Live among the stars

Blake looked up at the sky like he did every night feeling both an amazing sense of wonder and also a sense of lonelines that he’d never admit. Getting lost in the stars was what he did best after all he was an aspiring astronomer and he had converted his garage into a makeshift observatory.

His dog bumper had managed to sneak into the garage with him and like his name foretold he bumped into the telescope knocking it to the floor and shattering the lens.

He couldn’t help it, Bumper is a rescue and he only has one eye. Blake would go first thing in the morning to replace it. He was excited at the excuse he’d have to see and talk to the pretty shop clerk he’s never mustered up the courage to ask out.

Till then he and bumper watch the sky in the old oak out back hoping to see something new.

The next day Blake walked into the shop eagerly hoping to talk with the clerk and spies the young woman dangling precariously off a step stool reaching for a teetering box on a high shelf.

Blake rushes over just in time to catch the woman as she falls.

“Oh My Goodness! Thank you so much!” She exclaims.

”Not a problem doll, let me get that for you.” Blake says setting her on her feet and reaching the box with ease.

”Oh I don’t know how to thank you for this sir..”

”Blake. Blake Dolten. And it was no trouble at all miss.”

”Blake Dolten! I have an order that came in for you!” The woman bolts off behind the counter and pops back out with a small box.

”Here it is and it’s on the house for all your help!” She says in a pleasant chipper voice.

”Now miss I can’t accept..” Blake begins to say

“Call me Mary, please sir.” She interrupts with a sweet smile.

”Alright Mary then, I can’t accept this package as a gift from you.. For starters I was only doing what any gentleman would have and secondly this is...” Blake says kindly but is cut off again.

”No no I insist!” Mary says as she looks at the invoice and suddenly color drains from her light hearted face.

”As I was saying this is a special high quality lens, they don’t run cheap.” He chuckles

”Well please let me find someway to thank you!” Mary furrows her brow and looks around the small shop desperately.

Blake takes the moment to look her over. Mary is a young girl no more then 23, tan skin, brown Soft curls that fall to green eyes underlined with freckles on her cheeks. She has a positive up beat personality that he‘s noticed before when he’s been to the shop. She’s always darting and fluttering around the place humming cheerful tunes.

“How about dinner?” He asks coolly.

”Dinner!” She echoes excitedly

”Yes Mary, would you like to go to dinner with me? I can pick you up at 8pm?”

“I’d love to!” A smile and a blush cross Mary’s face as she replies.

Later that night Blake picked Mary up from the shop.

“Now I hope you didn't have your heart set on a movie or dancing.. because I had a little more personal of a night planned and well.. I can’t dance if I’m being completely honest.” Blake said with a nervous chuckle hoping not to have disappointed Mary.

”Blake I am just happy you asked me out! And if we are being honest I can’t dance without stepping on every toe you have anyways!” Mary giggles.

After months of Blake coming into the shop almost every other day to buy one or maybe two frivolous items as an excuse to come in. Mary was elated, even though also embarrassed at the circumstances, that he’d finally asked her out.

Blake stoped his truck at the lake park and openEd her door for her before grabbing a picnic basket from the bed.

They lace their arms and headed off towards the Oak near the lake. Blake sets up the picnic and they discuss everything from the shop to the stars and even Bumper the lovable one eyed bulldog.

Mary took over the shop from her father until her little brother gets older but she wants to be a teacher someday.

Blake taught her so much about the sky she thought she’d never be able to see it the same way again.

They continued to do this for many months with the occasional dinner at their families houses or with friends. By far though they preferred the picnics.

He admitted to her one night how he would look for any reason to go to the shop to see her.

Mary tried not to let on that it was obvious but her giggle couldn’t be stifled completely.

Bumper would join them on their night picnics sometimes and usually end up getting carried back to the truck in the basket because they both liked to dote on him.

They would stare at the sky till the sun started to rise.

”It’s already sunrise..” said Mary disappointed one night

”I never used to like sunrise before I met you.” Said Blake blatantly

“Why‘s that?“ asked Mary

“Couldn’t see the stars once the sun came up.” He said matter of fact

“And what makes now any different?” Mary asked confused

”Well now all I have to do is gaze upon your face and I can see the stars.” Blake said with a sincere smile at Mary.

“Oh Blake your awful” Mary said laughing but smiling nonetheless.

A special surprise hid in the basket that night for Mary, one that took Blake a week to pick out at the jewelers.

Mary caught sight of the box hidden in the basket earlier in the night and was both excited and impatient for Blake to ask her.

Eventually Mary could wait no more and blurted out “Blake I cannot focus on the sky right now I’m too excited! What are you waiting for? Must I fall off a stool again first for you to finally ask?”

“I don’t think you need to go that far doll. Always so impatient.” Blake chuckled

After kissing Mary, Blake continues mapping the freckled star sign all it’s own upon her cheeks for Mary had truly become his universe and her freckles his favorite constellation to look at both night and day.

The End.