An Alaskan Christmas

by Belle Calhoune

  “Mom! Look at that toboggan! I’m putting it on my Christmas list,” he shouted, his voice brimming with enthusiasm. “I could really fly on it.”

  Maggie smiled and made a mental note to purchase the toboggan for Oliver. He deserved something spectacular.

  She would make sure this Christmas was full of surprises and blessings and dreams come true for Oliver. A toboggan would be really special for his first Christmas in Alaska. Years ago Maggie and Finn had flown down the mountain at Deer Run Lake on matching sleds. Finn had surprised her by writing her name in indelible ink on one of the sleds. Maggie chuckled at the memory of how angry Declan had been about Finn giving his sled to Maggie.

  Thankfully, her phone’s GPS had guided her perfectly to Uncle Tobias’s shop. My shop, she corrected herself. It was hard to wrap her head around her new reality. In one fell swoop Maggie was a home owner, as well as the owner of a business and a truck. Her life had never been filled with so much promise.

  Thank You, Lord, for all of these blessings.

  Maggie felt startled by all of the spontaneous prayers she’d been uttering since arriving in Alaska. It was the second one today.

  It had been a very long time since she had spoken on such a regular basis to God. They had come to a crossroads back when her life fell apart and Sam died in such a shocking manner. Maggie shivered as the memories of that terrible time crashed over her in unrelenting waves. It had felt as if the entire world had turned against her. Except for Uncle Tobias. He had soothed and comforted her, even though unbeknownst to her, he was dealing with his own terminal kidney issues and dialysis at the time. Her chest tightened as she remembered his invitation to come live with him in Alaska.

  “Maggie, my door is always open for you and Oliver. Just say the word and I’ll buy the plane tickets for you.”

  “That’s very generous of you, Uncle Tobias. I’m wary of uprooting Oliver so soon after Sam’s passing. But it’s nice to know I have options,” she’d told him.

  “You’ll always have a home here in Love,” he’d told her in a voice clogged with emotion.

  He had continued to invite her until his health condition had deteriorated. By the time Maggie discovered Uncle Tobias was so ill, he’d been in his last weeks of life. Maggie wasn’t sure she would ever forgive herself for not being by Uncle Tobias’s side in the last moments of his life. Why hadn’t he told her about his illness? She had the feeling he hadn’t wanted her to go through another ordeal after what Sam had put them through. Maggie still wished she’d known Uncle Tobias was so sick. It would have added an urgency to his invitation. For all intents and purposes, he had been her closest family member with the exception of Oliver. She couldn’t even count her mother, since their relationship was estranged.

  A soft tapping on her window drew her out of her thoughts. Finn was standing there with a determined look on his face. In the clear light of day, she wasn’t sure how to feel about him helping her put the shop in order. Although they had once been the best of friends, they were now essentially strangers. Doing it all by myself would have felt empowering. She prayed Finn wasn’t going to try to boss her around or take control of things. Maggie had put up with a lot of that behavior in her marriage to Sam. She wouldn’t stand for it again!

  She let out a sigh. She needed to stay positive and stop blocking her blessings. Even though decades stood between them, she knew Finn was a good person. Perhaps working side by side would help them get back to a place in time where they’d been able to finish each other’s sentences. It would be nice to get her best friend back. And if Finn overstepped with regards to the shop, she wouldn’t hesitate to tell him to take a step back.

  “Finn!” Oliver cried out, unbuckling himself and practically vaulting out of the car.

  Maggie stepped down from the driver’s seat, watching as her son threw himself against Finn. She winced at the sight of it, filled with worry about Oliver getting so attached so soon. It wasn’t her son’s way to be so demonstrative.

  “Oliver! Give Finn some breathing room,” Maggie said, gently pulling Oliver away.

  “It’s okay. No one ever gets this excited to see me except my dog, Boomer,” Finn said with an easy grin.

  Oliver looked up at Finn. “You have a dog? What kind?”

  “He’s a rescue. Part terrier and part Labrador. My friend Ruby Prescott pointed him in my direction. She trains search-and-rescue dogs.”

  “Do you think she could find one for us?” Oliver asked.

