Chapter 10

Over the next two years, Lenny was falling more in love with Kylie and becoming more attached to her family. Ever since his little talk with Kayla, she'd become much more confident about her glasses. She felt happy whenever Lenny was around. She believed that he'd saved her in a way she couldn't describe. Saved her from living a shameful life of sadness and humiliation. To her and the rest of the family, Lenny had become a hero. Except maybe for Kelsey, who still had a lot of growing up to do.

Kylie's feelings for Lenny had grown drastically over the two-year period as well. Every day that she spent with him was like a day at the beach… or wherever sharks go on vacation. She was finding out more and more about him every time they were together, even though he still refused to discuss his family with her or anybody for that matter. But she respected his privacy and he loved her all the more for that.

They were both convinced that they had found the people they wanted to spend the rest of their lives with. They loved each other, they knew each other like the backs of their fins, and they almost never fought. The only fighting they ever did was the play kind. They were both positive that their feelings for each other were much more than silly crushes. These feelings were real. And since they were now both twenty-two, Lenny figured the time was approaching for him to ask Kylie for her fin in marriage. There were just two things he needed to do first; earn enough money for an engagement bracelet, and make sure he could propose without being nervous. He knew both would happen shortly since Patrick would be retiring soon. And once that happened, Lenny and Dustin would be in charge. By then, money for an engagement bracelet would be the easiest thing in the world to come by.

Patrick threw a big party to celebrate his twenty-seven years as president. Just about every shark that worked in the organization would be attending. Even Nathan, who Mara had forced Patrick to give an invitation to, would be there. Nathan's life had really gone downhill since Patrick had forced him out of the business. Of course, that's likely to happen after one has been fired from the wealthiest business in the entire shipwreck. But it was far worse for Nathan than anyone could imagine. It turned out he'd become a father. That's right. One of his little girlfriends had gotten pregnant the night before he was booted from the business. And Nathan, being the father, was forced to stay with her and help raise the baby. Nathan hadn't exactly been a pleasant sight before, but now he was by no means easy to look at.

Lenny and Kylie briefly saw Nathan at Patrick's party with his fiancée, Phoebe, and their screaming two-year-old son, Nathan Junior. Phoebe had absolutely no class whatsoever. She was sloppy, trashy, wore way too much makeup, would often belch after taking a sip from her drink, and treated just about everybody, especially Nathan, like a pile of rocks.

"Nathan!" That's how began just about every sentence the entire night; by belting Nathan's name in her nasally, high-pitched voice. Sometimes Nathan would be standing right next to her and she'd still holler at him. "Nathan! Get me a drink!" "Nathan! Hold my purse while I go to the can!" "Nathan! Junior's crying again!"

Nathan Junior wasn't much better than his mother. He was the loudest toddler Lenny had ever heard and Nathan and Phoebe did practically nothing to make him stop screaming. Within the first half hour of the party, the dysfunctional family was the center of everyone's attention, but not in a good way.

"I feel kinda sorry for Nathan," Lenny whispered to Kylie.

"I feel sorry for the whole family," Kylie whispered back. "That kid's gonna end up as horrible as his parents."

"Maybe worse if he's being raised by both of 'em."

Lenny was truly becoming grateful for where he was going in life. Nathan was just about on Rock Bottom. He didn't have a sea dollar to his name, his wife was trashy, his son was out of control, he had to support both of them, and his father refused to help him financially. The way Lenny saw it, it seemed like no one could ever have it worse than Nathan. Hopefully it would be different with Kylie.

Later on during the party, Patrick asked Lenny to join him and Dustin in the middle of the room. It was time for Patrick to announce both his retirement and his heirs.

"Ladies and gentlemen," he announced to his guests. "If I could have a moment of your time, please?" The room fell silent and soon all eyes were on Patrick. "Thank you. Now I think you all know what we're celebrating here tonight. There's a number of ways that I could say it, but I think I'll just keep short and sweet; I'm gettin' old."

