She set her box of candy aside, and reached back into the gift bag again. “What in the world…” she whispered as she took out something else. She stood up and shook out the item, realizing finally what she was holding. “It’s a velvet robe.”
He nodded.
“And it’s got red and pink hearts on it!” Matteo piped up.
“I wanted you to have something you could wrap yourself in when you get home from work and just need to unwind, or when you’re up late at night and need to just remind yourself you’re not alone.”
“It’s perfect,” she said, putting it on.
“It’s a little over sized so you can snuggle into it and it won’t be too tight,” Ronan said. “And here, your slippers.” He put them on the floor for her to slip her feet into. She stepped forward, wearing her robe and her slippers. “I don’t know what to say.”
“Say it’s okay that I came over without waiting for you to call.”
“It definitely is.”
“Good. There’s something else. I wanted you to have something to wear when you’re at work, too, so I picked this up,” he said, holding out a small box toward her.
Her eyes widened, and he wasn’t sure if she was just surprised or afraid.
“Now, I need you to remember that it’s from a department store and not… well, just open it and see.”
She took the box from his outstretched hand and opened it. When she got it open and finally saw what was inside, she smiled as her chin started trembling. “I love it,” she said.
“It’s probably just red cubic zirconia or something, but I thought it was pretty.”
“It’s beautiful,” she said, fighting sniffles as she put her head down and walked into his arms.
“What is it?” Leo asked.
“A necklace,” she said, her voice muffled against Ronan’s chest as he held her gently.
“Here, let me put it on you,” Ronan said.
Giada nodded against him, then held up the box without moving from where she stood, leaning against him.
Ronan laughed. “I need you to stand up so I can put it on you.”
“I’m working on it,” Giada said. She took a deep breath, then breathed it out exaggeratedly before she finally stood up straight and turned her back to Ronan so he could fasten the gold necklace around her neck. She looked down, as her hand came up to lay against the small flat, golden heart-shaped charm sporting small red stones on its surface. “I’ll never take it off,” she said.
“Well, you might want to rethink that. Like I said, it came from a department store, not a jeweler.”
“I love it more than anything I’ve ever owned. Thank you.”
“You’re welcome.”
“Want to play with my play dough with me?” Leo asked.
“Do I ever! I used to love play dough,” Ronan said. “Let’s move over to the kitchen area, though, so the play dough doesn’t get caught in the carpet.”
“Okay,” Leo said, gathering up all his gifts and putting them back in the bag to move into the kitchen with him.
“I want to play,” Matteo said.
“Well, come on, then,” Ronan said.
Matteo grinned ear to ear as he put all his stuff back in his bag, then scooted across the floor to reach his brother and Ronan.
“Want to play, Momma?” Leo asked, looking over at his mother, still pressing her fingertips to her new necklace.
