by Sara Summers
“Hey.” Bree smiled from the kitchen, where she was holding Emma and stirring something on the stove.
“We’re done!” I lifted my handful of letters for a victory cheer, and Bree laughed with me. “On to baseboards and door replacements” I grinned, and Bree shook her head.
“Here goes another month of our lives.” she teased.
Baseboards and doors wouldn’t take a month, but neither of us was fast. And since we had never done anything like that before, there would be a big learning curve.
I dropped the letters on the table, going through them to figure out which ones to keep and which ones were junk.
I pushed a junk envelope aside, and then my fingers froze.
My eyes landed on a letter, addressed in handwriting that I recognized.
It was from Grant.
Immediately, I forgot what I had been doing. I picked up the envelope and sat down at the table, complete shock making my hands shaky.
The letter was dated a week and a half earlier, which had only been a few days after Grant refused to try our relationship again. I opened the envelope carefully, nervous as to what I’d find in it.
When it was open, I looked inside. There was one folded piece of notebook paper.
“What is it?” Bree asked.
“It’s from Grant.” I admitted, taking out the paper and carefully unfolding it. My eyes flashed down to the first word on the page, the unromantic way he started every letter he’d ever written to me.
Kennedy,
I wasn’t going to write you another letter, but I felt like I had to. I’m sorry for the ways I mistreated you, and I’m sorry that I wasn’t romantic enough to make you feel loved. I do love you, in ways I’m not sure I understand completely.
I’ve decided to go to school like I had planned. The semester starts in a few days, and I’m excited to start learning. Getting an education is my dream, the same way the museum is yours. I’m glad we’re both pursuing our dreams.
Anyway, it’ll be good for you to have me away. I’m sorry for all the pain and anxiety I’ve caused you, and I’m sorry that I came to find you before we were ready.
Maybe we can try it all again sometime. I have a feeling that when we’re ready, things will go a lot better for us.
See you sometime,
Grant.
I clutched the letter in my hands, holding onto the words as if they were my lifeline. He still didn’t feel ready? That much I knew. He loved me? That was definitely new.
He wanted to try being together again? Yeah, didn’t expect that at all, but I was super glad to hear it.
He loved me? I’d never get over that one, because even if he only loved me the tiniest bit, I knew what love meant.
It meant that there was still hope.
“What does it say?” Bree’s voice was cautious; she must’ve seen me gazing at the letter like it was the most wonderful thing I’d ever seen.
“He’s going to school.” I said, still in shock. “He loves me a little but doesn’t feel ready, and might want to give us another chance sometime.” I stood up, still staring at that letter.
“Really?” Bree raised her eyebrows. “That’s awesome!” she exclaimed.
“I’m going to get another chance!” a grin broke out on my face, and I held the paper to my heart. “It’s not over after all!” I shrieked.
“Woo!” Bree cheered, grabbing the bottle of apple cider we had bought to celebrate finally finishing laying tile.
“It’s a miracle.” I shook my head, still smiling.
“You’d better get learning about relationships.” Bree grinned, making me laugh.
“With all my free time.” I shook my head. “We still have so much work to do.”
“And it’s going to be great.” She smiled.
“You just might be right.” I said, grabbing Emma and kissing the little girl on her chubby little cheek. “Whatever happens, I can’t wait.”
Chapter 24
Two weeks before the grand opening, artifacts started arriving. Some of them came in boxes, from shifter packs who didn’t want their location know. Some of them came with visitors, who stayed a day or two to help organize and check out the museum.
All of them came with notes of gratitude and excitement, either written or spoken. Everyone had a positive outlook on what a museum would mean for shifters. This would be the first of many, they said, and it would definitely make a difference.
Finally, we were being recognized for who we were. People with histories and passion and inspiration.
We were different from humans, but also like them.
Alena, Ava’s sister (who was also the mermaid princess), showed up at the museum one day before the opening. She knocked on the big front door (it had taken three days to get that sucker set up), and came in when we yelled that it was open.
“Hey!” Alena smiled. She carried a bag on her shoulder, and it didn’t look like any human bag I had ever seen. “I have presents for you.” She pulled the bag off her shoulder. “Where do you want them?”
“Oh, we’ll just leave them in the un-sorted area. We have so many things we still need to go through.” I shook my head, leading her over to the dedicated homeless artifact area.
“Alright, no problem.”
Alena put the items down against the wall, next to a dozen other things that still needed a place. She left us with some interesting-looking mermaid treasures, and I was excited to get a closer look at the items.
“Ava taped a note to the bottom of one of them, explaining what they are.” Alena told me. “There are a few things there, but if you decide you want to do an entire mermaid exhibit, call me or Sam. Our phone numbers are on the paper, and they work in the ocean.” She explained.
“Thank you.” I smiled at the mermaid.
“No problem.” She nodded, smiling right back.
Bree came out, carrying a crying Emma.
“I don’t think I’ve met you.” Bree said, joining us in the entry way. “I’m Bree. I’m one of the shifty girls, but I’m a human.” She explained.
Alena gave her a strange look.
