Page 60 of Getting Lucky

“Shared gift or separate?” he asked, trying not to panic, although he had no idea why the thought would make him react that way.

No, that was a lie. He knew why he was panicking. He’d already considered getting her a gift and wondered if it was appropriate.

Although he hadn’t seen her since last Thursday, he’d given in to the temptation to text her on Sunday, when a work emergency had kept him from coming to the shelter with Iris. It was the first time he’d used her number, which he’d gotten from Adalia. They hadn’t stopped texting since. It was Thursday now, one of Iris’s usual afternoons at the shelter, but it had been the best time for their shopping tradition, and Maisie had apparently told Iris she’d more than earned a break.

“I already know what I’m getting her,” Iris said. “Get your own gift. Come on.”

She ducked into a store featuring handcrafted items from all over the world, and Jack smiled to himself. This was the perfect place to find Maisie a gift.

Iris knew exactly what she wanted. She’d seen a throw pillow she thought would go perfectly with Maisie’s new bedding. And Maisie would love it even more knowing the purchase had empowered women in a developing country. Jack, on the other hand, was wandering the store aimlessly when something finally caught his eye.

“Is this for a special someone?” a friendly salesclerk asked. “That scarf was woven in India by women who escaped abusive relationships.”

“I like the color,” Jack said, feeling like a fool for saying it. It seemed insignificant compared to the story of who made it, but all he could think of was how close it was to the green of her eyes.

“Oh,” Iris said, walking up behind him. “I like it.”

“Yeah?” he asked, trying to sound nonchalant, but his heart was racing.

Why was his heart racing? It was just a scarf, yet he knew this was important. What he gave her mattered. It couldn’t be so small it came across as insignificant, but he couldn’t put too much money and effort into it, or he would come off as a stalker. The gift had to be just right.

“It’s perfect,” Iris said. “Let them gift wrap it for you.”

“We have wrapping paper at home.”

“Like I said,” Iris said with a raised brow, “letthemwrap it.”

He laughed. “The was about as subtle as a sledgehammer. Thanks.” He nodded to the saleswoman. “I guess I’ll be getting it gift wrapped.”

“Wise choice,” the saleswoman said as she carried it behind the counter.

“Do you still need gifts for anyone else?” Iris asked, sounding happier than she had earlier. “We have more people to buy for than usual.”

They usually just got gifts for the three of them, and their mother had told them years ago that she strongly preferred gift cards, but Iris was right. Their circle had expanded, and it now included his new siblings and their significant others as well as Dottie and Maisie. Jack worried Iris would be overwhelmed by the prospect, but now that she was finding her place in Asheville, she seemed to love the idea of a big celebration.

“I have something for everyone except for Victoria.”

“And Prescott,” she said, curling her upper lip in disgust.

“I won’t be getting a gift for Prescott.”

Iris put her hand on his upper arm. “He doesn’t deserve one, Jack. He doesn’t deserveyou.”

He gave her a tight smile. “Thanks.”

A mischievous grin lit up her eyes. “I say we get Victoria a smelly candle. The smellier the better.”

“I’m not so sure that’s a good idea.”

“Trust me,” Iris said. “I’ve heard all about her from Addy. I know just which one to get.”

It sounded like trouble, but you really couldn’t get too upset over a terrible candle scent…or could you? While he didn’t care much for Victoria’s opinion, it wasn’t Victoria who worried him.

Iris picked out a candle and declared it would be from the both of them. Jack took a big whiff before the sales staff started to wrap it and nearly fell over from the combined scents of dirty laundry and cinnamon.

“Are you sure, Iris?” he whispered as a second clerk rang up their purchases.

“Oh,” she said with wide eyes. “I’m very, very sure.”

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