"Star-gazing was a good idea."
Tina's voice was quiet, clear and calm. This was a rare moment of true serenity for her, and with good reason, considering the activity she was engaged in and her choice of companion.
"Mmm," Newt mumbled, smiling to himself at Tina's praise. They lay side-by-side on a blanket that they had spread on the grass behind Newt's small cottage in Dorset. He'd recently bought it on the proceeds of his very successful book, and this was Tina's first visit.
"This must be the first warm night of the year," murmured Newt.
Tina shrugged, laying on her back beside him. "Well, you would know better than I would. This is your side of the pond, after all."
Newt chuckled softly. "Then I would say that it is a very good possibility. Spring can sometimes have a difficult time giving way to summer in this country."
"Hmm," Tina mumbled. "Summer usually arrives on time in New York, but the humidity can be enough to drive you nuts."
They lapsed into peaceful silence, turning their full attention to the beautiful night sky. The fact that the moon was only a sliver made the stars easier to see, along with the absence of any clouds in the sky – a small miracle for England.
Eventually, Newt was the one who broke the silence in a calm voice that just barely masked his nerves. "You know, I imagine that star-gazing in New York is just as difficult as it would be in London…but I imagine that the star-gazing opportunities here would be much more plentiful."
Immediately, he winced internally at his formal and clumsy words that meant so much more. When he had bought this cottage, he'd told Tina his main reason: to plant roots that he could always return to after his travels. What he hadn't yet told her was that he'd bought it in the hope that it wouldn't become a home for him alone.
He dared not turn his head to look at Tina. She knew him so well by now, so he had no doubt that she understood the subtext of his statement.
Indeed, she had. His heart breathed a joyful sigh of relief when he felt her hand rest inside of his own hand between them. Her reply made his heart soar, especially since he could hear the smile that accompanied it:
"Hmm…we'll just have to wait and see, won't we?"
We…Yes, Newt very much liked the sound of that. He laced their fingers together and squeezed them, a smile on his own face as they again fell into peaceful silence beneath the stars.