Chapter 3
Chapter Three
The small jet banked over the rugged Alaskan coastline, then dipped lower, jostled by a pocket of turbulence. Emma’s stomach roiled. She pressed her palm against her middle and focused on her breathing.
Inhale. Exhale. Only a few more minutes.
“You can do this,” she whispered, then pressed her forehead against the cool glass.
Beyond the plane’s wing, thick fog parted to reveal jagged cliffs plunging into churning water.
Snow blanketed the steep hillsides and coated the rocky outcroppings, stretching upward and clinging to razor-sharp peaks.
Only the black rock face of the cliffs near the shoreline remained exposed, slick with mist from the crashing waves.
Dense forests stood resilient, the tree branches heavy with clumps of snow.
Her pulse sped as the town of Redemption came into view.
It looked much the way she remembered—a hodgepodge of colorful buildings and evergreen trees nestled between the stunning mountains and the fingerlike bay.
Commercial fishing boats filled the marina, and plumes of smoke curled from a few chimneys.
The airstrip appeared below, just a stretch of icy tarmac tucked between snow-covered mountains and a two-lane highway leading into town.
A middle-aged couple sitting nearby shot her furtive glances. She couldn’t hear their whispers, but she sensed their unspoken judgment. Maybe they’d known her father. Would his sins always stain her name?
She shifted in her seat, concentrating on the blue-and-gray pattern imprinted on the upholstered wall in front of her. The plane touched down with a jolt, and she gripped both armrests, but the pilot handled the short runway with ease.
When the aircraft glided to a stop and the seat-belt sign flicked off, she waited for the other passengers to deplane first. Then she grabbed her purse and her small rolling suitcase from the overhead bin and walked toward the exit.
The flight attendant smiled. “Enjoy your stay.”
“Thanks.” Emma gave a polite nod and stepped out onto the airstairs.
Snowflakes swirled around her, and the wind whipped her hair across her face.
She pushed her curls from her eyes, then drew a deep breath.
The air smelled of brine with a hint of diesel fuel.
A scent she hadn’t missed, but it still churned up a memory. One she wasn’t ready to unpack.
Her boots wobbled on the metal steps as she descended. What had she been thinking, wearing heels? She pulled her coat tighter around her body. Juggling her roller bag and her purse, she got to the bottom and sidestepped a patch of ice.
The baggage handler zipped by her on his four-wheeler, towing a small cart. He grinned, offered a cheerful wave, then adjusted the hood on his parka. Snowflakes clung to her eyelashes and her coat as she followed the other passengers toward the modest two-story building.
The glass double doors parted with a soft whoosh, and Emma stepped inside the small terminal.
Warm air hit her, and she welcomed the reprieve from the wet snow.
She scanned the space, with its two rows of blue padded chairs, a low ceiling, and fluorescent lights that buzzed faintly overhead.
To her left, a single attendant stood behind the check-in kiosk, scrolling through her tablet.
Across the room, a hand-painted mural stretched along the far wall, vibrant despite the wear.
Majestic Alaskan wildlife came to life across the scene—bald eagles soaring against a pale blue sky, grizzlies lumbering through pine forests, orcas rising from the surf.
Quite the change from the hectic concourses she’d passed through in Seattle and Anchorage, but sort of comforting.
It was only a few steps to the makeshift security area marked by a metal barrier and a sign that read Authorized Personnel Only.
The TSA presence was minimal, just two uniformed men standing beside a conveyor belt and X-ray machines, processing what looked to be a group of skiers and snowboarders.
She passed between the waist-high stanchions and crossed over the worn rubber mats meant to catch snow and slush from arriving boots.
“Emma!”
She looked up in time to see Abbie barreling toward her, two little ones trailing behind.
“Hey,” Emma laughed, arms open just in time to catch Abbie in a hug. “Oh my goodness, look at you.”
Abbie had her light brown hair cut in a shoulder-length bob, and her eyes—the same honey color she remembered—sparkled as she smiled.
“I’m glad you made it,” Abbie said. “This is the best spontaneous decision you’ve made in ages.”
“Ha. Thank you. It’s so good to see you.” Emma bent down to greet the kids, her purse sliding from her shoulder. “Is this Jacob? And this must be Ava. Wow, you guys have grown.”
Ava hid behind her mom’s legs. Jacob offered a gap-toothed grin and a big wave.
“They’re wild, but I love them,” Abbie said, brushing Jacob’s shock of blond hair from his eyes.
The warmth of someone staring at her heated Emma’s skin. Before she could say anything, Abbie grinned. “Oh, look who’s here. Luke McGuire. Hey, Luke! Come say hi.”
