Not only does my son sound and dress like an old man, he also drives like one. “You can speed up if you want,” Digger tells him.
“I’d prefer to take it nice and slow until I’m used to your roads.” Digger’s shoulders start to move up and down slightly as he tries to hide his amusement.
“When do we get to go swimming?” Lily demands. “I want to go now!”
“I won’t be able to show you where the best swimming spots are tonight,” Digger tells her. “I’m late helping with supper up at the lodge. I’m the grill master, so there’s no telling what our guests were given to eat tonight.”
“I’m sorry again for being tardy,” I tell him. “Our driver assured us you weren’t in any rush.”
He doesn’t respond to my apology. Instead, he asks, “Are you all hungry?”
“Starving,” Lily tells him.
“Why don’t we drive up to the lodge and I’ll get you fed. Then someone can take you down to your cabin.”
“Are there a lot of other guests?” I don’t like the idea of being on display. The whole reason we chose Alaska was to avoid people.
As though reading my mind, he answers, “There won’t be at this hour, but if you’re worried, there’s a small private room I can seat you in.”
“Thank you.” Maybe Digger isn’t as bad of a guy as I’d originally thought. He’s wonderful with the kids and being nice to my children is always a good way to get on my good side. Unless you’re nice to them at the same time you’re banging my husband. Then all bets are off.
“Abort mission, Liam. Start following the signs to the lodge.”
“Aye, aye, captain.” My son salutes Digger before taking a hard left. “What’s for supper? Can we have cheeseburgers?”
“Cheeseburgers are my specialty,” he tells him. “How do you feel about blueberry pie, Miss Lily?” he calls back to my daughter.
“Would this pie have any ice cream on it?” she challenges.
“Any pie worth eating has ice cream on it.”
My daughter reaches over and takes my hand. “I’m happy we came here, Mommy,” she tells me quietly.
“No more worries about bear attacks?”
“Mom, Little Bear is a bear. I bet any nasty bears will leave us alone.” My sweet little girl is trying hard to make the best of our being here and Digger seems to be making that a whole lot easier for her.
“Do I get a cheeseburger and pie too?” I ask, suddenly feeling lighter than I have in days.
“You can have whatever you want.” Somehow his response doesn’t seem that hospitable.
“If my kids are having cheeseburgers, then so am I.” I don’t know why this guy has a chip on his shoulder regarding me, but I’m not some princess he has to cater to.
Digger points at a red traffic cone. “Park there.”
Liam pulls over and we all get out. “What about our luggage?” I ask. “Should we take it with us?”
“No one’s going to take your stuff,” he says. “And I’m guessing you don’t want to schlep it yourself.”
“I don’t, but I’m not really comfortable leaving it.”
“Up to you.” He turns to Lily and says, “You ready for that ride?” He lifts my daughter effortlessly onto his shoulders.
Well, shoot, I guess it really is up to me if he’s carrying Lily. I decide my purse has all the important stuff in it, so that’s all I take. Walking behind Digger and the kids, I listen to his easy conversation with them.
“When I was a kid, I used to dream about visiting LA. Do you guys like it there?”
“It’s okay,” Liam tells him. “We have a great house and a nice school …”