Where am I?
There’s sand between my toes, heat is kissing my cheeks, and the faint sounds of a party start to trigger my memory. Then my sight slowly begins to return.
“What the…” I gasp and whirl around. I’m on the beach in front of Summer Manor. The party seems to still be in full swing, but…
How did I get here? I was just sitting by the pool with Alec. Confused and disoriented, I fall to my knees just as a shadow of someone approaching appears on the sand. Using my hands to block the sunlight from my eyes, I spot Rose.
She watches me, waiting for me to react as if this is some sort of science experiment and she knows what just happened.
“What was that?” I know my tone is accusatory, but she knows something, and I’m starting to run out of patience.
“How do you feel?”
I look at her, incredulous. “How do I feel? I was just sitting by the pool with Alec. There was a bright light, then I was falling. Now I’m here. How do I feel? I feel crazy. Do you know what’s happening to me? I’m scared, Rose. Something is wrong with me.” My voice is shaking.
Rose smiles, which is not at all what I was expecting. “Hush, dear. You’re perfectly fine. Alec thinks you wanted some fresh air, so he went inside to wait for you. Now, tell me. Are you feeling okay?”
I want to blurt out that I’m not. How could I feel okay after what just happened? But that’s the craziest part of all. I am fine. I’m better than fine. Every nerve ending in my body is buzzing with electricity. My heartbeat is strong and steady within the confines of my ribcage, and I just feel strong—physically and mentally.
“It’s beginning.” Pure happiness spreads across Rose’s face as she mutters those two words that send chills straight up my spine.
“What’s beginning?
Rose places her hands on my cheeks. “Welcome to your Enchantment.”
Huh? “My what?”
“Your Enchantment. Your becoming. Your… awakening.”
No matter how many versions Rose comes up with, I still don’t understand.
“It’s a wonderful thing, Katrina, I promise you. Don’t be afraid of what you’re feeling. Embrace it.” Rose drops her hands from my face and smiles. “Come with me. We’ll cut the cake. When everyone leaves, we’ll have a chat.”
“Wait. You want the party to be over?”
Rose nods. “We have a lot to talk about. Just don’t make a wish when you blow out the candles.”
My jaw drops. “This is my birthday party, Rose. That’s what people do when they blow out their candles. They make wishes.”
“Just trust me, Katrina. All will become clear soon.”
Not knowing what else to do, I follow her up the back stairs, past the pool and patio, and through the back entrance of the house. All the guests are now drifting from the room, greeting me as I pass them. I try to smile back.
I spot Alec standing off to one side of the room with his parents. I’m desperate to know what he thinks of all this. Did I really tell him I needed some fresh air? I don’t remember that at all. But he looks perfectly happy. When he catches me staring, he smiles back at me with a boyish grin.
I go through the motions for the rest of the party, watching as a three-tiered cake with white frosting and green trim is wheeled into the room. Everyone sings, I blow out the candles, then thunderous applause ensues. For the next hour, the guests start to thin out. Alec is one of the last to leave.
“Thanks for stopping by, Alec. I’m sorry we didn’t get a chance to talk much.”
He shoves his hands in his pockets and shrugs. “We have plenty of time for that, right? Or do you still plan on leaving Apollo Beach?”
I think about what happened outside. “I think I’ll be around for a bit longer than I thought.”
His megawatt grin makes me smile too. “Good.” He leans forward to hug me, brushing my cheek with his lips before breaking away. “Happy birthday, Summer Girl.”
Rose and Charlotte are huddled together, sharing a giggle, when I walk back into the great room.
“What the hell is going on?”
Their heads snap toward me, and they freeze while shock lights up their faces. It’s not like me to speak that way, but I’ve been going crazy trying to understand what’s going on with me.
Rose’s face relaxes, and she gestures to the couch. “Have a seat, Katrina. All will be discussed. But first,” she says with a clap of her hands, “presents.”
I burst into an incredulous laugh. “What? No. I’m not opening presents. You’re going to tell me what’s going on.” I look at Charlotte, whose eyes are on Rose like she doesn’t want to get involved. My eyes narrow at her. “Does she know what’s happening too?”
Rose sighs while Charlotte throws me a sympathetic glance. “Charlotte is aware, yes.”
“Oh, Rose.” Charlotte frowns. “Stop delaying.”
Rose raises her arms in a dramatic shrug as if to say she’s innocent. “I’m not delaying. This is all part of the reveal. You open your presents, and the pieces will all start to fall together.” She gestures again at the couch. “Now, sit.”
I feel I have no other choice, so I sit across from Rose. Charlotte proceeds to hand me cards and presents, and the only thing I seem to be learning is just how generous my grandmother’s friends are. I open money, gift certificates, lavish bath products, fancy jewelry, and what looks like a handmade quilt. When Charlotte hands me a small shiny red box wrapped with a silver bow, my heart skips. I know exactly who this one is from.
Charlotte and Rose watch as I gently open it to find a sand dollar lying on a velvet cushion. There’s a folded piece of paper pressed into the lid. I open it to find a note from Alec.
Summer Girl,
I found this sand dollar on the night we met, and I knew it should belong to you.
Happy Birthday.
Alec
The gift is so sweet, but I can’t help but wonder if whatever is happening to me will sabotage the feelings Alec and I have toward one another.
When I look back up from the gift, Charlotte is rolling a bicycle into the room from the foyer. My jaw drops. It’s not just any bicycle. It’s a white vintage classic retro beach cruiser with thin rubber wheels and silver spokes, much like the one I used to have back in Spring Lake.
“Is that for me?”
Rose grins. “It is. Charlotte and I thought you could use a little help getting around. You know, until you get your license. Do you like it?”
I cross the room and take the bike by the handlebars, emotion rising in my throat from the unexpected gesture. “Thank you. I love it.”
Rose winks at me. “I told you it was a day for magical things, didn’t I?”
My head snaps back to hers, then I feel myself start to shake. “Rose, please tell me what happened to me on the beach.”
Charlotte takes the bike from me and rolls it away.
Rose gestures for me to come back to the couch, then she leans forward. “Okay, but I have one more present for you, Katrina. A family heirloom that’s been in our family for thousands of years. It’s a family tradition that you receive this on your eighteenth birthday.”