you, doesn’t it?”
I just nodded, swallowing the painful lump in my throat.
“There’s a bit of a legend that goes with the piece,” she continued on. “Just a saying, really, but it’s part of the tradition of handing it down. ‘If the eye needs you, my daughter, you will know it.’ Odd, isn’t it? I have no idea what it means.”
But I did. I understood completely. This bracelet had something to do with my
“I love it,” I said, closing my hand around it, testing its weight.
Gran patted my wrist, smiling broadly. “I’m glad, dear. You can wear it tonight. I have a feeling that young man of yours has something special planned.”
“I think so too. Do you like him, Gran? Aidan, I mean.”
“I like him very much. It’s obvious that he cares for you deeply, and I can tell that you feel the same way. There’s something . . . I don’t know.” She shook her head. “Old-fashioned and gentlemanly about him. He’s not quite like other boys his age, is he?”
I bit back a smile. If only she knew
“There’s something magical about first love, I always say. Hold on to it if you can.”
“I will.” As long as I could, at least.
Her eyes were damp now. “Okay, run along and have your breakfast now. Lupe’s made your favorite— biscuits and sausage gravy.”
I rose, wrapping my arms around her as I inhaled her familiar scent—Shalimar and rosewater. “Thanks, Gran. I love you like crazy.”
“I love you too, sweetheart.” She patted my cheek. “Now go; enjoy your special day.”
I planned to do exactly that.
“Ouch,” I cried, tightening my grip on Matthew’s hand. “Is it almost over?”
“She’s not even halfway done,” he said with a laugh. “Seriously, I think you’re crushing my bones.”
I opened my eyes just enough to see the whirring needle press against my skin as the tattoo artist—Joni— worked. “Is it bleeding?” I asked, my voice rising shrilly.
She stopped long enough to shake her head. “No. That’s just the ink. It’ll be fine—I’ll be done soon, I promise.”
“Okay, okay.” I squeezed my eyes shut again, bracing myself against the pain. “You’ve got to do a better job distracting me, Matthew. I had no idea it was going to hurt this bad.”
He laughed softly. “I can’t believe you’re such a wimp, Violet. Where’s your bravado now?”
“Screw bravado. Ouch!”
“You’ve got to hold still,” Joni chastised.
“Sorry,” I muttered. “C’mon. Distract, distract!”
“What do you want me to talk about? Faculty gossip, maybe? Or—”
“Charlie,” I bit out. “Talk to me about Charlie. What did you tell her about coming here for break? With me?”
“I didn’t tell her. Well, not exactly,” he hedged.
My eyes flew open. “You lied to her? Seriously?”
I glanced over at Joni and saw her smirk knowingly.
Matthew’s cheeks flooded with color. “Um, can we talk about this later?”
“Hey, don’t stop on my account,” Joni said. “You wouldn’t believe the things I hear. This is nothing.”
“Yeah, go on,” I prodded. “This is
“Fine. I told her I was going to Atlanta,” he said stiffly. “For a conference. And I didn’t mention that you’d be here.”
Joni snorted.
“A conference?” I asked. “That’s the best you could do? Ouch!”
“Apparently so. And hold still. She’s almost done with the stake.”
I could only wonder what Joni thought about my choice of artwork. I mean, who got a stake tattooed on their wrist? I knew it seemed weird—maybe a little goth or emo. Which contrasted sharply with the image I presented in my Lilly Pulitzer sundress and sandals.
“Okay,” Joni said. “The stake’s done. You wanted a butterfly, too? Resting on the stake?”
“Forget the butterfly,” I said, unable to bear the pain a minute longer. Anyway, the butterfly suddenly seemed all wrong. If I changed my mind, I could always have it added later.
“You’re sure?” Matthew asked, his brow knitted.
I nodded. “I’m sure.”
“Okay. Feel free to let go of my hand, then.”
I did so, watching as he flexed it with a wince. “Yeah, sorry about that,” I said.
“Hey, just consider it part of my services,” he quipped.
“I’d sure like to get in on that,” Joni said with a wink. “Whatever it means.”
I shot her a glare.
“Okay,” Joni said, setting aside her tools, her tone all businesslike now. “Keep it dry and out of the sun for a couple of weeks. Bandage stays on for two hours, that’s it. When you take it off, wash it with soap and water and pat dry. Then apply unscented skin lotion as often as it takes to keep it moist while it heals, okay? About five days. Looks like you know the drill.” She hooked her thumb toward Matthew’s tattoo. “Make sure she takes care of it, lover boy.”
“I can’t wait to show my boyfriend,” I chirped.
“Let me guess,” Joni said, a smile dancing on her purple-lipsticked mouth. “He doesn’t know you’re here, either?”
“Oh, he knows. Right, Matthew? In fact, they’re sharing a suite at the hotel.”
“Kinky,” Joni said with an approving wink.
I was still busting a gut laughing as a glaring Matthew led me out of the shop and into the bright, midday Georgia sun.
So far, this was the best birthday ever.
18 ~ Surprise!
Wow,” Aidan said, his eyes widening as they swept over me. “You look”—he swallowed hard, his Adam’s apple bobbing in his throat—“unbelievably beautiful.”
I fidgeted with the straps of my pale green shantung silk dress, bought just hours before while power shopping with Whitney at the mall. She’d claimed the dress made my eyes sparkle like gems. I was just happy that it fit perfectly, because nothing else I’d tried on had. Apparently, I’d lost some weight since Christmas break.
“You don’t look so bad yourself,” I said, eyeing him appreciatively as he stood there in Gran’s foyer, his hands thrust into his pockets. Leave it to Aidan to make a simple dark blue suit—worn sans tie, of course—look like something straight off the pages of
“It’s a surprise, remember?”
“Well, what are you planning on doing, then? Blindfolding me in the car?”
“Yes,” he said with a grin. “Precisely that.” He pulled a black silk blindfold from his pocket, dangling it from his fingers.
Okay, that was
