Page 108 of Hollow Valley

“I mean, what’s the deal withyou andFergus?”

“Nothing.I don’t know.”She averted her gaze and picked a loose thread on my comforter.“A lot has happened while you’ve been gone.”

“I know,” I admitted sadly.“What does Boden think of him?”

“Boden likes him,” she replied.“So do Fae and Edie.”

“Well… I want you to be happy.”I put my hand over hers.“I know Max would want that, too.You’re so young, and you have a whole life ahead of you.”

“I know.You’re not that old, either, Remy.You’ve still got your life ahead of you, too.”She smiled at me.“And I just want to be a part of it, and I want you to be part of mine and Fae’s.Is that too much to ask of you?”

And then, because I didwantit, even if I wasn’t sure that I could ever live up to it, I said, “No.Of course not.I want that, too.”

66

Stella

When I went back to the room I shared with the others, Edie and Fae were asleep in one bed, while Leandro snored in the other.Fergus, like me, had nervous energy, and he was pacing in front of the window.

“Did it go alright for you?”Fergus asked in a whisper, but I shook my head.“Would you fancy a stroll while the others sleep?”

I left a quick note for when Edie woke, letting her know that we were going for a walk down the main street.

Fergus and I slipped quietly out into the warm evening sun.The town was still busy, with others brushing by us without a second glance.Fergus nudged me and pointed ahead at a place two doors down on the boardwalk.The sign overhead readGlacier’s Edge.

“That’s a pub if ever I saw one, and it smells like dinner.Will we chance it?”he asked.

My stomach rumbled, as it so often did, and I nodded.“Let’s do it.”

Inside, the pub had the same rustic charm asThe Frozen Grave.Mismatched chairs around battered tables, their surfaces scarred and polished by years of use.Flickering lanterns hung from exposed beams overhead and electric fairy lights were strung between them, bathing the handful of patrons in a warm glow.Speakers were nailed up on the wall, playing out a lively song in a language I didn’t recognize, which only ruled out English and French.

At the far end of the dining room, the bar was built from weathered timber, and behind it, the backbar utilized carved driftwood and featured a frosted mirror and shelves of bottles.A few patrons sat on stools made from old kegs, and a wiry man was tending the bar.He appeared to be in his fifties, his long black hair framing a thoughtful face that hinted at First Nations heritage.

The savory aroma of hearty stew and fresh bread mingled with the tang of old ale, and that’s really what drew us in.Fergus and I took a seat at a corner table, and we’d only just settled in when the bartender came over to us.

“You new around here?”he asked.

“That obvious, is it?”Fergus replied.

“I make it my business to know the people around town,” he told us with an astute smile.“I’m Henry Bonet, the owner and operator ofGlacier’s Edge Saloon and Diner.We’re open from eight in the morning until midnight, unless I get tired and close up earlier.The kitchen serves dinner from 5 pm until about 9 pm, depending on how fast we run out.The bar serves alcohol all the time.”

“Nice to meet you, Henry.I’m Fergus, and this is Stella.We’ll likely be in town for a few days, and we’d love to hear your recommendations on what to eat and what to do while we’re here.”

Henry gave us a strange look.“That sounds like you’re here for sightseeing.The two of you wouldn’t happen to be on your honeymoon, would you?”

“Us?”Fergus laughed, a little too loudly, and my cheeks burned.“No, we’re travelling companions.But we are hoping to do some sightseeing, I suppose.”

“There’s one other bar, but the service isn’t nearly as good as it is here,” Henry boasted with a broad smile.“There’s a brothel and a casino down at the south end of town, if you’re into a rowdier place.”

I shook my head adamantly.“No, that really isn’t for us.”

“Yeah, I didn’t think so,” Henry admitted with a laugh.“But you are visiting at the most perfect time of year.The orcas are coming up the inlet chasing the salmon, and you’re likely to catch sight of them.Sometimes, if you’re very lucky, you can even get a glimpse of a humpback.”

“That’s amazing!”I said excitedly.“My daughter Fae would love that.”

“Oh, yeah, you got a little one, with you?”Henry asked.“She might also like to see the sealions that sun on the docks down in the harbor.Just be mindful of steering clear of the Cold Shore if you head that way.”

“Oh?”I asked.“Why do you say that?”