“Now?” she asked with a frown. “Is this about you-know-what?”
“If you-know-what involves the diamond ring sitting in my pocket...then, yes,” he responded with a loud whisper. “I’m about to burst.”
Ruby quickly led him to the office at the back of the house that Liam used when he worked from home. Once they were alone and she had closed the door behind them, Jasper began to vent.
“I’m not sure about this plan anymore. Seems to me that I would be groveling. Jasper Prescott doesn’t beg.”
“Jasper, this isn’t about your pride. It’s about repairing the damage you did the other night. That went down in a public arena, so it’s only fitting that you reverse things in the same way.”
His lips trembled. “But what if she says no, Ruby? I’m not sure this old heart of mine could take the rejection again.”
Sympathy flared inside her. At his heart Jasper wasn’t quite the curmudgeon he appeared to be. He was a man who hid a lot of his feelings behind a façade of irreverence. It was a mechanism he had most likely developed after the death of his first wife and the heartache he had suffered as a result of that huge loss. After all, it took a man with a mighty big heart to conceive of the Operation Love program.
“I’m not going to lie to you and say that it’s not possible, Jasper. But how will you ever know if you don’t try?” She reached out and squeezed his hand. He was trembling. “I know what it feels like to be afraid. I’ve been dealing with fear for the last two years. One of the bravest things I’ve ever done is get on that seaplane—destination Love, Alaska. And the second will be laying my heart wide open for Liam to claim it. Am I afraid that he won’t? Of course. But I can’t let that stop me. God led me home for a purpose. And I can’t run from that, even if it terrifies me at times.”
Jasper reached up and cupped her face between his palms. “You belong to us, Ruby. You’re a Prescott through and through, but you’re also a big part of this town. Love needs your big heart and your courage. I feel blessed to call you my granddaughter.”
Jasper pulled her into his arms. Ruby blinked away tears as she sank into the hug. Deep down, Jasper was a cuddly teddy bear. She loved this man, warts and all. And she wanted him to have his happy ending with Hazel.
“I think I’m going to need to borrow some of your courage,” Jasper said in a raspy voice.
“You’ve got this, Jasper. Just speak from your heart and try to focus on what Hazel brings into your life.”
“Hmm. Good things, right?” he asked with a frown.
“Jasper!” Ruby cried out, gently swatting him.
He threw his head back and laughed. “Just a little joke. I had to get it out of my system before I make my pitch.”
Ruby studied him. “Are you ready?”
“As I’ll ever be,” he muttered as he wrenched the door open and strode back into the party.
Ruby trailed behind him, not wanting to miss his moment.
Jasper walked into the living room, where the majority of guests were gathered. He looked around the room and finally spotted Hazel sitting next to Grace on the couch. When she spotted him approaching, she gave him the stink-eye. She did it so well Ruby thought she could give lessons on it.
“Hazel! We need to talk,” Jasper announced. Ruby made a face at Jasper. He was starting off on the wrong foot. He needed to be tender, not gruff.
“I don’t need to do anything! We’re no longer an item in case that addled brain of yours forgot!” Hazel said. She made a slashing motion in the air with her hand. “We’re history! Kaput!”
Yikes! This was not going to be easy, Ruby feared. She met Liam’s eyes from where he was standing across the room. His expression was doubtful.
“I love you, Hazel Tookes!” Jasper shouted.
The room got extraordinarily quiet. All eyes were glued to the unfolding drama. Guests began to trickle in from the other rooms to watch.
Hazel’s eyes widened. Ruby imagined she’d never heard Jasper declare his feelings in such a public forum. He moved closer and took Hazel’s hand in his. “The other night I made a plum fool of myself. And in the process, I dragged you down with me. I’ll regret that for the rest of my life.
“Hazel, you know that I already had the love of a lifetime.”
Hazel nodded. “Yes. Your wife, Harmony.”
