If anyone had told her this was the path her life would take, Kenzie never would have believed it. She’d even second-guessed herself several times as to whether or not she was truly doing the right thing. But now she knew she was and she was glad that she followed through with it.
WolfKen: You guys are all coming to the graduation ceremony, right?
LifesABeach: We wouldn’t miss it for the world!
BiteMe: Of course we’ll be there. I’m so relieved that it’s inside, too.
WolfKen: Speaking of which, Austin, how is that vampiric sunscreen coming along that you were working on?
WordToTheNerd: Pretty good, we’re almost to the testing phases. You wouldn’t believe how hard it is to scrounge up vampire guinea pigs. Isaiah, are you interested?
BiteMe: Only if the stuff’s guaranteed not to kill me on the spot or something worse.
WordToTheNerd: It shouldn’t kill you…but there could be adverse side effects. Such as it not working.
BiteMe: How reassuring.
WordToTheNerd: Hey, you can always zip back inside with your super fast speed if that happens.
Kenzie chuckled to herself. Cheyenne was texting her on her phone, as was Paige. When her phone vibrated again, she saw that it was Hayden texting her. He was the last one to RSVP, but she knew he was probably busy working. She stood up and paced the room while she answered.
LoneWolf: Hey, you!
WolfKen: Hi! I was wondering if I was going to hear from you regarding the RSVP.
LoneWolf: Oh, I’ll definitely be there for the ceremony and the party your parents are throwing to celebrate.
WolfKen: I don’t know if “party” is the right word. It’s mostly a get-together for family and friends. Sure, there will be refreshments and beverages, but…well, you know what I mean.
LoneWolf: Yeah. But anyway, listen to this. I talked to my boss, and he agrees that this would be a great story. So not only will I be there to congratulate you on getting your PI permit, I’ll also be writing an article about it.
WolfKen: What?! Hayden, what kind of story would that be?
LoneWolf: Don’t be modest. Come on, a story about one of the best detectives who left the field to pursue new things, and now she’s graduating with a PI permit at age 26. It’s a great angle, perfect for special interest stories. And trust me, regardless of what you might think, you are interesting to many people.
Kenzie wasn’t sure how to process this. She couldn’t believe anyone would find this step in her life remotely interesting. She wasn’t a big celebrity, even if she was somewhat well-known. Still, she was glad to hear that all of her friends would be in attendance for her graduation (apart from Paige, who unfortunately couldn’t get away from a high-profile contract in her job as an architectural designer).
WolfKen: Okay, well, I guess I’ll see you Saturday then.
LoneWolf: Saturday. Looking forward to it. Oh, and by the way, I’ve got a surprise/present for you.
WolfKen: Oh geez, Hayden, you didn’t have to get me anything. I’m not graduating with a master’s degree or something.
LoneWolf: No, but you’re taking the next step in your life and following your dreams. You stuck it out through all the hard times and now it’s paid off. You’ve earned it.
WolfKen: Thanks.
Kenzie couldn’t restrain a smile. Her other friends were still messaging her, so she quickly went back to them after setting her phone down. She didn’t deny that she still had a little crush on Hayden, but he’d made it blatantly clear that he only liked her as a friend. She understood and respected that. Of course, she didn’t like the excitement bubbling in her stomach at the thought of him being at her graduation and giving her some sort of gift.
At last, Kenzie signed out of her messenger and began scrounging through her dresser. It was only Thursday; graduation was two days away, but she still wasn’t sure what she was going to wear, even if it would be hidden under her robe until the party at her parents’ house.
As she rummaged, Kenzie thought about what Hayden had revealed to her. He was going to write a story on her for the Moonlight Falls newspaper? Or would his story spread to other towns, including Riverview? Was it the best idea to expose her as a private investigator at the risk of potential criminals going out of their way to keep her from uncovering whatever schemes they may be composing?
No, surely she was looking too much into this. More than anything, Kenzie felt apprehensive about Saturday’s festivities. Most of her fellow graduates were no older than twenty-one. She’d just had her twenty-sixth birthday a couple of weeks ago, so she felt ridiculously prominent among her classmates, being the oldest one there. She tried not to let that get to her, but sometimes it was all she could do not to scream in frustration.
