Total pages in book: 20
Estimated words: 18322 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 92(@200wpm)___ 73(@250wpm)___ 61(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 18322 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 92(@200wpm)___ 73(@250wpm)___ 61(@300wpm)
“Come in, Josh. You don’t have to hover outside.” He’s only been my assistant for two weeks, so he’s still learning but needs to take more initiative. I don’t need an assistant that’s afraid of me.
“Sorry, sir. You’ve had multiple calls just this morning from an aquatic reserve in Anchorage. I have taken all the messages, but they are requesting a call back as soon as possible,” he says, setting down a large stack of message slips. I have no idea what the aquatic reserve is, so it must not be important right now. The stack is daunting, though.
Ignoring the messages, I take off for yet another meeting. As a member of the Alaska House of Representatives for the 25th district of Anchorage, I usually have to sit in on a meeting of some kind. As a Republican, I was elected Majority Whip of the 33rd Alaska State Legislature by my peers. That keeps me busy as well. I also serve as the head of the fish and game committee. Believe me; it’s always committee this and council that. All day, every day. I love my job and love representing the people of Anchorage, but it sucks being eight hundred and fifty miles from home most of the time. I spend one weekend a month at home, and the rest of my time is spent in a tiny furnished apartment here. It feels just like I did when I was in the Army. Now, if I don’t make at least one Sunday Dinner per month at my parent's house, I’d never hear the end of it.
After what feels like the longest day I’ve spent at the State House in a long time, I head to my shitty apartment. It’s not home to me. Normally, I’d go out to dinner with other reps, but no one was available. They have their families here with them, which seems most logical. I’m one of the only single reps, and it’s starting to wear on me. I grew up in a large family where something was always going on.
My job doesn’t leave me a lot of time to date, and to be honest, I believe in the Jorgensen Legacy. We can trace our family back to 1050 AD. The Jorgensen’s have always kept more than sufficient records. It’s said that when my ancestor Gunnar, a jarl in the north, fell in love, he did so instantly. All the Jorgensen men fall instantly. When we meet our other half, we don’t waste time. I’ve never wasted time with a woman I knew wasn’t mine. Other than the obligatory prom night fiasco, I’ve been biding my time until my woman appeared to me. I have every faith that she will. It was easy to keep my distance from the wrong woman when I was younger. I went right from high school into the Army, then college, then public office, starting with the mayor of Anchorage.
I stop at the grocery store, pick up some essentials, and take them to my sixth-floor apartment. An apartment might be a generous term. It’s a studio at best. I don’t entertain in it, ever. I eat, sleep, and shower here; that’s it. I also don’t cook, so if I’m not eating out, I’m popping a tv dinner from hell into the microwave and eating it while I watch the news or sports highlights. My life is fucking lonely. My parents, Njord & Ingrid, still live in the house I grew up in. They’ve been married for thirty-nine years. I just turned thirty-eight two weeks ago. I have two younger brothers, Heimdall, who just got married to his Marina. He’s a year younger and a preacher. My next youngest brother, Ødger, is two years younger. He’s a District Court Judge. When I was seventeen, my parents were surprised by my baby sister Sif. Mom thought it was menopause, but no it was just Sif. She’s still living at home as she’s in college. My brothers still live in Anchorage, no more than eight miles from my parents. My house is roughly two miles from them.
Heimdall’s wedding was the last time I was at home, which sucks. I miss my family. I don’t think I’ll seek re-election next time. I have bigger things I want to do. I’d like to represent Alaska in Washington, DC. I might skip that and try for governor. My ultimate goal is to be President of the United States. That’s the dream, anyway.
I just have to get through this term. It should be easy.
CHAPTER 3
SUMMER
TWO DAYS LATER
I can do this. “You can do this, Summer. You are a smart, capable young woman.” Sitting in this small plane known as a puddle jumper, flying to Juneau, I keep chanting this to myself. It's better than looking out of the window and freaking out about the ocean below because as beautiful as it is up close swimming in it, it is terrifying when you can crash into it. “Dang it. Don’t look down.” I tell myself before pulling out my notecards.