  “Slow down, cowboy,” Maggie said with a chuckle. “A dog is a big responsibility. We need to settle in first before we make such a big decision about a pet.”

  Oliver stuck his lip out and sent her a mournful look.

  Finn, clearly seeking to distract Oliver, clapped his hands together. “Why don’t we go check out the shop?” he asked. “I’m sure Uncle Tobias has plenty of things inside to capture your attention. Maps. Puzzles. Maybe even a periscope.”

  Oliver nodded enthusiastically, seemingly forgetting he was disgruntled with his mother. Maggie sent Finn a look of gratitude.

  They began walking toward the storefront. Maggie stopped in her tracks and looked up at the shabby exterior. The windows were completely covered with heavy brown paper, making it impossible to see inside. The sign was weathered and worn, clearly in need of a fresh coat of paint. A long-ago memory tugged at her. A beautiful sign in a cherry-red color. It was a simple fix, she realized. One she could take care of herself with a fresh can of red paint and a ladder. She would make sure it was restored to its former glory. Thankfully, Hazel had made arrangements on her behalf to have the electricity turned on in the shop.

  She turned toward Finn. “How long has the place been closed?” Maggie asked.

  Finn shrugged. “About seven months, give or take. It was open last Christmas per usual. Tobias started feeling poorly and then lost the desire to keep the shop open. For a long time though no one knew he was ill. He kept it close to the vest.”

  A feeling of guilt swept over Maggie. If she had accepted Uncle Tobias’s invitation to move to Alaska a year ago, perhaps she could have kept the store open and helped take care of her uncle. At the time she hadn’t been ready to make such a major life change. It was a missed opportunity, one she would regret for the rest of her life.

  Maggie took the keys out of her purse and dangled them in the air. “Here we go.” She inserted the gold key in the lock. As soon as she turned the knob and pushed the door open, a musty scent filled Maggie’s nostrils. The interior was dark. All she could see were shapes and stacks of things piled up. She let out a cough as dust tickled her nostrils.

  “Let me turn the lights on.” Finn’s arm reached out and he fumbled along the wall for a few seconds before the lights came on. The shop was now flooded with light. Maggie let out a shocked gasp. The entire shop was one big mess. Not a single surface was clear. Boxes had been strewed everywhere. Some were even piled up on top of each other.

  “Oh my word,” she said, raising a hand to her throat. Maggie blinked, hoping it was an optical illusion rather than reality staring her in the face.

  The entire place was in disarray. As her gaze swung around the establishment, Maggie was finding it difficult to even make sense of the layout. She spotted a counter and a cash register but there were random items piled up along the space.

  “What in the world?” Finn exclaimed. He was standing behind her with Oliver at his side. How she wished her son wasn’t here to witness this.

  “This place is a wreck!” Oliver said, walking past Maggie and peering around him.

  Maggie reached for her son’s arm to stop him from venturing around the store. Things were stacked up high. It was very possible something could fall on top of him and he could get hurt.

  “No one’s been in here since Tobias shut up the shop,” Finn said. “I had no idea this
place looked like this. It’s probably why he shuttered up the windows.” Finn had a stunned expression etched on his face.

  Maggie shook her head. She felt sick to her stomach. “I—I don’t know what to think. This place isn’t even close to being ready for a grand opening.” Tears pooled in her eyes. Once again, she felt as if the rug had been pulled out from under her. She hadn’t expected the place to be in pristine, ready-to-go condition, but nothing had prepared Maggie for the ramshackle appearance of the store.

  “I think Mommy is going to cry again,” Oliver said to Finn in a loud whisper.

  Finn met her gaze. She tried her best to blink away the tears. She felt a few tears slide down her face. It was embarrassing. Maggie wanted to be a courageous person. Not someone who broke down every time she came upon a roadblock.

  “I’m not crying, Oliver,” she said in a shaky voice. “I’ve just got a little dust in my eyes.”

  “It is dusty in here,” Oliver said, scrunching up his face as if he smelled something rotten.

