The Fossil Hunter of Sydney Mines (23 page)
“You want a
manicure
?” Her mom's mouth fell open and she let go of the balloon she was filling up. It flew crazily around the room.
“Just something so they're not as ugly,” Grace said. “I can't stop biting them.”
Her mom grabbed her in a tight hug. “I've got just the thing.”
“Only one condition⦔ Grace said.
“What's that?” Her mom looked down into her eyes.
Grace smirked. “No ballerina pink.”
“I think we can arrange that!” Her mom grabbed her hand and tugged her away to the manicure parlour in the sun porch.
Grace opened the door to find Fred and Mai standing on the front step.
“Happy fake birthday, Grace!” they sang.
“We got you a gift!” Fred said, holding up a brightly wrapped box.
“You bought it together?” Grace looked up to make sure the sky wasn't falling. “What are you, like, dating or something?” she joked.
Fred flushed so red Grace thought his head might pop off. So did Mai. They were like matching tomato plants.
“Let's get this party started!” Fred finally said, breaking the tension.
“What have you got up your sleeve?” Grace asked suspiciously.
“Charades,” he said, holding up a stack of cue cards. “I wrote them all up already.”
Mai rolled her eyes.
Later, as Fred contorted on the floor and acted out another wacky charade, Grace and the other partygoers exploded with laughter. No one could guess what he was supposed to be.
“I'm a fossil!” Fred moaned. “I can't believe you guys didn't get that one!”
“My word!” Grace's dad said, holding his side. “I can't take it anymore!”
Tears rolled down Grace's face as she hiccupped and laughed at the same time. It was the best party ever.
“I'd like to make a toast,” Grace's dad said after they'd all gorged themselves on birthday cake. “To Gracie and her friends, the best fossil hunters ever. You brought me back, and I am forever grateful!”
Grace's mom had tears in her eyes as she held up her glass. “Cheers,” she said, and they all clinked their glasses.
The next morning, after sleeping through the night without the help of her wave machine, Grace sat down at the computer to check her email. Along with the usual junk mail, there was a message from Jeeter:
To: [email protected]
From: [email protected]
Subject: Heyâ¦
Happy birthday, Graceâ¦belated, that is.
I wish I could be there to celebrate with you and Jonathan. I hope he's feeling okay. I'm so sorry for everything.
Please write me backâ¦I miss our late-night chatsâ¦and I miss you!
Jeeter (aka Marcus)
PS: Say hi to Fred and Mai for me.
Grace only hesitated a moment before she hit the reply button and told him all about her party.
By the time she was finished writing, the unmistakable scent of blueberry pancakes was wafting up to her. She clicked send, then ran downstairs to help her dad make the rest of the pancakes. By the time they were done cooking, they'd used up every last blueberry from the freezer.
“Dad, a little over the other way,” Grace said, pointing to her left.
“Ah, yes, I see it,” he murmured. He turned toward her and grinned.
Grace smiled back and relaxed in the rear seat of the cabin cruiser. Her dad looked so good now that he was out of the hospital. He'd suffered from severe dehydration, but there hadn't been any permanent damage. It was a miracle, she knew.
“How long do we have this thing for?” Grace asked. She ran her hand along the shiny white seat of the rented boat.
What a great birthday present!
she thought.
“The entire weekend,” her dad said. “So we can come back again tomorrow if you want.”
“I can't wait for you to see it,” Grace said. “You'll never believe it!”
They cruised past Little Table Island. Cormorants covered the high plateau. Seals lounged on the flat rocks at the base, soaking up the sun and belting out loud grunts and barks. It seemed like they were yelling at the seagulls that screeched overhead.
Grace breathed in the salty air. “This is so beautiful,” she murmered. She turned toward her mom, who was bundled up in a bright orange life jacket. “You like it?” she asked.
Her mother lifted her face toward the sun and sucked in a deep breath. “It's amazing. I've never been on a boat beforeâI was always too afraid since I can't swim.” She grinned at Grace.
Grace could tell her mother was a little bit nervous. “Don't be scared,” she said. She slid over and hugged her mom tight. “Dad and I will take care of you.”
Her mom squeezed her back and placed a hand over Grace's. “I know I'm in capable hands with you two.”
“Oh my word!” Grace's dad exclaimed suddenly. “I can't believe what I'm seeing!” His hands dropped off the controls and the boat slowed down, drifting gently in the current.
Grace bounced up and down in her seat as she stared at the cliffs in awe. “I know! Isn't it amazing?”
“What is that?” her mom asked. Her eyes were wide as she turned to Grace. “They sort of look like treesâ¦but that can't be rightâ¦can it?”
“It sure can!” Grace exclaimed. She jumped to her feet and pointed at the tall trunks of the huge stone forest carved into the Point Aconi cliffs. The ridges on the trunks gleamed in the sunlight. “Did you know, Mom, that those trees are from the Carboniferous Period? That's three hundred million years agoâeven before the dinosaurs!”
Her mom looked amazed. “Really?”
“It's true, Pat,” Grace's dad said. “There have been rare discoveries of fossil forests like this in a few other parts of the world. But I've never seen anything like it with my own eyes.” His gaze hadn't turned away from the site since they'd arrived. It seemed like he was mesmerized by it. “The erosion must have exposed it.”
“Maybe this will get us heritage statusâlike Joggins,” Grace said.
Her dad turned toward them, his eyes shimmering. “It will be great publicity for the museum. Perhaps we'll finally get some real government funding so we don't have to worry about being shut down every year.”
“Maybe Mom can help us do it,” Grace chimed in.
Her mom's mouth dropped open. “Me? But I thought this was something the two of you liked to do together. My dynamic duo.” She looked self-conscious as she folded her hands in her lap, hiding her perfect nails.
Grace leaned over and pulled her mom's hands apart. “Dad and I got you a present,” she said, pulling something out of her backpack. “Caving gloves!” She passed her mother a pair of brown leather gloves.
Grace's mom laughed, her eyes dancing. She slid her hands into the gloves. “A perfect fit!” she exclaimed. She held her gloved hand up.
Grace held up her own newly manicured hand beside her mother's gloved one. What a switch!
“Now there's a picture!” her mom said, clicking a shot with the digital camera.
“Dad and I may be your dynamic duo,” Grace said, laughing. “But the three of us can be the three musketeers.” She stood up and pointed to the stone forest. “Now let's get going. We've got fossil-hunting to do!”
To Mom, thanks for being my willing co-pilot as I dragged you all over the island! To Aunt Peg and her Master's in English, I'm grateful for the grammar tips. To the Writers' Federation of Nova Scotia, Jane Buss, and Norene Smiley, thanks for the workshops, the competition, and most of all the friendship. To my friends Rhonda and Sandy, thank you for being supportive readers of the drafts. To Caitlin, my editor, thanks for your keen eye and support. To the Cape Breton Fossil Centre, thanks for bringing the wonderful world of fossil treasures to us.
And lastly, to Cyndy and the rest of my writing pack, The Scribblers. It's hard to put into words how much you all mean to me. I know that I would not have continued on the long rocky road to achieve the dream without you. Thank you.