Chapter 61

“Or an early Valentine’s.” I looked up, like Patrick was. “I’ll buy you two the biggest heart-shaped box of chocolates we carry.”

I had a secret pen pal of sorts at the store. Her name was Carrie. One morning, on a whim, I’d grabbed a dog toy I couldn’t resist. After checking the schedule to see who’d be on that day, I’d chosen a friendly sounding name, found the same one written in pink on a strip of masking tape affixed to a locker door, and slipped the UPC code from the price tag and a five-dollar bill into its vent. I’d included a note that stated who I was and why I’d picked up what I had. That night, I’d found an envelope with change and a Post-it in my locker.

Hope Wilbur liked his toy.

Love, Carrie.

Since then, I made at least one purchase a week. Carrie was off Tuesdays and Fridays. I never bought anything those days.

“There,” Patrick said, his warm breath reacting with the great big cold window. “We put out the invite. Now, we wait for an RSVP.”