Free Secrets of Ugly Creek by Cheryel Hutton Page B

promises.”
    “Thank you. You won’t regret this, I promise.”
    Personally, I wasn’t so sure.
    He kissed me gently, then let go of my hands. “I’m staying at the Hilton up toward Knoxville. There was really nothing closer.”
    “The film crew has everything booked.”
    “There isn’t a lot anyway.” The frown had me tamping down a desire to forcefully defend my little hometown. It was better to just leave it alone, I decided.
    “If you need me, or just want to talk, call me.” The million-dollar smile was back.
    I nodded, and he walked out the door. The relief I felt did nothing to calm my chaotic thoughts.
    “That Greg is a handsome young man.”
    I turned toward my mom. “Yes, he is.”
    “But not who you need in your life?”
    I sighed and moved into my mother’s arms. “Apparently not.”
    “Don’t settle for less than the very best.”
    I looked into her wise eyes. My mom’s awesome at giving great advice. “He’s handsome and rich and successful. He says he loves me, Mom.”
    “But you don’t love him.”
    “No. But he is exactly what I want in a man.” Exactly the kind of guy my dad would have picked for me.
    She smiled as she brushed a stray strand of hair back from my face. “Your mind might think he’s great, but if your heart doesn’t agree, you need to wait until your heart says you’ve found the right one.”
    “How do you know when it’s the right one?”
    “You’ll know,” she said. “Let’s go have dessert.”
    I went to sleep thinking about what she said and dreamed all night about Gibson McFain. Obviously, eating pie before bed was a bad idea.
    ****
    The next morning dawned clear and warm. A good thing since Mom, Liza, Aunt Octavia, and I met behind the soon-to-be railroad museum before the sun was completely up. “This is so exciting!” Aunt Octavia seemed to vibrate with energy.
    I gripped my travel coffee mug and focused on staying awake as we trudged into the woods behind the museum. We hadn’t gone far when a familiar little gray figure stepped into our view. Presumably this was the same creature who had spoken with us the day before, but you couldn’t prove it by me. All I knew was that the little fellow looked like all those science fiction movies with the gray aliens. He, or she, seemed to be unclothed, and had no markings or indications of gender.
    The alien motioned to us, then turned and headed deeper into the woods. It took me a minute to realize it, but he, or she, wasn’t wearing shoes. Dang, I was having a hard enough time in my Nikes. At least I’d had enough sense to leave my heels in the car.
    Before long we came to a clearing. There, taking up most of the space, was a huge spaceship. At least I assumed that was what it was, since the last time I’d seen it, it had been in flight. Yeah I know, when you assume you make an ass of you and me. Okay, let’s just say my best guess was spaceship.
    “I can feel the energy coming off of it.” Aunt Octavia stood near the ship, hands up and facing it. “Amazing!” she whispered.
    I can’t say I felt any energy, but it was an awesome sight. Huge, saucer shape, markings I couldn’t begin to identify. Incredible!
    More of the little gray creatures appeared, and soon human and alien alternated in a rough semi-circle with the open end at the ship. The aliens began an odd chant, which Aunt Octavia quickly joined in. I couldn’t seem to catch the sounds or the melody, but chanting or not, I soon felt tingling power move through me.
    The next few minutes was the most incredible I’ve ever experienced. The sound that I both heard and felt vibrating through my body tingled and left me breathless. It was a sensual, almost sexual experience—which I know sounds weird, but it was. I swear. The energy peaked and suddenly the ship began to wobble and emit its own, similar yet somehow different, sound.
    Everybody cheered in their own way, and hands dropped.
    “Thank you,” the original alien said. I know it