“So? What's wrong with that?”
Laurel picked up a pen lying on the counter. “I don't know. When I look at my mama's life it seems … ordinary. She cooks and cleans, changes diapers, kisses scraped knees. I admire her, but I don't know that I want to be like her.”
“You don't have to be like her. You can be a wife and mother and still have lots of other things in your life.” Celeste placed an elbow on the counter and rested her chin in her hand. “I know I want to get married and have kids.” She smiled dreamily. “Robert would make a good father.” She straightened and shrugged. “Sorry. I can't help liking him.”
“Why apologize? Maybe you ought to let him know how you feel.”
“All he sees is you.”
Laurel took a peppermint out of a jar sitting on the counter and popped it into her mouth. “Robert's just a friend.”
“That's not how he feels.”
Laurel glanced at a newspaper lying on the countertop. Adam Dunnavant's name leaped out at her from an article. Remembering he'd be leaving soon, sadness swept over her. “Adam's going to Europe.”
Celeste brushed bouncy curls off her shoulder. She gave Laurel a smug smile. “Why don't you tell Adam how you feel about him?”
“What?” Laurel asked, staring at her friend. Finally finding her voice, she said, “I don't care about him like that. It's just that life will be less interesting without a reporter here.”
“That's all, huh?” Celeste grinned. “I don't believe you.”
Laurel leaned close to her friend and said softly, “All right. I admit I do think he's interesting, but we don't get along. In fact, he's the most infuriating man I've ever met. Every time we see each other, we end up in a fight.”
“You know, they say opposites attract.”
Laurel turned her back to the counter and leaned against it, folding her arms over her chest. “It doesn't matter anyway. He's leaving.”
“Maybe you should go too.”
“No. Palmer's my home now. My parents need me. I wouldn't like living like Adam. He wants to wander the world.”
Celeste nodded. “Good. I don't want you to go.”
The bells on the door jangled, and Jessie Harrison walked in. “Hello there,” she said, brightly. “It's a wonder to see you again, Laurel. I've been thinking about you.” She grasped Laurel's hand, her intelligent eyes animated. “I've never properly thanked you for helping me during the flood. Oh, what a fright we had,” she added with a chuckle.
“I hope it's the last one I see. Did you get any water in the house?”
“Only a few inches. It was a mess, but there was no real damage.”
Laurel glanced at Celeste, then looked at Jessie. “Do you know Celeste Townsend?”
“Oh, sure. I'm in here all the time.” Jessie leaned a hip against the counter. “How are you, Celeste?”
“Good, Mrs. Harrison.”
“And how about that cantankerous father of yours?”
“He's fine. But he says he misses your discussions.”
“Debates you mean,” Jessie said with a chuckle. “Well, I miss him too. Will you tell him for me?”
“Sure. I haven't seen you around much lately. You been feeling all right?”
“Yes, I'm fine. It's just that I nearly lost all my husband's work in the flood. And I've been slaving over those papers ever since, trying to get the information typed up and protected in notebooks.” She rubbed swollen knuckles. “My arthritis makes for slow progress. I wish I could find someone who'd take on the job. I'd pay the person.”
“I'd like to, but I'm already working here,” Celeste said. “My father would have a fit.”
“It's a blessing to be working in these hard times.” Jessie turned a smile on Laurel. “You wouldn't be interested, would you?”
Laurel's normal heart rhythm picked up. Her family could use the extra money. “I might be. What would I have to do?”
“Oh, it's not hard, just takes some time. The university in San Francisco commissioned my husband to compile a compendium of Alaskan history, plants, animals, native customs, and so on. He had such a passion for it. There are piles of notes; some of them in boxes, some just stacked. You remember when you helped me during the flood?”
Laurel nodded.
“Well, all those papers are Steward's research.” Her eyes shone with enthusiasm. “We came up from California in 1915 and traveled the territory, gathering information. The more we saw of Alaska and its people, the more we fell in love with it.” She smiled. “We never wanted to finish the work because we enjoyed it so much. And we didn't finish. My husband died before he could complete it.”
Laurel felt excitement build. “I love history. It's something I've always been interested in. I've even thought about becoming a history teacher.”
“Are you interested then? It could take months, maybe even a year or more.”
“I am interested, but I'll need to talk to my parents first.” Laurel smiled. “I'm sure they'll say it's all right.”
“Wonderful! Come by my house tomorrow, and I'll show you what I need. I even have an old typewriter you can use.”
“I don't know how to type.”
“Well, you can learn.”
