Soul-Bonded to the Alien(58)
“Please feel free to browse; you’ll be amazed at what you will find here. We’re on the cutting edge, if it’s out and it works you will find it here.” Tracey dropped her voice, “We also have a service where you can make purchases discreetly, if the person you are shopping for happens to be with you.”
Aviana nodded her head and murmured a low thanks before they moved off to keep an eye on Mckayla.
“Mom, look!” She was pointing to a game. “Mom, this a virtual reality game. It’s the best one ever made. There’s a princess and a castle and a prince. The prince turns into a monster, Mom! Not a scary one though like the one in Beauty and the Beast. They go on adventures together, there are things chasing them and every time they defeat one of them they get closer to the ultimate of opening all the rooms in the castle. Can I get it, please?”
“Mckayla, you know I don’t like these games, no telling what they programed into them.”
“Please, Mom, this is the coolest, I heard some girls talking about it in school.”
“Mckayla, I think your mom’s right. You have to be careful what VR games you play with.” Paige hated to see the girl sad.
With a defeated sigh Mckayla walked to another game.
“Aviana, do you want to see who makes this game?”
“Sure, what could it hurt?” They turned the box over looking for the name of the manufacturer.
“I found it,” Paige said as pointed to it. Selma smiled.
“I thought so. Hale Dare produced this game. It’s entirely safe.”
“I read an article about him.” Paige stopped to think before continuing. “It said he manufactured on a small scale, but if he ever wanted to he could put several of the larger toy manufacturers out of business with his Virtual Reality games.”
“He could, his games are also safe and completely appropriate for the age range he puts on the box.” Selma said.
“You talk like you know him.” Aviana looked at her.
“Let’s say I met him a couple of times and I respect him. He has just recently married; Victor and I spent some time at their celebration with them and their family.”
“You trust him and his games?”
Selma nodded. “Yes, I do. This game won’t hurt Mckayla.”
“Looks like she is getting her game.” Aviana tagged the game knowing it would be taken to the front and held until she was ready to check out.
“I already love the way they do business here.” Not having to walk around with a big shopping cart was nice.
They moved through the store tagging the gifts they wanted for Mckayla and Vick. Once done, they each walked up separately leaving Mckayla with whoever wasn’t going up to the register. Their purchases would be stored on the loading deck, they would be able to drive around to get them after they were done shopping.
“Now all we have to do is buy a few things for the guys, then we’re done.” Selma was practically skipping down the mall.
“What do you mean? You expect me to buy something for Rylan?”
Paige turned to look at her, lifting an eyebrow.
Aviana stuttered, “I mean all of them of course.” Her faced flushed, becoming dark red.
“Nope, I expect nothing of the sort. I will buy for all of them. I have Victors shopping done but I think he deserves a couple more gifts. Either that or I deserve the joy of buying him a couple more gifts.”
They followed Selma down the hallway to the next store.
“Paige” Aviana lowered her voice. “I think Selma may be suffering from some type of problem.”
“I had that same thought,” Paige whispered back.
“I’m close enough to hear the two of you,” Selma called out over her shoulder. Turning her head to look at them, she winked before walking into the next store.
The store was filled with an overabundance of perfume and anxiety. Not what Paige was hoping to smell in a men’s store. Woman were flocking in looking for that last minute gift for the Mr. Right in their lives.
“This is wonderful” Selma was stroking the inside of a leather jacket.
“Is that for Victor?” Aviana asked looking the Jacket over.
“No, I was thinking Rylan. He sometimes rides his bike in the middle of winter. The thick fur lining in the jacket would help to keep him warm. I could see him in this.”
“That’s too big for him,” Aviana stated without emotion going to one that would be a better fit. She stroked the jacket.
“It was just a thought.” Selma gave her an innocent smile and walked away.
They walked the store with Selma staring down several women when they reached for the same item she wanted.
“Selma, I bet they have more in the back,” Paige laughed after the last show down in front of a T-shirt that she could actually picture Victor wearing.