Jasper nodded. “She was a fine woman. I lost her due to a mixture of my pig-headedness and her pride. I never imagined God would bless me twice in my life. But he did, Hazel. He brought me you. He sent me a supportive, beautiful woman who is my best friend. Someone I can laugh with and confide in, a woman who knows me inside and out, yet still thinks I’m worth loving. Half the time I know that I don’t deserve you, Hazel. What you’ve brought me and the entire Prescott clan is beyond anything I can articulate with mere words.”
By this time tears were streaming down Hazel’s face and she was choking back sobs. Ruby felt moisture on her own cheeks. A quick look around the room showed that most were becoming emotional. The raw emotion emanating from Jasper was undeniable.
“Would you make this old fool the happiest man in Alaska and consent to marry me?” He dug in his pocket for the ring box and popped it open. The diamond glinted and winked at Hazel from its throne. “I’d get down on one knee, but I’m not sure I would be able to get up.”
The room broke into laughter. Ruby looked over at Liam. He seemed as if he might burst with pride. Hazel stood and wrapped her arms around Jasper’s neck. She stared deeply into his eyes. “Jasper, you’ve made me the happiest woman in the world. All I ever wanted was to know that you loved me. And if you really want me as your bride, my answer is yes. A thousand times yes.” She leaned in and placed a smooch on Jasper’s lips that sealed the deal.
The room erupted into chaos. Shouts. Cheers. Whistles. The next thing Ruby knew Liam and Aidan were both at her side, sharing the heartwarming moment with her. Liam reached for her hand and squeezed it. It felt so right having their hands linked, as if they belonged together.
Ruby blinked back tears.
Jasper taking this leap of faith and putting his pride aside was a mighty thing indeed.
This had been a perfect evening, capped off by the knowledge that Jasper and Hazel had been blissfully reunited. Finally she could allow herself to believe in the possibility of a happily-ever-after with Liam. If someone as set in his ways as Jasper could make this huge shift, anything was possible. And she needed to believe, since she’d fallen in love all over again with her husband.
Hope shimmered in the room like the gold star on the Christmas tree.
Chapter Twelve
Ruby sat in the kitchen, studying one of her favorite cookbooks. She had volunteered to make the turkey for Christmas dinner at Jasper’s house, and she had no intention of delivering a dry, pathetic excuse for a turkey. Nope. It wasn’t happening. This turkey was going to go down in Love, Alaska, history as the juiciest, most succulent bird of all time. Liam would be so proud of her. And she would be extremely proud of herself, as well.
Something had been bothering her all morning. She had a slight headache and there was a strange feeling of dread hovering over her. It didn’t make any sense, considering all that was right in her world. Aidan was now calling her Mom. Her memories were slowly but surely coming back to her. And her relationship with Liam had turned romantic. Last night’s kiss had definitely moved them out of the friend zone. There was no doubt in her mind that she was falling in love with her husband.
Just the thought of it gave her goose bumps.
Meeting Liam for lunch at the Moose Café would serve as a nice treat in the middle of the day. And it felt much better to spend time with him than to sit around daydreaming about the tall, dark and handsome doctor who had captured her heart.
Aidan sat at a little table with Emma, who was hanging out with Camero
n at work today. From what Ruby observed, the two kids did more playing than eating. It was nice to watch the two of them together. Although there was a three-year age difference, they got along like two peas in a pod.
Liam swung his gaze from Aidan to her. “Something tells me Aidan wants a little sister or brother someday. We always wanted a big family.”
Ruby took a sip of her coffee. “We did?” she asked, her heart thundering inside her chest.
“At least ten,” Liam drawled.
Ruby’s jaw dropped. “Ten? Seriously?”
Liam’s grin threatened to take over his entire face. “No, I’m teasing, but we did want more.”
She looked over at Aidan and smiled. “He’d be a great big brother.”
“It’s obvious to me that you’re feeling more settled now in Love,” Liam said as he gulped down his coffee.
