by CBelle
Had he dreamed up the events of last night?
Was he really and truly the father of a little girl?
Emma Prescott. For the first time since he’d found out he was a father, it hit him that his nephew, Aidan, now had a cousin. Aidan, the son of his brother Liam, was about to turn four years old. In his mind’s eye he could see the two of them becoming buddies and playmates. Maybe even going skating on Deer Run Lake or tobogganing out in Nottingham Woods as they grew older.
Whoa. He needed to slow down before he made any plans about the future. He had a hard time imagining Paige relocating to Love. He chewed his lip. How could he maintain a decent relationship with Emma if they lived back in Seattle? A twinge of doubt speared through him as he recalled how terribly Paige had been treated in the aftermath of the scandal. And he’d done absolutely nothing to intervene or make things better. He’d been too busy licking his wounds and dealing with angry townsfolk.
What might have been if Robert hadn’t conceived a twisted scheme to fleece the town? And if there hadn’t been so much suspicion thrown in Paige’s direction?
“Morning, Cameron. Isn’t it gorgeous outside?” A chirpy voice rang out behind him. “All that fresh Alaskan air is so invigorating. It’s like I used to say when I lived in Saskell—if I could bottle up fresh air, I could make a fortune.”
He swung his gaze up from his rank cup of coffee. His employee Sophie Miller looked as bright and fresh as a daisy. That was Sophie through and through. A regular burst of sunshine peeking out from the clouds. With her red hair and green eyes, she was striking in a girl-next-door kind of way.
Cameron grunted a greeting. He hadn’t got more than a few hours’ sleep last night and he felt as foul-tempered as a grizzly bear. Sophie’s upbeat personality might just kill him today.
“Well, good morning to you, too, Mr. Grumpypants. I do believe somebody got up on the wrong side of the bed.” She wagged her finger at him as if he were a small child rather than her boss. Sophie had come to Love courtesy of the Operation Love campaign started by Jasper. With her Southern accent and sweet-as-pie personality, she was a favorite with all his customers and the residents. Best friends with his sister-in-law, Grace, she knew her way around a coffeehouse like nobody’s business.
“Who’s grumpy?” Hazel barked as she appeared in the kitchen doorway. “Not Prince Charming here?”
Sophie jutted her chin in his direction. She adjusted her apron around her waist and began prepping her work area.
“Cameron Prescott! You’re too blessed to be cantankerous,” Hazel said, planting a hand on her hip.
Cameron rolled his eyes at her. “Says the woman who’s dating my grandfather, the most ornery man on the planet.”
Hazel grinned from ear to ear. She was practically glowing. “He’s downright sweet with me. Tender. Romantic. And he’s a good kisser to boot.”
He shuddered. “Hazel. Do me a favor and never mention anything even remotely related to the two of you kissing. Never ever again.”
Hazel began humming a lively tune as she sauntered over to a table and greeted the day’s first customers with lively banter. Cameron couldn’t help but laugh. Sophie and Hazel sure did keep things interesting around the café. They were an important part of the success of his establishment. He still needed a replacement for Grace, who’d returned to journalism full-time after a brief stint as a barista.
As customers trickled in, Cameron busied himself taking orders and making specialty coffee drinks. Time passed quickly as the morning crowd dissipated and he began the prep work for the lunch rush. A quick glance at his watch sent a feeling of dread coursing through him. It was almost noontime! Lately it seemed as if Jasper and Boone showed up like clockwork for the lunch specials. The sheriff’s office was located right across the street, so Boone didn’t have far to travel. Knowing his grandfather, he was champing at the bit to find out the particulars about his conversation with Paige last night. As it was, he had a whole lot more to tell his family than they could ever imagine. He felt a smile tugging at the corners of his lips as Emma’s sweet face popped into his mind.
At twelve thirty, his hunch about his family showing up at his establishment proved to be accurate as Jasper, Boone and Grace came in and settled down at one of the bigger tables toward the back of the café.
