Home Sweet Alaska

by Beth Carpenter

  “I have something I’d like to discuss with you, too, but we can save it for later.”

  Volta led him up the stairs and to a room at the end of the hallway, and then stood back to let him go first. Emma was sitting up in her bed with a book on a tray in front of her. She looked up and a broad smile crossed her face. “Hi, Dr. Scott.”

  “Hi, Emma. How are you feeling?”

  “Better. Have you seen Butternut?”

  “As a matter of fact, I have.” Scott sat in the chair beside Emma’s bed. “I stopped by the stables Sunday evening to make sure she and Nugget didn’t have any aftereffects. They’re both fine. Cait and the others were asking about you.”

  “They sent a card,” Volta told him. Emma had loved getting mail. Volta still wasn’t completely sold on letting Emma continue riding.

  “Butternut didn’t mean to buck me off.” Emma threw a meaningful glance toward Volta as she talked to Scott. “She was just scared of the bear.”

  “You’re right,” Scott said. “She didn’t mean for you to get hurt.”

  “Today is our lesson day. She probably misses me.”

  “Probably,” Scott agreed.

  “Next time you see her, tell her I’ll come visit soon.”

  “Emma, we talked about this,” Volta said. “You’re going to be in that cast for at least six weeks. No riding with a cast.”

  Emma’s bottom lip started to protrude in that mutinous look, but Scott distracted her, pointing at the book she was holding. “What are you looking at there?”

  “It’s that book you gave me.” Emma smoothed the page. “I’m supposed to find the difference between these two pictures, but they look the same to me. Do you see it?”

  He studied the pictures. Volta looked over his shoulder. A man and a little girl were riding double on a horse. Everyone looked happy, even the horse. Emma was right, the two photos did look identical. Volta couldn’t find a difference.

  Scott was quiet for a long time before he said, “Ah, look down by the saddle horn.”

  Emma looked. “He’s wearing a ring in one picture! And it’s a horseshoe, like the one you gave me. Horseshoes are lucky.”

  Scott smiled at her. “Yes, they are.”

  Emma reached for the tumbler of water Volta had left on her bedside table and gulped it down. “Mommy, may I have more water, please?” For some reason, the request sounded like a line from a play.

  “Sure.” Volta took the glass from her, planning to fill it in the bathroom beside Emma’s room.

  “I want cold water. With ice.”

  “With ice?” Emma never wanted ice. Water in Anchorage was plenty cold straight from the tap.

  “Yes, please.” Emma gave her the innocent look that meant she was anything but. She obviously wanted Volta out of the room while she talked to Scott.

  “Okay, I’ll go all the way downstairs to bring you water with ice.”

  “Thank you, Mommy.”

  “Scott, since I’m going downstairs anyway, would you like something to drink?”

  “I’m good. Thanks.”

  “All right, then.” Volta could hear them whispering as she walked down the hallway. In the kitchen, she dumped in some ice cubes, filled the glass with water and headed back. She considered trying to sneak up so she could eavesdrop, but decided that wasn’t sporting. Instead, she clumped up the stairs.

  “Well, will you?” she heard Emma asking as she approached the door.

  “I’ll talk to your mommy,” Scott answered. “About both of those things.”

  Volta stepped into the room. “Here’s your cold water with ice.”

  Emma took a little sip and smiled angelically. “Thank you.” She set the glass on the nightstand and yawned, lifting her arm and her pink cast over her head in a theatrical stretch. “I’m sleepy. I think I’ll take a nap right now.”

  “Well, if Emma’s tired, I suppose we should go downstairs,” Scott said. “Maybe I could get some of that special cold ice water down in the kitchen.” He winked at Emma.

  She winked back, the little faker. “See you later, Dr. Scott.”

  “You bet. Enjoy your nap, sweetheart.”

  “What was that all about?” Volta asked when they were downstairs and she was filling a glass with ice water. She set the drink on the kitchen table in front of Scott.

  He chuckled. “Thanks, but I was kidding about the water. I’ll tell you what Emma and I talked about, but you said you had something to tell me. You go first.”

  Volta sat next to him, reclaimed the glass and took a sip. She then put it down on the table again. “Emma told me why she was in such a panic when Stacy showed her the picture of us kissing.” She explained to Scott what Emma had told her after she woke up from surgery. “...and Stacy had Emma convinced you were trying to steal me away and leave her behind.”

  “You’ve got to be kidding me.” Scott looked outraged. “Why would Stacy do that?”

  “To drive you away. Because I was married to her brother, and she doesn’t think I should be with anyone else.”

  “But he’s been gone, how long?”

  “Almost nine years.”

  “Nine years,” Scott repeated. “They must have been close.”

  “Stacy’s always admired him, but they didn’t really spend much time together. After he died, she built him up in her memory until no real person could ever measure up.”

