Page 37 of Icebreaker
"Dad? What's going on?"
"Axel, are you on your way home?" His voice was firm and clear, slightly more curt than usual.
"I'm sitting in the locker room and about ready to leave. I can be at your place in a few minutes."
"That's good—see you soon."
Before I could reply, he was gone. I blinked and looked at Quinn.
"Is everything okay?" Quinn asked. "What happened?"
"I…I don't really know. He wanted me to come to his place, but he didn't say why. I'm a little worried. It's not like him to be so short."
Quinn grabbed his gear. "I can come with you if you want. Maybe you'll need me."
I hesitated. "Are you sure? I don't know what we'll find when we get there. It might be nothing, or it might be Dad's fear of spiders. It could also be something major he didn't want to discuss on the phone."
Quinn tugged his bag up his shoulder. "I'm here for all situations. Let's go find out and see what he wants."
Grateful for his support but a little uneasy about what we might encounter, I nodded. "I've got my fingers crossed. I hope it's nothing."
Chapter twelve
Quinn
As Axel and I approached Sven's apartment door, we hadn't known what to expect. My palms had started to sweat. The cryptic phone call left us both bracing for the unknown.
Axel lifted his hand to knock, but it swung open before he could touch the door. Sven stood there, perfectly framed in the doorway, wearing shiny new chest-high waders that glistened under the light from the hallway.
"Boys!" he boomed as a broad smile took over his face. "Come on in. You're right on time."
We followed him into the apartment, and the scents of coffee and cinnamon swirled around us. The joy on Sven's face and the cozy smells quickly eased my anxiety about the situation.
Sven strutted around his small living room, the waders swishing and sloshing with each step. When he stopped, he posed with his hands on his hips. "What do you think? Top of the line, breathable, and ready for action. I got them at a serious discount, too."
Axel scratched his head and raised an eyebrow. "I thought you already had waders."
Sven pointed at Axel. "Ah, good point, my son. I have two older pairs that work well, but when I saw these…"
"They are impressive, but what's the occasion? Are you expecting a flood or just excited about Portland's rainy season?"
"I'm glad you asked!" Sven clapped his hands, and it was impossible not to get swept up in his enthusiasm. "I've been working on a plan for us: an overnight adventure on the Clackamas River, chasing the tail end of trout season. Are you in? I've got everything we need for a quick getaway—just us guys, fishing, and the great outdoors."
I glanced at Axel, unsure what his reaction might be. His resistance melted away under the contagious onslaught of Sven's excitement. I nudged him with my elbow, hoping to push him further along. "I guess it does sound like a great chance to unwind, and I remember our fun fly fishing when I was a kid. Have you thought this all through?"
Sven nodded, and his eyes sparkled. "Packed and ready to go as soon as you say yes. We can hit the road first thing in the morning and come home the next day. Is that a yes, Axel?"
"Okay, yeah, how can I say no? Let's go chase some trout."
Sven shouted with joy, and he started to rattle off a last-minute list of additional gear and supplies we'd have to get in the morning. Soon, we were all grinning, anticipating the trip.
***
In the morning, the sky was clear, and a radiant sun burst over the horizon. As Axel, Sven, and I piled into the car, we were all high on adrenaline, anticipating our adventure. I breathed deep, inhaling the scent of pine that seemed to permeate all of Portland.
The car's trunk was full of gear: fishing rods, tackle boxes, lures, and hooks, as well as Sven's prized new waders. He brought his old pairs along for Axel and me.
As we set off, we followed the Clackamas River Road out of the city through the vibrant Oregon scenery, with Mt. Hood standing watch in the distance. We had our windows rolled down, letting in the crisp morning air.