Then there was the inevitable party her parents wanted to have for her. There had been a small party in her honor for graduating college the first time, and of course for high school too. Of course, back then, it had just been her, her parents, Jillian and her family, and Austin and his family. Now, the house would be packed with a lot of new people that her parents hadn’t even met. Her mother was still going through her midlife crisis, something Kenzie thought might never end. She hoped her friends didn’t get embarrassed. Or worse yet, that her mother would embarrass her.
Thanks to Jillian’s big mouth, which she opened due to constant prodding from Constance, Kenzie’s parents knew she had a crush on someone named Hayden. It wouldn’t take a scientist to figure out who Hayden was on Saturday. Of course, they didn’t know he was also a werewolf, but they didn’t need to know that at all. Thankfully, the next full moon wasn’t until next week, so at least he wouldn’t transform in front of them. That would be beyond awkward to explain.
At last, Kenzie extracted something from her dresser that she thought would be sufficient for Saturday. Sage trotted over and sniffed it, then wagged her tail as if to nod approval.
Kenzie knelt down and stroked Sage’s soft fur. “Sage, do you think I’ll make a good PI?” she asked her loyal companion.
Sage responded by licking Kenzie’s cheek. Kenzie smiled and gave her dog a hug. She was genuinely happy with her decision to obtain her PI permit, but it was there, always in the back of her mind…that self doubt, creeping up on her like a lion ready to pounce.
Kenzie just chalked it up to nervousness and anxiety. She wanted to know what lay ahead of her. Before, she knew what her graduations had held – high school meant going to college, college meant finding a job, which was a pretty sure thing considering the low-level police work she’d helped with while attending college in Twinbrook. She didn’t like having no plan and being uncertain of things.
Kenzie fixed herself some lunch and ate it peacefully. The house was quiet, but in two days’ time, it wouldn’t be. Well, her house would be; her parents’ house, on the other hand, would be packed full of people. Her family and friends would all be there, including some family she hadn’t seen for several years. That did little to settle her frazzled nerves.
Kenzie finished her lunch and rinsed the plate out in the sink. Sage watched her patiently, but obviously detecting her master’s befuddlement. Kenzie gave her dog what she hoped was a convincing smile. Sage wagged her tail in response.
After finishing the dishes, Kenzie headed into the den and pulled out her birthday present from her parents, a MultiTab 6000. She loved the tablet; it was like a portable book and notebook that she could take anywhere. She didn’t have to pack a huge supply of pencils and paper for when she was on a case, and she could even take pictures with the multi-tab if she wanted. Not to mention the games and other online features it contained. The nerd in her was always giddily geeking out on this thing, and now was no exception as she booted up one of her games.
She played for a while until evening began to approach. She was just putting her tablet on its charger when her phone rang. She saw on the ID that it was coming from her parents’ house. She didn’t know if it was her mother or her father, but she answered it with a chipper, “Hello?”
“Hey, Kenzie!” her father’s voice greeted on the other end of the line. “How are you doing?”
“Great, Dad, thanks. How about you?”
“Oh, pretty good. Your mom’s finally given up on the hot tub idea. She says no one wants to see her in a bathing suit anyway. Now she wants a chicken coop.”
“A chicken coop?”
“Yep, which I told her we can’t have because we have neighbors and we don’t exactly live clear out in the country. I’m sure there’s some city ordinance that prohibits chickens and livestock animals from being right in town.”
“What the heck does she want a chicken coop for?”
“I have no idea. She loves baby chicks, so maybe she thinks she can take on another project. I don’t know. Anyway, I’m just calling because your mom wants to know how many guests you’re expecting to show up so she knows how many groceries to buy.”
“Oh, well there’s Austin and Cheyenne, Jillian and Isaiah, and Hayden. And then of course whoever you guys invite.”
Kenzie heard Russ scratching names down on a list. She also heard Constance say something inaudible in the background. Either Russ wasn’t in his basement office or Constance was conversing with him from the stairs.
“Did you catch that?” her father asked.
“No, what did she say?”
“She wants to know if you think hamburgers and hot dogs are okay for everyone.”
“Yeah, that should be fine. The weather will be nice, so it’ll be perfect for a barbecue.”
Russ repeated the message to Constance, who said something else that Kenzie couldn’t quite pick up before Russ came back on the line.
