready for you,” she says with a wink. “Right this way.”
“You didn’t pay,” Aubrey says, and we follow the young woman into the lobby.
“You’ll be in theater one, just around the corner.”
“Thank you.”
“No one else is here,” Aubrey whispers to me, looking around the empty lobby. “It’s creepy.”
“I rented it out,” I inform her.
“All six screens?” she asks with wide eyes.
“Yeah. I wanted the place to ourselves. Now, do you want popcorn?”
“What kind of a question is that?” But before I can lead her to the concessions counter, she pulls me down for a kiss. “Thank you.”
“We haven’t even seen the movie yet.”
“It’s already the best date I’ve ever been on.”
It’s these little moments, the sweet things she says, that soften my heart. She’s genuinely grateful. I’ve never seen her scoff.
And she has a heart of gold.
“Same here, sweetheart. Now, do you want butter on your popcorn?”
“Of course. And I want Milk Duds. And a Coke. When it comes to the movies, I’m a six-year-old.”
I laugh and nod at the young man behind the counter. “Me, too. I want a large popcorn and a water.”
“No sugar?” she asks.
“I’ll eat one of your Milk Duds.”
“No.” She shakes her head matter-of-factly. “No, you won’t. I don’t share the duds.”
I grin and then point at the M&Ms. “Better include those, then.”
With loaded down arms, we walk into the empty theater and choose seats in the dead-center of the room.
“It’s so quiet,” she says with a smile. “And so weird.”
“But fun weird, right?”
“Definitely fun,” she agrees and shoves some popcorn into her mouth.
A man pops his head around the wall that leads to the lobby. “Are you ready, sir?”
“We’re ready. Thank you.”
“It’s our pleasure. Enjoy.”
“Wow,” she breathes. “This is really fancy.”
The lights go down, and the movie starts. My favorite film of all time.
To Kill a Mockingbird.
“Oh my gosh.” She gasps and smiles up at me. “Okay, this is extra fun. It’s your favorite, and you brought me to the theater to see it.”
There’s that delight again, the kind that makes me feel like puffing up my chest.
“Here’s hoping you don’t hate it,” I say and take the kernel of popcorn she offers me.
* * * *
“You rented out the entire theater?” Rina asks. “Like, the whole thing?”
“The whole thing,” Aubrey confirms. We’re having dinner the following night with my best friend and her husband.
“And what did you think of the movie?” Ben asks and passes a platter of steamed broccoli.
“It’s so good. And so…” She pauses and slips a bite of chicken into her pouty mouth. “Good,” she says again.
“Have you ever seen it in the theater before this?” Rina asks me.
“No,” I reply. “And it was like seeing it again for the first time. So well done.”
“It sounds like you two are having fun together,” Rina says. “Zane tells me you’re a teacher?”
“First grade,” Aubrey confirms. “And Zane told me that you run a pantry? I’d love to help with that. Volunteer.”
“I’d love the help,” Rina says with a smile. “I’m running low on supplies again, but I have some things coming in soon. I’ll need help with organization.”
“I’m your girl,” Aubrey replies.
“I could really use an introduction to someone at your school,” Rina continues. “I’ve tried to get in there in the past, but I’m always shut down.”
“What? Why?” I scowl at her. “Shouldn’t they take the help gratefully?”
“Some schools claim they have it under control on their own,” Rina says with a shrug. “I’m not always welcomed with open arms.”
“I can introduce you to the principal,” Aubrey says. “I know there are kids who could use your help. A full third of my students showed up without any of the supplies on the list that went out to their parents. Thank goodness I stocked up on things before the first day of school.”
“Wait, you bought the supplies out of your own pocket?” Ben asks.
“Of course. Not all the kids have parents who can afford the supplies. Honestly, some don’t care at all. There are others who buy more than needed to help ease the burden, but I usually end up buying enough for about eight students and then replenishing throughout the year.”