Three times a week, theWanderermade daylong trips from the sheltered, ice-free waters of Valdez, along the wooded shores of the towering, misty fjord—to watch whales break the surface and flip theirtails before they dove back down to the depths. To spot bald eagles soaring overhead. To marvel at the crystal-blue magic of the massive Columbia Glacier.
On Valerie’s first day, she woke early—her body clock not yet adjusted to the time zone on the Pacific coast. She tiptoed in her nightgown out of her room to the dark, quiet lobby and found a book to read calledTravels in Alaskaby John Muir. She read for two hours before the sun came up.
Later, when the day began for guests in the lodge, she got dressed, pulled on her wool coat, and walked up the narrow gravel path to the little house on the hill, hidden in the trees. She was expected there for breakfast at seven o’clock.
She knocked on the front door, and Maud answered. “Good morning.” She invited Valerie inside, where the smell of bacon and toast induced a ravenous hunger. Valerie followed Maud to the kitchen.
“Have a seat,” Maud said. “I hope you like your eggs scrambled.”
“I like eggs any style. Thank you.”
The back door swung open, and a tall muscular man with wild white hair and a bushy mustache kicked the dirt from his boots before stepping inside.
“This is my husband, Blaine,” Maud said. “Blaine, this is our new girl, Valerie, all the way from Nova Scotia.”
He stopped and stared. When he spoke, his voice was deep, smooth, and smoky. “I must be dreaming. You, my dear, are the answer to our prayers. Welcome.” He removed his coat, hung it on a hook by the door, and then rubbed his hands together on his way to the breakfast table.
“Can I do anything to help?” Valerie asked.
“Don’t worry about a thing,” Maud replied. “I’ve got it all under control. Just take a seat, and I’ll serve you a plate.”
A moment later they were all seated and digging into a hearty breakfast, sipping on strong coffee.
“Has Maud told you what you’ll be doing today?” Blaine asked.
Valerie swallowed a crispy fried potato and wiped her mouth with a napkin. “She said I’ll be going out on the boat with you?”
“That’s right,” he replied. “The tour starts at ten, and we have eight passengers booked. I’ll take you down to the dock after breakfast and tell you what to do, show you the ropes—literally—and teach you the safety protocols. I have a notebook with a narration about the history of Valdez. Lots of stuff about the gold rush and the Russian occupation. You can read from it today, but have it memorized for next time.”
“I can do that,” she said. “I’m used to memorizing lines. I was in the school play three years in a row.”
He sat back and spread his arms wide. “Perfect! And tonight, Angie will train you in the dining room.”
“Who’s Angie?” Valerie asked.
“She’s our little lifesaver,” Blaine replied as he shoveled a forkful of eggs into his mouth. “She’s been working for us, off and on, since we built this place.” He picked up a slice of bacon and dipped it in ketchup. “But she’s a married woman now and starting a family.”
Valerie cleared her throat. “She’s expecting a baby?”
“Yes. That’s why we’re so glad to have you here to take over when she needs to quit. She’s expecting next March.”
Oh, God.They had no idea why Valerie was there.
Blaine reached for his coffee. “She’s Frank Brown’s daughter-in-law. I thought maybe, since you’re an old family friend of the Browns, you might already know her.”
Valerie shook her head while a case of nerves caused her mouth to go dry. “I only met Mr.Brown for the first time yesterday. I’d never even heard of him before a week ago.”
Maud and Blaine exchanged a look of confusion. Then Blaine sat back and recovered his easygoing nature. “Well, no matter. You’re here now, and we’re grateful to have you. It’s not easy to staff the lodge over the winter months.”
Valerie struggled to remain calm. “I’m grateful to be here, but ... I’m not exactly sure if Mr.Brown told you everything about me. I don’t want to put you in an awkward position where you’re ...” She paused. “What I’m trying to say is that I don’t want to keep any secrets from you. And if you don’t want to keep me on after what I’m about to tell you, I’ll understand.”
They both stared at her questioningly.
“Not keep you on?” Blaine slapped his open palm on the tabletop and sent the cutlery bouncing. “Are you mad? We opened a bottle of bubbly when Frank called to tell us that you were coming.”
A lump formed in Valerie’s throat, and she was overcome with humiliation.
Maud reached across the table and squeezed her forearm. “Spit it out, sweetheart. It can’t be that bad.”
