Chapter 70: Sixteen Candles Part One

Wednesday, July 20th, 2006

Katie woke up to an empty bed, sunlight spilling across the sheets. Today was her sixteenth birthday, and her heart raced with anticipation. Sixteen meant more than cake and candles-it meant she could finally go to the courthouse to apply for a marriage license and take her long-awaited driver’s license test.

She showered quickly, the excitement bubbling under her skin, and dressed before heading into the kitchen. The smell of cinnamon and bacon greeted her before she even saw him.

Josh looked up from the stove and grinned. “Good morning, beautiful. I love you and hope you have a wonderful birthday.” He kissed her gently and hugged her. “Sit down. Today is all about you.”

Katie laughed as Josh slipped into a mock butler persona, complete with an overly proper British accent. “Madam,” he said with an exaggerated bow, presenting her breakfast: French toast stuffed with cinnamon cream cheese, four crisp strips of bacon, a bowl of yogurt with oats and berries, and a perfect cup of coffee-just the way she liked it.

She giggled. “Thank you, kind sir.”

Josh dropped the act, plated his own food, and joined her at the table.

“How is it?” he asked.

She took a bite and smiled warmly. “Lovely. Just perfect.”

He looked pleased. “I thought today called for something a little extra.”

They ate together, talking through the plan for the day. First up was the courthouse, where they would meet Colleen and Jim to apply for the wedding license. If the application was accepted, they could move forward. If not, Colleen and Jim had backup plans in place: paperwork and a scheduled meeting with a judge to start a petition or push for emancipation. Jim had golfing ties with the judge, so they were confident things would be resolved either way.

Katie sipped her coffee. “Do you really think we’ll get the license without any problems?”

Josh shrugged. “I think there’s always a chance something could go sideways. But Colleen and Jim are ready. We’ll get married-one way or another.”

Katie smiled, nerves settling a little. “And then the BMV?”

“Yep. You ready to ace that test?”

She nodded. “I’ve been practicing like crazy. I think I’ve got it.”

“Good. Because after that, we’re going car shopping.”

Katie hesitated. “I have a few in mind, but I’m not sure how much you want to spend.”

“Try to keep it under a hundred grand,” he said with a grin.

Her eyes widened, and she nearly dropped her fork. “Are you serious? That’s a lot of money.”

“You’re worth it,” he replied smoothly, reaching across the table to squeeze her hand.

They finished eating and worked together to clean up. Most of the dishes went into the dishwasher, but they hand-washed the nicer pans and utensils.

After they finished, Josh handed Katie a small box. “Open it,” he said, smiling.

Katie opened it to find a delicate silver necklace with a tiny heart pendant.

“Josh ... it’s beautiful.”

“I wanted you to have something you could wear today. Something special.”

She leaned across the table and kissed him. “Thank you.”

When they were ready, they headed out to the garage. Josh opened the passenger door for her, stealing a kiss before she slid into the seat. He walked around to the driver’s side, started the Mazda RX-7, and hit the garage door opener. The engine purred as he backed out, then closed the garage door behind them and pulled onto the road.

They arrived at the courthouse and parked next to Colleen’s BMW. Colleen and Jim were already waiting. They waved and stepped out of their cars.

Josh helped Colleen by grabbing her case from the trunk. With her hands free, she was able to assist Jim up the courthouse steps, walking beside him as he leaned on his cane.

Inside, the courthouse was a mix of echoing footsteps and hushed voices. The cool air smelled faintly of old paper and polished wood. They passed through the metal detectors without issue, and Colleen led the way to the elevators.

“We’re heading to the fourth floor,” she said. “That’s where the marriage license clerk is.”

As the elevator dinged and the doors opened, Katie took a deep breath.

“You okay?” Josh asked, placing a hand gently on her back.

“Yeah. Just ... nervous.”

“You’ve got this.”

The fourth floor was quiet, with signs pointing to various departments. They followed Colleen through a set of glass doors to the marriage license office.

A clerk behind the counter looked up as they entered. “Good morning. How can I help you?”

“We’re here to apply for a marriage license,” Colleen said, stepping forward and placing a folder on the counter.

The clerk glanced at the papers, then looked at Katie and Josh. “Are you both over eighteen?”

“No,” Katie said, “I just turned sixteen today.”

The clerk nodded, clearly unsurprised. “You’ll need parental consent and possibly judicial approval, depending on circumstances.”

“We’ve got everything prepared,” Colleen said, opening the folder to reveal documents and letters. “Parental consent forms, background information, and we have a meeting scheduled with Judge Tannen if needed.”

