“That's Justin's. Thank you,” she said, taking the sweater.
“No problem, ma'am.” He turned to leave.
“Oh, before you go. Could you tell us why there's a box of toys in our room?”
“Those were donated for the children, ma'am. Every family got one.”
“Oh, boy!” Justin said, snatching up the mitt and pushing his hand inside the stiff leather. Brian emptied a box of Tinker Toys onto the floor. “I think I'm going to like Alaska.”
“Have a nice day,” the bellboy said with a smile as he closed the door.
“I can't believe they've done all this,” Jean said, her eyes shimmering with unshed tears.
“Maybe they're being nice because they know what's ahead,” Luke teased. He looked out the window at the street below. “This is a swell place. Do you think we'll get to see the city?”
“Some of it,” Will said, picking up a Seattle Times left on the table. He scanned the front page. “There's a story here about us. It says the government has high hopes for the colony and that men have been sent ahead to get the living quarters ready.”
Exhausted, Laurel fell into a chair. “What do you think it will be like?”
Will shrugged. “We won't know until we get there.”
Chapter Six
LAUREL SAT AT THE HOTEL WINDOW, ONE ELBOW RESTING ON THE SILL, HER face in her hand. Rain splattered the glass. “I hate this rain. I wanted to explore the city.”
Brian climbed onto the chair beside her, and resting on his knees, pressed his face against the pane and blew fog onto the glass. “Do you think it'll stop? I want to go to the park.”
Will joined his son and tousled his blond hair. “Listen to yourselves. For months we prayed for and hoped for rain, and now all you can do is complain about it.”
“I just wanted to go to the picnic,” Brian said.
Justin glanced up from a Sherlock Holmes mystery. “Rain's OK. This is a good book.”
Jean set her embroidery in her lap. “There must be something else we can do.”
Luke walked from the adjoining room. “It's really coming down.” He dropped a yo-yo from his hand and watched it spin toward the floor, then with a flip of his wrist, he pulled it back up into his hand. “How many times have we been here?”
“None,” Justin said, looking up from his book.
“And how many times are we going to come back?”
“Probably never,” Brian said.
“Well, let's go down to the waterfront anyway, rain or no rain. I'll bet our ship is docked. We could get a look at it.”
Justin shut his book. “You really think we could see the boat?”
Luke released the yo-yo again. “I'd bet ya'.”
“I was kind of hoping we could visit some of the local stores,” Jean said. “We'll see the ship tomorrow.”
“Why don't you, Laurel, and the baby go shopping while me and the boys take a walk down to the wharf?” Will asked.
“Please, Mommy. Please,” Brian begged.
“Could we?” Justin asked.
“That sounds good to me,” Laurel told her mother.
“What will it be like on the boat? Will it be safe?” Justin asked. “I mean, could we sink?”
“We certainly won't sink,” Jean said. “The government wouldn't send us out on the ocean in an unsafe ship.”
“I hope you're right.” Luke flung his yo-yo toward the floor.
A rap sounded at the door. Brian charged across the room and swung open the door, then stared up at Robert Lundeen. “Who are you?”
“Brian, remember your manners,” Jean said.
Laurel stood. “Hello, Robert.” She looked at her family. “You remember Robert Lundeen, don't you?”
“Oh, yeah. You were on the train,” Brian said.
Before Robert could answer, Will strode across the room, shook the young man's hand, and said, “Hello. Good to see you. Come in.”
Holding his hat in his hands, Robert stepped inside. “Mrs. Hasper,” he said with a nod and a smile.
“Nice to see you again, Robert,” Jean said kindly.
