by Nancy Naigle
“We’re family. It’s my job to worry. Did the doctor come?”
“Yes. Turns out she’d been feeling a little under the weather for a couple of days, but she never said a word.”
“Is it serious?”
“Don’t worry. She’s in good hands. They’ve been running a bunch of tests to figure out why she’s been so woozy feeling and all. So far everything has come back just fine.”
“Do they think there’s something serious going on?”
“I think they’re just being cautious. We’re getting older. She’s in good spirits. Keeps playing it off, but I think she’s a little worried. They did some heart tests.”
Heart tests? Hers seemed to start a shuffle-ball change in her chest. “Oh my gosh. I’m coming down.”
“Flynn, you don’t need to do that. Your grandmother would shoot me dead if she found out I told you. Shoot me twice dead if she found out that I made you leave Alaska and that man she was so taken with last year.”
“But . . .”
“I’m not surprised you’re there with him. You know your grandmother predicted you two would be a perfect match when she saw y’all walking down the aisle together.”
“She might’ve been right.”
“I told her it was just wedding magic. You know she gets all mushy at weddings, but sometimes that woman has a knowing about these kinds of things.”
“It’s been the best visit. I can’t believe how different Alaska is from what I expected. It’s a small town with different weather and really short days. It’s not so different from Boot Creek.”
“Your grandmother and I have talked about doing a cruise to Alaska.”
“The ships bring in a lot of tourism to these places.” Enough idle chitchat. She still didn’t know anything and she wanted more than ever to be right there with them. “Will you call me or text me as soon as you hear from the doctor this morning?”
“We will, honey, but don’t you worry.”
“I love you.”
“We love you too, Flynn.”
She hung up the phone. If she’d been home she would’ve driven straight to the Raleigh airport and grabbed the first flight down to Florida. She’d have been there in a few hours. Being this far away gave her a feeling of hopelessness. A feeling of regret too. She wanted to be there for them. They’d always been there for her.
She went back upstairs. Ford had fallen asleep on top of the comforter still wearing his jeans. She didn’t bother waking him. There wasn’t anything to share yet.
Crawling back into bed, she snuggled up close to Ford and held on, letting her breathing slow to the rhythm of his.
She woke up to a kiss on the shoulder. She turned over and stretched, then grabbed for her phone. He hadn’t called back yet. “Good morning.”
“How’d the conversation with your granddad go last night?”
“Gran is still in the hospital. They are running tests to make sure there’s nothing serious going on that led to her falling in the first place.”
“That’s promising though, right?”
“I’m worried.” She pulled her arms across her body. “Granpa told me to wait, but I’m feeling helpless. I need to do something.”
“What would you be doing right now if you were home?” he asked.
She shrugged. “If I did what my grandfather said to do, I’d be waiting and not worrying. But I know me. I’d be on a plane to see her right this minute.”
“Well, you can do what your grandfather asked of you from here.” He took her hand in his. “It’s going to be okay.”
She nodded. “Where are you going?”
“I’m going to head over to the shop here in a few. Take an inventory of things. Do you want to come?”
She considered it, but she was tired, and worried. She couldn’t even think about shifting gears to that glass shop right now. She was probably more mentally tired than anything, but she wanted to wait on that phone call. “Would you mind if I stayed here?”
“No, babe.” He pulled her into an embrace. “Go back to sleep, and call me later. I won’t bother you so you can get some rest.”
“Thanks.”
“I love you,” he said.
A zing like electricity went through her at the sound of those words. Not in the heat of passion. Not in an apology. Just because. “Ford, I love you too.” So much so that the joy in her heart sent tears racing to her eyes.
She felt a calm when the front door closed behind him, and she heard the sound of his truck engine turn over.
Flynn checked her phone again. Still no update. She drifted back asleep until the special ring she had reserved for her grandparents woke her.
“Hello?” Her heart pounded from the ring and in hopes for good news.
“Hey, Flynn. We just got finished talking to the doctor.”
“Are they letting you take her home?” She crossed her fingers and closed her eyes.
“No. Honey, they found a little blockage. They are going to do a little procedure to clear it. They said it’s nothing to be worried about. Sounds like they do this all the time and she’ll be up and racing around like normal in no time.”
“Surgery?”
“A procedure,” he repeated.
She wondered if that was more for his own comfort or hers.
“I’m coming.”
“No. Honey, your grandmother was very specific about this. You need to stay right where you are. She said she feels fine and she has complete confidence in the surgeon. She’d rather you and that handsome man of yours both come down at Christmas or something when we can have fun.”
She felt torn.
“I’m serious now, Flynn. She didn’t even want me to tell you, but I told her I couldn’t with a clear conscience do that.”
“She better never keep that kind of stuff from me. I love y’all. I need to know these things.”
“We’re going to be just fine. They aren’t doing the surgery until Monday morning.”
She glanced at the clock. It was still early on Saturday. She could get there.
He continued, “I promise to text you throughout the whole thing.”
“I should be there for you.”
