Alaskan Christmas Redemption

by Belle Calhoune

  “Why don’t we meet this evening to try and sort some of this out?” he suggested. From what he’d initially gathered, they had only a short window of time to get things dealt with before everything imploded. That needed to be prevented at all costs.

  “That sounds good. Come by after I close up,” she told him. “I have to get back out there, but I’m so thrilled you changed your mind about helping me.” She flashed him a smile. “In case you didn’t realize it, I’m super grateful.”

  “Get back to work,” he said, making a shooing motion with his hands. “I’ll see you tonight.”

  After Piper rushed out of the office, Braden sank down into one of the chairs and let out a ragged breath. Fake it until you make it. He usually hated the expression, but at the moment it held a deep significance. He had managed to put on an award-winning performance with Piper. Hopefully she hadn’t detected anything lurking under the surface. She was a fairly intuitive person, and she knew him so well. He never wanted her to see the cracks.

  It was hard keeping secrets from Piper, especially one as substantial as this one. Although he had spoken the truth about owing her, there was so very much he’d omitted—truths he was too scared to ever confess to her.

  And so instead he would help her figure out where she stood with her long-term ownership of the diner, and if possible, help her hold on to it. Maybe then he wouldn’t feel as if he owed Piper a debt he could never repay.

  * * *

  The rest of the day passed by in a blur for Piper. Although she still felt nervous and scared about the future, just knowing Braden would be assisting her in the weeks ahead made her feel as if she wasn’t so alone. It was a comforting feeling. Piper was tempted on a daily basis to confess everything to her mother and Hank, but she always stopped short before she did so. Telling them the disastrous news about the diner would change the way they regarded Jack, and she couldn’t bear the thought of them feeling such a deep sense of disappointment in her father.

  If she could turn things around and rescue the establishment, no one would ever have to find out that the diner had been struggling well before she inherited it. Braden’s surprise appearance at the diner had lifted her spirits and given her a hearty dose of hope. Some might call her foolish for being so optimistic, but the alternative was too horrific to imagine. Having it ripped away from her would serve as a gut-wrenching blow. Failure really wasn’t an option.

  But now she wasn’t handling this situation by herself. Braden was by her side.

  For the first time in ages, she’d felt as if she had been looking at her best friend instead of the cold, remote stranger he’d transformed into. But even though Braden was saying all the right things, something still seemed off between them. If they were going to work together to save the diner, she needed to figure out what had changed so dramatically between them. She knew she wasn’t imagining things.

  It had started in the aftermath of her father’s death. Although Braden had been a rock for her to lean on, he had exhibited signs of strain and discomfort. It was as if he didn’t feel right in his skin all of a sudden. Had she leaned on him too much? Was he uncomfortable because he hadn’t been able to save Jack’s life with his CPR techniques? Although she’d tried to convey to Braden how grateful she was for his lifesaving attempts, maybe it hadn’t sunk in. Perhaps he couldn’t move past not being able to save her father’s life.

  Midafternoon Hank stopped by for lunch with his best friends, Gabriel Lawson and Connor North, Sage and Braden’s brother. Friends since they were toddlers, the three men always referred to themselves as the Three Amigos. Just watching the camaraderie flowing so naturally between them caused a sharp pang to shoot through her. It used to be like that with her and Braden. They had been inseparable. Everything had been effortless.

  Look on the bright side, she reminded herself. Being in such close proximity to Braden could change things. Perhaps they just needed to get back to their natural rhythms. Maybe then their friendship would return to being what it once had been—spectacular and full of ease. That and saving the Snowy Owl was all she truly wanted for Christmas.

  “Hey, little sis. How’s it going?” Hank asked as he approached her, a smile gracing his handsome face. There were few people in her life who she flat out adored. Hank was one of them. As town sheriff, he was a beloved figure in Owl Creek. With his sandy-colored hair and blue eyes, her older brother looked nothing like her. But regardless of their physical differences, they were still bonded by blood and their love for one another. Like her mother always said, Real love is color blind.

