Nina did her best to look shocked. “Goodness me.

“The bank went under. The trouble is the state has a lousy case, no witnesses and a lot of boring paperwork. I bet Arner holds out for dismissal of all charges. But, like I was saying.

“Rebecca. I thought you told me Mark was really excited about this placer mine youd bought.

“He bought it, Rebecca said, an edge to her voice.

“Ah. Nina examined the coffee in her cup with close attention.

“Without even asking me if I wanted to spend the whole summer out there, he goes and buys a gold mine. God, Nina, I dont even know where it is.

“Did he say?

“West of Anchorage, north of Bristol Bay.

“That takes in a lot of territory. Is there a town nearby?

Rebecca gave her head a gloomy shake, her fine blond hair escaping its ponytail to fall into wisps around a face that had been described variously as an angels (her mother), Hayley Mills (her father), Grace Kellys (Nina, enviously), and “fucking drop-dead gorgeous (Mark). Her figure had been described as “a little too plump, dear (her mother), “healthy (her father), “stacked (Nina, enviously), “built like a brick shit-house (Dale, her roommate before she married Mark) and “its like Christmas every time I unwrap you (Mark, although he hadnt said that in months).

“I like going to two movies on a rainy Sunday afternoon, Rebecca said. “I like biking the Coastal Trail, and hiking Near Point. I especially like it that there is a hot shower and a soft bed at the end of a day of biking and hiking. She raised her cup ceilingward. “I like lights that turn on with the flip of a switch.

“Theres no electricity? How do you get the gold out?

“How should I know? By gold pan, I guess.

“I thought they only painted on gold pans these days.

“Me, too, but Mark brought home half a dozen yesterday. Plastic ones. Theyre green or black, so they show the gold more, and the bottom of the pans are riffled, you know, little ridges? So the gold falls down between them and is trapped when you rinse the dirt out. Because its lighter.

“Lighter than what?

“The gold.

“Oh. Sounds like you know something about it.

“I dont have a choice. Its all he talks about anymore.

There was a short silence. “You want a refill?

“Sure. Heavy on the half-and-half. Which I also have to give up. No cows in the Bush, I bet.

Nina returned with full cups the color of café au lait, and Rebecca accepted hers with the air of one who was determined to savor every drop as if it were her last.

“Rebecca, you dont have to go, Nina said. “Just say no.

Rebecca sighed. “Hes been working double shifts all winter to save up for time off this summer. Hes got nine weeks coming, plus his regular two weeks off, plus the week he won at the Christmas party. Twelve weeks in all. Hell be out there the whole summer, Nina.