The Tourist Attraction (Moose Springs, Alaska)

by Sarah Morgenthaler

  “Fives,” he murmured. “The profit margins on reindeer aren’t as high as you’d expect.” Graham looked at her. “I just always wanted to be an artist. A real one, not a guy with a shipping container in the backyard full of untouched cedar logs. I wanted to spend my days with a chainsaw in my hands, carving the most massive, incredible pieces of art. Life-sized bears, moose calves playing, these mountains down to every last perfect detail.

  “But I just wasn’t good enough,” he admitted. “And at some point, programs will drop you and give the space to someone else who is.”

  “Where did you study?”

  “In New York. At the School of Visual Arts.”

  When Zoey’s jaw dropped open, he touched the tip of his pinkie to her chin, closing it. “I know. And I was totally out of my depth. But there’s something to being able to get food delivered at three in the morning.

  “I missed the stars,” he continued. “I missed these mountains. I really missed my friends. The Trap was just supposed to be a small little lunch stop, something to pay the bills. But now…” Graham sounded tired as he confessed, “Now I’m stuck.”

  “Why not just hire someone else to run it for you?”

  “Because as much as I don’t want to be here, I really don’t want to go back to being the art school dropout. I want to be more than I am. I just don’t know what that means yet.”

  Still playing with his hair, Zoey closed her eyes. “Sometimes life gives us the things we weren’t planning on.”

  “I was just thinking the same thing.” A warm hand found hers in the darkness. “You know, the day I opened, I was so worried. Then I went outside to get the bread, and there was Ulysses, trying to get in my truck. And I thought, hey, at least someone likes this place. That was good enough to me.”

  “Graham? You don’t need art school to be an artist. You don’t need a studio or even anyone to buy your work. You just need you. And from what I know of you, I can’t imagine you being anything less than amazing at whatever you set your mind to.”

  “What do you want, Zoey?”

  “I wanted to come here. That’s all I cared about. This was my dream.”

  Strong fingers gave her slender ones a gentle squeeze. “And it got screwed up from the very beginning. Are you disappointed?”

  Was she disappointed?

  “Do you hear that?”

  “Hmm?” Graham tilted his head, listening. “All I hear are the thrushes singing. They’re loud little suckers at night up here.”

  “Exactly. That’s all I hear too.” Pushing her glasses up high on her nose, Zoey lifted her face to the sky, a soft purple-gray, still trimmed with blue on the horizon. “I didn’t get some of the memories I thought I’d wanted. But right here, just like this, you’re giving me memories I didn’t know I needed. A girl can go a long time on a night like this. Maybe even ten more years while I save enough to come back.”

  Even though the idea of returning made her smile, the rest of her words caused the smile to slip from her face. Silence fell between them, a silence she didn’t think she had the courage to break.

  Graham did. “Ten years is a long time.”

  “Yeah.”

  “You’ll probably have a potbellied husband and four kids by then.”

  “You might have a wife and thirty kids by then.”

  With a low chuckle, he looked up at her. “I might. Poor thing, getting stuck with a guy like me. I’ve been told I’m a pain in the ass.”

  “I have physical proof that is one hundred percent true.” She hesitated, then added softly, “Graham? I don’t want to go home regretting anything. Especially you.”

  “Meaning what, Zo?”

  “Meaning I only have a few days left. I’d like to make the most of them with you.”

  Drawing her down into his arms, Graham kissed her, with only the silent majestic mountains rising above them bearing witness to the most perfect kiss of her life. As she closed her eyes, letting the warmth of Graham’s presence lull her into sleep against his chest, Zoey heard him whisper, “Yeah, darlin’. Me too.”

  Chapter 15

  Things were getting serious with Graham, which meant it was time to book an appointment with Grace. Zoey was in need of some ladyscaping.

  They were having a fireworks show by the lake that night to celebrate the Fourth of July, and apparently, the resort went all out, setting off a sheer arsenal over the valley. It was one of the few times a year that the town and the resort came together, with the town adding their own supplies to that of the resort, resulting in enough fireworks to blow a small crater in the side of the mountain range.

