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“Do me a favor and tell him to stop using my best lines,” Moira says with a wink. “Now, I’m going to go see if I can get the cook to put a rush on your food before this young man faints.”
With that, she disappears into the kitchen, leaving the three of us alone. Liam flips slowly through his cards while Lily decorates a napkin with her crayons. I sip my coffee, enjoying the feeling of being a normal woman doing normal things with my children.
In my handbag, my phone buzzes away, but I ignore it. I’m not ready to face whatever the breaking news is today.
Within minutes, Moira brings three huge plates of food to our table and sets them down. “Happy eating. Let me know if you need anything else.”
“Can I get whipped cream for my pancakes?” Lily asks.
“Now that’s up to your mom,” Moira tells her. “I don’t let my boys have whipped cream, but according to them, I’m the meanest mom in the whole world.”
“You don’t let them have whipped cream on their pancakes?” My daughter is aghast.
“It’s like this,” Moira says. “If they have whipped cream on their pancakes, they don’t get any pie after dinner. I figure life's about choices.”
Lily nods her head slowly. “I think I’d rather have the pie, too.”
“Good girl. I sent lemon meringue up to the lodge for supper tonight. Make sure you get yourself a piece.”
We nearly lick our plates clean. We’re so stuffed when we’re done, I’m not sure I can move, but the kids are eager to go to the park. I make them wipe their faces, then send them off, leaving myself alone with Moira to sip my coffee in peace.
When she comes by to clear our plates, I say, “So, Digger is your brother?”
“Yes, he is. My crabby big brother who knows everything about everything,” she answers with a smile.
I can’t help the laugh that bursts out of me.
Moira arches an eyebrow in question, so I tell her, “I got on his bad side by being late to the plane.”
“How in the world could you have helped being late? It’s not like you were flying the other plane that got you to Anchorage.”
I gesture for her to sit down, and she slides into the booth across from me. “Our cab driver suggested we pan for gold first. He said Digger wouldn’t mind.”
A knowing look crosses her face. “I have a feeling I know who it was. Was his name Gib?”
I nod.
“Yeah, he gets a cut from the guy who runs the gold panning place.”
“Ah, that makes sense now.”
After a second, she says, “I don’t mean to pry, but he didn’t recognize you, did he?”
“Recognize me?” I sound surprised. She never let on that she knows who I am.
“Digger stopped by last night after dinner to help my sons with a project. He may have mentioned who you are. But don’t worry, he told me to keep it quiet. He’s really good about protecting people’s privacy.”
“I’m hoping that trait runs in the family,” I say, narrowing my eyes in concern.
“I don’t have too many friends in this town, and I’m certainly not a blabbermouth.” There’s a sad look in her eyes which suggests a whole story she’s not telling.
“Are you new to town or something?”
“Not that.” Then, with a deep breath, she confesses, “I’m considered the biggest threat to every marriage in Gamble.” My look of confusion causes her to add, “Ever since my husband died.”
My gaze follows hers out the window in the direction our children are playing. Lily is on one swing next to one of Moira’s younger sons, chatting away.
I realize that even though I’m going through a tough time, there are a lot of people out there who have it a lot worse. Looking back at Moira, I say, “I’m sorry about your husband. I can only imagine how hard that must be.”
