She spent a full hour contemplating the dizzying array of gift possibilities for her friend, who had received a new doll for Christmas. “Sorry,” she said. “I’m taking way too long. Mom would be losing it by now.”

“I don’t mind. We’ve got until two to get you to the party.”

She looked up at him, seemingly prepared to say something that she apparently thought better of.

He nudged her. “What?”

“You’re just really nice.”

Touched by the compliment, he said, “You’re pretty nice yourself.”

“You like my mom.”

“I like her a lot.”

Simone bit her lip.

“Whatever you want to say to me is fine, Simone. I hope we can be friends.”

“We already are.”

“I’m glad you think so.”

“It’s just my mom… She’s really special, and she does a lot for me. I just… I wouldn’t want…”

Around them, chaos ruled with delighted young girls and harried parents, but everything else faded away except her. He bent to bring his face down to her level. “I’m going to try my very hardest not to do anything to ever hurt her, if that’s what you’re worried about.”

“That’s good,” she said, sounding relieved. “I want her to be happy.”

“So do I.” After the incredible week they’d spent together, that had become his top priority.

“Are you going to move here?”

Leave it to a perceptive nine-year-old to cut right to the chase. “I don’t know yet. Your mom and I are still figuring it out.”

She thought about that for a minute. “She smiles a lot when you’re around.”

“Does she?”

Simone nodded.

“I’m glad to hear that, and I’ll do everything I can to make sure she has lots of good reasons to smile.”

“Okay.” Seeming pacified, for now anyway, Simone went back to shopping and finally made a decision on a dress for her friend’s new doll.

“I can’t believe they have a doll hospital here,” he said, noticing a sign. “What goes on there?”

“Repairs. Kids are hard on toys.”

“Wow. This is serious business.”

She giggled, and he fell a little deeper in love with her.

“I was thinking… I need something to remember my first time here. Maybe you could pick out something for me.”

“You want something from here?” The disdain dripping from her tone gave him a good preview of what her teenage years might be like.

“What’s wrong with that?” he asked, faking offense.

She giggled again and shook her head at his foolishness.

“What if you pick out something for me and hang on to it until I need it? Something you might want for one of your dolls. I’ll let you borrow it.”

Looking up at him with a baffled expression on her face, she said, “If you want.”

“I do. I never want to forget my first trip to the American Girl store.”