“I am,” Ruby said. “There were a few bumps on the road. It was hard for me to know what the future held for me without my memories. But that’s changed quite a bit. A lot of my memories have trickled back. I feel more grounded now.”
“I admire you,” Liam said. “When you first arrived in Love, your head must have been spinning. You really held on to your faith.”
“I have no doubt that God sent me here. Imagine if I hadn’t come seeking answers.” She shuddered. “You and Aidan might never have known that I survived the accident.” The thought of it was terrifying. Her whole life would have been different. It was painful to even think about not reuniting with Liam and Aidan.
Liam reached for her hand and raised it to his lips. “I will always be grateful for God pointing you in the direction of home.”
“Me, too,” Ruby murmured, overwhelmed by the magnitude of how much her life had changed in the past few weeks. Before coming to Love she had been pretty much a loner, one who wasn’t tied to anything or anyone. Now, she had a family, one she loved with all her heart. And her future was ripe with promise.
After lunch ended, Ruby took Aidan to the library to pick up a few books. He was at the age when he needed to get started on the road to reading. Next fall he would be headed to kindergarten.
Annie greeted them as soon as they walked inside. With her sweet nature and extensive knowledge of the library’s catalog, Annie made their visit engaging and wonderful. They ended up with both of their arms full of books by the time they departed.
When they finally arrived home, it was Aidan’s nap time.
Ruby stuffed her library books into a shopping bag she had tucked away in the trunk. She placed the strap of the bag over her shoulder and prepared to help Aidan lug their finds inside.
“Hi, Ruby. Aidan.” Gareth was on the porch, sitting in one of the Adirondack chairs. He stood as they came closer.
Aidan reached for her hand and warily studied his grandfather.
“Do you remember me?” Gareth asked, bending over until he was at Aidan’s eye level.
Aidan shrugged and looked up at Ruby. He turned to Gareth and said, “Not really, but I've seen pictures of you from when my daddy was little.”
Gareth winced. “I’m sorry I haven’t been around more often, A-man. It’s great to see you, buddy.”
Ruby frowned at her father-in-law. “What are you doing here, Gareth? Liam thought you left Love.”
His smile twisted. “I was visiting some friends in Homer. But I didn’t get very far before I realized that I needed to come back and talk to my children.”
“Liam is at the clinic.” She frowned at him. “But I’m sure you know that already.”
He had a sheepish expression on his face. “I’d like to have a few minutes to talk to you, Ruby. To apologize. To explain myself.”
“Come on in, Gareth.” Once they crossed the threshold, she turned to him and whispered, “I’m only extending this courtesy to you since you’re Liam’s father. A bit ironic, I’d say, considering you haven’t given any of your kids much of that.”
Turning toward her son, Ruby said, “Aidan, you need to go take your nap. You’re about to crash.”
“But I don’t want to go to sleep,” he complained. The way his lids had been slowly creeping closed had showed he was fighting sleep.
“Listen to your mother, kiddo. I promise we’ll do something fun together really soon.” He stuck out his hand. Aidan grinned and shook it, then retreated to his room.
“Come on into the kitchen,” Ruby said, leading the way. She took down two glasses and filled them with lemonade. Gareth sat across from her at the table.
For a moment he looked down, avoiding her gaze. “I was your mentor, so I feel a little bit of responsibility to keep tabs on you. I know that might sound strange to you, considering how I’ve dropped the ball with my own kids.”
Anger on Liam’s behalf rose inside her. “You did more than drop the ball. Your vanishing acts have really hurt your children. That’s unacceptable.”
Gareth looked up at her. His eyes were full of shame. “I know. I’m determined to change all that moving forward. I really want to try.” He reached for his glass and took a sip of lemonade.
Ruby nodded. “I respect that.”
“If you have even the slightest inclination to return to search and rescue, I’m here to answer any questions. And I know that might place me in the crosshairs of my son, but this isn’t personal. It’s professional. I was the one who called you in for that Colorado mission.” His face blanched. “I feel responsible for everything that happened.”