  “I’m doing all right,” she answered, matching Hank’s grin with one of her own. “Today has been fairly busy. Considering how up and down things have been lately, it’s a blessing.”

  Hank seemed to be studying her. He was gazing at her intently as if trying to read her facial expressions. “So, how’s the bottom line? I know running a restaurant isn’t easy, especially in a small town like Owl Creek. You must have taken a hit with the new establishments that have opened down the street.”

  She waved her hand around, highlighting the restaurant. “We’re keeping our heads above water,” she answered. “The customers keep coming back, so it’s all good, Hank.” It pained her to tell half-truths, but she didn’t know what else to do at the moment.

  Now would be the time to tell her brother all about the diner’s precarious financial situation and the very real possibility that she would have to close the Snowy Owl’s doors. He would be shocked, and he might even lecture her about withholding the truth for so long. But at least this huge secret wouldn’t be weighing on her conscience. Maybe then she would be able to breathe normally without feeling a sharp pain in her chest. She knew something else with a deep certainty. Hank would move mountains to help her, which was the exact reason she couldn’t confide in him. Her older brother was a loyal and compassionate man who had been through a lot over the past few years. Now, after his marriage to Sage, he had finally found happiness. There was no way she could place this huge albatross around his neck, regardless of what it might cost her.

  “That’s good to hear, Piper. Don’t be a stranger. You and Mama need to come over for dinner real soon.”

  Piper cocked her head to the side. “Did you learn to cook in the last few months? Because the last time you made a meal for us you almost burnt your house down.”

  He reached out and playfully tweaked her nose. “You’re a regular comedian aren’t you? Sage has been teaching me some of her recipes.” He puffed out his chest. “I made pot roast the other night.”

  Piper fanned her face. “As I live and breathe. Love has sure transformed you, Hank Crawford.”

  “It surely has, and I couldn’t be any happier about it,” he said, brushing away curls from her temple then placing a kiss there. “I have to head back to the sheriff’s office, but I’d like to see you sometime away from the diner.” He shook a scolding finger at her. “Remember, if you live, eat and breathe this place, it’ll lead to burnout.” With a warning look, he strode away from her toward the door.

  Burnout. Little did Hank know how close she was to being consumed by the flames. She needed something good to happen to turn things around. She needed God to show her that the dream her father had nurtured for so long wasn’t going to turn into ash. Piper pressed her eyes closed and prayed. Dear Lord, please hear my prayer. I need Your help more than I ever have before. I’m in trouble and I’m scared of what’s to come. Please help me weather this storm.

  During her break, Piper dug around in the office and located all of the files and paperwork she wanted to share with Braden. Right before closing, he arrived and sat down in their usual booth, the one they had always chosen throughout their childhood. Once she closed up the diner, she joined Braden at the table and without saying a word slid the file toward him. She nervously nibbled at her nails as he read through the papers. After he’d looked through the fi
les and spreadsheets, Braden sat back in the leather booth seat and frowned.

  Piper leaned across the table. “So? Don’t leave me hanging. What’s the verdict?”

  Braden let out a low whistle. “I’m not trying to make you feel bad, but I can’t tell you more than you already know—the diner has been in trouble for a while now. Your father was putting money into it to try and get traction, but those efforts never paid off for any sustained period of time.” He shook his head. “I don’t know if he had a strategy to improve things, but the struggles continued until his death.”

  Her heart sank. Had she really been so foolish as to think Braden would instantly find an answer to her terrible predicament? She fought against the feeling of despair threatening to pull her under. She was trying to stay positive, but it was becoming more difficult with each passing day.

  “Maybe I should just throw in the towel,” she said, her lips quivering with emotion. “It isn’t fair to blindside Hank or Mama. If I lose the diner, it’s only right to give them fair warning.”

  “Piper, I’m trying to be straight with you, but I also don’t want you to give up hope.”