  Suddenly, she felt Finn’s arm around her shoulder. He pulled her close to his side and began patting her on her shoulder. It felt comforting and solid. It had been such a long time since she’d been held up by a man’s strong arms. For the first time since she’d come back it seemed as if no time at all had passed since they’d been inseparable running buddies. Finn had always been good at drying her tears over skinned knees and squabbles with her mother.

  “It’s going to be all right, Mags,” he said, using his childhood nickname for her. “All this means is that we have our work cut out for us. We can do this.”

  Her lips trembled. “B-but Christmas is only a month away. It’s important that I hit the ground running so I can take advantage of holiday sales.”

  Finn nodded. “I agree. Those holiday sales are crucial, which means we’ve got to get this place in tip-top shape. Starting today.”

  She sniffled. “You’re right. I’m just afraid it will all fall apart,” she confessed. “I knew everything seemed too perfect.”

  “Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them. For the Lord, your God, goes with you; He will never leave you nor forsake you,” flowed from Finn’s lips.

  Maggie was familiar with the Bible verse, but it had been quite some time since she had cracked open a Bible. His words were comforting. They settled around her like a warm, cozy blanket.

  “I know this must seem overwhelming,” Finn said, “and I totally get it. You weren’t expecting to see the place look like this.”

  She shook her head, her hair swinging around her shoulders. “I thought maybe there’d be a little dust and a few cobwebs. A few boxes stashed in the corner.” She threw her arms wide. “But this! It seems a bit like a hoarder’s dream.”

  “It’s not as bad as all that.” Finn looked around the shop. “This place needs some TLC. You’re probably an expert at that, right? You’re a mom. You’ve changed dirty diapers and wiped messy chins and faces. Mothers are warriors. Just think of this as taking care of a child, one who is totally dependent on you.”

  Maggie chuckled. Taking care of a child was nothing like clearing up this tornado. But at least she could find humor in it. Finn had made her laugh at a moment when she felt deflated. Just like the old days. When they’d been ten years old Finn had brought humor and light to her life. The two summers and one Christmas she’d spent in Love palling around with Finn had been the best days of her life. He’d always had the ability to make her laugh. After all of these years, he still did.

  She took a steadying breath. Finn was right. This place needed some serious TLC. Uncle Tobias had gifted her with a magnificent inheritance. He had made it possible for her to change her circumstances. She’d had to fight her whole life just to keep her head above water. And even though she was terrified, Maggie wasn’t going to give up without a battle.

  She placed her purse down on a nearby counter after wiping it down with a towel, pushing aside a few boxes in the process. She unzipped her down jacket and tossed it on a chair covered with plastic. She turned back toward Finn and Oliver then dramatically pushed up her sleeves.

  “Let’s get to work, boys. We need to get this place set up for the Christmas rush.”

  Finn let out a roar of approval. He raised his arm in the air in a triumphant gesture. Oliver, looking like a pint-size version of Finn, did the exact same thing. Maggie didn’t have time to worry about Oliver’s instant bond with Finn. Who wouldn’t be crazy about the man? He was charming and funny and he had the cutest smile she’d ever seen.

  Maggie looked away from the distracting sight of Finn O’Rourke. She had a job to do. She was laying the foundation for a solid future in this town. If they could get Keepsakes ready to open in two weeks, it would be the best Christmas present of all.

  * * *

  After a few hours of trying to make a clear path through the mess and organize some of the merchandise, Finn realized Oliver was fading fast. The kid was practically bouncing off the walls and desperate to leave the store. Every few minutes Maggie would have to stop what she was doing to see to Oliver’s needs. At this rate, Finn figured, it would be Easter before the place was cleaned up.

  It wasn’t a fair situation for the kid, Finn reckoned. He was too little to help and too young to understand why he couldn’t. Something needed to be done so they could focus without interruption on the shop. Finn’s entire future was riding on the successful reopening of Keepsakes.

  Finn excused himself for a few minutes, then placed a call to Ruby Prescott, his dear friend and wife to his childhood buddy Liam Prescott.

  “Hey, Ruby. It’s Finn. I need a huge favor.”

  “Name it,” Ruby said.

  Finn wasn’t surprised by Ruby’s quick response. She was easygoing and sweet by nature. Beloved by the whole town. Adored by her husband, Dr. Liam Prescott, and their son, Aidan.

