"Or because they're insane," Stacey countered, because after that trip, she was seriously considering the possibility. She smiled at the squeeze around her shoulders, especially knowing Zacharias' feelings on physical contact, so she appreciated the comfort and decided to spare him her giant hug for the time being.
Grinning up at him, Stacey said, "You're the best, you know that? I am starving, especially for something that isn't my grandmother's cooking. There is only so much of that I can take, and I reached my limit about two weeks ago." Reaching out to run her fingers over Pippin's head at the kitten's small noise, she added, "I am very sad that I missed the hats in person. I bet that was a sight. And I have your Christmas present as well, somewhere." Since both her hands were occupied, she made a motion with her head to the two shrunken bags sitting in the foyer. "I do have to say, it was a relief to be able to make those a manageable size for the trip home, rather than struggle with the huge bulky things through an airport again." Stacey had become convinced that airports were officially hell on earth, full of angry, tired people just wanting to get wherever they were going.