Chapter Nineteen

Sam

I climbed into bed with Grace and stroked her soft blonde hair. I missed having her with me, and now I have her back. It felt so weird without Grace's legs in the bed but I didn't let it hinder me.

"You think I'm a weird don't you?" Grace asked.

"No, why would I?" I asked.

"I don't know just because I have no legs you might think I'm weird now."

"Grace, I always thought you were weird," Grace gave me a mean look. "Joking, just joking."

"Night Sam," Grace whispered as she put her hand through my hair.

"Night Grace."

Grace

It was Sam's birthday and he was fast asleep. I was going to kick him but nothing to kick him with. I ended up just poking his temple.

"Happy birthday Sam." I said kissing Sam's forehead.

"Oh thanks," he said yawning.

"Here," I said handing a long box.

"What's this?"

"You won't know until you open it." Sam unwrapped the box and he put the crinkled paper between us. I saw his eyes become all glossy and a tear ran down his cheek. He pulled the cardboard square out of the box and admired it in the light.

"Grace," he gasped, "It's beautiful." He leaned over and kissed me. Then he got out of bed and walked over to my side of the bed. He sat on the bed and stroked his hand through my hair. "Thank you," he whispered.

"You're welcome," I looked down at the square in his hand. It had pictures of all kinds of things, The Crooked Shelf, the woods, the wolves of Mercy Falls, Sam as a wolf, Sam and I together, and more.

I took off my covers and looked down; I wasn't upset at what I saw anymore, I was just glad I had Sam. He picked me up and held me close in his arms for a few minutes and then put me in my wheelchair. Sam opened the door of the bedroom and I rolled into the living room.

"Happy birthday Sam," Paul and Lori said standing up from the couch.

"Thanks," Sam said hugging both of them. I rolled next to the couch to see them, a big huddle of arms and bodies.

"Good morning Grace," Lori said walking over to me and sitting on the couch.

"Hey."

"What did you get Sam?"

"It's actually something I made, it's a collage, you know with pictures."

"Ya, what kind of pictures are on it?"

"Things like places him and I have been together, and the wolves, and things along those lines." Lori just laughed.

"That's so cute." Paul sat down next to Lori and Sam sat on the other couch next to me. Cole walked into the room with the usual, no shirt just sweatpants.

"Oh, hey Sam, happy birthday," Cole said.

"Hi," Sam replied, "Where is Isabel?"

"Sleeping." Cole sat down next to Sam and rubbed his eyes. Then Isabel walked into the room, hair going out in all directions, and yawning. "Aww, there's my princess."

"Shut up Cole," she sounded so tired, "Oh ya, happy birthday Sam."

"Thank you." Sam said smiling. Later in the afternoon everyone got out presents for Sam.

"Here," Paul said handing Sam a box.

"It's from both of us," Lori added. Sam opened it and looked inside the box.

"Thanks you guys, that's so generous." Sam put the box to the side while Isabel handed him a box.

"Guys I said a little too much don't you think this is a little much."

"Nope," Cole responded. After Ulrik and the others gave him there presents he walked into our room, and I followed. I wanted to see what he got, but it was his privacy.

Sam

For my birthday I got money that's all I wanted. Just to buy Grace's legs, Cole and Isabel decided they were going to give me their engagement ring, I did research and their ring is worth three thousand dollars. Paul and Lori's ring is worth that much so they gave me money and their ring for my birthday. Cole and Isabel did the same, a ring and money. I got over seven thousand dollars for my birthday. I decided that night as I went to bed that I was going to return Grace's engagement ring so that I would get ten thousand dollars and then I would need two thousand dollars to buy Grace's legs. I knew I could do it I just didn't know how.

"Happy birthday," Grace said after we got into bed, "I love you."

"I love you too, thanks for the gift."

"It was fun making it." I flicked the lamp off and I put Grace into my arms. She put her head on my neck and she locked her fingers into my fingers. "Night Sam."

"Night Grace." She shifted closer to me and fell asleep.