Alaskan Holiday
Page 7

I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. “Do you mean to say you won’t help me?”
“I don’t know what I can do.” He lowered his protective eye gear and reached for the tongs that would put the metal into the fire again.
Anger hit me like a boxer’s glove directly in the stomach, and I stomped my foot. “This was exactly what you wanted, isn’t it? This must be a dream come true for you. You’re overjoyed that I’m stuck in Ponder. Admit it, Palmer.”
He shrugged, unwilling to own up to the truth. “Can’t say it upsets me. Wish you were happier about it, but I figure you’ll adjust in time.”
“I am not adjusting to anything,” I flared, growing angrier by the minute. “Don’t you worry, Palmer, I’ll find a way out of here if it’s the last thing I do.” My career was at stake, and from the look on his face, Palmer couldn’t be more pleased. Clenching my hands into tight fists at my sides, I whirled around and headed back to the lodge, determined to find a way home.
Not more than a few steps away from Palmer’s workshop, I met up with Jack. The older man’s face lit up with a smile bright enough to rival the Northern Lights.
“You’re marrying Palmer. I knew you’d reconsider, Josie.”
I was about to explain the situation when he interrupted.
“What’s for dinner?”
“I’m. Not. Cooking.” I had other things I needed to be doing. The last thing on my mind was planning a menu for the week.
“Sure, sure, you need a couple nights off. I understand. I’ll make do, but it’ll be hard.” His eyes sparkled, like a new thought had come to him. “If you don’t want to cook dinner, how about putting together something for lunch? No need to make it fancy. Homemade soup, a few sandwiches, and a dozen home-baked cookies should do me up just fine.”
“Jack,” I said, through gritted teeth. “Listen to me and listen good. I’m not cooking because I’m leaving Ponder as soon as I can find a way to get out of here.”
He frowned, because clearly, he didn’t understand. He had the same strange look that Palmer had when I announced I hadn’t stayed behind to marry him.
“The ferry has already left.”
He said this like I wasn’t already aware of the fact. “I know. I overslept. Now I need to get home, one way or another.”
“Oh.”
There was a wealth of meaning in that lone two-letter word. His shoulders sagged, and a defeated, forlorn look came over him. For half a second, I felt the urge to hug and comfort him, until I realized I had several phone calls to make. There had to be a way to get back.
Marching past Jack, I returned to the lodge and went directly to the reception desk, where Marianne kept all the important phone numbers. While a good portion of my time had been spent in the kitchen, I’d learned a lot about the running of the lodge from Marianne. She’d had me make phone calls for her on occasion, so I knew where to look for the information.
I wasn’t encouraged.
The first number I dialed was to the company that owned and operated the ferry on Lake Caribou. I was quickly informed that the early-morning run was the last of the season.
End of discussion.
So much for that idea. I’d hoped they would take pity on me and make one last run. The woman on the other end of the line was sympathetic, but there was nothing more she could do.
Not one to easily quit, I next searched for the number of a seaplane operation. Marianne had only one listed, which meant this was a company she trusted and could rely on. I explained my situation and asked the price of what it would cost to have a pilot fly in and take me to Fairbanks.
When the man on the other end of the line gave me the quote, I gasped. “But that’s outrageous,” I protested.
“Seaplanes aren’t cheap, young lady.”
“Obviously.”
“You want to book the flight? ’Cause if that’s what you want, you’d better do it soon. Caribou Lake is already showing signs of freezing over.”
“Ah…not yet. I need to explore a couple other options first.” I didn’t exactly know what those might be, but I wasn’t giving up yet. Before I spent a big chunk of what I’d managed to save over the past six months, I wanted to be sure there wasn’t another way out of Ponder.
“You saying you want to ponder your decision?” he asked and laughed, thinking himself clever.
I didn’t laugh. “Thank you for your help,” I said, and ended the call.
I glanced out the lodge windows and noticed that the snow was falling hard now, thick flakes coming down so fast my vision was blurred.
Perfect. Just perfect. I had to wonder what other sucker punch life was going to throw at me.
Sitting at the desk, I reviewed the last two phone conversations and released a sigh of frustration and defeat. I’d need to tell my mother what happened, knowing I was sure to get the support and sympathy I so badly needed.
She answered on the second ring. “Mom,” I cried, struggling not to break into tears. “I missed the boat.”
“Figuratively or literally?” she asked.
“Literally. Palmer proposed, and I overslept.” I blurted out the whole story and barely took a breath in between.
When I was finished, the other end of the line was silent. “Mom? Did you hear what I said?”
“Every word. Sounds to me like you’re stuck in Ponder.”
“Mom, I can’t stay here. I need to get back to Seattle.” What I wanted from her were ideas. My mother always seemed to have a way of making the best out of the worst situation imaginable. And in case she’d forgotten, I proceeded to list all the reasons it was necessary to return as soon as possible, including the opportunity to work alongside Chef Anton.
“Palmer asked you to marry him?” she asked, as if she hadn’t heard a word I’d said. “You’ve mentioned his name a number of times, but I didn’t realize things were serious. He sounds like a nice young man.”
“Mom!” I cried out in frustration. “You don’t seem to understand the gravity of my situation. I have to get home. Can’t you think of something?”
“How did he propose? Did he get down on one knee?”
Although I was annoyed and at my wits’ end, I smiled at the thought of Palmer’s strange proposal the night before. “No, he told me I had straight teeth.” In retrospect, I realized that was his convoluted way of letting me know he loved my smile.
As I suspected she would, Mom laughed. “That reminds me of when your father asked me to marry him. He was nervous and edgy, and finally he said he didn’t want to do it. When I asked him what it was he didn’t want to do, he looked at me with love in his eyes and said he didn’t want to live the rest of his life without me.”
“Oh Mom,” I whispered. “That’s so romantic.” A whole lot more romantic than Palmer saying he liked my straight teeth or that my hair smelled like my shampoo.
“Your father was about the least romantic man I’ve ever met, to be honest,” Mom continued. “But he loved me, and he adored you. Well, this isn’t about me. I’m sure there’s a way for you to find your way home.”
“I’m sure there is, too,” I repeated, feeling more confident now.
I had to believe she was right. I didn’t know how Mom had managed to calm me. She’d always been able to settle me down.
No matter what, I was headed back to where I had to be. All I had to do now was think it through sensibly and calmly. I had to believe that where there was a will, there was a way.
More encouraged after talking to my mom, I told her I loved her, ended the call, and released a slow sigh. I was determined, even if it meant getting out of here by hiring a sled-dog team.
CHAPTER 4
Palmer
Jack burst into my workshop like he was urgently seeking shelter from an air raid. “Did you hear?” he cried excitedly. “Josie missed the boat!” Hobo walked over to greet him, and Jack absently patted his head.
“I heard.” I hadn’t taken time to digest the news just yet. Having her remain in Ponder was both a blessing and a curse. Eventually she would find a way out, and having her go would be even harder. Still, she was stuck in town for now, and I couldn’t help but be pleased, although I knew she was angry and frustrated.