Welcome to part six.
I would like to thank everyone for their positive feedback on the last episode. It's your encouragement that makes it all worthwhile.
Feel free to leave a comment if you have one.
******
Michael or Mac 6
I am sitting on the early evening Flight AA208 from Boston down to Charlotte. I have spent the week at MIT catching up with my lecturers and my course tutors. I have sat in on some lectures and find it easier than listening on my phone. Seeing how they visually build the lesson is so much easier to follow.
Many professors think it's not right, that I've been held back a year. One even called it a cotton wool society. The thing is, I see both sides, and I understand their concerns.
The most challenging part of this trip has been being apart from Emma. Although I have had plenty to do to keep me occupied, Emma has found it the hardest. We have had a couple of teary calls over the week. What I have noticed is that the empty place is back. It's strange, it's like being hungry, but eating doesn't get rid of the feeling. It's amazing how attached I have become to her in such a short space of time.
A couple of other things happened; the first was Miley Cyrus called. I made her hang up, and video call me, so I knew it was her. We had a great chat; she has a project she wants my help with. Not sure what I can do, but we both agree to try to make a weekend free on either side of Thanksgiving to meet up and see what we can do. She's even invited Emma and Donna; not sure how that will work.
The second took me by surprise. I got a text from Lucas, "Hi Mac, if you are still in Boston, is there any chance Amelia and I can meet you for dinner tonight?"
Wow, I stare at this for a while before answering, "Hello Lucas, yeah, no problem. Just let me know when and where." It took time to get an answer, but it's no surprise that they have chosen one of the best restaurants in Boston.
My taxi pulls up outside the Orleana restaurant at just before seven-thirty. I hadn't packed any of my suits, but I had enough, so I didn't have to go shopping. Orleana's is a Turkish restaurant not far from Harvard University, so I can see why they chose it.
I walk in, and the girl on the desk gives me a radiant smile. "Good evening, sir. How can we help you tonight."
I return her smile and go to explain. "Mac," Amelia almost squeals across the restaurant.
I close my eyes and then open them, "sorry about my friend, she's not seen me for a whole week."
"That's quite alright, sir; we get all sorts in here." She replies with a knowing smile. "May I?" She escorts me to the table where Amelia and Lucas are waiting.
"Hello, Amelia," I say as I kiss Amelia on the cheek as she stands to greet me. "Hello, Lucas," I said, offering my hand. The concierge seats me, and I thank her. She gives me one of her that's no problem, smiles, and returns to her desk. "You haven't been waiting long, have you?" I ask as I check my watch.
"No, just about three minutes. We had only just been seated when Amelia saw you pull up in the taxi." Lucas replies.
A waitress comes up with three menus and takes our drinks order. We sit quietly for a moment. "Are we doing appetizers?" I ask.
"Order what you like, Mac," Amelia says. "Daddy's paying for it," she adds.
"Of course, he is," I say under my breath. Lucas hears it and smirks at me. "I'm hungry; I missed lunch, so I think I will start with the Sweet Potato & Lamb Moussaka followed by the Lemon Chicken looks good." I smile across the table, and Lucas and Amelia are just looking at me. "Have you two decided?"
"Oh, I don't know why I look at the menu; I choose the same thing each time," Amelia says. The waitress comes back and takes our order; as she leaves, Amelia says, "so Mac, what happened to you and Emma on Sunday. We came over to see if you wanted to come out for lunch before you left, and a man was putting Paps truck on a trailer."
"Yeah, Paps got into a bit of a bind, so we had to shoot home very quickly."
"Oh, nothing serious, I hope."
"No, it got sorted by dinner." God, I hate all these questions. I am trying to be truthful but vague.
Then it was Lucas, "so, what are you in Boston for?"
"I should have started MIT this year, but because the psychologist were worried about how it would affect me, they deferred me a year. This didn't please some professors, so they came to a compromise. I now come up every month or so."
"Wow, that must be a bit draining on your resources."
"No, not really; when my parents passed, they left me comfortable."
Amelia looks across, "so your like a millionaire?"
"No, I'm not a millionaire." Again, I stretch the truth, but there's a difference; one starts with a B. Amelia seems to deflate at that which didn't go unnoticed by Lucas.
"We googled you on YouTube, Mac," Amelia says, trying to change the subject.
"Oh yeah, you are pretty good. I'm surprised you don't want to be a rock star." Lucas says almost mockingly.
"Hah, fame isn't for me."
"Oooh, you could play at our wedding." Lucas's eyes shoot straight back to Amelia. The look on his face is of shock.
"So, when are you two getting married?" I add seeing where this is going, and please, the spotlight is not on me.
"Spring break," Amelia says, beaming.
"Uhhh, babe," Lucas says, trying to get Amelia's attention. "Ameeelia," he speaks slightly louder.
"Yes, dear," Amelia says as she turns towards him.
"I thought we talked about this last weekend."
Amelia thinks for a moment, "what you was serious; Mac's one of my oldest friends. Why wouldn't I want him at my wedding?" She rolls her eyes. "Will you excuse me? I need to use the ladies."
She makes a quick exit, leaving a flustered Lucas behind, not looking happy. "Will you excuse me, Mac? I think I better do the same before our dinner arrives."
Lucas heads off in the same direction as Amelia, leaving me alone. A couple of minutes later, I spot them arguing outside the toilets. I can see a couple of the customers close to them looking their way, obviously not happy that someone is arguing near them. Then Amelia storms off to the front desk.