EDGE (7 page)

She should have put him upstairs regardless of his injury.

Rinka jumped to her feet and growled deep in her throat. Mel caught movement in the bushes by the beach. She thought she saw a man watching, but everyone was tucked away in the lodge. Must be a bear wandering about.

Mel grabbed Rinka’s ruff. “Easy, girl.”

She suddenly felt too exposed. “Come on.”

She tugged Rinka into the lodge where she took point at the French doors, fur ruffled along her back, ears faced forward, and refused to leave.

C
HAPTER
F
IVE

Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out.

~ACTS 3:19

Nicole awoke, blinking against the bright light streaming through the windows. It took a moment to remember where she was and the long trek it had taken to get here. And here was really nowhere.

After Amelia had left, Emily had bitched until Nicole threatened to ground her. When Emily had pointed out that she couldn’t possibly ground her any further than living here in this godforsaken place, Nicole had given up. She couldn’t remember the last time she’d slept, and she hadn’t the energy to fight her daughter any longer.

Quentin, on the other hand, was in heaven. The boy obviously had an outdoorsman lurking within. The hardest part was over. They’d made it to Alaska, and Amelia hadn’t left them stranded in Anchorage. She and her kids had a place to stay for the summer. Hopefully it would be enough time for her to decide what she was going to do with her life.

She threw back the covers, climbed out of the surprisingly comfortable bed and reached for her robe. She needed to unpack and move in. The place was primitive, but it could be made livable. She glanced around the small space. It didn’t look nearly as bad as it had last night. She reached for the blankets and made the bed, stopping when she saw the quilt she had slept under. Her breath caught at the beauty of the pattern and the artistry of the stitches. It was like a painting created with fabric. Wildflowers in splashes of color blended together over the quilt. This shouldn’t be covering a bed. It should be hanging in some gallery. Reverently, she smoothed back the quilt until all the wrinkles were gone. It was surprising to find such beauty in a place so sparse.

A look at her watch had her hurrying to get ready. It was already past eight. She climbed the ladder to see Emily still sleeping but Quentin’s bed empty. Oh boy, what manner of trouble was he causing already? He’d wanted to see everything last night. She needed to have a talk with him. The Edge was dangerous. He couldn’t wander around without letting her know where he’d be. She rushed to dress in jeans, t-shirt, layering a sweatshirt and left for the main lodge.

Nicole opened the door to the kitchen and found Linnet at the stove frying eggs, home-styled potatoes, ham, bacon, sausage, and sourdough pancakes.

Linnet glanced up from turning pancakes. “Good, you’re up.” She gestured with her spatula toward the counter that held the makings for sandwiches. “Get started on those, will you.”

“Sure.” Nicole automatically followed Linnet’s orders. “Have you seen Quentin?”

“He was following Mel around,” Linnet said. “Better get a move on. As soon as they finish eating, they’ll be heading out.”

“Heading out where?” She washed her hands and wished she’d had time for a shower, but first she’d have to locate one.

Linnet scooped a stack of pancakes and set them on a plate heating in the oven. “Whale watching today. We need six sack lunches. Make them for men. Think double on everything.”

Amelia swung into the kitchen. “Those pancakes ready?” She gave a slight pause as she caught sight of Nicole. “Morning.”

Linnet handed her the plate of pancakes and a larger one with eggs, bacon, sausage, and ham, which Mel took with the dishtowel she whipped off her shoulder.

“I’ll be back for the potatoes. Do we have any fruit cut up yet? Mrs. Whitney requested some.”

“I’ll get right on it.” Linnet turned to the industrial-size fridge and pulled out apples, berries, peaches, and more. “Take a break from the sandwiches and cut up a large bowl of this, okay?”

“Okay.” Nicole took the fruit and set it in the sink to wash.

“Gotta work fast.” Linnet grabbed a huge bowl of batter and began to pour more pancakes onto the steaming griddle.

Time rushed by with Linnet barking out orders like a short order cook and Amelia popping into the kitchen to grab more food. Nicole followed Linnet’s instructions. Just when she thought the whirlwind would consume her like a tornado with a trailer park in its sights, it was over in a silent hush. The guests were off to the boat with a cooler full of lunches she’d packed herself.

Linnet handed her a cup of coffee. “Take a load off. You’ve earned it.”

Nicole fell into a chair. Another check of her watch told her that she’d only been working an hour. It could have been fifteen minutes.

Amelia came into the kitchen and fell into a chair opposite her. “That was hectic.”

“Is it always like this?” Nicole asked, hoping that she wouldn’t have to face this every morning.

“Nope, just halibut fishing and whale watching excursions,” Linnet said.

“Don’t forget the end of July when the silvers are running,” Mel added.

“Hard to think of July when we aren’t through June yet.” Linnet placed a huge plate of the leftover food on the table and took a seat herself. “Dig in. We’ll need our strength to tackle dinner.”

“When those people come back after being on the ocean all day, they’ll be starved,” Amelia informed her. She filled her plate to the edge and then poured syrup over the whole thing.

Nicole had forgotten how atrocious Amelia’s sweet tooth was. Syrup on pancakes, yes. Syrup on eggs, ham, and potatoes, no thank you.

Nicole filled her own plate and took a bite of the pancakes. She closed her eyes and groaned. “Linnet, these are wonderful.”

“Why, thank you.” Linnet nudged Amelia and nodded toward Nicole. “So, what do you think?”

Amelia grumbled around her food, “She did all right for a cheechako.”

“Cheechako?” Nicole asked.

“Alaskan word for tenderfoot,” Linnet explained and addressed Amelia. “She did better than all right, and you know it.”

“I admit, you did pretty well considering we threw you in cold and on one of our busiest mornings,” Amelia said, though she didn’t look all that happy about it.

