Annie’s narrowed her gaze. There was a sharpness in her eyes that startled him. “So it is true.”
Declan sighed. “Yes, it’s true. But it wasn’t personal, and Dwight is making it sound a lot uglier than it was,” he defended himself, flustered by the hurt expression on Annie’s face. “I was lobbying against the use of town funding, not against you personally.”
“I shared some deeply personal things with you,” she said in a wounded voice. “And still you didn’t see fit to give it to me straight.” Annie’s lips trembled, and hurt shone in her eyes. “Without funding, I don’t have a job here in Love, and the townsfolk don’t have a library,” Annie spit out. “And you had plenty of time to tell me this while we were awaiting rescue. If I recall correctly, we even discussed town opposition to the library.” Annie let out a harrumph. “You conveniently neglected to mention that you were the opposition.”
“I didn’t want to get off on the wrong foot with you, Annie,” Declan explained sheepishly. “First impressions mean a lot. I didn’t want you to think I was a jerk.”
Her eyes blazed. Her mouth puckered. “Well, it’s too late for that,” she snapped as she pivoted on her heel and stormed away from him.
The desire to do bodily harm to Dwight rose up in him sharply and swiftly. He took a step toward him, his movement full of purpose. If he pummeled him, Declan could get all his frustrations out in one fell swoop. The plane crash. Lucy being demolished.
Dwight held up his hands. “It’s not my fault you didn’t tell her the truth. Don’t blame the messenger.”
Declan stopped in his tracks. Even though Dwight was a weasel, he was right. He’d had ample opportunity to tell Annie that he had been one of the leading opponents of the Free Library of Love, but he hadn’t been able to muster the courage. Something about her left him feeling flummoxed.
It bothered him that Annie had looked at him as if he was beneath contempt. Being liked was important to Declan. He’d worked hard at it for most of his life. Being liked meant he wouldn’t be ostracized because of his father and the circumstances surrounding his mother’s death. Making jokes and lightening the mood had always been his strong suit. If he could make people see the humorous side of things, it transported him far away from the heavy stuff that threatened to drag him down.
As Dwight scampered away, Declan scoured the area for any sign of Annie. He tried to swallow past the lump in his throat as he watched her being helped into Hazel’s van by a group of men from town. He knew every single one of them. They were all bachelors who were participants in Operation Love. The realization made him feel grumpy. As Hazel drove the two of them off into the gorgeous Alaskan afternoon, Declan found his gaze trailing after them.
How in the world was he going to make things right with Annie?
* * *
“Welcome to our little Alaskan fishing village, Annie. We’re mighty pleased to have you here,” Hazel announced from the front seat of the van. Beside her in the passenger seat was a pretty little border collie. The dog had a look on its face that said, “Don’t even think about kicking me out of this seat.”
“Sorry about the front seat. Astro here is a rescue pet. He insists on riding next to me up here.” The silver-haired older woman let out a hearty chuckle. “He thinks he’s royalty.” Hazel snorted. “He doesn’t know yet that he’s a mutt.”
“It’s not a problem, Hazel. I like looking out the window from back here.” Annie didn’t care where she sat. She felt practically giddy at the notion that her two feet were firmly planted in Love.
As the scenery rushed by, Annie couldn’t even focus on all the new sights unfolding before her very eyes. Hazel was giving her a narrative about the town’s history, but she simply nodded in response without really listening. Thoughts about Declan had crept in. She was still upset about Declan’s opposition to the library. How on earth did someone have the nerve to oppose a library, of all things? Did he have a problem with books? Humph! She had met people like Declan before. Ignoramuses who doubted the need for libraries in their communities. People like him were extremely shortsighted in their thinking. And they had no regard for education. Or the effect libraries had on small children—the next generation.
Annie couldn’t remember the last time she had felt so disillusioned about a person. Declan had been so heroic in the forest. Rugged. Appealing. Straightforward. The experience certainly showed her that appearances could be deceiving. Not that she didn’t already know that, but this served as a precious reminder that people often wore masks. Sometimes they allowed you to see only what they wanted you to.
