Chapter Seven
Kory
Fifteen minutes later, we pulled up to the most adorable blue, two-story house. The white wraparound porch was to die for. I imagined rocking on the front porch, drinking hot cocoa. The leaves on the surrounding trees were at peak color in vivid reds, oranges, and yellows. I wanted to pinch myself. The rent was going to be steep, but since we’d be splitting it, hopefully we could make it work.
It was perfect.
Hayden put his hand on mine. “What do you think?”
“I love it. Wow. I never imagined… just… I have no words. And she wants to rent this place?”
“That’s what Drake said. Want to hear what she has to say?”
I smiled and hopped out of the truck. “Yes!”
An older red Chevy truck that appeared to be in good condition was parked off to the side of the house. The large tree in front would be perfect to have a picnic under during the summer.
A blond woman, who was about my size and wearing scrubs, walked out onto the porch. She shielded her eyes from the sun as we approached the front steps. “Hey, guys.”
“I thought Drake was coming,” Hayden said.
“He’s hoping to stop by in a bit. Inspector came by the Red Onion, so he couldn’t leave.”
Hayden put his hand on my waist, and I loved the warmth of his touch. “Alexa, this is Kory. Kory, Alexa.”
I extended my hand for an introductory shake but instead was engulfed in a hug. “It’s wonderful to meet you, Kory. Welcome to Skagway.”
I immediately felt at ease with her. The unexpected hug was nice, and the nerves that had been building at the thought of meeting Hayden’s family ebbed ever so slightly. I waited for the questions or the judgment, but they never came.
Alexa gestured toward the house. “So, this place was my childhood home. It used to be a B and B until my mother changed it.” She paused, and I sensed the sadness in her voice. She gave a little shake of her head followed by a sweet smile. “Anyway, that’s a long story to share sometime over drinks. Let me give you a tour and see what you think.”
“Sounds good.” I was anxious to see the place.
As I climbed the stairs, my heart sank a little; I’d never be able to afford it. Even half the rent would most likely be too expensive. But this place felt perfect. A new start for a new adventure. The house looked practically brand new on the inside. Light gray paint with white baseboards gave it a perfect feel. There wasn’t any white furniture. That was a welcome sight. But it was still neutral enough that any color could be added to give it the pop it needed.
The counter tops were top-of-the-line black quartz. “This place is beautiful. Was this recently remodeled?”
Again, I saw the sadness in Alexa’s eyes. “Yes. It used to have more of a country feel, and I guess it’s now more traditional or contemporary. I’m not sure. I still feel like a stranger here.” She took a deep breath. “My mom made all these drastic changes while I was away at college in New York. And I wasn’t prepared. I’m still… adjusting.”
I scolded myself for pressing something that obviously made Alexa feel uncomfortable. Hayden and Alexa were talking about things happening around the town. Something about a man named Ol’ Man Rooster.
I was a little lost but didn’t want to intrude.
The house was completely furnished with black leather furniture in the living room. The dining room had a mirrored dining room table. It was so different from what I was used to living in. And I loved it.
The three downstairs bedrooms were empty. There were two bathrooms downstairs, one in the hall and the other in the largest of the bedrooms. It was a great layout for a B&B. We climbed the stairs where a door separated it from the lower level.
Alexa said, “When there were guests, we’d lock this door to keep our living space separate.”
There were three additional bedrooms upstairs. Two of the three were fully furnished with similar modern furniture. The master bedroom looked over a small pond at the back of the house. It was magnificent. I wanted this place.
Alexa excused herself to take a phone call, and I took the moment to savor the space. Hayden put his hand on my lower back ,and I leaned my head on his shoulder. “Thank you for bringing me to Skagway.”
“I wouldn’t want you to be anywhere else.”
We simply shared the moment with no additional words.
Alexa came back into the room. “Sorry about that. Drake’s not going to make it. Crete went home sick, so he’s got to stay and cover.”
