Ashley’s lips curled into a thoroughly pleased smile. She untied her apron strings and tossed it on the coffee maker. “I’m taking my break now, Johnny.”
A man with bushy eyebrows and a backwards baseball cap appeared through the window to the kitchen. “You just took your break, Finley. And who’s going to watch the front?”
“You’ll figure it out.” She waved him off and led Stasia to a booth in the corner covered with bright red cracked vinyl. Sliding onto the bench seat, she smoothed a few tiny wisps of hair on her head and beamed. “I can’t believe Princess Stasia wants to ask me some questions. Does this mean I get to be on TV?”
Stasia hesitated and calmly folded her hands. “I’m not sure. We certainly won’t rule that out.”
“Awesome-sauce.” She bounced in her seat. “So, what do you want to know?”
As Stasia studied her old friend, misgivings began to pop up in her head. If she went down this road, Billy might never forgive her. Using his sister to drag up a traumatic moment in his life was probably a bit dirty. But, she’d been left with no other choice. And besides, he had agreed to do the story. He couldn’t expect her to do anything less than her job.
“I need everything you know about Billy’s fiancée’s death,” Stasia said in a low voice, glancing around her. No one sat within hearing distance, but for some reason, she felt compelled to whisper. “I can’t do the story without knowing exactly what happened. Can you fi
ll me in?”
Ashley’s eyes went wide and she popped a bubble with her gum. “I’m guessing Billy won’t spill.”
“Right.” Stasia leaned back. “My boss is threatening to take me off the story and send someone else to cover it.”
“But no one could replace you.” Ashley’s face fell. She grasped the table and began to breathe heavily. “And if you leave again, I’m not sure you’ll ever come back. I almost lost hope last time. You’re one of my best friends.”
“Ashley...”
“I know I’m not the easiest person to be around. I can be a little eccentric.” She dabbed at her eyes.
Stasia had to resist a smile. Eccentric was putting it mildly. Ashley was a full speed ahead, don’t look back, dive head first into anything kind of kid. The other kids weren’t as brave as her. They also didn’t enjoy life to the fullest like she did.
Ashley released a heavy sigh and gazed pointedly at Stasia. “As a kid, I didn’t have many friends. But you never made me feel like a freak. You were always so nice, even when I snuck along on yours and Billy’s adventures. And when I found out you were a princess, I could’ve exploded with pride. My friend, the werewolf princess. But then you never came back...”
Guilt shot through Stasia’s chest, making her want to cry. When her parents had dragged her out of Molodoy years ago, she’d had no intention of ever coming back. The end of her relationship with Billy had been too painful. She hadn’t realized at the time that she’d be hurting anyone else. People like Ashley, who hadn’t done a thing wrong. She was such a poor excuse for a friend.
“No one is going to replace me.” She reached across the table and covered Ashley’s hand in hers. “And I will come back, even if it’s just to see you. We’ll always be friends.”
Ashley looked at her through teary eyes. “Promise?”
“Promise.”
Grabbing a napkin from the dispenser on the table, Ashley dabbed at the corners of her eyes, smearing her thick black eyeliner. She smiled and took a deep breath. “Look at me, getting all mushy and wet. Billy hates it when I cry. I swear, that boy would promise me the world just to get me to stop blubbering.”
Stasia smiled softly. Say what she wanted about Billy, he’d always been a great older brother to his sister. Even as kids, he would let her tag around wherever they went. It seemed that some things never changed.
“You wanted to know about Esther?” Ashley continued.
Stasia pulled out her notebook and pencil. “Was that her name?”
She nodded. “Esther Okpik. Her father was the last alpha of the Sitka pack. He died and there was no one to fill his shoes. My dad arranged for Esther and Billy to marry and carry on the Sitka pack’s legacy.”
Stasia leaned back against the seat as if she’d just been shot. Shock crossed her face. “You’re telling me this was an arranged marriage?”
“Yep.” Ashley chewed on her thumbnail. “It was the only way to guarantee the bloodline continued. Billy had a fit the first time he heard about the plan, but I guess it grew on him.”
Never had she taken Billy Finley as a man who would agree to an arranged marriage. Even as his sister spilled his story, Stasia still couldn’t comprehend it. To enter into a permanent arrangement with a woman he had never met was crazy. She couldn’t believe he would even consider it, let alone follow through.
“Did you ever meet her?” Stasia couldn’t help herself. Her curiosity was too strong.
“Never, but I saw a picture of a dark-haired woman in Billy’s wallet once. I think it was her. She had nothing on you.”
Stasia closed her eyes and fought against the strange feelings tumbling around in her brain. She wasn’t sure why the information about Billy’s arranged marriage had made her feel suddenly giddy and lightheaded at the same time. If anything, she should feel sorry for Billy that he felt he had to take on such a burden. What kind of man made a sacrifice of that level? A man who wasn’t afraid to put others above himself. A man who would lay down his life for a stranger.