She stuffed down a feeling of irritation at the memory of all the young women who had surrounded him at the pier. It wasn’t her place to judge but, just as she had suspected, Declan was a magnet for the ladies. She frowned. Why did she even care about his personal life? He was single and fancy-free. Annie didn’t care if he dated a dozen women from Operation Love. She wouldn’t be one of them!
“Are you hungry?” Hazel asked. “I can make you some lunch up at the Lodge. We’re only about five minutes away.”
Annie’s stomach growled loudly at the mention of food. Hazel let out a chuckle at the sound. “It seems as if your stomach answered the question for me.”
She felt her cheeks flush with embarrassment. “I’m famished. Declan and I didn’t have much to eat while we were in the forest. The whole time, I was imagining myself biting into a juicy cheeseburger.”
“Declan is pretty beloved here in town. I know quite a few women who wouldn’t mind being trapped right alongside him.” Hazel met her gaze in the rearview mirror and winked.
Annie sniffed. “I wouldn’t know anything about that,” she said in a crisp voice.
“Uh-oh! What did he do to you? You seem mighty salty about something, if you don’t mind my saying so.” Hazel’s bluntness caught Annie off guard. She seemed like a kindly woman, but she didn’t hold back her opinions. Not by a long shot.
“It’s nothing,” Annie said in a soft voice. “I’m not going to let it bother me.”
“Aha. Did he try to kiss you?” Hazel’s voice sounded triumphant. “That boy has been charming girls since he was a tadpole.”
Annie bristled. “Absolutely not! Declan was a perfect gentleman in every way.”
“So you do like him,” Hazel said, her tone full of approval. “Most gals do.”
Somehow that didn’t surprise Annie. Not one little bit.
“He was...fine,” Annie admitted. “Until I discovered that he was the one who led the charge against the library funding.”
“Oh,” Hazel said, drawing out the word. There was understanding in her voice, as if she was fully aware of Declan’s position on the Free Library. “We do a lot of debating in this town about how to spend funds. Ever since a recession hit a few years ago, we’ve had to count every penny. I doubt he meant any harm.”
Hazel’s explanation slightly mollified her, although she still felt steamed about it. “If he had admitted it once he realized I was the town librarian, I wouldn’t be feeling so jaded right now.”
“I’m partial to Declan, so I won’t say a word against him. That poor boy has been through so much in his life, so forgive me if it seems that I’m giving him a pass.” Hazel heaved a tremendous sigh. “I’ll admit it. He should have told you.”
“What has he been through?” Annie blurted out. Normally she wasn’t so nosy, but she wanted to know what forces had made Declan the man he was today. And why did Hazel seem so sad about it?
“His mother died when he was eight.” Hazel’s eyes held a tortured expression. “His father was incarcerated for almost ten years. Finn and Declan lost their childhood all in one fell swoop.”
Annie’s stomach twisted painfully. “That’s terribly sad,” she said. An image of a sweet-faced boy with striking blue eyes popped into her head. She
ached for him a little, knowing from experience how hard it was to grow up without parents to guide you.
The O’Rourkes were a family that had been fractured by tragedy and loss and the prison system. Those events must have made a huge impact on Declan’s life. She admired him for creating his own business with O’Rourke Charters. It couldn’t have been easy, she imagined.
“Killian, their grandfather, raised them all by himself after that. It was a sad day when he passed on,” Hazel said in a mournful tone. “Yet another loss for those two.”
Hmm. It seemed that she and Declan had something in common, after all. They had both been raised by a grandparent after death, and life circumstances had taken their parents out of the equation. From the sound of it, Declan had endured a lot of loss in his life.
“What about Finn? He really seems to care about Declan.”
Hazel sniffed back tears. “He does. In his own way. But Finn has never stuck around Love long enough to even put down roots. Both of them have wounds from losing their mother in such a senseless way. Then, to lose their father to the prison system...the ripples of those events were devastating.”
