Then he will find a space that's largely empty and look at the light from the stained glass windows falling on the rest of the building. It is not remotely like being in his church back home but he's willing to settle. 

If he looks around at some point, he may be surprised to find Chris sitting next to him in complete silence. 

...he's not that surprised. They're soulmates. It makes sense that they might find the same things beautiful. 

He takes Chris's hand again and looks back up. 

Chris waits patiently for as long as Marlo wants to look.

After a couple more minutes he squeezes Chris's hand. "It's better than nothing, anyway. Want to go?" 

"If you're done. I don't believe in interrupting sacred things."

None of the ways to parse that make sense with what he knows of Chris so far. "I'm done, but I can wait if you want." 

"This place is unbearably ugly. I was waiting for you."

Long sigh. "You aren't wrong, but it's the closest I'm going to get. Let's go." 

When they leave, they're accosted by a woman from Tea for Two Couples' Cafe. 

"Soulmate special!" she says. "It's a special dinner to honor the fact that everyone has just met their soulmates!"

He glances at Chris. 

"We'll eat somewhere else."

"All the other restaurants are closed, so everyone can take advantage of this opportunity to bond with their soulmates," the woman says perkily.

"Soulmate dinner may or may not be terrible. Eating Janet-summoned food in the cottage is mediocre and somewhat depressing. Up to you."

"...might as well try it." 

"You can sit here!" the woman says, guiding them to chairs and a table. 

Chris has an expression on his face that can probably best be described as "professionally offended."

"We could also not," Marlo says quietly once the waitress is out of earshot. 

"It is not her fault she has no idea how to wait tables at a formal dinner."

...that face is mildly terrifying but if Chris wants to stay than Marlo is happy to stay. 

"Here are your menus!" the waitress chirps. "Sorry, our menus only come in 'men' and 'women', because you're the only set of same-gender soulmates! But I'm sure you wouldn't mind, Chris." 

"That is fine."

For once, Chris doesn't look annoyed. He looks like he is focusing very hard on the third leaf on the bouquet of roses in front of them. 

...He hands Chris his menu, takes the one the waitress gave to Chris. 

Something flashes across Chris's face.

The menu Marlo receives is bright pink and adorned with lace. 

It says: "Deep Thought of the Day: "I can do all things through him who strengthens me" (Philippians 4:13). How does your soulmate strengthen YOU?"