by Amira Rain
With his fists on his hips, Mark frowned so hard at Jen that his expression actually bordered on a scowl. “Jennifer, please listen to me. Carol, Hayden, and I have all told you today, at different times, that there aren’t to be any ducks in this home at any time. Ducks belong outdoors. Not in fruit bowls, from which you and other family members eat fruit.”
“Oh, come on, Dad. I’ll clean it out.”
“You certainly will. Right after you take that duck—”
“His name is Johnathan. Or, you can even call him Polka Dot sometimes if you want, since that’s kind of starting to become his nickname, because see how he has like, some lighter-colored yellowish little spots all over his bill? One of the Amish ladies said that those lighter-colored spots are supposed to be a sign that a particular duck will have especially tender meat, which…how dare she, right? What a sick thought…that someone would actually cook and eat their own child.”
Just then, Johnathan quacked loudly, flapping his wings a bit, as if concurring, before settling back down in the fruit bowl.
With her expression radiating concern, Jen began petting his back. “Don’t worry, little Polka Dot. I would never, ever cook you and eat you…not even if your mean grandpa tried to force me to.”
Pinching the bridge of his nose with his eyes shut, Mark took a deep breath and let it out slowly before looking at Jen again. “Please remove Johnathan, also known as Polka Dot, from our home. I don’t want to have to ask you again, Jennifer…and if I do, I may ask Hayden to rethink the whole idea of having a duck pond in the backyard.”
Frowning hard, Jen recoiled on her barstool, as if Mark’s words had physically pushed her backward or something. “Fine. I’ll take Johnathan back outside. But as he grows up, if he never quacks anything that even remotely sounds like ‘Grandpa,’ just remember this night, and remember how you banished him from our family home.”
With that, Jen picked up Johnathan from the fruit bowl, headed out to the foyer, and yanked the front door open, muttering and huffing the whole time. As she and Johnathan exited the house, Nora came in, asking how my ankle was feeling. I forced myself to answer, even though I felt like I’d barely really heard her. I felt like I’d barely heard any of what Jen had said, either. This was because a few minutes earlier, Jake had taken my hand in his own under the island, and he’d periodically been tracing slow circles in my palm with this thumb. A little lightheaded in the most pleasant possible way, I wasn’t sure that I’d ever experienced any touch so heavenly in my entire life.
CHAPTER 13
After Nora examined my ankle, declared it mildly sprained, and wrapped it with a stretchy bandage, Carol began hinting that maybe it was time for the evening’s double date to end, so that Jen and I could get some sleep. Taking the hint, Jake soon left after giving me a quick peck on the cheek, making my skin tingle where his lips brushed against it.
To my extreme disappointment, I didn’t see him the next day. For one thing, on crutches and having some difficulty in using them, I didn’t leave the house. For another thing, Jake probably wouldn’t have had any time to visit anyway, because that morning, several Warren spies had been spotted near the farm; so, my dad had all guard patrols running all day. This meant that not only did I not see Jake, but I didn’t see Paul, either, not that my mind was really that focused on him. In fact, Jake’s kisses the night before had just about driven all thoughts of Paul right out of my mind.
The second day after my ankle spraining, construction began on what was going to be the new pond out in the vast backyard, which was really more of a “field” than a backyard. Grumbling a little, my dad had allowed David a leave of absence from guard patrol to help Jen install the pond, saying that a vampire could probably install it quicker than regular human construction workers could, even with a backhoe.
Bored at home on my crutches, I sat in a lounge chair in the backyard with a glass of lemonade in my hand and an umbrella above my head while Jen and David made a start on the project. However, it was really David who made the start. Displaying his incredible vampire speed and strength, he managed to dig out an area fifty feet by sixty feet, with a depth of three feet, before noon, using only a shovel. The mounds of earth he’d piled up at intervals along the sides were to become “duck exercise hills,” according to Jen. To her credit, she tried to do more to help with the project than just plan for the ducks’ exercise; however, she frequently had to put down her shovel in order to chase ducks who strayed too close to the dense woods at the edge of the property. In fact, for every minute she spent digging, she probably spent ten duck-chasing. She also took frequent breaks to visit with me, get snacks from the house, and text me pictures of how the project was coming along, despite the fact that I was right there. When I pointed this out, she claimed to simply be afraid that from the vantage point of my lawn chair, I wasn’t seeing the progress from the “best angle.”
