prompt 128.

"I see you let yourself go there."

Charlie whipped around at the voice, his hand still clasped around the bright pink hippo with a ridiculously large mouth and bright green tail. His own mouth seemed to form itself into a caricature of the toy as he stared at the woman in front of him.

"Hey," she offered as a greeting.

"Er, wow... er, hey Jan..." his awkward mumblings trailed off as he looked around surreptitiously for his wife. He couldn't see the tell-tale red ribbon bobbing around above the shelves, so he grudgingly turned his attention back to his present conversation. Jan just cocked her head, gaze fixed on the garish item in his grasp. Charlie, noticing this, dropped it quickly back into the display basket, wiping his hand on his jeans furiously as if to rid himself of the horror of holding such a thing.

"New baby, huh?" she grinned. He shifted uncomfortably.

"Er... yeah, I guess..."

"Funny about that," she said absently, picking up the offensive toy, surveying it closely, "I do recall you telling me that... oh, what was it again? 'I'm not the marrying type'?"

Charlie could feel a flush rising to his cheeks. He cleared his throat rather loudly. Where was Amy when you need her? He did NOT need to deal with an ex right now.

"Well, you see, er, things have changed since then."

"Yes, I noticed." Her eyebrow quirked up in a mocking gaze.

Silence.

"Well, nice talking to you again," she said after it became apparent that Charlie was not wiling to make any further remarks.

"We should catch up again later. Tell me what you name the baby." With that, she walked away. Charlie stared after her.

"Hey sweetheart," Amy walked up and placed a hand on her husband's arm. "Who was that?"

Charlie shrugged.

"No one of importance," he muttered.