Chapter Twenty-Eight

Grace

Everyone piled into the living room with boxes and smiles on their faces. Isabel, Lori, Rachel, and Rebecca took me into the bathroom and showed me a few dresses. One was a dress with cuts in the back, I didn't enjoy it. Isabel said ha to Lori. Then there was this cream colored dress with a laced top and a black beaded collar. It had a ruffled skirt that looked like a tutu but longer almost to the end of my stubs. Then they took my hair and grabbed the hair dye.

"What is that for?"

"You, you would look wonderful with red hair." Isabel said waving a brush in her hand.

"Please don't."

"Come one guys, just let her do what she wants, it's her birthday," Rebecca cried.

"Fine have it your way," Isabel said combing my hair. They spun my hair so that half of my head was full of little curls. I looked at myself in the mirror while the girl went to get me something. What did Sam find with me that makes him love me? The girls walked in with a box and they all looked guilty.

"Grace this is from Sam but I know he will want you to see you in this," Lori said. They took out two legs. Finally I would stand next to Sam and hold him like I used to, and get out of bed and not need to wait for him. The girls took turns pulling on socks on my stubs. Then they wiggled on legs that looked so real. No one would ever know that my legs were fake.

"Stand up Grace, see how they work," Rachel said. I stood up and almost fell over.

"It's ok Grace, keep going," Rebecca said holding my hand. When I was stable I walked around the bathroom. Isabel walked into the living room with the rest of the girls. They introduced me and I stepped out into the living room. Sam's mouth opened and he stared at me. He was so cute, but to him I probably was cute too. I saw tears in the corner of his eyes, and so I started to cry a little.

"Grace, walk to me," Sam said standing from the couch. I started over, staring at him. When I reached him, he wrapped me in his arms. "Oh, Grace," Then I looked up at him and kissed him. This was probably one of the best birthdays ever. I bet everyone in the whole world was watching Sam and I kissing. When we let go I turned around and Sam wrapped his arms around the front of me. "Now I can finally do this," I laughed and Isabel started to look bored. I watch her and Cole kiss and do stuff all the time but I just untangled myself from Sam and sat on the couch.

"You get to open mine first," Isabel said. She handed me a small box and unwrapped it. I folded the paper and put it on the floor. "Come on Grace just open the box, you're wasting time. Cole smacked her leg and she shut up. I opened the box and saw that there was a bracelet inside. It had circles of different colors inside that I just loved. Reds, and purples, and oranges. "It's called the meaning of friendship bracelet," Isabel said bragging.

"Thank you Isabel," I said not making eye contact.

"Now mine," Lori said. She handed me a little bag. I reached in and pulled out a baby elephant statue. "It's a ring holder, I mean you can make it hold anything you like but that's what it was designed for." I hope she didn't know about my engagement ring.

"Thanks, it's so cute," I said admiring it in the light of the fireplace.

"You need this, Grace," Rachel said handing me a heavy box. I opened the box and there was a make your own cupcake set. "Red velvet, vanilla, and chocolate. I know how much you love cooking."

"That's so sweet of you, thank you."

"Do mine," Cole said handing me his box. I folded the paper and opened the box. It was a bag that looked hand sewed.

"Did you make this?" I asked holding it up.

"I had needle holes in my hand forever," he said showing me the palms of his hands.

"Thank you Cole." Then Paul handed me his gift.

"It's glass, watch out." I pretended to drop it and he flinched. I opened it and saw that it was a hummingbird feeder. It was a stain glass one too.

"Thank you, Paul."

"Grace, don't forget Rebecca," Isabel yelled.

"How could I forget? I was just getting to her."

"Here," Rebecca said handing me her box. I opened it and found slippers inside. "They are therapeutic slippers. Your feet might hurt after a while." I gave her a glare; I think she forgot that I didn't tell everyone about my pregnancy.

"Thank you, and I saved the best for last," turning to Sam. He smiled and handed me a bag. I reached into the bag and pulled out,

"A red coffee pot. Sam how did you know?"

"I'm Sam, I know everything about you."

"Sam, I never remembered telling you about this."

"Just because wolves can't talk, doesn't mean they can't hear you when you talk to them." I gave him a hug and a kiss on the cheek. "That's all I get?" He whispered.

"Fine," I leaned in and kissed him, he bit my lower lip.