“Huh. Well, your daughter is beautiful.” Alena smiled at Emma, stepping closer. “She’ll have a wonderful life, with a father who means the world to her.” Alena tickled the little girl, who stopped crying and giggled when the mermaid focused on her.
“Oh, her dad doesn’t even know she exists.” Bree hurried to shake her head.
“Hmm.” Alena gave her another, more cryptic look. “Well don’t give up on love just yet.” She plopped a kiss on Emma’s head. “I have to get going, but like I said, call if you need more things. We can make a mermaid exhibit happen if you want it.” Alena smiled. “Good luck!”
She left without another word.
“So, that was weird.” Bree frowned.
“Really weird.” I agreed.
“Part of me wants to overthink it, but part of me says to pretend it never happened.” My friend admitted, bouncing her baby who had just started crying again.
“Maybe just write it down and then pretend it didn’t happen.” I shrugged. “At the summit, Ava knew a lot more than any of the rest of us. We’d be dead if not for her, so I’d guess there’s at least some truth to what Alena said. Mermaids have more magic than they’ll admit to.”
“I’ll do that.” Bree nodded.
We went back to organizing, and that was that.
I wished Grant was there to help us, but he had made his choice, and I’d come to accept that. In the months since he left, I had learned a lot about love and hard work, and I was glad that Grant was following his dreams.
Whether he wanted to give our relationship another chance or not, everything would work out, somehow. I just knew that was true. We would both be happy, and that was what really counted.
“Will you help me carry this?” Bree asked, after settling Emma back into her bouncer.
“Sure.” I nodded, grabbing the other side of the heavy item. We put
it where it needed to go, then went back to keep going through the homeless artifacts.
Hanging out in the museum, organizing paintings and items with histories and stories, I felt like myself. I was living my dream, and there was only one thing in the world that could’ve made it more perfect.
And well, that one thing was Grant.
That second chance couldn’t come soon enough.
Chapter 25
The night before the opening, all the shifty girls and their mates (minus Ava and Sam) showed up at my house. They had cake and ice cream and a million other desserts, all of which looked delicious.
“What are you guys doing here?” I laughed. I’d known they were coming for the grand opening, but hadn’t expected to see them until just before the event started. That wasn’t until the next night, so they were there an entire day early.
“Are you kidding? We’re here to celebrate! You guys just put together a museum, remember?” Brooke exclaimed.
“I remember.” I smiled and opened the door, letting everyone inside. “Oh my gosh, Leah!” I gasped when I saw both her and her mate carrying babies. “You had twins! Why didn’t anyone send out a text?!” I demanded.
Leah laughed, but I could see the circles under both hers and Ty’s eyes. The poor couple looked exhausted.
“Sorry, life has been crazy in Glacier.” She shook her head. “Someone would’ve done it if they had a spare minute.” She apologized.
“Oh, it’s fine.” I stepped closer to see her adorable little babies. “They’re both boys? Isn’t that what Jazz guessed?”
“Yeah, we’re blaming it on her.” Leah smiled wryly.
“Well, they’re beautiful. Congratulations.” I gave her a quick side-hug.
“Thank you.” Leah and Ty headed to the couch to sit down, and I was assaulted by the Brooke-and-Jazz show.
“So, Kennedy…” Brooke wrapped her arms around me, putting her face up close to mine.
“Hey.” I laughed. They were weird, but you couldn’t help but love them.
“We heard that you have paintings. Gorgeous paintings.” Jazz’s smile was sly.
“Paintings by the shifty painter we’ve been in love with for years.” Brooke added. “A certain, Haiden.” She looked down her nose at my cheek, still hugging me.
“You mean, Haiden Day?” I smiled wryly.
“You do have his paintings.” Jazz gasped. “Can we see them?”
“You have to wait until tomorrow, like everyone else.” I chastised them, though I was all but positive I would end up showing them the paintings before the night was over. I loved Haiden Day’s work even more than they did.
“Those things go for millions of dollars. How did you get one?” Brooke wondered.
“I didn’t get one, I got three.” I grinned when their jaws dropped.
“You didn’t.” Jazz accused.
“I did.” I shrugged.
Brooke let go of me and stepped back. She and Jazz folded their arms.
“How?” Brooke repeated the question.
“He’s just as excited for the museum as the rest of us, so he donated them. Everyone wants shifters to be recognized.” I told them.
“Wow. Three Haiden’s. You’re special.” Jazz whistled.
“Thank you.” I mock curtsied, making them grin.
“So, the museum?” Jazz checked.
I looked around to make sure no one was watching and would see us leave.
“Alright, but we have to be quiet. Don’t tell anyone.” I warned.
“Done.” They agreed.
We went out the side door, and I led them down the now-paved road that led to the museum.
“What ever ended up happening with your soulmate? We heard that he came after you. Where is he now?” Brooke wondered, as we walked to the museum.
“It’s a long story.” I shook my head. “But he’s going to school. It didn’t exactly work out between us.” I admitted.
“Men.” Jazz shook her head. “The day my cotie tingles is the day I disappear into the forest for good.” She muttered.
