Under the Midnight Sun

by Tracie Peterson

  Thomas had worked here since before it opened in 1923. They had started with little more than the hotel and a collection of strangers to run it. Now the hotel was better than the day it had opened and those strangers were a family. At least as much of a family as Thomas had ever had. The polished wood and rich red carpets welcomed him into the lavish arms that were the Curry, just as it did the wealthy guests. But with one big difference. For Thomas, this was home.

  Knocking on the side door to the manager’s office, he straightened his tie with his other hand. As footsteps approached, he squared his shoulders and took a deep breath.

  “Thomas!” Mr. Bradley’s bright smile ushered him in. “Good to have you back, son. Our college graduate!” The man nodded, walked back to his desk, and rubbed his hands together. “As you can see, it’s already busy, busy, busy. So I’ll dive right in. Allan was just telling me he’d met with you already and caught you up on our goings-on. I asked you both here to talk about the situation with our calendar.”

  “Thank you, sir.” Thomas let his smile broaden. “It’s good to be back.”

  Thomas walked over to the large pine desk and glanced down at the schedule his boss, Allan Brennan, had laid out for the Curry Hotel manager. It was already filled to brimming and more reservations were coming in every day. The hotel would be running at full capacity all summer long.

  He was anxious to get back to the routine and feel normal again. College had been great, but this was home and Thomas had missed it more than anything in the world.

  Allan tapped the schedule and brought Thomas’s attention back to it. “As you can see, Mr. Bradley, we have more outings booked than Thomas and I can handle. My father-in-law can help fill in when he can, but his knees have been troubling him greatly.”

  The manager nodded. “This is indeed a problem. Because we all know the schedule will only increase once the guests arrive. I know John is willing to help, but let’s not rely on that—he’s become too large of an asset inside the Curry consulting with guests and advising about what excursions they should take, and we need him exactly where he is.” He sat down in his chair and looked at Thomas, then at Allan. “What do you suggest?” He steepled his fingers and frowned.

  “If I may be so bold, sir.” Thomas stepped forward an inch. “I believe we need to hire another full-time guide. Someone who has been trained like we have and knows the terrain. The hotel is prospering, and we have a record number of reservations already.”

  Mr. Bradley bobbed his head and turned to Allan. “Is that what you think as well?”

  Allan took a long, deep breath and tilted his head. “I hate to say that we can’t do our jobs, but Thomas is right. There’s not any way to coordinate all of this, especially for outings that take both of us and multiple days. If you will recall, we were swamped with John, Thomas, and me running things full-time. There simply isn’t a way to do this without more help. Preferably young, experienced, and knowledgeable help as a full-time guide—just like Thomas suggested—and then we need a couple experienced hikers—young men—to assist with all the carrying and so on.” He scratched his forehead. “With the new pool and golf course in, those activities will help give the guests other options, but even with that we’re still overbooked.

  “Not only that, but the attraction for visitors here is the aspect of camping in the wilds or at least hiking out into it. They can golf and swim back home, but only Curry has the High One.”

  Allan’s reference to the mountain the natives called Denali or “the High One” made Thomas smile. The scenery in Alaska was all impressive, but the crowning jewel had to be Denali. At over twenty thousand feet, the mountain towered above them like a silent sentinel—watchful, but deadly.

  Crossing his arms, Allan shrugged. “I think we’ll disappoint a lot of people if we don’t have extra help.”

  Bradley nodded and Thomas waited for the man’s decision. Seconds ticked by as their manager studied the papers in front of him. Never one to be too hasty, yet a man of action, Mr. Bradley was wise in his running of the beautiful hotel. He stood again and walked to the window. “I’m not concerned with the finances of hiring on more workers, so don’t worry about that. When Ivanoff told me about his knees last week and what the doctor had said, I knew this was coming. But I wanted your opinions, since you are both so knowledgeable regarding the details of what’s needed and what’s reasonable. Over the years, you’ve done a fine job expanding what Curry has to offer and getting everything to work like a well-oiled machine. My only real concern is how to find someone who’s qualified at this late date. The season is starting for the whole country at all the national parks.” He sighed. “But I will get to work on hiring another man straightaway. Just don’t hold out hope that it will be fast. If we have to cancel some excursions, so be it.” He went back to his chair and sat. “I’ll see if I can get four more assistants as well.”

