Shiver(55)

Fox’s face shuddered with hurt and disappointment. “I didn’t mean to pry. But…I just love your stories.”

Aidan studied Fox. There was nothing in his expression except curiosity and maybe the fear of rejection. “Uhm…” He was crazy to be thinking this. His editor would kill him if he…

Don’t over analyze it, Harte. “Fox, I don’t usually do this. Hel—heck.” He needed to remember he was talking to a kid here and watch his language. “I don’t ever do this, but would you let me know what you think?” He offered the papers, his hand shaking.

“Seriously?” Fox’s eyes lit up as he held his breath.

“Yeah, and don’t sugarcoat it. If it sucks, I want to know.”

“Really?”

“Yep.”

Fox took the papers like Aidan was handing him the Holy Grail. He took a seat on the couch. Aidan stood, stretched. How long had he been sitting here? He reached his arms above his head and arched from side to side while trying to forget that he’d just turned over his baby to an eleven-year-old for his opinion. Yeah, he’d lost it.

Fox frowned, his brows knitting together just like his mother’s, and flipped the page.

Aidan rubbed his hands over his face. He couldn’t watch this. He limped toward the kitchen. A cup of coffee—a pot of coffee—would do him a world of good. Maybe a muffin, if he could rustle one up.

Fiona was already there, yawning as she mixed batter in a bowl. “Morning, Aidan. Want some pancakes?”

Man, did he ever. “Yeah. What are you doing up so early?”

“Nobody sleeps in around this place.” She yawned again. “How I wish they would. I saw you writing. Get some work done?”

“Uh-huh.” He studied Fiona, dressed in jeans and bright blue kuspuk, a native Athabascan top, loose, comfortable fabric decorated along the edges with colorful threads. Her long dark hair, shot through with silver, was pulled back into a long braid. “Why do you do it?”

She glanced at him, confused.

“Wake up so early every morning? Take in guests?” Work so hard at an age when she should be taking it easy or someone should be taking care of her.

“Someone needs to keep the place running. I was hoping Raven wanted the lodge, but she’s into her art. Tern has the shop, and Chatanika isn’t for her. That one has restless feet and a wandering spirit.”

“What about Lynx?” Aidan took a seat at the table, his heart warmed watching Fiona prepare breakfast.

“The Arctic Refuge is his life. I never could keep that one indoors. I have hopes for Chickadee or Fox wanting to run the lodge after they’ve seasoned a bit.” She poured batter onto a hot griddle.

“Does Fox always run around with so much independence?”

“Ah, that boy has an old spirit. Wise way beyond his years.” She gave a far off look. “He’s always been that way, even as a toddler. He’s never one to leap. He studies, calculates, then pounces.” She smiled with pride.

“Was it rough for Raven? Being such a young mother?” And alone. Emotion squeezed his throat at the thought of a young, frightened Raven pregnant and alone.

Fiona picked up a spatula, turned up the edge of the pancake before flipping it over, and then looked at Aidan. “She didn’t talk much during that time. She was…sad. Very sad.” Fiona gave a heartfelt sigh. “We all were after losing Fox senior. But I know it was more than that.” She looked at Aidan. “I always thought it was because she missed you.”

Aidan sucked in a breath. Had Raven missed him like he’d missed her? He couldn’t believe that, couldn’t let his heart wish it were true.

Raven stepped into the kitchen, bringing a burst of cold air with her. She froze when she saw Aidan. “How’d you get here?”

“Drove.”

She frowned. “With your leg?” She slowly unwrapped the fuzzy purple and orange scarf from around her neck. “What happened at Earl’s?”

“I decided when there was no chopped wood that I didn’t want to freeze. So I braved driving.”

She looked at the boot.

“I took it off.”

“Do you think that was a good idea?” She cocked a brow as she unzipped her coat.

“Beat the hell out of freezing to death.”

Raven dismissed him and glanced at Fiona. “Have you seen Fox?”

“He’s in the other room,” Aidan answered, not ready to be dismissed so easily.

Raven frowned again. He was sure getting tired of that frown.

“He was after leftovers for the dogs,” she said.

“I know, he caught me in the other room and offered to do me a favor.”