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“YES, MOM. I’M SURE I’m fine.”
“Well, I’ve just been scared sick about you as soon as I heard about that earthquake. I told you that your dad and I had a bad feeling about this trip. All those weirdos claiming it’s the end of the world. You’ve seen the news? They’re rioting all over Anchorage.”
Kennedy didn’t bother to tell her mom that she’d been too busy running from attackers, dodging falling trees, and trying not to die of hypothermia to worry about what was going on in other parts of the state.
“I’m just glad you finally got hold of us. I called Willow’s home yesterday. They said they hadn’t heard from you either. Your dad and I have been so worried. You really need to call us or at least send your dad a text when things like this happen so we know if you’re ok.”
Kennedy guessed that if her mom had any idea how much of Alaska went without any cell coverage at all, she’d never consent to Kennedy visiting here again. “I’m sorry you were scared.”
“But everybody’s well now? You didn’t catch a cold or anything?”
“Nothing like that.” Kennedy was warm for perhaps the first time since she landed in Alaska, and her appetite had returned with a vengeance even after two bowls of Moriah’s chicken noodle soup.
“And Willow? Is she with you right now? I hate the thought of you being out there all alone.”
“She’s in the exam room next door. She got some pretty bad frostbite on her toes. They may have to take her to Valdez.”
“Why? What’s in Valdez?”
Kennedy sighed. “The hospital.”
“Oh, dear. And what about the wedding? What’s going to happen?”
“I have no idea. Right now with her toes ...” Kennedy didn’t finish her thought.
“Well,” her mom said, “I’m glad you’re all right. You should call Carl and Sandy too and let them know you’re safe. You know they worry about you almost as much as your father and I do.”
“I will. What’s Dad doing, by the way?” Kennedy couldn’t remember the last time she’d gotten herself out of an emergency situation and didn’t have him there on the other line asking questions and giving directions about what to do next.
“Didn’t I tell you? We have company.” There was something teasing in her mom’s tone.
“Oh, yeah?”
“Yes. A nice young man. He’d stand out in a crowd of a thousand because of his bright red hair, but I suppose you already know that about him.”
Kennedy ignored the way her gut flapped and flopped like a landed fish. “Ian’s there? At our house? What’s he doing?”
“He’s interviewing your father for a documentary he’s making about North Korean refugees.”
“Dad can’t go on record with stuff like that.”
“Don’t worry, your friend’s got a super high-tech camera, you know. He can blur the face, distort the voice. It will be perfectly safe.”
Kennedy hoped so. She didn’t like the thought of worrying over her parents’ safety. Talk about role reversals.
“Anyway, your dad’s just come out now and says that somebody wants to talk to you.”
Kennedy took a deep breath to try to steady her nerves. She told herself that the only reason she was feeling anxious was because of all the danger and suspense she’d experienced since last night. “Hello?”
“Kennedy. It’s me, Ian. Nice house you’ve got here.”
She still couldn’t picture Ian in her parents’ home. “Thanks. Haven’t heard from you in a while.” Why was that the first thing she said? Would he think she was accusing him?
“Yeah. This trip’s been quite a bit busier than I planned, but I’ve had a great time enjoying your mom’s baking and sitting and visiting with your dad.”
“Hi there, Kensie girl,” her dad called out. Was she on speaker phone? “What’s shaking over there in Alaska? Besides the tectonic plates, I mean.”
Hearing her dad’s voice made Kennedy realize how much she wished she were at home right now.
“Anyway,” Ian said, “I was talking to your dad about a program I’m going to be part of this year. There’s a group in South Korea involved in rescuing and resettling North Korean nationals, and they’re holding their first-ever summer camp for some of the resettled refugees in June. I’m going to go work on my documentary there, but like I mentioned to your dad, it would be really nice if I had someone who spoke Korean to serve as an interpreter.”
“You’re asking me to recommend somebody?”
“No. I’m asking you to come spend next summer with me in South Korea. What do you think?”
“It’d be a great opportunity, Kensie girl,” added her dad.
Kennedy was glad there was no one around to see her blush. “Let me think about it, ok?”
“Sure. Take your time. And I know you’ve had your share of excitement, so I promised your dad that if you do agree to go, I’ll make sure you have a perfectly safe, uneventful trip. Deal?”
She chuckled. “Sounds good to me.”
“All right, princess,” her dad cut in, “you’ve had a long day and need some rest now, but call us if anything else happens and keep us posted about everything over there. Tell Willow we’re all praying for her. You know about aftershocks, right? And stay out of coastal areas. I don’t know if they’re expecting any tidal waves, but you don’t go near the water.”
“I’ll be careful, Dad.” For this time at least, Kennedy didn’t mind all his unsolicited advice.
“I’m glad you called,” he said. “You stay careful, all right? And tell Willow’s parents hi. They sound like real nice folks each time we talk.”
“They are. I’ll be sure to pass the message on to them.”
“Talk to you later.”
“Ok. Bye.”
Kennedy unwrapped her blankets and slipped on the pair of fur-lined boots one of Moriah’s friends from Eureka had donated. She walked cautiously to the examining room next door and was surprised at how many people were inside.
Willow’s parents, two nurses, a trooper, and a social worker in a professional business suit who was holding baby Rylee. Willow sat with her feet in a hot bath while Nick tightened the blankets around her shoulders.
“Thank you so much for answering all our questions,” the trooper was saying. The conversation stopped when Kennedy entered.
“I’m sorry,” she stammered. “I’ll come back later.”
“No, come on in.” Mrs. Winters held out her arm and gave Kennedy a hug. “I’m so glad you’re safe,” she whispered, giving her cheek an air kiss.
The trooper put his notebook in his back pocket. “We’ll probably have more questions for you before long. Just make sure to keep your cell with you so we can be in touch.”
Willow nodded. “What’s going to happen to Rylee now?”
“The baby?” the trooper asked and turned to the woman in the suit.
“We’ll do our best to find some relatives. I don’t believe there were any immediate members in the mother’s family, but we’ll do some research. Try to find someone.”
“What about until then?” Willow asked.
“She’ll be put in a temporary foster home that’s equipped to handle infants this young. She’ll be perfectly ...”
“What about us?” Mr. Winters interrupted.
“I beg your pardon?”
“My wife and I have taken in emergency foster placements in the past. You still have our records on file. Go ahead and look us up. Judson and Star Winters.”
The social worker looked at Willow’s mom. “And you’d be interested in the placement, then?”
Mrs. Winters nodded. “Absolutely. Unless my daughter’s worried about how it will affect her wedding plans.”
Willow smiled. “You know, I was always a little disappointed I never found a flower girl. You think Rylee’s up for the job?”