by Edie Claire
“There!” Ben pointed out. “It’s calving!”
The passengers watched silently as a huge section of ice suddenly stirred itself into motion, dropping into freefall along the icy highway of the wall behind it, collecting an avalanche of smaller streams of ice along its path and crashing finally, in a cloud of white, onto the horizontal floes of ice below and into the darker waters beyond.
For several seconds, no one said anything.
“That was totally cool,” the older boy announced solemnly.
“Lunchtime!” Carol sang out, emerging from the galley with a basket of wraps. “Who ordered the vegetarian?”
Haley remained at the railing, staring out at the gigantic wall of ice. Another low rumble met her ears, and she strained to see another section of ice make its escape toward the sea. But this time, only a thin trickle of white poured down from the glacier’s midsection like a waterfall.
She felt suddenly warmer. Ben was standing beside her again. He was holding two sandwiches and two bags of chips.
She looked up at him with a smile. “This is fantastic,” she answered before he could ask. “Thanks for telling me about the cancellation.”
“My pleasure,” he answered, handing her her portion of the food and settling himself against the railing. “The drinks are in the cooler, there.”
Most of the passengers went into the warmer cabin to eat, but several, including Ben and Carol, ate their sandwiches at the railing, enjoying the gentle motion of the boat as it drifted slowly away from the glacier along the current created by the melting ice.
Haley had no further chance to speak privately with Ben, as he was soon surrounded by other passengers.
“So,” the older man asked. “Did you grow up in Alaska?”
“No,” Ben answered, popping open a cola. “Seattle. I went to the University of Washington.”
“How long have you lived up here?” a younger woman asked.
Haley smiled at the obvious admiration in which the passengers held their handsome and amusing captain. She made a mental note to see what kind of reviews the tours got online, and if he was personally mentioned in any of them.
“I’m only up here from May to September,” Ben answered. “The rest of the year I do tours in Maui.”
Haley nearly spit out a mouthful of bottled water. Hawaii? What the hell?
Ben shot her a quick, sideways glance, then returned his attention to the other woman. “I follow the humpbacks. The Alaskan coast is their summer playground, but they prefer warmer waters for mating and calving. Peak season in Hawaii is February and March. I do tours there in the Au'au Channel between Lana'i, Maui, and Molokai. It’s one of the best whale-watching spots in the world because the water is warm, shallow, and protected — almost like a big bathtub. And the humpbacks don’t have to worry about predators so much either, because the orcas prefer colder water…”
The listening passengers remained transfixed, asking so many questions that Ben barely got a chance to eat. Haley finished her sandwich in silence, studying him with ever-increasing fascination. Summers in Alaska and winters in Hawaii? Who did that? Did he even have a permanent residence? Did he own any more belongings than what was stuffed in the tiny cabin? Did he have a significant other in Hawaii? If so, how did she handle such long separations?
The perks of such a lifestyle fascinated her, even as she marveled at the difficulties. It was like living permanently on vacation. But he couldn’t possibly make any real money. He must be living from hand to mouth, with no long-term security whatsoever. How could he stand that?
And wouldn’t he have mentioned it if he had a girlfriend in Hawaii?
The boat drifted idly near the glacier for some time while the passengers enjoyed their sandwiches and chatted quietly, alert for any signs of another calving. Twice Ben returned to the bridge and drove the boat back up closer to the glacier, then allowed it to drift again. They hadn’t passed another boat in some time, making them feel as if they were all alone on the planet. Except, of course, for the half-dozen harbor seals that lounged on the ice flats near the rocky shore and the myriad seagulls and puffins that splashed in the frigid water and bummed rides on the floating chunks.
As Ben entertained the crowd, Haley kept mostly to herself, soaking up as much of the atmosphere as she felt her brain could hold. Why had it taken so long for her to manage a week away? She needed days like this. She needed them more than she had realized.
She had the sensation of being watched and turned to see Ben looking at her. There was a question in his eyes, but she couldn’t read it clearly. Before she had a chance to try, another passenger claimed his attention.
If he only knew.
Haley allowed herself a sigh. It wasn’t like she had headed off to law school saying, “I want to help businesses that are polluting the planet clean up their act as inexpensively as possible!” She had never had any such intention. In fact, when she had written the Law Review article that ultimately sealed her fate, she had yet to decide on an area of specialization. But the idea of citizen’s groups taking on major corporations interested her, and her creative take on patterns in cancer-cluster case law had caught the eye of Robert Hardin, one of the top environmental attorneys on the West Coast. The fact that her article was less-than-subtly sympathetic to the aggrieved little people seemed not to register with Bob or with anyone else. And when she was invited to work with him at one of the most prestigious firms in the region, saying “no” was not an option. She was offered the highest starting salary of anyone in her law school class.
“Are you worried?” Ben asked.
Haley didn’t jump this time. She was getting used to his surprise appearances. “Worried about what?” she asked, keeping her tone light. He might be skilled at interpreting facial expressions, but he wasn’t a mind reader.
“That we won’t see any whales, of course!” he replied.
