Arctic Witness
Author
Heather Woodhaven
Reads
19.0K
Chapters
1
EPILOGUE
Someone was downstairs. Sky’s warbled voice alerted her before the security alert beeped. She was all packed and ready, though. Ivy picked up Dylan and eagerly opened the apartment door to find Sean on the stairs.
“I’ve already loaded everything you’ve asked for from the bunker. You packed up here?”
“Should only take a load or two. All the furniture stays for my replacement.”
Sean nodded and picked up two suitcases. She followed him down the stairs and outside, where a small trailer waited. She peered in to find the pack-and-play crib and toys she usually kept at Minnie’s already loaded. “We should have plenty of time to get it to the dock. My friend who transports cars here says this will all be in Anchorage within a week.”
She tilted her head into the sky and looked out toward the back, where the musk oxen grazed. “It smells like snow.”
Dylan reached for Sean and he eagerly accepted.
“Doggy and Dada.” Dylan said each word with a nod on each syllable, as if introducing Sean and the dogs to Ivy for the first time.
Sean kissed the top of his head. “Not quite yet, little man, but soon. Hopefully very soon.”
She laughed, her eyes sparking with joy for what felt like the millionth time. Foster transfer papers had been approved, along with Sean’s intent-to-adopt papers, as well. He had already started attending classes a week ago. Thankfully, they allowed him to attend a couple of classes virtually while out on location. And since the Alaska K-9 Unit had added Ian McCaffrey and his German shepherd, Aurora, a cadaver dog, Sean had someone to share on-call duty with. Ivy could scarcely believe it was happening.
“I realized something, though,” Sean said to Dylan. “I’ve forgotten one key thing before I move you and your mom.”
She racked her brain about what they might’ve forgotten. They’d tried to talk every night while Sean was back in Anchorage, and she’d made list upon list of what they needed. Sean pulled his harmonica out of his shirt pocket. Grace trotted to his side and Sky plopped beside her. Ivy couldn’t help but laugh. “Another round of ‘Twinkle, Twinkle’ before we go?”
He began playing the worst rendition of “Here Comes the Bride” she’d ever heard. He swayed with Dylan, who was situated to face her in Sean’s left arm. Her baby boy patted Sean’s forearm as if it were a set of drums. Grace walked around Sean twice and Sky followed her.
On Sean’s final note, Grace and Sky both warbled a horrible off-tune finishing howl. Ivy clapped and Sean’s face sobered. He bent over and set Dylan down on a small patch of grass nearest the building. “One second, little man. I need to ask your mom a question. Ivy, I know we’ve talked about this, but I want to ask properly.” He sank to one knee and lifted his face up to Ivy. “Will you marry me—again?”
Her breath caught. “I will.”
He stood and reached for her, his hands on her waist, pulling her close. Her fingers slipped behind his neck. He searched her eyes, as if wanting to see proof that they were in agreement. She grinned and met him halfway. Their lips touched. She pulled him closer, reveling in the kiss as peace flowed from her head to her toes. Even though they were moving to a different town, being with Sean was like returning home. Dylan’s hands found their pant legs. They broke apart to find him grinning up at them with the surety of a child who knew his parents loved him and each other. Grace and Sky stood, wagging their tails. Then Sean swooped down and picked Dylan up for a group hug as the fat snowflakes, promising hints of a beautiful arctic winter, floated down from the clouds above.
Look for the next book in the Alaska K-9 Unit series, Yukon Justice by Dana Mentink.
Alaska K-9 Unit
These state troopers fight for justice with the help of their brave canine partners.
Alaskan Rescue by Terri Reed
Wilderness Defender by Maggie K. Black
Undercover Mission by Sharon Dunn
Tracking Stolen Secrets by Laura Scott
Deadly Cargo by Jodie Bailey
Arctic Witness by Heather Woodhaven
Yukon Justice by Dana Mentink
Blizzard Showdown by Shirlee McCoy
Christmas K-9 Protectors by Lenora Worth and Maggie K. Black
Keep reading for an excerpt from Mountain Fugitive by Lynette Eason.
