Seattle. Spray slapped against the windscreen. That wake...rather like what happened last night. Starting out small and focused, but growing until it rocked and shook everything in its vicinity.
He’d labeled what he felt for Pam, love. But it must have been less than that, because today, with the ocean sparkling and a brisk breeze to push against, he wasn’t grieving her loss the way he expected to. There was pain, of course. Pain it was difficult to pin down to its exact geography, but he was beginning to suspect it wasn’t a broken heart.
“This is a surprise, Gerrum.” Walter Pierson leaned forward with a frown. “I thought you were happy here. What can I do to change your mind?”
“Nothing, I’m afraid. I do appreciate all the opportunities you’ve given me.” Including the office with a view of skyline and docks almost as good as this one.
“It’s Rhinehard, isn’t it. I heard he was sniffing around. We’ll match his offer.”
“It’s not Rhinehard, and I’m not trying to hold you up for more money. I’m going to Alaska.”
“Alaska?”
“I want to spend time there. See what develops.”
“Oh, I get it. A reconnecting with your roots thing, eh?”
His roots were mostly a cause of discomfort. His parents’ unconventional union had led to unpleasant experiences for both them and their offspring. But while roots-reconnecting was not exactly his goal, it was close enough, he supposed.
“Hell, if that’s it, take a leave. Get it out of your system. Then you can come back refreshed. Ready to redouble your efforts.”
If Walter had stopped with the first statement, Gerrum might have been tempted. It was his original plan, after all. But the reminder any concession granted now would require payback later, firmed his resolve.
“I appreciate the offer, but no thank you.”
Walter sat for a moment, then pulled out a cigar and worked at lighting it. “Could be a bust, you know. What then?”
“I won’t know until, or if, it happens.”
“Well, if it does, check with me first. Can I get your agreement on that?”
“If I ever return to Seattle with the intention of practicing family law, I’ll let you know.”
“Humph. Don’t think I’m not aware of the disclaimers in that statement.” The cigar was finally drawing, and Walter took a couple of puffs, examining Gerrum as he did it. “When I turned forty, I had a midlife crisis, you know.”
“How did you handle it?”
“Not well. Almost got divorced over it, as a matter of fact. Then I came to my senses. No doubt you will, too. When you do, we’ll be glad to take you back.”
Although comforting to have a fall-back position, in this instance Gerrum preferred not to be tempted to return to the easy and familiar.
Wrangell, Alaska
Gerrum pulled into Wrangell’s Reliance Harbor about four in the afternoon and checked in with the harbormaster. He was directed to a temporary berth amidst a cluster of boats—everything from a sleek white yacht to an ancient tug.
The day was warm for early April, and the clear skies and calm seas had made the run from Petersburg a pleasant one. He’d almost decided to stay longer in Petersburg, where he’d spent the morning writing, but he wanted to visit more of the small communities dotted along the inland waterway between Ketchikan and Juneau before deciding where to anchor for the summer.
After securing a berth for the Joyful , he walked downtown, making note of amenities like cafés, shops, and grocery stores. Wrangell’s downtown was larger than either Petersburg’s or Haines’, and the buildings comprising the Wrangell community curved around a mountain. Unlike Ketchikan, no houses perched on the side of that mountain to be accessed by steep sets of stairs. And unlike Petersburg, there were no sloughs that at high tide were deep enough to handle a good-size boat, but at low tide emptied
He’d labeled what he felt for Pam, love. But it must have been less than that, because today, with the ocean sparkling and a brisk breeze to push against, he wasn’t grieving her loss the way he expected to. There was pain, of course. Pain it was difficult to pin down to its exact geography, but he was beginning to suspect it wasn’t a broken heart.
“This is a surprise, Gerrum.” Walter Pierson leaned forward with a frown. “I thought you were happy here. What can I do to change your mind?”
“Nothing, I’m afraid. I do appreciate all the opportunities you’ve given me.” Including the office with a view of skyline and docks almost as good as this one.
“It’s Rhinehard, isn’t it. I heard he was sniffing around. We’ll match his offer.”
“It’s not Rhinehard, and I’m not trying to hold you up for more money. I’m going to Alaska.”
“Alaska?”
“I want to spend time there. See what develops.”
“Oh, I get it. A reconnecting with your roots thing, eh?”
His roots were mostly a cause of discomfort. His parents’ unconventional union had led to unpleasant experiences for both them and their offspring. But while roots-reconnecting was not exactly his goal, it was close enough, he supposed.
“Hell, if that’s it, take a leave. Get it out of your system. Then you can come back refreshed. Ready to redouble your efforts.”
If Walter had stopped with the first statement, Gerrum might have been tempted. It was his original plan, after all. But the reminder any concession granted now would require payback later, firmed his resolve.
“I appreciate the offer, but no thank you.”
Walter sat for a moment, then pulled out a cigar and worked at lighting it. “Could be a bust, you know. What then?”
“I won’t know until, or if, it happens.”
“Well, if it does, check with me first. Can I get your agreement on that?”
“If I ever return to Seattle with the intention of practicing family law, I’ll let you know.”
“Humph. Don’t think I’m not aware of the disclaimers in that statement.” The cigar was finally drawing, and Walter took a couple of puffs, examining Gerrum as he did it. “When I turned forty, I had a midlife crisis, you know.”
“How did you handle it?”
“Not well. Almost got divorced over it, as a matter of fact. Then I came to my senses. No doubt you will, too. When you do, we’ll be glad to take you back.”
Although comforting to have a fall-back position, in this instance Gerrum preferred not to be tempted to return to the easy and familiar.
Wrangell, Alaska
Gerrum pulled into Wrangell’s Reliance Harbor about four in the afternoon and checked in with the harbormaster. He was directed to a temporary berth amidst a cluster of boats—everything from a sleek white yacht to an ancient tug.
The day was warm for early April, and the clear skies and calm seas had made the run from Petersburg a pleasant one. He’d almost decided to stay longer in Petersburg, where he’d spent the morning writing, but he wanted to visit more of the small communities dotted along the inland waterway between Ketchikan and Juneau before deciding where to anchor for the summer.
After securing a berth for the Joyful , he walked downtown, making note of amenities like cafés, shops, and grocery stores. Wrangell’s downtown was larger than either Petersburg’s or Haines’, and the buildings comprising the Wrangell community curved around a mountain. Unlike Ketchikan, no houses perched on the side of that mountain to be accessed by steep sets of stairs. And unlike Petersburg, there were no sloughs that at high tide were deep enough to handle a good-size boat, but at low tide emptied
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