by Lydia Rose
LOVE COMES TO ALASKA
BY
LYDIA ROSE
AUTHOR NOTES
To all my loyal fans. I appreciate all of your comments of my work. I’m just a romantic at heart and I hope I can evoke the same for you while you are reading my stories.
Thank you for your continued support.
Lydia
FOR LINDA ALWAYS
CHAPTER ONE
Thirty year old Kayla Hopkins has been living with her grandmother in the Alaskan wilderness for the last twenty years. After her parents were killed in a plane crash, the only place she had was with the last member of her family, her grandmother. Her life with grandmother was loving, but very isolated from the outside world. Kayla had always been different from everyone else and the isolated cabin kept people from learning her secrets. She had always been able to sense things before they happened, but that wasn’t her only talent. Kayla Hopkins had another talent, but this one she rarely used. When her grandmother got sick she refused treatment of any kind. She told Kayla that she was old enough to take care of herself and she was ready to move on to what might lay ahead.
That was three years ago. Kayla adapted to living on her own and even traveled to the nearby towns when the weather permitted it. She made her living as an artist and her work was sold in an art gallery in the town to tourists. She also had an art gallery in Seattle selling her paintings too. There were a few others that carried her work, but she didn’t paint enough to keep those galleries inventoried. It was only the loneliness for another human being that made her heart ache. She read many books and reading how the characters in the stories fell in love made her ache for that same thing.
As spring arrived, Kayla packed a bag and headed to Seattle. She wanted to have a conversation with someone, anyone. Just so she wasn’t surrounded by silence. She took a cab from the airport to a large hotel in the city. Walking up to the front desk she felt out of place. The people around her were dressed in fine clothes. Kayla was wearing jeans and a flannel shirt. Her jacket was clean, but was at least ten years old. The woman at the front desk looked at Kayla over her glasses. Kayla could tell from the look on her face that she thought Kayla was in the wrong place. She put on her best smile and said. “Reservation for Hopkins.”
The woman punched in her name in the computer and looked up with a smile. “Yes. I have your reservation right here.”
Once Kayla was in the elevator to her room she began to relax. She opened the door to her room and her eyes opened wide. After living all those years in a rustic cabin, this room took her breath away. The king sized bed had beautiful bedding and a large screen TV was mounted on the wall. Two chairs and a table sat near the windows and Kayla walked over to see the view. Again she was transfixed as she took in the Seattle skyline. She could see the space needle and Kayla couldn’t wait for it to get dark knowing the view would even be better. She opened her suitcase looking at the clothes she brought. Seeing where she was staying, she knew she had to go buy some new clothes. Kayla stuck her wallet in her back pocket and went down in the elevator to the lobby. She walked over to concierge to ask directions to a suitable store.
“Hello,” she said to the woman who now looked up from her computer.
“Hello. Can I help you with something?” The woman looked at Kayla like the desk clerk had.
Kayla removed her room key and asked. “I’m looking to buy some clothes for my stay. Can you recommend a place nearby?”
The woman glanced at Kayla’s key and a smile appeared on her face. “There is a nice shop down the street. Go out the door to the right.”
Kayla smiled and looked at the nametag. “Thank you, Natalie.”
“My pleasure,” Natalie said returning the smile. “If you need help with anything else, just call me.” She handed Kayla a business card.
“Thanks again,” Kayla said as she tucked the card into her pocket. What she didn’t tell Natalie is that she didn’t own a cell phone. There was no reason to own a phone. Who would she call?
She found the store that Natalie had suggested and walked inside. A woman greeted her immediately.
“Is there something in particular you are looking for?” She asked with a smile.
“I need some casual clothes for touring the city and maybe one nice outfit for going out to dinner.” Kayla was happy that her artwork paid well because in glancing at the prices she had seen, she knew she would be spending a lot for her one week trip.
The woman looked at Kayla scrutinizing her completely. Kayla’s blond hair was pulled into a loose pony tail and her green eyes stood out against her tan skin. No make-up covered her face. At five foot eight her legs seemed to go on forever. “You have a lovely figure,” Karen said looking at Kayla’s small breasts. “Are you interested in dresses or slacks?”
Kayla wrinkled her nose. “Slacks.”
“Thought so,” Karen said with a knowing smile.
Kayla blushed and thought. How does she know I’m a lesbian? “I have no use for dresses where I’m from.”
“Where are you from, dear?” Karen asked as she walked Kayla over to the rack of clothes.
“Alaska.” Kayla chuckled. “The woods don’t really care what I wear, but I need to dress properly for my vacation.”
“Well, let’s get you set up then.”
Two hours later, Kayla was finished shopping. Karen promised to have the clothes sent to the hotel and she left wearing a casual pair of slacks and a light sweater under a leather jacket. Luckily the store also sold shoes and she left wearing a pair of black boots. “Thanks again, Karen. I really appreciated your help.”
“Come back and see us anytime,” she said with a wide smile.
Of course she was smiling, Kayla had just spent two thousand dollar on clothes that she probably would never wear after her vacation. After all the work of trying on clothes, her stomach growled in protest. She walked back up the street and stopped in front of a small café. Opening the door, she stepped inside and was seated at a table by the window. Kayla looked through the menu deciding on a bowl of soup and a sandwich.
