Page 22 of Under the Northern Lights

“Thank you for letting me help out with breakfast this morning,” Aurora said as she counted out eleven plates from the hutch in the kitchen. She would be joining Gage and his family, as would their five remaining guests.

“You should be in the great room relaxing and visiting with the other guests,” Gage’s mother fretted as she pulled the two pans of breakfast casseroles she had made that morning out of the commercial-sized double ovens.

“I’d rather be helping,” Aurora assured her.

“Eleven people are a lot to prepare breakfast for.” And Gage’s mother didn’t skimp on what she served.

That morning’s menu was a choice of two different breakfast casseroles.

One filled with hash browns, eggs, bacon, ham, sausage, and cheese.

The other with eggs, spinach, mushrooms, tomatoes, and feta cheese.

And Julia had made fresh biscuits to go with them.

“Eleven is way less than we used to have,” Julia said as she filled a tray with coffee cups.

“Your brother is working on that,” her mother said in a hushed tone. “Let’s not bother Aurora with family business.” She picked up a trivet and one of the foil-covered trays and started from the kitchen.

Aurora’s heart went out to Gage because she knew he was the brother Constance was referring to.

Gage had opened up to Aurora about trying to keep their fishing business from being overtaken by companies that only cared about the dollar earned.

She had faith he would find a way to make that happen.

What he hadn’t told her about was the wonderful breakfasts that guests staying there received.

Or about the game nights, where everyone was considered a part of their family.

How funny his brother was. How adorable his sister was. The list went on.

“It’s hard on her, seeing business slow down,” Julia said as she added silverware and napkins to the tray with the coffee cups.

Her words drew Aurora from her thoughts. “I’m sure it is.”

“We have to be realistic,” Julia added, sounding far older than her years. “Life isn’t all fun and games. And all the family love we have for each other might not always be enough to make everything turn out the way you hope it will.” She started off in the direction her mother had just gone.

“Julia,” Aurora called after her.

Gage’s sister stopped in the doorway, glancing back over her shoulder.

“Things will be alright,” she said. “Gage will make sure of it.”

Julia smiled. “I hope so.”

Aurora followed her out into the great room, passing Gage’s mother on the way.

“I’ll grab the biscuits and butter,” the older woman said as she scurried back into the kitchen.

Aurora’s gaze skimmed the open room, searching for Gage, who had been busy lubricating the lodge’s front door, which had started squeaking.

“He ran down to the docks to help Reed with one of the boats,” Gage’s father announced from where he sat in one of the recliners going through some paperwork.

“Gage,” Julia supplied as if Aurora hadn’t realized who the “he” was.

She blushed at their awareness of her visual search for Gage. “We should get the table set,” Aurora said, neither confirming nor denying their observation.

Julia nodded in agreement. “The other guests will be here in about five minutes.”

Aurora began setting out the plates she’d carried from the kitchen while Julia placed a neatly folded napkin, silverware, and a coffee cup next to each dish. As soon as they were done, Julia headed back to the kitchen.

Aurora went to follow, only to be stopped by Gage’s father, who called out, “Aurora ...”

She stopped and glanced his way.

“I know you prefer ph-photographing animals, but I’d like to hire y-you to take our f-family picture before you go?”

“I’d be honored to take your family’s picture,” she replied. “And I certainly don’t want payment for it. I’d also be happy to take some pictures of your retreat for you to use in your advertising if you’d like.”

“That would be wonderful. And you insisted on paying for your stay here. Well, taking pictures is what you do for a living. So you’ll be paid for any pictures you take for us. Unless we call it even ...”

She shook her head. “I can’t do that. A week’s stay here is worth more than the cost of a family portrait session.” She thought about their current financial situation. “What if you give me two nights of my stay at no charge in exchange for my doing your family photo shoot?”

He sat in thought for a long moment before responding, “It’s a deal.”

She smiled.

The lodge door opened, and several men came inside, laughing and talking among each other.

“I should go see what else I need to do to help,” she said quietly to Gage’s father, who was rising from his chair to greet their arriving breakfast guests.

Aurora hoped that Gage and Reed would make it back in time for breakfast. She had no idea what they were repairing, so who knew how long it would take?

