Hearts of Alaska Series 2: Love & Alaska

KIERA

The icy wind whips against my bare skin, making my nose feel numb. I watch as my warm breath mingles with the frosty air, like steam rising from a piping hot cup of tea.

I’ve never been bothered by the cold—not when I was growing up in Maine, not during the winters in New York, and certainly not now in Alaska.

As I look beyond my own breath, taking in the snow-dusted spruce trees, the distant mountains blanketed in white, and the still, icy waters of Kachemak Bay, I’m reminded of why I love it here so much.

Ever since I was a child, I’ve been visiting Homer, Alaska during winter breaks with my parents, who are passionate skiers. Our log cabin has always been a home away from home, and with the ski club just a short drive away, I’ve never really had the chance to explore the rest of Alaska.

But that’s about to change. My love for Alaska is deep, and my commitment to helping animals is unwavering. The call of the Alaskan wildlife is impossible to ignore.

I knew I wanted to spend more time in Alaska, and what better way than to attend grad school in the heart of the wilderness? With a bachelor’s degree in Animal Health and Christmas just a week away, I flew out to Alaska early to start looking at graduate schools and begin the application process for next year.

I can almost taste the icy, exciting opportunities that await me here.

“Well, well, well, if it isn’t Kiera Sutter stirring up the slopes again.”

“Hey Ale, how are you doing?” I approach the lodge in my snow-covered ski boots, greeting Ale, who’s been working at the café counter in the ski lodge for as long as I can remember.

“I’m as good as I always am. You in town again for the holidays? I haven’t seen your folks yet.”

“They’re coming in a few days. I came early to check out some grad schools here.”

“Is that so? You like me so much, you lookin’ to stick around.”

I chuckle at his comment. “Sorry Ale, I think you’re a little too old for me.”

“Suit yourself.”

I laugh again, amused by his mock offense. “Plus, I don’t think there are any colleges here in Homer. Although I’ve never actually ventured outside of the ski resort to know for sure, I’m hoping there is a school for me somewhere in Alaska.”

“What are you studying?” Ale asked.

I answered with pride, “I already have my bachelor’s degree in Animal Health. I’m looking to be a veterinarian, preferably for wildlife. So I thought, what better place than Alaska.”

“Well, I can’t say I know anything about universities here in Alaska, but I can give you this.” Ale handed me a brochure from under the counter. “Noah is a local here in Homer starting up his own tourism business. That boy knows every inch of Alaska and can probably show you places off the beaten path. I’m sure he wouldn’t mind showing you around.”

I smiled gratefully. Glancing at the brochure, I see a small float plane advertising a tourism service called Jones Adventure Tours with a number to call on the bottom.

“Thanks, Ale. I’m going to do one more run on the slopes before the sun disappears.” Ale nodded his goodbye as I made my way toward the ski lodge doors, tucking the brochure safely in my pocket before zipping up my coat, ready for the ice-cold weather to reawaken me.

***

“Hey you!” I smiled, holding the phone to my ear as I briskly walked down the focal point of Homer the following morning.

“I’m surprised you found time to call me with all your crazed talk of skiing until you couldn’t walk anymore.”

I rolled my eyes at my best friend Alexa’s dramatics. “Ha, ha. Very funny. I got my fix yesterday and it was amazing. When are you going to come here and find out for yourself?”

“I may be from Maine, but you know skiing isn’t my forte. The real question is when are you coming back? I’m still super bummed you’re going to miss Tina’s annual Christmas Eve dinner.”

My stomach started rumbling, thinking of Alexa’s boyfriend’s mom’s homemade cooking. Alexa met Josh freshman year of college, leaving me as the third wheel.

I sighed heavily over the phone. “You know I came here to look at schools, Alexa.” Alexa and I have been inseparable since we were little kids. From growing up in Maine together to going to college together. I knew our lives would take us down different paths eventually.

With Alexa pursuing a career in fashion design, and with her relationship with Josh, I knew New York would become her new home. But for me and my career, she and I both knew deep down Alaska had always been calling me.

“I know, I know,” Alexa pouted. “How’s the search been going?” she asked sadly, but I knew she cared about me and my future too.

I stopped in my tracks before answering, looking up at the Homer storefront in front of me, admiring all the locally owned shops. My eyes landed on an awning above a business that read Jones Adventure Tours.

My memory jogged as I pulled out the brochure from my coat pocket Ale had given me yesterday. The crinkled-up brochure with the small float plane read the same company name as the awning that I was standing in front of: Jones Adventure Tours.

“Kiera?” Alexa’s voice echoed in my ear.

“Yeah? Sorry, what did you say?”

“I asked how the search for grad schools was going?”

“Yeah, I’m hoping to find some answers today. I actually have to get going.”

“Okay, well call me with any news. And don’t forget about your best friend.”

I smiled again. “I won’t. I love you too. Bye.” I put my phone in my pocket and pulled the handle open, hearing a bell chime in my presence.