She opened her eyes. The mountain is out? What...? Oh, the mountain, Denali. It had been shrouded in clouds when they arrived yesterday evening. She shimmied out of the sleeping bag, threw a fleece jacket over the yoga pants and T-shirt she’d slept in, shoved her feet into shoes and hurried outside.
The shimmering white peaks jutted far, far into the blue sky above them. A few wispy clouds clustered like a tutu about halfway down the mountain. Leith was ready with a cup of coffee. “What do you think?”
“That may be the most beautiful sight I’ve ever seen this early in the morning.” Sabrina sipped the coffee. “Thank you.”
“For what?”
She smiled at him. “For the coffee. For bringing me here. For being you. Pick one.”
“In that case, you’re welcome.” He gazed up at the sky. “Looks like it’s going to be a beautiful day. We’ve got reservations for the first bus into the park this morning, so we’d better get moving.” Leith bent to light the camp stove.
“Okay.” Sabrina reached into the gear bag for a folding silicone-sided skillet and popped the ridges into place. She handed him the skillet to preheat while she gathered bacon and eggs from the ice chest. They’d camped together often enough now to have developed routines.
“I’ll start cooking while you get ready,” Leith offered. “There’s warm water in that pan.”
“Thanks.” Sabrina used the water to wash her face before disappearing into the tent to change into hiking pants and a long-sleeved T-shirt under her vest.
She’d applied for that job with McCormick eight days ago but hadn’t heard anything back yet. In the meantime, this visit to Denali was just the distraction she needed. She was brushing her hair into a ponytail when the aroma of cooking bacon permeated the tent and drew her back outside.
“Mmm, is there any better smell in the world than the combination of bacon and forest?” she asked.
Leith used tongs to flip the last piece of bacon. “Not many. It’s almost done.”
“Here, I’ll finish and scramble the eggs while you get dressed.”
“You just want the first piece of bacon.”
“True. But I promise to save you some.”
“You’d better.” He stood, but instead of going into the tent, he brushed a kiss across her lips. “Good morning.”
“Good morning to you.” She kissed him back.
“I’m glad you were able to rearrange your schedule, so we could see Denali together.”
“Me, too.” She gazed into the brilliant blue of his eyes, deciding whether to kiss him once more until she noticed the smoke. “Cielos! The bacon’s burning!”
She grabbed the skillet off the stove and scraped the bacon to a plate, while Leith chuckled.
“Hey, you shouldn’t be laughing. This is your fault.”
He held up his hands. “I regret nothing. There’s more bacon in the package. Do we need to start over?”
“Nah. One piece is charred but most of it is okay.” She made a shooing motion. “Go. Get dressed. New safety rule—no more kisses until the eggs are done and the stove is off.”
“So now you’re the safety-and-survival expert?”
“Somebody has to be.” She turned her back and cracked an egg into the skillet but looked over her shoulder to flash a smile before continuing her task.
It was a memorable day. They stopped at several of the stations along the way, took a couple of short hikes and enjoyed a picnic at Wonder Lake. While they were eating, a furry face appeared, peeking around a rock.
“Is it an arctic fox?” Sabrina whispered. “It looks like the picture in the visitor center, but it’s not all white.”
“It’s in the process of changing from summer gray to winter white.”
“He doesn’t seem afraid of us. I wish I could give him a bite.”
Leith shook his head. “You saw the sign about feeding the wild animals.”
“I know. I’ll follow the rules. Even if he is cute.”
Denali towered over them the entire ride, although by midday, the top was once again veiled by clouds. Late in the day, they were almost back to the campground when the driver stopped the bus and pointed toward his left. “Grizzlies. A sow and three cubs.”
Sabrina pressed her face to the window to watch the back end of an enormous furry animal not terribly far off the road. Dirt and rocks flew, as the bear ripped them from the hillside. “Look, Leith. She’s digging.”
“I see.” Leith leaned beside her to train the telephoto lens of his camera toward the bears.
Three cubs were watching their mom, but when the bus stopped, it caught their attention. Two of the cubs stood on their back legs to better inspect the vehicle. The sound of shutter clicks echoed through the bus, as the bears posed. The mother bear glanced over her shoulder and went back to digging, giving the bus no more mind than she would a bird flying by.
Once they were back at the visitor center, Leith and Sabrina decided to eat at one of the lodges rather than cook at camp. They had just settled into a booth when Sabrina’s phone beeped.
“Ah, we must be back in cell-phone range.” She checked the message. “Volta says the dogs are fine and Emma’s keeping them entertained.”
“I’m sure she is,” Leith said. “I need to wash up. Go ahead and order me the western burger if you don’t mind, with sweet-potato fries.”
“Jalapeños and guacamole. Yum. I’ll have that, too.” When the waiter arrived, Sabrina placed the orders. Since Leith was still gone, she pulled up a photo of Denali and sent it to Mama. Misty had texted a picture of herself pushing a cart piled high with boxes into a college dorm room. Sabrina smiled. She sent a thumbs-up and wished her sister luck with her classes.
She glanced at her email inbox and sucked in a breath. McCormick and Sons. She opened the email and was still reading it when Leith returned.
