“Sweet? If Blake had it his way, we’d be living in a tiny loft in Decatur…” She catches herself and her eyes get wide. Is she imagining what it would be like? And what if Blake’s vision for their future isn’t at all what she wants?
There’s a small lull in our conversation, so I push onward. “Why is Blake working at your father’s company if his real passion is art?”
“Because I basically told him he had to. At least until we get established. It’s the right thing to do.”
I believe Caroline thinks that’s true. It reminds me of Joshua and how he was so fixated on his future. He couldn’t ever be in the present with me. He threw away our relationship because he couldn’t envision himself with a girl who didn’t have a college degree. I think Caroline is somewhat like Joshua. She can’t envision himself with someone who won’t have a successful future—or, at least, one that isn’t guaranteed to be successful. I don’t think Caroline can help it, though. Not when her father is putting so much pressure on her.
I throw our lunch containers into the garbage and say, “Ready to hit that shop I told you about?”
Caroline looks at her watch. “I only have about twenty minutes, but yeah, I’d love to.”
Shopping always lightens the mood.
Once we’re in the boutique Caroline says, “Wow, they have everything in here. Even men’s stuff.”
“Yeah, ha, you can even get Blake a present if you want.”
“For what?”
“A just because present.” Has she really never gotten him anything that wasn’t for a birthday or holiday? If I had a boyfriend, I’d smother him with cards and little trinkets and crafts I’ve made for him.
“You are so thoughtful, Hayden. Maybe I will.” She glances around at the mannequin displays, and a rack of women’s dress pants catches her interest.
Ugh, not the boring office clothes again! “How about over here?” I ask, pointing to the dress section.
She stares for a few seconds and then follows me. “You’re the expert.” I see we’re still a work in progress.
“Well, I’m sure you have a healthy supply of pants for work. I can show you how to make a dress like this more work appropriate. And then you could wear it out and at work.”
“This dress? But this is essentially a sundress.” She’s skeptical.
“Tights, a scarf…” I start grabbing nearby items that work well together stylistically. “Stylish blazer and some booties. Now you have an anywhere outfit.”
She laughs. “You are good at this, but let me try it on first.”
I wait just outside the dressing room. Caroline’s in the midst of changing her clothes when I hear her laughing suddenly. “What’s so funny?” I say.
“I just love the outfit. It’s so much edgier than I would normally wear. Very hip.”
“You like edgy, remember? You even asked for an application at a record store.”
“I guess I do like edgy,” she acquiesces.
Near the cash register Caroline spots a rack with men’s ties on it. While she sifts through it, I walk over to the jewelry case and notice they carry custom belt buckles. Almost instantly my eye is drawn to a vintage buckle that has wings and the word TRIUMPH splashed across it.
“’Scuse me,” I say to the clerk. “Can I see the Triumph buckle?” She hands it to me and I show it to Caroline. “Look what I found.”
She looks confused. “What’s that for?”
“For Blake, ’cause he has a Triumph motorcycle.”
“Oh, yeah.” She’s staring at it in contemplation. I wonder if she’s thinking about how much she hates his motorcycle, or if she doesn’t quite know what to do with a loose belt buckle.
“I actually make leather belts,” I say. “I tool designs in them and stain them myself. I could give you one, if you want. You could put this buckle on it and give it to Blake as a just because gift.”
“You’d do that?”
“Sure I would,” I say.
