Alaska Reunion

by Jennifer Snow

As he turned on the lights and flipped the sign to Open, his cell phone rang again. An unknown number. Probably his father trying to trick him into answering. Wouldn’t be the first time.

  He frowned and sighed. It could be Ellie. And damn, he was a fool for wanting it to be and knowing if it was and she needed him, he’d go to her rescue without thinking twice.

  He answered on the fourth ring, before the call went to voice mail. “Hello?”

  “Callum?”

  “Yes.” His heart picked up pace at that tone. It was serious and slightly authoritative—never a good sign.

  “This is Erika.”

  He relaxed a little. “Oh hey, I didn’t recognize the number. It’s not your cell.”

  “No, it’s my office number,” she said. “At the hospital.”

  Now his heart raced. Ellie. He should never have left her there with that irresponsible asshole. If anything bad had happened to her...

  He was jumping to conclusions. Erika might simply need him to cover her shift at the search and rescue station that night.

  “Everything okay?” he asked, trying to keep the fear from his voice.

  “I’m afraid not. Your brother was admitted late last night. He’s doing okay, but...” She paused. “Can you come in? I’d rather talk in person.”

  He didn’t need any more information. He grabbed his keys from the counter as he said, “Yeah, I’ll be there right away.”

  A quick call to a very understanding Mrs. Grayson and Callum was locking the store and heading toward Wild River Community Hospital. His palms sweat against the steering wheel, and he could barely focus on his surroundings as he drove quickly down Main Street.

  His brother had tried calling him and Callum had been unreachable. He’d tried him a few times in the last few days, but his mind hadn’t really been on Sean or whatever might be going on with him. He’d been distracted by his own problems. With Ellie.

  He should have tried harder or gone to the hotel.

  He pulled into the parking lot of the hospital and headed inside. At the triage station, he saw Erika talking to several nurses. She glanced his way and approached.

  “Where is he?” he asked.

  “He’s in ICU. He overdosed on some antidepressants and antianxiety meds. He’s stable, but so far he’s been unresponsive,” she said. “We have him on fluids, and we’re monitoring him for any signs of change, but right now it’s too soon to predict...” Her voice trailed off.

  Predict whether or not his brother would come out of this. And what things would look like if he did. Callum swallowed hard, tasting vomit rising in the back of his throat. Why the hell hadn’t he gone to the hotel or to his brother’s apartment? He’d known something was up, but he hadn’t thought things were this bad. “Can I see him?” he asked, his voice hoarse with emotion.

  Erika nodded. “Heads up—your dad’s in there.”

  His hands clenched at his sides and his jaw tightened.

  Erika noticed the reaction and touched his shoulder. “I had to call him first. He was listed as next of kin, but say the word and I’ll ask him to leave.”

  Her understanding had tears burning the back of his eyelids. He nodded, and she led the way down the hall to his brother’s room. His legs felt slightly wobbly as they stopped in front of the door. “We are doing everything we can, and if you need anything, let me know, okay?”

  “Thanks, Erika,” he said, pushing through the door.

  His brother lay in the hospital bed, looking pale and thin, hooked to monitors and IVs. The pale blue hospital gown seemed to match the slightly translucent shade of his skin, and his eyes were closed, but they flitted somewhat frantically as though desperate to open or looking for a way out.

  His brother had been looking for a way out of the darkness too.

  He swallowed the lump in his throat as his gaze fell on his father, back to him as he stood at the window. Dressed in a suit and dress shoes, hands in his pockets, he looked cold and unemotional as he turned. Not at all like a concerned, distraught father. “I see Dr. Sheraton had better luck reaching you,” he said.

  Callum’s chest hardened. “You usually only call about one thing.” Business.

  “And now that I have your attention, we do need to discuss that.”

  Was his father serious right now? He shook his head. “Not now, Dad.” He glanced at Sean and his brother’s body seemed to stiffen as though sensing the thick tension in the hospital room. “How is he?” he asked, hoping his father could show some level of decorum or care about his son.

