Page 11 of Rhett

Peering out of the window, I gawked at what looked like a lush rain forest. “How is there a rain forest in Alaska?”

“Black Forest Ridge is unique.”

I snorted. “It sure is. Uniquely alien. Did your kind bring your planetary habitat to earth?”

“For the last time, we’re not aliens,” he barked.

“Uh-huh. So you admit that you’re like Henry.”

“What are you, a lawyer?”

“No,” I said. “Just a midwife on vacation.”

“That’s a lie,” he snapped. “No one comes to the Ridge for vacation.”

“Fine,” I snapped. “I’m here to see someone.”

His eyes flicked to the rearview mirror before going back to the road.

When we reached the crest of the long, winding road, I could see buildings sprawling across the middle of the valley, with a body of water surrounding it. We descended onto a flat road and drove a few more minutes before reaching the section of Black Forest that seemed to be the center of activity.

“Is this Main Square?” I asked. According to my sperm donor’s letter, once I got into town, I was supposed to go to Main Square and find my grandmother at a place called Panthera Onca Fine Art Gallery.

“Yes.”

There were no streetlights, and the tree-lined street had a host of shops with rustic brick exteriors. My heart raced with excitement when we passed the shop that allegedly belonged to my grandmother. I was so close yet so far from meeting the woman who gave birth to the man who walked away from me.

My palms started to sweat.

What will I say to her when we finally meet?

Hi, I’m Nova King, the daughter of your son who dumped me.

Hi, I’m Nova King, and I think your son is a piece of shit.

Hi, I’m Nova King. Why didn’t your son want me?

“Something wrong?” the sheriff asked.

“No.” I rubbed my palms against my jeans. “Why?”

“You look nervous about something.”

My eyes narrowed. “I’m not nervous.”

“That’s strike two,” he argued.

“What are you talking about?”

“It’s the second time you’ve lied to me. First, about being here on vacation. Second, about not being nervous. Don’t let there be a third time, Ms. Nova.”

I normally didn’t lie, but my whole equilibrium had been thrown off from the moment I drove into this alien town.

He pulled up in front of a police station.

“Are you kidding me?” My eyes widened. “You’re going to arrest me?”

He turned off the cruiser, got out, and opened my door. “I’m not officially arresting you… yet.”