SHIVER by Tiffinie Helmer

again.”
    The look on his face said he didn’t like her informing the room he’d had trouble earlier. “I didn’t know if you were going to return. I woke up alone,” he said, his tone almost a whine. He behaved a lot like Fox did when he was sick. Raven didn’t like seeing the similarities. She retook her seat.
    “Well, I’m glad to see you feeling better, Aidan.” Fiona came over and patted him on the shoulder. “Let me reintroduce you to my baby.”
    “M-o-m,” Chickadee moaned. Poor thing hated being called the baby. She’d been a big surprise to her parents as there were thirteen years between her and the youngest of the other Maiski offspring. And she still constantly surprised everyone.
    “Last time you saw her, she was only three. This is Chickadee, or Dee as she likes to be called now that she’s older.”
    “Wow, am I feeling old.” Aidan studied her. “You look a lot like Raven did at your age.” His voice turned soft, reminiscing.
    Raven got up from the table and made her way to the sink to make a pot of tea. She didn’t need to think about how she’d looked when she was younger. Or how she’d acted.
    Chickadee smiled. “As long as I don’t look like Lynx.”
    Aidan laughed. “Nope, nothing like Lynx.”
    Raven put the kettle on to boil and turned around. Aidan was looking directly at her.
    “What about Tern?” he asked, not taking his eyes off Raven. “Is she still around, causing trouble somewhere?”
    “Tern moved to Fairbanks and opened an art gallery type gift shop called The Arctic Tern,” Fiona said. “She’s doing very well. I’ve given up hope of any of my girls settling down.” Fiona arrowed a look at Raven.
    “What?”
    “Nothing.” Fiona moved to the fridge and opened it, pulling out sandwich makings. “Still a fan of my Reubens, Aidan?”
    His mouth dropped open. “Yes, ma’am.”
    Fiona smiled. She loved a man who appreciated her cooking, but this time she set all the ingredients out on the counter and turned to Raven. “Here you go, Raven. Make him a sandwich. Come on, Chickadee.” She motioned with her hand. “Let’s go help out in the dining room.” Chickadee grumbled but followed Fiona out of the kitchen, leaving Raven to wait on Aidan.
    The lodge had a private kitchen for the family, and then an industrial version, with her Uncle Pike running the stoves, adjacent to a large dining room and restaurant for guests and anyone else after a hot, home cooked, Alaskan meal.
    The tea kettle whistled. Raven turned off the heat and prepped her mug with a tea bag, pouring hot water into it, adding in milk. “You want a cup of tea?”
    “Yeah, that sounds great.”
    She placed a mug in front of him, along with the cream. “There’s sugar if you want it.” She indicated the pottery bowl squatting in the middle of the table.
    “Thanks.” He reached for the cream and stirred, leaving out the sugar. He ran his finger down the side of the cup. “Great mug, love the colors how they bleed from blue to green.”
    “Thanks.” She turned back toward the sandwich makings. “I made them.”
    “You made this?” He looked closer at the mug. “It’s nice. Great form, stylish yet functional handle.” He glanced around the kitchen, noticing other pottery pieces. He picked up the bowl in the middle of the table that her mother used for fruit. “Did you make this too?”
    “Yes.”
    “You’re very talented. How did you get into pottery?”
    “Long story.” One she didn’t want to go into right now as it was one of those choices made as a result of her teenage pregnancy. “You still want that Reuben?” She needed to get his mind on food and off her.
    “Can you make a Reuben like your mom?” Aidan put the bowl down and looked at her skeptically. “If I remember right, you weren’t too handy in the kitchen.”
    She scowled at him, set aside her tea, and grabbed the corned beef. “One little fire and nobody will let you live it down.”
    “It wasn’t so