“Why? So both of us can sit on hard chairs and drink bad coffee?”
“Because we’re family, and family is everything.” And if anything were to happen she would never forgive herself. There was never a guarantee for tomorrow. Dad might have let his life fizzle to one of loneliness after Mom died, but it had only made her bond with her grandparents, Mom’s parents, that much tighter. When Dad left, she’d needed them even more.
She wrapped up the call so she could think without her grandfather yammering on about what she shouldn’t do. She never was good at being told what to do.
She tossed her phone on the pillow beside her, then got up and paced the room. Where were her priorities?
In the kitchen she spotted a small phonebook on the cookbook shelf. She took it down and looked up the Manic Moose. Hopefully that number would roll to Missy or Chet.
She dialed and on the fourth ring Missy answered. “I hope I’m not disturbing you,” Flynn said. “It’s Flynn. Ford’s friend.”
“Flynn. Hi. I’m glad I answered. That area code threw me. I thought for sure I’d be fussing out another telemarketer who didn’t know they couldn’t afford to ship to me here in Alaska.”
“Never really thought about that.”
“Oh yeah. Used to make me crazy. I’d get all excited about something and then they’d take the deal back or up the shipping on me. Anyway, what can I do for you?”
“I was wondering if you had the number for the guy with the plane. I need to get down to Florida. My grandmother is having surgery.”
“I have his number, but he was just in here. He’s not flying until Wednesday. He just went to help a friend with some damage from the storm.”
Just her luck. “That’s awful. For them and for me I guess. How can I get out? Can I drive to the airpor
t?”
Laughter over the line was enough of an answer. “It would take you two days to drive there with this weather. Plus, even in fair weather you have to go around the mountain and that would take you a day on bad roads.”
“I’m sorry I bothered you. I thought for sure there’d be a way out of here. I’m suddenly feeling like Alaska is a little too far away from the people I love. It’s beautiful, but that might be a price I can’t afford.”
“I have an idea. Do you have a pen?”
“I do.”
“Let me give you Louisa’s number. That woman has the best connections. If anyone can get you out of here, she can.”
“Thank you.” Flynn’s hopes rose. “Thank you so much.” A single tear ran down her cheek. A tear of relief.
She jotted down the number and then called Louisa and gave her the details.
Just as Missy had said, that woman pulled together a plan in less than an hour. Rather than flying to Juneau where the flights were in delay status, she had a friend that could get her to Seattle. From there Flynn could catch a commercial airline to Florida and arrive late Sunday night.
“Thank you so much, Louisa. You don’t know what this means to me.”
“Sure I do,” Louisa said. “Family is important. And I consider you part of our family in this town now. We all really like Ford. You’ve got a great guy there.”
“Thank you. I know I’ve said it like ten times but I don’t know what else to say.”
“Say you’ll be back,” Louisa said.
Flynn laughed nervously. Could she promise that now?
Louisa didn’t wait for an answer. “I’ll be there in about forty-five minutes to pick you up and take you to Slim’s place to catch that ride.”
Flynn raced through packing. With her bags next to the door, she pulled a piece of paper from a notebook on Ford’s counter and wrote,
Dear Ford,
I had to go. My grandparents are my only family. I have to be there. They are doing surgery on Monday. I didn’t want you to leave your project, and I know you would have. You are so wonderful. Maybe I don’t deserve you. Alaska is beautiful and you are the best thing that ever happened to me, but this is so far from my family, and right now they need me.
I’ll call and let you know how things went. I’m wishing you all the best on the new glass shop.
With love,
Flynn
Flynn landed in Orlando and retreated to an airport hotel. There was no sense in trying to find a good rate, or something close to the hospital at this point. She just needed a bed and a pillow to rest her aching body.
At seven o’clock her alarm went off. She showered and gathered her things and took a cab to the Regional Medical Center Hospital.
When the cabdriver dropped her off at the front entrance, she spotted her grandfather walking up the sidewalk. What were the odds of that happening?
Thank you, God. She knew right then she’d done the right thing. She was in the right place, no matter what leaving Ford may have meant.
She paid the driver and then ran up to meet her grandfather. The look of surprise on his face was unmistakable.
“What are you doing here?”
“You know I had to come.”
He shook a finger at her. “Your grandmother is going to want to kill me.”
She wrapped her arms around him. “Won’t be the first or the last time.”
“It’s good to see you.” He squeezed her and for the first time he felt small and frail. If she was this worried, she could only imagine how worried he was.
They walked to the elevator and he led her straight to her grandmother’s room on the third floor.
“Can I go in first?”
“Be my guest.”
She opened the door and stepped inside. As soon as her grandmother spotted her she shook her head.
“I told your grandfather not to call you.”
“Yeah, what was that all about?”
“I didn’t want you to worry. I’m getting great care here. There’s not a thing you can do that’s not being done.”
“I love you. I wanted to be here for you.”
“The best thing you can do for me is be happy. I think there’s something special going on with you and this young man.”
“You’re more important than that.”
“That’s just silly talk. I remember him from the wedding. He was quite handsome.”
