Page 79 of Hunter

It takes me a second to register who “Kit Walsh” is because my coworker fromThe Astonishing Racehasn’t been in contact with me since Isabella and I left Nome several weeks ago. In fact, aside from a long phone message from someone in HR at UPN, reminding me that I signed a non-disclosure agreement, and a direct deposit wired to my bank account, I haven’t been in contact with anyone from the show since returning home.

I tap on Kit’s voicemail message and hold the phone up to my ear.

“Hey, Hunter. It’s Kit. Um…from the show. Um…I just wanted to say that, you know, I’m sorry about how everything went down in Fairbanks. I mean, we didn’t really get to talk before you left, and I’m guessing you’re still pissed at me. I made a big mistake in not telling you what was going on. I should’ve put our friendship over the production…and, I mean, I didn’t. And I really, really feel shitty about that. You wouldn’t have done that to me. Ugh. I’m so fucking sorry.”She pauses for a second before continuing.“Anyway, I finished up the show, but I also lodged a complaint with the HR department at UPN about what they did to you guys, and I’ll never work with Nat-fucking-Keegan again.”Another pause.“I know that doesn’t change anything, but I wanted you to know.”

The message cuts off, and I look down at my phone, realizing I’ve just listened to message one of two. I click on the second one.

“Um, it’s just Kit again finishing up. Anyway, I’m not working for UPN anymore. I left LA, too. I always liked Seattle, so I decided to relocate. Turns out that AMC+ is rebootingTwin Peaksnext year, and they’re just starting some preliminary shooting this fall. They needed someone to do location scouting, and I got the job.”She pauses again, talking to someone nearby for a second before returning to her message.“Sorry about that. Anyway, I’m allowed to hire a few people to work with me on the show, and I…I don’t know…you probably hate me or don’t trust me or whatever, but I had to reach out…you know, to try to make it up to you. If you’re interested in working on another show, or, you know, giving me a second chance to prove I can be a better friend, reach out. You were one of the best people I ever worked with, and if I could go back in time and warn you about what they were planning, I would. In a second. Anyway,sorry again, Hunter. I hope you’re doing okay. I really hope that. Bye…”

I stare at my phone for a second, processing Kit’s message.

The truth is that I could tell—at the Spur that awful night—that Kit knew exactly what was going on and had decided not to clue me in. And because I thought we were friends, it hurt. I felt betrayed, and so I avoided her for the rest of my time in Fairbanks and Nome. At one point, she caught me in the elevator in Nome and tried to apologize, but I didn’t look at her, acted like I couldn’t hear her, and walked out of the elevator while she was still speaking.

But since I got home, my anger has cooled, both toward the show and toward Kit. Yeah, it was a super shitty setup, but at the same time, I signed on to work for a reality show, and I broke the rules by dating a contestant. If Isabella and I were that protective of our privacy, we had no business participating inThe Astonishing Racein the first place. And although I still don’t approve of the way things went down at the Spur, I understand why they did it; why they used us. There’s even a(grudging)part of me that’s the littlest bit grateful; I mean, without the show, I may not have reconnected with Isabella, and having her in my life is worth whatever path I walked to get here.

“Mr. Stewart?”

I look down to find my gap-toothed friend looking up at me, a half-finished mini-mug of root beer clasped in her little hands and a foam mustache over her upper lip.

“What’s up, darlin’?”

“Did you know the Alaska state land mammal is the moose?”

I squat down to chat with her at eye level. “I sure did.”

“Do you have a husky?”

“No, I don’t. I love dogs, but I don’t have one.”

“Everybody says Alaska is cold. But it’s not that cold here.”

“I agree. It’s hot today.”

“Why wasn’t there enough gold for everyone?”

“Just wasn’t,” I tell her. “Too many people. Not enough gold.”

“Do you like Christmas?”

“Definitely. Do you?”

“Yep. It’s my favorite. Have you ever seen a grizzly bear in person?”

“How about we join your mom and dad, and you can ask me as many questions as you want, okay?”

She grins at me and nods, taking my hand and leading the way back to her table.

***

I find myself with some free time at the end of the day. My tours are over, but Isabella’s not finished for another hour or so.

Turning my mind back to Kit’s offer, I think about what it would mean to relocate to Seattle, and whether or not that’s something I’m willing to do. I never really thought of taking a job outside of Skagway, but until now, I was never offered one either.

Checking the time again, I decide to walk over to Harper and Joe’s place and see if I can bend my sister’s ear for a spell. I sure could use a little advice.

When I get there, I knock on the screen door, and Harper yells, “Come on in!”

“Hey,” I say, stepping inside. “I could be a robber. You should be more careful about who you let in.”

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