RENEE
As Miles slept in his room, I slipped out, insistent on making his birthday a little more special. What kind of birthday would it be without a gift and a cake?
At the store, I approached a young sales associate with a smile, hoping to get a fresh perspective on a gift for a man who seemed to have everything.
"Hi," I greeted, trying to sound casual.
She smiled warmly. "Good morning, ma'am. How can I help you?"
"I'm looking for a gift for my hu—" I stopped, catching myself. What if she recognized me? Mentioning that I was buying something for my husband could spark rumors, and the last thing I needed was press speculation. I quickly adjusted. "For my boyfriend," I said smoothly, "I need to find him something special, but he already has just about everything you can imagine."