  Allan nodded. “Thanks, Mr. Bradley. We’d better get back to inventory.”

  Thomas followed his boss out the door and wondered what they would do if help didn’t arrive in time. “This might prove to be a very challenging summer.” He’d secretly hoped for a chance to get up to the national park himself. Denali was a mountain he’d love to climb one day. But with the schedule the way it was, he doubted there would be any days off for anything personal.

  “Challenging indeed.” Allan rubbed his head, then laughed. “Not to mention my twin boys, who are getting into everything. This summer will be interesting. And exhausting.”

  “Cassidy definitely has her hands full.” Thomas thought about Allan’s wife—his friend whom he loved like a sister—and their twins, Jonathon and David. The past two and a half years had been full of joy for anyone living at the Curry. The two little butterballs had wiggled their way into everyone’s hearts with their smiles and antics. Since they were twins, they were a bit small when they were born, but they made up for it within the first year. What a joy to have babies around!

  Last summer was the first time they were mobile during tourist season, but Allan and Thomas had made special backpacks that each of them wore to carry the boys on most of the hikes all around the Curry. But this year—the twins were bigger and not just walking but running. They were indeed into everything. Over the winter months it had been a bit easier, since there weren’t so many guests about, and the staff loved doting on the boys. But with the bustling tourist season upon them, it would be an adventure with two toddlers underfoot.

  Thoughts of the Brennans made Thomas smile. Allan and Cassidy had been lifesavers to him. In more ways than one.

  Orphaned as a child, Thomas was raised in an orphanage for a few years by overbearing missionaries. He didn’t remember his parents but had been told that his mother died and his father simply didn’t want to be bothered with him. Eventually, the missionaries didn’t want him either. When they decided it was too expensive to feed him anymore, they kicked him out to find his own way. Had Joseph Carter not taken pity on him, Thomas wasn’t sure he would have survived. And once the railroad was close to completion, he’d been out of a job, until Mr. Bradley hired him when the hotel was first opening. Otherwise, who knows what would have happened to him? But at the Curry, he met Cassidy—at that point she was still Cassidy Ivanoff—and then Allan Brennan. When Cassidy and Allan married five years ago, Thomas couldn’t have been happier for his friends. They sacrificed a lot for Thomas. Even sent him to college in Fairbanks and paid his bill.

  He owed a lot to these wonderful people. His gratitude overwhelmed him. Thomas pulled on Allan’s arm and stopped him in the hallway. “Why don’t you take a bit of a break and go let Cassidy know what’s happening, and I’ll finish the inventory, then go check on Mrs. Johnson.”

  Allan gave him a wide grin as he swiped a hand down his face. “Are you sure?”

  “Of course. I can probably get it finished in about an hour and still have time to see Chef before the dinner rush gets too hectic.”

  “All right, then.” A
llan placed a hand on Thomas’s shoulder. “I appreciate this. Especially since it doesn’t look like we will have much time to breathe this summer.” He shook his head. “And I think we need to ask Cassidy to pray so that we get some help. Otherwise, this summer could well be a disaster in the making.”

  Thomas headed back down the stairs to their office in the basement where they stored equipment. He owed so much to Allan and Cassidy. And to John and Mr. Bradley. And, of course, to Mrs. Johnson too. Goodness, if it weren’t for his family at the Curry, he’d probably be dead in a gutter somewhere.

  The thought made him shiver. God had been good to him.

  Taking the inventory sheets and pencil, he began to check off lists and enter in the numbers. Memories of all his years at the Curry flooded in.

  His clumsiness for the first few years as he grew into his tall, lanky frame and limbs. It was a miracle Mrs. Johnson hadn’t thrown him out on his ear.