  Piper crossed her hands in front of her in prayer-like fashion. “Do you really think there’s a way out of this?”

  “I do. It’s the most wonderful time of the year. If ever there was a time to have faith, it’s during Christmas.” Braden drummed his fingers on the table. “Remember when a chocolate cherry shake would make everything feel better? I miss those days.” His voice sounded wistful.

  Leave it to Braden to mention their favorite sweet treat and lighten the mood. Her father had come up with his own special recipe for the drink, and it became a customer favorite. There had even been a name for it on the menu. The chocolate cherry bomb shake. Piper and Braden had made it their go-to drink whenever they’d headed over to the diner for an after-school treat. There had been nothing quite like it on the Snowy Owl menu. She hadn’t continued making them after her father’s death, but now she was wondering if that had been a mistake.

  “Do you want me to make us some?” Piper asked, her stomach grumbling at the idea of the delectable treat. She’d been so busy this evening she hadn’t even stopped to eat a bite of dinner.

  Braden nodded vigorously. “I’ll never say no to the cherry bomb.”

  Piper busied herself in the kitchen making the shakes for the two of them, leaving Braden to look over the information she’d provided. When she brought the treats to the table, Piper relished the look of absolute delight on Braden’s face as he took his first sip. He closed his eyes and let out a sound of utter contentment.

  “In a perfect world, you’d be able to make a million dollars off this recipe,” Braden said, taking another lengthy sip. “You could go on one of those food shows and blow everyone away with this concoction.”

  “I wish. Then my problems would be solved,” she murmured, knowing such a thing was impossible. But it was nice to dream, wasn’t it? She and Braden had shared so many hopes and wishes over the years. Some had come true while others were pie-in-the-sky fantasies. She wondered if he would still share those precious dreams with her or whether it was just another piece of their relationship that had been altered by time and space. She was hoping that spending more time together would repair all the fractures in their relationship. It was hard to imagine a future without Braden in it.

  He quickly finished his drink with a satisfied sigh.

  “Good to the last drop, huh?” she asked, chuckling at his empty glass.

  “It would be a pity to waste any of it,” he answered, grinning back at her.

  This felt nice, Piper thought. Despite the dire circumstances, she was enjoying a bit of the old camaraderie between them. It meant the world to her.

  “Hey. I need to run outside for a moment. I forgot something in my car,” Braden said, jumping up from his seat. Before Piper could respond, he was halfway out the door.

  A few minutes later there was a banging sound. When she walked over, she could see Braden standing there with a huge Christmas tree tucked under one arm. She wrenched the door open and stepped aside as Braden traipsed in. For a moment he battled to get it past the doorway. With a huge grunt, he pulled it across the threshold. He leaned the tree against the wall as he stopped to catch his breath.

  “This is what you forgot? A ginormous pine tree?” she asked, feeling stunned by Braden’s sweet gesture. She had been so preoccupied by her troubles that she hadn’t even thought to do anything to make the diner look festive in anticipation of the holidays.

  “It was a surprise,” he said. “I couldn’t run the risk of you saying no.”

  “I would never say no to a Christmas tree,” Piper said as she inhaled the fragrant aroma of pine. “It reminds me too much of hearth and home. It’s funny how a smell can transport you all the way back to childhood when all you wanted for Christmas was to find a bike under the tree or the latest Barbie dollhouse.”

  Braden made a face. “I remember you forcing me to play with that dollhouse and then getting mad when I wouldn’t play by the rules.”

  “That’s because you wanted the dolls to do karate moves when they were supposed to be in a fashion show.” Piper laughed at the sweet trip down memory lane. They truly had been in each other’s pockets all through their childhood. He had always been her soft place to fall. She hoped he always would be.

