happy.
Jesse turned to look at Donovan, too, as if asking for permission.
“Do as the lady wants,” Donovan said in a harsh tone.
She pointed upstairs. “My bedroom is the first one on the left. Ella’s is next to mine. If you could get her stuff, too?”
She started for the laundry room, dragging Ella’s laundry behind her. Suddenly she was relieved of her load. “Hey—”
“I’ve got it.” Lugging the laundry, Donovan passed her but kept talking. “And before you say she’s my daughter”—he used a high-pitched voice, as if Hope sounded like that!—“let me remind you that I’m Ella’s parent, too.”
“Fine!” Hope reversed direction and, snatching her coat off the coatrack, hobbled out the door. A moment later, she heard the door open and close again. Sure that it was Donovan and worried he might scoop her up and carry her the rest of the way to Wandering Moose Cabin, she sped up, slipping as she went.
“Be careful, Hope,” Jesse hollered.
“Oh.” She slowed down to let him catch up. “It’s just that it’s cold out . . . the reason I’m hurrying.”
He was carrying two boxes but he extended his elbow toward her. “Hold on to my arm,” Jesse said. “I can get you to the cabin safely.”
“Thanks. I’m okay.” Jesse, who had been working construction all around Alaska for the past several years, was nice to her in high school, one of the few people to treat her with kindness instead of making fun of the preggo. “When did you get back?” she asked. Since leaving the Hungry Bear, Hope had become a little disconnected from the daily gossip.
“Two days ago. I don’t know if you heard but my mom’s sick.”
“I had heard. I’m so sorry.” Patricia was battling cancer, and Hope had no words to comfort him. “I think I will hold on to your arm, if that’s okay.” She hoped her touch could take away some of the sadness in his eyes. “Tell me what Shaun is up to? The last I heard he was working for an oil company in Texas.”
“Yes, the bro’s still in Houston but he’ll be here for Thanksgiving.”
“Your mom told me that he was engaged,” Hope said.
“Not anymore. They broke up,” Jesse said.
Hope heard footsteps crunching in the snow behind them and turned to see Donovan carrying her old-fashioned suitcase in one hand and Ella’s laundry bag in the other.
“Hold up,” he called.
They stopped and waited for him, though Hope wanted to keep going.
“So Mr. Brewster just called and he needs able bodies to help at the hardware store today. Do you mind?”
“Sounds good,” Hope piped up.
Mr. Grouchy gave her a look. “I’m not talking to you.”
Jesse grinned at their exchange. “I’m glad to do it. As long as I can check in on my mom now and then.”
“Absolutely. As much as you need to,” Donovan said. “Here, I can take those boxes.”
Jesse transferred them. “It was good to see you again, Hope.” He gave her the same kind smile he’d given her when they were young, but now he was a man.
“We should catch up while you’re home,” Hope said deliberately. Yes, it would be nice to visit with Jesse for a while, but what she really wanted was to see the flash of anger ignite in Donovan’s eyes. Good. He deserved it.
Hope watched Jesse walk away.
“Come on.” Donovan waited until she turned back around before he started walking again.
“You two seem very friendly,” Donovan said. “After I left, did you and he start dating again?”
“Why do you care?”
Donovan’s jaw clenched and the vein on the side of his neck bulged. “Never mind. Get inside. You need to get off your foot.”
Hope hobbled up the new solid steps, opened the red-painted door, and walked inside. Wandering Moose Cabin had been transformed from a ramshackle hut to a cozy hideaway. The hole in the floor had been fixed and the hardwood had been polyurethaned to a glossy shine. The walls had been dusted and the small café table in front of the window had been painted a wilderness green. New headboards, new mattresses, and new sheets adorned the extra-long twin beds. Hope was pleased that she’d donated Izzie’s moose fabric to the cause because the window coverings pulled the whole room together.
“Since the quilts aren’t ready yet I’ll make sure some blankets are brought down to the cabin.” The offer was generous but his tone wasn’t.
“Bill said the quilts are nearly ready to come off his longarm machine.” Hope opened the bathroom door and