Page 64 of The Sky in Summer
“Afternoon. Wow, this is a handsome group,” she says with a smile made of flawless dental work.
Owner, definitely.
“Hi. I’m looking for a gift. A birthday gift.”
“For a wife or girlfriend? I’m trying to gauge her age.”
Yeah. Appreciate the offer, but I’m going to pass. Luckily, I can dodge the question I want to, and give the information I think she needs.
“She’s thirty-eight.”
I hear David’s humph under his breath. Maybe he admires how I dodged the bullet.
“All right. Would lingerie be appropriate, or a sweater?”
Oh, she’s good. But I’m better. “Neither. I want something personal without being too obvious. But at the same time, I want her to know I thought about her specifically.”
I think that sounded good. It was a half-truth. I wouldn’t mind at all if Layla thought I was being obvious.
“Uncle Van! Look at this!” Sam says, holding up a grommet heavy black jumpsuit that looks like a dominatrix might wear.
“It’s nice, but not exactly her style,” I call. “You know what, Miss? I’m going to look around and find you when we’re ready. Thanks.”
“Okay. I will be here.”
But she hovers. Never more than ten feet from us as we look through racks and folded items. It is bugging the shit out of me. Tyler slides up and leans in.
“I don’t like when they do that,” he says, nodding toward the saleswoman.
“Me either, Tyler. Let’s get outta here.”
I call to her as I am moving toward the door.
“Thanks a lot. I’m going to think about it. Come on, guys.”
“Wait!” she says, reaching into the pocket of her jacket. “Here’s my card. In case you think of something you saw today but passed up.”
Not very artful, but bold.
“No need,” I say, moving ahead. “I didn’t see anything I am interested in. But thank you.”
There is just silence following us out of the shop, until Tyler speaks up.
“She was into you.”
“No shit, Sherlock,” David jabs.
“Women are always throwing themselves at him,” Sam says while putting on his shades.
“No, they aren’t. Well, they might be throwing, but I’m not catching.”
Neither David nor Tyler respond to my remarks. And now I have an urge to kick one of my favorite relatives in the ass. I am going to have to talk to him and Teddy both. I need allies. Not sure for what exactly.
“What about some jewelry? Have you thought of that?” Tyler says.
“Yeah, that may be the best way to go. Has your mother ever mentioned anything she’d really love to have? I mean other than a fifty-carat diamond necklace?”
“She’d never want that,” David says pointedly.