  “Dr. Sheraton said no change since he was brought in.”

  “Did you find him?” he asked, moving closer to the bed.

  “No. Housekeeping at the resort. He was in the ballroom.” His displeasure was obvious, and Callum fought for patience.

  Couldn’t his father see that this was a cry for help and approval? Sean hadn’t wanted to kill himself. If he had, he wouldn’t have overdosed in the ballroom where he knew he’d be found. Where he’d hoped his father would find him?

  Callum’s heart felt like it had been run over that week and now it was being trampled on. How much pain must his brother be going through to have attempted something like this? It killed him to think his brother saw no other way.

  “This is the person you think is capable of running my resort?” his father asked.

  Callum’s gaze shot up to meet his old man’s. “Dad, this is not the time,” he said through clenched teeth.

  “When is the time, Callum? You’ve been putting this off for years, and I’m done waiting for you to realize that Sean is not capable the way you are.”

  Callum grabbed his father’s arm and shoved him outside the hospital room. He took three long strides down the hall, forcing a calming breath before stalking back toward his father.

  “Sean is clinging to his life in there right now and you want to make this about the resort?” Anger had his entire body trembling.

  “I want you to use this incident to realize what I have, that Sean is not capable of taking on the pressures of running the family business. The littlest bit of stress causes him to lose it.”

  A little bit of stress? Was his father really that oblivious to the source of his brother’s problems? Could he really not accept part of the blame for it? Or did he truly not care? “I wonder where that stress comes from?”

  “Keep blaming me for your brother’s problems all you want, but he’s a grown man now. Time to take responsibility for his actions, to move on from the ‘childhood trauma’ that resulted from me wanting to raise successful, strong men,” his father said in his usual stern, calm manner that was absolutely infuriating.

  “You didn’t raise us. You belittled us, tormented us, abused us...”

  He scoffed. “It was called the school of hard knocks when I was growing up with my old man. Now it’s abuse if you don’t praise your children for every insignificant accomplishment. Do you think I would be where I am if my father had coddled me?” He shook his head. “Your grandfather had a zero-tolerance policy and I have the belt scars to prove it. Mistakes and excuses weren’t acceptable. Parents have lost all control because they are afraid of their kids.”

  Callum released a slow, deep breath. There was no point arguing with him. His father had never listened to anything any of them had to say. If the sight of Sean lying in a hospital bed couldn’t soften the man’s heart—make him realize that he’d made some mistakes, make him want to change things, fix things—then Callum was certain nothing could. And he was done wasting his breath and energy. “Well, Dad, you shouldn’t be afraid of your children. But you could at least be afraid of losing them,” he said before heading back into the hospital room, leaving his father standing in the hallway. A few seconds later, he heard the unmistakable sound of his dad’s heavy footsteps moving farther away down the hall.

  CHAPTER
TWENTY-ONE

  THROWING HER DIRTY laundry from the week into the washing machine hours later, Ellie shut the door, turned the washer on and then leaned against it.

  Her apartment felt cold and empty. She’d never minded living alone before, but suddenly the hollow silence seemed to be screaming how much she’d missed, how many opportunities she’d let slip by while she was clinging to the past and an imagined future.

  Maybe she should go down to the bookstore and bring Stormy upstairs with her for the night so she wouldn’t be so alone.

  She sighed. That would be unfair to the fox.

  Going into the kitchen, she made a pot of coffee, and then carrying a mug into the small living room, she sat on the couch and curled her legs under her. She picked up Callum’s manuscript pages, which he’d left behind at the cottage, and read them again. The words jumped off the page and resonated even more with her this time. She knew him better now, knew the source of his inspiration and knew the depth of his passion for the subject he was writing about.

  Callum was full of depth and passion.

  She sighed, hugging the pages to her chest and breathing in deeply, hoping his scent still lingered on the pages and desperate to feel closer to him, or at least this very personal part of him.

