Baked Alaska

by Josi S. Kilpack

  “Kirby,” Pete said. “Kirby Tucker.”

  Sadie slumped slightly.

  “Why?” Pete asked.

  Sadie opened her mouth to answer just as Nugget Nick got back on the loudspeaker and began touting more facts about Juneau. It was home to the second-oldest surviving totem in all of Alaska, which he would take them past in a few minutes.

  Before Sadie knew it, they’d arrived, along with several other shuttles from other excursions, at an outdoor restaurant where a full-fledged salmon bake was on. It had started raining, but each table was covered by a large umbrella and outfitted with heaters at the top. The buffet was set up under a covered pavilion. The four of them filled up their plates with salad and side dishes—the salmon was still cooking—and made their way through the crowds, eventually finding an empty table.

  The rain pattered on the canvas over their heads, and Sadie felt herself slowly unwinding thanks to the soothing atmosphere, good food, and even better company. She knew what Shawn had been hiding, and they had had a good discussion about it. The mood was feeling better, and Pete began telling them about an actual gold panning trip he’d taken several years ago. He was a great storyteller and the more he talked, the more relaxed everyone became.

  After a few minutes, Sadie’s phone dinged with a text message, and she reluctantly put down her fork—the Salmon Caesar Salad was delicious—in order to get her phone out of her bag. With Pete, Bre, and Shawn all here, Sadie wondered who was texting.

  Pete continued his story, and Sadie unlocked her phone so she could see the message. She was surprised to see that the text was from Maggie.

  Do you have a minute?

  “It’s Maggie,” Sadie said to her companions as she stood up from the table. She caught a flash of Shawn’s unhappy expression before moving away. “I’ll be right back,” she said.

  The overhanging roof of the gift shop provided some protection from the rain away from the tables and tourists; Sadie hurried to an empty section while calling Maggie’s number.

  “Hi,” she said when Maggie answered. There was no heater under the eaves, and she wrapped her free arm around her stomach to try to retain some body heat.

  “Hi,” Maggie said back. She sounded nervous.

  “Is everything okay?”

  “Um, I don’t know,” she said, then let out a breath. “They’re taking Lorraina to Anchorage in about an hour.”

  “Oh, dear! Did something happen?”

  “No, she’s about the same. She’s actually breathing a little better and her vital signs have been stable, but the doctors think another hospital can do more for her than Juneau can.”

  “I see. Are you going to Anchorage with her?”

  Maggie paused. “That’s what I wanted to talk about. I talked to my dad and told him how you suggested I stay on the cruise. He thought it was a good idea.”

  “He did?” Sadie said, blinking in surprise.

  “Yeah, I mean, I had such little time to get to know Lorraina, and he felt that since I’d come all this way, and paid for the cruise and everything, that maybe I should stay and see if Shawn and I can come to understand each other a little better or something. Maybe I can learn more about Lorraina, too. I can’t really do anything for her in Anchorage, and I don’t have the money to fly there without a good reason, but...I don’t know. I’m just trying to figure out what to do, and since you offered...”

  “I agree with your dad. Staying on the ship would give you and Shawn a chance to get comfortable with each other. And I think Shawn has questions, too. Together you might be able to help each other find the answers and prepare for what to do next depending on what happens with Lorraina.”

  “You’re sure you don’t mind? I realize this was a family vacation and everything. I don’t want to intrude.”

  Maggie intruding was not going to ruin this vacation—much bigger things had already taken the trip off the rails. But that didn’t mean that good couldn’t come of this. “We’d love to have you. Truly.”

  Maggie was quiet for a minute. “Do you think Shawn will be okay with it? I’m not trying to force him to accept me or anything, but I want to learn more about Lorraina, and he knows her better than I do.”

  “I think Shawn will be okay.” She’d seen his interest spark when she told him about the gift tag, and she knew he had questions he hadn’t yet posed for answers. Sadie was a big believer that information was power, and she felt it was in Shawn’s best interest to connect with Maggie, even if he might need time to adjust to the idea.