The clerk reviewed the documents. “Everything looks to be in order. I’ll process this and call you if the judge needs to see you. Please have a seat.”

They moved to the waiting area. Katie clutched Josh’s hand tightly.

“This feels surreal,” she whispered.

He smiled. “Just part of the story, Katie.”

After a few minutes, the clerk called them back. “The judge reviewed the documents. You’re good to go. Here’s the license. Congratulations.”

Katie beamed. “Thank you so much.”

Josh gave her hand a squeeze as they left the office.

Outside the courthouse, Jim gave Katie a nod. “Told you it’d work out.”

“Thanks, Jim,” she said.

“Ready for the next step?” Josh asked as they walked toward the car.

“Yep. Let’s go get me that license.”

They all piled into their vehicles and headed for the BMV, the next chapter of the day just beginning.

The elevator ride down from the fourth floor was a quiet one, filled with the buzz of adrenaline and cautious optimism. Katie leaned against Josh, her fingers laced through his, her head on his shoulder. The transaction went smoother than Katie expected.

Outside the courthouse, the bright July sun made everyone squint as they descended the steps. Josh handed Colleen her case, and she gave him a grateful smile.

“Thank you, sweetheart,” Colleen said, tucking the case under one arm. “Alright, next stop: the BMV. You ready to show them what you’ve got, birthday girl?”

Katie grinned, but there was a flicker of amusement behind her eyes. “I think I can manage.”

Josh chuckled knowingly and whispered to Katie. “Just don’t let on that you’ve been driving longer than the examiner’s been employed.”

Jim raised an eyebrow, but smiled. “Confidence. I like it.”

They all got into their own cars-Josh and Katie in his RX-7, Jim and Colleen in her BMW. The short drive to the BMV gave Katie a few moments of quiet. She felt oddly nostalgic. She’d taken a driving test once before-almost two decades ago, in a different life. Now here she was, sixteen again, walking the same path with a second chance. Only this time, she wasn’t nervous.

The BMV was busy, but Colleen’s appointment scheduling had paid off. They bypassed the main line and checked in at the desk. A few minutes later, they were ushered to a bench near the testing area.

Katie sat relaxed, legs crossed at the ankle, while Josh leaned against the wall next to her. He glanced at her sideways.

“Feel weird doing this again?”

She smirked. “It feels like playing a video game you’ve already beaten. Still fun, but you already know all the boss patterns.”

Josh grinned. “Just don’t go full speed-run. They might get suspicious.”

Before she could reply, a woman in a state-issued polo and sunglasses stepped into the lobby. “Katie Smith?”

Katie stood smoothly. “That’s me.”

“I’m your examiner. Let’s head outside.”

Katie turned to Josh, gave his hand a quick squeeze, and followed the examiner out the doors. Colleen’s BMW was parked in a clean row. Katie moved through the pre-test checklist-lights, wipers, mirrors-with automatic precision. The examiner noted her efficiency.

The test itself was effortless. Every turn, every mirror check, every maneuver was executed with the confidence of a seasoned driver. Her hands moved from memory, not from practice.

Back at the BMV, the examiner made a few marks on the clipboard and nodded. “Well done. You passed.”

Katie smiled politely. “Thank you.”

She walked back into the building where Josh, Colleen, and Jim were waiting.

“Passed with flying colors,” Katie said.

Josh gave her a small, knowing nod. “Of course you did.”

Colleen handed her a high-five. “Knew you’d do great. Now that you’re officially licensed, I think it’s time to reward you properly-with a car.”

They hit three dealerships that afternoon.

The first was a luxury showroom that made Katie feel like she should’ve worn a cocktail dress. The sales associate practically drooled when Josh mentioned they were shopping for a birthday present.

Katie tried a sleek BMW coupe. It was beautiful and fast, but the interior felt too cramped. “I like it,” she said, “but it doesn’t feel ... me.”

Next, they stopped at a trendy urban dealership with custom Jeeps and souped-up trucks. Katie test-drove a black-on-black Jeep Wrangler with oversized tires and leather seats. It looked cool but handled rough.

“Feels like I’m driving a tank,” she joked, climbing out.

“Probably not the best if you want comfort,” Colleen agreed.

Josh smirked. “You sure you don’t want a monster truck?”

Katie rolled her eyes. “Maybe for off-roading, but not daily errands.”

At the third dealership, a mid-size import place, they were greeted by a laid-back salesman named Daryl who didn’t push or hover. Katie wandered the lot until she found a clean, pearl-white Volvo XC90.