David didn’t seem to mind at all that Jen wasn’t very much help. On the contrary, he seemed to be extremely happy to be the one making Jen’s “dream” come true, frequently casting goofy little grins in her direction even when she wasn’t looking. Based on this alone, I had the very strong feeling that he might be falling in love. And if the goofy little grins that Jen gave him when she was near to him were any indication, she was, too.
Around one in the afternoon, Jen brought out lunch for us both, and she sat in a lawn chair beside me, to my right, while we ate. Sitting beside me on my left was Wanted, who was on a leash that was tied to my lawn chair, because he’d been alternating between bouts of seeming terrified of the ducks, and then wanting to chase them, barking his head off. On Jen’s lap, between her knees, sat Johnathan, who appeared to be keeping just as close of an eye on Wanted as Wanted was keeping on him.
For our lunch, Jen had prepared foot-long sub sandwiches filled with sliced turkey; sliced grilled chicken breast; bacon; Swiss cheese; avocado; tomato; cucumber; lettuce; and pickles, topped with both mayonnaise and honey-mustard. Struggling to simply keep my sandwich closed while managing to open my mouth wide enough to take bites, I became aware of movement in the woodland to the west, and I realized it was probably one of the guard patrols moving through the area. After setting my sandwich down and dabbing my mouth with a paper napkin, I told Jen what I’d seen and asked her if she thought it was a guard patrol, too.
Feeding Johnathan a little bite of bread from her hand, she looked into the distance and said probably. “In fact, one of the patrols comes through about this same time of day every day, I think.”
“Well, do you know which patrol team in particular?”
Jen shrugged. “I don’t know. Why? Hoping to maybe catch a glimpse of someone in particular? Maybe someone whose name starts with a G?”
Puzzled, I tried to think of any vampire I knew who had a name that started with a G, but no one came to mind. But then, I got it. “Oh. Do you mean Jake…with a J?”
Saying yes, Jen picked up her sandwich, having to use both hands to do so. “See, I knew the name Jake had to start with either a G or a J; I just wasn’t sure which one.”
For a while, we ate quietly while David grunted with exertion, Johnathan quacked for more bread, and Wanted quietly woofed at him every so often. I kept my eyes on the woodland, but didn’t see any more movement; so, I assumed that the guard patrol had passed.
Once finished with both halves of her mega-sandwich, Jen leaned back in her lawn chair, asking me why I wanted to catch a glimpse of Jake so badly anyway. “I haven’t changed my mind about him, you know. I still think he’s hiding something.”
Setting down the last few inches of my first sandwich half, I sighed. “Look. I know you were right when it came to my parents and that Carla girl, but—”
“I was right back in those days about something else, too. I told your mom and everyone else that the Warrens would never attack the farm in the dead of night, because that was just too obvious, and they didn’t. See, I just get feelings about things sometimes.”
“Well, that may be the case, but that doesn’t mean that you’re right about everything. That doesn’t mean that you’re right about Jake.”
Jen snorted quietly, shrugging. “All right. You think what you want about him, and I’ll think what I want. I’m keeping an eye on him, though. Just know that. The other one, too.”
“Paul.”
“Right. I’m keeping an eye on them both. Just so you know.”
I said that was fine, and we both fell silent and got started on our potato chips.