Emma turned, her smile still in place.
Luke McGuire.
He stood about ten feet away, tall and broad-shouldered, his dark green jacket unzipped to reveal a blue-and-white-plaid button-down.
Faded jeans fit him well, and he wore a pair of GORE-TEX hiking boots.
The years had been good to him. Too good.
His dark brown hair was longer than she remembered, curling slightly at the ends.
And his cornflower-blue eyes locked with hers.
For a second, he didn’t move. And she didn’t either.
Her stomach flipped. She scooped up her purse, then straightened.
“Emma.” He moved closer. “I didn’t know you were coming back.”
“Yeah, me either,” she said. “It all happened kind of fast.”
His gaze dropped to her hand. “Wow. That’s quite the ring.”
She hesitated, glancing at the diamond solitaire. “Thanks. His name’s Nathan. He couldn’t make it on short notice.”
“Too bad for him. He’s a lucky guy.”
Her heart thudded. She had no words.
Abbie cleared her throat, her gaze darting between them.
And just like that, Emma was fifteen again, standing on her parents’ dock, arms wrapped around Luke’s neck, the wind tangling her hair. He’d pulled her close and whispered, “I’d wait a thousand years for you, Em. You are it for me.”
The memory vanished as quickly as it had resurfaced, replaced by the cold air blowing in as the front doors of the airport slid open.
“So,” she said, “thanks for picking me up, Abbie.”
“No problem,” Abbie said. “I want—”
“Mama, Mama.” Ava danced from one foot to the other. “I’ve gotta go potty. Now.”
“Oh boy. Hang on one second, sweetie.” Abbie turned back to Emma. “I’m still trying to figure out how to get you out to your house.”
“Yeah, me too. I’ll find a way to contact my cousin Gavin and hopefully come up with a plan to put that thing on the market.”
Luke and Abbie exchanged a glance.
Uh-oh. Emma searched Luke’s face. “What are you not telling me?”
“You’re not going to sell that place anytime soon,” Luke said.
“Excuse me?”
“Not with those sea lions camped out on your deck.” Abbie gave an apologetic shrug. “I guess no one’s mentioned those?”
Emma blinked. “Sea lions?”
Luke pulled his phone from his pocket. “You didn’t see them when you flew in?”
She shook her head. “No, it was foggy and snowing. I couldn’t see the house.”
“They’ve taken over your property. Well, not the house—but most of the deck and what’s left of the dock,” Abbie said. “And rumor has it, the whole place smells like fish and, well, sea lions.”
“Fish and sea lions,” Emma repeated. “Sounds delightful.” She pressed one hand to her cheek. “Welcome home, right?”
Luke held his phone screen to her. “Want to see a picture?”
Emma leaned closer. Massive sea lions—too many to count—had made her old home their colony. “No. Way. That’s disgusting. Where’d you get that?”
“It was posted online. A few people have gone by in their boats and taken some videos too. Want to see more?”
“Um, that’s a hard pass.” Scrunching her nose, she held up her palm. “I had no idea.”
Luke swiped his finger across the screen, then put his phone away. “Still want to sell it?”
She met his gaze. “More than ever.”
“Mommy, Mommy.” Jacob tugged on Abbie’s sleeve. “I think Ava had an accident.”
“Oh no. Oh—Ava girl.” Abbie sighed. “Um, okay. Let’s go out to the car. I have extra clothes out there. Emma, can you hang tight for a few minutes while I take care of this?”
“I can give you a ride,” Luke said. “Where are you headed?”
“Hilltop B&B. Lainey’s place.”
“Got it. Come on.”
“Oh. Luke, thank you,” Abbie said, taking Jacob and Ava’s hands. “Emma, I’m so glad you’re here. I’ll text you once I get the kids home, and we can grab dinner?”
“Perfect. Thanks.” Emma waved. “See you later, kiddos.”
She followed Luke outside into a gust of icy wind.
Luke took her suitcase, then reached to open the Suburban’s passenger door for her, and she climbed in.
The cab smelled like leather and spearmint and more memories she wasn’t ready to face.
After he stowed her bag, he slid into the driver’s seat and started the engine.
She snuck another glance, taking in his strong hands on the wheel and the profile she’d memorized once long ago. Why had she ever thought this would be easy?
Luke used to daydream about seeing Emma again.
Over the years he’d thought about what he’d say, how it would feel to stare into those stunning green eyes.
He sure hadn’t expected the whirlwind of emotions slugging him like a baseball bat to the chest. The second he’d spotted her hugging Abbie, the feelings he’d learned to stuff deep down bubbled right back to the surface.