Chapter 7 Tannon
Tannon
Iwake slowly, wrapped in warmth and the scent of vanilla. For a moment, I let myself drift in that perfect space between sleep and consciousness, where yesterday feels like a beautiful dream.
Then my radio crackles with urgent chatter from the main lodge, and reality crashes in.
The storm has moved through, leaving behind crystal-clear skies. Rescue crews are mobilizing. The real world is rushing back, and I'm not ready.
Dove stirs in my arms, her face soft with sleep. When she sees me, she smiles— satisfied, full of love.
"Tannon, you copy? This is Helen."
I carefully extract myself from Dove's embrace, grabbing the radio before it wakes the kids.
"Copy, Helen. Go ahead," I whisper.
"Thank God. We've been trying to reach you. The storm's passed. The Ashford parents are... eager to be reunited with their children. They need to leave immediately."
Through the bedroom doorway, I can see Dove listening. When our eyes meet, she smiles softly, and my chest tightens.
"What's the rush?" I ask.
"They've got a company jet waiting in Calgary. Flying directly to Tokyo. Some emergency business deal that can't wait. They're taking the children and Dove with them."
My world spins. Tokyo. Today.
"For how long?"
"Indefinitely, from what I understand. The father mentioned something about a two-year contract. I don’t know the details, why?"
“Nothing,” I mumble.
Two years. I set the radio down with numb fingers, the weight of what Helen just told me settling like lead in my stomach.
"Everything okay?" Dove appears in the doorway, wrapped in the sheet, hair tousled from sleep.
I look at this beautiful, kind woman who made me remember what it felt like to be alive, and realize I'm about to lose her before I've even really had her.
"The Ashfords want you back," I say, my voice carefully neutral. "They're flying to Tokyo. Today."
"Today?" She blinks, confused. "But it's Christmas morning."
"Emergency business deal. They need to leave in a few hours."
I watch the realization dawn on her face, see the exact moment she understands what this means for us. Her shoulders straighten, professional mask sliding into place.
"I should get dressed. Get the kids ready."
"Dove."
"It's fine, Tannon." But her voice is tight, controlled. "This is my job. This is my life."
She disappears back into the bedroom, and I stand there like an idiot, knowing I should fight for this. Knowing I should tell her I love her, that I want her to stay, that I'll follow her to Tokyo if that's what it takes.
But the words stick in my throat, caught behind a lifetime of loss and the terrible certainty that loving someone this much only leads to heartbreak.
Twenty minutes later, we're all dressed and packed. The magic of the past three days feels distant, like something that happened to other people.
The ride back in the snowcat is painfully quiet. Dove sits rigid in the passenger seat, staring out at the landscape like she's memorizing it. The kids chatter excitedly about planes and adventures, oblivious to the tension between the adults.
At the lodge, chaos greets us. The Ashfords are in full crisis mode, phones pressed to their ears, luggage scattered across the lobby. Mrs. Ashford spots us and makes a beeline over.
"Finally. Dove, we need to leave in ninety minutes. Have you packed the children's things?"
"I'll take care of it," Dove says quietly.
"Good. This Tokyo situation is critical. We could be there six months, possibly longer. Up to two years." Mrs. Ashford doesn't even glance at her children. "I trust you have everything you need?"
"Of course."
I watch this exchange, see how easily Dove slips back into her role as hired help, how efficiently she manages every detail while the parents focus on business. This is her life. This is what she's good at. What she's trained for.
What the hell was I thinking, believing she'd give this jet-setting life up for a mountain man who fixes generators for a living?
"Tannon!" Mia breaks away from where she's been sitting with Bentley and runs to me. "Are you coming on the airplane with us?"
The innocent question destroys me. "No, sweetheart. I need to stay here."
"But why? You could come visit! We could show you Tokyo!"
Over her head, I meet Dove's eyes. She's watching me, waiting to see what I'll say. Waiting to see if I'll fight for this.
"It's complicated," I say finally, hating myself for the coward's answer.
Something dies in Dove's expression. She nods once, understanding exactly what I'm not saying, then turns away to supervise the luggage loading.
The next hour passes in a blur of preparations and coordinated chaos. I stand on the sidelines, watching the woman I love efficiently manage an international move while I do nothing. Say nothing.
When the cars arrive to take them to the airport, Mia runs back to me one last time.
"I made you something," she says, pressing a small ornament into my hand. It's crafted from pine cones and ribbon – a lopsided angel. "For your Christmas tree. So you remember us."
"I'll treasure it always," I promise, my voice rough.
"Will you miss us?"
I kneel down to her level, pulling her into a fierce hug. "Every day."
She skips back to the car, apparently satisfied. Dove approaches slowly, her expression carefully neutral.
"Take care of yourself, Tannon," she says softly.
"You too." I want to tell her I love her. Want to ask her to stay. Want to promise I'll find a way to follow her. Instead, I say, "Good luck in Tokyo."
She nods once, then gets into the car. I watch the convoy disappear down the mountain road, taking my heart with them.
Jake finds me standing in the empty parking lot.
"So that's it?" he says. "You're just going to let her go?"
"She's got a career, Jake. A life. Those kids need her."
"What about what you need? What she needs?"
"This is what's best for everyone."
"Bullshit." Jake's voice is sharp. "You're scared. You found something real and beautiful, and you're too chickenshit to fight for it."
"I'm being practical."
"You're being a coward." He shakes his head in disgust. "Danny would be ashamed of you." Jake walks away, leaving me alone with the truth I don't want to face.
Maybe he's right. Maybe I am a coward.
But maybe it's better this way. Maybe Dove deserves someone brave enough to follow her anywhere, and that's just not who I am.