Page 2

B reakfast was her favorite: pancakes topped with her mom's homemade strawberry syrup. It was, without question, the best. Later, her parents were taking her to dinner at her favorite vegan restaurant, The Plot. She couldn’t wait to order their famous plant-based fish and chips, perfectly paired with their equally incredible habanero shallot sauce.

Ryan’s deep love for the ocean and its creatures left her unable to stomach eating seafood. The Plot, in her opinion, offered the best vegan fish and chips in the world. She was stunned when she got to college and realized how many in her field consumed seafood, despite knowing about overfishing, ghost nets, and the ongoing destruction of the ocean’s ecosystems. Still, she understood she couldn’t force her perspective on others, or she’d risk alienating herself even further. Her mother and Lawrence were the same way, quietly supportive but not outspoken. Grandpops, on the other hand, was loud and proud about his disdain for seafood and the people who ate it. One day, she knew she’d be just like him.

The day crawled by until dinner, made bearable only by her heartthrob’s newest video, which she watched on repeat. He wasn’t just smart and good-looking, his sense of humor and passion for the ocean shone through in every lesson he shared. Sure, he was in his forties, but that didn’t stop her from daydreaming about what their babies might look like. It was her fantasy, after all, and she clung to it, knowing reality would eventually sink in, probably when she was forty, and he was eighty, surrounded by a pack of grandkids at his knee.

She wasn’t even sure she wanted babies, though she couldn’t help but dream about his. Her enchantment with the biologist was a deeply guarded secret, one she’d never let anyone uncover.

Coming downstairs ten minutes before they were supposed to leave for her birthday dinner, she heard the front door open. Grandpops stepped in, holding a wrapped box, his face lighting up with a huge grin the moment he saw her.

“You came!” she squealed, rushing to throw her arms around him.

“You thought a little bursitis would keep me away on your special day? You must be getting old,” he grumbled good-naturedly.

Ryan kissed his cheek and hugged him again, squeezing him tight. “What’s in the box?” she demanded, bouncing on her toes with an excitement no sixteen-year-old should openly display.

“Dinner first, young lady. You’ll get your surprise after you clean your plate.”

She gave him a dramatic eye roll, a playful routine they’d perfected over the years. He always teased her about gifts, and she always went overboard with her excitement, maybe to make him feel better. Or maybe it was the other way around.

Her mother rolled up in her wheelchair with a teasing smile. “Are you giving all your hugs to your favorite, or did you save one for me, so I feel wanted?”

Grandpops let go of Ryan and bent down to kiss her mother on the cheek, pulling her into the hug she had shamelessly guilted him into. Lawrence stood back, watching with an amused smile. When he finally had a chance to step forward, he shook Grandpops’ hand and pulled him into one of those side hugs men seemed to specialize in.

Twenty minutes later, they arrived at the restaurant. Her mother had made reservations, so they were seated right away. As always, Ryan’s family teased her about ordering the same thing every time they came, but she didn’t care. She knew what she liked, and she wasn’t about to change it.

They laughed and talked throughout dinner, the conversation flowing easily. Ryan fielded questions about college, and when the attention lingered too long on school, she deftly redirected by asking Lawrence about his research. He gave her a knowing wink, aware she was trying to shift the focus, though not quite sure of the exact reason why.

“I cleaned my plate,” she announced proudly, flashing a grin at her grandpops, daring him to tease her again.

“So you did, young lady,” he said, glancing theatrically around the room. “Now where did it go?” He gestured to the chair beside him where the box sat in plain sight, pretending he had no idea where it had disappeared to.

Ryan sat patiently, waiting for his humor to play out, a smile tugging at her lips. She loved him so much it made her heart ache.

Finally, he handed over the gift. “This is from all three of us,” he said warmly.

Ryan turned to her mother. “You knew he was coming tonight, didn’t you?”

Kate grinned. “I have no shame,” she admitted with a twinkle in her eye.

Ryan looked down at the box, her fingers itching to dive in. “Can I rip the wrapping paper, or should I act demure like a proper sixteen-year-old?” she asked, raising an eyebrow at her grandpops.

“If you don’t tear into it, I’ll do it for you,” he teased.

With that, she shredded the paper in one giant rip and lifted the lid. Inside was a stunning new wetsuit, its colors swirling like the ocean itself. Her breath caught, and for a moment, she could only stare.

“It’s beautiful,” she exclaimed, as she fingered the neoprene and shook her head in wonder.

“The best gift is underneath,” Grandpops said.

She lifted the suit out and found a large envelope with her name written in script. She opened it and pulled out a card. She looked up. “No way would car keys fit in this,” she said with a huge grin. Her mother had asked her if she wanted a car, and she had joyfully declined. She was happy taking the bus and using the transit system in college. She would get a car if she had to after she graduated.

The adults laughed and waited for her to open the final gift.

“You have been selected for the marine biology trip of a lifetime,” the card began. “On March 30, 2024, you’ll join Dr. Graham Stirling from the Pacific Horizon Research Institute aboard the Queen Velvet for a two-week voyage of discovery. As one of the brightest talents in your field of study, this journey will push your skills and knowledge from the moment you step aboard. You will receive a packet in the mail a month before launch. It’s important you read, sign, and bring the notarized agreement with you. Welcome to the crew.” It was hand signed by Dr. Graham Stirling.

Her eyes locked on the name: Graham Stirling. She read it again, her mind struggling to believe what she saw. This couldn’t be real. Finally, she looked up, her voice barely above a whisper. “How?” she asked. His annual voyage was reserved for graduating students. She had dreamed of this for years, but always imagined it was still far off and worried she’d never be accepted at all.

“Your Grandpops pulled some strings,” her mother said with a smile. “And we pitched in to cover the fee.”

Ryan’s hands trembled as the reality sank in. She was going to meet him . Her secret crush. In person. Her face burned, and before she could stop herself, she shot up from her seat, running around the table to hug and thank each of them, her excitement spilling out in words of love and gratitude. This was a dream come true and the best birthday ever.