LITMIR.BIZ

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Like what?”

      Jordan shrugged. “I don’t know. I’m just reciting Jane’s message. She left some basic stuff in the fridge. And there are some frozen meals in the freezer.”

      “That’s great. Very nice of her.”

      He nodded. “Jane is a nice person. She told me she’d left plenty of notes around to explain everything—but if you have a problem, my number is on the speed dial.” He pushed himself away from the fence and grinned at her. He had a killer grin, though of course she wasn’t noticing such things either. “But in fact, yelling out the window works just as fine,” he added as he turned away. “Take care!”

      Jane had this guy on speed dial?

      And Simon adored Jane.

      Hmm. This was interesting.

      “Thanks!” She waved at the little boy hanging on the fence between their houses. “I’ll be seeing you in school, Simon!”

      The boy frowned, but reluctantly waved back. Hailey grinned, looking forward to seeing the little guy in her class. It was natural for a child to miss a teacher he’d liked, but she’d win him over eventually.

      Nowhere—she’d named the house in honor of her parents’ complaints about their daughter taking a position out in “nowhere”—was bigger and more elaborate than she had expected; larger than it looked from the outside too. Certainly a lot of room for one person. Jane had left everything very neat and clean—although some surfaces bore a distinct tinge of yellow from all the explanatory sticky notes.

      The house seemed sturdy and well-built, and once she had the furnace going, it would no doubt be toasty no matter how cold it got out there. Of course, houses would need to be sturdy to withstand the weather up here in winter.

      It was quiet, too, as she’d noticed while waiting outside. Six houses lined the cul-de-sac, each with a large yard. When the children had vanished inside their houses for dinner, it was so quiet she constantly heard the rush of her own blood in her ears. That would go away after a while, of course. She’d get used to the silence, just as she’d before been used to the constant whine of traffic, the pollution in the air and never seeing a clear sky. Then when she got back, she’d have to get acclimatized to L.A. again. It wouldn’t be a problem. Homo sapiens was a resilient species. He—she—could get used to anything.

      Just like she was getting used to being a single woman not seeking a man. It had been going great. It was going great. She wasn’t even looking at men any differently than she looked at the sky or the trees, or that big bag of M&M’s on the counter. She wasn’t even noticing sexy silver eyes or killer grins or cute—

      Nope. She ripped the candy bag open and poured the colorful contents into a glass bowl. She wasn’t noticing such things at all.

      She grabbed a handful of candy and walked toward the back door. The backyard was huge. It vanished into a forest behind the house. She opened the door and stepped out on the porch, taking a deep breath of the fresh, clean air. What would it be like in winter, with a thick blanket of snow on the ground suffocating the branches on the trees, a steely sky above?

      Beautiful. Frightening.

      Just how bad did winter get up here? her sissy California side whispered.

      Well, she’d find out soon enough. It would be an adventure.

      There was a hot tub, out on the deck. Interesting. She couldn’t quite see herself in there in the midst of winter, with snowflakes falling into the steaming water, but you never knew. It might be fun. Or at any rate, an experience worth trying. She’d never relaxed in a hot water tub with icicles hanging from her hair before.

      Adventure, right? her internal California girl asked with a sarcastic twist to her voice. Hailey ignored her. She jumped down off the porch and jogged over the grass toward the low wooden fence and peered over it. Yes. No scrawny decorative trees. It was really a forest. A real forest with real, huge trees. No sissy city trees either.

      Just a few steps out of her own backyard and she’d practically be out in the wilderness.

      Hailey smiled.

      This was so cool!

      To: All

      From: [email protected]

      Subject: Miss me?

      Hi, guys! Guess where I am! No, you’ll never guess, so I’ll just tell you—ALASKA!

      I’m taking part in the teacher exchange program, and before you ask: I didn’t tell you because you’d try to talk me out of it. Now it’s too late! Don’t worry—I’m fine. This is going to be fun.

      I’ll be here one semester only, so I’ll be back before Christmas. Hardly enough time to miss me, but I know you’ll try. I’m including my address and phone number—but e-mail is easiest for destitute schoolteachers, isn’t it?

      Love from up north,

      Hailey

      The phone rang only a couple of minutes after she’d located Jane’s computer and sent an e-mail to all her friends off in cyberspace. As she picked up the phone, Hailey made a mental bet with herself about the identity of the caller.

      “You are where?”

      Yup. Ellen.

      Hailey grinned, and in self-defense held the phone several inches away from her ear. She’d done this on purpose—not telling any of her friends what she was up to. They were far too good at talking her out of things. Now, it was too late, but she didn’t doubt they’d give it their best shot anyway. Well, they could try all they wanted—it was too late. She had committed to staying here for the next five months. Even if she wanted to, she couldn’t come back until Christmas. It was perfect.

      “Hi, Ellen!”

      “Please tell me you were delusional or drunk—or both—when you sent that e-mail.”

      “Sorry to disappoint you.”

      “Where are you?”

      “I’m in Alaska,” she repeated. “Just like it says in my e-mail.”

      Ellen cursed. “I was hoping it was one of your stupid practical jokes. What the hell are you doing, moving to Alaska? Without even telling me!”

      “I’m not moving. It’s only for one semester.”

      “What will you be doing there?”

      “Same thing as I’m doing at home. Teaching third grade. Their teacher is replacing me back home, you should meet her next week. She’s living in my apartment too.”

      “A total stranger is living in your apartment?”

      “Yup. And I’m living in her house. Isn’t this teacher exchange program a brilliant idea?”

      “What teacher exchange program?”

      “The new experimental scheme. We all got e-mails about it a few months ago, remember? Opportunity to expand your horizons, seek new challenges, return with new visions, blah blah blah.”

      “But…but…Alaska?” Ellen shrieked. “Hailey, have you lost your marbles?”

      “Why? What’s wrong with Alaska?”

      “There is nothing wrong with Alaska—except that it’s as far as you can get away from here without emigrating.”

      “We have phones. E-mail. It’s no worse than being a state away.

      “You don’t know anyone out there!”

      “That’s the good part. I get away from all the people who have a problem with my decision to stay away from men this year.”

      “Is that what this is about?”

      “Partly.”

      “I

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