Alaskan Dawn by Edie Claire

Author:Edie Claire
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Stackhouse Press
Published: 2015-01-27T05:00:00+00:00

Chapter 18

Haley picked up her suitcase — very slowly and carefully — and slid it into the trunk of her rental car. She could have waited and asked Ben to lift it for her. But she had asked him for more than enough already. Besides, the bag wasn’t that heavy. Not nearly as heavy as her heart.

She closed the trunk and walked back to the front porch of her cabin. Her eyes drifted out over the distant snow-laced mountains, and she drank in every inch of the view, attempting to memorize it. I’ll be back. She promised herself. I will.

She had it all worked out in her mind already. If Micah was willing, Haley would make arrangements to buy out her sister’s interest with some kind of payment plan. If not, Haley could sell off the back acres around her uncle’s house as payment to Micah and keep the cabins for herself. She would find a property management company to handle the rentals — with the understanding that Ben had first dibs, of course. The other cabin would have to be rented by the week. That way, whenever she visited, she could stay here. And enjoy this very view.

Her mind had been frantically plotting such scenarios for hours now. Ever since the internet cafe in which she had parked herself this morning was invaded by the ring of her cell phone and ominous words from Bob. The discovery ruling was issued this morning. It’s just what we were afraid of. In fact, it’s worse. We need to move fast, Haley. You’ve got to get back here ASAP.

He had no idea that, just as he was speaking those dreaded words, Haley had been looking out the cafe’s front windows to see a bald eagle swoop down over the water of Resurrection Bay and dive for a fish. Nor, she suspected, would he have cared.

I’ll be back.

Haley repeated the mantra which, ever since, had been the only thing keeping her from crumpling. She had thought that she was finished with the crying. But she’d also thought she had more time with Ben.

Their first real outing together since her full disclosure had been as close to a perfect evening as Haley could remember. It certainly exceeded any date she had ever been on, despite the fact that nothing physical had happened between them. In fact, if not for that aggravating omission, the evening would have been perfect.

She breathed in another lungful of the crisp air, then let it out with a sigh. The weather was beautiful again today. Ben was out on a full-day tour, which meant he would take his passengers all the way to the glacier again. The longer trek was his favorite, and Haley smiled to think of him enjoying his day. She tried not to think about how little time they would have together when he returned. She had offered to cook spaghetti tonight, and he had offered her another shot at seeing a wild grizzly. The spaghetti sauce was ready and waiting.

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