“We gets Pooh!” Liliana exclaimed.
Once she picked out the unstuffed, almost scary version of Pooh, we made our way over to a machine where they stuffed the bear. There was a heart that had a whole procedure with it. When they said to make a wish, Liliana took it very seriously. She had to clutch her chest and say a prayer so long that a line started to form. When I looked at Saryn for help, she made no attempts to move. I’d remember that for the future when she needed my help.
“Okay, let’s say amen and stick it on in there, Liliana,” I said, prompting her to wrap up the prayer.
She kissed the heart and pushed it into Pooh Bear.
After Pooh was all stitched closed, we moved over to give him a bath. Liliana was very thorough in her bathing skills. From there, I quickly learned why Saryn wanted to avoid this place. It was time to shop for clothes.
“Doesn’t Pooh just wear this shirt?” I asked, holding it up for Liliana to inspect.
“Yep!” she answered while she jumped up and down.
So we dressed him. Then she saw the outfit for Eeyore, then Piglet, and when I saw Tigger’s outfit, we were done for. Back through the line for three more bears. This time I made Tigger, and when it came time to make a wish on the heart, I quickly glanced around and made my wish.
If any of my friends had seen me in that moment, I’d never live it down. Once the other three bears were bathed and dressed, we walked out of the store with nearly the entire Hundred Acre Woods in tow.
Saryn gave me a stern look. “You just spent a small fortune, all because of those blue eyes.”
“And the way she says please, don’t forget that,” I added.
“Yeah, that one still gets me sometimes, too. Let me ask you something, is the Tigger for you?” Saryn asked, trying not to laugh.
I looked down at her. “Of course, he is!”
“Tigger!” Liliana said with a giggle. She was back up on my shoulders as I carried the stuffed animals and Saryn carried the other two.
After we dropped the stuffed animals off in the truck and explained to Liliana that it was their nap time, we headed back over to the shops and hit a few stores. Shopping had never been one of my favorite pastimes, but somehow being with Saryn and Liliana made it different. I actually enjoyed myself.
“I can’t believe we stayed on budget and got all of this stuff,” I said, manhandling the bags from Pottery Barn kids, Restoration Hardware, and Dillard’s. “Liliana, you are the perfect woman to go shopping with. You absolutely know what you want and we are in and out.”
Saryn chuckled. “She’s her mother’s daughter. I hate shopping. I go as fast I can.”
I glanced her way. “I don’t think I’ve ever met a woman who didn’t like to shop.”
She shrugged. “I mean, I enjoy shopping for other people, but for me, I hate it. If I could live in a pair of sweatpants and my old favorite T-shirt for the rest of my life, I’d do it.”
“A girl after my own heart,” I said as our eyes met. I gave her a wink, and I couldn’t help but notice how her cheeks turned a soft shade of pink. I was quickly liking that look on her.
After a few moments of silence went by, we both went to speak at the same time.
“So what…”
“Why did…”
We both laughed.
“You go first,” Saryn insisted.
“So what made you decide to come back to Boerne after the divorce?” I asked.
With a shrug, Saryn answered, “It’s home. My family is here, and I want Liliana to be near my folks and brother.”
“What about her dad?”
She laughed. “He didn’t want a family, he made that very clear.”
Anger boiled up inside of me. “So you mean to tell me he was willing to let y’all just walk away?”
She nodded. “Yep. He wants a different life.”
“Then why the F. U. C. K. did he marry you?”
Saryn looked up at me and smiled with a twinkle in her eye. “You spelled that out.”
“Of course, I did. I’m not going to swear in front of Liliana.”
Something moved across her face. She looked away and chewed on her lip. “Thank you, for that, for thinking of her little ears.”
“Comes with the job,” I said.
She bumped against my arm and laughed. “Don’t play it off, Truitt, you’re different from any other guy I’ve ever met.”
“Different good or different bad?” I asked with interest.
Saryn paused for a few moments before she replied, “Good.”
Our gazes met and I swore my body heated from her intense stare. The feeling quickly vanished when her daughter cried out from on top of my shoulders.
“Ice Cweam!”
Smiling, I headed over to the yogurt shop.