Page 29 of Seale the Deal

Har har, Ruger says.

And that’s the moment I find my voice again.

I take my coffee the same as Ruger, I say. Though maybe a little less cream by the sounds of it.

Walter chuckles as he starts pouring mine and Ruger’s coffee.

So, ninety days to get married, huh? he says, passing our coffees over. Reminds me of that show where they marry their foreign partner, or they’re forced to leave.

Yeah, the three of us say in eerie unison, but none of us look at each other, as though eye contact could be used against us in a court of law.

Great show.

Remi looks surprised. I never took you for a reality show fan.

Walter leans in closer. On the record, it’s my wife’s choice. Between us? I’m the one who cues it up.

The drama is addicting, Remi says.

I nod in agreement, while Ruger looks between the three of us like we’ve completely lost our minds.

Have you noticed lately they’ve been leaving in the first-night scenes a little long? he asks. I’m kind of enjoying it.

Remi nearly chokes on her latte. Walter!

Beside me, Ruger shakes his head.

Don’t act scandalized, he says. It’s not like we didn’t know that’s what they were going to do. It’s healthy after being apart for so long.

I press my lips together, trying not to laugh, because while Remi looks amused, Ruger looks like he’s about one more comment away from walking out of here. But I’m warming up to Walter. I kind of love that he says unfiltered things with the exact same tone most people use to discuss the forecast.

So, what do you think of the town so far? Walter says, turning his attention on me.

It’s beautiful, I say. But I’ve been here before, so I already knew that.

Walter’s mouth drops as he looks at Ruger and Remi. Why is this the first time I’ve met her?

I had other plans for her, Remi says. It was a four-day trip, and don’t forget that she had to fly into Anchorage, so that ate up some time.

Walter turns back to me. Well, it sounds like you’re just getting the true town experience now.

I guess so, I say with a smile.

Make sure they take you to the beach with the glass floats, Walter says.

That’s lame, Remi says.

It’s interesting, Walter retorts, then looks at me. The Japanese used glass floats in commercial fishing called ukidama, and they’ve washed up on shores all along Alaka.

Yeah, we have that in BC too, I say. There’s been a lot found on Vancouver Island.

They’re cool, right? Walter says.

Absolutely.

Walter points at me, beaming. See! He pumps his fists in the air. Vindicated.

I laugh softly, then take a sip of the coffee, and… holy shit.