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Ava
“Well, here’s the cabin,” says the man, using a mittened hand to pass me the key. “There’s a cord of wood stacked in the shed ‘round the back. Should last you a good while, but just give me a call if you need more. You got winter clothes? It’s gonna be a snowy one this year.” He glances at my not-warm-enough jacket and bare hands.
“Not yet,” I admit, “but I’ll go to town and buy some tomorrow.”
“My recommendation, get some cans of food, stuff you can heat on the wood stove. Never know when the power might go out, or if you might get snowed in.”
“Thanks,” I say, looking over at the four-wheel-drive truck I just rented. “I did a grocery run on my way here.”
“Well, if that’s everything, I’ll be on my way. Welcome to Alaska, Mrs. Rossi.” He climbs into his own truck and drives off.
I stay there for a moment, surveying the snowy landscape. It’s stunning. I’m surrounded by nature, with green trees swaying in the wind and snow-capped mountains behind.
My mind turns to my husband. My heart lurched when I saw the news reports of the killings at the Bover City Carnival. To my relief, his name was not among the reported victims. Was he involved with that? Was Colin Maroney killed by him, or on his orders? For all I know, the danger back home could be over.
Or Alessandro could be locked in the middle of a brutal mob war.
If he’s paying attention, he’ll have seen that I used his credit card to buy a plane ticket. But since the ticket was in my name, he won’t be able to find out the destination, even if he calls the airline. That gives me a head start. Now, though, I’ve rented a car and a cabin. Those transactions, he’ll be able to track.
I didn’t want to tip him off like that, but I didn’t have a choice. I’m cut off from my family’s money, and I couldn’t pay for this on my own. He’ll be able to find me, whether I like it or not. I know that.
But that’s assuming he has any interest in getting me back. And as much as I might enjoy the fairytale of him swooping in to apologize and tell me how much he cares about me, I know in my heart that it isn’t realistic. He didn’t even want to marry me in the first place. He said it himself.
Our marriage wasn’t just an arrangement, it was an arrangement he didn’t even ask for. Or want.
It hurts to think about. A lot. Maybe it was foolish, but when things felt real between us, I let myself believe it. I let myself believe in the fantasy of a man actually loving me and wanting me in his life. I thought I was Alessandro’s princess in the cute, Disney way,not in thetraded-off-like-livestock-because-it’s-politically-beneficialway.
Still, at least where I am now is more interesting than Boise. I’ve always wanted to see Alaska, and I’m all about the cozy, winter cabin vibe. No matter what happens, it’s a cool experience to have before I start school in the fall.
My fingers are getting cold, and I can see my breath. I let myself into the cabin and turn on the lights, taking in the interior. Lincoln log walls face me from every direction, with a woodstove in the corner. It’s definitely warmer than it was outside, but not by enough.
Time to build a fire.
***
Alessandro
I resist the urge to spike my phone into the ground. If one more fucking airport employee tells me that he can’t reveal the destination of the ticket, even though it was purchased with my credit card…
Clenching my fingers, I refresh the page of financial transactions for the millionth time. Finally, something new shows up. Two things, actually. One is a car rental, the other a receipt for“Benson Family Cabins.”It takes very little investigation to put a location to the charges:
Fairbanks, Alaska.
10 minutes later, I’ve purchased a planeticket.
***
Ava
It takes me three attempts and a YouTube video before I successfully get a fire going. Apparently, you can’t just light a big log with matches and expect it to burn. That’s the kind of thing you don’t learn growing up in Bover City.
Once the woodstove is burning, the cabin warms up quickly. It’s incredibly cozy. Having Alessandro here to cuddle with would be nice. The thought makes me sad, so I turn my attention to the snow falling gently outside in the fading light. Tomorrow, I want to explore the wilderness around me.
I’m definitely going to need some winter clothes.
Chapter Fifty-Four
Ava