Haley grinned. “You know, we’ve seen so many other amazing things today, I pretty much forgot about the whales.”
He drew back with feigned horror. “Forget about the whales? That’s blasphemy. Never. We’re going to find one right now.” He straightened and adjusted his cap.
“Do you know where they are?” she asked.
He smirked. “I have my ways.”
“Like talking on the radio to the other boat captains?”
He pretended a scowl. “A magician never reveals his secrets.”
He whirled away toward the bridge, and Haley grinned after his departing form. Her drive to Moose Pass with Ben had certainly been entertaining. But out here, watching him in his element, not only delighting the passengers with his witty banter but skillfully piloting the boat through potentially treacherous waters, he was beyond charming. He was…
Nope! Not gonna think about that!
Haley’s teeth gritted. Blasted hormones. How many months would she feel like this?
Let her get back to work at the firm. That would stop it.
She pictured Ben with his hair cut short wearing a stuffy-looking suit with a briefcase under his arm.
Her stomach soured.
Perfect.
Chapter 11
Ben cast a watchful eye out over the horizon. It had started to sprinkle a little, but the heavier rain that was predicted was holding off, just as he’d hoped. He had no desire to bring this group back early.
Haley was standing out along the bow again, braving the cold wind to enjoy the forward view. She looked adorably dorky. Her hastily purchased knit cap kept riding up to give her a cone head, while his jacket hung down to her thighs. Her unfettered hair flung out beneath the cap in a mass of tangles and her cheeks were red with cold.
Damn, she’s beautiful.
All morning he’d been imagining what she would look like wearing various other items from his closet. All day he’d been struggling to cut it the hell out.
No women in Alaska.
He repeated the silent mantra for the forty-eighth time. He’d b
een doing pretty well this year. He’d kept himself busy, minimized his time at the local bar scene. There were always girls like Alexa, who seemed to cross his path more frequently than random chance would predict, no matter how scarce he made himself. But women like her no longer tempted him. At least, not much. All things considered, they were more trouble than they were worth, and after this last, disastrous year, he was officially done with trouble.
Yeah. How’s that working out for you?
He growled under his breath and steered the boat toward Chat Island. His buddy Rod had just reported that a boatload of happy passengers was watching a humpback put on a show southwest of there. The larger boat should be moving on just about the time Ben’s arrived.
Rod was married. He lived in Anchorage with a pretty wife and two cute kids. He spent his winters sitting in front of a computer working for an insurance agent.
No thanks.
Ben loved his job. He loved his lifestyle. It required certain sacrifices. But it was all good.
Liar.
One of the women pointed something out to Haley. Ben craned to see what had caught their attention and saw more porpoises in the distance. Sorry ladies, no time. They had to keep on track to catch up with the whale. This particular male was a favorite with the captains. He was bold, breached often, and almost seemed to enjoy having an audience.
Ben watched Haley’s face as she grinned with delight at the frolicking porpoises. She was loving this, and he was loving that she was loving it. God knew she needed it. He’d never seen anyone carry such a weight on her shoulders without seeming to realize it was there. On the surface Haley seemed so strong, so self-sufficient. But there was more going on with her. Something heavy was dragging her down. He saw flashes of it in her eyes at the oddest moments.
What was it?
No women in Alaska.
He frowned. He was perfectly capable of taking an interest in the welfare of a female without the relationship turning sexual. Haley would only be in town for a week, for God’s sake.
No problem.
“Excuse me,” a man in his mid-twenties said politely, standing just outside the bridge. “I’m Steve. I called earlier and talked to Sam about… the plan?”
Ben smiled. His boss had explained to him and Carol yesterday that a passenger on today’s cruise was planning a surprise marriage proposal. The couple had taken a similar tour on their first date exactly one year ago, and the future groom wanted the moment to be perfect. He had also asked for special permission to bring a bottle of champagne, which the boss had granted, as long as the event occurred near the end of the tour and any invitation to toast the couple would be restricted to adult passengers.
“Yep!” Ben answered.
“Well, I was just wondering when would be a good time,” the man asked. “Maybe you could give me a cue of some sort?”
Ben took another look at the sky. “Anytime we’re not actively watching wildlife is fine with me,” he answered. “But the weather could be a problem. I’d say any stretch we get without rain, you should be ready to take advantage. You might not get many opportunities.”
“Gotcha,” Steve replied, his eyes twinkling with anticipation despite the grim forecast. “Thanks!”
Ben gave an answering nod, and the man returned to his companion on the stern. Ben watched the couple a moment, particularly the woman. They were obviously in love. He’d seen that same look on the faces of his sisters when they had gotten engaged. All four were now happily married, but each had suffered disastrous relationships beforehand, about which he knew far more than he wanted to. Every time some guy somewhere did one of them wrong, the compulsion to properly train their baby brother — or more accurately, demand vicarious retribution from the nearest male of the species — had been irresistible.
Men are scum, Benjamin! Don’t you ever treat a girl like this, you hear me?
Never mind that he was only fifteen. Or twelve. Or nine.
If you ever do this to somebody, so help me, I’ll…
Sheesh. He was nearly twenty-eight years old now, and they were still hassling him.
