Chapter 12
Henley was ridiculously excited about today.
And since Finn was picking Jasna up from her camp that afternoon, she didn’t have to worry about anything but having fun with Alaska and Ryan.
Their plan was to eat lunch at Blue Window, which Henley had heard a lot of great things about, then go shopping.
Henley was generally a frugal person, she’d had to be raising a child on a single income, but The Refuge paid generously and her bank account was fairly healthy. Granted, Los Alamos didn’t exactly have huge malls and designer shops, but Henley was happy enough to be out with friends.
Over the years, she hadn’t had many. She’d been too consumed by school then work, and raising her daughter. So the fact that Alaska had even asked her to come today felt really good. Ryan was quickly becoming a good friend as well, and with each day that passed, the more content Henley felt.
Alaska held open the door to the local restaurant and they all filed in. They were seated quickly and it didn’t take Henley long to decide on the green chile BLT sandwich.
“So…I have to say it…you and Tonka are absolutely adorable together,” Alaska said with a smile as she leaned on her elbows over the table after they all sat down.
“He’s awesome,” Henley said, nodding. “I’ve been attracted to him since the first day I started working at The Refuge, but honestly never really thought we’d be where we are today.”
“He’s pretty closed off,” Alaska said.
Henley didn’t take offense, since she wasn’t wrong. “He’s only said a few things here and there, but I gather whatever happened to him while in the Coast Guard was really awful. I know he had a canine partner, and that something happened to him, but I don’t know the details.”
Alaska nodded. “He’s so good with all the animals at The Refuge. He’s got a special touch when it comes to them, for sure.”
“I think Jasna’s got that same touch. I saw her the other day behind the barn and she actually had Chuck, that messed-up squirrel Tonka adopted, in her lap and was hand-feeding him.”
“Wow, really?” Alaska asked. “I tried to get him to come to me and the second he saw me from twenty feet away, he bolted into that little house Tonka made. Did you guys know Tonka once compared me to that pathetic thing?”
Henley and Ryan chuckled.
“I’m serious! He said I reminded him of Chuck, and then went on to describe how pathetic and ugly the thing was,” Alaska told them wryly.
Henley frowned. “I’m sure he didn’t mean that in a bad way.”
“Of course he didn’t. His point was that Chuck was brave, and he thought I was too.” Alaska shrugged. “I couldn’t be offended because it was Tonka. He’s quiet and introspective…and kind. I like him.”
Even though her friend wasn’t complimenting her, Henley still felt a wave of warmth flood her body.
“Me too,” Ryan said just before the waitress put their lemonades on the table.
They all took long sips of the cool, refreshing drink, and then Ryan continued.
“I’m still really new to The Refuge, and sometimes it’s hard to fit in when everyone around you has known each other and is used to the ins and outs of the way things work.
He was nice enough to track me down when I first started and tell me the best times to go to the kitchen to get fresh cookies,” she said with a smile.
“And he said that if I brought Robert a box of Little Debbie Christmas Tree Cakes, he’d bend over backward to make sure I was always fed. ”
“Wait, what?” Alaska asked in confusion. “Christmas Tree Cakes?”
“Yeah, they’re usually only out around December.
I don’t know why they’re so good, but they are.
I think it’s the little green sprinkles on top or something.
Anyway, I went online and was able to find someone selling them.
I brought Robert four boxes and I literally thought his eyes were going to bug out of his head.
He declared me his best friend, and I have to say…
any chance of losing weight while I’m here is now officially shot to hell. ”
The women all laughed.
“I had no idea,” Henley said with a shrug. “And I’ve been here a lot longer than either of you two. I’m gonna have some words with Finn when I see him next about not letting me in on that little secret.”
“Anyway, my point is that Tonka went out of his way to welcome me when I started, and I appreciate it,” Ryan said with a shrug.
“It has to be hard dating when you have an almost teenager,” Alaska said.
Henley shrugged. “I mean, it’s not the easiest thing I’ve ever done, but I think it’s probably better now than when she was four or five.
Back then, she needed constant supervision and entertaining.
I swear I feel a little guilty now, because from the time we pull into the parking lot at The Refuge, Jasna’s leaping out of the car and I don’t see her again until it’s time to leave.
I appreciate both of you humoring her and letting her hang out with you and watch what you do. ”
“I’m not sure my job’s too interesting to her,” Alaska said with a small laugh and shrug. “But she does enjoy watching YouTube videos.”
