"Her favorite color is blue, right?"

Leslie stepped out from behind a glass display case and nodded. "Blue or purple."

Adrienne furrowed her brow and continued to sift through a cylinder-shaped box of stuffed animals. "Any idea what type of animals she likes?" She grabbed a stuffed rabbit and held it up for Leslie to see. "Bunnies, perhaps?"

"Hmm, maybe." she replied.

A crunch of shopping bags from behind announced Nick's return to the posse. "You're buying more?"

"Yes, we're buying more!" Leslie barked, setting a glass figurine back on the shelf.

Nick held up the five full mall bags of items they had purchased already. "Correct me if I'm wrong, but didn't Mom say just to get Beej 'a little something' as a get well gift?"

Adrienne tossed the stuffed rabbit aside. "Nick, the girl has been cooped up in a hospital recovering from a serious surgery!" She grabbed a blue puppy from the box and tossed it to Leslie. "How about that?"

Leslie's eyes crinkled as she cooed, "How cute! I think she'll like it."

"Oh, c'mon." Nick rolled his eyes and shoved the bulk of bags ahead of him. "A flower arrangement, I can handle. But this...." He shook the bags at them again. "Is ridiculous! We might as well hold a parade in her honor!"

Leslie and Adrienne beamed. "What a great idea!"

Nick snorted. "Les, I was kidding."

She turned back to Adrienne. "Do you think we should get her some candy too?"

"Candy?!" Nick reached into one of the bags and extracted a package of gumballs. "Don't you think this will be enough for her?! This should keep her busy for months!"

"I dunno. A quick spin back by the candy store for some Jelly Bellies probably couldn't hurt."

"Argh!" Nick threw his hands back in frustration, snagging the package of gumballs on the display case. A shower of gumballs erupted from the gaping hole in the bag and washed in all directions on the tile floor. A lady behind the counter stopped and peered over her glasses. A little boy giggled and then ducked for cover behind his mother.

Nick looked up to see all eyes on him.

Leslie shook her head. "Nick, that was the last bag they had!"

"Way to go, Carter." Adrienne chortled, kicking a gumball across the floor at him.

Nick felt a tap on his shoulder and turned to stare into the eyes of a frowning shopkeeper. He sighed.

Pulling the shopping bags from his grasp, Adrienne took a step towards the check-out counter. "Really, Nick. You shouldn't concern yourself over this whole 'gift' matter." She paid the cashier for the blue puppy and turned back to face him. "You have enough trouble on your hands as it is." She quickly exited the store before Nick could get a word in.

"We'll be at the candy store." Leslie chimed before following suit out the door.

A growl rose in Nick's throat but he covered his anger and sourly followed the shopkeeper towards the back of the store.