by Schultz, JT
Toni walked over to another shelf. “This is kind of cool.”
He turned to see a remote controlled monster truck in her hand. “Hell, I’d play with that now, and I’m thirty-three.” He lifted the box out of her hand. “This will need batteries.”
“Well maybe if you’re good, Santa will get you one for Christmas.” She stepped over and snagged a couple of hot wheels as Richard spotted a stuffed monkey. He grabbed the plush toy and added it to the cart as Toni spun and dropped five or six miniature classic cars in the cart. Her gaze rested on the monkey. “He’s cute.”
“Boys like monkeys, it’s a climbing thing.”
She nodded and grinned. “Maybe it will give him comfort.”
“Maybe.”
“Okay, that should get him through the next couple days; off to children’s wear. Clothes I get and have a good understanding of.”
Richard chuckled. “Says the woman walking around in ripped jeans, but may I add, they do your butt justice.”
She rolled her eyes and led him toward the end of the aisle. He glanced at the sporting equipment and tossed a glove, ball and bat in the cart as well as a football. If the kid wasn’t into sports, by the time he spent any time with Andrew he would be.
He paused for a moment and tried to remember the last time he had played football. Sure, in university, he played but as the years had gone by, he’d had less opportunity. He glanced up and noticed Toni had already made her way over to children’s wear.
He followed with the cart and caught up to her. She already had socks, underwear and a couple t-shirts in her hand. She grabbed a couple matching top and shorts sets and dumped them in the cart.
There was something strange about them shopping for kids’ stuff and a weird sensation washed over him. One he couldn’t identify. Maybe it was the beginning of something…no, no, no, he told himself. It was way too soon to let the seeds of a future start growing.
Her facial expressions indicated when she liked or didn’t like something and he couldn’t help but stare at her. Seeing how, despite them being crunched for time, she made sure things were coordinated. She held up two pairs of two piece pajamas. “Okay, Superman or Spiderman?”
He blinked at them and then to the rack. “Neither. Get the Batman ones.”
Her brows lifted. “Seriously?”
“Sweetheart, it’s all about Batman, he had the coolest car ever. You of all people should know this, considering your love for cars.” He stepped over to where she stood and grabbed a size seven, then noticed a blue set with a cartoon character from the latest movie advertised everywhere and grabbed a size seven in it as well.
It was then that something dawned on him. “You’ve never told me—nor have I seen what your other two cars are.” He placed the pajamas in the cart and noticed the sign for electronics dangling above them about ten feet away.
“Neither one is running currently, they need work and I haven’t had a lot of time to focus on it, with Kayla and Andrew getting married and work.” She shrugged as he led her over to electronics. “Their bodies are great, but they do need to be restored.”
He paused in front of the game consoles. He spotted the one Hank’s son had gotten at his pirate themed birthday. Recognizing two of the games Tommy got, he grabbed those as well. The boys were close in age, so it was a good guess the little guy would like them.
Toni scooped up an MP3 player and smiled. “That should do it.”
“You do realize, you answered my question by not really answering my question.” They walked toward the front of the store where they had entered. Two checkouts were open. One had a couple who Richard was positive were stocking a fallout shelter considering they had carts filled with several cases of food and water. The other was a little old lady with her stuff already being rung up. Though it was a considerable amount, it wasn’t three shopping carts full like the other one.
Toni met his gaze. “Well if you must know, I have a pink 1957 Thunderbird and a 1967 Mustang GT in black.”
Stunned. He wasn’t expecting that, he wasn’t sure what she was going to say, but not that. “You’re serious.”
“I like cars.”
He shook his head. “No, that’s a love for cars.” He blinked at her at smiled. “Will you show them to me sometime?”
“Price check at cash register fifteen.” The cashier called for the second time since they had stood in line.
Toni smiled. “Sure, but they aren’t all pretty yet like the Corvette.”