  They made plans to meet when they all returned to the ship. Maggie didn’t want to leave the hospital while Lorraina was still there, and she needed to talk to the captain about staying longer since the staff had anticipated her leaving the cruise all together. Sadie agreed to text Maggie when they were back at the pier, which she assumed would be in an hour or so.

  They said their good-byes, and Sadie returned to the table. “Shawn, can I talk to you for a minute?” It wasn’t that what she had to say was secret, but the moment just seemed to belong to him.

  He looked hesitant, but then put down his silverware and stood from the table. She led him back to the gift shop. He folded his arms across his chest and raised his eyebrows expectantly.

  “Lorraina’s being transferred to Anchorage,” Sadie said, watching as his eyes shifted to the ground at the mention of Lorraina’s name. They’d discussed her twice now—once in the hallway outside the security office and once at the river—but it felt as though he’d broken the topic up into bite-sized pieces and could give them up only when he was ready to let them go. She waited for him to say something or ask a question, but he continued to stare at the ground. “Are you okay?”

  “When does she go?” Shawn asked. His expression and tone were blank, which was unusual for him; he was usually so easy to read.

  “In about an hour.”

  Shawn let out a breath and looked toward the parking lot at the front of the pavilions. They weren’t the only shore excursion that had ended up at the salmon bake and numerous shuttles were waiting to take the cruisers back to the various ships. “Do you think there are any taxis out there?”

  “Why?”

  “I think I should go to the hospital before they transport her. Talk to her doctors and stuff.”

  “I don’t know that—” She stopped herself and thought things through for a few seconds. Did she really want to talk him out of seeing Lorraina? There was no way to know what would come next for her, or for him. For them.

  “Do you want me to come with you?” she said instead.

  He immediately shook his head, then gave her a sympathetic look. “There’s stuff I know I need to explain—stuff I want to explain—but if she’s leaving so soon, I think I need to see her first. Can we talk later, though?”

  Being told to wait again was so much like last night that she wanted to insist he tell her now, but he was genuinely asking for her patience this time. She nodded, and he gave her a quick hug. As he turned back to the table, Sadie remembered the other thing she needed to tell him and grabbed his arm. “Also, Maggie isn’t going to Anchorage. She’s staying on the ship instead. I really think you two should connect, at least try to.”

  Shawn let out another heavy breath and stared at the ground. She felt him tense beneath her hand, and for a moment, she thought he was about to explain his feelings toward Maggie. The moment passed.

  “I better get to the hospital,” Shawn said.

  Salmon Caesar Salad

  Dressing

  1 coddled egg

  1/3 cup olive oil

  1/3 cup lemon juice (fresh is always best)

  3 gloves of garlic, pressed

  2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce

  2 tablespoons Parmesan cheese, grated

  1 1/2 teaspoons anchovy paste (more to taste, but the flavor is strong)

  1/2 teaspoon Dijon mustard (or ¼ teaspoon mustard powder)

  1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
>
  To coddle the egg, boil enough water in a small saucepan that the egg can be covered. Add egg (still in the shell) to boiling water and boil for 4 minutes. Remove with a slotted spoon and run under cold water until cool enough to hold. Crack shell with a hard tap of a butter knife and pull both halves of the egg apart careful not to spill the yolk and still-liquid portions of egg white. Using a spoon, scoop egg out of shell; be careful not to get any bits of shell in it. Put both halves of coddled egg in food processor or blender.

  Add additional dressing ingredients to food processor or blender and blend until well combined. Put in fridge until ready to serve. Mix before serving.

  Note: You can use a raw egg in place of a coddled egg, but don’t store dressing for more than an hour before serving.

  Note: Anchovy fillets can be used in place of paste; 1 fillet equals 1/2 teaspoon anchovy paste.

