Sweet Home Alaska. Beth Carpenter

the pilot turned chatty.

      “Did you get what you needed from Daniel?”

      “Yes, Daniel is very knowledgeable. He tells me I’d be better off taking someone local with me on the rest of my visits to help smooth the waters and show me the ropes. Do you know anyone in your company who could do that?”

      Mike glanced over his shoulder. “Volta would be good. She’s always volunteering to help with events in the villages, so they all know her.”

      “I’m not available next week,” Volta said into her headset. “I’m doing that transport to Boston on Monday.”

      “Jaci would take it, I’ll bet,” Bridget said. “She’s got a boyfriend in Boston now. You should ask if you can switch.”

      Volta was silent. When he looked back, Volta had muted her mic and was whispering something to Bridget. Scott decided to table the subject for the moment. “What river is that?” he asked Mike. The rest of the trip, Mike pointed out the sights. They hardly heard a sound from the back of the plane.

      They landed at the airport and taxied to their headquarters. Ash covered the ground here as well, but only a dusting compared to what had fallen in Sparks, and the runways had been cleared. An ambulance was waiting, and the team efficiently handed off to the paramedics. Volta gave Lori a hug. “Take care of yourself and those two precious babies.” The crew jumped in, closed the doors to the ambulance and drove away.

      Bridget and Volta walked toward the door to the Puffin facility adjoining the hangar. Scott followed them into the offices. The two women disappeared upstairs and returned a few minutes later in street clothes.

      Bridget stretched. “I could go for some coffee. Anyone want to join me at Kaladi’s?”

      Volta checked her watch. “Thanks, but I need to get home. Next time.” She started for the parking lot.

      Scott grabbed his bag, made his excuses to Bridget and hurried to keep pace with Volta. “Will I see you again?” He couldn’t let their relationship end on that conversation they’d had last night.

      She shrugged. “If you’re using Puffin, we might cross paths.”

      Might cross paths? “Why don’t you want to fly with me to the villages?”

      “It’s just—I don’t know—awkward.”

      “Why? We’re both professionals. Clearly, you’ve established relationships around the state. I don’t see why we can’t work together on this project.”

      She walked several more steps before answering. “I don’t know, Scott. I’d have to think about it.”

      “Fair enough. We’ll talk Monday?”

      “If you want to see me before I fly out to Boston, I’ll be at the 7 a.m. meeting at Puffin.” She reached into her pocket. “Oh, no.”

      “What?”

      “I just realized I left my car keys lying on the top of Libby’s dresser.”

      “Oops. Do you have another set at home?”

      “Yes.”

      “I’ll drive you to get them.”

      She shook her head. “I’ll take a cab.”

      “I have a rental car right here. By the time you catch a cab, I can probably get you there and back.”

      “Well—”

      He laughed. “Hey. I’m a very good driver, according to the driving examiner who tested me last week in Houston.”

      “You had to take a driving test?”

      “I’d let my license expire more than a year ago, so yes.”

      “Don’t get home much, huh?”

      “Not much.” He stopped at a white compact and pressed the fob to unlock the doors. “Are you going to let me take you to get the keys, or are you going to hike back across the parking lot and catch a taxi to prove—what—that you’re self-sufficient? I already know that.”

      She gave a wry smile. “I’d appreciate a ride. Thank you.” Volta slid into the passenger seat and gave him directions.

      It wasn’t long before he pulled into her driveway. If someone had turned him lose on the street and asked him to find Volta’s house, this one with creamy yellow siding, crisp black shutters and a teal blue door would have been his first guess. Gray ash lightly coated the grass out front, but someone had hosed off the steps, sidewalk and driveway. Short pink tulips lined the walkway between the driveway and the front steps. On the porch, blue-and-white pillows with pictures of dragonflies rested against the back of a wooden bench. It looked like the definition of home.

      “I’ll grab the keys and be right back.” Volta punched a code into a box, and her garage door rose. She disappeared into the garage and the door closed behind her. Scott got out of the car to enjoy the sunshine while he waited.

      An old Land Cruiser pulled up to the curb in front of the house and a girl slipped out the back door. Scott easily recognized her from the photo Volta had shown him, although now her hair was twisted up in an elaborate braid. She started toward him, but a man got out of the driver’s side and called for her to wait.

      He shut the door and walked toward Scott. A German shepherd jumped down from the car and moved close to Emma. This must be Volta’s brother with the dog.

      “Can I help you?” he asked, clearly suspicious about a stranger in his sister’s driveway. His eyes were the same bright blue as Volta’s.

      “Hi. I’m Scott Willingham.” Scott paused for a second to see if the name registered, but it was clear Volta’s brother didn’t recognize it. “I flew back from Sparks with Volta.”

      “Oh. I’m Volta’s brother, Leith Jordan.” He offered a hand, and Scott shook it.

      The little girl popped up, with the dog beside her. “Hi, I’m Emma.” She had wide brown eyes and her mother’s bright smile. Those eyes, combined with the braided crown of hair and how she danced across the grass, made Scott think of an elf. A very cute elf.

      He smiled. “Hello, Emma. I’m Scott. I gave your mom a ride from the airport.”

      “I’m almost eight,” Emma told him.

      “Eight? Wow.”

      “My birthday is tomorrow. We’re having a party at the reindeer farm.”

      “No kidding. I’ve never seen a reindeer.”

      “You haven’t? Reindeer are cool. You should come to my party. Lots of grown-ups will be there. It’s at two at the reindeer farm.”

      “Emma,” Volta called from the porch.

      “Mommy!” The girl flew toward the house while her mother ran down the steps. Volta dropped to her knees and wrapped her daughter in a hug. The smile on her face was pure joy.

      After a moment, the girl stepped back and twirled around. “Mommy, look. Sabrina braided my hair.”

      “It’s beautiful. How was the movie?”

      “Funny. And we had popcorn.”

      “Sounds like you had a good time.” Volta looked past her daughter toward Scott, and her smile lost some of its wattage. She stood. “Scott, I really appreciate the ride, but my brother is here now, so he can take me back to the airport to pick up my car.”

      “I don’t mind,” Scott said. “My hotel is near the airport, so I’m heading in that direction anyway.”

      “Thanks, but Leith can take me. Right, Leith?”

      “Uh, sure.” Her brother seemed as mystified as Scott about why Volta seemed so flustered.

      Scott had been counting on the