Page 56 of The Perils of Pretending
The arch isn’t super wide, we’ll have to go through one, maybe two kayaks at a time. But the water and mountains through the arch in the distance look like a portal to another world. If I were to write a romantasy myself, I’m pretty sure I’d use this terrain as my inspiration.
“What’s your favorite animal?” I ask Max as we pass a sea lion lounging on a rock.
“Polar bear.”
Is it because they live in the same state he did? Because they’re white, cute, and fluffy? “How come?”
“They’re at the top of the food chain, just like I’m at the top of my game.”
I roll my eyes and laugh. Oh, Max and his silly conceitedness. “I think red pandas are absolutely adorable, but my all-time favorite is dogs. Dani has the cutest giant schnauzer that protects us girl cousins quite fiercely. One day, when I have a yard, I want a dog.” Moose are climbing their way to the top of my list. Well, just one in particular: Captain Big Rack.
“Despite how many times I begged, my mom wouldn’t let us get a pet,” Max says. “Between both her and my dad working and her takingon us kids, my mom always said she had her hands full and couldn’t add one more thing to her plate. I would love to have a pet now. I think it’s good for kids to have something living that is relying on them to take care of them. It teaches them responsibility and unselfishness.”
“Dani’s my first exposure to an animal in the house. He’s massive, but he’s sweet to those he loves. How soon do you want a dog?”
“When I have kids.”
So they can help take care of it. Brilliant plan for him. I don’t want to wait that long. “Brody, I don’t really remember any of us begging for a pet. Did we never ask for one? What was wrong with us?”
Brody slices his paddle through the water with ease. “Speak for yourself. I asked for a dog all the time, but Mom always said no since we were at school all day and Mom and Dad were working. Mom said it wasn’t fair to have a pet who would be alone so often.”
There are many perks to my job, but Brody just brought up another one. I work from home. Unless I go on vacation, my puppy won’t be alone that much. “That makes sense, but seriously, the moment I move into a place with a fence, I’m buying a mixed poodle breed.”
“Why a poodle?” Max asks as we go under the arch.
The rocks are gray and brown with hints of white on them. Bushes and skinny trees grow on top of the arch. A small thrill goes through me as we paddle underneath and I imagine I’m entering a new world filled with pirates, mermaids, wizards, and more. “Because they’re hypoallergenic, so if I did happen to date someone allergic to dogs, they’d hopefully be okay around mine. And I think they’re adorable. Have you seen a cavapoo, aussiedoodle, or a bernedoodle before?”
“You’re making words up.”
I chuckle. “I’m not. When we get back, I’ll show you pictures. They look like teddy bears.”
“Yeah, I need proof that these poo da doodle dogs exist.”
I chuckle more. “I’d be happy to.”
We chat a little more as the kayak tour continues. The guide takes us to an inlet and explains the history and geography of Yukon Island and why it’s important today. The guide said people have been living here for more than 4,500 years. I can’t imagine how they survived the weather without the modern technology we have.
The more the guide talks, the more I wish Dad were here. He loved history (he was a history teacher before becoming a principal) and was proud of his state. Add in paddling around, and Dad would be in absolute heaven. No wonder this outing was on my list. Maybe he is here with us. I put my hand over my heart, willing the ache in my chest (that never goes away) to ease up slightly.
Tears sting my eyes. I blink the moisture away. If I keep thinking of Dad, I’ll lose it.
I love you, Dad.
I tune back in to the guide and learn more about the natural resources on the island and how people lived. As fascinating as it is, I’m grateful I get to live the life I have. I don’t think I could have survived two hundred years ago, let alone thousands of years.
I can’t even survive my family reunion without Max and my moose.
Chapter 22
Max
Thelate-afternoonsunshinesas bright as midday. The air is warm for Alaska (sixty-four degrees, which is perfection in my book). My shoulders are sore from paddling the past four hours, but the burn feels good.
The same van that took us berry picking yesterday drops us off at the front of the lodge after our kayaking trip. I feel bad that Sadie got sick and Dorian’s a massive jerkwad, but other than that, I’m having a lot of fun hanging out with Brody and Sadie. Sadie and I are the last to hop out of the van. Brody’s already trotting down the path to our cabin “in desperate need of the bathroom.”
Michelle turns back to Sadie, engaging her in conversation.
Right inside the lobby, behind the glass door, Alice and Dorian hover. Dorian looks gleeful, and Alice looks like her usual stern self. I don’t know what they want, but whatever it is, I don’t want them to ruin the good mood we have going on right now.