“Hazel, are Boone and Jasper here to talk about Paige and the money?” Cameron asked with an exasperated sigh. He didn’t need this right now. He was trying to run a successful business. A table full of Prescotts never boded well. Now was not the time to discuss Paige’s return to Love or the idea she’d presented to him about the cannery. Besides, he had more pressing matters at hand. He had to find a way to tell them about Emma. And he wasn’t about to do it in front of all his regular customers so it would become the talk of the town.
Sophie was over at the table, taking their orders and laughing at something Jasper was saying to her. She threw back her head and chuckled, pulled in by Jasper’s charm.
“What do I look like? A mind reader?” Hazel grunted. “Go on over and ask them yourself.”
Knowing he had to deal with them sooner rather than later, Cameron headed over to his family.
“Hey, guys. Fancy seeing you all here,” Cameron drawled.
“Hey, Cam. I’m loving the new additions to the menu,” Grace said with a smile. “It’s making me nostalgic.”
“Thanks, Gracie,” Cameron said, not missing the way his brother reached out and touched his wife’s stomach. He had the feeling a baby announcement would be coming any day now. For now, he would just pretend he hadn’t noticed the warm gesture. He winked at his sister-in-law. “Your barista position is still open if you’re interested,” he teased.
“Sophie is ten times the barista I ever was,” Grace admitted, giving Sophie a thumbs-up sign, making the young woman blush prettily. “Besides, I’m too busy writing about the great state of Alaska. Matter of fact, I can’t stay. I’m on deadline, so I’m grabbing a coffee to go.” She stood up to leave, then leaned down and brushed a tender kiss across Boone’s lips. With a parting smile, she walked over to the counter and picked up her coffee, then headed outdoors into the afternoon sunshine.
Cameron shoved his hands in his front pockets and looked nervously around the table. Jasper and Boone were staring at him as if they were waiting for breaking news. “Listen, guys. I need to talk to you all about something. This place is packed right now, so I’d like to do it at a more private moment. Maybe we can grab some dinner at my house and invite Liam and Honor to come, as well.”
“Is it about the money?” Jasper asked, leaning forward across the table. His eyes were glistening with excitement.
“No,” he said with a frown directed at his grandfather. “It’s not about the money. This is...personal.”
“Whatever works for you, Cam. We’re here to support you, no matter what,” Boone asserted.
Jasper nodded. “That’s pretty much the reason we came by here today. We know it’s not easy to have Paige back in town.”
“Thanks, guys,” he said, fighting to speak past the huge lump in his throat. He didn’t know what in the world was wrong with him. It was a rare occasion when he let his emotions get the best of him. A long time ago he’d learned to stuff them down so no one could see his hurts. He considered it his special power.
The loud jangling of the bell hanging over the Moose Café’s entrance announced the arrival of customers. Turning his head to greet them, Cameron froze as he instantly recognized the honey-blond hair and the heart-shaped face that never failed to make his pulse quicken. Paige had just sailed through the door of the Moose Café with his look-alike daughter cradled against her chest.
Knowing his worlds were about to collide, Cameron dived right in. “I have something to tell you,” he said, looking back and forth between Boone and Jasper. “Paige didn’t co
me back solo. She brought my daughter with her.”
Jasper’s eyes bulged and he began coughing. Boone’s jaw slacked.
His grandfather sputtered. “What are you talking about?”
Cameron met Jasper’s harsh gaze without flinching. “That little girl over there is mine.”
“Ha! Is that what she told you?” Jasper grunted. “It’s been almost two years since you saw that woman. I wouldn’t trust a word that comes out of her mouth.”
Cameron clenched his teeth. “That woman has a name. It’s Paige. I expect you to settle down and treat her with the respect she deserves.”
“R-respect?” Jasper sputtered. “After what she and her father pulled?”
“Regardless of what she may have done, she’s still the mother of my child.” He ground out the words with a fierceness that surprised him.
