Aligned (9 page)

I am grateful she drops it so quickly.

“I think I’m comfortable ending the session here if you are, Roz. I wanted to get a feel for things, and have you get to know me. I’d be happy to meet with you again anytime you want. Your next scheduled visit is for the day after you make your announcement.” She smiles with a twinkle in her eye.

“Of course it is.” I hug her and leave, feeling lighter than I did going in.

CHAPTER NINE

I make it to the Agriculture Department with only a few moments to spare. A tiny man only a few inches taller than me with curly brown hair meets me at the door.

“President Thatcher, thank you so much for stopping by today. I’m Max Coldwell.”

I smile at him. He is sweet and a little hyper, if I remember him right from the dinner at my house.

“Yes, Mr. Coldwell, it’s nice to see you again.”

He beams up at me in admiration for remembering who he was. “Wonderful. Let’s get started shall we? There is so much to show you and so little time. Come, come this way.”

The man is a huge ball of nervous energy. He seems like a nice person, but he could drive Molly to exhaustion, and that’s saying something.

For having short legs he sure does move fast, and I am out of breath trying to keep up with him. The department itself is massive. It gives the Career Department a run for its money. There aren’t cubicles or monitors at stations. The main room is a wide open space with a large map across one wall. I can tell it is the hologram type when I see the empty map of the Zones. Max sees my interest and comes over to me.

“I see you found our Zone map. This is of utmost importance to us and holds all the information we need, which is why it’s password and scan protected.”

I step out of the way so he can scan in and type in his password. Instantly, the blue glow of the hologram comes to life on the map. The Zones are broken down based on color, and each Zone is glowing a different color.

“Can you explain the colors to me?”

“All of our Zones are color coordinated based on food production. You will see the map goes from least to greatest, and also cold to warm.”

The map is amazing and so intricate. Not only are each of the Zones broken down by color, but when he taps the screen once the high and low temps pop up. When he taps it again, a list of what that Zone produces also appears on the screen.

“As you can see, we start with the white Zone, which is our coldest Zone and located in the mountains. It gets the most snow and rain and it’s very difficult to grow any fruit at all.”

“Next you have the blue Zone toward the coast. It’s not as cold here and doesn’t have extreme frost, although because of the moisture it’s hard to grow anything due to fungi.”

“Moving to the green Zone, you can see that it is a much better environment to grow fruit. There is less rain, more heat, and it’s perfect for fruit that blooms early in the spring. As you can see from the chart, apricots, pears, and plums grow well here.”

“The orange Zone is next, and this happens to be the most versatile. Heat is at its highest for the region and rainfall the lowest. Fruit that takes longer to ripen is grown here.”

“The yellow Zone is perfect in the summer heat for fruit such as cherries, apples, peaches, and others that need heat to ripen.”

“Heading toward the red Zone, you start to see more versatility and variety: artichokes, broccoli, celery, kiwi, garlic, cauliflower, spinach, carrots, lemons, and wheat. You really have a good variety of both fruits and vegetables.”

To me, this is the perfect place to put one of the compounds.

“So in your opinion, would this be a good place for people who are trying to be self-sufficient?”

He smiles widely at my question and looks around to make sure we’re alone.

“Yes, I think this would be a great location for one of your compounds. We would still have plenty of food for the Zones, and they would be provided with sufficient nutrients and food sources in this area. I have already mapped out a few areas I think might be of interest to you,” he says with a knowing smirk.

“Max, I think I love you! If all of the department heads made my life this easy I’m not sure what I would do.”

He soaks up my praise and appears to have grown a few inches.

“Thank you, Miss President, that means a lot.”

“Please, call me Roz.”

“Thank you, Roz. Going back to the diagram, the brown Zone here is where you will find beef, hay, onions, and potatoes. I think if you put a compound between the orange and brown Zones they would be set.”

“That sounds perfect to me. Now this Zone I see here is the biggest; what can you tell me about this purple Zone?”

“You are right, it is the biggest. The purple Zone is where the majority of our food supply comes from as it produces the most variety: nuts, olives, grapes, artichokes, milk, fruit, cows, it has a little of everything. I think you can get another two compounds to fit within this area nicely. You might have a fight on your hands, though, since that’s where the majority of our food supply comes from.”

“What is this along here?” I ask, pointing to an area bordering most of the Zones on the outskirts.