  He had to do something with this amazing talent of his. It would be such a shame if he let fear or hesitation prevent him from going after what he wanted.

  Kinda like she was?

  She’d told Callum he should pursue his dreams, but wasn’t she being hypocritical when she wasn’t actively pursuing hers?

  He’d told her she’d make a great teacher, and damn it, she knew in her heart that she would. A lack of funding had prevented her from doing it before, but now what was her excuse? She’d been teaching English online, saving for her future... Well, maybe now was her future, and if she didn’t spend the money chasing the career she desperately wanted, what was even the point?

  She sighed as she set the manuscript pages aside and reached for her laptop. Opening it, she took a deep breath as she opened a search engine and typed in online degrees.

  She couldn’t expect Callum to follow his heart if she wasn’t willing to.

  And registering for an online learning program was just the first step for her. From now on, she refused to let her deepest fear of not achieving the fulfilled life she wanted become a reality. She’d start that evening by taking control of her professional future, and then tomorrow she’d go after the love she really wanted.

  * * *

  DISAPPOINTING MRS. GRAYSON was going to be tough, Callum thought, looking around the bookstore. The older woman had been like a grandmother to him for years. She’d given him the opportunity to work among the books he loved, and unlike everyone else, never questioned his choice to not redeem his birthright place on the resort ownership throne.

  But he had no other choice. He couldn’t continue to leave the pressure of the family business on Sean. His brother had shouldered that burden far too long, and Callum needed to step up and help. Not for their father, but for his brother. He’d agree to his father’s terms and take over running the day-to-day operations with Sean, and maybe someday he’d be able to hand the responsibility over to his brother full-time. But in the meantime, the obligation was something he needed to take on.

  Erika’s update that afternoon was that Sean had woken several times throughout the night, and while he’d been loopy and unable to communicate, she was hopeful and optimistic about a recovery. Callum was heading to the hospital next, but first he needed to give his notice to Mrs. Grayson.

  He bent to pet Stormy, curled up in her bed in the hallway, and fought the emotions welling up inside of him. She was just a fox. She wasn’t going anywhere. He could visit her anytime.

  As he entered the office in the back of the bookstore at the end of his shift, the older woman glanced up with a sad smile. “You’re leaving me, aren’t you?”

  Obviously there was nothing wrong with her grandmotherly instincts. “How’d you know?”

  She laughed. “You have been sweating all day and going well above and beyond, and you were actually on time this morning, so call it a hunch.”

  He sat in the chair across from her and ran a sweaty hand through his hair. At least he hadn’t had to verbalize it. She’d made it easy on him. “I know I’m supposed to give two weeks...” This was the other difficult part. How could he work out his notice next to Ellie and even focus on the job at all with his brother and the decision he’d made weighing heavily on his mind, preoccupying him.

  Behind her oversize dark-rimmed glasses, she sent him an understanding look. “It’s okay, darling. I understand you have a lot going on.”

  “No, I want to fulfill that obligation. Honestly, I’m not quite ready to let go just yet.” He hated to admit this part of his life was over. Hated to think he wouldn’t walk through those doors—late—and see Ellie almost every day. “I was thinking I could do inventory or stock the shelves after hours for a few days this week...” Anything to help and also transition from the job he enjoyed. He just couldn’t be in the store with Ellie...

  Mrs. Grayson studied him. “Is this just because of your family? Or is there more to it?”

  The older woman would have to have been blind or oblivious not to have noticed his love for Ellie. And she was neither. “I think you know the answer to that.” He still had no idea what he was going to do with the unrequited feelings that had skyrocketed to an even more devastating level.

  “I take it the time away didn’t go as well as you’d hoped?”

  “That would be an accurate assumption.”

  Mrs. Grayson sighed as she shook her head. “That girl is one of the most brilliant people I know when it comes to books... Emotions may not be her strong suit.”