Annie frowned. “What was his father in jail for?”
Hazel made a turning motion on her lips as if she was locking them shut with a key.
“I’m guilty of having a big mouth, Annie,” Hazel confessed. “But I wouldn’t hurt that boy for all the tea in China. I’ve said enough. Anything else you want to know about Declan has to come from his lips.”
“I understand,” Annie said. “I wasn’t trying to pry. Blame it on the librarian in me. I’m always seeking answers to the questions rolling around in my head.”
“No worries. I was the one who brought it up. In a town like Love, you’re bound to find out all the answers to your questions sooner or later. I’d rather not be the one to speak about Colin O’Rourke. It’s still a tough subject for the boys.”
Boys? Annie might have giggled if the discussion wasn’t quite so somber. Declan and Finn were a far cry from boys. They were strapping men who were both extremely easy on the eyes. Alaskan eye candy. Hot men of the tundra. No wonder women were leaving their lives behind and relocating to the far ends of the earth to find love.
“We’re here,” Hazel announced in a chipper voice as she turned off the main road. A few feet ahead, Annie spotted a rusted, faded sign with a brown bear on it. As soon as Hazel turned onto the private lane, Annie noticed reddish cabins as far as the eye could see. The abundance of snow-covered trees lining either side of the lane reminded her of Maine in winter. There was a quaintness about the area that appealed to her. As Hazel continued down the lane, Annie let out a gasp. A gigantic craggy mountain came into view. It felt as if she could almost reach out and touch it. This, Annie realized, was a sight she would never stop marveling at.
Hazel stopped the car in front of a large, two-story, rustic home. A wooden sign posted in the ground read The Lodge.
Hazel sighed as she stood and looked across at the mountains and the spectacular Alaskan vista. “Beautiful, isn’t it? God sure got it right when He created Alaska.”
“That’s for sure,” Annie said. She got out of the car and stood in the clearing, staring off into the distance. There was something so majestic about her surroundings. She inhaled deeply and threw her arms wide. There was no way of knowing whether it had to do with the view or surviving the plane crash, but she suddenly felt more alive than she had in her entire life. Adventure was knocking on her door, and she was going to heed the call.
“Leave your bags in the car. I’ll take you back down to the cabins after we get a bite to eat.”
Annie followed Hazel as she opened the door to her home and stepped inside. The interior of the Lodge was beautiful. Although Hazel didn’t seem like a dainty woman, the furnishings and accents were very feminine and old-fashioned. Annie admired the gleaming hardwood floors and stained glass windows. Gorgeous paintings of Alaskan landscapes adorned her walls. A velvet settee, a mahogany armoire and a glass-front china cabinet all added special touches that lent the place an understated elegance.
“Why don’t you sit down and relax while I heat up the food. The powder room is right down the hall if you’re so inclined.” Hazel’s kindness was making Annie feel at home, despite experiencing a few pangs of homesickness. Everything was so different here! Even though she had craved this Alaskan adventure, it was still a bit nerve-racking to step out of your comfort zone and embrace change.
If you always do what you always did, then life would be pretty boring, wouldn’t it? Another Gram-ism popped into her head, serving as a reminder that she needed to be brave. Her new life in Alaska was a journey of discovery. Isn’t that what she had wanted?
She looked around the room, noticing all the pictures. A framed photo of Hazel and Jasper sat on a side table.
“Is Jasper your boyfriend?” Annie asked as soon as Hazel returned. Judging by the picture of the two of them, they looked as if they were more than friends.
“That depends on what day it is,” Hazel cracked. She shook her head and let out a boisterous laugh. “Just teasing. Jasper is my honey bear. We’ve been together for about a year now.”
“That’s wonderful, Hazel,” Annie gushed.
“I loved him from afar for quite some time. Jasper finally got his act together and showed he had some common sense,” Hazel said in a crisp voice.