“What’s so fascinating?” he asked as he slid into the booth. “Did you post your picture of the fox?”
“They want to interview me.” Sabrina bounced in her seat. “They said my references were outstanding, and they’re very interested. Can you believe it?”
“Wow.” Leith didn’t seem nearly as excited as she would have thought.
Maybe she hadn’t been clear. “McCormick and Sons. They want to fly me down to interview for the job as buyer.”
“Yes, I got that. Are you going to do it?”
“Of course I’m going to do it. This is exactly what I was hoping for when I applied.” She frowned at his expression. “Why are you looking at me like I spit in your burger?”
“I was hoping...” He stopped.
“What were you hoping?”
“I was hoping you might change your mind.”
“About the job?”
He nodded.
“But you’re the one who said I should apply.”
“I know.” He looked down at the table.
“So why—?” Suddenly, she realized the truth. “You thought they’d turn me down. That you were safe acting like a supportive friend and encouraging me because there wasn’t actually a ghost of a chance I’d get the job.”
“That’s not true. I know you’re talented.”
“Then why did you encourage me to apply for a job and then hope I wouldn’t take it?”
“I just thought, maybe, if we spent enough time together, had enough fun, that you’d decide you wanted to stay here.”
“Here? In Alaska?”
“Yes.”
“But that was never the plan. I don’t have a job in Alaska, only a temporary assignment. I spent five months unemployed before I took this job. I can’t just quit and hope. There’s no security in that.”
Before Leith could answer, the waiter appeared and set plates in front of each of them. “Anything else I can get you?”
“
We’re fine. Thank you,” Leith said through tight lips. As soon as the waiter was out of sight, he spoke. “Walter likes you. I’m sure—”
“What? That he’d hire me as a salesclerk? I had that job in high school. That’s not why I went to college. This position with McCormick is exactly what I’ve been working toward.”
“Why? Why, exactly, is this your dream job? I mean, I realize you get to travel and shop for pretty clothes, but what’s so special about McCormick and Sons?”
“I explained that. They hire the best, and they keep them. Once you’re part of the team there, you’re set for life. That’s what I want.”
The waiter returned and set a bottle of ketchup on the table. “I thought you might need this. Is everything else all right?”
Sabrina looked down at her untouched plate. Everything was far from all right, but there wasn’t much the waiter could do about it. “It’s fine, thanks.”
Once he left, Leith shook some ketchup onto his plate, dipped a fry in it and then set the fry back on his plate without tasting it. “Okay, I get it. This job is important to you. Alaska isn’t. I’m not.” His gaze seemed to go right through her. “You’ve made your priorities very clear.”
“Leith—”
He shook his head. “Don’t try to let me down easy.”
“You are important to me. If I move somewhere else, that doesn’t mean we can’t stay in touch.”
“No.” He met her eyes and didn’t waver. “If you go on this interview, we’re done.”
“But that’s stupid. I probably won’t even get this job.”
“But you want it. You want to be somewhere else. And I can’t be with someone who doesn’t want to be with me.” His mouth formed a grim line. “I’ve been there before, and I won’t do it again.”
“Leith, please.”
He shook his head. “Eat your burger. I’ll take you home tonight. Or, anyway, back to your apartment in Anchorage. You’ll have to get home on your own.”
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
SABRINA PULLED UP to the gate and rolled down the car window. Instantly a blast of Arizona heat penetrated the air-conditioned interior of the rental car. She leaned out to punch in the code her mother had given her, and the gate swung open. A few minutes later, she pulled into a circular drive and stopped in the sparse shade of a palm tree.
She removed her suitcase from the back seat, turned toward the tile-roofed house and took a breath of the parched air, so different from the soft crispness of an Alaskan summer morning. Just as she reached the porch, one of the heavy oak doors swung open and her mother rushed outside.
“Sabrina!” Mama threw her arms around her. “You’re finally here.”
Sabrina hugged her mother tight and then drew back to look at her face. “You look wonderful.” And she did—her face almost glowed with happiness. “I like the new haircut.”
Mama fluffed the shorter, bouncy cut. “Thank you. I got it done on the cruise. I wasn’t sure, but Mason says he likes it.”
Behind her, Mason appeared at the door and stepped outside, smiling. “Hello, Sabrina.”
“Mason, it’s nice to see you.” She hesitated, not sure how to greet him, but they managed an awkward hug. “I appreciate you letting me stay at your house.”
“Don’t be silly. You’re family.” He put an arm around Mama’s shoulders and she beamed up at him. “In fact, your mother and I are hoping when you get this job, you’ll stay with us for a while, until you get settled.”
He sounded sincere, as if he really wanted a stranger living in his home. “That’s very generous of you. But one step at a time. First I have to do the interview tomorrow.”
“You’ll be great,” Mama declared. “Where’s the little doggie I’ve heard so much about? Did you not bring him?”
“No, I left him in a boarding kennel.” Clara or Autumn would probably have dog-sat for her, but she couldn’t very well tell her coworkers where she was going on her days off.
“You could have brought him,” Mama said. “Mason’s two cats rule the roost around here, but they’re good with dogs. Too bad. I was looking forward to spending time with my granddog.”
