Paige and Cameron both began to chuckle at the ferocity with which Emma took ownership of her toy and her fierce expression. “She’s very possessive of Mr. Snuggles and her stuffed bear, Lola. She doesn’t even like to part with them when it’s time for them to hit the washing machine,” she teased, earning herself a grin in return.
“I’d like to spend some quality time with Emma. That way she can get used to me being around.” He rubbed his chin. “I know it’ll take some time, but I want her to know me. It’s important that she recognizes me as her father.”
“Of course,” she said with a nod.
“I could take her to the upcoming spring festival. There’s always something fun to do there.”
“That should be fine,” she said. “I’ll be in touch.” She took the diaper bag from Cameron’s hand and slung it over her shoulder. After making sure Emma was fully bundled up in her coat and hat, she headed to the door. Once again, curious stares seemed to greet her as she walked out of the Moose Café. Let them stare! All they cared about was town gossip and rumors. They had no idea that she was back in town with a purpose. Her love for her father dictated that she uphold his dying wish of redemption. And her newfound faith had shown her that separating a man from his child was wrong.
A sliver of fear crept down her spine. Although it had been one of her goals to introduce Cameron to his daughter in the hopes that they would forge a relationship, the idea of Emma and Cameron bonding made her feel vulnerable. She had always been the custodial parent, the one who did all the nurturing and heavy lifting. Emma was all she had in the world. What might happen if Cameron got married and decided he wanted to raise Emma? What would she do if Emma decided down the road that she wanted to be a part of the big, bustling Prescott family? All she had to offer her daughter was herself. There was no one else. No uncles or aunts. Or grandparents. No bells or whistles. In many ways, Cameron could offer Emma a much fuller life than she ever could.
Paige knew her feelings were selfish, but she couldn’t control the growing tide of anxiety. As a single mother, she had always felt vulnerable. Giving her daughter a full, richly textured life was essential to Emma’s well-being. It was something she’d prayed over on many occasions. That God would allow Emma to be loved abundantly. Now all her fears were rising to the surface and bubbling over. The truth was hard to ignore. It caused her stomach to get all tied up in knots. If she lost her precious Emma, she wouldn’t have a single thing left in her world. She would be completely and utterly alone.
Chapter Five
A small town like Love didn’t harbor many secrets. By the time Cameron opened up the Moose Café the next morning, the entire village had heard about Paige’s return and the fact that she had brought back a baby who was his spitting image. His phone had been ringing off the hook since last night with inquiries from concerned citizens and well-meaning friends. Add in a few town gossips and his head had been spinning with all the attention being directed his way.
Paige’s name was on the tip of everyone’s tongue. Even gentle-hearted Honor had been up in arms, especially when he had confirmed the fact that he was Emma’s father.
Last night Paige had reached out to him about meeting up over at the site of the unfinished cannery building. She had mentioned something about getting all her ducks lined up in a row before the town council meeting. He’d reluctantly agreed to meet her this morning after he opened up the café and made sure Sophie and Hazel could hold down the fort. Still, after all this time, he found it almost impossible to say no to her. Although he respected Paige for wanting to make things right, he wasn’t sure of his role in her grand plan. A long time ago he had made peace about the fact that instead of being involved with the running of a cannery, he was now owner of a popular and profitable eatery. God had shown him that when one door slammed shut on him, another one had opened up with wide-open arms.
The Moose Café had been his blessing after so many turbulent moments.
After parking in the makeshift lot next to the building, he got out of his truck and took a moment to survey his surroundings. The morning sun beating down on him felt incredible, as did the springlike temperatures Love was experiencing. The smell of the bay drifted toward him from the pier across the way, assailing his senses with a briny, salty aroma. He watched for a moment as a group of local fishermen made preparations to head off in search of a great day’s haul. He felt a deep respect and admiration for fishermen. It was a rigorous, often dangerous job that was dependent on the elements. At times, circumstances were completely out of their control.
Cameron turned away from the pier and scanned the area for Paige. Within seconds he spotted her up on the hill facing the building that had been earmarked for the cannery. Emma was sitting on her hip wearing a pink coat and dark leggings. Just the sight of his daughter instantly brightened his day. He prayed that one day soon she would have an awareness of him as someone important in her life. There was nothing more powerful than a father in a young girl’s world.
He felt a tightness in his chest as he surveyed the half-finished construction. Even now, the sight of it still hit him like a ton of bricks. It had held so much potential for greatness. All of it had gone up in a puff of smoke. “And for what?” he grumbled to himself. Greed and misplaced values.
“Morning, Paige,” Cameron said as he walked up the incline to where she was standing. “Good morning, beautiful,” he crooned as he tweaked Emma’s nose. The little girl buried her face against her mother’s chest, then peeked her head out to look at him.
Paige watched the interaction between the two of them, her face lit up like sunshine. With not a hint of makeup on and her blond hair pulled into a high ponytail, she looked fresh-faced and radiant. She was dressed casually in a pair of dark jeans and a windbreaker. The April weather was unpredictable, ranging from light snow to balmy temperatures and lots of sunlight. At the moment it was glorious, if a bit breezy. After a frigid winter, the residents of Love deserved blue skies and warm sun.
