27. WISH

Everyone knows I don't like to make a big deal out of birthdays.

And yet, the instant Edythe and I walked down the stairs everyone in the house was already gathered in the living room, now filled with a bunch of colorful balloons, and I was greeted with the loudest, most enthusiastic "Happy birthday!" I almost fell backwards from the shock. Edythe was there to catch me, of course. Though she was standing behind everybody, I saw Jules throwing her head back and laughing. It was the first time I've seen her like that in a while, and I was happy for it; happy that I could make her smile.

"Happy birthday, bro!" Arch came up first, holding a small white box out to me. Through the clear plastic window inset on the top of the lid, a small cupcake with blue and green frosting was peering out at me from inside. There was a sign made out of white chocolate on top which had "Happy Birthday" written on it in chocolate syrup.

"You shouldn't have." Really. I added in my head. "Thanks, guys." I smiled though anyways.

"Let's take it into the dining room." Earnest said, swiping my digital camera off the counter and ushering us all away. Edythe sat beside me, squeezing my hand. Carine took a small striped blue candle and a red lighter from the drawer, and after sticking the candle in the frosting right in beside the white chocolate sign, she lit it up and pulled away.

"Say cheese, you two." Earnest said and positioned the camera at an angle that could capture me, Edythe, and the cupcake all at once. I heard the "click" of the shutter and saw him grinning when he reviewed the shot. My lips pulled back into a tight smile, my face already flushing as everyone started singing "Happy Birthday" to me – well, everyone except Royal, that is. He kind of just mumbled the words. But hey, at least he was making an effort – it's the thought that counts, right? They fell back, giving me a little more space.

"What are you going to wish for?" Asked Carine, clasping her hands to her chest.

Wish?

I knew what I was going to wish for.

I blew out the candle. Everyone clapped again, and I dug into the cupcake. It was so freaking good that I smeared frosting all over my face trying to eat it faster.

Slow down, Beau." I heard Edythe chuckle and felt her cool hand pressing against my back. She grabbed a napkin from the counter and wiped the goop off my lips with it.

"Thanks." I said, wincing. I could feel those red splotches creeping up on me again. After finishing off the rest of the cupcake, I rinsed the box out and went to put it in the recycle bin outside, behind the house. Just then, I heard my ringtone blaring out from the open kitchen window and I bolted to where I'd left my phone earlier. It was Dad.

"Answer it, Beau." Jules was there. "He's really worried about you. I told him that you were taking a year off from school, but I didn't say why. He knows you're back in town, though. Sorry about that. I just didn't know what else to say." She explained, crossing her arms over her chest and looking down. "I'm sure he wants to wish you a happy birthday, too." I shifted my jaw. Mulling over Jules' words, I finally swiped at my screen on the last ring before it would go to voicemail.

"Hey, Dad," I started, trying to sound as sick as I could.

"Beau? Is everything alright? Why haven't you been answering my calls?" His voice rose a little; grew more frantic.

"I'm sorry, Dad." I really meant that part, at least. "I've been pretty sick." I made my voice more brittle and coughed loudly into the receiver.

"You sure you don't want me to come over?"

"No, Dad, it's totally fine. They're taking good care of us, Edythe's family. Carine's a doctor, remember? I just don't want you to get sick. You're the police chief after all, and we wouldn't want to let America's most wanted get the upper hand if you were ever to be out of commission, right?" I said with a chuckle.

He sighed. "Yeah, yeah. Guess you have a point. Are you kids at least feeling any better?"

"Yeah, a little bit. We'll be fine. Trust me." I made my voice a slightly brittle sound again and heard him click his tongue on the other line.

Okay, okay. But please, just answer my calls from now on, will you?"

"Deal."

"Good."

There was a silence then, but Dad broke it.

"So… you guys aren't going up to Dartmouth this year, huh?"

"Nope, I guess not. It's just… we didn't want to feel like we were missing out, you know? Since we were going to have to ditch those crucial first few weeks of school." I reasoned. Wow, even I almost believed it when I said it like that.

"Mm. Makes sense." He mumbled. "Alright, then. Get well soon, Beau. Tell Edythe that, too. And happy birthday, kiddo." I could tell a tiny hint of a smile played up at his lips when he said that last part based on his tone. I chuckled.

"Thanks Dad, and will do. Stay safe out there. I'll see you soon." I hung up first and tossed my phone on the dining room table. I rested my hands on it, leaning over it a little to keep my balance as I tapped my fingers noisily on the lacquered surface. What were we going to tell him?

"Hey." Jules came up to me and put a warm hand on my shoulder. I turned to look at her, my once-anxious face softening upon seeing hers. "I got you something. Happy birthday." She pulled out a small present topped with a silver bow from behind her back and handed it to me.

"Thanks, Jules. You shouldn't have." I gave her a hug. She returned it, but pulled away quicker this time than what I was used to.

"I wanted to." She shrugged. "I hope you like it."

"I'm sure I will." I assured her with a smile. She waited with expectant eyes as I tore away the tape on the shiny blue paper. It was a small white box, one that fit into the palm of my hand. I lifted away the lid, pulling out a small compass edged with mini sterling silver turrets and an eight-pointed star. I turned it over. On the back, there was a small picture of a wolf engraved on the metal and my eyes widened.

"This is amazing, Jules. Thank you so much." I wrapped my arms around her.

"You're welcome." She smiled, resting her hands on my back. "Just in case you ever get lost so you'll be able to find your way back home again."

"Well, I love it. Thank you again, Jules." I inhaled the sweet scent of her hair then heard her sigh when she pulled away.

"Hey," She started in a hesitant voice.

"Yeah?"

"Um, where's Edythe?" She asked, looking over my shoulder.

"I'm right here." She came floating down the stairs and stood before us.

"Mind if I borrow your husband for a sec?" Jules asked and pursed her lips a little, tilting her head in my direction. Edythe stopped and stared at her for a moment, a look of intense concentration flashing in her eyes as she gnawed at her lip and then let out a sigh.

"Very well." She nodded once, tugging at her fingers. "Do go on, then."

"Thanks." Jules grabbed my hand and pulled me behind her out the sliding doors in the back of the house, sitting us down underneath the giant tree whose shade spread out high above us. The breeze troubled the dry, dying leaves so they made a sound like the rustling of paper.

"Everything okay?" I asked.

"I just need to tell you some things."

"Things? What things?" She let out another sigh at my question.

"About Sam and the others. About my mom. About your family. Just listen, alright?"

"I'm all ears."

Her eyes were looking straight out in front of her now, but she couldn't concentrate on any one thing. She took another breath.

"Sam's decided to stand down – for now, at least. They're going to wait for Edythe to have the kid first then decide what to do about it then."

"They'll have nothing to worry about." I snapped loudly, my voice suddenly shaking with something I couldn't quite put my finger on.

"I tried to tell them. You know they won't listen to me." She shook her head. "They told my mom about it. Obviously, the news didn't sit too well with her but she's strictly prohibited Sam and the others from hurting either of them-" she motioned a hand towards the house, "but that's only because Charlie's her friend." She sighed again, pulling her knees to her chest. She looked to me with shiny dark-brown eyes, her cheek pressed to her arms which were hooked around her knees.

"Why did you have to go and do that, huh?" She asked in so quiet a voice I wasn't even sure she was talking to me in the first place. I blinked, opening and closing my mouth like I was chewing on air.

"Um, sorry?" Was I supposed to apologize for something like this?

"Yeah. Me too."

There was a silence between us then and I turned away.