“Did you save the tag, so Carrie can run the code through her register when the store opens?” I asked. “We have to pay for these.”
“There is no tag. I pilfered my supplies from the employees’ lounge and made it myself.”
“Oh. We were supposed to make them? I didn’t know that.”
“Goose.” Patrick gently squeezed my hand. “Look at me.”
“My eyes are closed.”
“Open them,” Patrick said, “and find mine.”
They were bright and happy when I did, with creases in the corner because of how broadly he smiled, at least at first.
“These aren’t the feelings I ever want to bring out in you, Goose.” The smile returned when I offered one to him, just to make that happen. “You are amazing to me, and whatever you came up with, I am going to love it, because it means something to you and to us.”
His words
