Gale #2
“He’s the CEO of CineVision Entertainment. Apparently, he has a producer who wants to do an exclusive miniseries about storm chasing.”
She paused for dramatic effect, and I smiled warmly.
“Gale. Are you listening? Storm chasing. The guy has all kinds of ideas. Dennis thinks the Wind Riders are the perfect candidates to be featured on the program. He wants to introduce us to the producer. We meet with him in the morning. Can you believe it?”
Olivia didn’t wait for a response. She grabbed my hands and jumped up and down, squealing with glee before launching into my arms and squeezing the stuffing out of me.
“Camera,” I squeaked as we stumbled backward and nearly fell.
Laughing, she released me but clung to my arm until I was steady on my feet. “Sorry. Sorry. I’m excited. He said he watches our YouTube channel. He loves us. Gale, this is unreal.”
“That’s fantastic news. Have you called the others?”
“Not yet. I raced over to tell you first. Is Dad here? I want to tell him too.”
“No. He ran to the hardware store. The lawn mower is giving him a headache.”
She didn’t care about the lawn mower, too absorbed in her news. “If the producer likes us and decides to sign us… Holy shit. We could have a TV show. Our very own exclusive miniseries.”
Her enthusiasm warmed me inside and out. Olivia’s happiness meant everything. Cormac would be thrilled. “You deserve it. Of course this guy will like you. Who doesn’t?”
“Dennis said he’s watched every episode we’ve posted. He’s obsessed. He can’t wait to meet me. I’m nobody, Gale, but he wants to meet me.” She couldn’t stop laughing and smiling.
“It’s become popular.”
Olivia loved the spotlight. The mere idea of that kind of attention gave me hives. To each his own, I guess.
She cupped her flushed cheeks, wearing a look of awe and disbelief. “I have to make phone calls. I can’t wait around for Dad. Tell him I’ll be here for supper.”
“Sure. What time do you meet this guy tomorrow?”
“Ten, so we need to leave at seven thirty sharp if we’re to make it to Oklahoma City on time. I don’t want traffic to make us late.”
“Good plan. You’ll keep me posted?”
Olivia tilted her head, her focus intensifying. “Keep you posted? What are you talking about? Gale, you’re coming with us.”
My skin prickled. “I’m not a Wind Rider.”
“But you said you would come out with us this year on chases. You promised.”
“I said maybe.” I held up my camera. “To take pictures for potential articles. I’m not doing a television show.”
“But you have to come tomorrow. I need you there.”
“You don’t. You have everyone else.”
Olivia set her jaw. “No. Dennis said the producer wants a team of five. I already told him we had a new addition, so we met the criteria. Gale, you have to come.”
Before I could object, she continued, “In fact, Dennis was thrilled we’d brought on a meteorologist. He said it gave us a professional glaze or something like that.”
“I’m not a meteorologist.”
Her insufferable sigh was one I’d heard a lot growing up. We might get along, but my introversion and resistant personality drove her crazy. “Same difference. You and Cormy were in school together.”
“We had some classes together. An atmospheric scientist and meteorologist are closely related, but my field of study is much broader. Meteorology is basically a subcategory.”
I’d explained it a hundred times, but she never listened.
“Even better. Don’t you want your name out there? Think of the job prospects this could bring. Plus, the photography you submit to all those magazines and the contests you enter… It gives you merit. You can put that you’re part of a network miniseries on your résumé.”
“But I don’t want to be part of a network miniseries. Besides, my photography should speak for itself.”
“Come on, Gale. I need you.”
Heart fluttering, I turned my attention to the sky, studying the pattern of clouds without giving her an answer. I didn’t want to be in the spotlight. This opportunity was supposed to be for her, not me.
But I hated it when she got mad, and if I said no, she might lose this opportunity, and it would be my fault.
Olivia looped her arm with mine and followed my gaze. “Let me guess. Cloudy with a chance of meatballs?”
I smiled. “I loved that book when I was little.”
“I know. You made Dad read it every night. Tell me the forecast, oh great one.”
I tipped my head against hers. “Well, those clouds are made entirely of ice crystals and appear at high altitude. Cirrus and cirrostratus.” I pointed out the differences, drawing lines in the sky with a finger.
“See it? The cirrus are fibrous and feathery. The cirrostratus are wispier, almost transparent. These types of clouds often appear together as a front approaches.”
“And what does that mean for weather?”
“We’ll likely have rain in the next twenty-four hours.”
“When are the storms coming?”
“Soon enough. You know the signs as well as I do.”
We walked through the long grass and into the lightly wooded part beyond, stopping at the knotted black walnut we favored in our youth.
The low branches were great for climbing, and in the fall, we collected the nuts off the ground.
A vicious game ensued where we pelted one another until one of us burst into tears—usually me—and we stumbled home bruised and battered to endure lectures from Dad.
Olivia pulled from my arm as we approached the tree. She circled it once, then stopped. “You turned down that job offer in Dallas, didn’t you?”
I didn’t answer, but it wasn’t a question. Not really. Olivia knew I hadn’t accepted it.
“I thought data analysis was something you enjoyed. It would have been a nice cushy desk job.”
“In the city. I’m not cut out for city living. Too many people.”
“You can’t hide in Dad’s basement forever.”
No, but I could try.
“I have photography.”
She sighed. “Will you come tomorrow?”
“Yeah. I’ll come.”
I would hate every minute of it, but if Olivia needed me, I’d be there.