Page 45 of What We Keep
“Have you heard from your mom?” Janet asked.
“I call her once or twice a week, and we text often. I’m hoping she’ll come, at least for a visit, but...” I let out a sigh.
Janet tipped her head to the side as she studied me. “Her feelings are a little more complicated than yours.”
“And painful,” I pointed out.
“We all have complicated feelings about the places where we grow up.” Janet’s voice was matter-of-fact.
“I know.”
“And it was different for you, honey. Your dad’s off-the-grid thing was stressful for a parent, especially when he…” She hesitated. “When he got sick. Most of your childhood, you were a girl with plenty of fun things to do outdoors, so you probably didn’t feel the burden of it the way your mom did.”
“I know.” I did know. Maybe I hadn’t grasped it at the time, but I’d felt the anxiety emanating from my mother so often. “That’s not how they live at the resort, though. They have all the amenities.”
Janet’s gaze softened. “Give her time.” Janet’s eyes studied me, taking in my sand-covered boots. “Where have you been today?”
I chuckled. “I started my job, and I was out doing some monitoring on one of the beluga pods in Cook Inlet. I got a little sandy.”
“Obviously, you’re going to love your job.”
“I already love my job.”
“Elsa?” a voice called from behind me.
I spun around and studied the woman approaching. “Tiffany?”
“That’s me!”
“Oh wow, how are you?”
Tiffany pulled me into a big hug. Since my life was sort of isolated as a kid, I didn’t have many friends, but I had some. Tiffany had always been friendly and affectionate. She peppered me with questions, and when she heard I was out at Heartfire Falls, she smiled.
She let out a low whistle. “Those Silver boys are easy on the eyes.”
“Do we call them ‘those Silver boys’?” I teased.
“Well, around town, we do. They don’t firefight full-time, but they help out on the crews every summer.” She paused, her gaze sobering. “And then, well, things haven’t been easy on that family.”
“I know.” My breath came out in a gust, just thinking of all they’d been through.
“Sorry to interrupt, girls,” Janet said. “I need to take your orders because more customers are coming in behind you.”
Tiffany and I quickly ordered. I sat down with her, getting updates on her life and filling her in on mine. The sketch of my life was basic right now, and I avoided mentioning the smokin’-hot nights I’d shared with Haven altogether.
“Oh, wait a second. Your mother-in-law runs the animal program,” I said mid-conversation.
Tiffany flashed a smile. “Bingo. That’s why I’m so up to speed on those Silver boys. When we kept getting requests for larger animal rescues after the wildfire blew through the outskirts of town, the family let us lease one of their old barns and use part of the property. It’s worked out great. Haven’s son, Tommy, works there for us in the afternoons. He does the evening feeding, checks on everyone, and so on. Love that family. I’m so glad you landed out there and got such a great job!” She paused, tilting her head to the side. “We do a girls’ night thing—dinner and casual cards. It’s usually once or twice a month. You should come.”
Insecurity reared its head inside because, well, having the dad I did—may his sweet, misguided heart rest in peace—meant I didn’t get to do a lot of the typical social activities.
She must’ve seen the uncertainty in my gaze. “Come on. I promise you’ll love it. Give me your number.”
Before I knew it, I exchanged numbers with her, and she told me she’d be texting me for the next one. As I drove home, everything felt good about my life. I was downright giddy.
I debated whether I should stop by the barn apartment to shower before dinner, but I decided against it. Maggie liked us to be on time for dinner. The Silver boys, I laughed to myself at that, showed up sometimes with the dusty, dirty clothes of men who worked and lived in the outdoors. They washed their hands, and that was good enough.
I helped Maggie because I happened to be the first one to arrive. I thought maybe this would be good. Haven would take one look at me—my hair a wild mess, my messy bun taken to new levels—and, well, maybe it would cool his ardor. I was starting to worry things were spiraling out of control for us.
