“Such a blessing. All children are a joy.” Affia took Mattie's hands. “When will it be here?”
“I think in the fall.”
“Does Luke know?”
“No, not yet. But I know he'll be happy.”
“Oh, how I would love to travel home, to take my great-grandchild to see the place of her beginnings,” Atuska said. “She would love it.”
“Grandmother, you called the baby a her. It could be a boy.”
“No, it is a girl.” She smiled knowingly, then said, “It would be good to see the islands again and the people. I wonder if anyone I know still lives there.” Her eyes turned sad. “Annie was my closest friend. When we were girls, we would pick flowers and sometimes watch the men practice their hunting skills.” She smiled and her eyes danced. “It was not right for the women to know such things, so we felt very wicked.” Delight touched her face. “We also climbed the rocks and collected eggs for our mothers. And we promised each other that we would not grow up and move away, but, of course, we did.”
As her grandmother shared, Mattie could hear the joy and longing in the old woman's voice. It pulled at Mattie. There must be a way to take her there. “Maybe when the war is over, we can go and visit,” she said.
“Oh, how I wish,” Atuska said. “But I don't think I will live to see the end of this war.”
It was then that Mattie decided that as soon as the islands were free of Japanese control, she would take her grandmother home. Although she felt no connection with the place, it was important to Atuska. That's all that mattered.
“We will go one day, Grandmother. We will find a way.”
Chapter 30
MATTIE PULLED ON A LIGHT SWEATER AND TRIED TO BUTTON IT OVER HER swollen stomach. It was too snug, so she fastened only the top button, then tenderly ran a hand over her abdomen. Her little one would be here soon.
She'd heard of a pilot who, it was said, would take anyone anywhere. He had a reputation for being fearless. With the Aleutian Islands now back under the control of the United States government, she'd decided it was time to take her grandmother for a visit home. Atuska's health had rebounded with the warmer weather, and now was the time to do it.
Mattie had been saving for months. If only she had enough money to pay the fare…
She closed the door to the tiny cabin and walked the few yards to her mother's house. Atuska was bottling herbs, and her mother stood at the kitchen sink, washing dishes.
Mattie dropped a kiss on her grandmother's cheek, then her mother's. “I'm going into town. Do you need anything?”
“I don't think so.” Affia dipped a bowl into rinse water and set it on the drain board. “Mama, you need anything?” she asked Atuska.
“No. I'm just fine.”
“I thought I heard Luke leave early this morning,” Affia said.
“He's working out at the lumber camp today.”
She eyed Mattie's stomach. “I wish you'd wait for a ride. It's not wise to walk so far in your condition. You're due soon.”
“The doctor said that walking is good for me.”
“What are you doing in town?”
“I need to get a few things at the store, and if Celeste is working, I thought I'd stay and visit.” Mattie wasn't being completely untruthful. She did plan to go to the store, but she also intended on speaking to the pilot she'd heard about. Her mother would disapprove, but there was no need to raise anyone's hackles without cause. She'd wait to tell her when she knew for certain the pilot would take them.
“Don't walk too fast,” Atuska said.
“I won't,” she promised and headed for the door.
Mattie walked toward a shack sitting alongside a grassy airfield. She'd been told that's where she'd find Craig Wilson, the pilot. Gathering her courage, she stepped into what was supposed to be an office. It was mostly empty with only a single, very dirty window in front. Sunlight fought to filter through the filth that had accumulated on the glass. Enough found its way inside to illuminate a layer of dust on a wooden desk strewn with papers. A man sitting behind it leaned back in a chair, his feet propped on the only cleared spot in the center of the desk. His face was hidden behind a newspaper. He glanced over the top of the weekly. His eyes settled on Mattie, then without a word, he returned to reading.
Feeling out of place, she closed the door and walked stiffly to the desk. Resting her hand against the small of her back, she shifted her weight, hoping to find relief from the aching that had settled there. The man didn't look up. Mattie stared at the paper. Finally she cleared her throat. Certain he was ignoring her because she was native, she became angry.
The man acted as if he hadn't heard her.
“I was told that a pilot, Craig Wilson, works out of this office.” She fought to keep her tone civil. “Is it true that he'll fly anywhere?”
The man peered over the paper and lifted his heavy brows. A runaway hair sprang up from the front of his head; another drooped toward his left eye. Mattie would have bet that's the way it was when he'd climbed out of bed that morning. “Where you thinking of going, missy?”
Missy? Mattie fumed, suppressing a retort. Now was not the time. As calmly as she could manage, she said, “The Aleutians.”
He lowered the paper. “Only a knucklehead would head out that-away. We managed to chase them Japs out, but that doesn't mean the war is over. No telling when they might decide to move back in.”
“I'm sure there's no threat of that. They've already seen what the United States Army will do to them if they try.”
The man eyed her suspiciously. “There aren't any guarantees.” He dropped his feet and leaned on the desk. “Why would you be interested in flying out over the Aleutians? A young thing like you—makes no sense.” He let his eyes rest on her abdomen.
“It doesn't have to make sense,” Mattie snapped, feeling her resolve unravel. Trying to gather her patience, she said, “Please, can you tell me where I can find Craig Wilson?”
“Someone looking for me?” Mattie turned to see a short, stocky man with red hair and blond eyelashes walk into the room. He flipped the door closed, then with quick, short strides, approached Mattie. He threw the man with the newspaper a look of displeasure, then turned hazel eyes on Mattie and extended his right hand. “Craig Wilson.” His grip was solid. “You are?”
“Mattie Hasper.” She decided immediately that she liked Craig Wilson. He had the look of someone who would tackle most anything; plus his face was open and honest. She felt comfortable coming right to the point. “I was told you'd be willing to take me to the Aleutians.”
