“I’ll be alone while you’re at Assembly and when you’re working.” My heartbeat quickened.
“You will, sometimes. Other times people will come to stay with you. All members of The Light pull their weight. We all work to fulfill Father Gabriel’s dream. There’s another pilot, Brother Micah, here at the Northern Light. For the last three weeks, since the accident, he’s been handling everything alone. There’s also another pilot who comes here who isn’t a member of The Light, Xavier. He sometimes helps out by bringing supplies. Father Gabriel trusts him, so we do too.”
I braced myself again as the terrain turned bumpier.
“We’re almost there. Xavier is the reason the pole barn has living quarters. Sometimes when he brings supplies, he can’t leave the same day. The Northern Light is located in a very remote part of the Far North region. This building is removed from the community so he has a place to stay.”
“I know I can’t say what I’m thinking without a question.”
“If you ask, will it make you feel better?”
I shrugged. “I suppose. It depends on your answer, and if I have permission to ask.”
The truck slowed to make another turn.
“Go ahead. You have my permission, but I can’t promise I’ll answer.”
“You said you’re a pilot and that sometimes Xavier needs to stay here overnight. Are you ever gone overnight?”
“I am.”
I turned toward the window that I couldn’t see and tried to quell the panic bubbling in my chest. I hated being so dependent on him, but I was.
“Father Gabriel won’t ask me to do any overnight trips until you’re fully recovered. And by the time I do, we’ll be home in our apartment. You’ll have the entire community. I’d never leave you alone out here for more than a few hours.”
I nodded as the truck came to a stop. A mechanical sound—a garage door rising—came from outside, and then we slowly moved forward.
“Don’t open your door,” Jacob warned. “I’ll help you out, but we need to wait for the door to close. This time of year, we need to be careful. The tall fences keep the polar bears out of the community, but out here you never know.”
My face spun back toward him. “Oh my gosh, polar bears!”
He scoffed. “It’s not like they’re always outside our door. Technically we’re only on the edge of the circumpolar north, but it’s better to be safe. Don’t you agree?”
“I do.” I thought for a minute as the door descended. “But it’s winter, they should be hibernating.”
“We’re not into meteorological winter yet, but I agree it feels like it; however, no, polar bears don’t hibernate.”
I sucked my lip between my teeth.
How could I forget I live with polar bears?
My door opened and Jacob reached for my chin. With his gloved hand he teased my lip free. “Don’t worry. We’re safe. Remember, I meant what I said. I promised to take care of you. I’d never do anything that caused you harm. That includes leaving you alone with polar bears.”
I forced my cheeks to rise and reached for his hand. “Good.”
“Now let’s get inside the living quarters where it’s warmer.”
As I started to ease myself from the truck, Jacob said, “Hold on to my neck, I’ll carry you.”
“Oh, you don’t have to do that. I can walk. It’s actually easier with the boot on my other foot.”
Undeterred, he wrapped me in his arms. “I’ve noticed that.”
Shaking my head, I did as he said and reached for his neck. He effortlessly lifted me from my seat. After a few steps, I pulled his face toward mine and kissed his cheek.
“What was that for?”
“I was just thinking. Since I don’t remember any of this, you carrying me like this, is like being carried over the threshold for the first time. It’s like we’re newlyweds.”
“You did say you’d marry me again.” His tone dropped. “But that was before—”
I interrupted him with another kiss, this time a light brush to his lips. “I still would,” I assured him.
“Then by all means, Mrs. Adams, newlyweds we can be.”
CHAPTER 18
Jacob
I pounded my palms against the steering wheel, trying with all my might to give the truck some of my frustration. At least when I struck it, the truck didn’t cry or melt into my arms. I understood a truck, knew how it worked and how to fix it when it had problems. It was like our planes. Micah and I not only flew them, we knew how to fix them and service them—the mechanical part, not the technology. That shit was complicated. I grabbed a fistful of my hair and began my inner monologue.
Get yourself together, Jacob. You will do this.
I took one last glance at the door to the living quarters before I pushed the garage door button. I couldn’t go back. If I did I wouldn’t want to leave. Besides, I needed to be at Assembly in less than a half an hour.
Why does she want me with her? Why doesn’t she hate me?