  According to Lana, the Moose Springs fireworks show was absolutely fabulous.

  Last night with Graham had lasted until dawn, and by the time he walked Zoey to her car, whatever this was growing between them hadn’t eased one single bit. She would see him tonight, because the entire town shut down to go watch the fireworks. Like Lana, Graham assured her it was not to be missed. Lingering at the end of their goodbye kiss, Zoey’s desire for him skyrocketed. Only when she was back at the hotel, a couple of hours of sleep under her belt and the promise he would come find her as soon as he could get away from work, did it occur to her that she might be in over her head. It had been a while since she’d dated someone and…well…things weren’t at their tidiest.

  Having her eyebrows already threaded by the resort’s expert stylist, Zoey knew Grace was the best. The scariest but the best. As Zoey stood awkwardly in the spa’s reception room, waiting for her turn to be tortured, she embraced how utterly intimidated she was by the other woman. There was something particularly horrifying about asking a cover model-beautiful stylist with perfect eyebrows to make sure you don’t have errant chin hairs or a mustache.

  That had been last time. This time, Zoey had more serious hair issues to attend to.

  “Oh, Zoey, there you are.”

  Zoey glanced up in surprise, not expecting Lana to come around the corner, fresh-faced and dewy, ready for her day.

  The fact Lana hadn’t woken Zoey to ask her to do her makeup and went to the spa to have it done instead spoke volumes to her level of guilt. Rarely at a loss for something to say, Lana hesitated, fiddling with the delicate diamond bracelet on her wrist.

  “I’m getting a wax,” Zoey blurted out. “I’m trying not to run screaming.”

  Lana’s eyes sparkled with interest. “Oh really? Things are going that well?”

  Grace the follicle extractor appeared at the desk, a hush going through the reception area. Clearly, Zoey wasn’t the only one intimidated by the stylist. “Zoey Caldwell.”

  “That’s me.” Could her voice have sounded any weaker? Grace lifted one sculpted eyebrow, and Zoey found herself shrinking beneath her gaze. “Umm, Lana? Do you want to come with me?”

  Relief flashed over Lana’s face as if she thought Zoey would be angry with her. “Of course I will.”

  “I don’t think she likes me,” Zoey mumbled as they followed Grace deeper into the salon, past overstuffed pedicure chairs and someone getting their hair styled for the day. Last time when they had their brows done, it had been from a bright and cheery spot near the pedicure chairs.

  This time, they were going to a room. A dark, ominous lady cave where terrible things happened to those with insufficient follicle care.

  Upon seeing the table and sheer amount of wax waiting for her, Zoey’s body stopped of its own accord, unwilling to move past the doorway.

  “On the table.” Grace ignored Zoey’s internal panic attack. “Are we still doing a Brazilian wax?”

  “I think so?”

  Raising another eyebrow at her squeak, Grace glanced at Lana.

  “Of course she is. Now undress, love. We can’t get all spiffy with our clothes in the way.”

  Nervously, Zoey did as she was told and lay down on
the torture table.

  “It’s nothing to be scared of.” Sitting on a chair next to Zoey’s head, Lana gave her a reassuring squeeze of her hand. “I do this all the time. All they will do is—”

  Grace gasped, mumbling, “What in the world?”

  “What?” Pushing herself up to her elbows, Zoey cast about frantically. “What’s wrong?”

  “I mean, do the words daily moisturizer mean nothing to you?”

  “Down there?”

  Grace and Lana shared a look. “It’s okay,” her friend promised. “It’s never too late to start wrinkle repair.”

  “I have wrinkles?”

  “Well, they certainly aren’t laugh lines,” Grace said dryly.

  “Until recently, that part of you didn’t have much to laugh about, did it?” Lana shrugged. “If nothing else, the handsome boy has put a spring in your step. Now, let’s make it easier for him to see the forest for the trees.”

  “That analogy doesn’t even make sense—ow ow ow!” With an impossibly loud rip, Zoey saw nothing but stars. “This was a terrible idea.”

