A Wolf Affair: Chapter 8

The days that followed were blissfully uneventful while the nights were filled with amorous anticipation as Kenton continued to pay me his visits.

Days turned into weeks as we got to know each other better. Although I was frustrated by my attraction to him that was going nowhere, I was also happy and thankful for the friendship we’d developed.

My eighteenth birthday was in a few days and I really wanted to introduce Kenton to my mom and brother so that he could join in on my birthday celebration.

I was usually outside on the patio for fifteen minutes or so before he’d appear. I spent that time dreaming about seeing his face over the top of the candle flames as I blew them out.

“Are you sleeping?” he whispered from the shadows.

I kept my eyes closed. “Just thinking.”

“It must be something pretty good that you’re thinking about with a smile like that on that pretty face,” he said as he eased himself into the chair next to me.

I marveled over how comfortable we’d gotten with each other. You’d think we’d been friends for years instead of weeks.

“My birthday is in a few days. We’ll be celebrating on Saturday afternoon with a little picnic and some cake.” I opened my eyes and focused them on him. “I’d really like you to come.”

“Is your birthday on Saturday?” he asked.

I sensed a rejection, but did my best to act as if I didn’t feel it coming. “I’m eighteen on Friday, but mom thought Saturday afternoon was the better day for a picnic. Since I was born at 12:10 am, I will have been eighteen for a full day before we celebrate.”

“You’re getting to be an old woman,” he teased. “Do you have any gray hairs?”

“That’s not funny,” I pouted. “How old are you, anyway?”

“Old enough to know better than to fall into those beautiful blue eyes of yours,” he cooed.

Oh man. His complements were ridiculously corny, but effective. If he kept talking like that, I couldn’t guarantee that I’d behave myself. I’d grown accustomed to his visits and enjoyed them, but I was also frustrated with them because all we did was talk. For a guy who was constantly laying it on thick with the complements, he was pretty hands off.

It wasn’t like I was an expert at love. Like I said earlier, I was still a virgin. That didn’t mean that I hadn’t been kissed or even fooled around a little. For crying out loud, was this guy ever going to make a move? I wasn’t above making things happen, myself, but there never seemed to be the opportunity to do it smoothly and I was too proud to leap off my chair and go in for the kiss. It had to seem natural in some way.

“You’re avoiding the subject,” I said.

“You act older than eighteen?” he mused.

I shrugged. “I had to grow up fast when my dad left.”

He looked away and said with genuine sadness, “I’m sorry.”

I didn’t want his pity. I’d come to terms with my dad leaving and the new responsibilities that came with a drunkard for a mother. What I wanted was to know if he was going to come to my celebration picnic.

“It’s all good. Now, are you coming to my birthday picnic?” I asked with an air of frustration.

Silence permeated our surroundings as I waited for his answer. Just as he opened his mouth to say something, the sound of my mother calling my name in a loud whisper reached our ears. I still hadn’t told her about Kenton and I especially hadn’t told her that he visited me in the wee hours of the morning. Understanding my dilemma, he scurried off into the fields before she reached the patio.

Mom padded out onto the flagstone wearing her robe and slippers. The night air had a chill to it, so she hugged the robe tight around her as she sat on the lounger next to me. “What in heavens name are you doing out here at this hour? Don’t tell me that you’re admiring the moon. The full moon is long gone.”

“I like it out here at night,” I said innocently.

“You like meeting that boy, you mean,” she scolded.

After gasping with surprise, I said, “What?”

“Don’t lie to me. I thought we had a better relationship than that,” she grumbled.

“I wasn’t going to lie to you,” I stammered. “You just took me by surprise.”

“Who is he?” she demanded in a tone that was firm, but non-threatening.

I knew I had to tell her about him. I’d intended on introducing him to her, after all. I just didn’t want to admit that we’d been meeting in the wee hours of the morning on the patio. That sounded sketchy even to me. “His name is Kenton Walters. He lives on the other side of the reserve.”

“This may sound dumb, but why does he visit you in the middle of the night?” she asked. “Now, before you try to tell me that tonight is the first time, think again. I’m not stupid. Nor am I deaf.”

My eyes flew open with surprise. “How come you never said anything?”

She pulled her knees up to her chest and rested her chin on them. “The two of you seemed to be behaving yourself and I was waiting for you to tell me.”

“I really like him,” I said with a small sigh.

“I’m sure I would like him too if he came around at a decent enough hour to meet me,” she muttered.

“I asked him to come to the picnic on Saturday, but you interrupted us before he could answer,” I pouted.

“One of the drawbacks of sneaking around,” she sighed as she stood up. “Changing the subject… did I tell you that I got the name of Lila’s caterer?”

“Is there time to use them?” I asked with hope.

Mom chuckled. “Can you believe it’s a small mom and pop deli not far from the school I’ll be teaching in? You can walk right in and buy most of what she served. It’s available all of the time.”

I clapped my hands with approval. “What about the cake?”

“I’ve already placed the order with the bakery.”

It suddenly dawned on me that my mother wasn’t planning a small affair like we had back in Chicago. I was never good with large events and I especially wasn’t good with one being held in my honor. “How big a cake did you order and how many people did you invite?”