“It’s exactly how I imagined it,” Gwen said, feeling as if she’d walked into a dream.
“No wonder Valerie was so inspired here,” Peter said. “Creatively, I mean.”
They retrieved their suitcases from the trunk and wheeled them to the expansive wooden deck. The door to the lobby was thick knotty pine, aged to a warm, golden patina. Gwen entered first and approached the reception desk. A young woman in a sharp-looking navy blazer and white shirt greeted them.
“Welcome to Wilderness Lodge. Checking in?”
“Yes,” Peter said. He gave her both their names.
She found them in the system and prepared electronic e-cards. “You’re next to each other in the east wing. Both rooms have water views. Turn left on the far side of the fireplace, and it’s all the way at the end of the hall.”
“Thank you.” Gwen started off across the lobby. “The end of the hall,” she said over her shoulder to Peter. “Isn’t that where Valerie stayed?”
“If so, this is very serendipitous.”
They reached their rooms and tapped their cards on the touch pads.
“I’ll see you in a bit,” Gwen said and entered her room with a sense of nostalgia, though she’d never been there before. The decor was obviously contemporary. This twenty-first-century version of the room was pure luxury, with a king-size bed, a thick white duvet, and fluffy pillows. It faced a large flat-screen television on top of an entertainment unit with a black granite countertop. Gwen checked the drawers and cupboards and found a fully stocked minibar, a coffee maker, elegant wineglasses, and a corkscrew.
Next, she turned to the wide picture window, where ivory-colored sheers were closed but still let in the light. She drew them open and admired the view of the water and majestic Chugach Mountain range beyond.
A knock sounded at her door. She hurried to answer it.
Peter stood in the hall holding up a bottle of prosecco and two champagne flutes. “How’s your room?”
“Perfect. How’s yours?” She stood back and invited him in.
“Great. I thought this moment deserved a toast.” He set the bottle on the desk.
“I didn’t get a bottle of bubbly,” she mentioned, feeling a little left out as she looked around.
“I called ahead and special ordered it,” he explained. “I figured we deserved it after everything we managed to learn over the past few days.” He peeled off the foil. “It’s going to be great for the book and for your museum as well.” He popped the cork and poured the fizzy wine into the flutes.
“I still can’t believe it,” she said, accepting the glass he offered. “It hardly seems real that we might be in the same room where Valerie livedand wrote her early music. And isn’t it interesting that I’m calling her Valerie now when she was always Scarlett to me?”
Peter picked up his glass and held it up. “To Valerie. And to Cameron. And Jeremy. And you and me.”
She clinked the tip of her glass against his. “To us.”
They sipped the chilled prosecco and wandered to the window. Peter took note of the fancy new boat at the dock. “I wonder what happened to the originalWanderer.”
“We could ask the owners,” Gwen suggested. “But we probably shouldn’t reveal why we’re here. We can tell them later, of course, after the book comes out.” She moved to sit on the edge of the bed. “So what’s next? We have dinner reservations at seven. Should we book a spot on the glacier tour tomorrow?”
“That sounds good,” Peter replied. “I’d also like to drive to the site of the Old Town and walk around a bit.”
“We can probably do both of those things tomorrow,” she said, sipping her drink.
Her phone rang in her purse, and she quickly stood to retrieve it. “It’s Eric again.” She stared at his number on the screen.
“Should I leave you alone?” Peter asked, gesturing toward the door. “We could meet up for supper later.”
“No, please don’t go,” she responded. “Have a seat, and finish your drink. I’ll see what he wants and try to make it quick.” She tapped the little green button. “Hello?”
“How’s it going?” Eric asked, overly cheerful. “Are you still in Alaska?”
Gwen turned away from Peter and wandered past the bed. “Yes, but I left Juneau this morning. I’m now in Valdez doing some extra research.”
“Valdez? As in theExxon Valdezoil spill?”
