Chapter 29
S adie. New Year’s Eve
On New Year’s Eve morning, Sadie snuggled closer to Kreston, breathing in his familiar scent of pine and wood smoke. The days since Christmas had slipped away like water through her fingers. Between organizing Kreston’s office and computer files, and helping Jessie handle the restaurant rushes, she’d lost all track of time.
She treasured these lazy mornings with Kreston, their easy routine feeling more natural each day. Yet beneath it lurked an impossible choice and she remained paralyzed with indecision: cling to the familiar or leap into the unknown? A week had passed, and she was no closer to her answer.
Sensing he was awake, Sadie rolled over to look Kreston in the eye. “You know what I realized? Everything in my life has centered on appearances. But here, it’s not like that.”
Kreston’s arms tightened around her. “That’s what happens when you spend time in Alaska. Pretense is stripped away. You can’t fake your way through a blizzard.” He propped himself on his elbow. “What more can I do to convince you to stay?”
She avoided his question by reaching for his morning erection and stroking him. “This.”
“Oh, God,” he moaned. “Keep doing that, and I’ll never leave this bed. Unfortunately, I’d better get to town and help set up for tonight’s New Year’s Eve party. You can stay here and sleep if you like.”
“Are you kidding? And miss the chaos?” She laughed. “Not on your life.”
“I’ll make the coffee.” He flung back his comforter and stood, stretching, with his back to her.
Sadie admired the view. How could she leave this? Leave him? She still had to sort everything out. It was easy to procrastinate her decision while spending time with Kreston and helping with his daily tasks.
After feeding the dogs—who now greeted her like family—she and Kreston gathered their party clothes to take into town with them. Sadie grabbed her sparkly cocktail dress from the bottom of her suitcase, and they climbed into the truck and headed to town.
The Community Center hummed with pre-party energy. Hardware Bob was back, looking remarkably well after his heart scare. He supervised the installation of the massive disco ball while Janet fussed over the sound system. Sadie found herself swept into the preparations, moving between helping Jessie in the hotel kitchen and arranging tables with Aloha in the party room. Aloha announced each centerpiece placement like it was breaking news.
“Aloha, Mayor Kreston and Mayor Kreston’s girlfriend!” she greeted them. “You two look chipper today.” She had her usual deck of cards in her hands, shuffling away.
As Sadie hurried from the Crooked Spoon with a snack tray, Ten Second Tess appeared in the lobby, clutching something glittery. “I made these for you since you’re Mayor Collins’ girlfriend. What’s your name?”
“Sadie.” She extended her palm.
“I made you a present, Sadie.” Tess offered her a pair of sequined earrings and a matching headband.
“Thank you, Tess.” The handmade gift brought tears to Sadie’s eyes. She immediately put on the earrings and stretched the headband around her head, pulling her hair over it.
“Now I look more like 1970s disco. What do you think?” She turned her head side-to-side to show off the earrings.
“They look nice. You know, Kreston likes you.” Tess dashed off and disappeared up the stairs.
While Sadie arranged food platters with Jessie, Hardware Bob and Janet cornered her.
“You know,” Janet said thoughtfully, “hardly anyone we met in Anchorage had heard of Polar Creek.”
“Criminal, really,” Bob added. “All this beauty, these stories, these people... someone should tell the world about us. Not to attract people to move here, but to increase our tourism. We need a share of the Alaskan tourism dollars. Then we could build a post office and move it out of the hotel. We could even hire a postal employee.”
“Not that Kreston does a terrible job or anything,” Janet emphasized. “It’s just he’s burdened with so much.”
“I’ve been lecturing him to delegate more.” A thought exploded inside Sadie’s brain. “I have an idea. We should create a tourism office. Set up a website, advertise to the world Polar Creek is an exciting tourist destination. We just need to get the word out.”
Why hadn’t I thought of this before ?
Janet thought for a moment. “You said ‘we.’ Does that mean you’re staying? Everyone’s been saying you’ll be gone after tomorrow.”