“This is where you find crabs, clams, salmon, rabbits, deer, elk, bear, and water fowl. We don’t count these in our weekly reports for harvest. The hunters always bring in massive amounts and there seems to be plenty. These would also be great areas to put compounds although it tends to be colder, especially during winter.”

“Now that you understand the breakdown of our food sources, how about I show you one of my favorite places, our hydroponics lab?” Max looks giddy at the idea of going there.

“Sure, I’ll follow you.”

And he’s off, heading down a long corridor until he reaches a secure area which he scans us into and leads us to another large room.

“Hydroponics is an extremely valuable way to grow crops. You don’t need soil at all. You use mineral nutrient solutions to grow everything. We have grown and developed all types of things right here in our lab: food, medicines, you name it. We have already expanded twice and will be looking to do so again in the future.”

It is cool, but I find myself having a hard time getting overly excited about it.

“Next I will take you outside and show you our greenhouses.” I follow Max outside and as far as the eye can see there are rows of greenhouses.

“These simulate the tropical heat and humidity. In order to grow coffee, sugar cane, and other things that use the tropic heat to grow we have to simulate the weather.”

I spend several hours wandering through all of the greenhouses, seeing the different types of plants, and having him show me diagrams on the breakdown of each thing. Where they grow cotton for clothes is another thing I’ve never really thought about. It is all pretty fascinating and very eye-opening. Max makes my job much easier by printing out for me a version of his map that also highlights where he thinks the compounds would thrive the best
.
I can take this map to the Council.

By the end of the week I have everything broken up into where I think the compounds should go based on weather and food sources and, after going over it several times with Dex making sure the Council won’t find any flaws in the plan, we finally pitch the idea. They want to take the weekend to talk it over and promise to get back to me before Monday when I will make my announcement to the Ministry.

CHAPTER TEN

I have such a busy day that I completely forget today is my birthday until I walk in the house to find my parents, Wes and his parents, Molly, Dex, and Miriam there with dinner and a cake sitting on the table.

“I totally forgot it was today!” I say, running over to my parents and giving them huge hugs, then to Jasper and Susan, Wes’s parents.

“I can’t believe you guys came all this way.”

“Well of course we came, silly girl. Since when don’t we all get together for your birthday?” Jasper asks me.

It’s so much to take in, my close friends and family all here, and oddly enough it doesn’t feel weird to have Dex here—it feels natural. Right then Lily and Grace come running in hand in hand and my heart expands.

“Rozzie!” Lily says, jumping into my arms and talking a mile a minute, none of which I follow but she doesn’t seem to mind. We all sit down to enjoy an amazing pasta dinner and birthday cake. It is such a fun night catching up on everything and seeing everyone. I don’t want it to end.

“You don’t have to leave do you? Can you all stay the night?”

My mother smiles down at me and gives Molly a look I can’t read. “Of course we’ll stay. We have all weekend if you can handle us for that long.”

The idea of spending the whole weekend with all of my favorite people is almost too much to take in. I didn’t realize how much I truly missed my life from before.

“That’s perfect, Mom.”

Once I get everyone situated in their rooms I am finally able to crawl in bed, and for the first time in a year I’m not exhausted or stressed. I don’t lie there with the weight of an entire country on my shoulders; I only feel content as I drift off to sleep.

I wake up the next morning to two giggling little girls bouncing all over me. I open one eye and throw my pillow at Lily.

“Too early, bug.”

She laughs and starts hitting me with the pillow.

“Wesley!” I yell.

Wes comes sauntering in already showered and dressed.

“You bellowed?”

“Doesn’t she belong to you? Why is she in here jumping on me and not you?”

He gives me his half smirk. “Only one belongs to me, although if I have to pick I’ll choose the other.”

“Hey!” Lily protests, and Grace giggles.

“I am already up with the rest of the world while you are being lazy, which is why they are jumping on you.”

“Come on, Wes, help us get her up,” the little traitor formerly known as Lily says.

Wes gladly agrees to jump on me and I am in the midst of cursing my existence when I hear someone laugh.

“Well, well, looks like a slumber party and no one invited me.”

My head pops up. “Aspen? What are you doing here?”

“Obviously not having half as much fun as you are,” she says, eyeing Wes, making him scramble off the bed and run for his life.

The girls follow him out and I lie there looking up at her.

“Well?”

“Well what?”

“You decided to pop on over for Saturday breakfast?”

“Maybe I did. I also came to help you get ready.”

I know I’m not exactly a morning person or anything, but I do know it’s Saturday, not a work day, and there’s nothing I have to get ready for.

