Page 46 of Movers and Fakers

“Yeah, I do,” she replies, and it sounds like she’s happy, maybe smiling. I wish I was there to witness it. “What are you calling for?” The nerves return to her voice.

“I wanted it to be a surprise, but I thought it might be better to get help since you know her better. If I wanted to bring your mom a gift, what would she like best?”

The phone is silent, aside from the music in the background. I stroll through aisles without looking at anything, waiting on a reply.

“You want to get her a gift?”

“Yeah, I thought it would make a good impression. But if I’m wrong, I can put everything back.”

“Wait, you’re at the store right now? What do you have?”

I stop and lean over the cart handle.

“The better question would be what do I not have.” I laugh. “I might have gone a little overboard. Have you heard of the website Pinterest?”

I’d never been on it until this morning’s research.

Aurora snorts. “Yes, I have. I’m guessing it gave you one too many ideas?”

“It looks like Pinterest threw up in my cart.”

She laughs, and my breath catches at the sound. Man, I’d do just about anything to hear that every day.

“All right, Prince Charming. Tell me what all you have and I’ll help you narrow it down.”

A grin takes over my face. She’s happy. While talking to me. I guess those etiquette lessons weren’t entirely useless after all.

I list off everything I’ve got so far, and by the time I get to the end, I wish I had more just so I could continue listening to Aurora’s giggles. Maybe I’ll get lucky and hear them again later tonight.

“Okay, put everything back except one candle, one dessert, and a ceramic pumpkin.”

I frown. “That’s barely anything.”

“It’s perfect,” she corrects. “More than that will make her feel like she should have gotten you something. Trust me.”

“Okay,” I sigh. “I’ll put it all back. But if she’s not impressed, I’m blaming you.”

Another laugh floats through the phone. “She’ll probably cry on the spot.”

“If you say so.” I start to make my way around the store. “I guess now is as good a time as any to ask if I should wear anything special?”

In truth, I know this is a casual dinner. I know what Aurora is going to answer with. But I want to keep talking to her.

“Nothing fancy. A T-shirt and jeans is fine, or a sweater if you think you’ll get cold.”

“Okay, I can do that.”

I set all but one candle back on the shelf. My nose is starting to burn from all the scented products.

“And I’m meeting you in front of your building at five fifteen?” I ask another question I know the answer to.

“Yeah, that should give us plenty of time to get to their house,” she answers.

Someone calls her name. I hear her muffled reply that she’ll be out in a minute.

Her voice is clear again when she asks, “Did you need anything else?”

I rack my brain but can’t come up with anything else.