Chapter 7 #2
“Yeah. There are four of them. Two are day camps and the others are sleepover kinds. One of the day camps is an art thing, where she’ll get to try out over ten different mediums…
painting, drawing, wire art…things like that.
The other day one is a theater camp. She wasn’t so sure about that one, but I convinced her to give it a try.
The overnight ones are typical summer camps…
you know, with swimming, hiking, and campfires.
She loves the swimming and boating parts, but not as much the bugs and hiking. ”
Finn chuckled, and Henley loved hearing it. “Sounds like she’s gonna be busy this summer, between being here and all the camps.”
Henley nodded. “I worry about her,” she admitted.
“Why?”
“She doesn’t have a lot of friends, and her preference is to hang out by herself. I want her to learn how to be social, to relate to her peers. While I love being with her and doing mother-daughter things, I think she needs to spend more time with kids her own age.”
“You’re an awesome mom,” Finn told her.
Henley couldn’t help but grin.
“What?” he asked.
“Like you’re the best judge of that?”
But he didn’t return her smile. “What I know is that Jasna is a kind kid. She’s got compassion, she’s polite, and she isn’t afraid to show her feelings.
She feels safe with you, and you’ve obviously talked to her about some of the dangers of the world because she’s not reckless.
She’s not glued to her phone, doesn’t whine about not being able to watch TV or scroll social media for hours watching thirty-second videos that’ll rot her brain.
I’m not a parent, but I know it’s not easy to raise a kid in today’s world.
And it’s even harder as a single mother.
You’ve done an amazing job. You should be proud. Of yourself and Jasna.”
Henley felt tears well up and turned to stare at the flickering light of the fire.
She wasn’t generally an emotional person…
except when it came to her daughter. Finn wasn’t wrong.
Raising Jasna had been one of the hardest things she’d ever done, second only to overcoming what had happened to her mom.
Having Finn praise her daughter felt like the best compliment she could ever receive.
Next to her, Finn stood, and Henley turned to see where he was going. But he simply stepped behind the large tree trunk and stationed himself behind her. He pulled her shoulders back until she was resting against him, essentially using him as a backrest.
She loved the feel of him, so sturdy and supportive, and she relaxed, giving him her weight.
Alaska came over and sat next to her, while Tiny joined Finn and started a conversation about the surprising number of donations The Refuge had been receiving lately.
“She’s having a great time,” Alaska said with a smile, motioning to Jasna.
Spike and Pipe were standing near the fire with her, arguing over the best way to roast marshmallows.
If it was better to light them on fire and blow the flames out so there was a black crust around the entire treat, or if they should only be lightly browned before putting it on the chocolate.
The other owners were standing and sitting around the fire with the guests, chatting quietly.
“She is,” Henley agreed.
“I haven’t had a lot of chance to talk to you lately,” Alaska said.
“We’ve both been busy,” Henley agreed. “I know the guys are all thrilled since you’ve taken over the administrative stuff.”
The other woman chuckled, then leaned in and whispered, “Between you and me, it was a disaster.”
They shared a smile. And for some reason, emotion almost overcame Henley and she blurted, “I’m so glad you’re okay.”
Alaska’s expression softened. She obviously knew Henley was referring to the guy who’d come to The Refuge to hunt her down and kidnap her for his own nefarious purposes. “Honestly, I think you guys back at the lodge had it worse than I did,” she told her.
Henley snorted. “I’m not so sure about that. You were hunkered down in the woods, scared to death, while Brick went off and looked for your kidnapper. I’m not sure I would’ve wanted to be in the woods by myself, wondering if I’d be found.”
A look Henley couldn’t read flitted across Alaska’s face before she shrugged. “Yeah, but you guys were dealing with the fire, all the fireworks going off, and trying to keep the guests calm. And I heard Tonka had his hands full with the animals too. I’m thinking it wasn’t fun for any of us.”
She wasn’t wrong, and Henley wasn’t surprised the other woman was downplaying her own fears. From what she’d seen, Alaska was very even-keeled. And why wouldn’t she be? She had a man she loved at her side.
“So, changing the subject…I don’t know a lot about you. I know through the grapevine that you grew up on a reservation, but I don’t know which one or where. Sorry,” Alaska said, looking chagrined.
