Thirty-One

ELLIOT'S POV

As soon as we walked through the doors of the boutique, Sharon was at my side in a flash. Just as I was recovering from the surprise of how fast she had moved, her hands crept into mine and held on tightly. She smiled at an elderly couple who were about to leave. She beamed at the receptionist as she swung our hands.

She looked around, seeking an audience that would witness her pitiful efforts at painting a picture of marital bliss. I forcibly jerked my hand away from her grip as we approached the counter. Her smile slipped just a little bit.

The receptionist eyed us with interest as we approached. She appeared to lose interest in the other customers she had been attending to. She looked star-struck, and I could tell that she knew who I was before she even said my name.

"Mr Garrett, Mrs Garrett," she said. "It's nice to have you shop with us. We have a selection of-"

"I will take it from here," interjected a man who was dressed in the blue shirt the staff of the bo