“Those sound really promising. Why don’t we get together next week and go over this?” He made a face. “I know you weren’t expecting me, so I apologize for just popping up. I was actually picking up a pumpkin bagel for my mother. After last night we’re all going to make sure she’s not skipping meals.”
“That’s a brilliant idea. How is she today?” True asked. She felt guilty for not checking in on her friend earlier.
Red shook his head. “I thought she should take the day off, but she’s eager to show her grandsons Yukon Cider. According to Hattie, she’s fine, but last night made everything all too real for me.” He let out a huge sigh. “She’s mortal like the rest of us.”
Compassion flared inside her. Clearly, Red loved his mother, yet he was helpless to protect her against the ravages of illness. She knew exactly what he meant. Hattie Stone was a larger-than-life figure who seemed invincible. Accepting the fact that she was terminally ill was something True struggled with. Obviously she wasn’t alone.
“I know I’m not a blood relation, but Hattie’s always been like family to me. Believe me, I’ve always viewed her as my she-ro. Superwoman’s got nothing on her.” She let out a chuckle that quickly transformed into a sob. The more she tried to choke the tears back, the harder she cried. Red reached across the desk to pat her hand.
“I’m so sorry. I don’t know where that came from,” she apologized. Embarrassment threatened to swallow her up. Usually she was able to easily keep her emotions in check, but lately she had been struggling to hold it all in.
“No need to apologize. As to where it came from, you’re human. And you love Hattie. That means you’re grappling with the idea of losing her. Trust me, we all are.” Sorrow emanated from his dark brown eyes. Suddenly, True wanted to know more about this man. Why was he estranged from his sons? What had taken him away from his hometown for so many years?
“Thanks for understanding,” True said with a nod. Loss had been such a huge part of her life. In many ways losing both of her parents had shaped her adulthood. She had been trying to recover ever since. With the anniversary of her parents’ death rapidly approaching, True knew all her emotions were resting on the surface.
“I’ll be in touch, True,” Red said as he stood. “I appreciate you hearing me out.”
“Of course,” she said, standing to see him to the door. “I’d love for you to come to our karaoke night on Wednesday.It’ll give you a feel for the place and what we’re doing for events.”
He smiled at her, giving the impression he was considering it. “I might just pop in, True. Thanks for the invite.”
Red immediately gestured for her to sit back down. Before she knew it, he’d sailed out the door.
Another knock on her door caused her to let out a huge groan. What was it now? Unless it was actually Xavier Stone standing in her doorway, she didn’t want to be bothered. Seconds later Bonnie appeared, her eyes brimming with curiosity.
“Wasn’t that Hattie’s son I just saw walking past me?” Bonnie asked. She was smacking her gum so loudly, it resembled the sound of popcorn popping on the stove.
“Yes, that was Paul Stone, otherwise known as Red.”
“I haven’t seen him in years. Hubba-hubba. He’s aging like a fine wine.” Bonnie’s excitement was palpable. “I almost bowed when I saw him. He’s fifty percent responsible for those hunky Stone brothers.” She winked at True. “He should get a medal.”
“Please tell me you didn’t say that to him.” Sometimes Bonnie went rogue. True fervently hoped this wasn’t one of those times. She had to handle this business situation as a consummate professional. She would have to cross all hert’s if she meant to follow through with her plan to buy Hattie out. Now that the Stone brothers were in town and poised to inherit Hattie’s empire, she felt a sense of urgency. More than ever True realized how much she wanted to own Northern Exposure. She had put in a lot of blood, sweat, and tears to make the establishment a success. Maybe it was a long shot, but she needed to pursue this dream.
“C’mon, True. I’m not that out there. That would be inappropriate.” Bonnie made a prim face and shot True a sweet smile. At the moment she looked as if butter wouldn’t melt inher mouth. True knew better. She loved Bonnie to death, but she was a wild card.
“It would be,” True murmured, “considering this is a place of business that his family owns.” She could feel the corners of her lips twitching, but True didn’t want to encourage Bonnie.
“Honestly, he’s mighty fine himself. I’m open to dating a zaddy.”
True had held in her laughter as long as she could. Bonnie’s last comment sent her over the edge. True put her face in her hands, and with quivering shoulders, she began to howl with laughter. She really needed this moment of levity. Thoughts of Hattie’s impending death, combined with the upcoming anniversary of her parents’ tragic plane crash, had been weighing heavily on her. This was the perfect outlet.
“Bonnie, what would I do without you?” she asked, wiping away tears of laughter.
“Girlfriend, we’re not ever going to find out.” She approached True’s desk and held up her hand for a high five. After they’d slapped palms, Bonnie quickly turned to leave. “Gotta get back to the grind. It’s almost time for Amos’s lunch.”
Amos Duggan had been a regular customer since the tavern opened its doors fifty years earlier. Every single day—even during snowstorms and major holidays—Amos showed up for lunch. And he ordered the same meal each time—a cup of Alaskan clam chowder, a barbecue burger, and rosemary fries. He was the sweetest man in the world with his pure white beard, twinkling blue eyes, and slight potbelly. He flirted madly with Bonnie every single day she was on the schedule and pitched a small fit when she had a day off. If a human being could be a mascot, then Amos was it for the tavern.
After Bonnie’s departure, True’s thoughts veered back to her unexpected encounter with Red Stone. True barely knew him at all. Over the years she’d only seen him a handful of times. He had been in and out of Moose Falls for the past twenty years, always having one foot in and the other foot out. To her knowledge he hadn’t ever worked for Yukon Cider. But now, with Hattie’s terminal illness, everything had shifted. If only True had been in a position years ago to make a bid for ownership of Northern Exposure, things wouldn’t feel so precarious right now.
And now, it seemed as if the opportunity was rapidly slipping through her fingers without there being a single thing she could do about it.
“Isn’t Moose Falls beautiful?” Hattie asked from the front passenger seat. Bundled up in her long purple puffer jacket and knit hat, she appeared to be in fine shape. She’d made a nice recovery from last night’s fainting spell. Dr. Akash had warned her strenuously about the hazards of skipping meals. As much as he could, Xavier intended to make sure his grandmother ate heartily.
“It really is scenic,” Xavier said. No one could dispute that simple fact. He had to focus on the road, but he could still soak in his magnificent surroundings. Rugged mountains rose in the distance. They loomed so large, it almost seemed as if he could reach out and touch them. Snow-dotted trees—Sitka spruce, mountain hemlock, quaking aspen—were in abundance.
He had a vague memory of this view, which was fairly shocking to him. Xavier was learning more and more each day that he’d retained way more about his hometown than hehad ever imagined. Just being here in Moose Falls was bringing it all back like ocean waves crashing against the shore.
Today Xavier was driving one of his grandmother’s cars. If he was going to be living in Alaska for a solid year, he needed to become proficient at driving in snowy conditions. Back in Arizona snow tires and chains were nonexistent. He was being careful and driving slowly until he became acclimated to the roads and weather conditions. So far, he was doing a pretty good job.