  “Agreed.” Nodding, Lana patted her head. “But now that you’ve taken the right steps, it should be easier next time. I never even feel it when I’m being done. What are you getting?”

  “I’m sorry?”

  “It’ll be a while before it matters,” Grace muttered, rolling her shoulders to loosen them before going back in.

  “Hey! I’m not that bad.”

  Lana stole a peek, then clucked her tongue. “You’re not that good.”

  “Don’t look!”

  “Oh nonsense. It’s not anything I haven’t seen before. Now, some get a heart, some a little strip, but Grace’s claim to fame is the moose.”

  “I’m sorry?”

  “A moose.” Lana turned her phone to Zoey, waggling an image of the animal in question. “Tall, big horns, the town is named after them.”

  “I know what moose are. I just never imagined one…down there.”

  “Get the moose,” Lana encouraged her.

  “You’re not joking? This can’t be a thing.”

  “Oh, it’s not just a thing. Grace’s signature moose is Moose Springs’ second rite of passage. You should definitely get one.” Peeking one more time, Lana’s face creased in concern. “Hmm. Might want to brace yourself.”

  When Grace’s brows knitted together in determination, Zoey knew she was in for a rough time of it. Things went downhill for a while, and in between her yelps and several attempts to crawl half-naked from the table, Lana did her best to distract Zoey.

  “We’re watching the fireworks tonight from the veranda. Killian reserved it. You can bring Graham if you want.”

  “Lana, why in the world would he want to go? These are the same people you’re trying to sell pieces of his home to.”

  “Oh, he won’t be mad forever.” Despite her dismissive tone, there was worry in her eyes. “Graham doesn’t hold a grudge.”

  “I don’t know. I’m not from here, so I don’t have to live with what he does. But I saw him in pain. Real, heart-wrenching pain. And what you’re doing is only going to make things worse.”

  “Worse than letting the town die?”

  Another rip had Zoey hiding her face beneath her arm from embarrassment. Lana tilted her head, nodding in approval.

  “Stop looking!” Zoey squeaked. “There are friendship boundaries, Lana.”

  “Are there?” Lana flapped her hand in dismissal. “You know you should have done this days ago. You’ll be awfully raw tonight.”

  “I hadn’t really planned on…” Zoey trailed off.

  “The delicious diner owner making you swoon? Understandable. I see a moose horn. Oh, well done, Grace. You truly are skilled. She’s quite the fixer-upper, isn’t she?”

  “I’m taking my break early,” the stylist said as she started on the final rips.

  Lana’s phone began to chime, and she hopped up, squeezing Zoey’s hand. “I have to take this. Come tonight, just for a little while. I want to clear the air with Graham. He’s not returning my calls.”

  “I’ll talk to him,” Zoey promised. “But I won’t force him to go if he doesn’t want to—ahh!”

  With an expression of victory, Grace held up a waxing strip. “Finished. I feel like I just came back from war.”

  “You and me both.” Whimpering, Zoey and her freshly minted moose paid and tipped Grace, then they both limped out of the spa.

  “Are you okay, ma’am?” Grass asked as she passed through the lobby.

  “Yep,” she replied through gritted teeth. “If anyone asks, drinking a Growly Bear is the less painful rite of passage.”

  By the time Zoey made it back to the room and finished getting ready, her phone was already buzzing. Graham was down at the lake, and they were setting up their own fireworks to shoot off. Would she come meet him?

  As if he even had to ask.

  Moose Springs Lake was a short walk down the mountainside, nestled beneath the resort’s shadow. Large enough to boat and fish in but not nearly as massive as the lakes she was used to back home in the Midwest, Moose Springs Lake was the place to go for all Fourth of July festivities. Already the waters were filling with pontoon boats and little fishing boats, people playing music and swimming. On the shore, trucks and cars were parked, blankets spread on the ground, and children ran with sparklers in their hands.

  “Someone’s going to lose an eye,” Zoey murmured.

  “Yes, but it’ll be fun up until it happens.”