“Okay kiddo, we’re going to the store, so I’ll let you go. And congrats again, from both of us. We’re both very proud of you.”
“Thanks, Dad. I’ll see you Saturday.”
“Bye.”
Kenzie and her father hung up simultaneously. Before she knew it, the evening was over and it was time for bed. Kenzie would have one day off to herself before the big event on Saturday. As she snuggled into her covers, Sage at her side, Kenzie felt her stomach turn over in excitement – or was it nervousness? – yet again. At last, she’d be finished with the tedious classes she’d had to take (so similar to what she’d already taken when she’d gone to college at Twinbrook) and possess her own private investigator’s permit. A new chapter in her life was beginning, and she was ready to turn that page.
********************
Commencement wouldn’t happen until mid-afternoon, but Saturday morning was hectic for Kenzie.
In addition to greeting her friends and getting them situated, as they were all staying in the hotel (though Jillian and Austin would be staying with their parents), she had to help her parents clean the house to prepare for the party, and then there was food preparation for the party. It didn’t seem like it would be much, but it was nearly two by the time everything was complete.
Before she knew it, Kenzie was in her car driving toward the university building. She clutched her wheel excitedly, cap and gown donned. She felt proud to wear Riverview’s colors of green and gold, though she felt silly regarding the llama mascot. Seriously, who thought of these mascots? Sunlit Tides had the Stingrays and Barnacle Bay had the Buccaneers. Sunset Valley, for some reason, had the Gnomes, Twinbrook had the Kangaroos, and someone else, she forgot who, had a Pteranodon. But seriously, a gnome and a llama? Kenzie couldn’t fathom it.
At last, she arrived at her destination. Kenzie got out of her car and strolled inside. Her fellow students were congregated in the library, which was where the class would be gathering until it was time to walk down the aisle.
And that moment came sooner than Kenzie realized. Standing in line in her designated alphabetical spot, Kenzie sauntered into the auditorium with her fellow graduates, her head held high and her heart beating rapidly in her chest.
As she walked, Kenzie glimpsed the stage and saw that, while vacant at the moment, it was set up perfectly for a graduation ceremony. Dark green leather chairs were arranged for the higher-ups, a podium stood prominently in the center of the stage, the mascot rug and banners were strewn about, and bright lights illuminated the platform. It somehow made Kenzie feel even more nervous.
She took her seat with the other graduates and prepared herself to listen to the dean ramble on tediously, as is the case at every graduation. He thankfully didn’t take as long as she’d feared, and then the names of the graduates began to be called. Kenzie suddenly felt extra silly with her hair up underneath her cap; why didn’t she wear it down? Why hadn’t she consulted Jillian about this? Did her robe make her butt look too big?
And most importantly, why the hell did she even care? Why was she freaking out so much? This wasn’t like her. She’d been in front of people several times, and she wasn’t even the valedictorian for this class (though she did find that a little silly considering she had more experience than any of the other graduates in this particular field). But she just felt shy and nervous for seemingly no reason at all.
Then she remembered. Hayden Howland was in the crowd. And he was probably taking pictures of her to go with his story. The story he’d be interviewing her for later.
Kenzie didn’t have time to think about that now. She hoped she didn’t stumble as she walked up to the stage, shook the dean’s hand, and took her diploma. She gracefully descended the stairs and walked back to her seat. When all the graduates had gone through this project, the dean presented the Riverview University class of 2013. Hats flew off of heads, air horns sounded in the audience, and confetti and silly string got everywhere as applause thundered through the room. Kenzie spotted her family and friends in the crowd and waved at them. Her mother made a signal to her stating that they’d see her at home later, since the party began in two hours and last-minute preparations still had to be made.
As the class began to file out, Kenzie felt like a great weight had lifted from her shoulders. She had nothing to worry about. As she’d already told herself, she was experienced, one of the best detectives around, and now she had the proper paperwork to confirm it. Nothing would change; she wasn’t too keen on change when it came to anything, but especially her career. Now she knew that everything would be just fine.
Kenzie drove back to her house first to fix herself up a little more before going to her parents’ for the party. The first thing she did was take the silly bun out of her hair and let it fall down to her back. That was much better. Then she took off her robe and discarded it in the bathroom, out of the way, before donning her formal garment she’d selected.
Just as she finished brushing her hair and double-checking her makeup, the doorbell rang. Sage began barking in alert.
