Anakin was in Boston just in time to celebrate Thanksgiving with his family.
He also applied to American Airlines at Logan International Boston and got the job. The salary wasn't what he expected, but at least he was at home, in Boston, where he wanted to be.
With the money, he got from his grandfather, he wanted to look for a small apartment somewhere near Logan International, but not necessarily in the air corridor. Beacon Hill or Back Bay, yes, two of the most expensive districts in Boston. He didn't need much, one bedroom or two, at most.
Until the money came from Canada, and as long as he was looking for an apartment, he lived with his parents. Now he saw all the advantages and disadvantages of living outside the city. Everything was nice out there in Auburndale, the snow was already fallen, everything was pure white, there was fresh air, lots of space, but it took infinity to get to his workplace. So, the apartment had to be as close as possible to Logan International, he didn't want to waste the time. If he finds a better job elsewhere, he can sell the apartment and move, he thought.
At the end of December, after only three viewing appointments, he found the right apartment: two bedrooms, two bathrooms, a living-dining area, a kitchen, a small storage room, and a niche for a washing machine and dryer. Perfect, but expensive. The most of the money was spent on that apartment. He bought nice classic furniture, some pre-owned but in excellent condition, and made it comfortable—perhaps not exactly typical for a man, because most of them prefer minimalistic. There were beautiful carpets everywhere, pillows and blankets on the couch, flowers, decorative elements and pictures on the walls.
It was Saturday morning at the end of January, the fridge was empty again and should be filled with groceries for the whole next week. He always did his weekly shopping at Whole Foods Market, if something smaller was forgotten, then at Beacon Hill Market. But on that Saturday, he was even out in his new Toyota SUV because bulk purchases were the order of the day.
As always, on Saturdays, Whole Foods Market was crowded. He was already standing at the cash register with a full shopping cart, when he realized he had forgotten the oat flakes, damn. So, back. He quickly grabbed the last pack, when someone simultaneously grabbed it and snatched it from his hand. It was a smaller woman with a red bobble cap. He didn't see her face; she had already turned around to put the oat flakes in her cart.
"Sorry, lady, but I already had that pack of oat flakes in..my...ha..nd..." , as she turned to him, probably intending to defend the last pack, when he saw her face, he was frozen at first—for a few seconds. "Professor...Naberrie !?"
"Mister Skywalker? Yes, I am, but not your professor anymore."
"Uh, Missis Naberrie..."
"Still Miss... and now…you can say Padmé to me now."
"Then so, I just want to be Anakin to you...Padmé...the name for the angels."
She smiled at him, and he was mesmerized. "…and now… what are we going to do with this pack of oat flakes... Anakin? Do you want to share?" , she smiled mischievously and shook the pack.
"I have a better idea. I'm out of oat flakes, and if you let me have this pack, I'll return the favor with a dinner. What do you think about?", he prayed, hoping she would say yes.
"Hmm, what am I up to tonight...?" she pursed her lips and raised an eyebrow as if thinking.
"Spending with your boyfriend... maybe?" He shouldn't have asked, he didn't want to know.
"I don't have a boyfriend."
"Oh...then nothing is standing in the way of our date tonight."
"Then you don't have a girlfriend either...I suppose?"
"Correct. Is OK. at 7:00 p.m., where can I pick you up?"
"I live near here, 45 Hancock Street."
"Really? I live a few steps down, Russell Street." He was almost high when he heard that.
"What a coincidence." Her eyes widened, she was actually happy and hoped to see him more often now, if only when he was shopping or by chance.
"Do you like Italian cuisine? We could go around the corner to the Grotto if you..."
"Perfect. I've been there before; it's just my taste."
"I'm looking forward to tonight. See you, Padmé." He smiled; actually,the whole time, that smile wouldn't leave his face.
"Me too, bye... stop, stop, Anakin ! Here are your oat flakes."
"Oh yes, thank you." He wasn't surprised at his own forgetfulness; he also forgot his own name at this unexpected reunion. He turned to her again and then went to the cash register.
