Chapter Ten
“Is that what you’re wearing?”
I look down at my outfit. My brown corduroy trousers pair beautifully with my grey top and flannel. I even managed to wear hike-appropriate boots under my rolled-up pants. I tied my thick curly hair back in a high ponytail. I can’t find anything wrong with my look.
“Yeah, is that a problem?”
“No, I’m just…surprised, is all.”
I look over at Valentina’s outfit. She’s wearing black leggings, probably from Lululemon, and an oversized Gucci hoodie.
“You’re wearing a Gucci hoodie on a hike?” I gasp. “That’s risky.”
“What else would I wear? It’s all I brought, and I don’t even want to go to this stupid bridal brunch. Besides, we’re changing at the top. Luciano was supposed to set up several small changing tents and portable showers for the guests.”
“Are you serious? That seems excessive,” I say.
“That’s Sofia for you. Never misses an opportunity to dress her best, even after a hike,” she laughs.
I open my closet and pick out a lavender slip dress and a pair of strappy flats to put into a bag.
Valentina’s Chelsea boots will not be a good choice for the terrain, but what do I know about hiking?
Nothing other than that possibility of seeing Sasquatch at any given moment.
At least, that’s what I was always told growing up by pop culture and the internet before it was monitored better.
The amount of cryptid urban legends I read about as a child has probably directly contributed to my anxiety in some way.
Anyways, the point is, how could she possibly have an opinion on my outfit when that’s what she’s wearing?
And I hate that I feel silly now wearing my corduroy pants.
Sure, they weren’t pricey, but at least I look like I might be going for a hike.
They’re brown! Brown is the color of dirt—and cuddly bears.
“Should I change?” I finally say after inspecting myself in the mirror of our cabin, twirling back and forth, trying to see if there’s a patch or brand on my clothing that says “POOR” on it.
She smirks. “No, I like it. You look cute.”
“Oh.”
I don’t know what to say. A warm feeling bubbles up inside my gut. Valentina must sense my awkwardness, because I hear her chuckling softly. I watch as she grabs her brown cross-body bag and slings it over her shoulders and across her chest.
“Have you ever been hiking before?” I ask.
“Not even in my imagination,” she groans. “I’m not excited about this. I’m just not much of a ‘let’s go camping in the middle of the woods with no electricity and surrounded by bugs’ kind of girl. Neither is Sofia. Anymore, at least. She just wants everyone to relive her childhood with her.”
“Well, I personally don’t mind,” I say, grinning. “I want to live these dreams for the first time.”
“Fair enough.” Valentina smiles.
I pull my father’s journal from my bag and set it on the dresser.
We need to find another clue. I open the book to the rice pudding recipe and turn the pages until something stands out.
There could be clues anywhere, but I need something obvious.
As I flip through the pages of recipes, journal entries, and random photos glued inside, I stop at one specific page.
There’s a yellow note taped on it with a lipstick stain, as if someone kissed the paper.
“Whoa, look at this.”
Valentina walks over and inspects the note.
“Do you think it was from your mom?”
“I’m not sure,” I say, shrugging. “I don’t remember her wearing makeup, let alone red lipstick like this. I think…it’s from someone else.”
“Well, fuck.”
“Yeah. Who do you think it could be? Maybe someone here?” I look up at Valentina, suddenly realizing how much taller she is than me. Maybe it’s just her boots. I feel dizzy.
“Could be Maritza. She wears lipstick all the time. We’ll have to bring this with us and see if she’s wearing lipstick when we get to the brunch. Then we can compare.”
“Oh, God. What if my dad had an affair with Maritza,” I groan.
“Maybe it was more than an affair. Maybe…it was love.”
“Stop. Please. I’m begging you.”
Valentina laughs, and I can’t help but roll my eyes. But the way she’s teasing me—there’s something almost playful about it, as if she’s enjoying the mystery as much as I am.
We have our next clue, and it’s not something I would have wanted to find. I’m not sure exactly what my father is trying to show me, but I really hope it’s not some “one that got away” type of love with my aunt Maritza. I slowly rip out the note, trying not to damage the page.
I glance over at Valentina, still smiling, and there’s a spark in her eyes I haven’t seen before. It’s making me curious, maybe even a little bold. She seems different, more open, as if she’s holding back less. I wonder if there’s more to her than I thought.
“So,” I say as I put the note in my pocket. “If you’re not a hiking girl, what kind of girl are you?”