Everyone in the room broke out into laughter.

"I know, right?" Patrick joked. "I must look at least twenty years younger than I really am. Unfortunately, I won't be around forever. That means that my days of running our successful Lost and Found Organization are about to come to a standstill."

The guests all did a group aw.

"But," Patrick continued, "I just want to take a moment to say that these last twenty-seven years have been some of the best of my life. I love helping the little kiddies and I love to see them smile. I'll miss working here. But I also would like to say that the sharks I'm leaving in charge of the organization are just as dedicated and helpful to all lost children as I have ever been. And it is my pleasure now to introduce them to you all." He turned to Dustin and placed a fin on his shoulder. "First, I'd like you all to give a warm applause to co-president number one, my son, who has just turned twenty-six, Dustin."

Dustin smiled as the guests cheered at the sound of his name. Mara's applause was easily the loudest and longest.

Then Patrick turned his attention to Lenny and continued his announcement. "Now as we all know, this organization is called Patrick and Sons. Unfortunately a few years back, my other son Nathan got himself, for reasons that do not concern you, removed from the business."

Everyone who surrounded Nathan gave him an unpleasant look. The smirk he shot back at them was no more pleasant.

"But there's no need to worry," Patrick continued. "Because miraculously I was able to find the perfect replacement in this young shark, who I'd like to tell you about. For those of you who don't know, his name is Lenny. Three short years ago, he came into my office hoping and praying for a job in this organization. When I first laid eyes on him, I didn't know the first thing about him. But being the merciful shark I am, I let him stay and work here. And I admit at first I had a few doubts about him, mainly because of the noticeable attraction he'd instantly taken to my niece."

An eruption of laughter broke out all across the room. Lenny and Kylie blushed and hoped Patrick would just get to the point.

"But the very next day," Patrick continued, "I noticed that Lenny was and to this day still is a truly great sport when it comes to kids. Any doubts I'd had about him vanished and I knew then that he was something special. Lenny, you first came into my office a nervous, timid lad. And now three years later here you are, about to be running this entire organization alongside my son. I wish you luck, Son."

Lenny smiled. "Thank you, Sir."

Patrick turned back to the crowd and said, "Let's all give it up for Lenny."

The crowd cheered and applauded. Lenny saw Kylie blow him a kiss. He couldn't believe where he was right now. When he was first kicked out of his home, he thought his life was over. But in just three years he'd become co-president of the best organization he could ever hope to work for and, if she said yes, he would become the future husband of the most beautiful girl he could ever dream of. As the guests continued to applaud for him, he could only help but smile.

A few weeks later, Lenny had earned enough money to buy Kylie a white gold, six-karat diamond engagement bracelet. He'd seen its picture in a magazine and thought it was perfect for the girl he loved. To his relief, the jeweler still had plenty of them in stock. Lenny bought it and exited the store smiling at the decorative box the bracelet had been wrapped in. He was finally asking Kylie for her fin in marriage… tonight!

Kylie had invited Lenny to her parents' home for dinner that night. Lenny thought this was all the better. He hadn't told Kurtis or Kara that he was about to propose to their daughter, so he figured proposing to her in front of her whole family would be a surprise for everyone. He decided to wait after dinner for the big moment. While everyone was at the table eating, he vaguely announced that he had something important to ask Kylie afterwards and he wanted the whole family to be there when he asked it. Until then, he made sure to keep the bracelet hidden from Kylie and her family, especially the little snoop Kelsey.

"Alright, Lenny," Kylie said once dinner was over. "You have my attention, what'd you want to ask me?"

"Uh…" For the first time in over two years, Lenny was actually nervous about talking to Kylie. He hadn't exactly practiced what he was going to say to her and her whole family was watching. He figured he might as well buy himself a little more time. "Can we take this in the living room?"

"No problem, Boy-o," said Kurtis.