Mason chuckled. “Once Sabrina gets that job and moves here, you’ll be able to spoil your granddog all you want.” He picked up Sabrina’s suitcase. “Now let’s get out of this heat.”
“Yes, come inside.” Mama reached for her hand. “I made all your favorites for dinner, and you can tell us about your adventures in Alaska.”
Mason shut the door behind them. “That picture you sent last week was incredible. What’s the name of that mountain?”
“Denali.”
“That’s right. Formerly Mount McKinley. The highest peak in North America. I looked it up. We’re thinking of taking the Alaska cruise and tour package next year. You’ll have to tell us all about Denali Park and what to see there.”
Sabrina could feel the smile on her face getting tight, but she nodded. She could flip through the photos of the park on her phone and feign enthusiasm, but she couldn’t tell them the truth. It had been glorious that day in the park, but when she thought of Denali, only one impression stayed with her: the image of Leith’s face when she broke his heart.
* * *
LEITH LET TAL out of the car before retrieving a grease-stained paper sack containing his dinner from the passenger seat. She followed him inside to the kitchen, which no longer seemed warm and inviting, but was simply empty. He sat down at the table and unwrapped the burger, which had gone cold. He considered microwaving it, but what difference did it make? He took a bite.
Tal flopped on the floor nearby with her chin resting on her paws and gave a deep sigh. She missed that goofy little terrier almost as much as he missed Sabrina.
He should be used to it. He’d been here before. But somehow this time was different. With Nicole, he’d felt angry and betrayed. He’d done everything she’d asked of him, and in return, she’d used and discarded him. But, if he was perfectly honest, he’d gone along with everything to get a break from her constant complaints and demands. He’d been infatuated with Nicole, but he’d only married her because she insisted, and he didn’t want to lose her. Did he ever really love her? He wasn’t sure he even knew what love was, before Sabrina.
And look where love had gotten him. Sitting alone in a kitchen with a depressed dog, eating a cold burger and trying to ignore the giant hole in his heart. Yesterday, when he’d driven Emma home from soccer practice, he’d had to confess to Volta that he and Sabrina were over, that he’d given her an ultimatum and she’d chosen a job over him. And to demonstrate what pathetic shape he must be in, instead of the hassle he expected, Volta had given him a hug.
Tal raised her head and let out a single woof. A car door slammed. Leith went to the front window, to see an airport limousine pulled up to the curb in front of his house. The driver opened the back door and a familiar blonde woman climbed out. Oh, man, this day just got better and better.
His former wife picked her way up the flagstone path toward the porch, careful not to get her high heels caught between the stones. Leith waited, expecting the simmering resentment he always felt in his stomach when he was reminded of her betrayal, but instead of anger, all he felt was weariness. He was tired of this fight.
Nicole looked the same, just as beautiful as she’d been when he married her, and yet it was like seeing a stranger walking up to his house. She was just an unpleasant memory from the past, and no longer had any bearing on his life. He walked through the living room to open the door just as she rang the bell.
She looked up, startled. “Leith.”
“Hello, Nicole.”
She raised her chin. “I assume you know why I’m here.”
“I’d imagine you want those annulment papers.”
“So you did get them? Because I have another set in the car if you need the
m.”
“I have them.” He stepped back from the doorway. “You may as well come in.”
She stepped inside. Tal moved out from behind the door. “Oh, is this the puppy I got for you? Talkeetna?” She bent down to stroke the dog’s head. Tal gave a polite wave of her tail and stepped away. Nicole straightened. “Leith, I need you to sign these papers. This is important to me.”
“I suppose if you came all the way to Alaska to get them, they must be.”
She crossed her arms. “Look. I understand why you’re mad at me. I treated you badly, and I’m sorry. But why not sign the annulment papers? Yes, we repeated vows, but I don’t think I even understood the concept of ‘till death do us part.’ We were just a couple of kids, playing house. Honestly, can you say it was a real marriage?”
He considered her words. “Maybe not. A marriage should be a partnership, where both people care about each other’s happiness.”
She narrowed her eyes. “You’re saying I didn’t care about yours?”
He turned his hands palms-up. “Did you?”
“I—” She wiggled her shoulders as if to shoo off an annoying insect. “I was immature. I guess I was too busy trying to figure what I needed to pay much attention to your needs.” She tried a little smile. “Although I did buy you a dog for your birthday.”
“Yes.” Leith rubbed Tal’s ears. “That was probably the most thoughtful thing you ever did for me—getting me a companion right before you moved out of state to play with your lover while I footed the bill.”
“I was working on my degree,” she huffed.
He raised an eyebrow.
“Okay, and I was having an affair. Yes, I was a bad wife. But that’s my point. It wasn’t a real marriage. The annulment papers just confirm that.”
“And now? This guy you’re marrying. Are you committed to him, or to what he can do for you?”
She took half a step backward. “You really don’t think much of me, do you, Leith?”
“Can you blame me?”
“Maybe not.” Her face softened. “I love him. I really, truly love him. I’ve made a lot of mistakes in my life, but I’m devoted to him. And he’s devoted to me. For life.”
An Alaskan Proposal Page 20
