Page 25 of Always Be an Us

"And boy if you saw those outfits… you’ve never seen dresses like this. All of them sparkling like the night sky. The men in their silk tuxes. And there was your grandpa, of course, a strapping young man with a full head of hair, big strapping muscles– "

"I think you’re exaggerating a little on that last one Grandpa," I say. "I’ve seen photos of you and big strapping muscles would be a stretch." He was only slightly less lanky than he is now.

"Bite your tongue, Emma Jane. Your grandfather was quite the catch back in the day." But his eyes twinkle at the joke.

"Anyway, I was patrolling the grounds at the time, keeping the guests safe and of course keeping my eyes on the shrimp tray. Oh, they had the most delicious shrimp. You know I knew a woman at the time, Stella, one of the waitresses. She liked me quite a bit and would slip away with a whole tray of leftover shrimp for me all the time. I was hoping there would be some today."

"Get to the point, Grandpa," I say.

"I was enjoying looking out for the shrimps when I heard voices coming from out the window of one of the bedrooms on the bottom floor. It was two men arguing. One of them was saying that they had to leave tonight, because they already struck ivory. Staying would be riskier. The other guy agreed but said they couldn’t leave without their partner who was currently missing. That’s all I heard before Stella came and dragged me away to help serve the wine."

Amelia’s eyes pop open. "Wait…were those the thieves? You heard them talking?""Yup, I think so. You know they disguised themselves as guests when they got into the hotel, and stayed for the entire three-week-long festivities without getting caught? That was an incredible subterfuge. But I remember thinking that night that the conversation was strange. It was only in hindsight that I realized what they were actually talking about.""Stealing the Pink Pearl," Amelia murmurs.

Grandpa’s eyes twinkle as he grins. "You are one clever kid you know that?"Amelia beams at him, then frowns. "Wait, what does that have to do with the missing pages?"

Grandpa opens his mouth but a loud knock on the door interrupts the story and we both glance over there.

I sigh. "Looks like you’re out of luck."

Amelia nods and her face falls.

I pick up my mug and head to open the door

James Dean Hair doesn’t even look at me, walking right past me to call out, "Amelia Rose."

Amelia is now standing in the living room, her arms crossed over her chest.

"Dad," she says.

"We had an agreement." His tone is dark, expression tight, but his daughter doesn't back down.

"No. You agreed. I didn’t. Dad, I can’t sit in that room all day. I tried but I’m going crazy."

"I never told you to sit in your room all day. You can go anywhere you want as long as you’re accompanied by Sandy."

"Why her? Sandy's nice but she just wants to shop all the time, and I hate it. She never wants to go hiking or adventuring in the woods. Always says it’s too dangerous."

"Maybe because it is!"

"Actually, our forests are relatively safe," I point out. "They’re free of bears and stuff, you just have to be on the lookout for snakes. And they pretty much leave you alone if you leave them alone too."

"Stay out of it." His eyes whip to me for mere seconds, spitting fire and sparking my own temper.

"Fine," I say and then mutter, "Maybe if you weren’t such a control freak you wouldn't be having this problem."

He glares at me some more, telling me that he clearly heard me. Then again, I wasn't doing much to avoid being heard.

"Get in the car," he tells Amelia.

"No," she responds.

"I’m not going to say it again, Amelia."

She stomps her feet, her face turning red. "Ugh, this is why I hate being with you! I hate that you have more custody than Mom!"

For a second his expression shifts. His face appears struck and he pales.

I almost feel sorry for him.

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