Kayla had just placed her order when a woman walked through the front door. The hostess looked around and told her that if she would like to wait, she’d be happy to seat her when a place opened up. The woman looked at her watch. Kayla walked over to them.
“I’m eating alone if you would like to share my table.” Kayla looked at the woman knowing she was ready to refuse. “You don’t have to talk to me or anything. I just thought you might be in a hurry.” Kayla wore her friendliest smile.
The woman looked at Kayla and nodded. “If you’re sure?”
Kayla led her back to the table and pulled out a chair. “I’m Kayla.”
“Ann.” The woman said as she took her seat. “You are definitely not from around here,” Ann said with a chuckle.
“Why would you say that?” Kayla asked raising an eyebrow. She looked at Ann noticing she was at least four inches shorter than Kayla. Her dark hair barely came to her collar and the light blue eyes bore into Kayla.
“Because people around here don’t want to go out of their way for another human being.”
Kayla grinned. “You’re right that I’m not from around here, but I’m sure someone else would have done the same if they knew you had to wait.”
Ann chuckled. “Okay, out of town girl.”
The waitress came over and took Ann’s order.
“So where are you from? If you don’t mind my asking?”
“I don’t mind. I’m from Alaska. I live near Whitehorse.”
“Do you live off the grid? You know with an outhouse?” Ann asked leaning forward.
“For a long time, yes. Now I have solar panels for electricity, a back-up generator and running water in the house. It was expensive, but worth every penny.” Kayla watched the woman sitting across from her as her stomach muscles tightened. Ann wore a silk blouse that revealed just a hint of her full breasts. Kayla swallowed trying to keep her eyes off Ann’s cleavage. Get a grip.
“How did you end up there?” Ann knew she was being nosy, but she figured she’d never see this woman again.
“I lived with my grandmother after my parents died.”
Now Ann felt sorry she had asked the question. “I’m sorry.”
“It was a long time ago.” Kayla waved her hand to let Ann know it was okay.
“So do you hunt?” Ann asked with a wrinkle of her nose.
Kayla grinned. “You’re not going to like my answer, but I will tell you that I do not hunt for fun. Everything that I catch or shoot is eaten.”
“So do you live off the land?”
Again Kayla grinned at Ann’s interest. “I don’t have a grocery store around the corner so a lot of my meals comes from the lake and woods. I usually stock up so I don’t have to resort to deer meat all winter.” She looked at Ann. “What do you do?”
“I work for a magazine writing human interest stories.”
“Interesting.” Kayla all of a sudden saw a flash of Ann running in the snow laughing. Kayla was chasing her in the deep snow and they looked happy. She looked up to see Ann waving her hand. “I’m sorry. What did you say?”
“You kind of disappeared on me for a moment. I asked if you were down here on business or pleasure.”
“Pleasure. It gets kind of lonely when you live all alone.” You have no idea how spending months alone can bring on such loneliness.
“I thought you lived with your grandmother.” Ann saw the look on Kayla’s face and knew she had said the wrong thing again. “I’m sorry. She passed away too.”
Kayla nodded. “Three years now.”
“I keep saying the wrong thing. I bet you’re sorry you asked me to sit with you?”
The waitress placed their food on the table. “Can I get you ladies anything else?”
“Not right now.” Ann answered for both of them wanting to ask Kayla more questions.
Once she walked away, Kayla leaned closer to Ann. “You can ask me anything you want. It’s nice to have a conversation with someone.”
“Don’t you go to the town near you?”
“Sometimes the weather keeps me in place for months at a time.”
Ann wondered where Kayla got her education and wanted to ask, but she didn’t want to stick her foot in her mouth again. So she said instead. “I guess going to school must have been a drag then?”
Kayla laughed. “You have no idea. My grandmother was my teacher and I read every book I could get my hands on since I went to live with her. She had a friend in California that would send us boxes of books. As a library was getting rid of their books, they ended up in our cabin. Today, the internet makes it easy to get eBooks.”
“You have the internet?” Ann asked surprised.
Kayla nodded. “I have a satellite.”
“It doesn’t sound like you are living in the wilderness,” Ann said with a chuckle.
“It wasn’t always like that. When I was young, we lived off the land. There was no internet, no TV because there wasn’t even electricity.”
“You obviously found money for those things now,” Ann said then covered her mouth with her hand. “I’m sorry again. It’s none of my business.”
Kayla smiled. “I’m an artist and thankfully people like my work. My paintings have allowed me to do the upgrades to the cabin.”
“An artist,” Ann said as if she were talking to herself. She looked at her watch again and signaled the waitress. “I’m sorry, but I have to leave for an appointment.” The waitress handed her the bill. “Can I take you to dinner tonight?”
Kayla looked up as Ann stood up. “Sure.” You can take me anywhere you want. Calm down, girl. She’s probably straight and it’s only dinner.
“Where are you staying?”
“At the Hilton down the street.”
“What’s your last name?” Ann asked putting on her jacket.
