Page 1 of Knox (Graeme #3)

Happy Birthday

Josh Graeme

F all bowed to winter this morning as if the dance was over, and it needed to sit the next one out. The wind bit through my gloves as I cleaned stalls, and the holes in my barn boots left my toes freezing. Today after barn chores, we were moving back into the guesthouse.

Living with Granpa while the guesthouse was finished felt like standing in line for a ride at an amusement park.

I'd only been to one amusement park during a class trip, and the waiting gave me time to watch the world around me.

I was half-in and half-out of the drama taking place.

Not old enough to be involved directly, but as Ian's heir, I had to listen to the problems all the same.

Lydia wanted to be married at the old chapel in the Graeme Hotel like Uncle Ian and Finn had, so that set the date back a month and a half. She hadn't really looked around when we were in there for Ian's wedding.

The hotel sat on the original site of the Graeme home, and the clan built Swanton around it. The only part remaining of the original home was the chapel, and it was safe, but as Granpa put it, needed some love before it was proper enough for a grand wedding.

This put the barn party off, too, and all the singles were upset about waiting.

Uncle Ian gave them permission to attend and find their spouses, specifically at Wallace and Lydia's barn party, but the delay had given the Macs time to find other husbands and wives for their sons and daughters—or in Marcus MacGrayson's case, his brothers.

I wasn't worried. Things were finally looking right for me, and Jasper told me we would walk out of the barn party together. I trusted him.

Jasper got a summons for lunch with his brother Marcus, as well as a car.

The man hadn’t bothered with Jasper for months, but, Jasper said it went that way sometimes. And when Marcus yelled, all his brothers jumped, so Jasper couldn't get out of it. He swore it was nothing, and the car was just because we needed one. We. He put emphasis on that word, and it assured me.

The engine blew up in my car a week ago, so Jasper offered to take our things from Granpa's house to the new one on his way to the restaurant.

Maybe I should have questioned why he only set my bags on the porch before leaving. It was strange he didn't kiss me. Just climbed into the driver's side and left without looking back. I watched until the car was out of sight, and hoped the nagging sense I'd never see him again was wrong.

Ian met me on the front porch and helped me carry my bags in. I had a moment of awe over the new living area designed for entertaining around the fireplace. The Dresden sofas were upholstered in black fabric, and the two armchairs matched. The space was no longer cozy, but stuffy intimate.

A solid wood wall with a swinging door separated the kitchen from the posh, and the stairs were hidden behind it.

Ian set my things on the bottom step and smiled as he moved to the new doorway on the right of the glass-fronted fridge. “My suite is here, and this is where the pool table went. We’ll eat around the island, and this is your mom’s side.”

Her door was tucked under the stairs.

“This door,” he continued, “is the walk-in pantry, and this one,” he opened the door beside it and motioned for me to follow. We entered the laundry room and continued to the garage.

Finn’s jeep sat in the farthest bay, Ian’s SUVs were in the next two, and a new, black Chevy Tahoe sat in front of me with a big red bow on the hood.

“Happy birthday,” Ian murmured. “It’s the first of many gifts.

I have twenty years to make up for. Most of the rest are in your new room upstairs, and there’s also a gift in the barn.

You’re saved from Wallace’s barn party tonight, but Finn and I have to have something soon.

Since it will be after your birthday, you'll have to go to that one.”

Birthdays never held much for me. It was a day that went by like any other.

Mom remembered but didn’t give me too much because Ethan would take it away later.

She always bought me a cake and new clothes, but I got those at the supper table.

No fuss, really. The cake was for dessert, and we didn’t blow out candles.

I’d be twenty in three days, and hadn't really thought about it.

I hugged Ian then, and he rubbed my back. “I wasn’t expecting anything.”

“Yeah, I know. Anni was in a fight with Ethan over you, and you missed out on things you earned a long time ago. Now. Go check out your room. Sylvie is in your old one.”

I let him go and hurried into the house again, grabbing my bags on the way up the stairs.

So far, this was the best birthday I ever had, and not because he gave me a vehicle.

