Though Bradley was not involved in any of the sports teams at school—due to the way he dressed and how he drove a Jeep with a soft top that removed easily for a day at the beach—nearly everyone in school assumed he was really into sports in his free time. I knew better but left everyone to his or her speculations that were way off.
When we got to my second-period class Bradley gave me a smile and waved with a couple of fingers as he walked on down the hallway, his hands grasping the straps of his bag that were on his shoulders. Walking into second period, I made my way to my seat and took out a notebook and a pen. Another lecture on geometry had started, and I was listening intently while people in class whispered about my singing telegram during first period. I tried to ignore the whispers and pretend that they were talking about someone else. We had just gotten our assignment when I heard the door open. I did not intend to look up since students would probably be receiving flowers and balloons from their parents all day. I wanted to get all my work done in class today so that I could at least have the evening free of homework on my birthday.
“Mattie Holland?” my geometry teacher called out.
“Yes sir?” I said, directing my attention to his desk. Then my eyes nearly popped out of my skull.
“I believe these belong to you!” he said with a smile from ear to ear.
Standing in the front of the room was Dorian in his tuxedo. He held a vase with a bouquet of more than three dozen roses with little white accents of baby’s breath through them. As they had before, my cheeks started feeling warm. Before I could open my mouth, Dorian walked to my desk, presenting me with a card. Everyone in the room had stopped what they were doing, and every eye was locked onto me in anticipation. As Dorian peeked around the roses, he flashed a smile that exposed his perfectly shaped, white teeth.
“You should open it,” Dorian said, enjoying every minute of his escapade at my school.
“I’m going to kill you!” I mouthed with a smile.
Not to my surprise, he just smiled more as he placed the card in my hand. I slowly opened the card, scared of what I might find as I slid it out of the pink envelope. The card was silver with two red hearts on the front. Inside there was a message inscribed in what I could tell was Avan’s handwriting.
Mattie,
I know how easily embarrassed you get, but you’ll just have to bear with me today. The first thing I want to say is happy birthday! I know I told you this morning, but I want you to know how happy I am that you were born! You are amazing! I thank God every day for allowing me to be a part of your life! The second thing I want to tell you is that I’m making you a promise that I will never leave you. I will be here with you forever, and trust me, that’s a long time…I know! But with that promise it also means that I will protect you from anything that ever threatens to harm you. I want you to know that when I make a promise it is impossible for me to break. I am so in love with you that words cannot be used to describe my feelings. I can tell you feel the same every time you are near. I also wanted to let you know I intend to make this the most memorable and best Valentine’s birthday you have ever had.
I love you with all my heart and soul,
Avan
Everyone in class was staring as though they thought I might read the card aloud. I smiled while the tears rolled down my cheeks; I felt so overwhelmed with emotion. Dorian looked at me with a smile and a wink as I smiled back. I knew he could tell the tears were because I felt so loved. No one had ever gone to this much effort for me before. I was having a hard time believing anyone could care for me this much! I was so touched and moved by how much Avan obviously cared. I moved back into my seat, still feeling everyone’s eyes on me.
“It’s a good thing, guys. They’re happy tears. Get back to your assignment,” I snapped, hating all the unwanted attention.
“Miss Holland, would you like me to have these delivered to your home for you?” Dorian asked professionally.
“Yes, I would. Thank you very much,” I said, acting just as proper as he had.
Giving me a nod and a wink, Dorian exited the classroom as everyone else still stared at me from every direction, making me more and more uncomfortable by the second. I put my card under my book and finished my assignment with ten minutes still left in class. Pulling the card back out, I read it over and over again, falling more in love with Avan each time I read the words he had written inside.
I really felt as if I found Mr. Perfect, even though I had just turned seventeen. I was always told when you find “the one” you just know. As of today, I was beginning to think I understood the feeling that phrase described. I could not wait to see Avan during my next class period to thank him for everything.
Once the bell rang, I exited the classroom to find Bradley waiting to walk me to third period, as usual. Sometimes with all the escorts and doors being opened all the time it made me feel like the president or something. I pretty much had my own private security detail with me most of the time, unless I went home or snuck to the mall while Avan was busy with work, but that was not a very common occurrence. Making our way to my third-period class, Bradley still had that look on his face that told me he had a secret that he had no intention of sharing.
I finally decided after reading Avan’s card that I was going to stop trying to figure this day out. I was just going to enjoy every minute of today without analyzing it. As we walked Bradley seemed less talkative than he was earlier this morning, I figured his caffeine buzz from all the espresso he drank was finally wearing off, causing him to act a little less like a third grader with severe ADHD.
Stopping outside of class we usually met Avan in the hallway, but I did not see him anywhere. I made my way into class to avoid the tardy bell, when I looked up to find Avan already sitting in his seat, which was right behind mine. On my desk was a red, shiny box with a gold ribbon tied into a beautiful bow around it. Seeing Avan brought a huge smile to my face as I moved through the desks to get to him as quickly as I could. It seemed like there were more desks than usual in my way today, even though I knew it was just my mind playing tricks on me because I wanted to be near him so badly.
