You may hear. Angels cheer, 'cause we're together. (Come Fly With Me, Frank Sinatra)
Bernie got down on her hands and knees and tried to see where the pointer was referencing on the dial.
"I think it's 15 kilos," she reported back.
"What's that in old money?" Paddy queried.
"Paddy you are still holding the case it won't be a true reading."
"Berns if I let go, it will go arse first and we will miss our flight spending all day in casualty, with me explaining how you received crush fractures from underneath your luggage."
Paddy removed Bernie's suitcase from the bathroom scales marvelling how someone who as practical and no frills as Bernie had packed so much for a week. Not for the first time he reminded himself how lucky he was to have fallen for her and not her pal Trixie, he would probably be in need of a new weighscale otherwise and a hefty excess luggage fee.
"Tell me again; phone charger?"
"Suitcase."
"Phone?"
"Hand luggage on flight mode."
"Toothpaste?"
"Suitcase"
"Water?"
"Dump before going through security."
"I will dehydrate."
"You can buy it again for 3 times the price on the other side"
"What a feckin' liberty, why is it so complicated?" Bernie whinged.
"It's not sweetheart, you're just panicking because you haven't done it before."
Bernie wrinkled her nose and set her steal blue eyes towards Paddy, "I am not panicking, I just like to know what I am doing and be organised."
"In control" grinned Paddy.
"Prepared," corrected Bernie
"Bet you were a Girl Guide," winked Paddy.
"Girls Brigade, you should remember," she smiled, "you once bought all the remaining Tombola tickets off me at the church fete. It was the year it tanked down and all the prizes got drenched. Everyone else had buggered off and me and Jane were left determined to sell them all."
Paddy was trying so hard not to laugh, "That's my bonnie lass."
"You felt sorry for us and bought the whole lot so we could pack up and get in the dry. We came into the Crown and you gave us some mulled wine, you told me it's wasn't alcoholic and I believed you. I got very giggly and my dad thought it was hysterical."
"You've always been a bad influence on me Bernadette."
"You even donated the prizes back."
"Well there is only so many bottles of Black Tower and bath salt sets you can handle."
Bernie sat on her suitcase and bit her bottom lip, "Do you think we are doing the right thing, Paddy?"
"Everyone deserves a holiday Bernie, you have been through so much this year and I haven't been away in years."
"I know but a week is a long time to be with someone 24/7." Paddy's eyes lit up at Bernie's final remark.
"What if we don't get on?" She continued, "what if you find me annoying?"
"I will throw you in the pool," he laughed.
"I am serious," she groaned.
"So am I, you can swim can't you?"
"That's just it, we know so little about each other."
Paddy interrupted her, "That's why we are going away together, to find out."
He took both her hands in his and pulled her up off the luggage. Over balancing slightly she swayed into him. Paddy encircled her in a bear hug. His lips vibrating against the top of her head.
"You know I love you and would never do anything to make you unhappy."
Bernie nodded her head against his chest. Paddy brought his hands up to support cheeks and looked into her eyes
"Certain?"
"Certain," she repeated quietly.
"Once more with feeling," he asked cheekily.
"Completely certain!" Bernie responded this time adding conviction and volume to her Aberdeenshire lilt.