Chapter 14

‘How are the house payments going?’ I hear my grandfather ask. ‘Are you in the red?’

‘I’m fine,’ my father replies.

I’m padding downstairs in a fresh pair of thermal socks, rubbing my eyes after a twelve-hour sleep. I so needed that. The knots in my shoulders unravelled into the pillow, and I feel ready for the day. There’s a shower going upstairs, which must be Jaxon.

From the stairs, I can hear my father and grandfather talking as dishes clink in the kitchen sink. I stop on the third-last stair, out of sight once again, curious if they will talk about me.

‘If you need a low-interest loan, it’s still on the table.’

‘No, Dad. I’m handling it.’

‘Don’t get huffy. I’m just worried about the debt, that’s all, and the rising rates. The number of foreclosures my firm’s been dealing with lately, it’s a tough time in property. Lots of clients at the moment?’

‘I’m taking a little break, with Sky being here and everything.’

‘Can you afford that?’

‘I’ll make it up later.’

I hear the familiar tone of my father’s phone. It stops after a second.

‘I assume that’s your client again, the one you’re avoiding,’ Mike says, his voice stern.

‘Please.’

‘For Christ’s sake, Adam,’ my grandfather barks. ‘One of your clients is calling; aren’t you going to answer? I simply don’t understand this lackadaisical approach to business. Alaska or not, this certainly isn’t the example I set.’

‘Okay, already, if it will make you happy,’ my father says, accepting the call. ‘Hello, Adam Black here.’ Pause. ‘Ralph. Bud. Sorry I haven’t picked up, been focused on my daughter, and now my parents are in town and …’

Ralph? Oh no, it’s that horrible hunter we met at the restaurant. So much for feeling better about the day. I sit down on the stairs and continue eavesdropping, which seems to be becoming my new norm.

‘I understand, but …’ Adam stops to listen. ‘How much? … That’s very generous of you, but like I said, I can’t. I can refer you to a colleague at the Lodge, who—’ He stops again. ‘You already tried him? … Did you say double it?’

How much money is Ralph offering my father? He won’t take it, he can’t, not when we’ve just made up. This would be the opposite of ‘working it out’ like he promised.

‘Triple? For one day? That’s some figure, Ralph.’ My father’s tone has changed. It must be hundreds of dollars, or even thousands. And he just told my grandfather he has to make house payments. I notice I’m biting my nails and stop.

‘Let me get back to you.’