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The O’Rourkes were a family that had been fractured by tragedy and loss and the prison system. Those events must have made a huge impact on Declan’s life. She admired him for creating his own business with O’Rourke Charters. It couldn’t have been easy, she imagined.
“Killian, their grandfather, raised them all by himself after that. It was a sad day when he passed on,” Hazel said in a mournful tone. “Yet another loss for those two.”
Hmm. It seemed that she and Declan had something in common, after all. They had both been raised by a grandparent after death, and life circumstances had taken their parents out of the equation. From the sound of it, Declan had endured a lot of loss in his life.
“What about Finn? He really seems to care about Declan.”
Hazel sniffed back tears. “He does. In his own way. But Finn has never stuck around Love long enough to even put down roots. Both of them have wounds from losing their mother in such a senseless way. Then, to lose their father to the prison system...the ripples of those events were devastating.”
Annie frowned. “What was his father in jail for?”
Hazel made a turning motion on her lips as if she was locking them shut with a key.
“I’m guilty of having a big mouth, Annie,” Hazel confessed. “But I wouldn’t hurt that boy for all the tea in China. I’ve said enough. Anything else you want to know about Declan has to come from his lips.”
“I understand,” Annie said. “I wasn’t trying to pry. Blame it on the librarian in me. I’m always seeking answers to the questions rolling around in my head.”
“No worries. I was the one who brought it up. In a town like Love, you’re bound to find out all the answers to your questions sooner or later. I’d rather not be the one to speak about Colin O’Rourke. It’s still a tough subject for the boys.”
Boys? Annie might have giggled if the discussion wasn’t quite so somber. Declan and Finn were a far cry from boys. They were strapping men who were both extremely easy on the eyes. Alaskan eye candy. Hot men of the tundra. No wonder women were leaving their lives behind and relocating to the far ends of the earth to find love.
“We’re here,” Hazel announced in a chipper voice as she turned off the main road. A few feet ahead, Annie spotted a rusted, faded sign with a brown bear on it. As soon as Hazel turned onto the private lane, Annie noticed reddish cabins as far as the eye could see. The abundance of snow-covered trees lining either side of the lane reminded her of Maine in winter. There was a quaintness about the area that appealed to her. As Hazel continued down the lane, Annie let out a gasp. A gigantic craggy mountain came into view. It felt as if she could almost reach out and touch it. This, Annie realized, was a sight she would never stop marveling at.
Hazel stopped the car in front of a large, two-story, rustic home. A wooden sign posted in the ground read The Lodge.
Hazel sighed as she stood and looked across at the mountains and the spectacular Alaskan vista. “Beautiful, isn’t it? God sure got it right when He created Alaska.”
“That’s for sure,” Annie said. She got out of the car and stood in the clearing, staring off into the distance. There was something so majestic about her surroundings. She inhaled deeply and threw her arms wide. There was no way of knowing whether it had to do with the view or surviving the plane crash, but she suddenly felt more alive than she had in her entire life. Adventure was knocking on her door, and she was going to heed the call.
“Leave your bags in the car. I’ll take you back down to the cabins after we get a bite to eat.”
Annie followed Hazel as she opened the door to her home and stepped inside. The interior of the Lodge was beautiful. Although Hazel didn’t seem like a dainty woman, the furnishings and accents were very feminine and old-fashioned. Annie admired the gleaming hardwood floors and stained glass windows. Gorgeous paintings of Alaskan landscapes adorned her walls. A velvet settee, a mahogany armoire and a glass-front china cabinet all added special touches that lent the place an understated elegance.
“Why don’t you sit down and relax while I heat up the food. The powder room is right down the hall if you’re so inclined.” Hazel’s kindness was making Annie feel at home, despite experiencing a few pangs of homesickness. Everything was so different here! Even though she had craved this Alaskan adventure, it was still a bit nerve-racking to step out of your comfort zone and embrace change.
If you always do what you always did, then life would be pretty boring, wouldn’t it? Another Gram-ism popped into her head, serving as a reminder that she needed to be brave. Her new life in Alaska was a journey of discovery. Isn’t that what she had wanted?
She looked around the room, noticing all the pictures. A framed photo of Hazel and Jasper sat on a side table.
“Is Jasper your boyfriend?” Annie asked as soon as Hazel returned. Judging by the picture of the two of them, they looked as if they were more than friends.
“That depends on what day it is,” Hazel cracked. She shook her head and let out a boisterous laugh. “Just teasing. Jasper is my honey bear. We’ve been together for about a year now.”
“That’s wonderful, Hazel,” Annie gushed.
“I loved him from afar for quite some time. Jasper finally got his act together and showed he had some common sense,” Hazel said in a crisp voice.
Annie was intrigued by the idea of a romance between the older couple. It was sweet that they had found love with one another later in life. She wished Gram had found someone special to pass the time with in her golden years. It was sad to think that, other than a youthful relationship, she had never experienced romantic love. I don’t need a man in my life when I have you, Gram had always said. Annie had never believed her.
Gram. The ache of loss still tugged at her heartstrings relentlessly. Annie had hoped that coming to her grandmother’s hometown would serve as a healing balm for her sorrow. But grief was a process that she had to walk through one step at a time. As important as her grandmother had been to her during her lifetime, it was only fitting that she would miss her like crazy.
“Come sit down at the table,” Hazel instructed. “The grub is piping hot and ready to be served.” Hazel ushered Annie into the dining room, where two places had been set. In the middle of the table were platters of food—chicken, a rice dish and biscuits and gravy.
“What an amazing spread,” Annie said as she inhaled the delectable scent of Hazel’s down-home cooking. Hazel reached for her plate and began to heap a generous helping of the food onto her dish.
“I cooked this morning for you in anticipation of your arrival. I knew the rescuers would find you and Declan. Praise the Lord!” Hazel raised her palms in the air.
Annie dug into her food. “He had our backs the whole time,” she said with a nod. Despite her fear, she had known that God was watching over them. They had been under His protection the entire time. That was the real blessing.