“Wouldn’t you like to know,” Valentina teases, a mischievous grin on her face.
“Yeah, actually, I would.”
I step closer to her, trying to act like I’m confident when I can actually feel my knees trying not to buckle from the weight of my nervousness.
I can almost see her eyes light up. I swear she’s looking at me in a way she’s never looked at me before.
It’s hard to pinpoint what it is. Amusement? Disdain?
“Oh, well, I don’t think you’re ready for that,” Valentina coos.
“Try me,” I say, way too confidently. I immediately regret it.
Valentina starts walking toward me, and I take a few steps back, which completely ruins how cool I just looked. She laughs softly, and I know full well she just called my bluff. What the fuck am I doing? This is Valentina Garcia. I hated her for so long. Now I’m…flirting with her?
“I’m just the kind of girl who prefers to go shopping, eat at nice restaurants with electricity and an amazing chef, and spend time at home in my condo with a view of Manhattan in the distance. Camping is…blech. I’m only here for Sofia and, well, to ruin her entire wedding.”
I nod slowly, listening to every word. Or trying to, anyway. I’m still replaying her walking toward me just now.
“Well, it’s unfortunate.” I shrug.
“What is?”
“That you’re such a Grinch about camping. We have all these outdoor activities planned while we’re here. On top of us having to share a cabin. And a kitchen. This will be a hellish week for you, isn’t it?”
“You know it. So let’s hurry up and get it started, so it can be over faster.”
She signals me out the door, and we head to the far end of the camp, where the rest of the guests await instruction.
“Good morning, wedding guests! I hope everyone slept amazingly and got their beauty rest,” Daniel begins. “I will be guiding the hike this morning. We have about two miles to the top.”
A few guests groan. Some are still yawning as if they just woke up. Or perhaps they never went to bed.
“I know, I know. But I promise the view and the brunch will be worth it. And we have changing stations and portable showers ready, so we can all look our absolute best for the bridal brunch. You may notice a few people missing, like Abuelita. Obviously, we won’t be forcing our sweet grandma up the hike, but don’t worry.
Sofia has assured everyone that if they don’t want to partake in the hike, they can stay behind and enjoy any services she’s hired for the week.
There’s a massage therapist on site, two estheticians, a manicurist, and waiters bringing bottomless drinks to guests by the lake. ”
I almost regret not just staying behind and enjoying those amenities, but I have a mission—today, we need to figure out if the lipstick print on the note matches Maritza’s.
“So let’s start hiking and get to the top. Everyone ready?”
A few guests cheer. Luciano and Sofia are at the front of the group, with Maritza and Silvana near the middle.
I can’t get a good look at Maritza’s lips, which is the strangest thought I’ve had about my aunt.
Valentina, Maria, and I are hanging back, the last of the group.
Everyone else could be models for a specialty outdoor store where a simple rain jacket costs $600.
I look down at my corduroy pants and sigh. I should have changed.
Our hike begins at the trailhead closest to the lake.
The sign at the front of the path says the route is four miles long, out and back.
I’m not exactly sure how long that is, but it sounds like it will take forever.
I groan at the thought. Despite how badly I want to be here, I’m not exactly what someone would describe as “outdoorsy.” It’s comical I even decided to go on this hike, but that doesn’t mean I’m not unbelievably excited.
I wish I could just run to the top of the mountain and cheer at the peak.
I also wish I could have trained for this to look less like someone who has never stepped foot on a mountain before in her boring life.
“I can’t believe I agreed to go to this,” Valentina grumbles.
As we begin our trek, my footsteps crunch on the carpet of fallen leaves and twigs.
The dappled sunlight filters through the trees overhead, casting a warm glow on the forest floor.
I inhale the fresh, earthy scent of the forest, noticing the smell of damp soil and pine.
I hear the rustling of leaves in the gentle breeze, the occasional bird chirping, and the soft gurgling of a nearby stream.
As we continue through the trail, I’m thankful I wore my waterproof boots.
Some areas are incredibly muddy, and the last thing I want is to get my shoe stuck in it.
Valentina, on the other hand, is, unsurprisingly, a bit unlucky.
She walks awkwardly around, looking for the driest spots, hoping the mud won’t touch her ankles.
Her logic is that the more awkwardly she walks, the less weight will be pressed into the dirt.
Is it sound logic? No. Is it hilarious and slightly satisfying to watch her move like a marionette? Yes, absolutely.