“Hopkins.”
“Okay. I’ll see you at seven tonight, out of town girl,” Ann said with a light laugh.
“Good bye.” Kayla watched the brunette rush out of the café. Her short hair fell around her face and the blue eyes had watched Kayla intently as they had lunch. She wondered if it was the writer in Ann that made her so inquisitive.
*
Kayla was waiting in the lobby for Ann to arrive. While she waited she felt Ann’s anxiousness. There was something Ann wanted to ask her, but she was afraid that Kayla would say no. Kayla had no idea what Ann’s question would be, but knew that Ann was desperate for her to agree to her plan. Ann walked in the front doors and the trepidation that Kayla felt from Ann was even stronger.
“Hi,” Ann said walking up to Kayla. “Are you ready to go?”
Kayla nodded and followed her out the door as if she were a lost puppy. Tonight Ann was wearing a dark blue dress with a V cut so low. She wore a matching jacket over the dress and Kayla saw the slit as Ann got into the cab. Does she have any idea what she’s doing to me?
The two women were quiet as the hostess took them to their table. Ann fidgeted in her seat and drank her glass a wine in nearly one gulp.
“Are you okay, Ann?” Kayla asked calmly.
“I’m fine, Kayla.” Ann held up her glass so the waiter would bring another one.
“Why don’t you just ask me?” Kayla finally asked.
Ann looked at her with wide eyes. “What do you mean?”
“Just say it,” she said not answering Ann’s question.
Ann lowered her eyes as the waiter brought another glass of wine to the table. Her hand toyed with the glass before her eyes rose to meet Kayla’s. “I want to write a book about you.”
Kayla laughed at her statement. “Why would you want to do that?”
“I think it would make an interesting story. You living alone in the woods. Becoming a famous artist.”
Kayla laughed again. “I’m not a famous artist.”
“According to the internet, your paintings are highly sought after. It seems because you only do so many a year, they’ve become more desirable.”
“That is still no reason to write a book about me. Who would possibly want to read about me?” She asked pointing to herself.
“Have faith in my writing when I tell you that people will want to read your story.”
“And just what would I have to do?” Kayla asked not agreeing to this crazy idea of Ann’s.
“You let me tag along with you while you’re in town and then when you go back to Alaska, you let me come with you.” Ann smiled at her statement.
Kayla looked at Ann’s face not believing what she was hearing. Yes, she would love to spend the winter with this beautiful woman, but this idea was crazy. Wasn’t it?
“You said you get lonely living by yourself. I’ll be there to keep you company and you’ll tell me all about yourself.”
“If I agree to this crazy plan of yours, what will I get out of it?”
Ann thought for a moment. Her plan never included compensating Kayla in her scheme. She needed the money and after telling her publisher about Kayla, they agreed to a small cash advance with an outline to be received in ten days. If the outline didn’t hold their interest, there would be no deal. Ann actually had six days to write a great outline before Kayla left Seattle. If the publishers didn’t like the outline she wouldn’t be following Kayla into the woods. She looked at Kayla and asked. “How much do you want?”
Kayla looked at Ann feeling her apprehension. Feeling the need for the money because of a sick parent. “If the book is a success, I want ten percent donated to the library in town. They are in desperate need of new books.”
Ann let out the brea
th she was holding. “If the book is a success, I will donate another ten percent to your library.” Ann held out her hand across the table. “Deal?”
Kayla smiled thinking she had lost her mind. “Deal, but I don’t even know your last name.”
Ann chuckled. “Reynolds. Can we get together in the morning and start working on your story?”
“I did want to see the sites while I was here.”
“We can do both. I also want to stop at the gallery to see your work too.” Ann looked at Kayla. “If that’s okay with you?”
“It’s fine.” Kayla smiled with a shrug.
CHAPTER TWO
When Kayla got back to the hotel, she went over to the concierge. It was no longer Natalie, so she took out her room key letting the new person know that she was a guest. “Hello, I’m Kayla Hopkins. Do you have an area that I can use a computer?”
“Of course, Ms. Hopkins. The room is just around the corner.” The man answered smiling.
“Also, do you have a hair salon in the hotel?”
“We do. Would you like me to make you an appointment?”
“Please. Something around nine or nine thirty.”
He went into the computer and started typing. “You are set for nine with Marion.”
“Thank you, Harold,” Kayla said looking at his name tag.
“Our pleasure, Ms. Hopkins.”
Kayla sat down at the computer and typed in Ann Reynolds name. She found that she had worked for a large paper until the cut backs occurred and now was a freelance writer for a magazine publication. Unfortunately, there was nothing about her family and who Ann might need the money for. She closed the computer and went up to her room.
As Kayla laid on the bed she wondered if it was wise to agree to let Ann write her life story. She knew she would have to be very careful with her secrets. If Ann learned about her skills, she could be made a laughing stock and destroy her painting career.
*
In the morning, Kayla went into the café for breakfast before her hair dresser appointment. It had been a year since she had her blond hair cut. Marion welcomed Kayla into the salon.
“Ms. Hopkins, what would you like today?” Marion asked.
