Beth Carpenter - Sweet Home Alaska

Volta handed out paper bags. “You can put your goodies in here to take home later.” She pointed at a table that held markers and stickers. “Go write your name on the bag and decorate it.”

Once the kids were convinced they’d found every last piece of candy, they drifted toward the table. An older woman standing in front of Scott chuckled. “I’ve seen bears at Katmai that weren’t that competitive. You’d think they were starving.”

Volta laughed and turned toward her to comment, but her laugh died in midstream when she spotted Scott. The older woman turned to him. “Hello. I don’t believe we’ve met. I’m Dawn Jordan, Emma’s grandmother.”

“Scott Wi—”

“Scott and I know each other from work.” Volta came striding to them. “Scott, what are you doing here?”

“You came!” Emma rushed over to him. “You really did want to see the reindeer.”

“They’re spectacular. Thank you for inviting me.”

“Pretty soon, we’re going to pet the baby ones and then we’re going for reindeer rides. You can pet the reindeer, too. Right, Mommy?”

“Um, sure.”

Emma leaned closer and whispered, loud enough for her mother and grandmother to hear, “They have horses, too, but we can’t ride them because there’s only two, and that’s not enough for the whole party.”

“Oh,” Scott said. “That’s too bad. But the reindeer are awesome.”

“Hey, kids. We’re going to do pin the tail on the reindeer now,” the woman in the red polo called. Scott realized it had a sleigh embroidered on it.

“Go on over with Marissa,” Volta told Emma. “I’ll be right there.”

Emma skipped away. Her grandmother looked at Scott and then at Volta. When neither of them answered her unspoken question, she said, “Well, it’s nice to meet you, Scott. I’m going to go watch Emma and give you and Volta a minute to talk about...whatever it is you’re here to talk about. Excuse me, please.”

“Nice to meet you, too, Mrs. Jordan,” Scott said quickly.

As soon as she’d stepped away, Volta grabbed Scott’s elbow and dragged him to the far corner of the barn, away from everyone. “Once again. Why are you here?”

“Emma invited me.”

“That’s not what I asked.”

Scott shrugged. “I wanted to see you again.”

“Why?”

“I want you to work with me as liaison.”

“You came to my daughter’s birthday party to talk me into working with you?”

He tried for a disarming smile. “And to see the reindeer.”

“Really?” She tilted her head. “You wanted to see reindeer? You’ve been everywhere.”

“Nowhere with reindeer. Not until now. By the way, why didn’t you let me introduce myself to your mother?”

“Why? Because my dad and my brother are here, and I’d rather not have any bloodshed at Emma’s party.”

“Bloodshed?”

“They never met you, but my mother knew your name, and my parents were none too pleased with my emotional state when I came home from Hawaii.”

“Oh.” Scott hadn’t considered that. Of course they would be protective of Volta and predisposed to dislike the man who broke her heart. Not that he blamed them.

The man with the weathered face Scott had noticed earlier walked over to them, a wrinkle in the center of his brow. “Is everything all right here?”

“It’s fine, Dad,” Volta said. “Scott, my father, Russ Jordan. Dad, Scott’s a doctor with DEMA.”

The man’s face relaxed. “Oh, DEMA. I’ve heard good things. Nice to meet you, Doctor.”

“Scott, please.” Scott offered his hand and Russ shook it.

“What brings you to Alaska, Scott?”

“I’m working on a study. In fact, I was just asking your daughter if she would act as my liaison. I understand she’s well connected in the villages.”

“That’s a great idea.” Russ wrapped an arm around Volta’s shoulders.

Volta gave a tight smile. “Thanks, Dad. I’ll keep it in mind. But for now, we’d better get back to the party. Chris and Marissa are rounding everyone up to visit the reindeer calves.”

“I’d better get my video camera,” Russ said as he hurried away.

Volta frowned at Scott. “Can we talk about this later? My daughter is celebrating her birthday and I don’t want to miss any magic moments arguing with you about work.”

She was right. He shouldn’t be using her daughter’s birthday party to push his own agenda. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have come. We can talk Monday.” He gave a little bow and left the gift bag on the table with the others. “I’ll go now.”

Suddenly Volta laughed. “Aw, you’re as bad as Emma with the sad eyes. Stay. Pet a reindeer. After all, how often are you going to be in Alaska? You might never get another opportunity.”

He returned the smile. “Truer words were never spoken.”

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