It was the best because Ian thought of me. It wasn’t an—oh, shit, it’s Josh’s birthday, let me run to the supermarket and get a sheet cake.

My thoughts skittered to a halt when I stopped in front of the original master bedroom.

The walls were dark gray; the trim was white, and a chunky King George bed sat in the bay window.

Burgundy blackout curtains matched the comforter.

The rug on the floor tucked halfway under the bed and also created a small living space with a loveseat facing the wall.

Ian had given me a new flat screen with shelves beneath for the gaming systems, and one set was lined with books.

Mom walked out of the closet and laughed because I’d scared her.

“Happy birthday, honey,” she said as she hugged me. “The riding clothes are from Colin and me, along with the new barn boots and riding boots. Ian left you a jewelry armoire.”

She stepped back, patted my chest, and left me.

I set my bags on the bed and stepped into the closet. What did I need a jewelry armoire for? No one gave me jewelry.

Sitting on top was a long velvet box with a small white card that said, “Love, Granpa.”

I reached for it with a shaky hand. The Graeme ID bracelet given to every Graeme on their twentieth birthday stared back at me when I opened it. I took it out and smiled because Josh and the date were etched into the cool metal on the underside of the bar.

I put it on and pulled my phone out to snap a photo, sending it to Jasper before posting it on my Instagram account, captioning it: It’s Official .

The first heart was usually from Jasper, but this time it was from KnightTimeDanc3r.

The guy’s posts never showed his face, and each image was of stables, horses, and races. Lately, there were a few of me thrown in there, with captions like: I love that smile , or when they’d taken a good closeup of my face: green is my favorite color .

Most photos were taken in the playhouse, so I knew it had to be one of Uncle’s students. Camille took time off to plan her wedding, and Mister Campton asked me to fill in for her. It was another step towards inclusion, and I took it.

Sylvie also joined us for rehearsals, helping with lines after Wallace changed it to a musical.

Jasper went with me in the beginning, but in the last week, he’d been busy doing something else. I didn’t ask. I trusted him.

Supper was different. Jasper didn't return, but I kept my thoughts to myself. Ian and Finn were still in the honeymoon phase, taking any opportunity to touch each other. If they weren't holding hands, they were kissing.

Mom and Colin argued during most of the meal, but that was normal. It was the only part of the night that was.

Sylvie and I were both odd man out. She stayed quiet, though. Something was going on with her, but I didn't ask.

After, I cleaned the kitchen while the couples went to their rooms and closed the doors. I checked my phone every five minutes, hoping for a message from Jasper. Instead, I had a private message from KnightTimeDanc3r.

@KnightTimeDanc3r: Hi. How's your night going?

Did I answer? I didn't know who this guy was.

Hadn't paid attention during rehearsal. Well, that wasn't true.

I knew every person on the roster, but not well enough to chat with them on Instagram.

If I responded, how personal did I get? I wasn't good at making friends.

If Ian hadn't made me the lead in the last play, Jasper and I never would have had a conversation.

My phone vibrated twice more before I checked it again. Sylvie left after sweeping the floor, and I hopped up on the counter to read the messages.

@KnightTimeDanc3r: Shy, huh? It's okay. I get it.

@KnightTimeDanc3r: You're probably busy, anyway.

@Jo.GraemePlace: Not busy, no. Was cleaning the kitchen. How's your night going?

That wasn't smooth, but what else did I say?

@KnightTimeDanc3r: Not too bad. You answered.

Well, that told me nothing. How evasive were we gonna be?

@KnightTimeDanc3r: You comin' to rehearsal tomorrow?

@Jo.GraemePlace: I am, yeah. Will I see you there?

@KnightTimeDanc3r: Always. Well, I gotta get up early to feed the horses. Have a good night. See you tomorrow.

@Jo.GraemePlace: You, too.

Why did that happen? Who was this guy and why was he talking to me?

I checked the photo one more time, and out of the 100 hearts, none were Jasper's.

Sent Jasper a quick text telling him goodnight, and went to get ready for bed. He didn't respond.

Maybe his phone died? Or maybe he broke it. That had to be it. It was something like that.

Wouldn't let myself think it was anything else. Couldn't let myself think it.