“Nothing.”
“You're staring.”
“I know.”
She laughed.
“Where are we going?”
“It's a surprise.”
“Nick.”
“Maggie.”
“I don't like surprises.”
“I've noticed.”
“Is it expensive?”
“No.”
“Is it formal?”
“Definitely not.”
She looked suspicious.
“Should I change?”
He glanced at her white dress.
“Only if you're afraid of getting a little sand on your shoes.”
Maggie stared.
“Sand?”
Nicholas smiled.
“Get in.”
Forty minutes later, they were walking along the boardwalk at Coney Island.
The summer air smelled of salt water, hot dogs, and popcorn.
Music drifted from a nearby amusement arcade. Teenagers hurried past carrying enormous stuffed animals, and the illuminated rides stretched against the darkening sky.
Maggie looked around in astonishment.
“You brought me to Coney Island?”
Nicholas smiled.
“You said you missed coming here.”
“I said that months ago.”
“I remember.”
She looked at him.
Then shook her head.
“You really do notice things.”
He offered his arm.
“Occasionally.”
They ate hot dogs beneath a striped umbrella.
Nicholas attempted to win a stuffed bear at a carnival game and failed spectacularly.
Maggie laughed so hard that she nearly dropped her lemonade.
“You're terrible!”
“It's a defective game.”
“Of course.”
“The rings are too small.”
“Obviously.”
“The bottles are arranged unfairly.”
“Naturally.”
She took the remaining rings from his hand.
Then landed one over the neck of a bottle on her second attempt.
The attendant handed her a ridiculous pink stuffed rabbit.
Maggie turned toward Nicholas.
“Would you like it?”
He stared.
“You did that deliberately.”
She smiled sweetly.
“Perhaps.”
He laughed.
They walked beneath the lights.
For once, Nicholas was not wearing an expensive suit.
He had chosen a pale blue shirt with the sleeves rolled up and dark trousers. His hair was slightly windblown, and he looked younger than he did in the office.
Maggie loved seeing him like this.
Unhurried.
Relaxed.
Happy.
They rode the Wonder Wheel just as the sun disappeared beyond the rooftops.
At the top, their car paused.
The city stretched toward the horizon, glittering beneath the violet evening sky.
Maggie looked out across the water.
“It's beautiful.”
Nicholas watched her.
“Yes.”
She turned.
“You're not looking.”
“I am.”
She rolled her eyes.