As I made my way to Avan’s desk, he stood up to receive my hug as I wrapped my arms around him, never wanting to let go.
“Happy birthday!” Avan said low into my ear.
“Thank you so much!”
“Have you had a good day so far?”
“The best, thanks to you. Avan, you didn’t have to send me all of that. Being with you today was all I needed. Thank you for making it so special.”
“I know I didn’t have to, but I plan on making every birthday amazing for my special angel, and the day isn’t even close to being over yet, so I want you to enjoy it,” Avan said, bending down to kiss me as the bell rang.
“Ugh. Here we go again! Get ready for your girlfriends to hate you!” said a guy from my first-period class who had gotten raked over the coals by his girlfriend when she caught wind of my singing telegram.
“Go ahead and open it,” Avan told me as we slid into our seats.
I pulled the sides of the ribbon, untying the bow on top. As I took the top of the small red box, I unfolded the red tissue paper inside that was wrapped around something inside. The first thing I found was two small silver keys attached to a little piece of paper that read keep digging. I dug further into the paper to pull out a small book with a lock on it. The book was purple and had the words The Intriguing Life Story of Matalyn Holland across the front in black lettering. I slid the key into the lock to find a piece of paper in the cover.
Knowing it was from Avan, I could not wait to see what it said! As I unfolded it, I could feel through the paper that every word it contained was written with immeasurable love and thoughtfulness.
Mattie,
There has never been anyone as amazing as you that ever set foot on this earth. You truly have no idea how important you are. Someone as unique as you should definitely be celebrated on such a wonderful day as a bir
thday on the day of love! This book is a journal for you to record your thoughts and feelings of your journey as you find out who you are in life. I hope I get to be one of the main characters in your book. Always remember that I am your biggest fan! There is nothing in heaven, earth, or hell that can ever take me from you. Never let anyone make you feel anything less than extraordinary. Every angel should keep a journal of their exceptional lives, but you, Mattie, will always be the most special angel of all. I love you with all of my heart and soul.
Avan
Every message and gift I got seemed to touch me more than the last. Knowing Avan had the ability to tell what I was thinking, I purposely thought about how much I loved him with everything I had. I never wanted to consider the possibility of living a day without him. I knew I was the luckiest girl in the world because I was loved by him. In response to my thoughts, he reached up from the side of his desk, taking my hand that was hanging on the side of my chair. Just touching him, I could feel how much he loved me too.
At moments like this I always wished I wasn’t the youngest person in twelfth grade. I felt older than I was in my whirlwind romance with Avan. I found it completely unfair that in three months everyone else was going to be free to do whatever he or she wanted with his or her lives while I was stuck for another year not being able to do much of anything but turn seventeen. I had tested out of eighth grade, which allowed me to start high school a year early.
At the time I wanted to test out of ninth grade as well, but I met Lena and enjoyed being able to get my assignments done quickly and easily, leaving me more than enough time to do what I wanted to do when I got home in the evenings. It usually resulted in reading a book or playing board games with my mom, but I never had to worry about loads of homework like most of the other kids in school. Even as a senior, I still had a better understanding of the curriculum than most.
Thinking about having only three months left of school, I could hardly resist wishing I could just graduate and find a way to be around Avan every day. Unfortunately, being seventeen in California meant I couldn’t legally move out without Sharon Mumford approving it since she was the person who was technically in charge of making decisions on my behalf. I was tired of living in the Montgomery house now that I had made several new friends and found out that Damien had tried to kidnap me as a baby.
I knew what Sharon would say if I voiced that I wanted to move out, though. She would be concerned that if I moved out on my own she would stop getting a check from Damien every month. Ugh, what was I talking about? Sharon was really Cheryl and Damien was actually Damron and these were the people who came close to ruining my life before it really got started! The whole situation was twisted beyond all belief, considering the fact that I had now ended up in the care of these people after the death of my parents. I had to get out of this situation when I graduated! It was no longer a matter of if I could get away from them legally or not! I was going to find a way. Without me noticing, Avan leaned up over his desk and whispered in my ear, saying not to worry, that we would fix everything.
I loved being able to count on Avan even when things got complicated. It was nice to know he was better than one of those guys who ran off when things got tough. The rest of the school day was awesome. Avan had some kind of gift delivered to me every hour on the hour to each of my classes. Right before lunch I got a note to report to the teacher’s lounge for lunch. I have no clue how he was able to pull it off, but when I entered the door I found a candlelit table for two with a catered lunch of steak, loaded sweet potatoes, salad, hot rolls, and my favorite sweet peach tea that Lorenzo used to make for me.
