by Laurel Veil
I never told you this before, but your mom gave me custody of you years ago. It was shortly after your dad left and she’d started drinking heavily. She panicked and signed her rights over to me. I didn’t tell you because you were too young to understand, and I didn’t want to hurt you. As you got older, your mom became more stable and it no longer seemed to matter. Because she never asked me to change things, it allowed me to ask Nolan’s parents to be your legal guardians. I think this is for the best since things seem to have taken a turn for the worse with your mom once again. Gary and Amber have truly been a godsend. Nolan too. He’s a fine young man.
You know your grandpa and I weren't rich, but everything we have has been willed to you. You will be set financially for a long time to come. Gary and Amber have a copy of my will and will explain everything when you’re ready.
I’m missing you as I write this. I hope you know how much I love you. Be brave sweet girl, and I’ll see you later.
Love, Grandma
I hugged the letter and tried not to get it wet with my tears. I went to my room and curled up with Roscoe and drifted off to sleep.
18.
Several weeks later, I found myself sitting at the kitchen table in Nolan’s home. He looked handsome in the candlelight as we sang. He had a slight grin on his face. I knew he was embarrassed. We cheered when he blew out the last flame.
“Seventeen looks good on you, son,” said his mom as she fussed with slicing the cake and scooping ice cream.
“He’s handsome like his old man,” said his dad. “Here ya go. The moment you’ve been waiting for.” He handed Nolan an envelope.
Nolan opened it carefully and pulled out a paper. “Yes! The title to your truck.”
“Your truck,” his dad corrected as he tossed him a set of keys.
“Congratulations, sweetie,” said his mom as she kissed his cheek. “Oh, Gary don’t forget to give him the other card.”
Mr. Masters handed him a bright yellow envelope and Nolan opened it and smiled. “Thanks!”
“You’re sure money is all you wanted?” asked his mom.
“Positive.” He looked and me and grinned mischievously as he stuck the bills in his wallet.
We had a fun time with his parents, but I was glad when we were alone at my grandma’s. “What are you smiling about?” he asked me as we walked into the den.
“I want to give you my present now,” I said.
“Oh, yeah.” He came at me and started kissing my neck.
I laughed. “Sit.” I pointed to the sofa and he fell into the cushions. “Good boy.” I teased. I almost couldn’t contain my excitement as I went to take a seat next to him. Nolan had told me the night of our first real date that he had been saving his money to buy a sound system for his truck. Later, he’d told me the details about the one he was going to get, but he’d also told me about the one he really wanted but would never be able to afford. The one he really wanted was the one that was wrapped up, hiding behind the couch. I couldn’t wait to surprise him with it.
“I actually have a couple of things I want to give you,” I said. Nolan raised his brows suggestively and I pushed him. “Stop that.” I leaned over and pulled out the drawer of the end table and retrieved a tiny box. Nolan opened it carefully. “I made it for you.” It was a thin bracelet made from even thinner strips of dark leather that I’d braided together. I took it from the box and slipped it over his hand onto his wrist.
“I do,” he teased. I started to laugh, but he stopped me with a kiss. “Thank you.”
I smiled. He really liked it. “You’re welcome. Every time you look at it, you’ll think of me. I’ll always be with you.”
“I don’t need a bracelet to remind me. I think about you all the time.”
I felt myself blush. “So, what are you going to do with all that money you got for your birthday?” I teased, knowing exactly what he had planned.
“It’s a surprise,” he said.
That wasn’t the answer I was expecting. “No secrets. You have to tell me.”
“Are you sure?”
I nodded.
“I’m taking you shopping. You said you needed some things. It’s for clothes, shoes, whatever you want.”
“Are you serious?”
“Yeah. And you can’t tell me no either, because it’s for your birthday.”
My birthday was in just three weeks and I was already getting something wonderful. I had just completed my driving class and was going to be getting my license the second I turned sixteen. And now this. Nolan was the best thing that had ever happened to me. I felt my eyes filling with tears.
“Don’t cry. It’s supposed to make you happy.”
“I-I don’t know what to say. That’s so thoughtful, Nolan.” He smiled shyly. I wiped my eyes and cleared my throat. “OK. Enough of that.” I reached behind the couch and pulled out his other present. It was now even more special than before. Nolan’s eyes danced with curiosity as he opened it.
“No. Way,” he said. “Are you kidding me?”
“It’s the one, right?”
“Yes.” He gently flipped the box over so he could read it. “You shouldn’t have done this, Noelle. It’s too expensive, and—”
I put up my hand. “I know I have to be careful with my money. I have been. And it wasn’t that expensive. I just really wanted to get it for you. You have no idea how much you’ve . . . you just have no idea.”
