Page 73 of This Mate Thing

Ira's eyes go super wide."A Christmas tree?"

"Yes!Then we can say it's why we went out, and he doesn't need to know about the presents.We'll leave them in my car where he doesn't see them, and we can wrap them another day."

He nods.

"Normally, I go to Rutchester and chop down a tree, but I think they're selling them outside the mall.We'll strap it on top of the car."

His nods turn more vigorous.Perfect.

We park and head into the throng of people.I hate shopping, too many scents.

I grab my phone.At the top of the list are socks.I groan."Socks."

Ira scrunches his nose.

"There is no way around it."But maybe we can find some fun gifts too.

"I guess not.Where do we find socks?"

I scan the storefronts until I find one with men's clothing."Let's try this one."I grab his hand and weave my way through the people shuffling about."I bet we can find mittens and a beanie there too.I don't know about winter boots.Maybe he needs to try those on."

Ira sighs.

"We could get a gift card in the shoe store, though."

"Yes, maybe that's better."

"I fear so.It's no fun to buy the wrong size."Socks I'll buy in my size.I think we have about the same.

A woman with enough perfume to choke an entire pack of wolves steps toward us the moment we step into the store."How can I help you?"She smiles expectantly.

"Hi.My partner is super boring."

She blinks at me a few times, but no words come, so I continue."In his letter to Santa, he wrote he wanted socks, mittens, and a beanie."I roll my eyes and sigh dramatically."We're not sure the letter will reach Rovaniemi since our son's--" I raise my and Ira's interlaced hands."--teacher insists on sending the letters to the North Pole.I'm sure you see our dilemma."I give her a meaningful look."We need socks, mittens, and a beanie, so he doesn't get disappointed."

She blinks a couple more times, then gives me a strangled chuckle.I look at Ira."Did I break her?"

That has her laughing for real.

"Okay, so socks, mittens, and a beanie for Christmas?"

"Exactly."

She smiles at Ira."Over here we have mittens and beanies."

I check my phone."Oh, he wants a scarf too."

She nods and proceeds to show Ira what they have.I allow him to pick.Then she leads us to the socks, and I grab a few different brands.

"You want me to wrap them for you?"She gestures toward the checkout.I glance at Ira, who nods.

"Yes, please."

She smiles.Once she got over her initial shock, she's been of great help.I swipe my card when she names the total, and while she wraps the gifts, I show Ira the list."We need a store with kitchen stuff."

"If you follow this aisle--" The shop assistant gestures in the opposite direction from where we entered."--you'll find one on your left."

"Awesome, thank you.Then we need a heated blanket and duct tape."