"Yeah, would have." Perry turned and started walking away. But he stuck his right hand back and shot her the bird.
"What's that supposed to mean?"
"Figure it out," he said, but didn't look back.
Miranda swung back toward Kylie and Della. She put a hand to her lips and her eyes grew bright with moisture.
"Oh, crap." Kylie's heart clutched for her friend.
"Jerk," Della called out at Perry.
Holiday came running around the trail. She stopped and looked at the three of them and the departing Perry. "What just happened?" Holiday asked.
"Nothing," Della said.
Holiday glanced from Della to a teary-eyed Miranda who stood frozen watching Perry leave. Then the camp leader looked back at Della. "I heard it."
"Okay ... almost nothing," Della said, and shrugged.
Holiday, as if reading Miranda's emotional havoc, walked over and wrapped an arm around Miranda. "Come on, let's go talk?"
"What are you doing?" Della asked, stumbling into the kitchen at two a.m.
Kylie looked up from the computer screen. "Using a sledgehammer to make another window."
Della took a step back. "Are you having one of those funky dreams again?"
Kylie smiled. "No. I'm looking to see how many Brightens there are in the Dallas area."
"How many what?" Della dropped down at the kitchen table.
"Brightens. My dad's name was Brighten and Mom told me that his parents were in Dallas when they met. Since Daniel can't tell me what I am, I've got to find it out myself."
"But I thought ... Didn't you tell me he was adopted?"
"Yeah." Kylie looked back at the screen and frowned. "Damn, there are over a hundred Brightens in the metropolitan Dallas area. Who knew that was such a popular name?"
"If he was adopted then how is this going to help you figure out what you are?" Della leaned over to peer at the screen.
"Maybe they will help me find his real parents."
"I'd love to be a fly on the wall for that conversation. 'Hey, Grandma and Grandpa, I'm your granddaughter you never knew you had, but not really since I know you adopted my dad who died before I was born and I really don't care about you guys, I just want to know my real grandparents.'"
Kylie frowned at Della. "You are not helping me any."
"I'm just calling it like I see it."
"Well, I wish you wouldn't." Kylie closed her eyes and tried to hold on to the tiniest bit of hope she had. But deep down she was afraid Della was right. The chances of actually finding the Brightens were near impossible.
Getting them to tell her about his birth parents when she shouldn't even know he was adopted, well, it was probably going to take more than a sledgehammer to open that window.
"Hey," Della said, and nudged her shoulder. "Print up those numbers and Miranda and I can help you call them."
Kylie looked back at Della. "You would do that?"
"You gave me blood," Della said.
"Yeah, I did," Kylie said, and looked back at the computer screen. Then mentally she picked back up the sledgehammer and hit the print button.