He leaned over and kissed me. It was meant to be a peck, but I put my hands on his cheeks and pulled him back to me for a moment longer.
“So, are you going to help me install it?”
“Uh . . . sure.” I laughed.
“Will you help me now?” he said with puppy dog eyes.
“It’s your birthday. We’ll spend it however you want.”
He kissed my forehead and pulled me to my feet.
I sat in the garage and watched Nolan install his new sound system. I handed him a tool when he asked for it, and several hours later, he had it working. The smile on his face was priceless when he turned the knob and sound poured from the speakers.
“Get in,” he said. We rode around with the windows down and the volume up. I listened as he sang along. At that very moment, I could actually feel myself falling more in love with him.
Later we went back to his house and had dinner with his parents. We sat around the table laughing and talking for hours and I realized, I was part of a family.
♦ ♦ ♦
Before I knew it, my birthday rolled around. I’d asked Nolan not to do anything weird and to ask his mother to keep it simple. He promised it would be small like his and it was. His mom baked me a lemon cake and slathered it in lemon frosting. She put only two candles on it, a one and a six.
After they sang, his mom handed me an envelope. The card had money inside that I was very grateful to get. “Thank you both so much.”
“We hope you’re not disappointed. Nolan told us that’s what you wanted.”
“Yes. And I really appreciate it,” I said.
After we ate Nolan told me to go have a seat in the den. I did, and a moment later he came in carrying a big cardboard box. “Open it,” he said.
The flaps were folded one over the other so all I had to do was give one of them a tug. “Oh my gosh!” Two small puppies were sitting quietly inside. “I can’t believe it!” I picked up one and kissed it and then Nolan handed me the other. “I love them so much. Thank you!” We sat on the floor and let them lick us. “Are they German Shepherds?” I asked.
“They’re a mix. I got them from the Andersons. Their German Shepherd had an unexpected litter. This one is male,” he pointed. “And this one is female. They’ve already been fixed.”
“What are we going to name them?”
“I’m not sure.”
“Me either. We’ll think of something.”
We took them to my house and Nolan surprised me with beds and bowls for them. He’d hidden them on the back porch. “Th
is is a perfect spot for them out here,” I said.
“I think so too.” The male pup grabbed hold of the bed and started tugging at it. Nolan rubbed his head. “You’re a little rascal, aren’t you buddy?”
“Rascal. That’s a perfect name for you, little guy,” I said.
Nolan nodded. “That just leaves you, little lady.” He rubbed the female’s head.
“Lady. Nolan, you’re great at this.”
Nolan laughed. “Lady and Rascal? I think that works.”
We played on the floor with them for the rest of the night. When Nolan told me he had to go, I wasn’t nearly as sad as I usually was. “It’s not going to be so lonely over here anymore.”
“That’s what I was hoping.” He petted them one last time. “But don’t let them replace me,” he teased.
“They could never do that.”
“Protect Mama, you ferocious beasts.” He chuckled. “They’re going to make great guard dogs one day, I can tell. I’ll see you in the morning,” he said. “Are you nervous?”
He was referring to my driving test. “A little. You were a good teacher. I think I’m going to pass.” He kissed me one last time and I locked the door behind him.
I was so happy to have Rascal and Lady join me and Roscoe in bed that I didn’t even lie awake and dwell on the fact that my mom never even called me for my birthday. In fact, I think it was the fastest I’d fallen asleep since my grandma died.
♦ ♦ ♦
I woke with a start in the morning. I’d just seen Dani and my grandma. They were standing near each other in a forest smiling at me. I was so happy to see them, but before I had a chance to say anything, my grandma turned towards Dani and suddenly Dani was the only one I could see. She was in a long, flowing dress. A breeze lifted her hair off her shoulders and her face looked radiant. A gust of wind came out of nowhere and blew away bloody clumps of her hair. It was horrifying.
Lady and Rascal started licking me. I’d forgotten about them for a moment. “Hey, guys.” I quickly scooped them in my arms and ran them outside so they could relieve themselves.
From the corner of my eye, I noticed a car slow down. I was certain they were just admiring the puppies, so I was surprised when the car turned into the driveway.
It was Autumn. “Hey,” she said when she walked up. “I see you got some puppies.” Autumn had always been a sucker for dogs.
“Yeah. Yesterday, for my birthday.”
The smile on her face faded. “Oh. Uh, happy birthday. Sorry, I forgot.”
“Don’t worry about it. My mom forgot too.”
“For real?” I nodded. “That’s rough.” I shrugged and pretended that it didn’t hurt.
“Look, I’ve been meaning to stop by and check on you. I’m sorry about your grandma. She was really nice.”