  After a little bit of wrangling, they managed to drag the tree over to a spot by the window. Braden raced back outside and returned with a tree stand. He held it up triumphantly and placed it in a strategic spot by the tree. Piper stood on one side while Braden placed the tree in the stand, then asked Piper to hold it steady while he tightened the screws at the base. When it was secure, they both stepped back to admire the tree in all its glory. It was beautiful and majestic, reaching all the way to the ceiling. There was even a little space at the top for the star. Once it was all decked out, the customers would love it. Now all they had to do was add water to the base to keep it fresh and hydrated.

  Piper swallowed past the huge lump in her throat. She couldn’t help but think about her sweet and lovable father. He’d loved Christmas more than anything, and he had sprinkled his irrepressible brand of holiday charm all over Owl Creek. Because of him, the diner had radiated pure love and warmth. Having the tree here brought a huge piece of her father back to her.

  “How did you know exactly what this place needed?” she asked, her throat husky with emotion. “It’s simply perfect.”

  “I remembered how festive it looked in years past. Not to mention if you walk down Main Street all the other businesses are decked out with all the Christmas trimmings. It’s that time of the year when all is merry and bright. The Snowy Owl needed a little holiday bling.”

  “It reminds me of all the Christmases when Daddy would take us to pick out the tree. Once we’d selected the perfect one, he’d tie it to the top of the truck and then bring it back here so we could decorate it.” She let out a sob. “I can’t tell you how much I miss him. I’d give anything to have him right here with us.”

  Braden resembled a deer in the headlights. His eyes went wide, and he looked at her without saying a word. He seemed to be completely overwhelmed by her emotion.

  Perhaps he too was still trying to wrap his head around the events of that day on the mountain.

  “I know I’ve said it before,” she continued, “but my family is mighty grateful for everything you did to try and rescue my dad after the accident. The paramedics said your efforts were nothing short of heroic.”

  “I—I wish I could have done more. I’m no hero, Piper. Not by a long shot.” He spit out the words as if rejecting the notion that he could ever be anybody’s champion. “It’s getting late. I really should get going. I’ll be in touch.” His expression was unreadable. He stuffed his arms through the sleeves of his winter parka and jammed his knit hat on his h
ead before making his way outside.

  In the blink of an eye, he was gone. The lovely rapport between them had been shattered without warning. One moment he’d been warm and engaged, then he’d shut down on her and run away as if his feet were on fire. His behavior was startling. Every instinct told her that Braden was keeping secrets from her. She should know. He’d been her partner in crime since they were in diapers.

  And it terrified her because at this moment he was the only person in her life she was truly counting on to help her out of the terrible mess she found herself in.

  Chapter Four

  Braden woke up the following morning feeling none of the relief he’d expected to experience for having agreed to help Piper with the Snowy Owl. There was still a weight sitting on his chest. He couldn’t help but wonder if it would remain with him for the rest of his life.

  Hero! Hearing the word tumble off Piper’s lips last night had caused a churning sensation in the pit of his stomach. He’d practically bolted out of the Snowy Owl rather than look Piper in the eye and accept her praise. If one more person referenced him by using the H word, Braden thought he might lose it. He couldn’t be any less of a hero if he tried. He wasn’t brave or true.

  That was the problem with returning to Owl Creek. Everyone thought they knew him, but in reality they didn’t have a clue. He wasn’t like his older brother, Connor, who did everything right in every situation. Perhaps he should just tell the truth and spare himself the guilt. Who was he kidding? He’d spent the last three and a half years running away from his inability to face his best friend and confess everything to her. Even though their relationship was strained at the moment, Piper was still his friend. A little pressure had been lifted from his shoulders the moment he’d agreed to help her turn the business around.

  Jack Miller had been a beloved man in town. Braden couldn’t remember ever hearing a single person say a bad word about him. Piper had always enjoyed a wonderful relationship with her dad. In Braden’s opinion she’d put her father up on a pedestal where nothing could touch him. Even now, Piper seemed to gloss over the fact that the diner had been experiencing financial problems during her father’s tenure as the owner. She was blaming herself for not being able to turn things around, when in reality she’d inherited a struggling business.