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Papa’s phone rang in my backpack, and Fennec cussed into the kiss before turning onto his back and rubbing his eyes.

“Sorry,” I whispered apologetically before turning back to face Sitka and reaching for my backpack.

I had texted Jason last night before going to bed that we’d be there around ten in the morning, and that we’d be ready to go home.

Grabbing the phone and picking up, I greeted Jason. “Good morning.”

“You alright, kid?” he asked.

“Yes. Did you read my message?”

“Sure did. How did you manage to get him to agree so damn quickly?”

I sat up and looked back at Fennec who was now leaning against the wall behind him, watching me as I talked to Jason.

I smiled at him, letting him wrap a strand of my hair around his fingers. “I guess I’m very convincing.”

“How’s Sitka?” he asked, changing the subject without a warning.

Moving my gaze back at her, I scratched her head. “She’s happy.”

“Good. Get her back safely. I’ll see you later.”

“Will do. Bye.” I hung up and put the phone back in my backpack and let Sitka lick my hand before I turned back to Fennec.

He didn’t look happy.

Moving closer, I straddled his lap and made him look at me by tilting his head back, but as hard as I tried to make him smile, his frown only deepened.

“Sad boy. What’s wrong?”

He sighed heavily, his chest rising and falling.

“A lot is wrong, Ves.” He grabbed both my hands and pulled them to his lips, kissing them gently with his eyes locked on mine. “But this is not the time to figure it all out or to worry.”

I studied his face for a moment and nodded when it was clear that I had no way to get him to talk.

“We still have a few minutes,” I hinted, and without replying, he cupped my face and kissed me again.

The closer we got to going back home, the more worries surfaced.

But he was right.

This wasn’t the time to worry.

*

When we got to Jason’s cabin, he was already waiting outside by his car. Sitka ran to him once I let go of the leash, and they greeted each other as if they hadn’t seen one another for a year.

I was always fascinated by how loyal dogs were, but I could never take care of one myself.

“You okay?” Jason asked Fennec.

“Yeah. Thanks for driving us. Appreciate it,” he replied as we reached the truck.

“I’m gonna stay in town for as long as your dad needs to stay there. Been driving back and forth too many times to drive up here again.”

That meant we’d have to stay in Fairbanks until Papa was ready to come back here, but that was okay.

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