  “But what does that have to do with you?”

  “She blames me for his death. He died in an avalanche and she insists I could have stopped him from going on a trip with his friends. Since I didn’t, she thinks I should spend the rest of my life doing penance.”

  “She told you this?”

  “Some of it. Wade’s parents came by yesterday to visit Emma. Luckily for Stacy, she got a job interview and her parents had dropped her at the airport because if she’d come here, I would have lit into her.”

  “I’d liked to have seen that.”

  Volta chuckled. “Anyway, I told Hannah what Stacy had done, and she was not happy. She told me Stacy had tried to sell her on the idea that if I got involved with you, you’d try to keep Emma from spending time with her and Jim because you would be jealous of her father’s family. Hannah just ignored her.”

  “I would never do that,” Scott said. “I never got to know my maternal grandparents or learned much about my mother, and I’ve always regretted it. I would want Emma to spend time with her grandparents. Although I’m having doubts about this aunt.”

  “I’m way past doubts, but I’ll take it up with Stacy someday in the future. Right now, I’ve got enough on my plate.” She shuddered, shaking off all the ugliness of Stacy’s treachery. “Okay, your turn.”

  “My turn.” He let out a breath. “First of all, I’d like your advice about something.”

  She grinned. “I’ve always got an opinion.”

  “Good, because I need one. The Travert Foundation contacted me yesterday. They’ve taken most of my recommendations. The plan is to set up a plane with everything you’d find in a well-equipped practice in Anchorage, including an ultrasound machine, and do the rounds to the villages to give prenatal care to the pregnant women there. They want to hire two obstetricians who would take turns flying out every other week.” He paused. “They want me to be one of them.”

  “That’s fantastic.”

  “Is it? A terrific program, I agree, and it would help a lot of women who need better prenatal care. And it would be ongoing, so I’d be able to establish a relationship with the patients. But it would mean being away every other week. I promised myself that I would never become my father, a man who neglects his family in favor of his job. That’s why I shied away from the idea of family for so long.” He took her hand. “I want to be there for you and Emma. Every single day.”

  Didn’t he see? “S
cott, do you think I’m a good mom?”

  “You’re a fantastic mom,” he answered without hesitation.

  “Even though when I’m working a shift, Emma has to stay with her grandparents or her uncle?”

  “But she loves spending time with your family. Besides, you only work eight shifts a month, and you call her a couple of times a day, and when you’re not working you volunteer and spend time with her, and—”

  “And the job you’re describing is so different, how? If you alternated weeks, weekdays I assume, you’d spend, let’s see, ten or eleven days a month traveling? And what would you do with the other twenty days?”

  He grinned. “If I have my way, I’ll spend them with you and Emma.”

  “So, is this the part where I give my opinion? Because I am heartily in favor of that idea.”

  “What about things like starting your car in the mornings?”

  She laughed. “I have a heated garage now. I don’t need someone to start my car. I need a partner, someone to talk things over with. Someone who loves me.”

  “Oh yeah?”

  “Yeah.”

  He squeezed her hand. “That segues nicely into the next two items on the agenda. Emma’s requests.”

  “Requests, plural?”

  “Yes.”

  “I suspect at least one of them has something to do with horses.”

  “You guess right. She wants me to convince you that as soon as the cast is off, she should be back on a horse.”

  “I don’t know, Scott. She had surgery. People die falling from horseback.”

  “People die in small plane crashes, too, and yet you and I are willing to risk it, because we believe in what we’re doing. Yes, I realize it’s not the same thing, but riding is important to Emma, and she’s good at it. My opinion is that we should do what we can to keep her safe, like insisting on helmets and nixing steeplechasing, but that we should allow her to continue. Of course, it’s your decision.”

  “What is steeplechasing?”

  “It’s a cross-country horse race over various types of jumps. Big jumps.”

  “Ugh. No steeplechasing.” Volta took a breath. “Leith and I talked about this bear. He says the riding trails around the stable are along ridges, while bears tend to hang out near the creeks, especially during salmon season. It’s not likely that Emma would come across another bear riding there. But still—”

  “You’re nervous.”

  “I am. But you’re right. If this is something Emma really wants to do, my fear shouldn’t be what holds her back.” Volta laughed. “But don’t tell her yet. I don’t want her trying to convince me riding with a cast is a good idea.”

  “I won’t. Now for the second part of Emma’s agenda.” He grinned. “It seems she’s in the market for a new daddy, and I’m in contention.”

  “Oh, my gosh, she said that?” Volta felt her cheeks growing warm.

  “She did. I was suspicious the two items were related, but she assures me that even if I can’t convince you to let her ride anymore, she still wants me. That’s high praise in my estimation.”

  “I’d have to agree.”

  “The question is, do you want me?”