Jasper waved his hand at Cameron. “You always had a soft spot for that—”
“Don’t finish that sentence!” He glared at Jasper. “And if you can’t manage to pull it together, it’s probably best that you leave my establishment.”
As Cameron turned away from Jasper and began to walk toward Paige and Emma, he felt a surge of triumph rise up inside him. Jasper’s comments highlighted the fact that Paige was still under a cloud of suspicion. Most here in Love wouldn’t welcome her back. Cameron himself still had major questions and doubts about her involvement in the embezzlement scheme. Standing up to Jasper wasn’t about any lingering feelings he had for Paige. He’d fallen out of love with her a long time ago. It was now all about his innocent daughter, who didn’t deserve to be pulled under by a town scandal and enmity for her mother.
Regardless of what Jasper thought, it wasn’t about defending the woman he had once loved. It was about safeguarding the baby whom he now felt duty-bound to protect.
Chapter Four
As soon as Paige had stepped into the Moose Café, she’d felt an electric current simmering in the air. Although she hadn’t been nervous a few minutes ago, there was a sudden fluttering sensation low in her belly. Maybe this hadn’t been a good idea after all. Familiar faces jumped out at her. Folks she’d known for years became wide-eyed at the sight of her. A few of them even whispered behind their hands and pointed at Emma, causing her to snuggle her daughter even closer against her chest. From across the room her eyes locked with Cameron. He wasn’t alone. Even though she’d known it might happen sooner than she’d like, the sight of his brother and grandfather hit her like a ton of bricks.
The past and the present blurred as memories from two years ago assailed her senses. As town mayor, Jasper had led the outrage against the daughter of Robert Reynolds. It hadn’t mattered to him that they’d known each for years or that she was his grandson’s longtime girlfriend. As town sheriff, Boone had grilled her with questions about the embezzlement of the funds. Throughout the grueling process she’d told them the truth—she’d known nothing about her father’s criminal acts. She was innocent, even though no one had believed in her.
She inhaled a deep breath, reminding herself that she’d chosen to walk this path of redemption and reconciliation. No matter how unpleasant, she was going to keep trying to make a difference in Love, and, in the process, serve as a positive role model for Emma.
Before she knew it, Cameron was at her side, his gaze focused on Emma. His eyes flickered with an emotion that resembled pride. Her daughter reached out a chubby hand and tugged at Cameron’s chin. The gesture surprised Paige since Emma always seemed so finicky with strangers. In response, Cameron let out a throaty chuckle, which made Emma giggle. She winced at the notion that her daughter didn’t know her own father, even though she appeared to be taking to him like a duck to water. From this point forward, she vowed, these two will be in each other’s lives. Girls always need their daddies.
“Do they know about Emma?” Paige asked, her eyes darting nervously toward the back of the café. Hazel was now standing at the table, a stunned expression etched on her face. She swung her eyes toward Paige.
“I just briefly filled them in. I’d like them to meet her. Are you all right with going over there?” Cameron asked, his gaze intense as he studied her face.
“Of course,” she said, knowing this meeting had been inevitable in a town this size. And the sooner she crossed these bridges, the sooner she could start working toward resurrecting the cannery deal and returning a portion of the stolen money. Her goals wouldn’t be achieved by avoiding awkward encounters. Feeling as if all eyes were on her, Paige followed behind Cameron as he led her to the back table.
With her head held high, she met Jasper’s mistrustful gaze steadily. She felt her chin wobbling under the pressure but she held her ground.
“Well, Miss Paige Reynolds, I must say I never thought our paths would cross again,” Jasper drawled. His silver eyebrows danced above his eyes. He opened his mouth, then quickly shut it. Something told her she wouldn’t have enjoyed whatever he’d stopped himself from blurting out. The mayor of Love was well-known for his caustic wit.
“Hello, Paige,” Boone greeted her. “It’s been a long time.” His expression didn’t give much away, although his eyes radiated wariness.