“Thanks for meeting me. I’ve always liked the view from up here. You can look out and see Kachemak Bay and all the fishing boats.” Her mouth quirked. “A part of me was hoping I’d walk up to the site and see that the construction had been finished.” Emma tugged at Paige’s hand with her chubby fingers.
“That wasn’t possible. The town didn’t have the money to complete the project,” he said in a sharper voice than he’d intended. The subject was a tricky one, considering they both knew why the funds hadn’t been available. Robert Reynolds’s deception had caused so many ripples throughout Love. Paige hadn’t remained in town long enough to see all the damage firsthand.
Paige pointed in the direction of the building. “I’m wondering if the original plan for this building can be scaled down if the town decides to move forward with the project. I think it could be a lot more cost-effective and the cannery could get up and running sooner if the construction is scaled back.”
Had Paige been staying up at night thinking all this through? It was impressive but a bit premature in his opinion. The project was a long way from being green-lighted. He wasn’t so sure Paige realized that it was far from being a done deal.
“That’s a good point,” he said. “The original blueprints were a bit ambitious.”
“This building represented so much. Hopes. Dreams.” Paige let out a sigh. “The future of this town was all wrapped up in this factory.”
“You and I had plans for the future. And lots of dreams,” Cameron blurted out. He didn’t know why he’d thrown that out there, but he was tired of pretending as if his life hadn’t been derailed by events that had been out of his control. He was tired of guarding his heart due to Paige.
“Yes, we did,” she acknowledged. There was a wistful edge to her voice. “We had lots of plans. It seems like a lifetime ago.”
She was right. It had been a long time since he
had allowed himself to remember all they had shared. They’d talked about settling down and building a house with a clear view of the mountains. That particular dream of hearth and home had been difficult to say goodbye to. Because of her business background and his own entrepreneurial sensibilities, they had tossed around ideas of creating their own enterprise. At the time it had seemed as if their lives had been ripe with such promise. Such incredible hope now turned to ash.
A bitter taste rose in his mouth as reality washed over him. None of it had come to pass. That knowledge caused an ache that threatened to pull him under. Suddenly he was eager to get away from Paige before he succumbed to the push and pull of their beautiful memories. Loving Paige had once caused him a world of hurt and pain. Falling back in love with her wasn’t an option. It had taken him years to finally get over the loss of her. He couldn’t afford to believe again in the possibility of the two of them. He had no interest in having the rug pulled out from under him again.
“Why did you want to meet me out here?” he asked in a clipped tone. He didn’t intend to linger here with her at the site of his colossal failure.
Paige juggled a fidgety Emma in her arms. “Because so far, you’re my only ally here in Love and I wanted to toss some ideas around with you.” Emma held up her hands to Cameron and he happily transferred her to his arms. Just having her snuggled against his chest made it hard for him to focus on the subject at hand.
Ally? How could he ever be one to someone he didn’t trust? Paige’s withholding the information about Emma had cemented the cold, hard fact that she couldn’t be counted on.
He shook his head. “I wouldn’t exactly say that. Just because I stepped in with Jasper doesn’t mean we’re a united front. This is separate and apart from Emma. While I definitely see the positive aspects of resurrecting the cannery deal, there are also several drawbacks.”
Her face fell. “But I thought you, of all people, would support this plan. You lived, breathed and dreamed about building a cannery for years.”
He blew out a frustrated sigh. Paige didn’t need to remind him of that fact. “Yes, I did. But sometimes we have to come to terms with the reality that not all of our dreams come to fruition.”
Paige frowned at him. “Is this about my integrity? Is that why you have reservations?”
All of a sudden he was wishing he’d passed on her invitation to join her this morning, although holding Emma in his arms was worth it. This wasn’t a road he wanted to go down. He’d made up his mind to keep things civil with Paige for Emma’s sake. But he knew it wasn’t wise to put his faith in her. The ache of her betrayal served as a constant reminder.
“That’s a loaded question. And a little bit unfair since I’m still processing being a father to a child I knew nothing about until a few days ago.” He gazed into Emma’s innocent eyes. She was studying him with a look of curiosity etched on her face. “Dada,” he said, placing her tiny little hand against his chest. “Dada.”
Paige sucked in a deep breath. “I was wrong keeping Emma from you, Cameron. I’m willing to say that with one hundred percent accountability. So far you’ve admitted no culpability in anything.” Paige’s features tightened. A small furrow appeared on her brow. “Is it so hard to say you might have been wrong about me?”
Cameron chewed the inside of his cheek. The truth was there had been more reasons to disbelieve Paige about her involvement in the embezzlement scheme than reasons to believe in her innocence. After so long it would be difficult to do a complete turnaround. Facing the fact that he had been wrong would mean taking responsibility for the events that had led to her leaving town and giving birth to his daughter in secret.
He clenched his jaw. “My reservations about the cannery are based on practical matters that have nothing to do with your character or our past relationship.”
“Well, that’s at least something,” Paige cracked.
