Imagine With Me (With Me in Seattle 15)

“I might splurge on something today,” I announce after we’ve ordered our food.

“Well, that sounds fun. What are you looking for?”

“I’ve had my eye on a fancy Chanel handbag for years, but it always seemed silly to invest that much money. But you know what? I can afford it, and I want it, so I’m going to buy it.”

“I like these new changes in you very much, Lex. What a surprising, fun afternoon.”

Our meal is delicious, which is expected. The crab cakes are my favorite, and Murray’s never disappoints.

“Shall we shop downtown, or just do it the right way and go to Mall of America?” I ask as we leave the restaurant.

“Honey, if you’re going to splurge, let’s go where you can pick from literally anything in the world.”

“I like the way you think.”

It’s a quick twenty-minute drive to the biggest mall in America. I park near the Chanel boutique that sits inside the giant Nordstrom, and armed with a credit card and full bellies, we happily march inside, ready to shop until we drop.

And that’s just what we do.

“I can’t believe I bought three pairs of shoes,” Mom says with a laugh. “I only needed one.”

“A girl can never have too many shoes,” I remind her as we sip our afternoon lattes and browse through Chanel. I saved it for last because I was having too much fun watching Mom shop.

She never buys things for herself. Certainly not just because they’re pretty and bring her joy.

It’s time she starts doing that.

“Hello, can I help you?”

I smile at the sales associate standing behind a glass case.

“I hope so. I’d like to see a medium classic flap, black with gold hardware, in caviar leather, please.”

“Wow,” Mom whispers. “You know what you want.”

“I told you, it’s been on my list for a long time.”

The associate grins. “I’m Molly, and I’m happy to show you that bag. Would you like some champagne?”

“Heck yes, I would. And she would, too.” I point to my mother, who giggles. We toss our empty latte cups away and settle in for a little extra fun.

One hour later, we leave the store. Mom’s a little giggly after two glasses of champagne, and my credit card is smoking from two handbags, a wallet, and shoes being charged to it.

And I don’t feel even one ounce of guilt.

“I don’t remember the last time I had this much fun,” Mom says as we pile our bags into the back of my little Audi. “And not just because we spent so much money, but because I got to hang out with my daughter for the day.”

“I enjoyed it, too,” I say before reaching out to hug my mother close. “I think we should do this every month. Maybe not on this scale, but a lunch and shopping date should be on our calendar.”

“You won’t hear me complain about that. And I’m buying lunch next time.”

“Deal.”

I get Mom home and help her in with her bags. After one more hug, and another promise to do this again in a few weeks, I head home. I’m anxious to unbox all of my new pretties and find homes for them in my closet.

I’m loaded down with bags when I approach the door to my condo. Sitting in the doorway are two big boxes.

I hurry to unlock the door and set my bags inside, and then turn to the packages.

The first one I recognize from Shawn’s house. It’s full of my blankets and things that were too big to bring in my checked baggage.

The other one is flat and big.

And I’m pretty sure I know what it is.

After I wrestle both boxes through the door and lock it behind me, I grab a box cutter and get to work on the flat parcel.

When it’s open, I stand back and sigh as I stare at the gorgeous painting that I bought at Pike’s Place Market.

It’s so close to the view on the island, it’s almost as though the artist sat in Shawn’s living room and painted the ocean. The colors remind me of an overcast day, with grays and blues blurred together. White waves crash against a light beige sand.

I take a deep breath and then smile as memories of walking on that beach flood my mind. Yes, this will be perfect on the wall in my office, where I can stare at it and dream up new plotlines.

I turn to the other box and cut through the tape. It looks like it was opened and resealed.

Did I forget something?

My blankets are on top. I take them out and smell them, and almost cry when I realize they smell like Shawn.

The pillow is on the bottom.

But stuck in the middle of the blankets and pillow is an envelope with my name on it.

I didn’t forget anything. Shawn opened the box to include this note.