“I understand.” He debated and knew it would be a long year if he kept holding back and not opening up. “My grandfather Locke, my mom’s dad, loved cars. I remember going out to their place when I was younger and he was always working on his latest baby.”
Her expression softened and he continued. “I loved that time with him. I could hardly wait to go play with the tools and spend time with him. Even in middle school and high school, when the world got to be too much, I could always go out there and just spend time in the garage.” He glanced down at the white shiny tile floor with the grey flecks then again met her curious gaze. “I would really like to see the cars.”
“Price check at cash register fifteen.” The little old lady sighed, and smiled at them apologetically.
This time he and Toni both turned to the young man behind the counter. Finally, she glanced back at him. “Yeah, I’ll show them to you. I even have coveralls and tools if you decide to play.”
Uncertainty touched his soul. The thought of working on a car brought back happy memories of his grandparents. “Thank you.”
She nodded then reached up and kissed his cheek. “It’ll be fun.”
Again, the loudspeaker system kicked on and the cashier had the phone in his hand. “Price check at cash register fifteen.” He then turned to Richard. “Sir, this might be a minute.”
A minute? Apparently he can’t tell time.
He glanced at Toni who shrugged, then glanced at his watch. He wanted to get out of the store. Well, he’d wanted to leave since arriving, but now, more than ever, he wanted to get to Andrew and Kayla’s.
Again and then again. Items didn’t scan and another employee scurried like a rodent to get a price on an item. Toni had already flipped through three different magazines, but had remained quiet.
So help me if there is one more price check I am going to snap.
Sure enough, another item beeped. The cashier smiled and scanned again. “I’ll have to call.”
That makes price check number eight. Does nothing in this store scan?
“Price check at cash register fifteen.” The young man shouted for the eighth time.
“Relax, we’ll be out of here soon,” Toni soothed.
Maybe, but he was worried about Andrew and Kayla. They’d been good friends to him, and now he could be there for them. Finally, the last item in front of the bar was lifted up and scanned.
Thank God!
“Now I have some things to help me save. Everything I bought has a coupon or is on sale at another store,” the older woman told the man behind the cash counter.
Richard blinked at the battle stack of coupons and the flyers. “No, I’m sorry. We’re in a hurry we don’t have time for this.”
“But I am going to save money today and you young man, are not going to stop me.”
Grant me the strength not to throttle the little old lady!
He inhaled deeply and took her statement as a challenge. “Sure I am.” Richard stared at the not so sweet older woman. “Tell you what. You’re going to save a lot today because I’m going to pay for whatever the groceries cost. So you can save your money and your coupons.” He turned to the stunned cashier. “My wife and I have a family emergency. I don’t have time for one more price check, one more thing to be scanned and I definitely don’t have time for every item she purchased to be comparison priced. How much does this lady owe?”
The guy swallowed and studied Richard then reached for the phone in his checkout booth. “This
is unusual. I need a manager’s—”
“No!” his patience had hit the limit. “Put the phone down. Learn to think for yourself and just tell me the amount. I’m paying cash.” He smiled and hoped to heaven this ordeal would be over soon.
“$385.63, but sir—”
“I could have saved at least half that.” The older woman with the groceries piled high in her cart harrumphed.
“I don’t care!” he snapped and fished out his wallet.
“Richard…”
He turned to his pretty wife and understood the sweet but scolding expression. Richard plastered a smile on his face and glanced back to the shopper from hell. “I appreciate it, but really I’m in a hurry.” He passed four one hundred dollar bills to the cashier and sighed. If he ever walked into another one of these stores, it would be too soon.
Toni was drained. She’d been going none stop at work with the remodeling of the offices, juggling her ever changing life with Richard and knee deep in helping her mother and Felix with the Toys for Tots party. She darted a sideways glance at the man she married as they walked up to the front door of Kayla and Andrew’s home. Her stomach fluttered slightly as she took in the man next to her, who had not only survived the store, paid for everything and carried it up to the house.
