Loose Ends - Book One

Ana - Happy Birthday

"So, how does it feel?"

The traffic light in front of Dean and I blinks green, and I ease off in, now, my Honda. "Feels pretty good."

"I knew you could it. You're smart."

I don't have to take my eyes off the road to know that Dean is beaming right at me. This guy seems to be a fan. It doesn't even matter, right now, because there's only one thing on my mind: the knight.

Dean took me to get my driver's license today, after practicing with me the last two days. He figured I wouldn't want to wait past my birthday, and he wasn't wrong. I just found it weird because he was supposed to go back to work the day he took Charlie home. Instead, he stayed home and insisted on helping me. My mom did ask him to, I suppose. I guess I'm also grateful, otherwise I probably wouldn't be heading to New Windsor, later. Don't worry, Grandpa – I will find it.

Moments later, I pull into our driveway, and I see my mother and Charlie waiting outside. Behind them are red and black birthday decorations, a matching table with brownies and cupcakes, and a couple gift bags. It puts a genuine smile on my face. I've only been home a week, and I feel like I've been on the Six Flags of emotional rollercoasters. I haven't been able to see where my mom's head is at, and she doesn't seem to want to address what happened pre- Silk River. I'd be lying if I said it didn't seem like she was trying to appeal to me. Is she not ready? Why wouldn't she be ready to talk about it? Is she hiding something?

Either way, I'm not budging until we reach the target subject.

"Happy birthday, Anabel." The sudden warmth on my inner thigh yanks me right back into reality. Dean's left hand is on my right thigh. When I look at him, he's already making eye contact with me, smiling. "Well done, today." Then he squeezes, then his hand is gone. Then, he's out of the car, heading towards my mother. It all happened in five seconds. It's almost like it didn't happen, but there's no way in hell that didn't happen. It confused me. It didn't feel right but also looked harmless.

Again, my thought process is interrupted, this time by two paws tapping on my car door. I open the door and allow Shadow to greet me. He's seemed to love me the moment we met each other. The feeling's mutual. This may sound silly, but I believe Shadow and I have a special bond. I can't really explain it.

"Happy birthday, old lady!" Charlie's voice calls out to me from over at the party decorations. His voice is a bit raspy, as he's developing a cough. He's still in great spirits, though, and mom's been wrapping him up in more layers than necessary.

"Thanks, poop." I turn off the car and step out to join everyone.

"Happy birthday, mama." My mother and I make eye contact. She hasn't called me that since I was a little girl. I used to think she called me that in reference to how I treat Charlie.

"Thanks, mom." I smile softly at her.

She returns it. "So, how'd you do?"

"I passed, but I could practice some more parallel parking."

"Everyone could," she chuckles and rubs the back of my head. Another thing she used to do. "You have plans, today?"

Yes. "Well, I was gonna go around town and hunt for a job."

"Did you plan on staying in town?"

Damn it, she's onto me. "Am I allowed to go out of town?"

She glances away into the distance, for a moment, then exhales a defeated sigh. "There's only one reason I'd expect you to leave town. And if you do, you have to let me know when you're there, and when you're on the way back."