Cinderella Complex (24 page)

“This is it—Look Ken!” Dad hurried toward Brady's dad as the rest of the team bounded into the clearing. “It's a bipedal primate of some kind.”

“It gets better,” Brady said. I noticed his rubber gloves, and saw the bits of hair he held in his hands. “Our friend left a present.”

Dad hooted and danced around. “I love you two,” he said. He bear hugged me and Brady until I thought my rib cage might puncture my lungs.

“Okay, my bones can't take much more.” I stumbled from his grasp. Dad had a habit of getting overly excited or so said my ribcage.

“Finally, after all these years we've got some evidence. The scientific community will eat their words,” Dad announced.

The excitement level rose as we tramped back to base camp. We boxed up our findings and put them into the truck—except Matt's footage, which he wanted to get cleaned up tonight so we could take a better look at it.

Everyone still buzzed over our luck when Brady and I grabbed a package of hotdogs and a couple of pops. We sat next to the campfire and slid hotdogs onto sticks, propping them over the flames. I watched the teams jotting down times and events as they reviewed their cameras and voice recorders.

“So it's our last night together for a while.” Brady bumped my shoulder with his. “You know you should convince your dad to come back to Ireland with us.”

“Why? You miss me that much?”

“Maybe,” he said. His skin was warm against mine as he reached for my hand. Tingles fluttered up my arm and down my spine when his thumb brushed across my knuckles.

I focused on his tanned face when our dads' loud guffaws interrupted the moment.

Brady dropped my hand like a hot coal when Mr. O'Doyle sat down across from us.

I tried to convince myself it was for the best. I mean, Brady's hot, but he had a reputation as a bad boy. Not to mention what it might do to our friendship.

“This was some night, eh?” Ken O'Doyle said.

“Yes, it was.” Dad patted him on the back, then pulled out his harmonica and started playing a blues tune. More people joined us. After a few minutes, the cast and crew of Berry S.I. clapped along and belted out off key songs.

“Mind if I sit?” Matt said. He didn't wait for me to answer but instead plopped down beside me. I scooted closer to Brady so we'd fit on the log. Whoa, who wouldn't want to be me right this second—stuck in the middle of a hot guy sandwich. My knee brushed against Brady's and my ability to concentrate flew right out of camp. I swallowed hard and tried to focus on what Brady and Matt were saying. Brady mentioned something about Christmas vacation and then Matt said something about food, but I barely heard them over the thumping of my heart.

“I think I better hit the sack,” I said. There was no way I'd be able to function if I kept sitting between them. The last thing I wanted to do was make a fool of myself.

I shot to my feet and gave Dad a quick kiss goodnight, then waved to everyone else before bolting for my tent.

“Hey.” Brady caught my arm right outside my tent.

“What's up,” I said trying to keep the breathlessness from my voice. What was wrong with me? This was Brady! We'd been friends since birth. But then his hand brushed my cheek, and I lost all rational thought.

“Listen, I wanted you to know I had a great summer because of you…” he trailed off as if in search of the right words. “I don't want to say goodbye.”

“Really?” I took a staggered breath. My heart pounded against my ribs like an animal trying to get out of a cage, as he held my gaze and leaned down.

Oh my gosh!
Is he going to kiss me?

My breath! I just had hotdogs. My mind raced wildly. Thank goodness I passed on the onions tonight. Brady moved closer and I raised my hands to his chest, wondering if I should put them around his neck. I tilted my head to the left then to the right, unsure of which way to go.

Brady's warm breath fanned across my cheek before he gently tipped my head to the side. He leaned in. Lips almost touching. I closed my eyes. This was it.

Something big and furry barreled in between us, and Keetah nudged me playfully with his head. I groaned. Leave it up to my own dog to ruin my first ever
almost
first kiss!

“He's got the worst timing,” I said with a strained laugh. My pulse still hadn't settled back down, and it felt like I was floating on air.

Brady shook his head. “If I didn't know better I'd think he did it on purpose, see, he's smiling.”

Sure enough, Keetah's teeth showed in the dark like a wide grin.

“Yeah, well he's going to sleep out here tonight if he keeps it up.” I gave man's
not so
best friend a stern glare. Keetah whined but didn't move from my side.

“Well, I guess you better get some sleep. I'll see you before we leave tomorrow.”

Brady acted as if he wanted to say more, but Keetah wedged himself more firmly between us so he just squeezed my hand goodnight. Man, talk about anticlimactic!

“You could've let him kiss me, you know,” I whispered to my dog as Brady sauntered off.

“
Aweuah
,” Keetah howled.

I had no idea what that meant, but was certain he didn't agree. I unzipped my tent and crawled into my sleeping bag. Keetah settled in next to me and we watched the firelight dance outside through the screened window.

It was nights like these that I missed my mom the most. There would be no late night talks about boys, or
almost
first kisses. No shopping or lessons in applying make-up. How could I miss someone I never got the chance to know? I had pictures of her from before I was born. And one photo taken at the hospital of her holding me before she passed away.

What I wouldn't give to have her here now.

****

The sun blazed in through the tent the next morning and I kicked off my covers. The heat of the day crept in, making the tent stuffy. Keetah whined from beside me and I unzipped the door for him to go use the bathroom.

I had just laid my head back down when my dad's shouts sent me flying upright again.

“This can't be happening. Dang it!” he yelled.

