The Perfect Gift

Busy Days (Day 6.6)

Wally's POV:
I will admit that I may have gotten a little carried away at breakfast. I simply couldn't help myself. I had to get close to you to see your reaction. I wanted to see the look on your face when you finally got it all figured out. Unfortunately, my sweet apple blossom doubts herself even with all the pieces laid out in front of you. I wanted to tell you in that moment when I had you so close to me. I wanted more than that, even. I wanted to wrap my arms around you, to hold you against me, and never let go, but I have to be patient. I have to wait for you to come to me.

I have to wait for you to come home.

Y/N POV:
I couldn't stop thinking about breakfast. I've only known Wally for a day, but his behavior did a 180 in seconds from the perfect friendly neighbor to the overconfident love interest in a romance movie. Then he just left! My poor heart was threatening to burst out of my chest after that and I had to sit on the kitchen floor while trying to come up with a reason for the sudden change. My only reasonable theory was that he was trying to flirt but I was too caught up in trying to convince myself that he wasn't a cartoon character come to life that I completely missed the memo. I felt so stupid and suddenly out of place in my own house that I decided to go and watch TV to clear my head.
That is when I noticed it. The Wally doll was gone. I left him on the couch the night before and didn't wake up with him in my bed this morning, so I had no idea where he could have gone. I started calling out to him while I looked, but there was obviously no answer. I got a feeling of deja vu while looking through the house for him and I couldn't help myself but laugh at the situation.
After not finding the doll in any of the rooms, I decided to leave it alone and move on with my day. I checked my email, made a grocery list, and played solitaire on my phone for a while.
As noon rolled around, I figured that I ought to get around to doing something more productive with my day, so I grabbed the grocery list and headed out the door. Before I made it to the car, Wally was across the street and coming up my driveway with something in his hand.
I never got the chance to open my mouth before he started apologizing again for what happened at breakfast. He looked genuinely sorry too. After he was done, he handed me the card with an awkward smile on his face. I thanked him, assuming it was an extension of his apology and nothing more, and told him that I was going to the store, but he was welcome to come visit again after I got back. He seemed pleased with that and waved me goodbye as I got into my car and drove away.
There wasn't much on my list, so the trip was relatively quick, but I did run into Sheriff Kevin in the parking lot. He was off duty, so I took the opportunity to stop and chat with him. I told him about what happened with my mom, assuring him that he doesn't have to speak to her again, yet. We had a good laugh about that, but then Kevin seemed to remember something as his face lit up and he asked me to wait a moment.
I waited and a moment later, Kevin came back with a card and a stuffed toy of a dog. He wished me a happy early birthday and said he knew the dog wasn't the same as the one I lost, but he hoped I liked it. I thanked him and laughed because, honestly, with everything that had happened this week, I forgot my birthday was only a day away.
We said our goodbyes after that and I headed home. As I was pulling up to the house, I noticed that Wally's house was dark. It didn't look like any lights were on and the house seemed just as eerily still as it had been the day before. I shrugged it off and carried my groceries inside to put away. Once they were all away, I sat down on the couch to open both of the cards I had gotten today. The card from Kevin was a short and simple birthday card with a small note about how glad he was to have me back in town despite my relationship with my mom. That made me happy and the dog plush was such a sweet gesture as well. Before I could get to Wally's card though, the doorbell rang. I left the card on the table with all the other paperwork that had been piling up there the last few days.

I would have to find out what it was later.