Chapter 26

Brian sighed as he stared at several items in the jewelry store. "What do women like for Valentine's Day?" he asked.

"Dad, how long has it been since you got with Ma?" Joey inquired, giving him an odd look. "You should know her at least considerably well by now; after all, she is going to have your child."

"Thank you for that little reminder," he groaned, "but that doesn't help me much here."

"Ma's a simple person like you. She's not going to expect anything fancy."

"That's the problem," Brian sighed, "everything here is too fucking fancy and too rich for my blood. Let's try somewhere else."

"Come on, Dad, we've been here less than ten minutes; at least let us look at some other stuff."

A saleswoman smiled and walked up to them. "Is there something this lovely couple is interested in?" she asked.

"Ewwwww!" Joey cried. "We're not together; this is my dad!"

"Gee, kid, thanks a lot," Brian said. "Remember that the next time you want something."

"My goodness, he could almost pass for your older brother," the saleswoman replied.

Joey made a face. "Um….no thanks. It's enough he dragged me here."

Brian cleared his throat. "Anyway, we're looking for ideas on what to get my wife," he said.

"She's having a baby," Joey added.

"Jesus, Joey, why not tell the whole damn mall?" Brian asked.

"Oh, congratulations!" the saleswoman beamed. "In that case, we have some lovely things over here that she may like."

Wonder how much this stuff costs, he thought.

As if she read his mind, Joey spoke up, "For once, Dad, it won't kill you to splurge. This is Ma, remember?"

They had gone through several items before he and Joey agreed on a mother's ring, which would be custom designed. "Mine, your mother's, yours, and the baby's birthstones," Brian smiled at Joey. "It's perfect."

"And on sale," Joey agreed. "Right up your alley, but we won't tell Ma."

"I don't think it would make much difference if she did know. It's the thought that counts." Brian handed over a credit card, signing for the purchase and was informed the ring would be ready the day before Valentine's Day.

"I'm kind of glad you talked me to sticking around in there," he grinned at Joey as they left the jewelry store.

"Good, can we go to Baby World?" she asked.

"What? Jesus, you're almost as bad as your grandmother now, every time she visits, I get dragged to some damn baby store."

"Why not? Babies need stuff."

"Yeah, never mind the mother to be just got a bunch of shit from her baby shower."

"Which the kid will outgrow in less than two months," Joey pointed out.

"Tell you what, you can go to Baby World and I can hang out in Borders," Brian compromised. "Both of us can be happy and you can even make a side trip to Hot Topic."

Joey grinned and held out her hand. "Works for me, but I need some green."

He pulled out the Visa. "Five hundred is your limit. Don't go nuts," he warned her.

She pecked his cheek. "Thanks, Dad, you're an awesome guy even if you are a little nerdy at times."

"Yeah, that's me. Meet me back at the entrance at five thirty. We'll need to get home for dinner or your mother will send out the National Guard to hunt us down."

"No problem," she smiled before taking off. "See ya."

Brian sighed and raked a hand through his hair, thinking if Joey was this bat shit about the baby now, he could almost imagine what she was going to be like when the boy was born.

A few hours later:

Brian had checked his watch, seeing he would have to meet Joey within half an hour. The mall was a little less crowded now, figuring most people would have either gone home from work or were headed for dinner. He had already called Lorelei and let her know he and Joey would be headed back soon before starting to make his way toward their meeting spot.

As he headed toward the entrance, something had caught his ear; a call coming over a security guard's radio about a 'disturbance' at one of the stores. Brian recognized it as the jewelry store where he and Joey had been earlier to choose a Valentine's gift for Lorelei.

Ever prepared, Brian approached the guard, showing his badge that he always kept on him just in case. "I'm a cop, but I'm off duty. I can back you up."

The guard nodded. "Come with me."

A robbery was in progress; Brian had called into the station to report it while assisting the security personnel in giving chase. He had pulled his gun from his ankle holster when several loud pops went off and the last thing he'd felt was a burning sensation in his shoulder.