  “Hmm.” Volta pretended to consider it. “As I recall, you’re not much of a cook.”

  “No. But I’m great at picking up vanilla lattes and finding good restaurants.”

  “And you’re prone to motion sickness.”

  “Only if I forget my patch.”

  “And you don’t seem to know much about gardening.”

  “Not a thing. But I have a strong back, and if you hand me a shovel and point, I’ll dig.”

  She got up and set the water glass in the sink. Without turning, she commented, “On the other hand, you are a very good riding instructor.”

  “Yep.” He stood and scooted the chair under the table.

  She faced him. “And you’re a doctor. I suppose that might come in handy on occasion.”

  He grinned. “You never know.”

  “And you’re a good kisser.”

  “Good?” He looked offended.

  “Oh, you think you’re better than good?”

  “I do.”

  “Maybe you should prove it.”

  “Don’t bet I won’t.” He locked eyes with her, a cute teasing smirk on his face, and took a slow step forward. Volta smiled. He touched her cheek and ran his finger slowly along her jaw to tip up her chin. His lips brushed hers in the lightest touch and pulled away.

  “That’s it?”

  “Just warming up.” He gathered her in his arms as his eyes sought hers once again. He held her gaze as his face drew closer. And closer.

  Her mouth tingled with anticipation. Finally, their lips met and she closed her eyes. As his mouth pressed against hers, a bubbly sensation started in her chest and spread throughout her body until she felt as if she could float away like a helium balloon. She eased into him, and he pulled her tighter, deepening the kiss. Anchoring her to him.

  After a long moment, he drew back far enough to see her face. That playful smile had returned, but he was breathing fast. He raised an eyebrow. “Well?”

  “Yes.” She returned the smile. “I think we could find an opening for a man with your qualifications. What sort of job title did you have in mind?”

  “I’m quite partial to the title of husband,” Scott answered, and before she could reply, he kissed her again.

  “Did you talk to her?” A hopeful voice broke in. Emma was peeking around the corner of the kitchen door. “Are you gonna be my daddy?”

  “Hey, you,” Volta said, waving her forward. “You’re supposed to be in bed.” But she opened her arms in invitation.

  “I was thirsty.” Emma giggled and allowed herself to be hugged.

  “Daddy. I like that title, too.” Scott wrapped his arms around them both. “And I’m highly qualified. Do you know why?”

  “Why?” Emma asked.

  “Because I love you—” he dropped a kiss on Emma’s head “—and you—” he brushed a kiss across Volta’s lips “—to infinity.”

  “Plus one,” Emma said.

  Volta smiled at her future husband. “Plus two.”

  “Infinity plus infinity.” Scott laughed. “That’s how much I love my Alaska girls.”

  * * *

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  Her Kind of Hero

  by Janice Carter

  CHAPTER ONE

  MATT RODRIGUEZ DIDN’T bother reading the article. The headline wasn’t auspicious—No Home for Group Home. Another neighborhood protest that was certain to sabotage another project that was meant to help the community. There’d been a time when he’d thought those two words—neighborhood and community—were synonymous, but his experiences over the past few years had shown that it wasn’t true in the real world. He sighed and closed the laptop. Bad timing for his funding proposal to the city of Chicago for the drop-in center and the camp.

  He stroked the top of his head, rubbing against the bristles of new hair growth. Two weeks ago, he’d decided to aim for a more conservative look. He thought it would help bolster his image as a solid representative of the community instead of an activist who might—heaven forbid!—shake the pillars of the very community he hoped to improve. For all, not just some. Whatever It Took was his motto. The new look was simply another incarnation in a series for Mateo “Matt” Rodriguez.

  There was a sharp tap on his office door before it swung open. “Hey, Matt? Got a sec?” Sandro Garcia, Matt’s childhood buddy, stood in the doorway.

  “Sure. What’s up?”

  “Maria finished the city funding proposal and submitted it online but when she tried to print it...”

  Matt groaned. “Not again.” They’d been tolerating their malfunctioning printer for weeks now, putting off the decision to replace it. Not that printers were pricey, but the budget was tight. “Okay, have her get a new one out of petty cash.”

  “Here or in the city?”

  “Whatever’s convenient for her. I’m sure there’s a discount warehouse kind of place here.”

  “In Willow Springs?”

  Matt heard the scoff in Sandro’s voice. “Just take care of it, okay?”

  The door closed quietly behind Sandro and Matt took a deep breath. Alienating his small crew, especially his best friend, wasn’t going to solve his money problems. And it sure as heck wasn’t going to improve his personal problems either. He glanced down at his cell phone. His mother had promised to let him know as soon as she and Rosie, Matt’s sister, left the hospital. The appointment was more than an hour ago so they should be finished by now. He wished that he’d been more insistent on going with them.