“Who in the world?” Kenzie thought as she pulled herself away from the mirror.
As she walked out of the bathroom, Kenzie saw through the door that it was Hayden on the other side. Her heart did that unwelcome beat as she stared at his handsome features in his dress clothes. She opened the door with a smile, and Sage quieted down once she recognized the visitor.
“Hayden,” Kenzie said with an amiable smile. “Hi. The party’s at my parents’ house, not mine.”
“I know,” Hayden replied with a grin. “I came here on purpose. I told you I had something for you, remember?”
“Oh, yeah. I figured you were wanting to go ahead and do the interview for your story.”
“Nah, that can wait until after the party. I just wanted to give this to you now, before everyone else takes your attention.”
Kenzie giggled like a schoolgirl before allowing Hayden inside. She’d had Paige put a spell on her house to keep supernatural creatures out without being invited in, but Isaiah and Paige herself had already received their invitations. Hayden, on the other hand, was just now visiting for the first time.
“You look really pretty,” Hayden added once he crossed the threshold. Kenzie felt her cheeks flush. “Thanks. You look great, too.”
“You’re welcome, and thank you. Now, how about that gift?”
“Well, you seem so excited about it,” Kenzie continued as she closed the door. “What in the world is it? Let’s see it, even though you didn’t have to get me anything.”
“It’s not much,” Hayden confessed. “But I figured you of all people would like it.”
Kenzie raised an eyebrow skeptically as she took a small box that Hayden offered her.
Kenzie looked down at the box and untied the ribbon. She was surprised to see tiny holes slit into the top of the box. But it made sense after she removed the lid and saw…
“Oh my gosh, Hayden!” she shrieked in excitement, so loudly that Sage’s ears folded back against her head as she looked at Kenzie in alarm.
For inside the box was not just any object…it was a living, breathing object. More specifically, an animal. And even more specifically, Kenzie’s second-favorite animal, a turtle.
Hayden grinned as Kenzie picked the reptile up from the box and began stroking its shell. “You technically already have a pet wolf,” he said, gesturing to Sage, “and it’s illegal to keep a full-blooded wolf as a pet anyway. But I remember you told me that your second favorite animal is a turtle. Ironically, I was out for a run one night when I came across that little guy. Or, I guess I should say gal. It’s a girl.”
“You just found her out in the open?”
“Yeah, we get a lot of small stray animals around Moonlight Falls. So I figured, if anyone could give her a good home, it would be you.”
“Oh, thanks so much! I don’t know how you could think this isn’t much. But…well, where can I keep her? Surely not this little box.”
“Nope, I’ve already got that figured out.”
Hayden went back outside and came back with an already-built turtle terrarium that he’d retrieved from his car. Kenzie’s mouth fell open as he placed it next to her counters and made a few minor adjustments. It even included turtle food, bedding, and everything else Kenzie would need to care for the little critter.
“It’s all ready for her,” he declared after a few minutes. Kenzie couldn’t prevent a huge grin from spreading across her face, nearly splitting it in two. She placed the turtle inside her new home, fed her some food, and watched as she began exploring and swimming in the small pool of water inside before resting atop a large rock.
“She’s adorable,” Kenzie boasted. “I think I’ll call her Shelly. You know, since she has a shell. Thanks so much, Hayden.”
“You’re welcome. But that’s not all.”
“What? You got me more? For crying out loud, you didn’t have to! That turtle terrarium probably cost you a fortune.”
“I’d hardly say a fortune. And anyway, I hope you don’t already have one of these.”
Hayden extracted something from his back pocket that Kenzie hadn’t yet seen and handed it to her. It was a long, rolled-up piece of paper. She opened it up and saw that it was a picture of three wolves howling at a full moon.
“This is awesome!” she exclaimed again. “And no, I didn’t have one. Thanks so much!”
“You’re welcome. But there is still one more thing…”
“Holy shit, Hayden, you’ve gotten me enough.”
“Don’t worry, this one didn’t cost any money.”
“Still…”
“I’m glad you like those presents, but if you like those, you’ll love this one. Close your eyes.”
Kenzie looked at him skeptically but obliged. At first, nothing happened. She expected him to place something in her hands. Then, she felt his lips on hers.
No comments:
Post a Comment