Page 72 of What We Keep
“They are. It’s crazy there,” I said, my lips twisting to the side. “I’m going to talk to Haven as soon as I see him.” I looked around at the women at the table. “Thank you.”
“For what?” Amelia asked.
I felt bashful when I smiled. “For welcoming me here tonight. For, I guess, making me feel like I belong.”
“Of course you belong,” Amelia curled an arm around my shoulders and squeezed. “You’re a badass. And we’re glad you’re back.”
A little while later, as Chloe and I drove back toward the resort, she asked, “So what now?”
“I’m going to talk to Haven the first time I see him.” My tone was resolute, even though I was a little nervous.
“Thank you,” I said when she parked in front of the main resort at Heartfire Falls.
“For what?”
“For dragging me along with you tonight. I needed that.”
Chloe’s smile was warm. “Anytime.”
We parted ways, and I tried to ignore the shaft of disappointment when I walked into the apartment upstairs in the barn and discovered Haven wasn’t there.
I knew he would show up, so I planned to sit down and watch TV until he arrived. I needed something to distract me. Except I got paged from work. A whale was stranded in the mudflats off Turnagain Arm.
Chapter Thirty-Five
Elsa
I sped through the late evening dusk, grateful for the long summer evenings of Alaska. The fields of fireweed were ablaze as I drove past them.
The report was from some motorists who’d noticed a gray whale stranded near the mudflats. It sounded like we were lucky as far as location went. It was just north of where it would have been nearly impossible and unsafe for us to try to get out there and help. The mudflats were just what they sounded like and tricky to deal with because you could get stuck in the mud. There were signs all along them warning people from walking out. Fortunately, this whale was stranded in a sandy stretch of the shoreline. I parked along the side of the road and hurried out, buckets in hand, cell phone tucked into my pocket.
Dealing with stranded whales was fairly straightforward. If they were going to survive, you needed to keep them wet until the tide came in and try to help them get upright if needed. My boss was out of town, and I knew I would need help if the tide didn’t come in soon. Fortunately, the whale was upright and clear of any boulders. While I was on my own, I draped wet sheets on the whale and focused on pouring water over it, careful to stay clear of the blowhole. When I got the call from the wildlife hotline, they confirmed they would notify the closest state troopers to assist, so I was counting on help arriving soon. Although the troopers covered large geographical areas in Alaska, so I had no idea when they might arrive.
“Honey, we are going to get you and your baby reunited. You’re going to make it,” I told her encouragingly. Maybe she didn’t understand my words, but I hoped she understood my intent. I could feel her distress. Her calf was lingering in the deeper water in the inlet along with the rest of her pod.
Darkness began to fall, and I was starting to despair that help wasn’t coming. I’d expected the troopers to arrive by now. The reception was spotty, but I fished my phone out of my pocket between pouring buckets of water on the whale.
Knowing I needed more people, I texted Haven.
Me: I’m off the side of the highway in Turnagain Arm, just north of the mudflats. There’s a whale stranded. The tide isn’t going to be in for a few more hours, and we need help and we need lights.
I tapped send before adding another text.
Me: I love you. I’m sorry I got upset.
Chapter Thirty-Six
Haven
I was pacing in the apartment above the barn when I got the text from Elsa.
I grabbed my fishing waders and an extra pair for Elsa in case she didn’t bring hers, along with a change of clothes in case she was wet. After that, I jogged over to the main lodge, hoping to find my brothers.
“What’s up?” Jude and Cole were lounging on the couch in front of the TV.
“Keep it down. I don’t want Tommy to hear us,” I said. “We need to go.”
“Where?” Cole asked, just as Asher came walking into the room.
