The Goodbye Girl (9 page)

“Alex!”  Harly was horrified.

Bree laughed outright.  “Relax, girl.  It’s nice to meet a man who can say so much while being so polite.”

“But I still like you,” Alex continued with a grin.  “You can still come and play with Harly.”

“Aw
, sweet.”  She winked at him.  Wondering what Nick was thinking now, she switched her gaze to find him studying her closely.  “Don’t worry,” she told him gravely, “nuttiness isn’t contagious.”

“I’m more worried about you going out alone looking for these
lights.”

“I’m not about to take Charlotte with me, if that’s what you’re suggesting.”

“Someone else.”

“There’s no one I know well enough to take out with me, who I could trust not to freak out or jump at every shadow.”  Bree sobered.  “I take this seriously
, Nick, regardless of my laughing.  Once I’m on a hunt, I don’t want someone chasing after things without planning or locking all the doors and getting hysterical.”

“
You’re not going to stop the hunts for these lights, are you?”

“Sweetie, I’m not
going to stop the hunt for whatever crashed into my car.  And the lights,” she added as an afterthought.

His scrutiny of her face was thorough.  “You’re planning another hunt soon, aren’t you?”

“Gold star, soldier boy.”

“Alone.”

“Yep.”

“Nope.”

“What?”

“You’re
not going alone.”

“Look, I’ve told you, I won’t go with an over-excited woman or-”

“I’m coming with you.”

It wasn’t just Bree’s mouth that dropped open.  Harly stared at him, Alex looked
gob smacked.

“I beg your pardon?” 
She couldn’t have heard right.

“I’m coming with you,” he stated calmly.

He must be kidding her.  “You?”

“Can you think of anyone better?  I don’t get hysterical, I think I’ve proven that.  I don’t get over-excited, and I won’t lock the doors on you.”

She eyed him disbelievingly.  “You won’t?”

“But I will insist on being the first out
of the van.”

Hey, what…?
  “You
insist
?”

“I’ll keep you safe.”

While Harly took a sip of Diet Coke and shook her head,  Alex looked between them with a slightly amused expression.

Bree placed the fork down.  “
You don’t believe in UFOs.”

“So?”

“Having a sceptic in the van with me, well…”

“Well?”  He arched one eyebrow.

“It kind of kills the mojo.”

“I promise not to be openly sceptical.”

“Nick, really-”

“Wouldn’t you like to
prove me wrong?”

“Is this a challenge?”

His smile was slow.  “If you like.”

Now, this was interesting.  He’d actually be the ideal hunt partner, calm under fire and not inclined to throw himself into a
foetal position at the first sign of an alien - or anything else unidentified.

Actually
, this could be fun.  At the least it would relieve her boredom on some of these long waits.

“You might regret that offer,” she said slowly.

“I doubt it.”

“Really.”  She tapped her chin thoughtfully.

Nick gazed calmly back at her.

“I’ll think about it,” she decided.

“Call me before your next hunt.”

“I’ll think about it.”

“Be sure you do.  Think about it real hard.”

He didn’t have to say it, she could see it as though he’d stamped it on his
forehead.  He was fully intending to go on her next hunt.

Well, he might think he could
plough over her decisions but she knew better.  She also wasn’t going to look a gift horse in the mouth.  However, she wasn’t about to give him the satisfaction of knowing that she fully intended to take him out when she next went on a hunt.  There was nothing like a witness to the unknown.

But let him wonder first.

Of course, on the other hand, maybe he was going to accompany her to ensure she saw nothing she should be seeing.  Well, if he thought she was an easy target, he had another think coming.  It wouldn’t be the first time she’d run from soldiers.  True, she had been a nimble seven year old girl, but now she had the smarts to go with it.  Or in place of it, because she knew there was no way she could hope to outrun Nick.

But she could mess with his head if things got sticky.

That thought had her smiling widely.

Nick’s eyes narrowed, but he didn’t say anything further.

“Sometimes I go out on a whim,” she said.  “Can you be ready in time?”

“Honey, I’m a soldier.  I’m always ready.”

“Sweetie, I’m a UFO chaser.  If I get a call, I go.”

“A call from whom?” Alex asked.

Careful
.  Bree cut her gaze to him.  “Anyone.”

“You have fellow UFO watchers.”

“A lot of people watch UFOs.”

“Watch
for
them,” Nick corrected.

“
Watch
them,” she amended.

Leaning back in the chair,
he rested his hands each side of his now empty plate.  “Okay.”

She eyed him.  “You don’t believe.”

“Got that right.”

Let’s give him a little push
.  Picking up the glass of Diet Coke, Bree took a slow sip.  “But you believe in Unidentified Flying Objects.”

He regarded her coolly.  “Everything can be identified.”

“But there are reports of unidentified objects.”

“Bit like Marty’s brain,” Alex murmured to Harly.

“I was thinking more of Alan’s.” Harly laughed.

“You’ve got a point there.”

Nick regarded Bree.  “Unidentified soon becomes identified.”

“Are you telling me
that in all the years you’ve been in the military you’ve
never
seen something that can’t be explained?  No lights in the sky?  No aircraft that manoeuvrers in ways no human designed aircraft ever could?”

He shook his head.

“Ah.”  She took another mouthful of Diet Coke, swallowed.  “But then you wouldn’t admit it anyway, would you?”

His smile was small.

“Because the military has secrets.”  She placed the glass back on the table.  “The government hides things.”