Nicole drew an imaginary circle with her hands. “This was all a test?”

Linnet cracked a laugh. “In a manner of speaking. If you’d slept any later, breakfast would have been over, and that would have been that.”

“What would you have done if I hadn’t shown?” Nicole asked.

“Managed like we have been. Your help made this morning run like a picnic.” Linnet said. “Mel wouldn’t have socialized as much with the guests and would’ve helped out more in the kitchen,” Linnet shoved another fork full of pancakes into her mouth.

“Plus, the lunches would have been made
before
breakfast was even started. Right, Linnet?” Amelia took satisfaction in pointing that out.

“So, I was a little late pulling my sorry butt out of bed. I was up late last night.”

“Only because you couldn’t wait to get a good look at her.” Amelia gestured to Nicole with her fork.

“All right you two,” Nicole said. “What do I get for passing the test?” She felt like she was having breakfast with her kids, though the insults hadn’t started yet.

Linnet looked to Amelia. They shared a moment of silent communication, and then Amelia spoke. “You get a job. If you want it.”

This she hadn’t expected.

“We could use the help,” Mel said. “I’ll have to find someone else if you don’t take it. The lodge is booked for the summer, and Linnet and I won’t be able to keep up with the cooking and chores for the number of people who are already paid up for the season.”

“Just so you know, we’ve already employed Quentin. He was thrilled to be hired on as crew,” Linnet informed her with a cheeky grin. “Isn’t that right, Mel?”

Amelia smiled and chuckled. “Yep, that boy of yours was more than happy to jump in with both feet.” They both laughed.

“What did he do?” Nicole dreaded the answer. Quentin was going to be the death of her.

“In his zeal to help get the boat ready this morning, he ended up taking a dip in the ocean. Woke him up real good.” Amelia laughed again. Linnet chimed in.

“Is he all right? Was he hurt?” Her little boy fell into that huge, freezing ocean, and they were laughing about it?

“Don’t worry. Sergei fished him right out, and we got him warmed up before he headed out.”

“Headed out?” Her baby was out…where? Panic bit into her.

“Settle down, Nic,” Amelia said. “Quentin’s in good hands and he’s having the time of his life. Sergei runs one of the safest boats around. The group going out this morning was small, and Quentin was beside himself to go with them. Sergei will take care of him and make sure he doesn’t get into any trouble. Besides, the guests loved him. He had them in stitches all morning.”

“My Quentin is out
there
—” Nicole pointed to the windows with the huge, freezing, scary ocean beyond “—on a boat with a man I don’t know. You have no right to make that kind of decision. He’s my child, not yours.”

A long, uncomfortable pause followed her rant. Then Amelia spoke with words that cut to the bone. “He’s with people I trust with my life. It isn’t like someone will be able to kidnap him or anything.”

A much longer, agonizing pause followed this time. Linnet stood with her plate in hand. “That’s my cue to make up the beds.” She set her dish by the sink with the many already stacked there and left Nicole and Amelia alone.

Nicole knew she couldn’t move in on her sister and stay all summer without this issue coming up. She’d hoped it could have waited until they were more comfortable with each other. Maybe then Amelia would be willing to understand the choices she—as a stupid teenager—had made twenty years ago.

“I don’t want to get into this now.” Amelia rubbed her face.

“We’ll have to address it sometime,” Nicole said.

“Not today. I’m not going there today.” Amelia rose and carried dishes to the sink and began filling it with water.

Nicole followed. “Let me help with those.”

Amelia turned as though she’d forgotten Nicole was still in the room. Memories haunted her eyes. “No,” she said, her tone flat, cold. “Wander around. See the place. I’m sure you’ll want to shower. You’ll find a bathroom off the great room down the hallway to your left.”

“Amelia—”

“Everyone here calls me Mel.” She gave Nicole a look that spoke volumes, and then turned back to the dishes.

“Uh…sorry,” Cache said, standing in the doorway from the dining room. “I didn’t mean to interrupt.” He glanced briefly at Nicole, his gaze coming to rest on Amelia. “I was looking for breakfast.”

A glass slipped through Amelia’s soapy hands and fell to the floor.

C
HAPTER
S
IX

Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you.

~1 PETER 4:12

Mel knelt to pick up the broken pieces of glass. How much had Cache overheard?

“Shit.” She’d sliced her palm on a shard of glass.

“You’re bleeding,” Nicole said.

Nothing like stating the obvious
.

“Let me see,” Cache said, hobbling across the kitchen. “Where’s your first aid kit?” Cache grabbed her arm and turned on the faucet, running her hand under the water.

She cursed and jerked free.

“Mel, first aid kit?” Cache yanked her hand back under the water, checking to see if she had any slivers of glass in the cut.

“Laundry room.” She scowled at the cut that kept filling with blood. She might actually need stitches. “First door on the right as you leave the dining room.”

“I’ll get it.” Nicole rushed out in search of it.

Mel didn’t want to be alone with Cache again. Last night’s clandestine meeting had left her uneasy. She pulled her hand from his. The bleeding seemed to be lessening. “Looks like it’s going to be all right.”

“You okay?” he asked, searching her eyes.

“The cut isn’t that deep.” Were they talking about the same thing? Or was he referring to what he might have overheard? She hoped to God it was the former.

She grabbed a paper towel and wrapped her hand in it. “How are you feeling this morning?” She glanced at his leg.

The lines around his mouth tightened. He clearly didn’t like to talk about things that pained him either. “Better. It’s amazing what a good night’s sleep can do.”

Nicole rushed in with the first aid kit. “Here. I found it.”

Cache took the kit from her. “Have a seat,” he addressed Mel, motioning toward the table.