I had some stuff to work out.” As soon as she’d returned to Montana last year, she’d started making plans.
“It wasn’t like I could ask Carolyn how you were doin’. Not even why you didn’t come back for Christmas.”
“She didn’t know why I’d cut out all contact with Mom and Dad.” She felt Cal studying her.
“So the last time you spoke to your folks…?”
“Was the night we had the big blow-up. So I’ve got a ton of guilt over that. But now I’m pissed that Carolyn didn’t say shit to me about what was really goin’ on with Mom. Neither did Aunt Hulda. So then I get here and find out every one of my siblings knew she was dying except for me.” She firmed her wobbling chin. “How is that fair? The one child who needed to make amends didn’t get the chance.” That’s when her voice broke and the tears started.
Cal picked her up and tucked her against his side. He whispered, “Hey. It’s okay. Let it out, darlin’. I got you.”
She blubbered in his arms until calmness and too many shots of Jack turned the lights out.
Chapter Six
Kimi slept like the dead.
Not that Cal would say that to her, beings she’d buried her mother today.
Gigi woke up wanting to play and brought the ball over. With Kimi sacked out almost on top of him, Cal kept one hand on her back and used his other hand to play fetch.
When the day began to dim, his stomach growled. He carefully shifted to standing and carried Kimi into the house, the puppy on his heels.
Cal paused in the living room, debating on whether to lay her on the couch. But if he wanted to watch TV, the noise would wake her, so he headed down the hallway to his bedroom. He started to lower her onto the bed when she stirred. Glancing into her face, a surge of tenderness overwhelmed him.
“So sleepy,” she slurred.
“I know. Which is why I’m tuckin’ you into bed, sweet darlin’.” Cal left her clothes on and slipped her between his sheets. He sat on the edge of the bed, his heart heavy. He murmured, “Glad you decided to stay tonight.”
“Me too.” Kimi rolled over, giving him her back.
Gigi immediately jumped up and snuggled in beside her.
“Good girl. Keep an eye on her.”
Cal slept on the couch.
He tried not to disturb Kimi early the next morning as he rummaged in his closet for work clothes.
The bed squeaked and he turned around just as Kimi sat up.
At some point during the night she’d whipped off her shirt, leaving her in a black bra that emphasized the fullness of her breasts.
“Cal?”
Look at her face. But goddamn, that wasn’t any better. She looked cute as hell, her hair sticking up all over the place. Her eyes slumberous.
“Hey.”
She stretched her arms over her head and released a satisfied-sounding groan. “How long was I out?”
So much for not looking at her tits. “Twelve hours.”
Kimi froze. “What? It’s…morning?”
“Yeah. I’ve gotta check cattle but I’ll be back around noon.”
She looked at the other side of the bed. “Where did you sleep last night?”
“On the couch. Gigi stayed with you.”
“So I took your bed and your dog.” Realizing she was half-naked, she pulled the sheet up. “I’m sorry to be such a pain in the ass, Cal.”
“You had a rough day. You obviously needed to sleep. I’m just glad you were here and not on a bus to god knows where.”
“Vancouver.”
“What?”
“You’ve said ‘on a bus to god knows where’ a couple of times. I’m goin’ to Vancouver and then I’ll get on a boat that’s takin’ workers to Juneau.”
Stunned, he said, “You’re movin’ to Alaska? Why?”
Kimi tossed her hair over her shoulder. “One of my classmates was from Alaska. She kept talkin’ about how beautiful it was, and how much better the wages were up there. She said she could get me a job workin’ in her uncle’s dry cleaning business. At first I thought she was just blowing smoke, but it turned out she was serious. Right before we graduated, I got an official letter from the business offering me the job. They’re paying my travel expenses to Juneau, but I have to sign a one-year contract.” She yawned. “It’s too great of a chance to pass up.”
“Did you tell your family?”
“I told Aunt Hulda because she had to find a seamstress to replace me, but I didn’t tell her too far ahead of time because she’d try and talk me out