Chapter 9
Chapter Nine
PARKER
“Parker!” my dad’s voice boomed through the phone.
“Hey, Dad,” I replied with a low chuckle.
“Just calling to see how you’re doing.”
“I’m doing,” I replied. “How are you and Elaine doing?”
“Good, good. I was actually calling to tell you we eloped,” he said as calmly as if he were sharing about the weather that day.
“Seriously?” I sputtered.
“Completely. I just needed to grow up and discover Elaine was special.” My dad sounded downright giddy about this news, his voice jovial.
“Oh, wow. Have you told Stella yet?” I asked, referring to my sister.
“Just got off the phone with her. We’re planning a poor man’s cruise for our honeymoon on the ferry. We got our own cabin and everything. There’s a stop in the Anchorage port, so we’re hoping to see you and Stella. We can rent a car and drive to Willow Brook.”
“Well, congrats. Text me the details for when you plan to visit. Of course, I’ll plan on meeting you one way or another when you’re nearby.”
“Awesome!”
My dad and I chatted for a few more minutes before he asked, “You seeing anyone? I kind of think it’s your turn.”
My mind instantly flashed to Luna, dialing back to the memory of that single kiss with her that afternoon years ago. Those few hours with her burned so deeply in my memory, every encounter with anyone since then had fallen short. And yet, I didn’t even know who she was. Not really.
“Parker?” my dad prompted.
I kicked my thoughts on track. “Not seeing anyone at the moment, Dad. I know you have high hopes,” I teased lightly.
“I just—” His voice hitched. “I love you, son. And, I know I kind of screwed up your childhood, but I want the best for you.”
“Dad,” I cut in. “Maybe things weren’t perfect when I was growing up, but I’m pretty sure nobody’s childhood is perfect.
I always knew you loved me, and that’s the most important part.
I’m just really glad you feel good about your life now.
My life’s pretty good too. I have a job I love, I live somewhere beautiful, and I have good friends.
I have you, and now, I guess a stepmom. It’s all good. ”
A few beats of quiet echoed through the call. “I’m glad for all that, but I hate that you ended up in detention because I was a dumbass.”
I bit back a sigh. “Dad, things go the way they go. If there’s one thing we can’t change, it’s the past. I figure I learned a lot from that, so stop worrying about it. Okay? I don’t worry about it. I met Hudson there, and he’s my best friend.”
“All right, all right. I’ll try not to worry,” my dad muttered.
“Don’t they tell you in your groups to let go, let God, and all that. You made your amends with me. Honestly, maybe you didn’t always make the best decisions, but I never doubted you were there for me, and not everyone gets that in life.”
Another sigh filtered through the call. He was big on the sighs when he was worried. “I love you, Parker. I’ll text you the dates for when we set up our trip.”
“Looking forward to seeing you. Love you too.”
When I tapped to end the call, I stared at the picture of my dad saved with his contact in my phone.
His hair was mussed, and he wore a goofy grin.
I still marveled that he and my half-sister’s mom had reconnected.
The modern miracle of DNA testing had brought them together.
My sister Stella’s mom hadn’t been busy running drugs like my dad, but from what I understood, she hadn’t had the most stable life.
That’s how my dad got me in trouble. He thought it would be great for me to help him sell drugs in high school.
I shook my head, almost bemused now. Every word I told him was true.
I was over it. It was a lesson I had to learn.
Maybe he’d been the one to lead me to that path, but, at the time, it held powerful temptations for me.
Money, street cred, and a few other dumb things had seemed important when I was young and stupid.
To this day, I never forgot something the public defender assigned to me had said. I’d written it down and covered it with clear tape. I still kept it in my wallet. Pulling it out, I read it once again. Don’t judge yourself for your worst days. There’s more to you than that.
I had met Hudson in detention and would always consider him one of my best friends.
We hadn’t stayed in touch for a chunk of time because that was before cell phones were ubiquitous.
Needless to say, both of us had been poor and broke with dads who weren’t financially stable.
We hadn’t been able to stay in touch, but I was beyond grateful life had brought us back together.
We’d both ended up doing firefighter training and becoming hotshots.
We’d even managed to get through him falling in love with my half-sister.
I’d been a little overprotective at first, but Stella had put me in my place on that. With a mental shake, I snagged my keys and headed out the door.