  “I was wondering if Aidan is available for a last-minute playdate. To make a long story short, I’m helping out Tobias Richard’s niece, Maggie. She arrived in Love yesterday and we’re down at Keepsakes trying to get it up and running. Her son, Oliver, is with us. He’s right around Aidan’s age. So I figured—”

  The sound of Ruby’s tinkling laughter came across the line. “Poor thing. I’m guessing he’s bored silly.”

  “That’s putting it mildly. And to be honest, this place is a bit of a wreck,” Finn admitted. “He really shouldn’t be here until we get things more organized.”

  “I guess that explains why the windows were shuttered. Poor Tobias was such a proud man. He probably just became overwhelmed.” Ruby made a tutting sound. “Why don’t we drive down and meet you over at the Moose Café? Oliver can have lunch with us and then I’ll bring him back to our house so the two boys can hang out together. You can swing by and pick him up later this afternoon. How does that sound?”

  Finn exhaled. “Sounds like you’re a lifesaver.”

  Once he hung up with Ruby, Finn pulled Maggie aside to tell her about his phone call. The moment he saw Maggie’s expression, Finn worried that he’d made the wrong move. Maggie didn’t seem so thrilled with his having set up a playdate for Oliver.

  “I’m just not sure I’m comfortable leaving Oliver with someone I don’t know.”

  “Well, Ruby’s a good friend of mine. I trust her implicitly. And you and I are old friends, Maggie. You can trust my judgment.”

  Maggie bit her lip. Finn could see the concern swirling in her eyes.

  He reached out for Maggie’s hand. He squeezed it tightly. “Trust me. I wouldn’t put Oliver in a dangerous situation.”

  “I get anxious about my son, Finn. He’s all I have,” Maggie said in a low voice. She turned and looked at Oliver, who was sitting down and playing with an electronic device.

  “It may sound silly to you, but when we
lost his father so suddenly it made me really fearful of something happening to Oliver. All at once, life seemed really fragile. I guess you could say I lost my courage.” She made a face. “I suppose it’s safe to say I haven’t gotten it back yet.”

  Finn nodded. His throat felt clogged with emotion. “I know what it’s like to lose someone you love very suddenly. It throws you completely off balance. It makes you question everything. I think you need to remind yourself of how far you’ve come.” He winked at her. “After all, you made a huge move to Alaska and you’re about to open up your own shop. That’s not for the faint of heart.”

  “I don’t want Oliver to pick up on my fears.” She cast another glance at her son. “He can go on the playdate. He needs to be a little boy. And making a new friend his own age will be good for him.”

  Finn grinned at Maggie. “He’ll love Aidan. And Ruby’s the best. Now you and I can start unpacking some of these boxes without worrying about something toppling down and hurting Oliver.”

  “Sounds like a party,” she said in a teasing voice.

  Finn smiled at her joke. He felt relieved she was loosening up a little bit. Although he could tell she was a fantastic mother, Finn sensed she was a little bit tightly wound. The fact that she had agreed to the playdate was a good sign. He admired her for having the pluck and grit to drastically alter her life by moving to Alaska. After what she’d been through, he knew it couldn’t have been easy. The past had the power to get in the way of a person’s future.

  Even after all these years, Finn still struggled with his own past. Just when he thought he had moved beyond it, the memories rose up to cast a shadow over the present. He prayed Maggie would find a way to find closure and embrace her new life.

  Not only for herself, but for Oliver as well.

  * * *

  Leaving Oliver with Ruby and Aidan wasn’t easy for Maggie. But meeting Ruby Prescott had left Maggie with a warm feeling about the woman. With her dark hair and café au lait–colored skin, Ruby was a radiant beauty. She seemed down-to-earth and kind. And like Maggie, she was a mother to a young boy. Aidan seemed like an amiable, content little charmer. Oliver and Aidan had quickly warmed to one another. When she left the Moose Café in order to head back to the shop, the trio was ordering lunch and the boys were giggling over a shared joke. She didn’t know whether to laugh or cry over the fact that Oliver didn’t even seem to notice her departure.