Statera - The Balanced One

Chapter Nine

It was early Friday evening, a few hours before the party. Keitan and I sat in a booth with Anissa and Josh when Samantha burst through the door of the malt shop. Wearing a mischievous grin, she gently placed a box on the table in front of me.

"Let the courting begin!" Samantha declared as she spun on her heel and headed back the way she'd come. "You're welcome, little brother. Next time, try throwing a little more romance into your setting."

She and her boyfriend, Paul, a guy from school, left laughing like lunatics. I was about to tell Keitan how bazaar his sister was when the package mewed at me. I eyed the box for a minute or so, and then when it mewed again.

I didn't want to startle the kitten, so I gently opened the lid. It was a grey tabby with snow-white paws and a patch on its chest to match. She had curious golden eyes that stared at me in wonder.

"Our barn's mouse trap had kittens some weeks back, and this one reminded me of you every time her path crossed mine, all spitfire and opinionated. Do you like her?" Keitan asked.

Smiling, I said, "I love her! She's precious!"

I picked the kitten up as she snuggled into the crook of my arm, purring contently—and I melted.

"I hate to cut this short, Keitan, but I need to call Di."

"Why?" he asked.

"Because pigs will fly before I strap my new Princess to the back of your motorcycle.

I called Di, and twenty minutes later, she showed up to take Princess and me home. Leaning over, I kissed Keitan goodbye.

***

Keitan's father wasn't messing around about throwing a birthday celebration. When I hit the front porch steps, I smelled grilled meat wafting from the back patio. It didn't take me long to spot Keitan standing on the far right side of the huge wraparound porch. As he scanned the crowd, he talked to a short blond, and my jealousy spiked. His search ended when he saw me standing at the bottom of the steps. His smile beamed as he moved away from the blond toward me.

I was curious about the petite blond and didn't spare Keitan a glance as he drew closer. Then she turned, her gaze following Keitan, and I realized it was Samantha. I'd never seen Samantha so made up. Her hair was loose with rampaging curls. She waved and gave me a mischievous wink and smile. Unlike Keitan, Samantha got her looks from her father; she had the same crooked smile and glinting ice-blue eyes.

"Zora, you look amazing!" His comment snapped me out of my observation of his sister.

"Well, thank you, handsome sir," I said dramatically. "You don't look so bad yourself."

My words made him blush viciously as he ran a hand through his hair and guided me up the stairs with his other.

"Here, let me get that for you," he said, reaching for the gift.

I dodged his grab and earned a confused look.

"Nope. You will not shake this and try guessing what it is. A lot of thought went into this gift. You're gonna wait."

He threw his hands up in mock surrender.

"OKAY, whatever you say, boss lady."

We both lived in the humor of the moment as we climbed the stairs and stepped through the front door.

"I want to say hi to your dad. Let's go see what he's cooking?"

Offering his arm, he led us through the empty house to the back deck, where his dad was busy basting ribs and flipping burgers.