“Whatever.” Neither of us believed her one bit. “Both Leah and Sav said the exact same thing, and look at them now. Happy and in love with cute little monsters to take care of.” Brooke pointed out.
Jazz didn’t answer, but that may have been because we stopped in front of the door.
“The security system is on, so don’t come in until I say it’s safe.” I warned, grabbing my phone. To activate the system, I had to connect my phone to a wireless port on the wall and type in an eight-digit code. We had to be serious about security; there were still people who hated shifters.
Besides, like Jazz and Brooke pointed out, there were paintings in the museum that were worth millions of dollars. Not to mention the artifacts that were priceless to the shifters that had donated them.
I typed in the code and pressed a button on my phone to turn on the lights in the whole museum.
“Come on in.” I called out.
Jazz and Brooke came in, oohing and ahhing when they saw just the entrance-area.
“It’s gorgeous, Kennedy. You’re amazing.” Brooke admired.
“Wow.” Jazz shook her head. “We knew you’d do a good job, but not like this. This is incredible.” Jazz said.
“Thanks.” I smiled. “Want to see the paintings.”
“Girl, we always want to see Haiden Day paintings.” Jazz nodded.
I grinned and led them through the museum, pressing the button on my phone to lock the doors behind us.
The art portion of the museum was on the right side of the building, and the Haiden paintings were on display in the middle of the massive gallery.
“What’s going to go there?” Brooke asked, pointing to an empty slot on the side of the room.
“Oh, the last painting isn’t getting here until tomorrow morning.” I explained. “Bree set it up.”
“Okay.” The girls nodded, moving straight for the paintings in the middle of the room.
They stopped in front of them, staring in silence at the works of art. I had already spent more than my fair share of time doing the same. Haiden’s paintings were filled with so much raw emotion, you couldn’t just look at them once and understand them.
“It’s beautiful.” Brooke breathed. The three paintings Haiden had donated were all pieces of one larger masterpiece. The painting in the middle was gorgeous. There were trees and rocks, and it was a perfect forest landscape. The painting on the left had a Cheetah hidden behind the trees, bathing in the sun.
The painting on the right had another cheetah, but this one was moving. It was running through the forest, so all you could see was a blur. It was one still image, a painting of just one blip of time, but I felt like it could apply to me still.
I was the cheetah (or otter) bathing in the sun, while Grant ran through the forest, paying me no attention.
I loved those paintings.
“Is Haiden Day a cheetah shifter?” Brooke asked, looking back at me, as if I would know.
“He won’t tell anyone what type of shifter he is.” I shrugged.
“You didn’t get it out of him when he called to tell you he was donating paintings?” Brooke lifted an eyebrow at me.
“He refused to answer.” I told her, though we both knew I hadn’t asked him. She wouldn’t have asked either. If he wanted to keep it private, that was completely up to him.
“He’s a cheetah.” Jazz whispered, her eyes glued to the painting.
“How do you know?” Brooke frowned at our friend.
“I just do.” She shook her head. “This… this is exactly what the world looks like when you’re a cheetah. The light falls this way, your eyes see trees as unimportant, blurs, really, while the tiny details on the ground capture your attention. Haiden Day is a cheetah.” Jazz finally looked away from the painting, and her eyes almost looked watery.
I’d never seen her get upset, never seen mad or sad or emotional. After seeing the paintings, thou
gh, she looked like she’d been touched.
I heard noise in the museum behind me and spun around. The doors were locked, but I’d turned the security system off so we could walk around freely. If someone was in there…
“We need to call the police.” I whipped my phone out of my pocket.
“Wait, let’s check it out.” Brooke put a hand on my arm.
“Everything here is worth too much money to risk it.” I shook my head, looking down at my phone.
Then the lights shut off.
“Eff.” I muttered, clicking the phone button. My heart pounded in my chest, my mind skittering.
Someone yanked my phone out of my hand.
“Surprise!” a group of people cried out, the lights flipping on. It was all my friends who had come for the opening. Bree led the group, Merla holding Emma behind her.
“I thought we weren’t coming in here until tomorrow.” I protested, though I couldn’t keep the smile off my face. My heart was still beating faster than usual, but I’d just been surprised. That was enough to keep my heart racing for an hour, thanks to anxiety.
“We weren’t, but there’s something we need to do tonight.” Bree said, stepping away from the group. I saw the back of a canvas, and was confused for a second. “You’ve put so much work into this place, anyone could see that.” She gestured to art gallery, and my cheeks warmed.
“You have too.” I protested.
“You’re the mastermind behind it all.” She shook her head at me. “Don’t be modest. You built this place in honor of shifters, and we all want it to honor you too.” Bree said. “For who you really are.” She turned the canvas around, stepping toward the wall to show both me and the rest of the group the painting.
It was my masterpiece. I had finished it in the months since I had tried to convince Grant to give me another chance.
My hands went to my mouth.
“I’m not an artist.” I shook my head. “My painting doesn’t belong here, with Haiden Day’s and Katerina Madden’s.”
“Not being famous doesn’t mean you’re not an artist.” Jazz spoke up. “That painting belongs in here.” She said.