Henley wrinkled her nose. “I try to limit her screen time. Usually she’s cool with it, content to read or play a game with me, but every now and then she gets sucked in and it’s hard to tear her away.”
“I’m surprised at how happy she is working with me,” Ryan said with a small smile. “I’ve never seen a kid actually enjoy cleaning before.”
“She doesn’t slow you down too much?” Henley asked with concern. “I know how hard you, Carly, and Jess work, the last thing I want is her being a distraction.”
“She’s not!” Ryan exclaimed, sounding so genuine, Henley was relieved.
“She actually helps a lot. She thinks it’s fun to steer the laundry cart back and forth from the rooms to the laundry.
And aside from that one time, when she used twice as much detergent as she should’ve and we had bubbles floating across the parking lot, she’s been great. ”
All three women laughed. Henley had been horrified when she’d looked out the window during one of her sessions and saw all the bubbles.
She’d just had a gut feeling that her daughter was somehow involved with whatever had happened.
And she hadn’t been wrong. But everyone had taken the incident in stride and laughed at the odd inconvenience.
“She’s a good kid,” Ryan said after a moment. “She’s well loved, that’s easy to see. You’ve done an amazing job with her.”
Henley felt her throat get tight. Hearing compliments like that made all the stress and frustration of single parenthood worth it. “Thanks,” she said.
“You’re welcome.”
The waitress returned with their lunches and they all dug in.
“So…please tell me Tonka’s good in the pleasure department,” Ryan said with a wicked grin.
Henley almost choked on her sandwich, but managed to swallow without incident. “Pardon?”
“I mean, is it really a girls’ day out if we don’t bring up sex at least once?
” Ryan asked with a laugh. The woman was refreshingly direct and funny—and Henley realized with a start she had no idea where Ryan came from or why she was in the middle of nowhere, New Mexico.
The Refuge wasn’t exactly on the beaten path, and someone as outgoing as Ryan seemed out of place with the rest of the mostly subdued staff at the retreat.
“Hell no, it’s not,” Alaska agreed.
“Should we talk about your sex life then?” Henley asked the other woman.
Alaska simply grinned. “We can. It’s incredible. Drake knows what he’s doing in bed, that’s for sure.”
“Shit, maybe I shouldn’t have brought up the topic. It’s been waaaaay too long for me,” Ryan groaned.
“So?” Alaska prompted. “I’m guessing Tonka’s the slow and steady type. Let’s you take the lead. Am I right?” she asked with a grin.
Henley couldn’t help the snorting laugh that escaped. “Um…no.”
“Really?” she asked, her eyes lighting up.
Henley hadn’t been prepared to talk about her sex life, but she trusted these women. “Really. Our first time? We barely made it into his cabin.”
“That’s kind of romantic,” Ryan sighed.
“Well, it actually wasn’t. We were standing up, he took me against the door, he was fully dressed, and neither of us lasted very long,” Henley said with a small smile.
“But it was also the hottest experience in my entire life. Pretty much every time we get together it’s like an inferno between us.
We haven’t done things slow and romantic very often, but I’m guessing at some point we’ll both be less desperate and will be able to take our time. ”
“Hot damn!” Alaska exclaimed. “I wouldn’t have guessed that in a million years.”
“Me either. But I’m so deliriously happy, I’m waiting for the other shoe to drop,” Henley admitted.
“I felt the same way when I first got with Drake. I mean, I’d loved him for most of my life, and it was so hard for me to believe he was into me.”
“That’s what she said,” Ryan said.
Both Henley and Alaska looked at her with furrowed brows.
“What?” Henley asked.
“It was so hard…into you…” Ryan said with a sheepish look. “That’s what she said.”
For a moment, Henley just stared at the other woman, then she burst out laughing. Alaska did the same.
“Oh my God, you didn’t just say that!” she exclaimed.
“Sorry, it just popped out,” Ryan said with a little grin.
“Is this when I say, ‘that’s what she said’?” Henley quipped.
That got them all laughing again.
When they had themselves under control, Henley smiled at her friends.
“All I can say is that Finn is everything I looked for years ago, before I had Jasna. I’ve always been a fan of sex, probably too much, but I’ve never been with a man who makes sure I’m completely satisfied before he sees to himself.
It’s sexy and makes me feel so cherished.
And the way he is with Jasna…well, let’s just say, when he tires of dating a woman with an almost-teenager, I’m going to be heartbroken. ”