  Her emotions had been on full display that week. There had been no hiding them when she’d kissed him...or when she’d returned his kiss.

  Damn, the memory of it tore him up. The idea that he’d never get that chance again frustrated the hell out of him. She wasn’t just someone he loved—he was in love with her, and that week had only solidified his confidence in his feelings.

  He nodded. “Anyway, this isn’t just about Ellie. I think it’s time to get serious about my own future, and as much as I love working here...my father’s right.” The words nearly choked him. “The family business is where I should be.”

  Meredith gave him a sincere, sympathetic look. One that said her heart was breaking watching the life he wanted for himself slip away. “I hope you’re making this decision because you believe it’s the right one for yourself.”

  Of course she wasn’t fooled. He’d never made any secret that the hospitality industry wasn’t for him. His “change of heart” now was simply because he had no other choice. “Sometimes a person isn’t given that luxury,” he said as he stood. “Thanks for everything, Mrs. Grayson.”

  “Good luck, dear,” she said as he closed the office door behind him.

  * * *

  CALLUM HAD GIVEN his notice.

  That hurt, but what had she been expecting? Obviously, he thought they couldn’t continue to work together after everything that had happened, that the tension and awkwardness between them would be too much. She’d texted him that morning when he hadn’t shown up for their first shift together after the weekend, but her Hey, get your butt to work or you’re fired text had gone unanswered. He was avoiding her and she couldn’t fault him for that. She just wished he’d give her time to explain that she hadn’t reconciled with Brent...because she was falling in love with Callum.

  Maybe it didn’t matter anymore.

  Their friendship was ruined, their working relationship was ruined and it was her fault. Ellie’s chest ached as she stacked a bookshelf full of the memoir from a debut author scheduled for release that day.

  A debut author. Would Callum s
ubmit his book to publishers? What was his plan now? Would he work at the resort? Take the offer from his father?

  Working there without him wouldn’t be the same. Not seeing him almost every day would be torture. She hadn’t realized just how much she depended on seeing his goofy grin as he casually strolled in late... How much she’d miss their book discussions and debates. How much she’d miss laughing with him or watching him flirt with the customers.

  Having him flirt with her.

  The memories of his kisses were absolute torture. In her mind, she’d replayed them over and over. She didn’t know it was possible to crave someone’s lips so terribly. And it wasn’t just his lips she missed, but every part of him. His smile, his heart, his hot-as-hell body, his kindness...

  The lump in her throat nearly strangled her. Why was the ache in her heart so strong when she’d only been falling for him for a few days? The pain of her breakup with Brent years before paled in comparison, and he was completely out of her mind and heart now.

  It made no sense, but then maybe love wasn’t supposed to. Maybe she needed to abandon reasoning and common sense and just go with her gut. If Callum refused to answer her calls and texts and was going out of his way to avoid her, she’d go to him and give him no other choice than to acknowledge her. She was ready to take control of all aspects of her life, including her love life, she reminded herself.

  As she reentered through the back door after taking the box to the recycle bin, she heard the store phone ringing and ran to the front to answer. She cleared her throat. “Flippin’ Pages. How may I help you?” she asked breathlessly into the phone.

  “Hi, my name is Claire Rodet. I was hoping to speak with Ellie Mitchell, the store manager,” a polished female voice said.

  “This is Ellie. How can I help you, Claire?”

  “I’m an editor at Lakeside Publishing, and I believe your store is stocking copies of Darla Henshaw’s memoir, When the Lights Go Out?”

  “We are, yes. I just finished stocking the shelves actually,” she said. Shoot, hopefully there hadn’t been a printing mistake or a shipping issue. Pulling them off the shelves would be a pain in the butt, and they’d had posters designed advertising the upcoming release date hung in the store for two months. This was a highly anticipated book written by an Alaska resident, and the readers in Wild River—especially the book club folk—wouldn’t be impressed if they had to wait or buy the digital copy. “Is there a problem?”