  The Fourth of July festivities each year with fireworks and cake were one of his favorite events. And he always ate too much of her famous flag cake.

  Mrs. Johnson scolding him over and over again for dropping things.

  The time he knocked over all the pots in the pantry.

  And the time he tripped, fell on his face with arms spread wide, and dumped a shower of flour over the entire kitchen right before dinner.

  Cassidy encouraging him and telling him that the “floor must have needed a hug.”

  Then John’s taking him under his wing and teaching him. Allan’s coming alongside him and encouraging.

  His award for one hundred days without a mishap.

  The certificate John and Allan had bestowed on him after he’d successfully completed his training.

  The send-off to college and all the tears from the ladies who’d packed him up and sent him off.

  Then the cheers each time he returned home from school.

  The love and hugs from his Curry family as they welcomed him home from a job well done.

  Now he was a graduate. A college graduate. Who would have ever thought that a clumsy, awkward, orphan boy could go this far in life?

  They were all wonderful memories, but something kept bugging him. Something he couldn’t quite put his finger on.

  Why was he feeling this . . . restlessness? Even with all the beautiful memories that made him smile, something just wasn’t right in his heart. He wanted to be here in Curry, didn’t he? He’d tried to be positive about everything and his return—because it was true, he loved it here. He’d been so excited to come home—but there was this nagging in his gut that kept coming back. And it always felt a bit depressing—not at all joyful. What was this about?

  Maybe he just needed to think of something else.

  But the thoughts continued to pop up—whenever he had time to himself to think. Was this where he was supposed to be? His professors at college had encouraged him to apply to be a ranger at the national park—and he did—but was that what he really wanted to do? Everyone at the Alaska Agricultural College and School of Mines told him he needed to spread his wings and get as much experience in geology as he could. They encouraged him to go work in the national parks at Denali, Yellowstone, and even the Grand Canyon. They said he needed real experience and had to get away from the little town of Curry. He’d never go anywhere in a job like that.

  But as much as Thomas wanted to excel in his field, he wanted to belong . . . somewhere. And Curry made him feel that way.

  At least it used to. Until Caroline.

  Caroline had been in his classes at school the previous semester. She immediately captured everyone’s attention with her carefree and ambitious attitude. Not only that, she was the only woman in their classes. Thomas thought her most intriguing, and she gave him more attention than any other female did, save for Mrs. Johnson, the Curry’s chef, and, of course, Cassidy.

  Being with Caroline had made Thomas feel braver and more daring. He enjoyed working with her and listening to her stories of life in the States.

  “Why did you choose to come here for school?” Thomas asked her one day.

  She laughed and chucked him under the chin. “Because life is too short not to live to the fullest—and my big brother dared me to do it.”

  Her reason for being there was shallow and didn’t speak at all of a passion for nature or a desire to learn, but Thomas enjoyed her company too much to question it, even when she wasn’t all that interested in studying and following their instructor’s directions. If only he had questioned it, or at least helped her to see the importance, things might have turned out differently.

  He shook his head. These memories were getting him nowhere. They served no good purpose. Caroline had gone back to where she’d come from, and Thomas was where he belonged. Maybe he just hadn’t been home long enough to really settle in. He’d be better off getting his mind back on his work.

  It took less than an hour to finish up in the office. After the inventory was completed, he checked on Mrs. Johnson—she beamed him a huge smile, hugged him, gave him a cinnamon roll, then shooed him out so she could finish cooking. The roll was as good as ever, but an emptiness still left Thomas feeling unsettled. He headed to the tiny chapel. Cassidy had always told him when in doubt, seek God’s direction. Perhaps a visit to the pastor would help him work through his odd feelings.

  Hammering sounded from inside the small building, and Thomas walked in. “Pastor Wilcox?”

  Henry Wilcox turned from his work on a pew and smiled up at Thomas. “Thomas, I didn’t realize you were back. I understand you’ve finished school with a degree. How does it feel to have your life so well ordered?”

  “That’s why I’m here, Pastor.”

