Her Wickham Falls Seal

“That’s a long story. I’ll tell you about Grandma Esther’s people another time.”

Taryn wondered if Aiden had told his daughters that their great-grandmother’s tribe had occupied what is now Western North Carolina for countless centuries. “How much time do you spend up here?”

“A lot, but only when the girls are away. Whenever they’re here I sleep in the bedroom across from theirs as a safety precaution.”

She did not want to imagine the consequences of someone attempting to break into Aiden’s house. Given his size and military training, there was no doubt he would prove a more than worthy opponent. “Do you have a lot of crime in The Falls?”

“We have burglaries and vandalism, but it’s been years since there’s been a murder. Most of the break-ins are from kids hooked on drugs and looking for something they can easily sell so they can get their next fix. Back in my great-granddaddy’s day it was the revenuers chasing moonshiners, and now it’s the sheriff and his deputies going after those dealing drugs.”

“How large is the police force?”

“We have a sheriff and three deputies now that they’ve hired Seth Collier. Seth grew up here and enlisted in the Marine Corps. The sheriff got the town council’s approval to hire him.”

“How many folks from here join the military?”

“It has to be at least forty to fifty percent. Now that most of the mines are closed, boys who graduate high school have to find employment elsewhere. The recruiters from all the branches come during career week and have a windfall when they’re able to sign up kids who can’t wait to get out of The Falls. Some join and become lifers, while others use the military as a path to complete their college education.”

“Like Sawyer?”

Aiden nodded. “I was a few years ahead of Sawyer but he was one of the smartest kids to ever graduate from Johnson High. He made straight As and had a near perfect score on the SAT. Everyone was shocked when he enlisted in the army instead of going directly to college.”

Taryn smiled. “It looks as if he didn’t do too badly.” Jessica’s software engineer husband had become a multimillionaire before turning thirty.

“He’s done very, very well for himself. We’re just glad he decided to come back and give back when he donated the money to create a technology department for the school district.”

“Do you like working at the Wolf Den?” she asked.

Aiden gave her a lengthy stare, then said, “Yes, because I like cooking.”

“Did you go to culinary school?”

A hint of a smile parted his lips. “Why would I go to culinary school to learn to prepare fancy dishes for patrons who can’t pronounce or know what foie gras is? A cook by another name is a chef in his own realm. The Wolf Den has been run by Gibsons since the 1920s, and we continue to stay in business because we’ve established a reputation for grilling the best steaks and smoked ribs in the county.”

Taryn laughed. “Okay, Chef Gibson, let’s continue with the house tour.” Jessica told her that she and Sawyer visited the Wolf Den at least twice a month because the food was exceptional and that Wickham Falls had only two eating establishments—the Wolf Den and Ruthie’s, a family-style buffet restaurant. Jessica had disclosed that the townsfolks repeatedly voted down the town council’s proposal for a fast-food chain, fearful it would impact Ruthie’s viability. The Wolf Den would remain unaffected because they served beer and alcohol.

They descended the staircase to the second floor where Allison and Livia had adjoining bedrooms. Aiden’s bedroom was opposite theirs, and a guest bedroom was at the end of the hallway along with a full bathroom. The girls’ bedrooms were quintessentially girlish with white canopy beds, matching dressers and chests. Window seats were covered with brightly colored cushions stamped with animated Disney characters. Photos and figurines of fairies were in evidence in Livia’s bedroom. Her older sister’s bedroom was less whimsical with framed photographs of birds and flowers. Viewing the rooms gave Taryn a glimpse into the personalities of the two girls who were close in age yet differed when it came to their interests.

“Now, the basement,” Aiden said as they again took the back staircase.

“I noticed the girls don’t have a television in their rooms,” Taryn remarked.

“There was a time when they did, but I had to take it out because they would turn it on late at night when they should’ve been sleeping. They aren’t allowed in the attic, which means they can’t watch television there. Your suite is off-limits, so again they’re denied. I have a television in the basement with parental controls, and they’re only allowed two hours of television a day because I don’t want them addicted like some kids.”

“Did you get rid of their TV?”

“No. It’s in the basement storeroom. Why?”

“I’m going to need it for the classroom. Even though I didn’t do it with my kids in New York because I taught third-graders, I’d like to designate Friday afternoon for free time and show age-appropriate movies, along with popcorn. If Daddy isn’t working, then he’s welcome to join us.”

A flash of humor crossed Aiden’s features. “I’d like that as long as I don’t have to sit on a little chair.”

“What if I order a beanbag chair for you?”

“I’d prefer a recliner.”

She rolled her eyes at him. “Recliners are not allowed in the classroom.”

“What if I string up a hammock?”

“Keep pushing it, Aiden. If your old joints pop and crack when you sit down, then I won’t invite you to join us.”

“I’m not that old.”

“You’ve got to be at least forty.”

“So the pretty lady has age jokes,” he countered. “I thought it was women who were touchy about revealing their age.”

“Not me. I celebrate every birthday all month long, and sometimes even longer.”

“That’s because you were born in the shortest month of the year.”

“Don’t hate on February because it’s a month we celebrate. Eat Ice Cream for Breakfast Day, Super Bowl Sunday, Valentine’s Day, National Gumdrop Day, Cherry Pie Day, National Margarita Day and, of course, Lincoln’s and Washington’s birthdays, and so many others too numerous to name.”

“How do you know all of this?”

“I put up calendars on my bulletin board with all of the bizarre and unique holidays for each month and I’ll talk about it for five minutes.”

“You talk to children about margaritas?”

“Not the cocktail but the plant. I show them pictures of the blue agave plant, tell them where it’s cultivated, how tall it can grow and that the high production of sugars, mostly fructose, is in the core of the plant.”

“So it becomes a mini science lesson.”

“Everything that goes on in my classroom is tied to learning, Aiden. Academics are important but I believe in educating the whole child, and that means making them aware of their environment. When a child goes shopping with his or her mother or father and sees a bottle of agave on the shelf, he or she will know that it’s a sweetener and not a cocktail.”

“I’m sorry for prejudging you.”

“There’s no need to apologize. You have every right to question me about what I intend to teach Allison and Livia. I may not have any children but I, too, would be concerned if my child’s teacher talked about alcoholic beverages, and I would never expose your children to something I wouldn’t want for my own.”

“I know I’m a little overprotective when it comes to my girls—”

“You don’t have to say it, Aiden,” Taryn interrupted. She wanted to tell him that she’d had students whose parents were dealing with their own personal issues and were unable to protect their children. She forced a smile. “Now, are you going to let me see your man cave?”

Aiden returned her smile with a bright one of his own. “Of course.”

“This is ni-ice,” Taryn drawled, drawing the word out in two syllables when she stepped off the last stair, her shoes sinking into the plush pale-gray carpeting that matched the fabric walls. Aiden flipped a wall switch and high-hats bathed the space in soft light. The basement had been transformed into a media/game room with black leather reclining chairs, sofas and love seats. A flat screen measuring at least seventy inches was mounted on a wall for viewing throughout the expansive space. There was a wet bar fronted with a quartet of stools, a glass-fronted credenza with highball and cocktail glasses and fully stocked with spirits, along with a portable refrigerator and wine cellar. The game area contained pool and air hockey tables and additional side tables with checkers and chess pieces stood ready for willing players.

“How often do you entertain down here?”