While I ate, I wondered just how many days my dad was going to have everyone out on guard patrol near-continuously. I also wondered if Jake was ever going to make use of my phone number, which I’d given him the night I’d sprained my ankle. I was at least curious to know if he was thinking about me, or was looking forward to seeing me again. Being that I didn’t have his number, I couldn’t text or call him first, not that I probably would’ve even if I’d had his number. For some reason, I just wanted him to make contact first.
I’d just finished my chips when my phone dinged loudly with a text alert, making Johnathan quack, startling on Jen’s lap. After pulling my phone from my pocket a bit more hastily than I’d intended to, just because I didn’t want Jen to know how eager I was to hear from Jake, I checked to see who the text was from, and saw an unfamiliar number that I guessed was his. Then, turning my phone screen just a degree or two away from Jen, I began reading the text.
Just wanted to let you know I’ve been thinking about you. Can’t wait to see you again when your dad gives us all a little free time. -Jake
Looking at the text, I had to fight not to allow a happy little squeal escape my mouth.
After rereading the text, I thought for a few moments, then hit reply and began typing. I’ve been thinking about you, too. Really looking forward to seeing you again. Maybe next time, I won’t be such a klutz so that you don’t have to carry me again.
Within a minute, I had a response.
Well, I definitely don’t want you to get hurt again, but I have to say, carrying you was one of my favorite parts of the night.
With butterflies floating around in my stomach, I typed out a simple, two-word reply, which was Mine, too, adding a blushing-face emoji after the words.
Immediately after hitting send, I began to second-guess myself, wondering if that particular emoji made me seem juvenile somehow, or at least overeager to share how I felt. Having never had a romantic relationship of any kind before, I was certainly out of my element when it came to texting guys. I wished I could have asked Jen her opinion on blushing-face emojis right then, but I didn’t dare, not wanting to let her know that I’d sent one to Jake, because I didn’t want to get her started on him again. Not to mention that since I’d already sent the text, what was done was done anyway, so if Jen said that the emoji I’d used wasn’t the best choice, that would only serve to make me feel stupid.
Before I had too long to tailspin into second-guessing, Jake sent me a reply, which consisted of a single emoji, one smiling with hearts in its eyes. Looking at it, I became the emoji I’d sent, blushing.
When I pocketed my phone, deciding to let Jake’s text be the last one in our conversation, Jen asked me who I’d been texting with. Not wanting to lie to her, I busied myself feeding Wanted a few bites of chicken and bacon from the uneaten half of my sandwich, turning in my lounge chair while I did so, as if I hadn’t heard her. To my surprise, even when I turned back around in my chair, she didn’t repeat her question.
An hour or so later, after finishing a book I’d brought outside with me, I decided to get up and practice using my crutches a bit. A few minutes later, I was finally getting the hang of them, “crutching” myself in a circle around the unfilled pond. David was off to one side, pulling shrink wrap from a massive plastic liner that would go in the pond. Cradling Johnathan to her chest and being unusually quiet, Jen was in the center of the pond.
After being completely silent for a minute or so, just kind of looking around the pond, Jen looked over at David and called out to him. “Hey, David? Just to let you know, if we ever get married, I want to have the ceremony right here, in the pond.”
Amused by her and even somewhat in awe of her, I realized that while I’d been stressing about an emoji seeming overeager, Jen clearly wasn’t shy at all about bringing up the subject of marriage to a guy she’d met only days earlier.
Looking up at her from unfolding the pond liner, David grinned, not seeming in any way put off by what Jen had said. “All right. But, if we get married, do you mean, ‘have the ceremony in the pond,’ as in, right beside the pond?”
Jen shook her head. “No, I mean, like, literally right in the pond, like, dead center, where I’m at right now, right up to our thighs in water. This way, we can become husband and wife with all the ducks swimming around us…just like something out of a fairy tale. I just think that would be so beautiful.”
While he gazed over at Jen, a slow grin spread across David’s face. “I think that would be so beautiful, too.”
Feeling like an eavesdropper on a pre-engagement engagement or something, I began quietly crutching my way around the pond, back to my lounge chair, which Wanted was now dragging around behind him, leash still attached, as he attempted to charge at a duck that had escaped the swimming pool.
