Thrill Me(46)
“When do you get to celebrate the holidays?” Maya asked. “It must be tough with so much going on.”
“It is,” Dellina admitted. “Sam and I are going somewhere warm and beachy in mid-November. Before the madness strikes. No cell phones, no internet. I can’t wait.”
Madeline sighed. “Sounds heavenly.”
Maya leaned toward her. “What are the odds that you’re picturing Jonny Blaze on a beach right this second?”
Madeline raised her eyebrows. “Excellent, in fact. The man moves me. It makes me shallow, but I can live with the flaw.”
“I really can introduce you,” Phoebe said. “I think Jonny needs a nice girlfriend in his life. He doesn’t date much.”
Patience grinned. “I’m not sure Madeline is interested in dating him.”
Destiny turned to Maya. “I heard you used to live here. Back in high school. Is that right?”
“Uh-huh. For a couple of years. My mom and I moved here from Las Vegas. There was some culture shock for sure.”
“I would guess. Are you enjoying being back?”
“Very much. I like the small town vibe.”
“Me, too. I’m a recent transplant. There’s something about this town.”
Patience leaned toward Maya. “I heard that Eddie and Gladys can’t do their butt contest anymore. Please say that isn’t true. I love the butt contest.”
“Don’t tell them you love it,” Maya muttered. “I’m trying to get them under control.”
“Good luck with that,” Dellina told her.
“I love them, too,” Phoebe admitted. “They’re so adventurous. Remember how great they were on the cattle drive? They weren’t afraid of anything.”
“You say that like it’s a good thing,” Maya told her, then sighed. She had a feeling there was no winning on the Eddie-Gladys front. They were like bad weather. Easier to hunker down and endure than try to fight the inevitable.
“Oh, I heard you’re going to help out with the Saplings,” Patience said. “That’s so great.”
It took Maya a second to figure out what the other woman was talking about. Because she had no plans to help with trees.
“You mean the little girls in the Future Warriors of the Máa-zib?” Maya asked. “Yes, I was asked to give a talk on how to use a camera.”
Patience smiled. “I know. My daughter is a Sapling now and you’ll be talking to her grove. The first year they start out as Acorns. The second year they’re Sprouts, then Saplings and so on. We’re all excited about the afternoon. It’ll be fun.”
“I hope so,” Maya murmured, thinking she wasn’t sure she was qualified to teach several eight-year-olds how to do anything, but she would do her best.
* * *
DEL STUDIED THE two paths that cut through the forest. The one on the left headed straight up the hillside and looked a lot less used. As he wasn’t looking for company, he picked that one.