Cameron glanced at his watch. “I hate to run without being able to help you very much, but we’ve got a crisis brewing at the café. Both Sophie and one of my new hires are out sick today with a stomach bug. Hazel is holding down the fort for me, but I’m guessing it’s going to be a madhouse soon, what with the lunch crowd coming in.”
“I can fill in for them, Cameron. In case you’ve forgotten, I waitressed all through college.”
Cameron studied Paige’s earnest expression. He knew she was determined to undo the wrongs of the past, but did she really want to subject herself to customers who might still be harboring animosity toward her and her father? It was way above and beyond the call of duty. It seemed like a surefire way to get her feelings hurt.
“I don’t doubt your waitressing skills,” he admitted, a smile threatening to break out on his face at the thought of Paige wearing one of the café’s moose T-shirts. “It might get rough with some of the townsfolk.”
Paige straightened her shoulders and lifted her chin up. “I’m tougher than you realize. I don’t skulk around like a guilty person, because I’ve done nothing to be ashamed of. And maybe, just maybe, the more I show my face around Love, the more people will come to realize that they misjudged me.”
Hearing those words tumble out of Paige’s mouth caused a feeling of doubt to slither through him. Was he one of those people? After all, he was far from convinced of Paige’s innocence. It was one of the main reasons he knew they could never have a future together. Trust was a cornerstone to every relationship. Without it, the foundation would crumble into dust.
He cleared his throat. “That’s mighty brave of you to volunteer. And if you really want to help, I could sure use an extra pair of hands.”
Paige smiled so wide he thought it might take over her entire face. “Terrific. That’s great. Let me call Fiona and have her pick up Emma at the café.”
At the sound of her name, Emma stretched her hands toward Paige, begging with her eyes to be back in her mother’s arms. Paige plucked Emma out of his arms. Cameron immediately missed the little bundle he’d cradled. She had smelled of baby powder and lavender.
Even though Paige was helping him out in a pinch, he still wasn’t certain he should have agreed to let her waitress for him. Being near her was stirring up emotions he was struggling to suppress. For so long he had convinced himself that she was nothing more than a liar and a fraud. Now, with her unexpected return, she was showing him with every word and deed how wrong he’d been. Dishonorable women didn’t risk everything to return to a place that had virtually disowned them. Untrustworthy women didn’t rack their brains trying to figure out a way to bring revenue to a struggling town.
As he drove away from Paige and Emma toward Jarvis Street and the Moose Café, he fought against old feelings that threatened to choke him. Against his best intentions and his resolve to remain immune to Paige, she had swarmed over him like a hive of honeybees, leaving him feeling defenseless and rattled by her presence in his world. Although he was committed to being the best possible father he could be, there was no way he was going to allow Paige back into his heart. Been there, done that. He had the bruises to prove it. He wasn’t going down that road again.
* * *
The Moose Café was packed to the gills with customers. Cameron had really hit the nail on the head when he’d made the decision to open a coffee bar–eatery, Paige marveled as the hum and buzz of the lunch crowd pulsed in the air. The success of the café spoke volumes about Cameron’s work ethic and his ability to tap into the needs of his beloved community. From what she had observed, they’d all given his establishment a huge stamp of approval.
Paige had felt triumph surge through her as she served her first customers of the day. Although she had received a few not-so-pleasant stares, the majority of the townsfolk simply seemed happy to be waited on. Not a single one had declined service from her. A few had even greeted her warmly by name. On occasion she’d caught Cameron staring at her. As soon a
s she met his gaze, he’d glanced away, making her wonder if she’d imagined his scrutiny.
She couldn’t seem to wipe the grin off her face. Paige was certain Cameron didn’t understand one bit of her elation about waitressing at the Moose Café. While he thought she was sure to get her feelings hurt by his patrons, she was regarding it as an opportunity to get back in the swing of things. Before her father had betrayed the town’s trust, the Reynolds family had been popular in Love. She couldn’t remember a time when she hadn’t been treated with warmth and grace by the townsfolk. She had been considered a hometown girl, even though she hadn’t been born in town. A sense of community had been what she had been missing in Seattle.
She looked down at her T-shirt. The big cartoon moose seemed to be laughing at her. No doubt he questioned the wisdom of what she was hoping to achieve here in Love. She let out a giggle, earning herself a few stares from customers. Oh, brother! As if they needed yet another reason to be suspicious of her. Now they might just suspect she was plumb crazy.
“You! Miss Paige Reynolds.” Paige froze at the imperious tone of the woman’s voice calling out her name. She turned her head toward the voice and saw long, weathered hands with fire-engine-red nails beckoning her. Letting out a low groan, she made her way over to the table.
“I almost cannot believe my eyes!” the woman cried out.
Paige had to bite her tongue. The Duchess, Myrtle Maplethorpe, was known for her fantastic, colorful ensembles and her snobby manner, among other things. She was a town gossip and their local historian.
“Mrs. Maplethorpe. How lovely to see you. It’s been such a long time,” Paige said, oozing every ounce of charm she had in her arsenal.
Myrtle peered up at her as if she were examining her for defects. She blinked furiously behind her glasses. “They said you’d come back, but I had to see it with my own eyes.”
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