The ten sharks relocated to the living room, which unfortunately for Lenny took less time than anticipated. He still hadn't managed to settle his nerves or come up with the right words. 'Kylie, will you marry me?' sounded way too old school. Plus, he didn't want to just jump right to the point. He wanted to lead up to it in a romantic, special way.

"Is this better, Lenny?" Kylie asked, taking a seat by Kandice on the sofa.

"Yeah," said Lenny. "But actually I need you to stand up for this."

"… Okay," Kylie said curiously. She got up from the sofa and joined Lenny while the rest of the family was seated. "Better?"

Lenny nodded. "Perfect."

"Great, so what is it?"

"Uh… well… it's…" Lenny was gulping between every word. He just couldn't put it the way he'd always dreamed he could.

"Are you okay, Lenny?" Kandice asked. "I'm detecting nervousness in your aura."

Lenny paused to reflect his slight disappointment in being interrupted. "Kandice, no offense but now isn't the best time for auras."

"Oh, gotcha," Kandice said with a wink. "Continue."

"Thanks," said Lenny. "So Kylie, it's been… a while since we started dating… and… I just… I think…"

Once more, he was interrupted. This time by a heart stopping, banshee-like scream coming from Karissa.

"Karissa, what in the world is the matter?" Kara asked.

"I can't believe you, Lenny," Karissa said looking partially angry. "You're breaking up with my sister? And you're doing it the same way my ex-boyfriend did last year. He's behind this, isn't he? He won't rest until every heart in this family's broken, will he?"

Lenny and the rest of the family only stared at her.

"What?" she asked. "Am I off?"

"Way off, Karissa," said Lenny.

"Oh my gosh, I'm so sorry, Lenny," said Karissa. "I guess I just never know when the worst time to talk is."

"No you don't," replied Katrina, who was always annoyed by everything her twin did.

"Alright, girls," Kurtis said to his daughters. "No more interruptions. Lenny?"

"Thank you." Lenny turned to Kylie once again, aware that there was no way he could be interrupted. So he knew he had to make this count. "Okay, Kylie. I'm ready to tell you that… I've been thinking for a while and… Actually if that were the case, I'd know how to put it right now, so…"

"Ugh, who cares how you put it?" Kelsey interrupted. "Can't you just say it and get it over with?"

Now Lenny lost patience. "Ugh! How am I supposed to propose if everyone keeps interrupting me?"

The entire family, even Kelsey, went wide-eyed when Lenny said this. Not because he was vaguely telling them to shut up but because apparently none of them were expecting his news to be this big.

Lenny chuckled nervously. "Well, I guess the catfish is outta the bag. That wasn't exactly how I wanted to break the ice though…"

Kylie threw herself into Lenny's fins and kissed him passionately. "Yes!" she said happily. "Yes! Yes! I'll marry you!"

Lenny smiled. "Seriously?"

"Wait, hold up," said Kelsey. "I know this is sweet and all, but what kinda guy proposes to his girl without some kinda bling?"

Lenny smirked and produced the cased engagement bracelet from behind his back. He then turned to Kylie, who was on the edge of hyperventilating, opened the case, removed the bracelet and fastened it around Kylie's wrist. "Any more complaints, Kelsey?"

"Uh, yeah," Kelsey said matter-of-factly. "When's the big day?"

The other girls all erupted with questions for Kylie. "Can I sing at the wedding?" "Can I be a bride's maid?" "Can I be in charge of decorations?"

Kylie lifted her fins to calm them down. "Girls, girls, please. One thing at a time." She turned to her parents. "Mom, Dad, what do you guys think?"

Kara looked like she was about to burst into happy tears. Kurtis placed his fin around her shoulders and said, "We think you two will make a very happy couple."

"My little Kylie is getting married," Kara wept happily.

"Way too over-the-top, Mom," Katrina said, rolling her eyes.

End of chapter

Author's note: Okay, so I know you're probably wondering, "Engagement bracelet? Whatever happened to rings?" Answer: Do sharks have fingers? Of course not. So bracelet it was.