“I don’t know how to thank you.”
Richard turned to her with a quizzical expression. “For what?”
“Tonight.” She responded with the hope Kayla had coffee on. She was going to need it, because if they got home before three it was going to be small miracle. Not good considering she had a seven thirty a.m. meeting.
The door opened and Andrew stood looking worse for wear. “Thank you so much, both of you.”
Richard’s brow lifted. “This is what friends do,” he stated and motioned for Toni to enter the house. “We’re glad we can be here, we would have been here sooner but got hung up in the checkout aisle of the worst store imaginable.”
Andrew’s gaze dropped to the bags. “You dragged your rich husband, to a discount department store at midnight?” A weak smile curled his mouth.
She crinkled her brow. How dare he sound so accusatory? “Your wife was desperate, crying and so—yes I did. And he survived and will be a better person for it.” Toni flashed him a killer smile. “Traumatized—he might need a therapy session or two—but a better person.”
Richard shook his head. “It doesn’t mean I’m ever going back.”
The other man smiled, some of the tension easing. “I hear you. I hate that store, but I’ve been known to traipse the aisles with the wife.”
Her husband shook his head. “I get it.”
Little footsteps pattered against the hardwood and all three adults turned. A sad little boy studied them with curiosity then spotted the stuffed monkey whose head poked out of the bag. His face lit up and ran over to Richard and removed the plush toy. He glanced up at her husband. “Daddy was a monkey. I’m a horse.”
Richard’s expression became puzzled as the young boy clutched the monkey.
Toni’s brain kicked into gear and turned to the two men. “Sheng Xiao, based on a twelve year cycle around animals. Keep in mind its origin is about 200 years before Christ. The calendar and animal system were derived by the Han Dynasty.”
Richard blinked at her. “And you just had a nerd moment. So he is relating to the Chinese zodiac?”
She blanched. “Yes and sorry.”
Andrew chuckled. “Don’t be, to know you is to love you and we know you’re a bookworm.”
“Well you did,” she breathed. “But Richard—”
“Andrew and Kayla mentioned you were a research type of girl the other night.” He paused and studied her. “I like it.”
His simple statement warmed her. “I should find Kayla.”
“She’s in the kitchen.” He then turned to the boy still clinging fast to the stuffed monkey. “Gabriel, this is Richard and Toni. They’re good friends of your Aunt Kayla’s and mine.”
He darted his gaze between them. “Hi.” He then rested his attention on the bags. His gaze darted nervously to the living room where a strange woman sat, her stiff posture indicating impatience. When he stared back at them, his brown eyes were filled with sadness.
Toni sighed and turned to Richard. “Why don’t you and Andrew deal with the government official and show Gabriel the presents. I’ll go find Kayla.”
His brows were furrowed and he had obviously picked up on the distress of the little boy. “Sound’s good.” He leaned in and lightly kissed her lips. “It’ll be okay,” he whispered.
She nodded and turned to Gabriel. “Are you hungry?”
A thoughtful look crossed his face, and uncertainty tainted his young features. Richard repeated the question in what she guessed was Mandarin and the little boy’s face lit up with a shy smile.
He nodded. “Yes.”
Toni nodded. “Okay, I’ll go find your aunt.” She stepped away from the men and understood why Kayla was so upset. Of course, her friend was usually strong, but the woman who’d called her had been having an emotional meltdown.
She stepped into the kitchen area and spotted her friend sitting on a stool at the breakfast bar crying. “Kay?”
Kayla lifted her tear stained face. “Toni,” one word, and she was back to crying.
Toni shot a look over to the coffee pot then back at her friend. “You look like hell and coffee isn’t on.”
Her friend laughed shakily. “I’m off coffee, but you’re not a guest. Make some if you want.”
She shook her head and stepped over to the coffee pot. “Since when are you off coffee?” She reached into the cupboard above and pulled out the coffee filters.
