“I think it sounds like fun. And I think you can see the Aurora from parts of Japan, so maybe it could be a two birds with one stone trip.” Arthur pointed out. “I’d love to see where you grew up. There doesn’t need to be science museums trips, we have those here. The would be about seeing all the memories that shaped you, and what they’ve grown into. And that’s all it needs to be.”
He glanced at her out of the side of his eye. If she thought what she said was sappy, this would take the cake.
“Vi, you’re really important to us, and getting to know you better through knowing Japan? I don’t think Lewis or I could think of a better use of our time. We don’t need special outings for our interests, because what could be more interesting than you?”
Ack, that can be taken the wrong way. Divert! Divert!
“And Lewis doesn’t have any childhood memories of his own, you know? So sharing yours with him…it would be really special. Giving a piece of yourself to him to help fill that gap.”
Despite the increasing bite of the air now that the sun had mostly set, Vivi’s face was warm and rosy. Anyone else would have sounded overwrought and corny but– Arthur said it all with such sincerity that it made her heart trip over itself.
“Geez–!” she laughed– maybe a little breathlessly, who’s to say? “Are you King Arthur, or Prince Charming?” She just about could have pulled him down for a very ill-advised kiss right then and there, but she restrained herself– there’d be a time and place for that in the future and now, out of nowhere, wasn’t it.
“I think we’ve been doing that from the day we met him, already,” she said, leaning on his arm. “But I really do want to share that with the two of you. And hey–” she shook him slightly, playfully, hoping to dispel some of her own fluster by being goofy. “What if I wanna take you guys to see things you’re interested, huh? It’s too late, I’m already scheming on it and you can’t stop me!”
She was almost certainly overplaying it, but oh well. If he called her on it, she could always just– be honest with him about why. The cozy warmth of their room at the cabin, cocooned in moonlit snow… that would be as idyllic a place to have that particular conversation as she could think of.