“He is super good looking, but he may be the nicest man I’ve ever known.”
“So what’s the problem?”
“He lives in Alaska.”
“So move to Alaska.”
“I can’t do that.”
“Why not?”
“The bed and breakfast. I would never let you down. And what if you need me? You wouldn’t believe what I went through to get here. Some bad weather moved in and there were delays. I rode in a cargo plane from Alaska to Seattle to catch a real flight.”
“Honey, that was just downright crazy. Hope they only charged you freight prices though.”
That made Flynn laugh. Gran had a way of lightening the mood no matter what was going on.
“How are you?” Flynn reached for her hand. “I’ve been so worried. I feel so helpless right now.”
“Stop fussing. This is exactly why—”
“Why she told me not to tell you,” her grandfather said. “I told her not to come, Suz. I promise.”
Flynn caught the pleading look in Granpa’s eyes. “He did. But I didn’t listen.”
“I knew you wouldn’t listen. You’re just like your mother.” Gran looked to her husband. “Real love is the most important thing of all, and if that means making some changes, that is okay. Isn’t that right, dear?”
Granpa nodded. “A few compromises never hurt anyone. We made a few.”
Gran smiled. “We sure did.”
“I made a commitment to you to run the B&B. I won’t let you down.”
“We don’t care if you don’t want to run that inn. The legacy is in what it will give you. The freedom to live a full life. Like mine with your grandfather. I want you to have that and yours might not be that old house as a B&B. Yours just might be a life in Alaska.”
“That’s crazy.” Flynn was juggling emotions.
“Is it?” Gran’s chin set firm.
“We really probably shouldn’t be getting riled up right before surgery,” Flynn said.
“Don’t be silly. It’s a simple procedure. Not like my life is at risk. I’m going to be fine. Now you, you could be messing up the chance at a future with your one true love.”
“Living in Alaska was never in my plans.”
“Whose plan?”
“Mine. Remember me? Shifting from corporate America to running the B&B and finding a nice guy to raise kids in a small town.”
“Honey, our plans don’t matter. We had an escape clause. Remember?” Her grandmother pointed up. “It’s his plan that counts. Alaska has small towns. Every state has small towns. And your plan hasn’t been working out so well for you so far, has it?”
“Gran. That wasn’t—”
“I’m just sayin’. Your plan might be a little too rigid. How’s this Ford make you feel?”
Even just thinking about it the swirl of emotion made her tingle and feel lightheaded. And they had remembered the escape clause. Was this really meant to be? “Like I’ve been hit by a truck. Knocked senseless and off balance.”
“In a good way. I can tell. He treats you right?”
“Oh he’s a real gentleman. He’s thoughtful. Old school. He makes me feel special.”
“That’s how your grandfather reeled me in. He made me feel like a real lady. Still does.”
Flynn knew the feeling. “Yes. Just like that.”
“He was smitten with you at the wedding.”
That was silly. But he had said as much. “That was just an usher being polite to a bridesmaid.”
“No. Walking you down the aisle is being polite
. Talking to you through the whole reception is interested.”
“We did spend a lot of time together that night, didn’t we?”
“I’m surprised I seem to remember better than you do.”
Why was that? Why hadn’t he made an impression on her last summer? “It was Angie’s day.”
“And you had your guard down. That’s how real love finds its way in.”
“Why didn’t I notice it then?”
“Maybe you were looking in the wrong places. Honey, you’ve tried to be the right one for so many. Love doesn’t require that much work. It happens quick and unexpected, and it is okay if it breaks the mold. It’s not one size fits all.”
“She’s got a point,” said Granpa. “She knows what she’s talking about on this. Just like your mom and dad. Didn’t matter that it looked wrong to anyone else, it was right for them from the very first moment they saw each other.”
“And like it was with us,” Gran said with a smile.
Being with Ford was the first time she hadn’t tried to change herself for a man. She’d been herself and things had worked. So well. Her days of being a chameleon were over. “He does make me happy in ways I never expected.”
“Don’t be afraid.”
“The B&B was going to be my fairy tale. I love it. I really don’t want to leave that behind. Plus, me running that is what is going to afford you that dream house.”
“Don’t you worry about us. We’ll work that out. But you tell me. What good is the fairy tale if the prince is all wrong?”
Flynn thought about Brandon. About the other men she’d dated. And Ford.
“The B&B was our dream, honey. It’s just geography. A safe landing spot. You know the difference, right? When you picture yourself without the B&B, how do you feel?”
“Like I’m letting you and Granpa down. Like I’ve put a lot of work into the place and I have so many wonderful memories there that I’d hate to leave behind.”
“And if it was gone tomorrow?”
“I’d still have those memories, but I’d miss it.”
The nurse came into the room with her parade of helpers. “We’re ready to take you to surgery, Mrs. Crane.” She turned to them. “I’m going to need to ask you two to leave so we can get this show on the road.”
“Just a minute.” Gran reached for Flynn’s hand. “And how would you feel if you never saw Ford again?”