Aspen laughs at the confusion on my face. “I told you I am going to help you get ready for your party,” she says with a mischievous smile on her face.

“My party?”

“Yep.”

“You planned my party already? And invited my parents?”

She smiles proudly. “Of course.”

“Wow, Aspen, I don’t know what to say. That was so sweet of you.”

“Yes, I am a very sweet person, and one on a time schedule, so get your booty up and get into the shower. You have a dress fitting, missy.”

I get out of bed and into the shower at Aspen’s insistence. When I come out there are several more people in my room, none of whom I have ever seen before.

“Up, up, up, on the platform. We don’t have all day ya know.” Aspen leads me to the platform in front of the mirror.

“You’re much pushier than I thought you were.”

“You just wait until you make your grand entrance and every man there has to wipe the drool from his mouth.”

“Yeah right, like
that’d
ever happen.”

“You are beautiful, Roz. A little make-up, some waves in that straight hair of yours, and you will be a knockout.”

The fitting didn’t take long at all. Once we finish I head downstairs for breakfast. Miriam is working today since we have so much company and makes us an amazing breakfast.

Lily keeps eying Aspen. “Are you Wes’s girlfriend?” she asks, and Wes about chokes on his sweet bun.

Aspen grins and touches Wes’s hand, which he immediately pulls away. “Not yet,” she says, smiling over at Wes, who looks like he is ready to flee again. Jasper, who is taking all this in, chuckles.

“Lay off him, Asp, and play nice,” Dex tells her.

She shrugs. “Party pooper!” she says, sticking her tongue out at Dex, which earns a laugh from the little girls.

“Okay, gentlemen, it’s time for us ladies to sneak away and get beautiful. You guys entertain yourselves, and make sure you are ready by four. Wes, your outfit is hanging on the back of your door. It just so happens to match mine,” Aspen says with a saucy wink, spins on her heel, and heads upstairs.

Wes groans and places his face in his hands.

“You could do much worse, son,” Jasper whispers to him.

“She’s not my girlfriend, Dad. She’s not even serious, that’s just how she is.”

“I don’t know,” Jasper says doubtfully. “She looked pretty serious to me.”

I can’t help but jump in and tease him too.

“Think of those grandbabies, Jasper. They will be absolutely stunning!”

Wes groans again and nudges me. I stand up laughing and my mom, Susan, and I head off to find Aspen.

I can’t believe how much time it takes most girls to get ready. Aspen spends hours primping and prepping me. I have more lotions, oils, and make-up on my face than I even knew existed. My hair takes the longest to do since it’s so long and thick. Aspen says it
has
to have ringlet curls, so she spends two hours on my hair alone. I can hardly believe my eyes when I look in the mirror, though. The person staring back at me looks nothing like me. That girl is glowing with whatever Aspen used to make my pale skin look sun-kissed. My hair has dozens of ringlet curls all over and several small braids woven in with the curls cascading down.

“Aspen, how on Earth did you do this?”

“Do you like it?” she asks, looking a little nervous. “Is it too much?”

“Absolutely. But for a party, it’s amazing! I don’t even recognize myself. Nobody is going to know it’s me.”

“You don’t give yourself enough credit, Roz. Half of the men in the Ministry are already in love with you. Now for the best part—close your eyes and lift your arms.”

An odd request, but I do as she asks. She removes my robe and slips something light and airy over my head. I open my eyes and gasp. I can’t believe how beautiful this dress is. At first glance it looks cream in color, then when I move and the light hits it just right, I can see gold dancing throughout it. It is long and flowing. It has an old Roman look to it and makes me feel like a goddess. Aspen squeals in delight and jumps up and down. I look at my mom, who has tears in her eyes.

“You look stunning, honey.”

I still can’t believe this is me. Aspen laughs at the look of disbelief on my face. My eyes have been done in what she calls a “smoky look.” I have more black on them than the coal in the fireplace. She put a deep red on my lips and a bronze color shimmers all over my face.

“We can’t forget the final touches.” Aspen pulls out a half dozen bangle bracelets and puts them on me.

“We can’t forget momma now. Come on, Emilianna, let’s get you dressed.”

My mother has always been the most beautiful woman I know. She has rich caramel colored skin, light eyes, and long, dark hair. When she steps out wearing a dress similar to mine but in a bright emerald green it takes my breath away.

“Dad’s going to keel over,” I say, not joking.