Ruby shrugged. “You shouldn’t feel that way. Life happens. And with regard to my career, I’m just going to have to wait and see. It’s too soon to know anything.”
“I can appreciate that. You’ve been through a lot, Ruby. I’m really happy that you and Liam got past all of your marital problems.”
Her heart constricted. She frowned at him. “Problems? What are you talking about?”
Gareth’s face fell. His mouth opened then quickly closed.
“What problems?” she persisted. The pounding inside her chest was getting louder by the second.
He held up his hands as if to ward her off. “Ruby, please. I didn’t come here to make trouble.”
“Tell me, Gareth.” She wasn’t taking no for an answer.
He let out a sigh and shook his head. “You were struggling with a few marriage issues. It would have blown over. I know it.”
Marriage issues? Hadn’t everyone said that she had enjoyed a perfect marriage? If something had been wrong in their marriage, Liam would have told her. He was a straight shooter, not the type to harbor secrets.
“I’ve said enough!” Gareth said in a fierce voice. “It’s all in the past. Liam will never forgive me for opening this can of worms.” With a tortured groan, Gareth rose jerkily from the table and pushed his chair in. “I really did come here today to make inroads.” He strode from the room, quickly making his way to the front door.
“Gareth!” she called after him. Without turning back to her, he wrenched open the front door and disappeared from view.
Once she opened the front door Gareth was already in his car, taking off down the road. She closed the door and sagged against it, filled with confusion about Gareth’s revelation. She didn’t necessarily take Gareth at face value, but she was of the mind that his comment had been truthful. The immediate look of regret on his face once he had realized his mistake had been authentic.
She began to tremble. Gareth had been telling her the truth. She knew it instinctively. This was the thing she had been so afraid to discover. This was the monster hiding under the bed. And she had been so afraid to remember it because on some level she knew it might change everything between her and Liam.
Ruby began to knead her head with her fingers. Her head ached. She sat on the couch and wrapped her arms around her middle. She began rocking slightly bac
k and forth.
Suddenly she had a flash of the fight with Liam. His face had been a cold mask of anger. She had been crying and speaking in a raised voice. As if she was watching a movie, she heard herself ask for a separation. She saw the hurt look etched on Liam’s face followed by his blistering anger.
It had been about her job! The words “dangerous” and “Aidan” and “mission” had been flowing in the conversation. She had wrenched her rings off and placed them in a red-velvet box in his dresser drawer. There had been tears and raised voices between her and Liam. Then resignation as she calmly began packing her duffel bag.
It made sense. For so long she had wondered about where her wedding rings were and what had happened to them. She had never asked Liam about it, nor had he given her the rings back. That in itself was a red flag. Wouldn’t Liam have mentioned her wedding rings? Unless, of course, he hadn’t wanted to bring them up, knowing she had made the decision not to wear the rings shortly before the accident.
Dear Lord. Please let this be a false memory. Please don’t let this be real. I want so badly to believe in Liam...to believe in us and our marriage. I don’t know how I can do that if Liam hasn’t been honest with me.
* * *
Filled with determination, Ruby took a deep breath and headed down the hall to the master bedroom. She slowly turned the knob and stepped inside. Goose bumps popped up on her arms. This was the scene she remembered from her flash. She looked toward the twin dressers standing side by side. It wasn’t right to go through Liam’s private belongings, but she had to know if what she remembered had really happened.
She pulled open the top dresser drawer. There were a few items inside...mainly socks. In the corner sat a crimson box. Taking it out, she lifted it open with shaking fingers. Inside were two rings—a solitaire diamond and a wedding band with a row of smaller diamond stones.
Ruby let out a small cry. She felt as if someone had just placed a twenty-pound weight on her chest. It was difficult to breathe. All she wanted to do at the moment was to curl up on the floor and sob.
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