During fourth period Declan showed up, still wearing his tuxedo, delivering a bouquet of twenty-five balloons that had yet another beautiful card, which moved me to tears. When I got into fifth period, Alex showed up still wearing his tuxedo to deliver a decorative bag of six chocolate puzzle pieces that made an oversized puzzle that once the teacher insisted we put it together, looked like a bear that said “Avan loves Mattie” on its tummy. In sixth period I walked in to find a teddy bear half as big as I was sitting in my desk, holding another card reflecting how important I was.
Avan had not only won my heart through the course of the day, but left every girl and female school staff member pining for someone just like him to come find them in this world full of jerks while every other male on school property undeservingly got placed into the “jerk” category. When I got to my seventh-period class, I realized I had not seen or heard from Lena today. I normally saw her at lunch, but due to my special lunch from Avan, I never went to the cafeteria. We had not been talking nearly as much as we used to before Avan and I became an item, but we still associated. I slid into my seat for the next class, and as in every other class of the day, about five minutes after taking attendance, the classroom door opened. Used to the routine at this point, I looked up to see Trev enter, wearing his tuxedo and carrying a small envelope. After delivering it to me he kissed my cheek, wished me a happy birthday, and made his way out the door.
Before opening the envelope, I already knew there would be some kind of letter from Avan. I knew it was on something other than a card because it felt thinner. I could feel some little, hard things in the bottom of the envelope but could not make out what they were with my fingers. I reached inside to retrieve the little things I could feel in the bottom. Laying six little objects on my desk, there was no way I could hold back tears as I realized what they were.
On my desk lay six little golden charms, each a different unique little angel. I never told anyone the story of my dad and the charm bracelet, but Avan being able to know my thoughts knew the perfect gift? Wiping the tears from my cheeks, I pulled the piece of paper with Avan’s handwriting on it to read what it said.
Mattie,
I want you to know that your dad was right when he told you things show up when you least expect them to. When it comes back to you here are some new charms you can add to your collection. Then when your bracelet is full, you can go to the jewelry store at the mall and give them your name where they are holding a new bracelet for you to continue your collection. Always remember that just because someone isn’t with us physically doesn’t mean they aren’t with us at all. You must remember the love your parents shared for each other as well as for you. Don’t ever forget them, Mattie. I promise to help keep their memories alive for you. You truly are their special angel as well as mine, and I know you will see them again someday.
I love you more than you’ll ever know,
Avan
I thought back to the day at the mall, knowing I never mentioned my dad or the bracelet to Natasha when it hit me. I had not mentioned them verbally, but when I walked into the store she was in with all the beautiful angels, I had felt sad and overwhelmed. I remembered how when I walked in, all my feelings of sadness had faded and were replaced instantly with peace and tranquility. She must have taken that feeling away before she ever spoke to me. Avan had told me she would only come around when I needed her or when I was prepared to receive the information she had to give me.
I looked at Avan’s letter again, reading every line carefully. I noticed how this letter focused on my parents. He mentioned how he knew I would see them again one day. Then I remembered how Natasha had talked about my mom as if she was unaware she had died. I had no idea how to explain why, but I suddenly had a feeling of hope that I had not felt in a long time. I knew physically that my parents were dead. I knew—even though I had not been able to force myself to go see their headstones since the day I saw them buried—that their bodies were in caskets deep in the earth. What I never considered is where their spirits could be. I never considered it because I knew my mom walked into heaven’s gates without question, being the saint she was, reading her Bible and always professing Jesus to others. What I had no security of knowing was if my dad, who never talked much about God, had been able to join her. He always listened to her read her Bible, but he never talked about it like she had
. It was not something he seemed openly comfortable with discussing, though.
I always considered that it had to do with his career. If he admitted to believing the Bible and the ways of a Christian lifestyle, my mom and I might have been subjected to being hypocrites and liars. Who knows, it may have had such an impact that he would have lost his practice altogether. I knew that neither circumstance was excusable, but it eased my mind to think he knew the truth and acknowledged it in his heart. I hated thinking that he could be destined for a life of torment in hell, but Avan’s words had given me hope that he and my mother were together.
I had no clue as to when I would get to see them again, but at least I could hold on to the thought, which was more than I had to hold on to in years. In just a few months it would be four years since their death and due to Avan’s letter, I was closer to accepting it now than I had ever been.
Looking at each of the little angel charms on my desk, I felt like there was something familiar about each one of them. There was no logical reason and I could not put my finger on it, but each one had a different but very familiar feeling about it. I never remembered feeling that way when I got a new charm in the past, but these definitely had some kind of energy to them. One of them reminded me of Avan. As I held each angel individually, for some reason each one left an image of a different person. I got images in my mind as I closed my eyes of Bradley, Declan, Trev, Dorian, and Alex as I held them in my hands. I still felt the strongest presence of the one that brought Avan’s image into my mind.
Looking at them lying there, I convinced myself it was just because there was the same number of golden angel charms as there were of them, and since I had been spending most of my time with them, I must have made some mental connection between the charms and the people.
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