  Turning around at Graham’s familiar rumble, Zoey found herself swept up in the best, most massive bear hug.

  “So, are you adding to this craziness?”

  “You better believe it.” He was practically vibrating with childlike enthusiasm. “Any excuse to close the diner after lunch. Here, I got you something.” Graham tossed her a small firework box with a round frog on the label. “It’s a frog prince. It matches your little money holder thing.”

  “You remember my coin purse?”

  “It’s a sparkly frog. A guy doesn’t forget a pretty girl with a sparkly frog in her back pocket. Lucky frog.”

  Sliding his hands into said back pockets, Graham stole a kiss from Zoey’s lips.

  “You’re trouble.”

  “Always.” He gazed down at her, that look in his eyes.

  The look that took the strength right out of Zoey’s knees and left her a mess, plastered all over him despite who might be watching. Graham didn’t seem to mind the plastering one single bit, not even when their embrace resulted in several ear-piercing catcalls.

  “We might need to find a more private spot.” Graham hugged her again, pulling her up to her toes. “You look especially great today. Anything different?”

  “It’s the glow of surviving my last rite of passage,” she informed him. Whispering in Graham’s ear, Zoey added, “Grace moosed me.”

  A wide grin crossed his handsome features. “You know I’m going to lose a hand setting off fireworks now. I’m completely distracted by you.”

  “Good. Keep that up.”

  “Where’s Jake?” For once, Graham’s constant companion wasn’t with him.

  “He’s staying with my parents tonight. Anchorage does a fireworks show but nothing like we do here. Jake gets scared of all the noise, and my folks aren’t big fireworks people. They’d rather spend time with their grandpuppy.”

  She arched an eyebrow. “So you’re saying we have some alone time without the kids?”

  “Better make the most of it.” Leaning in, Graham added, “Maybe I got a moose from Grace too.”

  What was it about him that made her unable to stop smiling? Zoey’s face hurt from grinning so much, and she was hoarse from laughter. They spent the afternoon surrounded by his friends, helping the younger kids with the kid
-safe poppers and spinners. Zoey happily ate what was offered her, be it delicious potato salads, incredible desserts, or unknown animal flesh formed in hot dog shapes and slathered in ketchup.

  The fireworks grew bigger and better as the afternoon turned into evening. Sitting with Ash and some of Graham’s friends, Zoey found herself utterly content, watching him lighting off the fireworks, happier than she’d ever seen him. A few mishaps occurred, including one accidental tipping of a mortar. Everyone dove for cover as fiery shells zipped over their heads instead of toward the sky, exploding on the grass frighteningly close. But as she climbed back into her lawn chair, Zoey knew Graham wasn’t the only one having a blast.

  Surrounded by the warm kindness of Graham’s friends, Zoey couldn’t remember ever being so happy.

  When the resort started their fireworks show, each burst bigger than the last, it seemed to renew everyone’s efforts to shoot off more fireworks of their own. Zoey loved watching the colors exploding across the sky, but her eyes kept drifting back to Graham. He must have noticed the way she was watching him, because even as the resort started to roll the big ones out, Graham came over, kneeling next to her chair instead of watching.

  “I parked a little way away,” he told her. “Want to help me get some blankets?”

  Considering he’d waited until everyone was distracted to ask her, Zoey was fairly sure the blankets weren’t the only reason why Graham invited her to go somewhere, just the two of them, alone.

  Feeling her cheeks flush in response to the heat in his eyes, Zoey nodded. “Absolutely.”

  They walked around the lake to where he had left his truck. And yes, it was still near people, because everyone in town was at the lake right then, but compared to where they had spent the afternoon, it was as close to privacy as they were going to get.

  Drawing her in close, Graham leaned against the side of the truck bed. Denied his hands on her for too long, Zoey pulled his face down to hers, pressing into his warm, strong body. It should be illegal to look that good, to kiss her like her legs were going to buckle, to steal her breath but keep her desperate for more. By the time it occurred to her she needed to breathe at some point, they were both winded. The air had grown cool, and it felt good on her heated neck.