I slipped my flip-flops on and staggered out into the dew-covered grass. My mouth fell open as I gazed around me. Our camp lay in shambles. The casts we took last night were smashed on the ground. The cooler with the DNA hair samples was busted open; its contents nowhere to be found. Most of the equipment was intact, but some of the DVD's and tapes were broken.

Dad glared at our campsite. “I don't understand it—why can't anything go right?” His voice got louder.

I glanced back to find Matt and gave him a pleading look, like he alone could find words to make my dad feel better.

Dad put his hand over his face. Brady came to stand behind me, his arm falling across my shoulder, a small comfort. I hated to see Dad like this, so upset and confused. But what I really wanted to know was who'd do something like this? Kids? Animals? Bigfoot? Okay, so the last choice didn't seem likely, but in my world, who knew.

“Hey Lou,” Matt said at last. “I've still got footage I filmed last night. And Ima's thermal images.”

Dad gave a half-hearted nod but said nothing else.

Jefferson on the other hand had no problem finding something to say.

“Perhaps you angered Bigfoot,” he said. He held his head high as his words mocked Dad. “Maybe you should just give up. After all what do you have to show for your years of hard work?”

I stepped forward. “Why don't you quit being a jerk! He's gotten plenty of information from his investigations.”

“Ima.” Ken placed a hand on my arm. “Let us handle this.” I glared at Jefferson but did what Brady's dad told me to.

“Now Jefferson, the network wouldn't have given Lou his own TV show if he wasn't good at what he does. Not to mention you wouldn't have a job,” Ken said sternly.

Jefferson's jaw tightened, but he backed down. “Sorry, I'm just mad about the loss of the DNA samples.”

The men apologized back and forth, but it didn't make me like Jefferson any more than before. Everyone tore the camp down in record time, their moods more subdued than they were the previous night. When the last of the equipment was taken care of, I said goodbye to the Berry S.I. team members unsure of when I'd see them again.

Soon it was just Ken, Brady, Matt, my dad, and me. Brady shoved his last bag into the rental Jeep then ambled over to me.

“Well this is it,” he said. His smile faded and sadness filtered into his features.

“Yeah,” I said in a hushed voice. “So you'll email right?” The lump moved up into my throat, like I'd swallowed a tree trunk.

“You know I will.” He pulled me into a tight hug and rested his chin on my head. “I'll miss you.”

Tears burned my eyes. “I'll miss you, too.”

“If you need anything just call, okay? There's not a leprechaun in Ireland who could keep me from you,” he teased.

“Ha-ha.” I sniffed.

“Don't cry. Besides you'll see me at Christmas, your dad said you guys are gonna fly to Ireland this year.”

“That's a long ways off,” I said.

“Well, maybe Jefferson will stop by to keep you company.” He grinned, dodging my punch.

“Just for that I'm so getting you a calendar with his picture all over it. You like nude shots right?”

“All right, c'mon Brady, or we'll miss our flight,” Ken said and gave me a hug, too. “You take care of your dad, love.”

“I will.”

Brady hesitated then planted a quick kiss on my cheek. “Christmas,” he whispered in my ear.

That single word held so much promise, and I smiled at the possibilities. My dad and Matt came up beside me as we waved goodbye to the O'Doyles. I stood rooted in place until their Jeep disappeared from sight.

“Farewells are always the hardest,” Dad said.

I nodded my agreement. Matt patted me on the shoulder, and I gave him a weak smile.

“C'mon Keetah,” Dad yelled.

The dog stopped running around the empty campsite and raced into the backseat of the extended cab pickup.

“So where to next?” I slid into the truck between Dad and Matt. The two of them eyed one another warily. That didn't bode well.

“Since you mention it, I suppose it's time to reveal the surprise.” Dad seemed far too happy.

“Surprise?” The word left a bad aftertaste in my mouth.
Breathe,
I told myself. It can't be that bad. I mean Matt was still smiling so it'd be okay, right? Or not. I mean, I remembered the last time Dad “surprised” me. We ended up in some remote village in Mexico and not one of the nice “touristy” type towns, either. It was a “don't drink the water or you'll get sick” kind of place. As in half the crew spent most of the week crapping themselves due to drinking some of the “bad” water and the other part of the week researching livestock carcasses for evidence of Chupacabra bites. Yeah, I didn't want any more surprises.

“We're moving to Alaska, Ima!” He beamed.

“Wh—What?” I couldn't have heard him right—Alaska?

“We're moving up to Point Hope, Alaska and don't worry Matt's family lives in Fairbanks, so he'll come stay whenever we need him to. Besides, I got a job as a pilot up there. We can settle in for a few months, maybe longer. And while we're there we'll investigate shifters amongst the Inuit tribes.”

“Seriously? Dad, it's freezing there. I mean out of all the locations to choose from and you pick one of the coldest.” I threw myself against the seat and crossed my arms. Yes, it was childish, but when would I get to have a say in where we went?

“It won't be
that
bad.” He patted my leg.

“Great, I'll have to wear a bear rug, and put German Shepherds on my feet to keep warm,” I said with a snort.

Keetah whimpered from behind me then slapped me in the back of the head with his paw.

“Aw. She didn't mean it big guy,” Dad said.

“It's not so bad, Ima.” Matt shifted in his seat. “I grew up in Alaska, and I turned out all right. And I didn't even have to use my dog as boots.”

I rolled my eyes. “Fine, but if the only people in town are snowmen then I'm so leaving.”

Matt messed up my hair and Dad smiled with relief.

Goodbye sunshine, hello icebox.

 

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