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“Just Annelise,” he said

“Okay I’s forcool for one of reat, but isn’t necessary I already have presents for theet Annelise?”

He thought about the wo personal For her Not her office So pretty”

“That helps a lot Clothes are going to be difficult She won’t be able to return them We’ll head toward the jewelry section I’ll bet you can find so there”

He nodded and scanned the row of booths The jewelry was all the way in the back “Don’t forget the fudge You said you wanted fudge”

She laughed “Thanks for re It’s my favorite part of the bazaar”

“Then we should get it first” He pointed to the banner above the food section “It’s that way”

They started down an aisle Within three steps, two groups of women had walked between them Madeline turned to look for him, just as he came up behind her

“This could be dangerous,” he said with a grin, then took her hand She laced her fingers with his

For a second, they looked at each other He wasn’t sure what she was thinking, but his brain settled on several versions of This is nice

They continued walking Madeline pulled him toward a booth

“Look,” she said, pointing at miniature teddy bears dressed in festive clothes There were Santa bears and elf bears, bears in pajaear She picked up two sroom

“Supercute for the table,” she told hier and Oliver will sit”

The bears weren’t his style, but they did remind him of his sister She had a streak of whimsy every now and then

“We’ll take them,” he said, and reached for his wallet

They made it another ten feet before Madeline pulled him toward another booth This one sold nutcrackers of all kinds Madeline settled on one made out of pewter

“It’s a fa,” she told hi she’d brought with her “I’ll send it to Robbie He and Jasmine collect them”

“Did youryou here every year?” he asked