To my continued disappointment, I didn’t see Jake the next day, or the next. While my ankle healed, all I saw was the pond get filled with water, fish, rocks, and plants. Absolutely beside herself with joy, Jen went for a swim right away, fully clothed, pulling David in with her. While they swam all around the pond, laughing, the ducks followed right behind them. When the whole group swam around near me, I saw one of the ducks lag behind a little, and then I saw floating evidence of it having used the bathroom in the pond. I pointed this out to Jen and David, but neither of them seemed to care.
Figuring I’d just leave them to enjoy their new pond-slash-enormous-toilet, I soon began heading up to the house with Wanted, who just about had to be dragged away. Knowing that he probably just wanted to swim so badly, I felt terrible for him but didn’t want him to go after the ducks in their natural habitat, which his breed was specifically bred to do. However, while I tried to pull him firmly yet still somehow gently, Jen called out, asking me to “send him on in.” I asked if she was sure, and she said yes.
“With David’s crazy-fast vampire reflexes, he’ll be able to catch Wanted before anything too crazy happens.”
David confirmed this, so I loosened my grip on Wanted’s leash, intending to unclip it from his collar before he went in. He was too impatient, however, and went charging into the lake, barking excitedly, trailing his leash behind him.
I continued on my way to the house, and about halfway there, I heard my phone ding with a text alert. With my heart doing some sort of anticipatory little flip, I paused in my crutching and took my phone out to see who the text was from. As I’d hoped, it was from Jake, and it was as sweet as it was brief.
I’ve figured out that it’s true—absence really does make the heart grow fonder.
Smiling while butterflies twirled in my stomach, I quickly typed out a response. When can I see you again? Do you think you can get away for just a few minutes any time today?
Jake’s response was almost immediate.
I’ll see what I can do.
I looked at the text, and its accompanying winking-face emoji, with my heartbeat beginning to hammer in my ears.
CHAPTER 14
After crutching myself inside the house through the sliding glass doors at the back patio, I heaved the door shut with some difficulty, having to balance on one leg and one crutch to do it without the weight of the door making me fall backward. Once done with that task, I stood trying to catch my breath, a little winded just from the exertion of crutching myself all the way back up to the house from the pond. My heart was still beating rapidly and loudly from Jake’s text, too.
It wasn’t, however, beating so
loudly in my ears that I couldn’t hear some distant noise in the house. This struck me as strange, because with Jen, David, and Wanted down at the pond, no one else was supposed to be home. My dad was out leading patrol, of course, and my mom was at her childcare center in Sweetwater with Mason and Alex. Mark was also in Sweetwater, at his law office, along with Carol, who’d started coming in to help the office’s secretarial team sometimes. As far as Mel and Matt, they’d completely finished moving out of the house with their kids days earlier. That only left Sam, Maria, and Trevor, but as far as I knew, they were all out on patrol with my dad and the others.
Adding to the strangeness of hearing someone in the house when it should have been empty, I could tell that the noises I was hearing were coming from the level of the house that I’d entered, which was odd, since the house was a three-story split-level, and I’d entered through the back of the partially-sunken ground level. Even when the house was packed, this floor was usually deserted, containing only my dad’s office; a billiards room; a few storage rooms; a bathroom; and some spare bedrooms.
Mystified, I strained my ears, continuing to listen, and soon heard more distant noise in the perfectly still house. There was a noise that sounded maybe like a man clearing his throat, although I couldn’t really be sure, followed by some sort of a dull bang, like maybe a cupboard or a drawer being closed. The latter sound was repeated a few seconds later.
Thinking that one of the men in the family had to have come home for something, I ventured further into the ground floor of the house, with the rubber tips of my crutches soundless against the hardwood flooring. Soon, I heard another sound like maybe a drawer being shut, and I could tell that it had come from my dad’s office.