  Salad

  1 large head of romaine lettuce, washed and chopped

  8 ounces cooked and cooled salmon, shredded (can use canned salmon or chicken in a pinch)

  Croutons

  Grated Parmesan cheese, to taste

  Toss lettuce, salmon, and croutons together in large bowl. Drizzle refrigerated dressing over the top and toss together until lettuce is well coated. Top with grated Parmesan cheese.

  Note: Great option for using up leftover salmon.

  Chapter 14

  Pete went with Shawn to get a taxi. Sadie and Breanna took a few bites in silence before Sadie suddenly put down her fork and said, “Oh, I haven’t even followed up on the wedding stuff. I’m so sorry—are you feeling better today? Have you had a chance to talk to Liam?”

  Breanna smiled. “Don’t feel bad. My wedding woes are microscopic compared to what’s going on with Shawn right now.”

  “No, they aren’t,” Sadie said, shaking her head. “So where are things at? Did sleeping on it make you feel any better?”

  Breanna shrugged and scooped up a bite of baked beans.

  “Have you talked to Liam?”

  “I texted him earlier, gave him a summary of what was going on—it sounded like such a soap opera. I’m not sure I want to get all dramatic about a stupid wedding in light of everything else.”

  “Breanna,” Sadie said with her head cocked to the side, “this is your wedding day. Yours. All this stuff with Shawn is going to work out. Don’t sell out on what should be the most important day of your life simply because this other stuff looks bigger right now.”

  Breanna looked hesitant, but that was all Sadie needed to know; Breanna was being gracious, but was open to some advice. For the next ten minutes, she worked hard to convince Breanna of what she’d said yesterday—that if Breanna could stand her ground now, she’d increase the potential of having the future she wanted.

  “And Liam should be backing you up on this,” Sadie added as Pete walked back up to the table. “I know he’s a great guy, but it’s not just him anymore. It’s good for you to talk to him about this and insist on his support. You’re not out of line to remind him that the two of you are getting married, which means he needs to be his own man. Well, more like your man, but his own man too. You know what I mean.”

  “Really?” Breanna said after Pete had slid into his seat and agreed with Sadie’s advice. “I feel like I’m being a brat. I mean, Liam’s mom has worked really hard on the wedding plans. I feel bad saying I don’t like it.”

  “It’s the first battle of many,” Sadie said. “I’m not telling you what you should do or how you should do it, but I think if you stand down and just let Liam’s mom take over, you’ll regret it one day. Right now is when it’s going to be easiest for you to be heard—before she takes things any further.”

  Breanna’s expression was lighter than it had been. “Maybe I should call him before we leave port.”

  “Excellent idea,” Sadie said just as their hosts rang the bell indicating there was more salmon ready. Sadie had been on the phone with Maggie when the last round had been served. Sadie and Pete got in line while Breanna retreated to the quiet spot beneath the dripping eves to call Liam.

  Sadie and Pete enjoyed several minutes of one-on-one conversation, and she appreciated his concern as well as his encouragement at how she was handling things. He apologized for not telling her who Lorraina was when he and Shawn had come to the cabin last night, but Sadie now understood why Shawn hadn’t been ready to talk about it right then.

  Breanna returned with good news: Liam had listened to her explanation and agreed to talk to his mother as soon as possible. He assured Breanna that he was on her side and that everything would work out. “Thanks for giving me the push I needed, Mom,” Breanna said. “I feel so much better. I think everything’s going to be okay.”

  After dinner, they headed to the shuttle that would take them back to the pier, and Sadie was able to reflect on the fact that though the day had gotten off to a horrible start, the afternoon and evening had redeemed it somewhat. Of course things were far from over, considering Lorraina’s future was uncertain, and Shawn had things he hadn’t yet told Sadie about. But she felt as though she’d connected with both of her children today, and as of eleven o’clock that morning, she could not have foreseen that happening.