She stood there for a long time and watched him go. He didn't turn back but felt her gaze on his neck, and it was so welcome, letting him know she was interested and this long time of only dreaming of her was now coming to an end. They're on a date. Is that a date? Anyway, he'll spend the evening with her.
Padmé couldn't believe it, he was back after such a long time, and he didn't forget her; he was glad to see her. …nd who would believe it? They're going for dinner tonight. Is this a date, or is he just showing his gratitude? She thought, we'll find out, and maybe she could still salvage something and correct the mistake of two and a half years ago.
At home she quickly stowed her purchases in the fridge, what didn't need to be in the fridge, she put in the cupboards. Furthermore, she had no more oat flakes. Anyway, that was worth giving up on in exchange for dinner and being together with Anakin, the dinner itself not mattering at all.
Grotto was not a high-end restaurant that you had to dress up for. She chose a simple black pleated skirt and a twin-set in purple. It was cold, and they would walk, so black boots, a bag, and a black winter coat. Apart from her grandmother's ring, she wore no jewellery. She left her long hair loose and, as always, wore only subtle make-up.
Anakin had been looking forward to this evening all afternoon. He was nervous and now rather excited; he didn't know what to expect. Was she just being polite, or was she genuinely interested? Rather the latter. In any case, he'll try to win her over with all his charms—does he have any left? He hasn't flirted in ages, actually since New Year's Eve when they danced together. After three years, can you unlearn that? That will be revealed tonight, he thought, all he has to do, is be himself… but around her?
Exactly at 7:00 p.m., Anakin rang the doorbell, and Padmé came downstairs.
"Hi Anakin."
"Hi. ..you look good, actually wonderful."
"Thank you." Her smile revealed beautiful white teeth, so Anakin couldn't take his eyes off her.
He offered her the crook of his arm, she put her hand on it, and with the other, she cupped his biceps. He was wearing a thick wool coat, but she could feel his hard muscles. She thought he was in good shape, probably often in the gym, because he didn't play football anymore.
It was very cold, below freezing, and windy. She snuggled up to him, and for him, that was a feeling he never wanted to do without. He wanted to embrace her, but he couldn't do it that quickly, he didn't want to startle her. She shouldn't have the impression that he'd like to have her between the sheets and fuck her into oblivion... like back then, no, now it's supposed to be grown up.
"Cold today, isn't it?" he asked rather rhetorically.
"Yeah, but I kind of like it. I love snow...white and pure, like in the mountains."
Up until Grotto, they talked about shopping and restaurants nearby, where to find park lot and the like.
When Grotto arrived, Anakin went down the seven steps, opened the door, and stepped aside to let her in. The waiter showed them a table for two, the last one on the left. He helped her out of her coat, took off his own, and brought them to the cloakroom.
He pulled the chair for Padmé and sat down next to her, taking her hand in both of his.
"Are you cold, Padmé? Your nose is red and your hand is freezing." He lifted her hand and placed it's palm on his cheek."
"You are so warm."
"Would you like me to warm you up?"
"Now that was ambiguous, are you flirting with me?"
"I'm not a student anymore and you're not my professor, so...it's allowed." He winked.
He's definitely flirting, she thought. "Anakin, you know I'm a few years older than you, right?"
"Yeah, six years or so..."
"Five."
He shrugs. "What are five years, Padmé, age is just a number. When I'm with you, I feel a little older, and when you're with me, you feel younger. It fits."
The waiter came and asked for an order.
"We take a Prosecco first. What would you like to eat, Padmé?"
"I'll have a small rocket salad, and for the main course, crispy duck confit leg with Brussels sprouts and aioli."
He glanced over the menu again and then said, "I'll take the same. Would you like wine, Padme?"
"No, just water."
"Then another big bottle of San Pellegrino… and later we'll see. Thanks."
Prosecco came quickly.
"Thank you for the invitation, cheers to you, Anakin."
"To us, Padmé, and that we found each other. Cheers !"
"Cheers ! Were you… looking for me?"
"Searched, found, huh? No, I wasn't specifically looking for you, but I couldn't forget you. Now that I'm back in Boston, I could have started looking."