“Oh, since I found out I was pregnant.”
Her body froze but by some miracle, she turned to Kayla. “Seriously?”
“Yep, I’m positive and due in late August.”
Oh yeah, I’m going to need coffee for this conversation and maybe tequila.
Toni turned back to the coffee pot; quickly added grounds and water then turned on the machine. Kayla sat in silence as Toni pulled up the stool next to her. “Okay, I have a meeting in the a.m. so forgive me if your coffee pot took precedence over your news and the drama.” Her brow furrowed. “Do you actually have a government official sitting in your house?”
“I do and she’s mean. I don’t think she likes me because I can’t understand half a word she says.” Again, tears touched Kayla’s lashes. “She looks at me like I’m stupid.”
She reached out and wrapped her arm around her friend’s shoulders. The same friend who she’d always felt was more a sister, since she was an only child. “Gabriel is gorgeous. A real cutie.”
Kayla nodded. “Isn’t he? He’s so sweet and tries so hard to make Andrew happy, but his English isn’t great and I am hitting the panic button.”
“This isn’t like you,” Toni soothed. “Of course, everything seems out of control. Your hormones have to be doing double time and traveling at Mach five.”
“I’m terrified Toni!”
“Heyyyyy. No need. Richard has a very good grasp of Mandarin and will help you guys through this. You need to breathe and relax for both yourself and the baby you’re carrying.”
“What if the cancer comes back—doctors suggest waiting two years—I’m not two years in the clear until late spring and…”
Toni noted the terror in her friend’s tone. “Whoa, breathe; come on you’ll be okay. You’ve come too far to start thinking negative now.”
“I was focusing on my baking and opening a coffee shop and now I can’t.” She shook her head. “In the blink of an eye, I’m now guardian of a seven year old boy who barely speaks English and I’m about to have a baby on top of everything. Andrew and I won’t even be married a year when the baby comes and suddenly we’re the parents of two.” Tears filled her friend’s eyes. “Do you know what it’s like to have your world change overnight?”
“Not to sound completely sel
fish, but yes.”
Her friend’s movement paused and she blinked at Toni. “Oh, God, I’m sorry. How are things?”
“Amazing. I can say that court ordered or not, I’m married to an amazing man.” Toni pulled herself from a chair and walked over to the fridge and started hauling out vegetables, lunch meat and cheese. She brought it over to the island where her friend sat. “Gabriel is hungry. I’m sure the guys are too, whether they realize it or not.”
Kayla rested a hand on her forearm. “What would I do without you?”
Toni blinked at her friend. “I’m not sure, but that is the same question I asked myself when you had chemo, surgery and then radiation.” She shook her head and tried to embrace the fact her friend was here, alive, and so far, well. She met Kayla’s gaze. “I know you’re scared, I would be too.”
“I know we aren’t given anything we can’t handle, but I stand in total disbelief thinking really?” Fresh tears fell.
“Have you told Piper you’re pregnant?”
Kayla shook her head. “No, she’ll freak and be worried about the cancer coming back.”
Toni sighed and focused on making sandwiches and finger foods. “She is stronger than we both know. I already sense she has faced demons greater than either of us could ever imagine.”
“You have no idea.” Richard’s smooth baritone invaded as he stepped deeper into the kitchen. “But you’re right.”
Both women turned and Richard knew he had their undivided attention. He ventured deeper into the room and glanced at the coffee pot. He rummaged through a cupboard or two until he found mugs then walked over to the fridge and hauled the flavored creamer he knew the woman he married adored. Richard filled two mugs and passed the one with cream to Toni. Again, he walked over to the fridge and hauled out a bottle of Ginger Ale and passed it to Kayla.
“Thank you,” she whispered.
He lifted his brows. “Where are the crackers?”
She blinked in surprise. “Pantry cupboard.”
He nodded, found the soda crackers behind the door and brought a sleeve of saltines out. “Piper swore by this.”