“Boone,” she said with a nod. “Two years, to be exact.”
Boone took a step toward her and reached for Emma’s chubby finger. “Well, who do we have here?” he asked in a soft voice.
“Her name is Emma,” Paige said. “Emma Prescott.”
She felt the heat of Cameron’s gaze as he studied her. Was that a pleased expression on his face? She wasn’t quite certain, but it sure looked like it. So far, Cameron seemed to be handling the situation pretty well. Even though he’d been surprised by the news last night, his reaction had been one of acceptance, despite his anger at her for waiting so long to reveal the truth. This was the true Cameron. Upstanding. Mature. Honorable.
Thank You, Lord, for allowing Cameron to see Emma as a gift and not a hindrance. She’s the light of my world, so I’m praying she’ll be a ray of sunshine in his.
“She looks just like you, Cam,” Boone said, a smile playing around his lips. “Much better-looking, of course.”
Cameron’s grin widened. Emma couldn’t take her eyes off him. It was as if her daddy were the sun, the moon and the stars. Paige sighed. Once upon a time she had thought the same thing about Cameron. And he’d proved her faith in him time after time, until in one terrible moment he had betrayed their love. She winced at the recollection of how coldly Cameron had treated her. Being innocent hadn’t spared her from the town’s or Cameron’s judgment and scorn.
After all this time it still wounded her to remember those dark days. The scars were still there, whether or not anyone cared to acknowledge them.
“I won’t even argue that point with you, Boone. Emma is by far the best-looking Prescott,” Cameron said, earning himself a pat on the back from Boone.
Paige felt as if a weight had been lifted off her shoulders as she watched the easy camaraderie between Cameron and his brother. She’d once been friends with Boone, so it was a relief that he didn’t seem to be shunning her. Or Emma. It would mean so much for her daughter’s future to have tight family connections in Love. Jasper, on the other hand, appeared as frosty as Mount McKinley in the dead of winter. Gritting her teeth, she reminded herself to make the best of the awkward situation.
“How old is the little one?” Jasper asked, jutting his chin in Emma’s direction.
“Fourteen months,” she answered, biting back the impulse to tell Jasper his great-granddaughter had a name.
“You shouldn’t hold her so much,” Jasper said with a furrowed brow, moving quickly toward Paige and reaching for Emma. “Set her down on the ground. Let her get her bearings.” Before Paige could protest, Jasper had plucked Emma from her arms and settled her on the floor.
Paige bristled. Who d
id Jasper think he was to interfere with her mothering?
Emma let out a high-pitched giggle and began to occupy herself with the wooden leg of a chair, seemingly fascinated by the texture of it. As usual, she was delighted with the world around her and all it had to offer.
“I don’t want her to fall,” Paige fretted. So far in Emma’s young life she and Fiona had been the only ones she could depend on for all her needs. It had always been mother and daughter against the world. It only stood to reason that she was a little overprotective with regards to her daughter.
“She’ll be fine tottering around here. I’ll keep an eye on her,” Hazel said in a voice as sweet as honey. She was looking down at Emma with a rapturous smile. It was amazing, Paige thought, how a tiny tot could warm up even the most obstinate of hearts.
Cameron nodded at her, letting her know without words that Emma was fine under Hazel’s supervision. With her heart in her throat, Paige watched as Emma walked off with Hazel following closely behind her. Even though she was only a few feet away, Paige found herself checking to make sure her daughter was all right.
“Why don’t we all sit down,” Cameron suggested. He pulled out a chair and gestured with his hand for her to take a seat. She blinked in surprise. Cameron had always been a gentleman, a trait that had endeared him to her. He had dedicated himself to the courtly gestures. Flowers. Sweet notes. Balloons on her birthday. She let out a sigh as she sat down. It had been a long time since anyone had held a chair out for her or surprised her with an armful of forget-me-nots, the official Alaska state flower.