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Good.
Killian wanted to keep the conversation light, especially after Silas thought they would bring him back to social services. He knew Anne wanted to adopt him before they were kidnapped but had put it on hold until they felt secure. Killian’s game plan was to marry Anne and adopt Silas. That is, if Anne agreed.
“Why don’t we check out the bath store? Anne likes to take a bath, and women like nice-smelling products.”
“Yeah!”
Silas skipped alongside Killian as they walked to the bath store. Inside, there were shelves of carefully arranged displays of soaps, natural sponges, lotions, and oils.
Silas was drawn to something called bath bombs. Giant balls of… Killian grimaced. What? He read the directions: Place one bath ball into the water and enjoy essential oils and fizzy fun. Okay. That sounded weird, but what did he know?
“I can get Anne a bag of little bombs for nine ninety-nine. I have enough money for that. Do you think she would like them?” asked Silas.
Killian looked at the assortment. “Yes, I do. Although she would enjoy anything you bought her.”
Silas picked up a bag of assorted colors. “Let’s pay.” He looked at Killian. “Do you think they have some paper to cover it?”
“You mean gift wrapping?”
The little boy nodded.
“We’ll make sure it’s wrapped.”
Package in hand, all neatly gift-wrapped, Silas couldn’t stop talking about the bath bombs. The next stop was the jewelry store, then dinner. Killian wanted to call Anne, but tonight was about her having fun.
They approached the jewelry store Killian had researched. Silas was mesmerized by all the glittering diamonds, gold jewelry, and gemstones in the window. “Come on, bud, let’s choose a ring.”
The jewelry store was all light, with marble floors and glass display cases placed around the edge of the room and in the middle. Each showcase held different variations of rings, necklaces, bracelets, and pins. Figurines were along one wall, dishes and glasses on another. However, Killian was only interested in the case that featured engagement rings.
A salesperson hurried over when Killian stopped to look at the rings. “What can I show you?”
Killian was overwhelmed with the selection. He wanted a perfect ring that captured Anne’s personality—classy but understated. He pointed to a platinum ring with a delicate band and a square diamond in the middle, surrounded by small diamonds on each side. It was feminine, yet it still had the clean lines that Anne would appreciate.
“What do you think, Silas?”
The boy looked at the ring and then at Killian. “It’s beautiful.”
“I think so, too.” Killian handed the ring back to the salesperson, who asked him about the size and price of the diamond.
All that was left was to pay for it, and Killian could pick the ring up in a week.
They left the store, and Killian heard Silas’s stomach growl. “I think we did good. How about some food?”
The restaurant was a hit with Silas. Killian could have done with fewer monkeys howling and elephants roaring, but the beer was cold and the burger hot. Plus, he got one-on-one time with Silas. They talked a little about the kidnapping, but kids were resilient. Silas said he was scared and happy the man went to jail—end of discussion.
He was keeping Silas overnight at his condo while Anne enjoyed the night out with her friends. Killian hoped the engagement went as smoothly as buying the ring.
CHAPTER FIFTY-TWO
Ever since Silas stayed overnight with Killian, he had been acting squirrelly and looking everywhere but straight at her.
He had a great time with Killian, so it wasn’t that. Silas had given Anne a blow-by-blow description of the restaurant with its trumpeting elephants and screeching monkeys, the Lego store, and then he gave her the present he’d saved for.
It was the sweetest gift ever. Anne had shed some tears, which worried Silas until she told him they were tears of joy.
No, it was something else.
When she asked Killian if anything had happened, he just shook his head and assured Anne it probably was some quirk Silas was going through.
