Chapter 5
Chapter Five
ADELE
The barn tour
“Mom, I’m fine,” I said.
I tried to swat away the internal frustration rising inside me. I knew my parents loved me. And yet, I was so weary of their protectiveness.
My mother let out a soft sigh, the sound filtering through the call. “I know you’re fine. I would just like you to be careful.”
“I’m always careful,” I insisted.
“Katmai is very remote.”
I fell silent for a moment, as I stood alone in the efficiency kitchen of my short-term rental. My mouth dropped open and my eyes went wide even though she couldn’t see me.
“Are you serious?” I sputtered. “You and Dad wanted to live in a place that required a float plane just to get to it. The only reason you moved was because of me.”
Another sigh from my mom. “I understand, honey, but you just proved my point.”
“How did I prove your point?”
“We moved to be closer to medical services for you.” Her tone was practical.
I ignored the tears stinging my eyes. “I know, but I’m fine now.”
“You are, but you have to be monitored.”
“I’m not going alone,” I burst out, abruptly grateful that Cole and Asher had invited me to go with their group.
“Oh, you’re not?”
This was a surprise to my mom, and, I guess, to me. I liked to do things on my own. I always had. Even though I wasn’t about to admit it to her, most of the time it was best I didn’t go on any long hikes alone. Katmai was off the road system, and there was no easy access.
“Yes, and you’ll be even happier to hear that it’s a guided trip. So if anything happens, I’ll be fine,” I said with a flourish.
My mother’s laugh was soft, and it twisted my heart because I could hear the worry tangled inside it. “I don’t know if happy is the correct word; I’m more relieved and grateful.”
“I love you, Mom. I always will. But sometimes you and Dad drive me insane.”
“Ditto,” she replied cheekily.
“Touché,” I teased. What was starting to feel like a heavy conversation was now lighter. “How is Rowan?” I asked next.
“We just talked last week, and she’s doing well.”
My sister and I had gone in opposite directions after growing up.
I wanted more freedom, more wilderness, more anything where I felt like people didn’t have to watch over me all the time, while Rowan had gone urban.
She’d gone to college in Juneau, medical school in Seattle, and taken a job at a medical center in Anchorage.
She’d never said as much, but in the back of my mind, I would always wonder if she’d wanted to become a doctor, consciously or unconsciously, because of me—her medically complicated little sister.
“She loves her job, you know. We wish she was a little closer,” my mom was saying.
“But you could move closer to her, Mom,” I pointed out lightly. “You and Dad aren’t young anymore.”
“We’re twenty minutes from the airport in Fairbanks. That makes for a quick trip. So when do you leave for Katmai?”
“Next month, I think.”
“Please call us before you go. Please also give us a time frame so we know when to expect to hear from you when you’re back.”
“Always, Mom. Love you.”
“Love you, Delly,” she teased, eliciting a laugh from me because I used to hate that nickname. I didn’t mind now.
I tapped the screen to end the call and crossed over to sit on the couch, tossing my phone on the cushion beside me.
Leaning my head back, I let out a sigh. Absentmindedly, my hand traced the scar down the center of my chest through my tank top.
I knew my parents worried—and they always would—but I was really okay now.
My stomach growled, and I lifted my head. My time at this rental was ending soon. I was still trying to decide whether to take Maggie up on her offer out at Heartfire Falls. While I’d agreed when I saw her at the café, I’d started to worry since. Accepting help from anyone didn’t come easy to me.
Of course, thinking about Heartfire Falls instantly brought Cole to mind. My cheeks puffed with a sigh as I stood, suddenly restless and antsy. Whenever I thought about Cole, zaps of energy started coursing through my system.
“It’s just a phase,” I said out loud to myself. “Maybe the more time you spend with him, the sooner it’ll fade away.”
My cynical, suddenly noisy hormones scoffed at me, all but cackling at my resolve. Relationships were not my thing. I didn’t have crushes.
Just then, my phone vibrated where it had landed on the couch. I glanced down and saw an unfamiliar number with the Alaska area code.
When I lifted the screen, I saw Maybe: Heartfire Falls underneath. Instantly, my lips curled into a smile. I slid my thumb across the screen. “Hello?”
“Adele?” a woman’s voice prompted.
“This is Adele.”
“It’s Maggie Silver.”
“Hi, Maggie.”
“I got your number from Janet. I hope that’s okay and it doesn’t feel like a violation of your privacy.”
“Oh no, that’s fine,” I said quickly. “It’s nice to hear from you.”
