Best friends forever. Hadn’t they promised each other they would always be friends? And even though two decades had passed, she still felt as if she knew Finn. He seemed different, but deep down she sensed he was still the same comical, lovable boy. Would it be such a grand leap of faith to trust him to care for Oliver?
Oliver’s pleas ran through her mind as she began to drift off to a peaceful sleep. Had she made a huge mistake in dismissing Finn’s offer to watch Oliver?
Chapter Five
Bright and early the next morning, Maggie woke up to greet the first day of her new life in Alaska. While Oliver was eating a bowl of cereal, she went out on the back porch and took in the breathtaking vista stretched out before her. White-capped mountains loomed in the distance. Although the December air was frigid, it was clean and crisp. She let out a gasp as she spotted a majestic eagle soaring in the air. She couldn’t look away from the bird’s graceful moves. It made her feel centered and peaceful.
She shoved her hands in the pockets of her heavy winter coat. It was pretty cold out here, but she felt helpless to tear her gaze away from the view staring back at her. In all her life she had never seen such pristine land.
“I did it,” she said in a triumphant voice. Despite all of her fears, Maggie had gathered up her courage and traveled all the way to this quaint fishing village. She was transforming her life. And she was now officially a business owner. Keepsakes might need some sprucing up, but from her childhood recollections, it had been a wonderful shop specializing in heartwarming treasures. It had always enjoyed a loyal, solid clientele.
She was going to be working side by side with Finn thanks to Uncle Tobias’s directive in his will. Leave it to her uncle to protect her even after his passing. Maggie didn’t have any friends in Love, and even though her friendship with Finn went back decades, she still felt connected to him. And she needed his friendship. He had always been a source of light and laughter. Maggie could sorely use it now as a newcomer to a town where everyone seemed to know each other. She and Oliver were basically strangers here in Love, despite their connection to Uncle Tobias.
The past year had been filled with an aching loneliness Maggie couldn’t even put into words. Finding acceptance here in Love would be life altering. As she stood and stared out across her two acres of land, Maggie felt incredibly blessed. The past had been nightmarish, but the future felt hopeful.
Thank You, Lord. For blessings great and small. Even though I’ve doubted Your presence in the past, I know You must be here with me. I’ve felt You. At times it seemed like a push against my back, propelling me forward when I didn’t even think I could get out of bed. At other times I felt this groundswell of confidence building up inside me.
A sudden rapping sound rang out behind her. When she turned around, Oliver had smashed his face against the glass patio window and was making funny faces at her. Maggie grinned at her son’s goofiness. There was no question about it. Oliver seemed less stressed and happier since they had arrived in Alaska. Maybe there was something in the air here.
A half hour later, Maggie began the drive to town from her new home. According to Hazel, Uncle Tobias’s truck had recently been serviced by an auto body shop. Maggie appreciated the gesture. Having reliable transportation was of vital importance. The roads were packed with snow and there were a few slick spots. Maggie drove very gingerly. Thankfully, she was proficient at driving in wintry conditions due to the years she’d lived in New England. She just needed to focus on that aspect instead of giving in to her nerves about Alaskan road conditions.
Oliver sat in his booster seat, pointing and gesturing toward anything of interest he spotted outside his window. The toy store was of particular interest to him.
“Mom! Look at that toboggan! I’m putting it on my Christmas list,” he shouted, his voice brimming with enthusiasm. “I could really fly on it.”
Maggie smiled and made a mental note to purchase the toboggan for Oliver. He deserved something spectacular.
She would make sure this Christmas was full of surprises and blessings and dreams come true for Oliver. A toboggan would be really special for his first Christmas in Alaska. Years ago Maggie and Finn had flown down the mountain at Deer Run Lake on matching sleds. Finn had surprised her by writing her name in indelible ink on one of the sleds. Maggie chuckled at the memory of how angry Declan had been about Finn giving his sled to Maggie.
Thankfully, her phone’s GPS had guided her perfectly to Uncle Tobias’s shop. My shop, she corrected herself. It was hard to wrap her head around her new reality. In one fell swoop Maggie was a home owner, as well as the owner of a business and a truck. Her life had never been filled with so much promise.
Thank You, Lord, for all of these blessings.
Maggie felt startled by all of the spontaneous prayers she’d been uttering since arriving in Alaska. It was the second one today.
It had been a very long time since she had spoken on such a regular basis to God. They had come to a crossroads back when her life fell apart and Sam died in such a shocking manner. Maggie shivered as the memories of that terrible time crashed over her in unrelenting waves. It had felt as if the entire world had turned against her. Except for Uncle Tobias. He had soothed and comforted her, even though unbeknownst to her, he was dealing with his own terminal kidney issues and dialysis at the time.