When I glanced down at my phone screen once I climbed into my truck, I saw Luna had finally replied to my text. Sure! Tomorrow?
Even though a tiny part of me thought maybe I should delay it and play it cool, I ended up replying right away.
Me: Sounds good. Should I pick you up?
Luna: That would be great. You know where I live.
Anticipation hummed through me. I was impatient to see her again.
More than that, I was impatient to understand why she used a fake name before.
In reality, I recognized that when we spent that hazy, dreamy afternoon together, I’d been a complete stranger to her.
Maybe it had been safest for her to call herself Jane instead of giving me her real name. I still wanted to understand why.
Hudson leaned back in his chair, chuckling at a comment Griffin had made. “Dude, you have to decide. It’s a choice between fewer fish and a pretty boat ride.”
“Or more fish and bigger fish,” Leo added.
“I prefer the Kenai River. China Poot’s beautiful, but it’s really only worth it if you live nearby,” I pointed out.
“What’s the difference?” Kincaid asked.
Kincaid was not only new to our crew, but he was new to Alaska.
He seemed like a solid guy. Cade, a superintendent on a different crew, leaned forward.
“Okay, here’s the deal. For dipnetting in this area, the main choices are Kenai River, Kasilof River, or China Poot Bay, which is across Kachemak Bay.
You can only get one permit every year. China Poot is six fish for every trip.
Kenai and Kasilof are twenty-five fish overall.
For families, it’s another ten fish for every other person in the family.
Personally, I prefer the Kenai River. The fish are bigger, so you get the most for the work.
Kasilof River is nice, but the fish are smaller.
Some people like China Poot, but you have to make four trips to get the same number of fish.
Although it’s totally beautiful and the fish literally swim over a waterfall.
Once was enough for me. I go to the Kenai River,” Cade said with a tap of his fingers on the table.
“Wow,” Kincaid replied. “Sign me up.” He chuckled.
“How long you been in Alaska?” Graham asked.
“Three months,” Kincaid said.
“You’ll be able to go next year,” Graham said. “You gotta be a resident for a full year before you can get a dipnetting permit. They’re strict about that.” Graham was the superintendent for our crew and a solid guy.
“I don’t mind the wait.” Kincaid shrugged.
We were at Wildlands Lodge, a local hotel, bar, and restaurant.
It was situated on a lake in the center of town.
Even though it was autumn and the height of tourist season was over, the place was packed.
It always was. We often got together here for dinner and drinks with anyone who wanted to tag along from the fire station.
Willow Brook was a hub for four hotshot crews, along with a local crew, which meant for a lot of firefighters in town.
Lately, we stayed busy with fires popping up all the time, with summers getting longer and hotter on the West Coast, and Alaska a busy place for wildfires.
I loved my job, and I loved the wilderness.
Conversation carried on as everybody shared their opinions on dipnetting and debated favorite local fishing places.
I glanced toward Hudson. “Did Stella tell you about the elopement? Is that what we call it?”
Hudson flashed a smile. “Guess so, and yeah, she did.”
“Good for them.” I chuckled. “My dad is one happy guy. He said they’re doing a ferry trip for their honeymoon. He said they want to try to meet up with us when they stop in Anchorage.”
“We’ll plan on it. Let’s just hope we’re not out at a fire,” Hudson said.
“Let’s hope,” I replied.
Hudson waggled his brows. “Stella tells me your dad is worried about making sure you fall in love.”
I shook my head slowly as I pressed my tongue into my cheek.
“I know. Let’s get real. When my dad was my age, he wasn’t serious with anyone, like ever.
He was busy selling drugs. No judgment. He had his shit to figure out, and he’s doing well now.
I love him, but I think it’s fucking hysterical.
He thinks it’s time for me to fall in love and settle down.
Of course, you and Stella just did, so there’s that.
” I ran a hand through my hair with a sigh.
Hudson clapped me on the shoulder. “I think it’s funny.
Your dad’s a lot like mine. I love my dad, and he cracks me up.
He’s happy as can be these days with his girlfriend.
” Hudson’s gaze sobered. He rested an elbow on the table and took a swallow of beer.
“I’m the first to say I never thought falling in love would matter, but it’s the best thing that ever happened to me. ”
I pondered his observation as I drove home later. Fuzzy would be waiting at home, always happy to see me. And yet, I lived a pretty solitary life. I was also acutely aware of just how impatient I was to see Luna again.