“Technically, I don’t graduate for another few weeks.”
“You’re not planning to go to graduation anyway. Just open it.” Emily bounces up and down on her toes. I look to Anders, who grins and juts his chin toward the bag.
I remove a hunter-green velvet rectangular box. Inside is an emerald-green pen engraved with the guard crest on the cap and my name—Shadow—in italics along the base. I hold a custom-designed Montblanc.
All three of the Leads have one. Over the years, I've seen them use theirs many times. I turn it over, admiring its beauty, and remove the cap, revealing a fountain pen tip with the intricate Montblanc engraving.
“We thought you could use a special pen for all those papers you will sign,” Chris proclaims.
I replace the cap. “This means a lot to me,” I say, my voice husky with emotion.
“We’re proud of you, son,” Anders adds, not quite looking directly at me.
“Thank you.” I shift, looking for my jacket, before I remember I didn’t bring one with me today. I pat my shirt, but it doesn’t have a front pocket. Reluctantly, I place the pen back in its box and reach for the second box in the gift bag. Opening it, I reveal a Cartier watch. My eyes shoot up to Emily’s. This watch could buy ten Montblanc pens.
“There are two cards in the bag that come with the watch,” Emily says. Frowning, I retrieve and open them. One is a congratulations card filled with signatures from every recruit I brought to the guards since I started in this position, including my guard class.
“How?” I ask, looking back at Emily.
“Luke, Charlie, and Ean tracked them all down. They’re all very proud of you and wanted to be a part of your celebration.”
I didn’t expect anything like this. Carefully, I place the cards back in their envelopes and nestle them next to the pen. I caressthe beautiful Cartier watch and then look at the one already on my wrist. My father gave me my brother’s watch after he died. I wear it every day.
“Jessica noticed you don’t wear a guard ring, so no one knows you’re a guard. We thought a watch with the guard emblem would be...” Emily pauses. “Shadow, I forgot.”
I don’t wear rings. I don’t like the weird, confining sensation. It distracts me. Normally, I resist change, but I really like this watch. Its simple design is one I would choose for myself. The guard crest rests on the dial, and only a few jewels adorn the face—emerald at twelve o’clock, white diamond at six o’clock, and obsidian in the center. It's perfect, just like it was made just for me. Well, it was made for me.
I turn to Jessica. “This was your idea?”
She nods, chewing on her lower lip. “I didn’t know. You don’t have to wear it.”
I shake my head. “I love it.” I thumb my brother’s watch. “My brother got this watch when he graduated from law school. He was my hero. I wanted to be just like him. So, I told my dad that when I graduated from Harvard Law, he better buy me a watch, too—a better one.” Everyone chuckles. “Looks like I got a better one,” I confirm. “Can you help me put it on?” I ask Jessica.
I see Emily’s eyes glitter with unshed tears. She knows how hard it is for me to part with my brother’s watch.
Jessica slides off her stool. I hand her my new watch, and she waits for me to remove the old one. My hand trembles. Jessica places her hand over mine, and I instantly feel calmer.
“I have an idea,” she says quietly. “Do you trust me?” I nod in response. She gently unfastens the watch around my wrist. She watches me closely. I smile and give her another nod.
She abruptly leaves the kitchen, taking both watches with her. I look around the room. Everyone stands, staring at me in question.
Anders reaches out, as if to pat me on the back, but thinks better of it and drops his hand. “We are all so proud of you, son. You’ve come a long way.”
I duck my head. “Thanks to you, all of you. You accepted my weird behavior and helped guide me to who I am today.”
“It was our pleasure, Shadow.” I quickly glance over at the Alpha King and bow my head in gratitude.
When Jessica returns, I release a long breath of relief that she will save me from the awkward attention on myself. She fastens the new watch on my wrist and steps back. I reach for her. I need her here. I need her closeness. I roll my arm this way and that, admiring the way it looks. When I flip my wrist over, I notice a small part of the band doesn’t quite match the rest. It’s a piece from the old band.
“Thank you,” I whisper.
“I thought you might feel better if you still had a piece of your brother’s watch.” She gives me another shy smile. “Anders spoke to your parents about our gift idea. Your father immediately wanted to contribute. So, this is also from your family. I didn’t know. Funny how these things just kind of work out.”
I tighten my grip on her arm, wanting to pull her in and hold her. Instead, I squeeze my eyes shut. “You have no idea how much all of this means to me.”
A strange emotion I never felt before swells in my chest.
We linger in the kitchen a little longer, making small talk before everyone returns to their duties. Anders gives me the go-ahead to speak to Jessica about the guard’s recruiting process and to schedule a time for her first interview. Her and Emilyare chatting animatedly, so I decide to take a walk around the mansion’s grounds and call my father to thank him for my gift.
