“Where did this soil come from, Leleila?” she asks me. “Because this is no mild toxin here. This is a serious contaminant.”
“Give me a little time, and I’ll get back to you,” I say.
I disconnect the call and turn to Brayden. “We need to talk to your neighbors.”
He looks at my face. “The sample results came in. What did they find?”
“In terms of contaminants on a scale of zero to ten? It’s a hundred,” I say.
* * *
When I get home, I go straight to my computer and pull up all my data where I stare at it until I’m dizzy. Remembering Gerry’s question to me after I failed, I look at my data more carefully than ever before, and I start to see the flaws for the first time. What I realize, though, is I wouldn’t have changed a thing. I believe wholeheartedly in my thesis. I believe I gave it my best shot. I just don’t think the panel and I would have ever been on the same page. And that’s not Phillip’s fault, or Gerry’s, or the panel’s. It’s also not mine. Sometimes, things just aren’t meant to be.
I rest my chin in my hand and stare at the screen. I extrapolated one data set after another, but what I never did—not once—was extrapolate why I was really pursuing this degree. I always wanted to help people, but I never stopped to consider another way. A way I could truly be passionate about.
I walk over to my easel and look at the painting I completed. And I smile.
Thisis what I love to do.
* * *
Brayden picks me up for dance class, and as we drive to the store, he lets me know that the ranch owners are going straight to the authorities with the information he provided.
“They wanted to know who helped me,” he says. “I gave them your name and the name of your parents’ foundation. I hope that’s okay.”
“Of course,” I say. “You did the right thing. Hopefully, they’ll be able to resolve this in time before anyone gets sick and the surrounding area risks further poisoning.”
We walk into Big Sky Grocer and head upstairs.
Ten minutes into class, Elroy shouts our names in frustration. Brayden and I have been dancing awkwardly since the lesson began tonight. I’m not sure why, but we’re behaving more like strangers right now than we have any other week here.
“You two—pay attention now. You seem distracted tonight. You have the basics under your belt. Now take it a step further. I want to feel your heat!”
Brayden leans in and says in a low tone, “Just feel the music. Think of it like an exercise. We can’t look like robots, or it won’t work.”
I nod at him, and we try again. I shift my hips to the music, moving closer to Brayden and then back. I lose awareness of the rest of the class and even of Elroy barking out comments. I just keep my gaze on Brayden’s beautiful blue eyes, and I let go of trying to control the moment. The music gets louder, and Brayden and I move even closer together, his chest touching mine as he wraps his arm tightly around my waist. I feel like we’re moving as one, and it’s amazing.
Elroy applauds heartily and shouts for everyone’s attention.
“Today’s my birthday,” he says with a dramatic pause, which we all fill by clapping and cheering. “Thank you, thank you—so we’re going to end class tonight with champagne!”
He reaches behind him for the bottle. “And I’ve got more where this came from if we run out.”
* * *
An hour and a half later, I stumble out of Big Sky Grocer. Brayden has his arm around me, not in a disrespectful way, more in a “you’re going to fall onto your ass if somebody doesn’t hold you up” kind of way.
That’s right. I got drunk off three glasses of champagne.
Brayden stopped at a half glass and said he’d stay sober to drive me home.
I’ve never been a drinker, not just at parties but also in life. That feeling of being out of control is one of the worst feelings I can have, and I try to avoid it whenever possible.
But tonight? After the argument I had with Phillip and the way I’ve felt ever since, not just about him but about my career plans, a glass of champagne was just what I needed.
And a second.
Then a third.
