Mrs. Dexter peered through the doorway. “So this is our room. Not much, is it?” She walked inside. Miram gave Laurel a helpless smile and followed.
“Poor Miram,” Laurel whispered.
“They should be interesting roommates,” Jean said, wearing a half smile.
“Hi,” Brian called from the bottom of the stairway. “Daddy and Luke got their beds. They're outside!”
Will, Luke, and Justin stepped into the corridor. “We're all set,” Will said. “This will make a good story to tell our grandchildren.”
“We'll have a story all right,” Luke said sourly.
Jean took Will's arm. “It's only a few days. We'll be in Alaska before we know it. Let's go up and say good-bye to Seattle.”
On deck, a cool, sharp breeze blew through the rigging, and the air smelled clean. The cloud cover had broken, and the sun peeked through, illuminating Mt. Rainier, which stood like a noble guardian beyond the city. The wharf breathed activity. A few travelers were still boarding, longshoremen loaded the last of the supplies, and the crowd waved flags, whistled, and called greetings. Gray and white gulls screeched as they flew over the water and dove for tidbits in the bay.
Colonists crowded the railing. Mothers cuddled babies while boys and girls ran up and down the decks. Fathers smoked cigars and worked at looking relaxed. Laurel gazed up at a huge smokestack, preparing herself for the blast that would signal their departure.
“Hi there,” Robert said, joining her. “So, this is it.” He smiled broadly and, hanging onto the rail, leaned out over the water.
“Yep, this is it,” Laurel repeated, wishing she could muster some enthusiasm. Knowing it would do no good to dwell on the past, she asked, “Where's your family?”
“Mom and the girls are getting settled in their cabin. They'll be up before we sail.”
Laurel studied the crowd of well-wishers on the pier and longed to be one of them. A blast from the ship's pipes echoed across Puget Sound. Laurel jumped. A band played “On Wisconsin,” and people shouted farewells. The catwalk was drawn into the ship, and large knotted ropes securing them to the dock were let loose and cast aboard. People yelled and blew party horns; confetti floated from the decks to the pier and into the waters of the bay. Everyone waved. Even Laurel got caught up in the farewell and waved at the crowd below.
The St. Mihiel moved away from the dock, and a narrow wedge of water appeared between ship and pier. This is it, Laurel thought and looked for her family. She needed them. A kind-looking, plump woman and two young teenaged girls joined Robert.
“Laurel, have you met my mother?”
Laurel shook her head no, wishing the introductions could wait.
“This is my mother, Patricia Lundeen.” The woman nodded and smiled. She had kind eyes. Robert laid a hand on what looked like the older of the two girls. She had dark hair and blue eyes. “This is Joanna.” She smiled shyly. Nodding at the other girl, he said, “And this is Veronica.” She looked like she might be a tomboy-type and offered Laurel a friendly smile. “Family, this is Laurel Hasper.”
“It's nice to meet you. I hope we'll get to know each other in the months ahead.”
“I'm sure we will,” Patricia Lundeen said.
“I'll talk to you later,” Laurel told Robert and hurried to join her family.
Brian and Justin leaned against the railing, waving and cheering. Luke remained more detached, but Laurel thought she detected excitement beneath his composed exterior. Will had one arm wrapped about Jean.
“Come on, sugar, join us.” Will held an arm out for her.
Laurel gladly slipped into her father's casual embrace. Enjoying the sensation of wind and sun on her face, she could feel the subtle movement of waves beneath the ship.
Gradually the sliver of water between ship and pier grew into a pond, then a lake. As they moved into Puget Sound, the band's playing dimmed and the pier grew smaller. The St. Mihiel turned northward, and the city of Seattle blended into the Washington coastline.
Again, Adam's camera sought out Laurel. “Can't you find someone else to take pictures of?” she asked, not really angry.
“You looked so enchanted; how could I resist?” Adam grinned.
Laurel stepped away from her father. “Daddy, I'm going up on the bow. I want to see where we're going.”
Will gave her a kiss. “All right.” He bent close to her ear. “If you need me to take this young man in hand, I will.”
Laurel smiled. “I'm fine.” Ignoring Adam, she turned and headed for the bow. Adam caught up to her and matched her strides. She looked at him. “Where do you think you're going?”
“With you.”
“I'm not sure just where that is. I might go to my room.”
“You wouldn't close yourself off from the view.”
Laurel looked back to where Seattle had been. Lush islands like green emeralds dotted the sound. Between stretches of beach, heavy cedar and fir clung to their shorelines. Boats bobbed in the small sea. Laurel stopped and leaned on the balustrade. “It's beautiful here. I wonder if it's anything like Alaska?”
“Not where we're going.”
“You've been there?”
“Once, with a man from our office. He took three of us on a fishing trip. I'd have to say I've never seen any place as beautiful. If I believed in God, I'd say he did his best work there.” He scanned a nearby shoreline.
“You don't believe in God?”
“I did once, but—not anymore.” He stared out over the waves. “This is pretty, but it's not Alaska. You have to experience it to know the difference.”
And I will, Laurel thought. Soon. She turned her gaze toward an open expanse of water. Her new life wouldn't wait any longer. It lay ahead and rushed to meet her, whether she wanted it to or not.
Chapter Eight