“I’m Zuni. I grew up in western New Mexico on a reservation out there.
We were poor, but honestly, I didn’t really notice.
I don’t have any brothers or sisters, it was just me and my parents.
We were happy. But after my mom was killed, my dad wasn’t the same.
He’d lost the love of his life in a horribly traumatic way, and while he did his best to care for me… he never really recovered.”
“I’m so sorry,” Alaska said, putting her hand on Henley’s knee. “I didn’t mean to bring up such bad memories.”
“It’s okay. I mean, it’s a part of who I am.
Anyway, I didn’t talk at all for many years afterward as I tried to deal with everything.
My dad moved us to Albuquerque because he felt I could get better medical care there.
And he was right. I eventually started speaking again, and because of a particularly amazing therapist, got interested in helping others the way she helped me. ”
“And your dad?” Alaska asked softly.
Henley gave her a sad smile. “He got to see me graduate from high school, but succumbed to his demons not too long after.”
Alaska looked alarmed. “Man, I’m the worst in social situations! Here we are, trying to enjoy ourselves and have fun, and I’m making you dredge up all sorts of bad memories.”
“Thinking about my dad makes me happy,” Henley reassured her. “I mean, I’m not thrilled that he’s not around, he would’ve absolutely loved Jasna, but he’s not in pain anymore. And I know he’s watching over me. I’ll see him again, and that helps.”
“I never knew my dad,” Alaska said. “And my mom’s never going to win parent of the year. I’m in awe of you, Henley.”
She tilted her head in question at the other woman. “Why?”
“Because you’re like the Energizer bunny. You just keep on going, no matter what. You have a successful career, an awesome daughter, and you’re just so darn…nice.”
Henley couldn’t help but laugh. “Believe me, there are days when I’m definitely not nice. You should’ve seen me the other morning when someone cut me off when I was on my way to work. I have to say, I’m not proud of the names I called him, but it sure felt good.”
Alaska chuckled.
“Is it weird to live out here and be the only woman?” Henley asked.
“Honestly? No. I would live anywhere as long as Drake was there with me.”
“Awwww,” Henley gushed.
“I’ve loved him my entire life. I wouldn’t care if he told me he wanted to live in a tiny house in Timbuktu.
I mean, I would love female company. The housekeeping ladies are great, but they’re too busy working to socialize much.
But being here isn’t a hardship. Not at all.
I mean, look around us. It’s beautiful. But more than that, if I don’t feel like cooking, there’s a professional chef.
I don’t have to drive to work and deal with people cutting me off.
And this is literally the safest place to live…
I’m surrounded by seven former military badasses.
Not to mention Mutt, who guards me wherever I go.
And while many people might think the guests are broken and would be zero use in any kind of dangerous scenario, I think my situation proved that isn’t the case. ”
“All very good points,” Henley said with a nod.
“Why?” Alaska asked, leaning in so Finn couldn’t hear her. “Are you moving up here too? Please please please say yes!”
Henley laughed. “You sound so much like Jasna when you beg like that. And no, I was just curious.”
“Darn,” Alaska said, straightening. “But there’s still lots of time,” she said in a cheerier tone.
“And if Tonka is anything like Drake, he won’t mess around.
Once he figures out how awesome you really are, he’s not going to let too much time pass before he puts a ring on your finger and moves you guys into his cabin. ”
Henley blushed, praying Finn hadn’t overheard.
“Mom!” Jasna called from across the way. “Check this out!”
Looking over at her daughter, Henley’s eyes widened at seeing the humongous s’more Jasna had put together. She gave her a thumbs up, even as she groaned.
She felt Finn shift behind her before he leaned down. “That thing is bigger than her head,” he joked.
Tilting her own head back, Henley looked up at the man.
He looked especially good tonight. He had on the jean shirt he seemed to always wear, but the shirt underneath was a dark purple today, giving a splash of color to the otherwise usually neutral clothes he wore.
His beard was neatly trimmed, as usual, and his brown eyes were focused solely on her.
“My kid can definitely eat her fair share of food.”
“She’s fairly tall, but skinny,” Alaska observed from next to her.
Henley tore her gaze from Finn’s and turned to the other woman. “She eats,” she returned, a little defensively.
“I didn’t mean anything by that. Not at all,” Alaska said quickly.