That morning, when he’d walked her to the lodge for breakfast, Gage had asked if she wanted to accompany him to Juneau after they finished eating.

He was flying in to pick up the supplies they had on order there.

There had been no hesitation in her reply.

Not if it meant another chance to take pictures of the beautiful, vast land beneath them as they flew.

Not if it meant spending more time with Gage and that adorably charming smile of his.

“I was worried you and Reed might not make it back in time for breakfast this morning,” Aurora said as she snapped pictures from where she sat in the front of the floatplane next to Gage.

“Well, you had more than enough company to keep you occupied if I hadn’t,” he replied. “You were like a sea siren surrounded by a bunch of googly-eyed sailors.”

Aurora lowered her camera with a snort. “Googly-eyed?”

He glanced her way. “You know, like this,” he said, demonstrating his impression of what he’d found when he and his brother had returned for breakfast.

She burst into a fit of laughter. “Hardly. I asked how their fishing vacation was going and if they had reeled in any big catches. I’m not sure if they were exaggerating or not, but Robert, I believe his name was, said he caught a fish that was over three feet long and weighed more than one hundred and fifty pounds. That’s a pretty big fish.”

“Pacific halibut,” Gage replied. “The world record has one weighing over four hundred and fifty pounds, and that record-setting fish was caught right here in Alaska.”

“That’s a big fish. How does the fisherman not end up getting yanked into the water while trying to reel one of those fish in?”

“We have our methods,” Gage told her. “If you’re curious, I’d be happy to take you out on one of our fishing boats before you leave to go back to Seattle. You could see what it’s like to fish for those big boys firsthand. And if you get pulled in, I’ll jump in and rescue you.”

“I would love that!” she said excitedly.

“Seriously?” he said, dark brows lifting. Jess would have turned that opportunity down flat.

“Absolutely.”

“Aurora,” Gage said, leaning forward to catch a better glimpse out his window, “look down there.” He pointed to an area ahead of them. “Right along the edge of the water.”

“A momma bear with her cubs!” she gasped, immediately aiming her camera in that direction. “Look how they stick right by her.”

“They’re learning,” he said as the plane passed by the threesome down below. “Probably yearlings. Won’t be long before they are grown enough to set off on their own.”

She glanced his way. “Have you ever considered giving tours? You know so much about the wildlife, and the sea life, and even about the land.”

He smiled. “What is it they say about great minds? I actually have tossed the idea of giving air tours as an add-on for guests, but not land tours,” he replied.

“I might have to think about adding that to my list of possible additions to the retreat.” It wouldn’t cost much to integrate something like that.

He already owned a plane for the air tours, and he knew the land around him.

Reed also knew the land every bit as well as Gage did.

His brother could help with land tours when he wasn’t taking guests out on the boat.

“I hope you do,” Aurora replied. “I think you would make an awesome tour guide for the retreat. In fact, I should be paying you for taking me all over the place to get shots of the Alaskan wildlife. Not to mention all the interesting facts I’ve learned from you during our outings.”

“I’m not taking your money for doing that,” he replied. “Besides, it’s been a welcome distraction from the things that have been weighing on my mind.”

“I’m glad it’s given you a little reprieve,” she said. “So if you do start land tours, will you be taking your guests out on UTV picnics?”

“Nope. I only offer UTV picnics to special guests,” he replied with his most charming grin.

She smiled. “Well, thank you for including me among your special guests. I can now say that I have gone on a picnic. And not just at some beach or park. I did it on a remote island in Alaska. Between the distant snowcapped mountaintops and the stunningly colorful fall leaves, I know these pictures I’ve taken here are some of my best ever. ”

She relaxed against the seat as she pulled up the picture she had just taken of the bears. “This is amazing. I’m so glad you brought me along with you today.”

Him too. Aurora had a way of making everything in life seem fresh and new. “You might want to pack up. We’re going to be landing in Juneau in a few minutes.”

Nodding, she grabbed for her camera bag and began to prepare for their arrival. The landing was smooth, and the skies were clear. A far cry from the flight they had from Juneau to the island days before.

“If you keep an eye on the treetops, you might find spy eagles nested in some. Hopefully, we can get you a shot of one. Even though it’s not as exciting as having it swoop down past you.”