Howard grunted and pulled out the fire engine she’d bought for Constantine. “This is cool. I had one of these when I was a kid.”

He was changing the subject, as if she wouldn’t notice. “Do you think Constantine will like it? I didn’t know what to buy for him.” She’d bought all sorts of stuff—a book, a DVD, a dinosaur, and the fire engine—hoping that if she hit all the bases, one would result in a home run.

“Yeah, he’ll love this stuff.” Howard jammed the fire engine back into the gift bag, then frowned at the mangled crepe paper. He attempted to fluff it up but only succeeded in ripping the paper. “Damn. I’m just making it worse. Mom always said I was a bear in a china shop.”

“I thought that was a bull.”

He grunted and slid the present back to her. “Sorry.”

Her beautifully packed gift bag looked like it had been mauled by a grizzly. Howard seemed genuinely embarrassed, so she gave him a friendly smile. “Don’t worry about it. I doubt a four-year-old boy cares about aesthetics. It’s what’s inside that really counts.”

He nodded, clearly relieved. “I’m glad you feel that way. You…may need to remind yourself of that before the night’s over.”

Was that some kind of warning? Caitlyn slipped the long strap of her handbag over her head and shoulder, grabbed the gift bag, and followed the security guard to the end of the long foyer. They passed through a set of double doors, then entered a long hallway, lined on one side with windows. A courtyard and garden was visible through the glass.

On the other side of the courtyard, she could see the cafeteria through another wall of glass. It was well-lit, with colorful balloons gathered in bunches and obstructing her view of the people inside.

Howard led her to the right, then turned left into an intersecting passageway that linked the first wing to the second. The hallway continued, lined on both sides with glass. Not soundproof, for she could hear shouts and laughter from outside. She slowed, glancing out the windows on the left.