| |
“I gotta go, Mom,” Sadie said.
“You two belong together, honey.”
“Things change,” she replied although she didn’t believe her own words. Zack was her person for life. It was just...
She wouldn’t think about that.
“I’ll talk to you in a few days. Love you.” She hung up and spun toward Zack. “Mom claims she didn’t contact the show. To her credit, she sounded shocked when I explained we were partners. Still, I wouldn’t put it past her or your mom.”
He bobbed his head.
One last couple walked into the room. Jessie reentered behind them with a handful of heavy-duty envelopes. “Keep your driver’s license on your person and place your phones, wallets, purses, or anything else you might want on the day off during the race, into these envelopes. Sign, seal, and set them in the clear container near the door. Our staff will be here soon to place microphones on everyone. Be sure to introduce yourselves to each other.”
After they secured their belongings, Zack motioned for her to lead the way. He introduced her to some of the men he’d already met, and they shook hands with all the couples, wishing them luck. Sadie didn’t feel obligated to be social and only said her name. Zack laughed with most of the others, making her jealous she didn’t feel his ease.
Two workers approached them. The young girl smiled, her round face widening as she did. “Now you’ll understand why we give you clothes to wear. The side pocket on the shorts will hold this.” She held up a black rectangular transmitter with wires. “The mic clips to the neck of your shirt.”
The young man helped Zack, and the girl helped Sadie. The wires slithering against her skin would take getting used to as much as the cameras.
Gemini arrived and didn’t waste time. “We invited eleven couples. Two chose not to join us, so nine are competing.”
The two women she saw in an argument at the hotel were nowhere in sight. They must’ve been one of the couples who didn’t wish to participate.
“There are no eliminations in this contest. Each day you will accumulate time depending on how long it takes you both to get from the start to the finish. On the last day, the team with the least time wins. Easy enough, right?”
Sadie restlessly tapped her foot. The competitors should know this information from reading the contract. She needed the race to start. Her patience wore incredibly short these days.
“This year, traveling to destinations will take place in a car given to you at the beginning. Devices on the cars will be checked each day for reckless driving or speeding and penalty minutes will be tacked on based on the severity of the infraction. If you experience car trouble, whatever it may be, the time spent to fix it will be deducted from your tally. Since the cars are new, we don’t anticipate any problems.”
In prior seasons, teams traveled on buses, planes, trains, in vehicles, and if a team experienced misfortune, there was no consideration. The monitor device was also a new twist.
“You may have to travel by other modes of transportation for certain tasks. You must attempt every challenge. If you are unable to complete it, two hours will be added to your tally from the moment the last group arrives that day.” A rule since the show began.
“Instructors are provided for some challenges. Umpires will be watching to make certain everything is performed correctly, and when they are satisfied, they will hand you an envelope with the next assignment. Finish lines are places to watch sunsets in each city.” A crew member handed Gemini envelopes stamped with the series logo. “Follow me.”
Workers swarmed around outside like a disturbed ant mound. The blazing sun beat down as the participants filed into the partially roped-off parking lot. Two people walked on either side of Gemini, one fiddling with the star’s hair and the other using a sponge on her face.
“Two minutes,” a middle-aged man with a microphone yelled. “Contestants, make a semicircle in front of Gemini.”
Sadie spotted camera workers headed toward brand-new white Audi SUVs. Two cameramen remained close to the host.
“One minute,” microphone man said.
This was it. The answered prayer she’d been petitioning for finally happened. Working together, she and Zack might win this race and be able to pay off the bills they’d accumulated. Well, she’d accumulated. She glanced to the side to catch Zack’s gaze on her. Her heart gave a piercing squeeze.
How did I survive the last months without him?
She had no time to ponder the question as Gemini spoke to the camera. “This season we’re shaking things up on Chasing Sunsets. Even our racers didn’t know of our plans until moments ago. Let’s take a peek at their reactions to seeing their partners.”
“Cut,” the bald man who’d been counting down the minutes hollered.
A petite woman handed Gemini a water bottle. That’s when Sadie realized how hot she was. Sweat beaded on her forehead.
Gemini handed the water bottle back and another crew member blotted her face with a white towel. “Let’s get this over with, we’re baking out here,” Gemini complained.
“Five, four, three, two, one.”
Face beaming with excitement, Gemini faced the camera lens pointed her way.
How long had it been since Sadie smiled? It seemed too colossal a feat.
~
“You could tell our competitors’ surprise. While we’ve had married couples during other seasons, we’ve never paired them together. The real challenge is...” Gemini hesitated, drawing out the suspense for viewers. “These married couples are currently separated. Not one of them expected to spend the next ten days having to work together. I’m sure some couples thought they’d be competing against each other and were happy for the opportunity to one up the other. And what about the ones who weren’t even communicating enough to know the other was going to compete on the show? Yes, this promises to be our most captivating season yet!”
Zack understood the sensationalism but hated it. The other participants seemed as uncomfortable as he felt. Sadie appeared ready to erupt. He knew the look.
“Entrants were given time to decide whether they would willingly compete together. Even though a million dollars is quite an incentive, two couples refused. Will our remaining couples be able to put their differences aside?”
Zack’s problem wouldn’t be putting aside his differences with Sadie. It’d be going home without her after the race ended.
Clues in her hand, Gemini fanned them out like playing cards in front of her. “Players, read your first clue once you’re in your car. I wish you the best of luck. Go!”
“In life, as in football, you won’t go far unless you know where the goalposts are.” ~ Arnold H. Glasgow