“Oh yeah. You know, that find was a crazy fluke. One of the crew slipped and rolled down the bank toward the creek. Rolled right into the body... Just give me a sec and I’ll see if anything has come in yet.”

He heard papers riffling in the background and he rested his forehead against his hand. For years he’d searched, waited, expected news like this to arrive someday... He wasn’t nearly as prepared for it as he should be. If this was his father, how did he tell his mother? Cassie? He took several deep, slow breaths.

“Reed, you still there?”

“Yeah, I’m here. Anything?”

“A report came in about five minutes ago from the coroner’s office. Male. About midforties. Caucasian...”

His heart raced.

“Dental records match a missing person by the name of Everett Parsons.”

Not his father.

Disappointment fought with relief in his chest. Still no answers. No closure. But no concrete proof that his father was dead. Meaning, he could still be out there... “Okay. Thank you,” he said, disconnecting the call.

He sat back in the chair, hearing Wade reenter. The older man placed a hand on his shoulder. “Not him?”

Reed shook his head. “Not him.”

* * *

ERIKA HUMMED “JINGLE BELLS” as she carried her peppermint mocha up the stairs to Cassie’s condo. The stares and whispers as she’d entered the café—her boots on the wrong feet and her hair a disheveled mess—hadn’t bothered her one little bit. Nothing could spoil her mood that morning. She unlocked the door and went inside. Removing her winter gear, her cell chimed in her pocket.

New email messages.

Grabbing her laptop, she sat on the couch and curled her legs under her. She sipped the holiday-flavored coffee as she waited for the remote connection. Only nine more hours until dinner with Reed. She could keep herself busy until then.

Opening her inbox, she saw the first message was from Snowpeaks Powder Guides. She clicked on it and saw photo attachments.

Pictures of their heli-skiing experience. She opened up the file and smiled as she flipped through the pictures of her and Reed in the helicopter, skiing down the slopes... The photographer had even captured their near-kiss on the picnic bench during lunch. She sighed looking at the photo. She barely recognized herself. Her flushed cheeks and excited expression had so much more to do with Reed than the exhilarating day they’d been having.

It was the moment he’d told her she was amazing.

She hugged her coffee to her chest, butterflies in the pit of her stomach as she looked at his handsome face.

Five o’clock couldn’t come fast enough. She didn’t even care if they made it to a restaurant. Food could wait until she got back to Anchorage.

Her cell rang and she jumped.

Caller ID said Unknown.

“Hello?”

“Hey, it’s Darren. Did you get my email?”