I turned to her. “Oh, no. Is there anything I can do to help?”
“That’s sweet to ask. But it should be a slow day. I may head over there to help after I get done at the clinic if it’s needed.” She held out her hands. “So… what do you think?”
“It’s beautiful. This view is my favorite.”
Alexa gave me a smile. “This is my favorite view in the house, too. I used to sit on my parents’ bed and stare out at the pond. The winters are breathtaking. The frozen water glistens like it has a thousand diamonds on it. My dad taught me how to ice skate and fish there. It’s a good place to make memories.”
From her forlorn look, it seemed like her parents might have passed away. I would ask Hayden later. “What a blessing to grow up in such a place.”
“I think so, too. Take all the time you want to look around. I’ll be downstairs.”
My childhood seemed dreary compared to this. Out of habit, my mind froze, as if I’d forgotten my script for this situation. I searched for what I was supposed to say, but I had no lines to follow. Where does this leave me? Panic rose within me. When I turned, I caught Hayden’s eyes but quickly averted my own.
He grabbed my hand and mouthed, “Are you okay?”
I nodded and mouthed back, “I will be.”
I can do this. I want to do this.
The door to downstairs closed, leaving us alone. Hayden wrapped his arms around me. “You sure you’re okay?”
“Yes, it’s just different. For a second, my mind searched for what I should be saying. When I first started working in Ketchikan, that happened a lot. Then, as time went on, it stopped.”
Instead of saying anything else, Hayden held me, which was exactly what I needed. A few minutes later, I asked, “Do you want to see what the rent is?”
“That’s entirely up to you.”
I turned in his arms. “Let’s see what she has to say. If it’s too much or more than you want to spend, let me know.”
“Okay.”
Hand in hand, we went downstairs. Alexa was standing in front of the fireplace, typing on her phone. She looked up and gave me another warm smile.
“I love the place. What is the rent?”
She gave me a wink. “I don’t want anything for the rent. If someone doesn’t live here, especially through the winter, it’ll be harder on the place and cause damage. You’re doing me a favor. In exchange for rent and utilities, keep the place up. Then when you get on your feet, you can take over the utilities.”
“I—I—I…” I looked at Hayden, who seemed at a loss for words, too. He obviously hadn’t expected this offer. Alexa hardly knew me. And I didn’t want to take advantage of anyone.
Hayden said, “I’ll be living here, too. We can’t take this place for free.”
“Sure, you can.”
This was crazy. Free. This had to be out of obligation. “Alexa, I don’t want—"
Alexa touched my shoulder. “This isn’t a handout. And you guys don’t have to feel obligated to say yes. I could honestly use the help. I’ve talked with Drake about it, and he agrees. Between the Red Onion, the clinic Hollis and I just opened, getting married, and trying to move forward with my incredibly difficult sister and mother, this would be a lot of work for us to take on. We have our place, the cabin, and Drake’s apartment at the Red Onion. We’re already overwhelmed. It’s fate. I got this house, and it was waiting for you to come live here. It needs happiness within its walls. My dad would have loved for this place to be the stepping stone for someone to get back on their feet.”
Fate. There was the word again. The one that had initially brought me to Alaska.
The way she spoke about her father led me to believe he had passed away, but it sounded like her mother might not be in the picture. I wasn’t sure, but there was hurt in the depths of her eyes. Hurt that I understood.
Alexa continued, “Kory, if you love this place, I want you to live here. If it hadn’t been for the support of Drake and his family when I came back, I don’t know where I would be.”
Tears welled in my eyes, and I squeezed Hayden’s hand. “I honestly don’t know what to say. Thank you.”
“Thank you,” Hayden echoed.
Alexa looked at Hayden. “I have some boxes in the back of my truck. Would you mind getting them? Drake had to load them for me. They’re pretty heavy.”
When Hayden glanced my way, I nodded, and he said, “Sure thing.”