Annie was intrigued by the idea of a romance between the older couple. It was sweet that they had found love with one another later in life. She wished Gram had found someone special to pass the time with in her golden years. It was sad to think that, other than a youthful relationship, she had never experienced romantic love. I don’t need a man in my life when I have you, Gram had always said. Annie had never believed her.
Gram. The ache of loss still tugged at her heartstrings relentlessly. Annie had hoped that coming to her grandmother’s hometown would serve as a healing balm for her sorrow. But grief was a process that she had to walk through one step at a time. As important as her grandmother had been to her during her lifetime, it was only fitting that she would miss her like crazy.
“Come sit down at the table,” Hazel instructed. “The grub is piping hot and ready to be served.” Hazel ushered Annie into the dining room, where two places had been set. In the middle of the table were platters of food—chicken, a rice dish and biscuits and gravy.
“What an amazing spread,” Annie said as she inhaled the delectable scent of Hazel’s down-home cooking. Hazel reached for her plate and began to heap a generous helping of the food onto her dish.
“I cooked this morning for you in anticipation of your arrival. I knew the rescuers would find you and Declan. Praise the Lord!” Hazel raised her palms in the air.
Annie dug into her food. “He had our backs the whole time,” she said with a nod. Despite her fear, she had known that God was watching over them. They had been under His protection the entire time. That was the real blessing.
They enjoyed a companionable silence as they ate the food Hazel had prepared. Sitting down for a meal at Hazel’s table allowed Annie to feel the sweet warmth of home. Sunday dinners at Gram’s table had always been a festive affair. Each week she would hand-select members of their congregation to break bread with them at their home. The table would be laden with too many dishes to count—ham, mashed potatoes, macaroni and cheese, chicken and salad. Over the dining room table they had enjoyed fellowship and laughter and the best food in all of Maine. Those get-togethers had filled their house with so much light and love that her heart overflowed. If it was possible to go back and gather those memories in a bottle to preserve them for all time, she would do it in a heartbeat. What she wouldn’t give for one more day with Gram. Or simply to hear her tinkling laughter ring out.
“There are plenty of other gals staying here at the cabins. All of ’em c
ame to town as participants in Operation Love,” Hazel explained. “Nice bunch of ladies. A few already found their fellas and are planning weddings or have tied the knot.”
Weddings! “Wow. That’s exciting,” Annie said. “How many have gotten married?”
Hazel looked up at the ceiling for a moment. Her lips were moving, and Annie could tell she was counting in her head. “Since this whole program began, I think there have been five marriages. It’s really hard to keep up with all the engagements.” Her mouth quirked. “There have been a few breakups, too.”
“That’s only natural, I imagine. Declan told me about Boone and his wife.”
Hazel’s face lit up. “Grace! What a sweetheart. Boone and Grace were the first couple to get married as a result of Operation Love. Jasper was sure tickled about his grandson being part of the inaugural couple.
“Do you have a type, Annie? I might be able to steer you in the right direction,” Hazel said with a grin. “We’ve got a lot of good, faith-driven men here in Love. And some of ’em are mighty cute.”
Declan’s face popped into her mind. She did her best to stuff down all visions of Declan threatening to flash before her eyes. What woman wouldn’t envision him as her type?
Tall. Easy on the eyes. Funny. A sigh slipped past her lips. She didn’t need to set her sights on a confirmed bachelor, particularly one who seemed to be a magnet for every single woman in town.
“A type? Not exactly,” she answered. “As far as looks go, I’m open to all types. I don’t want a lady’s man, though.”
Hazel leaned in a little bit across the table. “Sounds like you’ve been burned before. Am I right?”
Annie didn’t like to share her romantic past with people. It made her feel foolish to admit that she had been played for a fool in the game of love. But something in Hazel’s sympathetic gaze encouraged her to open up. “Yes. It’s true. A few years back, I was dating someone who turned out to be quite unscrupulous. He was seeing several young ladies throughout the state of Maine, all the while telling each one of us he was true-blue.”
A Match Made in Alaska Page 8