The Hidden - Jessica Verday [55]
“Damn it,” he said a minute later. “Damn. I can’t …”
“What?” I got up and went over to him.
“I can’t pick it up.” He glanced at me, eyes wide with panic. “I can’t touch it.”
Panic flared inside me too. “Try again. You can do it.”
He reached his hand down again. With the same result.
“One more time,” I pleaded, refusing to believe what was happening. Or almost happening. Refusing to believe that the loss of control over his sleeping, and now this, might mean he was fading away from me. “Try again. Please.”
He did, and this time the results were different.
With a look of relief, he pulled out a small square item draped in a piece of blue cloth. He placed it down on the desk.
“It worked that time, see?” I said, trying to keep the edge of desperation out of my voice.
“Yeah.” He was doing the same thing too. Affecting a falsely happy tone. Nudging the item toward me, he said, “Open it.”
I picked the object up and slowly peeled away the fabric. A small piece of wood was revealed. On closer inspection I could see that it was actually resting on top of a second piece of wood. The edges were smooth and round, sanded down to perfection. And the wood had been stained a light cherry color. Tiny crank handles were at each corner.
It was surprisingly lightweight, and fit comfortably in my hands.
“What is it?” I asked.
“It’s a flower press. You place a flower in between the two pieces of wood, like a sandwich. Then you turn the handles to tighten it, and it flattens the flower. It takes five to seven days for the flower to dry completely.”
“How did you …? Where did you …?”
“I went to go see Nikolas today, and he made it.”
I turned it around and around to look at it. “This is one of the most amazing things I’ve ever seen. Now I just need to get some flowers.” I smiled up at him. “Thank you, Caspian. I love it.”
He stuck a hand into his front pocket. “It wasn’t a bribe or anything. I don’t want you to think that. But I did think it would be in my best interest if I had a present to give you today.”
“Today, of all days, when you just so happened to promise Ben that I’d go to the dance with him?” I raised my eyebrow.
“Totally and completely had nothing to do with that.”
Laughing, I cradled my gift closer. “Let’s just say, then, that you’re a very good present picker. And an even smarter boyfriend.”
Chapter Fourteen
EARLY GRADUATION GIFT
It was, as I have said, a fine autumnal day; the sky was clear and serene, and nature wore that rich and golden livery which we always associate with the idea of abundance.
—“The Legend of Sleepy Hollow”
Mom was in the kitchen when Caspian and I got home from school the next day. “Do you have any plans right now?” she asked me. “I mean, when are you going dress shopping with Beth?”
Mentally I prepared my argument. Beth and I had made plans last night. “We’re not going until Wednesday. But I have homework to do. Why?”
“A lot of homework? Or can it wait?”
I cast a side glance at Caspian. “That depends. Can you just tell me what’s up?”
Excitement was written all over her face. She could barely contain her grin. “I want to take you somewhere. But it’s a surprise.”
“I’m not sure if I can—”
“Just go with her, Astrid,” Caspian said to me. “She’s excited.”
I shook my head slightly at him. I had no clue what Mom’s surprise was, and didn’t know if I was in the mood to find out.
“Go,” he said sternly. “Come on. Look how happy she is.”
I sighed. I knew when I was beat. “Okay, yeah, I’ll go,” I said to Mom. “Homework can wait.”
“Oh, good!” she squealed.
“Just let me take my stuff upstairs and get changed, okay?”
She nodded, and I trudged toward the stairs. Caspian followed behind me. “You are in so much trouble,” I said to him quietly.
He just grinned.
When we got upstairs, I threw my book bag onto the bed and went to change my jeans. “If she ‘surprises’ me with a bad prom dress again, you’re going to have to make it up to