“I was calling because I know Cole invited you out to dinner. I thought maybe you could come out tonight and see those staff rooms while you’re at it.”
“I’d love that. What time?”
“We eat at six sharp. I know you came out to the trails, but do you know where the main entrance for the resort is?”
“If I stay on the road that took me to the trail, will I find it?”
Maggie’s laugh filtered through the call. “You sure will; just keep going. So, we’ll see you at six?”
“I’ll be there.”
“When you come through the entrance, the main guest area is beyond that. Just keep walking toward the back into the kitchen. I’m sure you’ll see one of us.”
I heard a noise in the background, and Maggie added, “I have to go. Some guests just arrived.”
“Oh, of course, thank you for calling. I’ll see you later.”
She ended the call quickly, and a bemused smile curled my lips as I looked down at the phone. I liked Maggie. So what if Cole unsettled me? It would be nice to make friends.
When I drove out to Heartfire Falls a while later, I knew I was headed in the right direction when I saw the beautiful driftwood sign mounted on a barn.
It had been painted to look like a waterfall with the colors of the sunset.
About a decade ago, much of the outskirts of the forest near Willow Brook had burned in a fast-moving wildfire.
This resort had been nothing but ashes with its destruction all over the state news reports.
While Alaska was geographically sprawling, the small population shared a kinship due to the isolation, so any area that experienced that kind of impact was felt all over the state.
The new resort looked as if it belonged here, built on a small rise with a central lodge and two flanking wings.
It was situated with a view of a valley and a glacier in the distance.
Along one of the mountainsides, a wide stream wound downhill, and I guessed that led to the famed falls on the property.
Just as Maggie said, the main entrance opened into a large slate-tiled entryway.
Through an open arch was a beautiful common space with several areas for guests to relax—couches, an area with a puzzle on a table, and a section with bookshelves.
Guests were gathered in clusters, chatting and relaxing.
Beyond that, what appeared to be the common dining area came next with a sign pointed into the kitchen. That’s where I found Maggie. She was talking with a woman with brown hair twisted into a haphazard bun.
Maggie glanced over, a smile breaking across her face the moment she saw me.
“You made it!” She clasped her hands together before crossing to me and pulling me into a hug.
“Hi, Adele.” When she stepped back, she glanced toward the woman beside the counter.
“This is Chloe. She’s our admin whiz around here. ”
Chloe dipped her head, her smile warm. “Nice to meet you. You let me know if you need anything, and I’ll make it happen.” Her voice had a subtle Southern twang, and she had a warm, easy quality to her.
“Nice to meet you. This place is beautiful,” I said.
“The beauty still shocks me on the daily,” Chloe commented. Her gaze flicked to Maggie. “I’ll be back in a few—just going to check if we have any late messages in the office.” With a wave, she walked briskly out of the kitchen.
Maggie gestured for me to follow her. “Come with me.” She led me through another set of doors into what appeared to be a more casual space. “This is the family kitchen.”
A boy, who looked to be in that awkward middle school age, all arms and legs, was placing a platter on the table. “This is Tommy, Haven’s son,” Maggie said.
Tommy looked like the entire collection of Silver brothers. “I met you briefly at the Fireweed Winery,” I said, remembering. “Do you cook for the resort?”
Maggie beamed. “Tommy cooks for the family, and sometimes he helps in the guest kitchen. We’d have him run the whole show, but he’s too young.”
“I want to be a chef someday, so I cook for the family,” Tommy added.
“That’s awesome. So, what’s for dinner?”
Tommy swung his arm toward the table. “That’s our appetizer platter. If you want the cheese sticks, move fast because fried cheese is really good.”
I burst out laughing. “Cheese is amazing. I live for it.”
Tommy grinned. “The actual meal is grilled salmon with a Brussels sprout casserole, sort of like green bean casserole.”
“Haven and Lincoln caught some fresh salmon on one of their excursions today with guests. We love spring because that’s when the salmon runs start. We spoil ourselves around here with salmon,” Maggie added.
“Fresh salmon is”—I brought my fingers together and blew a kiss—“chef’s kiss. One of the advantages of living in Alaska.”
Just then, the door swung open behind us. I knew it was Cole before I even turned to look. He came in with a cluster of his brothers, along with Kendall and Elsa. As I glanced through the group, I tried to remember who was who. I recognized Asher, because I’d seen him more recently.
“Haven?” I asked as one of them stopped beside me.
“You got it.”
“Just making sure I get the names right.”