  When they slid into their seats on the shuttle—Sadie and Bre sitting together while Pete gallantly sat alone—Sadie was surprised to see Tanice and Kirby sitting toward the back of the bus. Tanice was looking out the window, and Kirby was on his phone, but they were together.

  Breanna turned to follow Sadie’s gaze when Tanice caught Sadie staring. Sadie quickly looked away.

  “Do you know her?” Breanna asked.

  Sadie quickly—and quietly—told Breanna about the gift tag on the bottle and what she had witnessed at the river.

  “And you think she owned the wine bottle?” Breanna said, nodding her head toward the back of the bus.

  “Her husband’s name isn’t Ben,” Sadie said. “But Tanice is such a unique name. Have you ever heard it before?”

  “I think there was a Tanice in one of my classes a few years ago,” Breanna said. “But it’s certainly unique.”

  “We had a woman named Tanice who worked the dispatch for a while back in New Mexico.” Pete leaned forward in his seat to join the conversation. “And there are three thousand people on the ship. Two Tanices is possible.”

  “And there are probably seventy-five Bens on board,” Breanna added.

  “How would Lorraina get someone else’s wine in the first place?” Sadie asked.

  “I’ve seen a few bottles left on dinner tables,” Pete said. “Maybe she snagged it after Tanice and Ben—whoever they are—left it on their table after dinner last night.”

  “But so little of the wine was gone,” Sadie reminded him. “Why would anyone leave a nearly full bottle of wine on a table? And if they had just had one glass, for example, how much could Lorraina have had and still left the wine bottle that full? Not much, I don’t think.”

  “Maybe she’d had drinks at the bar before she got the wine,” Breanna suggested.

  They continued discussing theories and possibilities, which only served to frustrate Sadie with how little they knew. After a few minutes, she shelved both her curiosity and her frustrations and turned the attention back to Breanna. “Tell me about the cake you picked out.”

  Breanna’s face lit up like a lightbulb. “It’s so pretty, Mom. Simple and elegant.”

  “Just like you,” Sadie interjected with a smile.

  As Breanna described the cake in detail, Pete sat back in his seat and pulled out his phone.

  After five minutes, the shuttle pulled into the parking lot on the pier. As everyone filed out, several people put a few dollars in Jackpot Jessie’s hat. Sadie was feeling generous and gave her a ten-dollar tip, which earned her a “Yee-haw!”

  Once off the shuttle, Sadie noticed that Kirby, Tanice’s husband, was standing to the side of the gangplank, talking on his phone, while Tanice was standing in line to reboard
the ship. There were a few people behind her, but Sadie had an idea and quickly explained to Pete and Breanna that she’d catch up with them later. With so many people on the ship, she might never see this woman again, and she wanted to rule out the possibility, no matter how slight, of the wine bottle belonging to her. If the wine did belong to her, maybe it would help them figure out how and when Lorraina had gotten it.

  There wasn’t much form to the line, and Sadie was able to make her way up until she was right behind Tanice. Tanice was an average-looking woman with thick bottle-red hair and a profusion of freckles on every bit of exposed skin, which wasn’t much because the temperature was still in the fifties. Her face was tight, and she stared at the ship’s entrance at the top of the gangway as though it were impossibly far away. There were almost thirty people ahead of them in line, which was moving slowly.

  “Hi,” Sadie said, leaning forward.

  Tanice looked over her shoulder. “Hi,” she said back, sounding confused. She immediately faced forward again.

  Sadie smiled. Confusion was good; it often meant people would say more than if they were fully aware of what was going on. “I was on the same excursion as you and just wondered if everything was okay,” Sadie said.

  Tanice once again looked over her shoulder, this time with a frown.

  This felt more awkward than Sadie had expected it would, but hadn’t Pete said similar things to Kirby? Kirby had opened up just fine. Surely Tanice was just as eager for a new friend with a listening ear.