Reality hit Sadie like a grenade. “I—I guess I could stay a little longer to help set one up—if Kreston thinks it’s a good idea. Everyone would have to vote on it...” Her mind raced with newfound possibilities.
Janet smiled. “You should consider it. We’d love for you to stay. You would be a wonderful asset to this town.”
Her words warmed Sadie. Before she decided anything, she’d talk with Kreston. But now wasn’t the time with the frenzied preparations for tonight’s New Year’s soiree.
Sadie crossed Main Street to the hotel. She stood for a moment on the sidewalk, soaking in the familiar rhythms and heartbeat of Polar Creek; people were busy doing errands and making their usual social rounds. Life was predictable here, and she liked that. She opened the hotel door and walked inside. Out of habit, she headed upstairs as if going to her old hotel room.
Since returning to Polar Creek, she’d stayed with Kreston. But she’d missed the hustle and bustle of this hotel. And she missed Aloha, Ten Second Tess, and Jessie humming around the hotel, doing their part to keep things running. Sadie turned in time to catch Tess closing the door of the ice maker and sprinting down the stairs.
Curious, Sadie moved to the ice maker and opened the door. A pile of Christmas decorations mixed with tiny shampoos rested on the ice chunks. She smiled and left everything where it was, knowing that organizing things in her own way gave Tess purpose. What had happened to Tess still tugged at Sadie’s heart, but the girl seemed happy, and that was the important thing.
It was nearing the time for the party, and Sadie realized she didn’t have a place to change. She tapped down the stairs and headed for Kreston’s office. It was empty, so she dressed in her party finery, applied makeup, and adjusted Tess’s glittery headband in her hair. She hesitated before slipping her feet into the stilettos. Nope. The Alaskan way was to wear your boots outside and carry your heels to wear inside. It had already become a habit.
Carrying her stilettoes, Sadie stepped out of the hotel to see others heading to the Community Center. Some were on foot, and others had arrived in their snowmachines, trucks, and SUVs. Strains of “Disco Inferno” met her ears as she swung open one of the front double doors.
She wondered if Kreston had taken time to change into his tux. She loved seeing him in it and couldn’t wait. She also couldn’t wait to tell him about her tourism office idea. Once inside, she walked around but didn’t see him. He must have gotten hung up with something. Or someone.
Jessie ran up to her. “Have you seen Aloha?”
Sadie shook her head. “No, I just came over from the hotel and didn’t see her. Figured she was here. Why?”
“Someone saw her running down Main Street, crying. She seemed upset,” explained Jessie. “She must have run home. She only lives three blocks away.”
“What’s the house number?” asked Sadie. “I’ll go see what’s going on. ”
Jessie relayed the address as Sadie changed into her boots and bundled up. “Be back soon. Keep things going until Kreston returns, okay?”
Sadie stepped out, then briskly walked down Main Street and turned right onto Spruce Street. She spotted the tiny pink house Jessie had described. She hurried up the steps and knocked.
To her surprise, Kreston answered.
“What’s going on? Is Aloha okay?”
He looked relieved. “Glad you’re here. Come on in.”
Sadie walked into the small living room to see Aloha sitting on her couch, hugging a pillow. She rocked back and forth, tears streaming down her cheeks. She lifted her face and smiled.
“I remember!” she said to Sadie. “I got my memory back! I remember everything! I have a house on a beach in Honolulu. And it’s a big one!”
Sadie noted she didn’t say ‘aloha’ first.
“Seriously?” Sadie sat next to her, stunned. “How did this happen?”
“I’ll explain.” Kreston settled into a chair across from the two women. “I was walking into the hotel this afternoon, and Aloha bumped into me as she ran out, crying. I ran after her and followed her here. Turns out, she’d fallen and hit her head. Now she remembers what happened before Costco.”
Sadie rested her hand on Aloha’s knee. “What do you remember?”
