Fala sighed. “Oh, why am I not going to like what I am about to hear?”
“I have to fly into Seattle tomorrow morning to make the arrangements for surveying the tunnel.”
Fala slammed her beer can on the table. “You promised, Alex. You said when you got back, we’d go on a trip. Just the two of us.”
“I know, and I plan on keeping my promise, but the job isn’t done. They still need my help. Let me finish what I’ve started and I’ll take you wherever you want to go.”
“No, Alex. For once, can’t you just let someone else take care of it?”
“No, Fala. This is my job.”
“No. Your job is teaching geology. You are a college professor, not Indiana Jones, who gets to traipse all over the world on some epic adventure. We’re a family, Alex, and we’re supposed to be together. At least that’s what I thought when you asked us to move in with you.”
“I know, but you have to understand, this is very important to me.”
Fala stared at the ground, nodding her head. “Important to you, huh? More important than me and Halona?”
“Dammit, Fala, you know full well that is not what I meant.”
“It’s what you said though, Alex, isn’t it? Sit there and tell me that’s not what you just said.” She looked over at Alex, tears beginning to blur her vision.
Alex set his beer down and knelt in front of Fala, wiping her tears away with his fingers. “Fala, you know that you and Halona mean the world to me. I would kill for you, that’s how much you mean to me. Now tell me, why are you getting so worked up about this job? I’m just going to explore a tunnel. Pretty standard stuff.”
“I just have a bad feeling about this trip. It sounds dangerous, Alex. The last time you went somewhere, you came back all battered and bruised. What if this time you come back in a body bag?”
Alex stood up and kissed her on the lips. “I love that you worry about me so much, but you have nothing to worry about. I’ll be fine. It’s not like I’m going by myself; I’ll have company.”
“Who’s going with you?” she asked, wiping the remainder of her tears away.
“Your cousin, if he agrees.”
Halona suddenly ran up the steps, smiling. “Uncle Okana is here.”
Alex and Fala stood and turned to look at the white pickup coming up the driveway. When Okana stopped and climbed out, they all walked over to greet the tall man with shaggy blond hair.
Okana smiled and picked Halona up. “You’re getting big, and you’re as pretty as your mom.”
“Thanks, Uncle Okana. What’s my surprise?”
Okana gave Fala a questioning look. When she gave him a nod, he opened the passenger door and grabbed something inside, and then knelt down to give Halona a puppy. “Happy birthday.”
Halona smiled and cradled the little ball of fur in her arms, giggling when it licked her nose. She kissed Okana on the cheek. “Thank you, Uncle Okana. What’s his name?”
“He’s a she, and that’s up to you. She’s a golden retriever, and she needs someone to care for her and play with her.”
Halona held the puppy at arm’s length and studied its face. “I think she looks like a Trixie.”
Fala smiled at Alex. “So what do you think?”
Alex wrapped his arm around her waist. “I think she makes a nice addition to the family. Is the pup from your clinic?”
“Yes, the mother was hit by a car and I couldn’t save her. This one is the runt of the litter, and the only puppy nobody wanted. The poor little thing is very loving, and I just couldn’t put her down.”
Alex watched another car park in the driveway, and suddenly several of Halona’s little friends climbed out and ran up to see the puppy and Fala went down the steps to talk to the two mothers of the children.
When Okana walked up the steps, Alex reached into the chest and held out a beer. “Have a seat, and tell me about your work in Alaska.”
Okana accepted the beer and sat down. “Mike is taking his research ship, the Mystic, to the location of that cylinder you told us about and tomorrow I’ll fly back to help him with the search.”
“Do you think Mike can spare you for a few days?”
“I can ask. What have you got in mind?”
Alex explained what happened in Iceland. “I’ll do the first exploratory survey, and I’d like you to join me.”
Okana grinned. “Sounds like fun. I’m sure Mike won’t mind. In fact, I think he’d love to join us.”
“I’d prefer that it just be you and me for the moment.”
“All right. When are you planning to go down the tunnel?”
“I’ll need some time in Keyport to get organized, so let’s meet in Iceland in four days.”
“Four days? Didn’t you just get back?”
“Yes. Today.”
“I bet Fala wasn’t happy when you told her you were leaving again.”
“Yeah, she was pretty upset.”
“Take it from someone who has been with his fair share of women, my friend. Unless you like sleeping on the sofa, don’t piss off the woman you’re sleeping with. Trust me, it’s sound advice. A sofa doesn’t hold a candle to a soft warm woman lying beside you. So you best keep her happy.” He took a sip of beer. “We’ve been through a lot of tough situations together, so of course I’m in.”
“I appreciate it.” He briefly thought back to the time Okana saved his life and got him out of Europe before the Russian Mafia could kill him. Thankfully, that problem was resolved during the Red Energy operation.
Okana stuck around until Halona cut her birthday cake and had one piece before heading for his truck. As he walked over to say goodbye, he noticed Alex’s serene expression and a warm feeling coursed through his body. “It’s nice to see you happy again, my friend.”
Alex smiled. “I’ve never been happier.”
“Remember what I said. Sofa city.”
Alex glanced at Fala. “Got it. I’ll see you in Iceland.”
When Okana drove away, Alex walked up onto the porch, grabbed his beer, and sat down in a chair. He had a family he loved, and an adventure to go on with his best friend. Things just couldn’t get any better.
* * *
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B011HEYLV6
The Alex Cave Series. Books 1, 2, & 3.: Box set Page 83