“What is your favorite place?” Mattie asked, certain Meryl must be the most exciting person she'd ever met.
She reached into a small handbag and fished out a silver cigarette case and matching lighter, then offered a cigarette to Mattie.
“No, thank you. I don't smoke.”
With a shrug Meryl took the cigarette, tapped it several times against the case, then lit it. After inhaling deeply, she blew smoke toward the ceiling—dramatically, like Bette Davis might in one of her movies. “The most exciting … is probably New York City. It's a fabulous place, huge and very glamorous. I saw several plays while I was there. I loved Panama Hattie with Ethel Merman. Oh my, what a voice!”
“It sounds exciting.”
Meryl sipped her coffee. “Maybe we can go sometime. I'll show you all the sites—especially the Empire State Building. It's the most unbelievable place! You're a hundred stories above the city, and you can see for miles.”
Mattie couldn't believe she was sitting here having coffee with someone like Meryl. This kind of thing never would have happened in Alaska.
“Tell me about yourself,” Meryl said.
Mattie didn't know how to answer. She'd never done anything really exciting. “There's not much to say. My life has been pretty uninteresting. I've lived in Alaska since I was bo—”
“Let me guess,” Meryl cut in. “You're the child of a gold miner.” Mattie shook her head no. “A hunting guide?”
Mattie smiled. “No.”
“Hmm. I have it—”
“Wait,” Mattie said, uncertain she liked Meryl's game. “My father was a fisherman. He didn't do anything exciting; he just fished. And he was killed in a bore tide several years ago.”
“Oh, I'm so sorry,” Meryl said, laying a hand over Mattie's. “I'm truly sorry.”
Meryl's tenderness was touching. Any rancor Mattie felt dissipated. “It was a long time ago.”
“I always thought that living in a vast wilderness must be very romantic.”
“It's not,” Mattie said dryly.
“Weren't you frightened? I mean, there are bears and wolves and all kinds of wild creatures; plus you have blizzards and deadly cold.”
“It's not really dangerous. You just have to know the risks and think before you do some things. I'm glad to be leaving.” Mattie sat up straight and smoothed the front of her skirt.
Meryl studied her. “I like you, Mattie. We should have an adventure together in Seattle.”
“I don't have much money. First thing I need to do is get a job and an apartment.”
Meryl leaned toward Mattie and said softly, “To tell you the truth, I barely have a penny to my name. When my parents ordered me to return home, I refused, and well…they cut me off.” She pressed her lips together. “So now I'm just a poor little rich girl.”
Mattie couldn't keep from staring. “I never would have known.”
“Well, you're not supposed to. You've got to act like you have money, and people will treat you like you do.”
When the waiter returned, the new friends gave each other a conspiratorial look as the man worked to please them. Again and again he returned to refill their cups and see to any needs.
“Where are you staying in Seattle?” Meryl asked.
“Until I can find a job, at the YWCA.”
“Do you mind if I tag along? I've never stayed at a YWCA before.”
“No, I don't mind. But I'm sure it's not what you're used to.”
“Maybe not. I really don't care. As far as I'm concerned, I can be poor the rest of my life—if that's what it takes to keep my parents off my back.”
Mattie studied Meryl. She liked her. A wild mane of curls framed wide hazel eyes filled with mischief. Meryl had no pretenses. She was just who she was. Of course, she hadn't been completely honest about her financial circumstances, but Mattie understood and excused the lie.
“We ought to be roomies,” Meryl said. “We'll stay at the YWCA until we can find an apartment together. What do you say?”
“I say yes.” The two shook hands.
“OK, then. Friends and roommates.” Meryl smiled. “Seattle, here we come.” She held up her cup, and the two toasted.
Fog swirled around the bow as the ship approached the Seattle docks. Lofty buildings poked up into heavy mists. Mattie leaned on the railing, hoping to get a better view. “I'm so excited—and scared,” she confessed.
“For heaven's sake, why? You have nothing to be frightened of. This is a grand city. It's not too big and not too small. And the surrounding countryside is really lovely. You'll like it. We'll have lots of excursions. The people are friendly too.”
“Even to someone like me?”
“What do you mean, like you?”
“You know…”
