Refuge Cove (New Americana 2)

The pretty brunette smiled. “It so happens you’re in luck. One of our waitresses is getting married, and she wants a couple weeks off for her wedding and honeymoon. Plus another part-time girl just quit to go back to school. If you’ll promise to stay and work both shifts for the full two weeks, the job’s yours.”

“And the room?”

“In the off-season, we’ve been updating our rooms with new paint, carpet, and furniture. The small rooms on the third floor have yet to be done. If you don’t mind some noise and inconvenience, and maybe having to change rooms, you can stay up there for half the fall rate. We could take it out of your salary if you like. My name’s Megan, by the way.” She reached into a file drawer and took out a form. “If you’re good to go, you can fill in your information here, move in tonight, and start work in the morning.”

John couldn’t see Emma’s face, but he could picture her expression. Neither of them had imagined her problem would be resolved so easily. All it had taken was the right timing and a word from Judge Falconi.

Whenever the judge’s name came up, his thoughts flew back to the day when Vera Falconi had looked down at him from the bench and pronounced the words that had broken his heart. Had she made the right decision? Maybe so. He’d been an alcoholic mess back then, and David had grown up fine without him—John had seen that today. But losing his son had left a hole in his heart that had never healed—and never would.

CHAPTER 7

With the employment form on a clipboard, Emma found a chair in the corner of the lobby and began filling in the blanks. She was grateful for Vera’s kindness in making the call, and for the judge’s discretion. The full story of her fake marriage to Boone and her flight from the burning trailer would have made for some juicy gossip.

John had wandered off after telling her he’d be back to take her to lunch. Emma was handing the completed form back to Megan when he walked in the door carrying a paper take-out bag. “Ready to go?” he asked.

“Almost.” Emma turned back to the girl. “Thanks so much. This experience has taught me a lot about the kindness of strangers.”

“No problem,” the girl said. “Come back after five. We should have your room and a couple of uniforms ready by then. I’m afraid they’ll be big on you. You’re such a little thing.”

“For two weeks, I can make them do. See you then.”

She walked out the door with John, who steered her back toward the Jeep. “Is that lunch?” she asked, glancing at the bag.

“It is. I should’ve asked you if you like fish.”

“I love fish.”

“Then we’re good. The bag’s insulated so the food should stay warm until we get to where we’re going.”

“Where are we going?”

“It’s a surprise—to celebrate your new job. You’ll see.”

In the Jeep, he drove back north along the highway and turned off at Refuge Cove. Emma waited while he prechecked the Beaver for flight. Tonight she’d be leaving his cabin to stay at the hotel. Tomorrow he’d be flying the mail run while she started her new job.

Was this outing a farewell gesture? Did it mean he’d be stepping out of her life for good?

By now she was getting accustomed to the routine: buckling into the passenger seat, slipping on her headpiece. She’d learned to anticipate the cough and throb of the starting engine, the subtle quickening of her pulse as John turned the plane and taxied out of the cove, passed the forested islets, and headed into the north wind. Emma felt the sudden rush as the plane roared forward and the floats lifted off the waves. Just north of Refuge Cove, they passed over a small piece of land jutting out into the water. She could see beautiful totem poles and a large, traditionally painted building. That had to be the Totem Bight that John had mentioned to her.

Until now, she hadn’t realized how much she would miss this—the sound of the engine, the wind lifting the wings, and John in his element, calm and happy.

“Where are we going? Can you tell me now?” she asked.

His laugh crackled through her headphones. “I told you, it’s a surprise. It’ll take a while. Just hang on and enjoy the ride.”

He banked the plane in a steep turn and headed south. The plane was climbing now, gaining altitude until it leveled off at 11,000 feet. Here, in the vastness of the sky, the Beaver seemed lost against the limitless blue. The land below was a mosaic of islands, inlets, and steep mountains rising on the left. Emma said little, not wanting to distract John from piloting the plane. The silence between them was comfortable, an easy sharing, like reading together in front of the fire.

The plane made a landward descent. Now they were flying low, through a glistening labyrinth of sheer marbled cliffs rising like towers out of the dark water. Waterfalls cascaded down the cliff faces, falling into clouds of mist. It was beautiful—perhaps the most beautiful place Emma had ever seen.

“Where are we?” Emma asked, half-breathless.

“Officially, it’s called Misty Fjords National Monument,” John said. “During the cruise season I fly tourists up here almost every day. I wanted to show it to you while we had the chance.”

While we had the chance. Emma knew what that meant. This was John’s way of saying good-bye. Her time with this compelling, troubled man was almost at an end.

“Thank you,” she said. “I’ll never forget this.” Or you, she added silently. What was happening to her? Was she falling in love with this man?

But what a crazy idea. The last time she thought she’d fallen in love had ended in the most miserable experience of her life. Did she even know what love was?