  “Surely you don’t have troubles already.” He put the hammer down. “Aren’t you glad to be home?”

  “Yes, it’s been wonderful to return. But . . . I’m not real sure what’s wrong. I mean to say . . . I can’t even explain how I’m feeling. That’s why I came to seek your counsel.”

  Brow furrowed, Pastor Wilcox walked over to Thomas. “Why don’t we sit down for a few minutes?”

  Thomas sat on one of the pews and looked at the beautifully hand-carved cross at the front of the sanctuary. He’d given his life to Christ years ago, but this was the first time he’d really struggled with his emotions and thoughts of the future. Being an adult was so much harder than what he’d imagined when he was growing up. “I don’t even know where to start. I’m not feeling my normal joy. I know I just returned, but I’ve never felt like this before. It’s almost like something needs to shake things up inside me. I tried to jump right back in to all that needs to be done, and my wonderful memories from here washed over me, but then I started feeling this . . . almost restlessness. Dissatisfaction.”

  Pastor Wilcox nodded. “I’m glad you’re willing to be open and honest about this. So let me see if I can help you. . . . I take it you are feeling a bit melancholy as well?”

  Thomas thought about that for a moment. “No . . . well, maybe. I guess it’s a fact that I just don’t know what I’m feeling. Kinda like I’m here but I’m not really here. Does that make sense?”

  “You’re feeling . . . out of sorts?” the pastor suggested with a small smile.

  “That’s a good description. But it seems like more than that. I’m questioning what I thought I’d always do. ‘Is this what God wants me to do?’ That sort of thing.” He decided not to mention his encounter with Caroline.

  “Have you prayed about it?”

  Thomas nodded. “But I don’t feel like I’ve gotten any answers. Not that God has to answer me right away. I know that. But I just thought I’d feel like I always did before.”

  Pastor Henry rubbed his chin with his hand. “Exactly what is that?”

  “Like this is where I belong.”

  “And you’re not feeling that anymore?”

  “That’s the thing. I don’t know what I feel.”

  “It’s no wonder that you’re in a bit of
distress over all this. You’ve had a lot of upheaval in your life, young man. And lots of changes with school and lots of changes here as well. My suggestion to you is to dig into God’s Word and put this before God in prayer every day. If your focus is on Him, He will direct you. Find some time to spend just with the Lord and try to blot out all the other noise around you.” Henry patted Thomas’s shoulder. “I’m betting you had all kinds of advice at college and were surrounded by a lot more people. That’s why I said it’s probably good to try and blot out a lot of the noise. Man’s advice can be good, but we must always seek Him first.” He pointed to the ceiling.

  Thomas tried to sound casual. “How did you know I’d been given lots of advice?” The truth was, much of that advice had come from Caroline. She thought Thomas was silly to be content with his life in Alaska.

  “You have that overwhelmed look in your eyes, as if to say, ‘I’m on my own and done with school. Now what do I do?’ People love to give advice. And I’m sure there were lots of people up at the college who wanted to see you succeed. But remember that man’s success isn’t always what God calls success. Son, we all come to this place at least once in our lives—searching for our purpose and what God has for us. In fact, some of us old coots have to come to that place many times. It’s part of being human and part of our search for God.”

  Thomas let the words sink in. Was he letting other people’s words and advice cloud his judgment? Was he letting what Caroline said—what had happened—make things harder than they had to be? The more he thought about it, the more what the pastor said made sense. “Thank you, Pastor. You’ve given me a lot to think about. I’d better get back to work, but I’m glad I came.”

  “Anytime, Thomas. Come to see me anytime. I’ll be praying for you, and I’ll be here all summer.”

  Thomas stood and shook the man’s hand. Maybe the man was right. Maybe there was just too much noise in his head. He needed to settle down and spend some time in the quiet with God.

  With new determination in his steps, Thomas shoved his hands into his pockets and walked back to the hotel. His days were often extremely long, especially with the late hours of sunlight, but he could dedicate time to the Lord every evening. He could take a walk by the river and blot out everything else. Spend the time in prayer and reflection.