“Oh hush. Your father doesn’t care what I wear.”

“Maybe not, although once he sees how much the other men notice, he might start to,” I say with a sly smile.

Aspen comes out looking amazing as always. She has on a red dress in a similar but tighter version of ours.

“Are we ready, ladies?” Aspen asks.

She insists on “the birthday girl” coming down last; I am already embarrassed as it is. I feel like I’m playing dress up.

I walk down the stairs praying I won’t trip and land on my face. Molly stands there grinning in her purple gown. My dad has a proud smile on his face when he looks at my mother, and then me. It isn’t until my gaze lands on Dex that I wish it hadn’t. He is staring at me like he’s never seen me before. His mouth has literally dropped open and he is looking at me the same way I looked at myself in the mirror—like he can’t quite believe it’s me. There is also a huge dose of appreciation in his eyes. Of course Wes picks that moment to open his mouth and ruin the mood.

He sets accusing eyes on Aspen. “You ruined her!”

“Wesley!” Jasper admonishes, which Wes completely ignores.

“You turned her into
you
. Roz is natural and she doesn’t need all that stuff, Aspen!”

Aspen doesn’t look fazed in the least. “She looks magnificent, Wes. Grow up already.” With that, she marches out the door.

Dex takes my hand and we follow her. He leans down and whispers in my ear, “You look absolutely stunning, Tink.”

We are back to that. It would be so easy to let myself forget why us being together isn’t a good thing. I look up at his face; his features are so soft and relaxed and I wish this could happen. It can’t, though, because eventually something will set him off again, he will close up, and shut me out. I push those thoughts aside and choose to enjoy tonight.

Aspen has thought of everything. I can’t believe how much she’s done in such a short time. The party is at five o’clock so the kids can be part of the fun for dinner, and then one of Miriam’s daughters will watch them while the adults dance and enjoy themselves. The party is in one of the halls in the Ministry, and it is like another time period when we walk in. Aspen outdid herself for sure. The room is dripping in candlelight. There must be thousands of candles, and a ton of white flowers and vines draped over everything. I feel like I am walking into old Grecian times.

Andi sees us come in and it takes me a moment to figure out who she is. She looks fabulous. She isn’t wearing much makeup, only enough to enhance her features. Her hair is done up with a ton of braids all twisted together in an up-do. She has on a gray dress, long and flowing like the rest of us. Aspen must have really put the memo out because everyone fits together perfectly.

“You look amazing, Roz.”

“So do you, Andi. I can’t believe how beautiful it is in here. Did you help?”

She nods shyly. “Aspen told me her vision and said I could decorate the hall while she, and I quote, ‘decorates the people.’”

I laugh because it sounds exactly like Aspen. “You did an incredible job, Andi. It’s so beautiful in here, and all for my birthday. It looks like someone should be getting married.”

She grins and shoots a look at Dex. “If it’s a husband you’re looking for, I think you might have a volunteer…maybe even a few, judging by the looks you have been getting since you walked in.”

I take a moment to look around and realize that most people are, in fact, looking at me. It makes me instantly uncomfortable and I feel like an imposter. I feel like my mother can tell how uncomfortable I am because she comes up and asks me to join her at the table.

Once dinner gets underway I loosen up a little and it doesn’t seem like so many eyes are on me. Masters and Natasha are sitting across from us, and Jeff Adams and Green next to them. Green keeps us entertained with his ever present larger than life personality and Jeff is talking to my mother and asking her questions about her job. I catch him looking over at me a few times and he smiles shyly each time.

Once the kids eat, Dex walks them back to the house where Miriam’s daughter is waiting for them. Aspen motions for the music to start, grabs Wes, and hauls him to the dance floor. It’s comical to watch him try to get away from her, just to end up giving in. Sometimes it’s just easier to let Aspen have her way. Our parents join them on the dance floor, as do Masters and Natasha.

“May I have this dance?” Adams asks me.

“Of course you may.”

It’s been a while since I’ve been around him, but he always makes me feel relaxed. It feels natural to laugh and talk to him. We talk while we dance and it isn’t until I look up into a scowling face that I realize we have danced at least three or four dances straight. Dex’s eyes are burning holes into me, and if looks could kill, Jeff Adams would be dead on the floor. I try to defuse the situation by telling him I need to stop for some punch. He graciously agrees and lets me go to the drink table while he joins Masters back at our table. As I was getting a drink I felt, more than heard, Dex come up behind me.