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Levi gladly handed over the cash.
“Do you want to get it gift-wrapped?” the sales clerk asked, then glanced dismissively at Levi before turning to Cindy and Grace, as though a man couldn’t provide the answer.
Levi shook his head and took the bag from the clerk. “My mother will want to examine every thread of these and then wrap it herself, but thank you.”
The clerk smiled and wished them a beautiful afternoon before they left the store.
“Anyone hungry?” Levi asked as they walked past the entrance to the grocery store.
“If you are, get whatever you want. We’re going to check out that store right over there.” Grace pointed to a high-end boutique where she would never dream of shopping, but it would be neat to look.
Cindy trailed after her as Levi disappeared inside the store.
He held a small paper bag as well as the bag with the baby clothes when he tracked them down in the boutique where they were ogling clothes with price tags that made them afraid to touch anything.
“Ready?” Levi asked, and they left the store together. They plopped onto a couch in one of the seating areas, and then he passed around the Ding Dongs he’d purchased.
The crème filled chocolate cake hit the spot, even if Grace hadn’t thought she was hungry. She pulled tissues from her purse to wipe away the sticky residue on their fingers, then waved at one of their neighbors who approached with her two little boys.
“Hello, Mrs. Johnson. Are you enjoying a day of shopping?” Grace asked, greeting the harried-looking woman.
“Not at all, but Tommy and Rick needed new shoes. I swear, their feet grow an inch every other month.” The woman held up two shoe boxes tied together with string. “Are you girls having fun?”
“Yes. We have a wedding to attend next weekend and needed new dresses.” Grace pointed to the garment bags draped over the couch by Cindy. “Have you met my friend, Mrs. Johnson? This is Levi Gibson.”
“Are you the one who drives the orange and white pickup?” the woman asked, grabbing the back belt loop of Tommy’s shorts before he could run off.
“Yes, ma’am. It’s nice to meet you.” Levi stood and tipped his head to her, keeping his cowboy hat covering his hand.
Grace had decided weeks ago he mostly kept the hat with him to hide the wounds on his hand, not because he couldn’t go anywhere without it.
“You as well. Unlike some of the hooligans who race through the parking lot, you seem to be a responsible driver.”
Grace would have laughed at that, but she didn’t want to insult Levi or her neighbor. Levi was a responsible … everything. She couldn’t imagine him ever not being dependable, trustworthy, accountable, thoughtful, or honest. It just wasn’t in his nature.
“Do you need some help, Mrs. Johnson?” Cindy asked, rising to her feet.
“I was going to pick up a few groceries, then head home, but the boys have reached their limit of good behavior.” The woman glared down at her son. The oldest was five and the youngest just three.
“I could watch them for you while you get what you need,” Cindy offered. “If you wouldn’t mind giving me a ride home.”
“We can take you home, Cindy,” Grace said, giving her friend a questioning look.
Cindy tipped her head toward Levi and made a shooing motion with her hand.
Apparently, Cindy thought Grace and Levi should spend the rest of the day without a third wheel tagging along. While Grace loved spending time with Levi, she enjoyed being with Cindy as well.
Levi seemed to understand what Cindy was conveying and shook his head. “I’m happy to take you home, Cindy, anytime you want to go.”
“Actually, if Mrs. Johnson doesn’t object, I could take our things home and then work on the wedding gift I’m making for Delia.” Cindy offered their neighbor a hopeful look.
“You’d be doing me a huge favor, Cindy, if you watched the boys. The least I could do in return is give you a ride if you’re sure you can stand being cooped up in the car with these two little wild men.”
Rick giggled and made a silly face, which his younger brother tried to mimic, only it appeared more like he had a tummy ache, causing them all to laugh.
“Then that’s what we’ll do.” Cindy gave Grace a smug look, then made another shooing motion with her hand.
Grace refused to leave her friend with the two Johnson boys. She’d seen them in action around the apartment building. They were rambunctious on a good day, and she had no doubt that, like their mother had stated, they’d already used up every ounce of their good behavior.
