I dutifully followed Noah around the mall. I knew most of my shopping would be done online, so I wasn’t really looking. I did stop at the Swarovski store and pick up a crystal ornament for Aimee, but I didn’t bother with anything else. I was enjoying Noah’s company, his bright smile and constant chatter, and was more than happy to weigh in when he was trying to make a decision about something. Basically, I was content to be with him and see him having fun.
But as the afternoon wore on, I started to feel it. I was fine one minute, and the next it was like someone hit me with a tired stick. I did my best to hide it because Noah was so clearly having a good time, but he noticed anyway. He didn’t say anything out loud, but I was catching the slightly concerned looks. I also realized, after a
