Back in the car, Steven asked, “Are you hungry yet?”
“Nope.”
“Then let’s go do our shopping and get that over with. Can you tell I’m not crazy about shopping? But we do this crazy gift exchange several times a year, and it gets hilarious. We also buy toys for kids at Christmas, but, of course, we’ve already done that. Next year, if you’re here…well. Ahem.” He started the car, his cheeks looking pink.
“Or if you’re with me,” I said, looking studiously out the window.
Steven turned on the radio, and Hawaiian tunes came on. No surprise there, but to be honest, I had never liked the sound of ukuleles. Other than that, I was completely and dopily content.
Steven parked outside a strip mall, about three rows back, beneath a colorful, flowering tree. It was sunny and hot out, maybe eighty-fi