Her condolences were definitely lacking, but I was surprised she was showing me any compassion at all. “Thanks.”
It was awkwardly silent for a moment. “So, what are their names?” I told her and then our conversation started to flow, and we had a nice visit.
“I’m going to go get my license today,” I said.
“That’s right—you’re sixteen.”
“Yeah. I probably should go get ready. I’m supposed to be leaving soon.”
Autumn stood and dusted off her jeans. “You know, you should come over some time. We could hang out.”
I thought about how things had gone the last time I was at her house. Lance probably wouldn’t want me there and I knew for sure that their mother wouldn’t. I was just about to give her an excuse for why I couldn’t go when I remembered Nolan was going on a camping trip with his dad for a few days over spring break. Spending time with Autumn would take my mind off of missing him. “OK,” I said.
“Maybe this weekend?” I couldn’t believe how nice she was being. When I didn’t answer right away, she tried to convince me. “I think it’s time we start doing things together again. We’re family.”
I thought for a moment I might tear up. “Sure.”
She smiled. “Well, good luck with getting your license.”
“Thanks. I applied for a job at Baker’s Pharmacy. They said they’d hire me if I have transportation, so I really, really hope I get it too.”
“You will.” She waved and got in her car and left.
Nolan and his mom went with me to take my driving test. I drove my grandma’s car, which of course was now mine. His mom sat beside me and Nolan rode in the back. I was so nervous my palms were sweating. But an hour later, Nolan and his mom were congratulating me, and I had my license. The first thing I did was inform Baker’s.
♦ ♦ ♦
“You know she’s just using you for your puppies,” said Nolan when we were back at my house.
“You’re probably right.”
He laughed. “I’m just kidding. I think it’s great that she’s being nice to you. Maybe you guys can be friends again.”
“I hope so.”
“I’m going to miss you.”
“You’re going to be too busy having fun.”
He leaned in to kiss me but was interrupted when the phone rang. I reached over and picked it up from off the end table and answered it. A second later I couldn’t control my smile. When I hung up, I screamed.
“Congratulations,” said Nolan. He knew I’d gotten the job at the pharmacy.
“They want me to start right away! Between work, the puppies, and Autumn, I’m not going to even notice you’re gone.”
“Hey now.”
I laughed. But I was relieved to have other things, besides just Nolan, in my life now. I didn’t care about him any less, I just needed more. He had become my entire world for a while. He had no idea how much it had been bothering me that he was going away for a few days. Or maybe he did. Maybe that’s why he’d gotten me Rascal and Lady.
♦ ♦ ♦
Ever since Nolan had gotten his dad’s truck, we’d been riding together to school every day. But, that morning, he had to go in early to work on a group project that was due before our break, so I was going to drive to school for the first time by myself.
I took care of the puppies and then headed to the car. I couldn’t believe it. I was actually driving myself to school. I was so excited; I could never imagine this getting old.
After school, I dashed home and took care of Rascal and Lady. I had a couple of hours before I had to go to Baker’s for my first day. I could hardly wait. I knew people complained about having to work all the time, but at that moment, I felt like I was the luckiest person alive.
It felt surreal as I pulled into the parking lot. Butterflies were tickling my stomach. I had just driven myself to my first job. A small bell jingled when I opened the door and a rush of cool air that smelled of school supplies and laundry detergent greeted me.
“Hello, Noelle,” said Mr. Hanks. He looked at his watch. “You’re early.”
“Oh. I’m sorry, I can—”
He smiled. “Never be sorry for being early. Early is good. Early is great. If you’re early you’re on time. If you’re on time, you’re late.”
He set down the clipboard he’d been holding on the counter and handed me a long, bright-red apron—the Baker’s Pharmacy uniform! I was so thrilled to slip it over my head and tie it around my waist. A name tag was already pinned to it, and my name was printed on it! I felt so proud, I seriously thought I was going to burst.
“I will eventually train you on the register, but for a while, I’ll have you sweeping floors and stocking shelves. Stocking is the best way to learn where products are located.”
“OK,” I said cheerfully.
He gave me a quick tour of the store, which included introducing me to the pharmacist and her assistant. He then took me to the back where he showed me how to punch my time card and then pointed out the boxes I would need to carry to the front and empty. “Everything inside these boxes goes on aisle five. Got it?”
“Yes, sir.” I grabbed the first box and
before I knew it, I was on the last. Three hours had slipped away, and it felt like thirty minutes.
“Looks nice,” said Mr. Hanks. “Good job.”
“Thanks.”
“Excuse me.” We turned to see an elderly woman. “I was needing a battery.” She took one from her purse. “This size.”
