Page 114 of Skylar

Okay. Would you mind if we went to a Build-a-bear store to get something for Shiloh before we go visit her?

Aiden:I don’t mind at all. We can go as soon as I get home.

Skylar sent him back a thumbs up. She was trying to keep their interactions as normal as possible, and so far, he was also on board with that.

With still some time before Aiden would be home, Skylar went for a walk around the neighborhood, just for some exercise. Unfortunately, it left her a little sweaty, so she ended up taking a shower, then she got ready for the visit with Shiloh.

A little before four, Aiden texted that he was just leaving the office. Skylar made sure she had everything, with her shoes and purse waiting near the doorway.

When Aiden walked through the door, Skylar’s heart skipped a beat. He greeted her with a warm smile that made her want to throw caution to the wind.

“Ready to go?” he asked.

“Yep.” She slipped her feet into her shoes and grabbed her purse. “All set.”

Aiden smiled. “Let’s go get a bear.”

He stepped out of the house and held the door for her, waiting until she’d joined him on the porch before locking up.

“So where are we going to build this bear?” Aiden asked when they were in the car.

“Unfortunately, they don’t have the exact store I was wanting to go to here, but there is another place that does something similar.”

“I think I know where that is,” Aiden said when she gave him the name and address of the store.

It ended up being in an older part of town where some houses had been converted into stores. Most were high end boutiquesand cafes. The stuffed animal store was sandwiched between a pastry shop and an antique shop.

“This looks interesting,” Aiden said as they walked up the sidewalk to the small house.

It was a story and a half with a wide front porch. The front of the house was made up of two large bay windows that gleamed in the sunlight.

A soft bell chimed as Aiden opened the door, and almost immediately, a young woman wearing a flowy sundress appeared. She smiled when she saw them.

“Welcome to The Snuggle Studio, where every hug is custom made,” she said as she approached them. “My name is Elena. How can I help you?”

“We’d like a stuffed animal for a little girl who is in the hospital with cancer,” Skylar told her.

“Oh, I’m sorry to hear that about her.” The woman’s expression turned sympathetic. “Sadly, you’re not the first to come for a snuggly for someone who is sick, and you probably won’t be the last. Why don’t we start over here?”

Elena walked toward one side of the large open area. After exchanging a glance, Skylar and Aiden followed her.

“We have a variety of animals you can custom make.” Elena gestured to a display that was set up in front of the bay window.

Heavy damask curtains hung draped to each side of the window, and in front of it was an elevated platform which held a bunch of different stuffed animals at a tea party.

Smiling, Skylar reached out to grab Aiden’s arm. “This is amazing.”

“It certainly is,” he said. “How are we going to decide?”

“I don’t know.” Skylar pulled him forward with her to more closely inspect the different choices of animals.

“I’m kind of a basic guy and think a bear would be fine,” Aiden said as he pointed to one that was clothed in an old-fashioned dress and bonnet.

“Well, Shiloh already has unicorns, right?” Skylar said. “You brought her a couple from your mom and Willow.”

“Yep.”

“Charli said she’s a big fan of dogs.” Skylar turned to Elena. “Could we get her a dog dressed as an ice skater?”

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