“I was... am... a professional poker player. One of the best in Hawaii.” Aloha laughed. “I made millions reading other player’s tells, remembering every card played. Had a reputation as ‘The Aloha Shark’ because I’d yell ‘Aloha’ before taking their money.”
Sadie’s mouth hung open. “A poker player? Like the ones on TV?” She exchanged incredulous looks with Kreston.
Aloha nodded. “I flew to Anchorage for a secret high-stakes game. Someone found out I was counting cards and whipped out a handgun. He chased me, and I ran out into the snow. I slipped on the ice, hit my head...” She touched the spot where she’d bumped it again today. “Next thing I knew, I was rounding up shopping carts and welcoming everyone to Costco.”
Sadie glanced at Kreston, then back to Aloha. “This is a wild story. Are you sure this isn’t just a dream?”
“No, watch this!” Aloha picked up her deck of cards from the coffee table and dealt them each a hand of poker, her hands flying so fast Sadie couldn’t keep track.
“Aloha! That’s why you’re always shuffling cards. You didn’t forget that part of you. This is incredible!” She gazed at Aloha in awe.
“Look, I haven’t lost my knack.” Aloha scooped up the cards and showed them a couple of fast moves, then spread the deck out with a flourish, better than any Vegas casino dealer.
“Couldn’t tell you how I wound up in the Costco parking lot, though. A shopper must have given me a ride and dropped me off there. Then I ran into Kreston, and he helped me,” she said happily.
“Wow, a professional poker player?” Sadie said, astonished. “Never would have guessed.”
“Me either,” Aloha and Kreston chorused, and everyone laughed .
“How are you feeling? Do you want Janet to examine your head?” asked Kreston.
Aloha rubbed it. “I’m sure it’s okay. Not bleeding or anything.” She looked up at him. “Thank you for coming to make sure I was all right.”
“That’s what friends are for,” he responded.
“So, what are you going to do now?” Sadie asked Aloha, who suddenly perked up.
“Money! I have money! Lots of it. I have to check my bank accounts.” She got up and paced back and forth. “I’m a millionaire several times over. I invested the money I won, and it must be worth a heck of a lot after five years.”
“Wouldn’t someone have declared you missing or dead and taken your money by now?” asked Sadie.
Aloha shook her head. “I don’t have heirs, and my parents are deceased. Hey, you two, want to take a trip to Hawaii next week? I have business to take care of. I’ll pay your way.” She grinned at Kreston. “Maybe after, I can pay for those streetlamps you’ve been wanting to put on Main Street.”
He gave her a look of surprise. “You don’t have to do that.”
“Yes, I do! I’m grateful for what you’ve done for me. It’s the least I can do for you,” gushed Aloha.
Sadie laughed. “I would love to go to Hawaii!” Then she remembered and shook her head. “Except I don’t know what I’m doing next week.”
Kreston’s eyes flicked to hers, but to his credit, he said nothing.
Aloha wiped her eyes. “The funny thing is, I love who I became here, in Polar Creek. The real me was sick and tired of the poker scene. Here, I learned to love people instead of reading them for a poker hand.”
“So, you’re choosing Polar Creek over Hawaii?” Sadie asked in disbelief.
“Yep. I need to take care of my old life in Honolulu, and transfer my bank accounts to Alaska, and then, maybe I’ll start a poker night at the Crooked Spoon.” Aloha gave Kreston a mischievous look.
“Uh, we’ll discuss that minor detail later,” he said uneasily, shifting in his chair. He glanced up at a wall clock. “We have a party to go to.”
Sadie hugged Aloha. “I’m so happy your memory returned. What a gift that is.” As they put on their winter garb and headed out the door, Sadie took Kreston’s arm and squeezed it. “I love that you checked on her.”
“I’m just happy you can remember now,” he said to Aloha.
“Me too!” She jumped around like a pogo stick. “Wait’ll everyone hears about this!” Aloha wriggled into her coat and dashed out the door to tell everyone her big news.