I wake you at 3:30 in the morning. I've already dressed, made coffee and packed the car. You turn from me and act as if you intend to keep sleeping.
"We'll miss it if we don't get started soon."
Sunrise comes very early on the longest day of the year, especially from the top of Cadillac Mountain. We've been talking about doing this all week, but actually getting out of bed this early suddenly seems like the best reason not to go.
I put my hand on your shoulder, "You know you'll be sorry if we miss it."
You turn back to me. In the darkness I can just see you try to open your eyes.
"It can't be morning…" you mumble. Raising your hands, you rub your curled index fingers into your eyes in an attempt to rouse yourself.
"3:30. The sun is up just after 4. Everything is ready. All I need now, is you." I smile because you always make me smile.
I lean down and give you a kiss on the cheek. "You're going to love this, I promise."
Turning to the chair by the bed, I pick up your t-shirt, sweatpants and sweatshirt and then snap on the small lamp next the bed. You throw back the covers and twist up into a sitting position, eyes still half closed and brow wrinkled.
"Here…" I hold them out for you to take. For the first time, you open your eyes and look at the clothes I'm holding out for you.
Taking the t-shirt you shake your head, "Give me my shorts. I don't need those," indicating the sweatshirt and pants.
"It's chilly out there, you'll be glad you have them."
"Nuh uh, I know how cold it gets here… just give me my shorts," your status as a Maine native having been silently called into question by the temperature.
"Ok… whatever you say…" Handing you your shorts, I tuck the sweatshirt under my arm and pull your socks and shoes over in front of you. Leaving you to finish dressing, I go get my sweater and keep your sweatshirt with me, just in case.
You emerge from the bedroom and shuffle to the door I'm holding open for you.
"I've got some coffee for us when we get there."
As you walk outside, the cold air sweeps over you and for a moment I see the surprise on your face. The split second hesitation is all that you reveal however, now needing to prove that it takes more than the chill air of a clear midsummer's night to make a Maine girl cold.
We drive up the mountain in silence; you slumped next to me in your seat, still fighting the early hour. The entrance to Cadillac is open and several cars are already ascending the winding road to the top. With each turn that we climb up the mountain, we can see the distant lights of early morning risers scattered across the darkened landscape.
Finally we arrive at the top and pull into the first available parking spot. Before I turn off the car, I notice the temperature up here is 48F. I reach back and grab your sweatshirt from the back seat.
"You might want this." I grin.
You open your door, step out and then turn back pulling the sweatshirt from the car and over your head, admitting as you do that it is colder than you expected.
I pull our thermos from the trunk, and a blanket to sit on. Then we head up the steps to the trail and around to the east side of the summit.
As we round the top of the mountain, we see several groups of people scattered and waiting for the sun's display to begin. We circle all the way to the lower part of the far side so we will have an unobstructed view of the horizon.
Finding a smooth shelf of granite just off the trail, I set everything down, open the blanket and spread it out on the rock. We sit down side by side, our feet resting on the sloping rock in front of us, a perfect view of Frenchman's Bay below.
Opening the thermos, I fill the lid that doubles as a cup, steam rising with the aroma of freshly brewed coffee. I hand it to you.
"Here, you need this more than I do." Once again, I can't stop smiling as you take the cup and hold it in both hands. Your elbows rest on your legs and you huddle over the cup, bringing your mouth to it and sipping carefully to keep from burning your tongue.
I notice your legs are covered in goose bumps.
"Hey… why don't you come here and I'll keep you warm," I say as I scoot back on the rock and open my legs so you can sit between them.
"Come on, you will enjoy it more. Promise."
You stand and sit in front of me. As you settle back down, I move up against you so your back rests against my chest. I pick up the blanket that is laying on either side of us and pull it over you, on the right and left, keeping it in my hands as I circle your waist with my arms.
"There, that's much better." I detect a small shiver as you lean back against me, soaking up the warmth of my body. I hold you to me, my chin resting on your shoulder. As your hair touches my cheek your shiver moves from your body to mine.