Orion and Juliah left the restaurant and headed back to the train station. 

   “Okay bro, what is this all about?”

   “I don’t know.” He seemed so deflated. 

    “We were sitting at breakfast this morning talking. She had bought two blueberry bagels when the train stopped in Merentro. I had gotten sick the night before and didn’t want one, so as not to tempt me; she took them in the dining room. She and the porter ‘Josh’,” the tone of Orion’s voice changed when he said Josh’s name. It was dripping with distain. “ate them. You know how I am about food; dinner is the only time I have to look at food. So I make a general comment, if I hang around you, I am going to be around food.”

   “What happened next?”

   “She got mad and left.”

   Juliah thought for a long time. “You know, she might have low self-esteem.”

   “Why?” Orion scoffed. “She has a doctor. Why would she have low self-esteem?”

   “She is a big girl.”

   He frowned at her. 

   “She is, honey. I am little, she isn’t. Opposite of little is big.”

   He continued to glare at her.

   “You really do care about her.” Juliah was delighted putting her hand on his chest over his heart. “I wish you would have an affair. I have been telling you for years that Floria is. I say go for it.”

   “No.” He dryly retorted removing her hand holding it for a brief time in his. “No.” They stopped beside a flower stand, “if I buy her flowers will she accept them, or throw them in my face. I am tired of getting things thrown at me.”

   “Is she allergic to flowers?”

   “Would she like sweets better?”

   “Does she even like sweets?”

   “Would you stop? You are not making this easy.”

   “It is my job to help.”

   “I know.” Orion snapped his fingers. “What size do you think she wears?”

   “Honestly?”

   “Of course.”

   They walked across the street to a clothing store. “What are we looking for?”

   “Pajamas.” He scratched his head, “Okay, she has worn pink pajamas with flowered shorts. A lime green set of long pajamas. Her socks have to match everything.”

   “What is so special about p.j.’s?”

   He shook his head. “I got sick.”

   “Oh.”

   “I can get her a new pair.”

   “I understand now.” Juliah drug him to the ladies department. She pulled out two chairs. “Sit.” 

   He sat down as she disappeared. Juliah had this uncanny ability to get everyone involved in her shopping experiences. She returned sitting down beside of him.

   “Here we go.” She giggled draping her arm around his neck. “Tell me what you think looks like her.”

   “Bring on the show.” He sighed.

   Clerks from the store started parading p.j.’s in front of them. They were every color of the rainbow. And some he was pretty sure God didn’t create. “I had no idea there were so many styles of pajamas.” He was flabbergasted. 

   “This is only a fraction of the styles. They have been limited to shorts and pants. Personally, I like p.j.’s a size bigger than what I normally wear.”

   After 35 minutes of pajamas, Orion’s head was starting to hurt. “I can’t do this much longer. My head is starting to spin.”

   A male clerk brought a yellow short set to show them. The shirt had this big blue dot in the middle with a smaller pink dot inside of the blue one. There was a green dot inside of the pink one. The shorts had little dots that were the same color as the ones on the shirt all over them. 

   “I really like those.”

   “She has blonde hair doesn’t she?” 

   “A shade of blonde. It’s much darker than yours.”

   “What other colors do you have in that style?” Juliah asked.

   The clerks quickly disappeared returning with a light blue, red, green, and a pink set.

   “I like the blue one. She hasn’t worn blue yet?”

   The clerk brought Juliah the p.j.’s. She looked at the tag. “One size bigger please.” The clerk left. “Would you like anything else to go with that?”

   “How about a pair of light blue socks and a robe?” Orion answered.

   Two other clerks left. They all three returned together with their items. They held them up for Orion and Juliah’s approval.

   “What do you think?” Orion was seeking Juliah’s input. 

   “Let me check the sizes.” She wiggled her finger at the clerks. “Good.” She complimented as she checked the p.j.’s. The robe received a good. “What size shoe does she wear?”

   Orion raised his left eyebrow. “How would I know that?” He thought for a moment. “She has very small feet.”

    Juliah inspected the socks. “Next size down, please.”

   The train whistle blew.

   “Meet us at the counter with those. I have a train to catch.” Orion called after the clerk.

     They stood at the register and watched the cashier pack his gift.

   “This was fun.” Orion admitted.

   “I didn’t think you liked to shop?” Juliah teased.

   “Thank you.” He kissed her forehead.

   “Anytime.” She giggled.

   “Here’s your socks.” The clerk reported out of breath.

   The cashier removed the price tag before putting them in the box. She closed the lid and put a pretty bow around it. 

   “Thank you sir.” The cashier smiled. Orion took the box from her.

   “She will love it.” Juliah reassured him.

   “Enjoy the rest of your trip.”

   “You know I will.”

   They parted company outside the store.

     Fred was waiting on the city side of the depot for Orion. When Orion neared the station, Fred got right in his face. 

   “I don’t know what this is about but you’d better make it right.” 

   “I don’t remember her introducing you as her great protector.” Orion hissed.

   “I would do anything for her, including cutting you down to size.”

   “Don’t worry your little head.” Orion presented the package.

   “Well, that is a step in the right direction. If I know Sarah, that’s a start.”

   The train whistle blew again.

   Fred let him pass.

   Orion found Sarah reading in her book again. She didn’t move when he entered the room. He got down on his knees in front of her.

   “I don’t know what I said wrong but I know I said something. Please accept my apology and this gift.” He noticed she wasn’t even reading the book. Slowly he removed it from her lap, laying it in the floor. He replaced the book with one beautiful package. 

   She let out a long sigh, “I am the one that needs to apologize. I..”

   He stopped her by putting his finger over her lips. He marveled at how soft they were.

She looked up at him. He thought she was going to cry.

   “Open.” He gave her the big round sad eyes treatment. “Please.”

   She opened the box to find his matching gift. “They are adorable.” She started crying, wrapping the robe around her shoulders.

   “Sarah?” He got up sitting beside of her. “Please don’t cry.”

   He wanted to hug her up. As the thought filled his head, he moved forward slightly then did a jerk stop. ‘No, I can’t.’ But it seemed wrong to just let her cry. He felt so awkward. What was he supposed to do. Finally, with great hesitation, he patted her shoulder. 

    “I’m okay.” She sniffed, rubbing her eyes.

    Orion jerked awake, he was sitting in the same position as before he went to sleep. The robe was lying next to him. The box was gone. 

   She stepped out of the bathroom in her new p.j.’s. “Well,” she modeled. “What do you think?”

   “You look great.”

   She sat back down beside of him. “Thank you.”

   “Anything.”

   “How did you know what size to buy?”

   “Juliah picked the size. I picked out the pajamas.”

   “I didn’t think you like to shop?”

   “Sometimes,” he smiled. “Look, I don’t know what I said but I know I said something wrong. Will you tell me what I said so that I never say it again?”

   “It is okay. I was being overly sensitive.” She smiled. 

   For a moment, the thought of just how accustomed he could become of her, raced crossed his mind.