"Back in Boston? Tell me about you. Where have you been? What have you been doing all the time?"
"Well, after the graduation ceremony, actually after June 9, I flew to my grandparents in Vancouver and decided to look for a job there, gain experience. I am Canadian too, so I got a job at Boeing and stayed there for eight months, that was the contract. Before the contract expired, they asked me to join Boeing in Brisbane, Australia. I agreed, and so I was sitting on the plane to Brisbane. So, for eight months. The job was good, I was satisfied, but I really didn't want to stay there. Well, the odyssey didn't end in Brisbane. I got an offer to go to Europe, to Boeing in Amsterdam, Netherlands. That really interested me, so I packed my suitcase again and was in Amsterdam after a whole day's flight, terrible. Netherlands was a real culture shock for me, I can tell you that. Everything, absolutely everything is different there...the way of working, the people, everything. It was paid well, I stayed ten months and then I flew back to Boeing in Vancouver ...and then, after two months, my grandmother died."
"I'm sorry, Anakin."
"Thanks."
Pause. The food came, and they started on the salad. Between bites, he continued to talk.
"My grandfather thought he couldn't live on his own and chose assisted living in a condominium for the elderly. He sold the house, took some of the sale price and gave me the rest of the money, I am his only grandchild. Before Thanksgiving, I was back in Boston looking for a job and an apartment to buy. I work at American Airlines at Logan International Airport now."
"You got around a lot there."
"True, but I was lonely. You're going somewhere, you don't know anyone..."
"Didn't you have a girlfriend in the meantime?"
"No."
Break. Of course, he didn't tell her about the failed attempt in Australia, the flop in Amsterdam, his dreams in which she starred, or his fantasies that made him ashamed of himself….
'Well, I found an apartment in Russell Street and moved in recently. It's nice, and now I'm not far from you." He smiled and asked, " What have you been doing all these years?"
"I'm still the assistant professor; I work a lot with students, write publications and mostly sit at home. I took a trip the summer before last—more like three, and that was all. When the loneliness comes down on me, I go out with Professor Kenobi."
Anakin's smile faded, thinking Kenobi was her occasional encounter of a certain kind. Padmé noticed the change immediately.
"No, it's not what you think, what the people think. Ben's just a friend; actually, he's replacing Dormé, he's my girlfriend."
Anakin started laughing and almost choked on the main course that had just been brought. "I never thought this way."
"I lived with Dormé together as a student, and when she moved out, I wanted something better than the student room we lived in. I bought the apartment on Hancock Street about two years ago. Luckily, I had inherited something from my grandmother and my parents helped… oof, real estates are so expensive in Beacon Hill."
"To whom are you saying that?" He laughed.
They decided not to have dessert, but to take a digestive. Padmé chose grappa, and Anakin chose the same but double.
He paid the bill, tipped the waiters well, brought the coats and helped Padmé put her coat on. He put his own on, and they left the place. They turned onto Hancock Street and walked slowly on the right towards number 45. When they reached the house, she went a few steps up and stopped on the top one.
"Thank you for the nice evening, Anakin…. and good night."
"May I kiss you goodnight?"
"Only once."
"You can also get...more kisses…." He grinned.
"One is enough."
Her mouth was half open in anticipation of the kiss. Anakin accepted the unmistakable invitation, cupped his hand on the back of her head, and leaned forward, capturing her lips with his own. It was an eruption of emotions. He deepened the kiss and moaned slightly. She put her hand on his shoulder and he broke the kiss.
"Sorry, I seem to be...a little excited."
"Yes, I can feel it, even though the coat."
"It's embarrassing. ...my testosterone is going through the roof right now." He smiled sheepishly.
"Could have been a long time ago, huh..."
"Uh...yes." ...and looked at the floor. "When I can see you again?"
"Tomorrow noon?"
"Oh great ! Where can we go?"
"Tip Tap Room?"
"Perfect."
"You are invited, Anakin, I reserve. 12:00 p.m. sharp."
.
Best regards from Germany