Harly’s mouth fell open.  “You’re a
conspirator
!”

“You say that like it’s a dirty
word.”

“Entertaining, more like.”  Harly grinned.  “Especially if you start spreading rumours.”

“Rumours?  I don’t spread rumours.” 
No way
.  “I say what I see, but only if asked or when with fellow UFO hunters.”  Bree pointed at her.  “Do you know how much trouble you can get for shooting off your mouth about things that are covert?”

“You disappear?” Nick replied
dryly.

“Don’t laugh.  It happens.”

“Really?  Know anyone personally who has mysteriously disappeared?”

“Just because I don’t know them personally doesn’t mean it never happened.”

“Because someone told you so.”

“Hey, people tell me the E
arth turns in a certain direction.  I’ve not personally seen it, but I believe it.”  She paused.  “If, in fact, it does happen at all.”

Alex choked on his iced coffee.

Harly patted his back

“Oh, boy
.” Nick’s bland expression didn’t change.

“Anyone with half a brain knows America never landed on the moon first
,” Bree added, just for effect.

In the act of getting his breath back, Alex choked again, coughing and wheezing.

“What?”  Mr All-In-Control didn’t look so calm now.  In fact, Nick was decidedly rattled.

“Have you ever studied the photos of the moon landings?” Bree nodded.  “You can see the way the shadows fall.  It indicates artificial light was used.”

“That light was from the sun,” Alex managed to wheeze out.

“Not so.  It was cleverly done but totally fake.  It’s a well-known fact amongst certain groups that the landing was done much later, but the US wanted to be the first there before the Russians.”

“I don’t believe I’m hearing this,” Nick muttered.  “Are you for real?”

“As real as I’m sitting here.”   

Harly’s eyes were sparkling with amusement.  “I don’t particularly care, it’s entertaining!”

“I aim to please.”  Bree winked at her.

Nick snorted.  “You’re pulling our legs.”

“Maybe yes, maybe no.” 
She pushed her empty plate back.  “Harly, that was delicious.  Best roast I’ve had in ages.”

“Worth more than a UFO sighting?”

“Ahhh…”  She squinted thoughtfully at the ceiling.  “I could probably have both.”

“
How?”

“Time travel opens a lot of pathways.”

This time it was Nick who choked on his last mouthful of iced coffee.  Coughing, he grabbed a paper napkin and held it over his mouth, turning away from the table.

“I read you, mate,” Alex said sympathetically.

Bree laughed.

Harly stood up.  “I have dessert in the ‘fridge.  Everyone ready?”

Helping her dish up, Bree smirked at Nick as she placed the bowl of stewed fruit and custard before him.

His eyes glinted up at her. 
Oh my, is that a promise of retribution?  Dearie me, someone is a little sensitive.

Laughing
silently, she sat in her chair and picked up the spoon.

“Are you continuing to help Paul tomorrow?” Harly asked Alex.

“That was the plan, unless there’s something you need me to do here?”

“Nothing that can’t wait.
”

Alex glanced up at the ceiling where the rain had steadied to a low, consistent patter.  “Before I head out I’ll go up and check the roof, make sure there are no holes in the tin.”

“I noticed a couple of the trees have some partially broken branches,” Nick added.  “I’ll cut those branches off tomorrow, save further damage.”

“That happened last night,”
Harly said.

“I could have done that today.” Alex slanted her a stern look.  “Why didn’t you tell me?”

“Because I know how much you were looking forward to hanging out with the boys.”

“That makes me sound juvenile.”

“Well, if the shoe fits…”

“You’re lucky we have guests or I’d be making you squeal.”

Harly simply raised her eyebrows at him while licking her spoon clean.

Yep, Alex’s eyes had gone all hot, and it wasn’t with anger.  Amused, Bree
looked at Nick, startled when he suddenly winked at her.

Ignoring the sudden little flutter deep in the pit of her stomach, she glanced
down at her bowl.  Almost immediately, she forced herself to glance back up to find him watching her with humour sparkling in his eyes.

The louse knew he’d flustered her.

The rest of the evening went without further mention of aliens or the unexplained.  They sat around the table drinking coffee and chatting about Whicha, Maryanne’s new room-in-progress, happenings around Whicha of the ‘normal’ variety, and general chit-chat.

Nick proved to be quite entertaining with a wicked sense of humour that had everyone laughing.  It was a nice group of people, and Bree was as relaxed as though in her own home.

As the grandfather clock in the lounge bonged ten o’clock, she sighed and sat back, stretching leisurely.  “Ah man, this has been a great, guys, but I better make tracks.”

Listening,
Harly cocked her head to the side.  “Rain isn’t so heavy.”

“It’s fine.”  Bree stood.  “Let’s get these dishes done and -”

“No way.” Harly shook her head.  “You’re our guest.  We’ll do the dishes.”

“I insist-”

“As do I.”

Knowing by the set of her chin that her friend wasn’t going to agree, Bree sighed.  “Fine.  But next time I’ll bring the sweets.  Or next time, you can all come to my place for tea.”

“It’s a date.”  Harly started for the kitchen doorway.  “I’ll see you out to the car.”

“No need.  It’s cold out and you’ll only get colder.”  Bree placed a hand on her shoulder.

“I-”

“
I
insist.”

“Don’t worry about it.”  Nick moved up beside Bree. 
“I’ll see her out to the van while you two start the dishes.”