Shopping
As soon as they cross the threshold of the mall doors, Holtz can see Erin’s whole body go tense almost instantly. The corridors are filled with people wall to wall and the foot traffic flows in a seemingly unending stream.
Holtz grabs Erin’s hand and ducks her head a little to look at her. Erin’s eyes dart anxiously at the sight and she’s gnawing at her lip a little more aggressively than usual.
“Hey, you didn’t have to come, babe.” Her voice is gentle with concern. “Just because I put my shopping off for so long doesn’t mean you should suffer for it. Why don’t you go get a tea somewhere and I’ll come find you when I’m done?”
Erin jumps a little when Holtz speaks and she turns her attention to the blonde with a warm, determined smile. “No, it’s okay—really! I want to spend time with you! Plus, I need to pick up some, uh, wrapping paper anyway.” Erin squeezes Holtz’s hand gently. “I’m good, I promise.”
Holtz believes her. “Let’s go quick, then. No sense in drawing this out! Holtzmanns are very efficient shoppers. We know what we like,” she says with a wink.
Erin laughs and the two journey off. First stop is the post office in a nearby drug store. Holtzmann sends some packages and cards express so they arrive before Christmas. To her credit, Holtz only swears a little bit when the attendant reads off the total price for shipping.
Next, they follow their noses to a luxury soap store and pick up some bath stuff for Patty.
“I also made her a new belt buckle from scratch. Wanna guess what it says?” Holtz says as they wait in line.
“I would much rather you tell me,” Erin answers, grinning.
“It says FIGHT ME with a little rose dotting the ‘I’ and a lovely rose-gold finish to match.”
Erin smiles warmly. “Sounds perfect.”
When that’s done, Holtz buys a fancy cheese kit and an agenda designed for a child for Kevin.
Abby’s next, so they go to a games and hobby shop to find some things for her there. They walk out with a Japanese board game with some beautiful artwork and a 16 inch vinyl figure from one of Abby’s favourite indie video games.
At this point, Holtz’s arms are getting pretty tired, and she notes in passing that Erin seems to searching for something.
“Looking for a place that might have that wrapping paper you like? You know with the grid on the inside for precision wrapping.”
“Huh?” Erin says distractedly. “Oh, right! Yes…that’s what I’m doing.”
Holtz gives her a look. Erin’s chewing on her lip again and flicking her fingertips a little. “Do you mind if I run down a floor or two to grab that thing I need?”
“Wrapping paper.”
“Right. That. I can meet you at the food court in twenty?”
“Okay,” Holtz says simply, and Erin takes off. She gets about four feet before turning back. She kisses Holtz on the cheek quickly before turning again and disappearing for good.
Holtz knows that Erin’s not getting wrapping paper. She ran right by a Hallmark store that has all wrapping paper and all holiday merchandise for 70% off.
Holtz shrugs it off and prefers not to think about. She likes surprises anyway, so it’s best if she doesn’t try to guess. Plus, Erin’s absence gives her the perfect opportunity to pick-up her girlfriend’s gift. She smiles wickedly and takes off in the opposite direction Erin disappeared to.
It’s quite a production to get the gift bought, wrapped, and tucked three layers deep in Holtz’s other shopping bags. When she finds Erin, she’s sitting at a table in the food court sipping a smoothie and clutching a bag entirely too close to her abdomen.
Erin still hasn’t spotted her, so Holtz turns and walks all the way around the escalators to sneak up on her. When she’s close enough, Holtz leans in very close and says, right in Erin’s ear, “I know you’ve got a present for me in there.”
Erin jerks back while spitting some of her smoothie out. It drips down her chin and Holtz snorts out her first few laughs.
“Jesus, Holtzmann.”
Holtz is doubled over and slapping her knee. “I’m sorry! I’m sorry! It was too perfect.”
Erin wipes her chin with a napkin and glares at her girlfriend. Holtz doesn’t miss the smile Erin thinks she’s hiding. “Not funny, Holtz.”
“You’re right. It wasn’t funny.” She plops herself down in the chair across from Erin, shaking the whole table as she does. “It was actually hilarious.”
Erin smirks a little, but it’s brief. She sits up straighter, indicating that it’s back to business. “So, did you get everything that you needed? Any more stops?”
“Nope! All done. So,” she wiggles her eyebrows, “what’d you get me?”
Erin, if possible, clutches her bag even closer. Her eyes narrow. “Who says this is for you?”
“Please Erin, you didn’t even buy anything resembling wrapping paper.”
“Who said I was buying wrapping paper?”
Holtz laughs in her face. God, she’s bad at this. It’s adorable. “You did, love! Like, three times!”
“Oh, right.”
Holtzmann shakes her head and laughs some more. As she stands, she holds out the arm that’s not carrying all her shopping bags for Erin. Erin accepts, and the two saunter off.
“You know what the best part of Christmas shopping is?” Erin says thoughtfully as they exit the mall. Holtz can feel the tension evaporate from Erin through their still linked arms.
“Finishing it?” Holtz guesses.
“Exactly.”
Holtz beeps the remote locks for the hearse and searches for their vehicle. “Well I would agree with you there, Er-bear, but I sort of count wrapping the presents in this category, and that is such a blast, it’s got ‘finishing’ beat by a mile.”
“Ssshoot. I really did need to buy some wrapping paper…”
“Don’t worry about it,” Holtz says, spotting the car about fifty spots away and tugging Erin toward it. “I’ve got some stuff we can use.”
“Okay…” Erin sounds unsure. Holtz just flashes her a confident grin.
“Trust me love; the fun is just getting started.”