You can’t possibly expect that any intelligent woman is going to give up her life and career just to follow you around! His oldest sister, Maggie, had lectured not three months ago. You’re not being realistic. The only women who’d do that are brainless leeches looking to suck the life out of you.
Thanks for the ego boost, Mags.
She had looked contrite then. Oh, Ben! I’m not saying you’re not worth a sacrifice. I’m just saying it’s not fair of you to expect it. Not unless you’re willing to give up just as much, yourself.
Rod’s boat appeared over the horizon, and Ben welcomed the interruption. He could do without that particular memory anytime, but at the moment, it was especially irritating. Every hour that passed in Haley’s presence had only made the chemistry between them crackle louder, and the futility of the situation was maddening. Had she not looked horrified when he mentioned his yearly migration? Of course she had. They all did. And she was leaving in a matter of days, regardless. What could he possibly offer a woman with a lucrative full-time job in California besides a meaningless fling?
He groaned beneath his breath. Thanks to his damned brainwashing sisters, he couldn’t even enjoy that.
He was watching Haley again, seemingly unable to do otherwise, when she jerked upright from the railing, turned to get his attention, then pointed out over the water.
A spout. He nodded at her with a smile. She had been the first one of the passengers to see it. She was a natural.
Rod’s much larger boat slowly peeled off to the north while Ben continued forward. The passengers gathered near the bow, pointing and chatting with enthusiasm as plumes of water exploded upwards in the distance. Ben judged the whale’s speed and direction, moved in a safe distance, then put the engine in neutral and waited for the animal to resurface.
The friendly whale did not disappoint. A spout fired barely 100 yards off the rail this time, and the massive animal surfaced, then lobtailed, raising its giant fluke completely out of the water and then slapping it down hard on the surface. The passengers cried out with delight — as they always did — and then together they watched and waited with bated breath for the animal to come back up. Ben performed his usual routine over the loudspeaker, his mind half on what he was saying and half on Haley’s reaction. She was entranced.
“There’s no earthly way of knowing, which direction he is going…” Ben sang in a spooky voice, reminiscent of the boat scene in Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory. A lot of younger people didn’t get the reference, but it amused him anyway. Particularly when the whale cooperated by moving even closer to the boat.
Bingo!
Just forty yards away now, the magnificent animal burst out of the water in a spectacular breach, flashing over half its black-and-white streaked mountain of a body to the speechless onlookers before arching back and crashing into the water with a tremendous splash.
The passengers went nuts. Haley in particular looked as happy as he had ever seen her.
Ben smiled to himself. I love this job.
He continued his spiel while the bull played its part to perfection, including the particular move Ben was hoping for. Rolling on its back, the whale stuck first one pectoral fin out of the water, then the other, wiggling each around before slapping it gently against the surface.
“See there, Haley,” Ben said into the loudspeaker. “I told you a whale would wave at you.”
His heart skipped a beat as she turned, her ridiculous-looking hat creeping up over her ears again, and flashed him a smile that could melt glaciers.
Thank you.
He smiled and nodded back.
No problem.
Actually, it was a problem. She was a problem. As gratifying as it was to watch her face light up with such childlike glee, the sight only compounded his frustration. Everyone enjoyed seeing whales. But no woman he’d ever cared about had shown anywhere
near the depth of awe that he still felt, every time. The only woman who’d even come close to understanding his passion was Bella, another naturalist he worked with in Maui. Bella loved the whales, the birds, the sea… all of it. Unfortunately, Bella also loved alcohol and made one belligerent drunk.
Why, oh why, did such an attractive, intelligent, and whale-loving woman have to show up now, here, when he couldn’t do a damn thing about it?
No women in Alaska. He’d sworn it to himself, and he’d meant it. God knew it was hard enough finding women in Hawaii who would tolerate his absence four months a year. There was no way in hell any woman in Alaska would go for eight.
And Haley lived in California.
Her hat had popped up completely over her ears now. She had cute ears. He could imagine—
Orcas! The word leapt out of the chatter on his radio to penetrate his wayward brain. One of the resident pods had just been spotted off Ragged Island. Ben waited until the humpback had moved away from the boat, then he put the engine back in gear and set course for the orcas. Haley was lucky. They saw the other sea mammals almost every day, but orcas were more elusive, showing themselves in the area only once a week or so.
“The rain’s stopped,” Steve whispered through the cabin window a few moments later. “I’m going for it.”
Ben grinned at him. “Godspeed, man.”
He wasn’t able to watch the actual proposal, as it occurred in the stern of the ship directly behind him. Carol the incurable romantic was busy filming the whole thing on Steve’s phone and clearly had no intention of spelling Ben for the event. But he could tell from the assorted “oohs,” “aws” and cheers of the other passengers that the woman in question had said yes.
Lucky guy, Ben thought to himself, turning to look briefly at the future bride and noting the happy tears on her face. Steve had surprised her. Good for him.
“That was so sweet!” Carol effused a moment later, popping into the seat beside him. “Damn shame we can’t join in on the toast. Where’re we headed?”