“What’s really going on, Braden? What aren’t you telling me?” Piper asked, her voice beseeching him to tell her the truth. She reached out and grasped his sleeve, determined to make him stick around and talk this out. Not knowing was driving her a little bit crazy. Her imagination was beginning to run amok. “We’ve always been able to tell each other everything. What’s changed?”
“We were kids then,” he said testily, pulling away from her grip. “You can’t expect everything to stay the same, Piper. Life doesn’t work that way. I wish it did, but it doesn’t.” With a shake of his head, Braden turned away and began walking back toward Main Street. His jerky movements were full of frustration and anger. Once again, he’d left her feeling crushed.
As he stormed away, Piper inhaled a deep, steadying breath. His words had cut her to the core. Piper knew she hadn’t imagined their tight bond. Everyone in town had borne witness to it. If Braden didn’t care about her, he wouldn’t be helping her turn things around at the Snowy Owl. Piper knew she wasn’t a fanciful person. She’d always been firmly rooted in reality. Something wasn’t right.
Always trust your instincts. Those words of advice had been given to her by her father many years ago, and she’d always made it a point to heed his wise counsel.
She couldn’t let go of the feeling that Braden was hiding something from her. She’d felt this way for a long time now, and it was only heightening as time went by. Her mind overflowed with questions. Why would he be taking off again when he’d only just returned? Wasn’t this his chance to bond with Sage and celebrate the Norths being one big whole family again? He was a hometown boy who’d always adored Owl Creek. What was he running from? What was so wrong that he couldn’t stick around and face it head-on?
Piper pressed her hand against her chest. She was battling a sharp pain that wouldn’t let up. The very thought of losing Braden made her want to sob and kick and scream. Just when she was beginning to count on him, he was going to disappear from her life. And in leaving Owl Creek he would be breaking her heart all over again.
Chapter Nine
All the way home Braden chided himself for kissing his best friend. What in the world had come over him? It had been a stupid and impulsive act. Without a doubt, any man in his right mind would be over the moon to kiss a woman like Piper, but he wasn’t just anyone. The secret he was harboring complicated the situation. It had him so tied up in knots he was actually considering the idea of leaving Owl Creek again so he wouldn’t hurt Piper any more than he already had. After all, he’d done it once before.
More and more he was realizing how much Piper had blossomed from his gangly sidekick into a stunningly beautiful woman. For so long he’d gazed at her through the lens of a childhood friend. Now, with each and every day, his eyes were opening more and more about the strong and independent woman Piper had become over the past few years.
There wasn’t a single thing about her he didn’t cherish. She had pluck and grit, and she brightened any room she entered.
The random impulse to kiss her had caught him off guard. He’d acted on pure yearning. But it had been all wrong. There were just so many reasons he shouldn’t have done it. Crossing lines in their friendship wasn’t wise. Piper had always felt like home to him, but he had to tread carefully with her. He didn’t want to risk blurring the lines between friendship and romance. And with this huge secret sitting between them, he shouldn’t have made a big move like that.
But resting right under the surface was the knowledge of how right it had felt.
He banged his hand against the steering wheel. Now things were going to be incredibly strained between him and Piper. It had been awkward ever since he’d arrived back in Owl Creek, but this would be ten times worse. No woman ever wanted to be told that kissing her had been a mistake. He wouldn’t blame Piper if she never wanted to speak to him again.
Every time he felt as if things were sliding into place between them, something happened to cause him to backslide. Perhaps they’d never totally get back on track. It would be devastating, but he knew it was a possibility.
As Braden pulled up to the family compound, he noticed that the interior of the house was dark, with the exception of a multitude of colored lights decorating the pine tree in front of the house. Braden let himself inside, quickly noticing a soft light emanating from the kitchen. Following the trail of light, Braden ended up standing in the doorway looking at his father as he sat down at the kitchen counter with a plate of sugar cookies and a large glass of milk. Tenderness rose up inside him at the sight of his dad. Nate North was a good man, one who’d raised him and Connor with strong values and a deep sense of the importance of family. Time and again Braden asked himself how his father had survived his sister’s kidnapping. When he’d once asked him that question as a little kid, Nate hadn’t hesitated to answer. “Faith, my boy. Pure faith.” He’d never forgotten those words, and he knew that he never would. It had taught him about believing in something with an unshakable dedication.
“What are you doing up? Midnight snack?” Braden asked as he opened the fridge and took out the bottle of milk and then poured himself a generous glass. He turned back toward his father, smiling at the way he was dunking his cookies into his glass.
“I was actually waiting up for you,” Nate said, patting the chair next to him. “Take a seat, son. I’d like to talk to you.” His father’s blue eyes bore into him intently.
“What’s going on?” Braden asked as he sat down beside him. He had a funny feeling he was going to be grilled. It wasn’t every day his father stayed up late to have an audience with him.
“You tell me. I’ve been biding my time, but I didn’t want to wait another day before asking you how you’re doing.” Nate’s brows were knit together. His eyes radiated concern. It was the last emotion he wanted his father to feel. For twenty-five years Nate had worried about the fate of baby Lily. It wrecked Braden to think he was the cause of his father’s alarm.
“I’m fine, Dad,” he said, trying to make his voice sound steady.
Nate shook his head. “No, Braden. I don’t think you are. Ever since you left Owl Creek to chase high-flying adventures I’ve wondered and worried about you. You’ve been running from something.” His father reached out and placed his hand on Braden’s. “Talk to me. Tell me what’s going on.”
Braden bowed his head. He couldn’t look his father in the eye and tell him a lie. He was far from being fine. That was for sure. But how could he tell him what had happened that day on the mountain? He didn’t want to put any more burdens on his father’s shoulders. He’d carried enough to last a lifetime.
“You’re right, Dad,” he admitted, dragging his gaze up to lock eyes with Nate. “There’s something that happened a few years ago and I’ve kept it a secret. I’m not proud of it. It doesn’t sit well within my soul, and I’m trying to make amends for it.”
“Care to elaborate?” Nate asked, his dark brows furrowed.
“I don’t think I’m ready to share, Dad. I’d like to tell you everything...down the road. Just not right now.”
“And Piper? How does she fit into all of this? I couldn’t help but notice there was a distance between you for the last few months.”
“Was it that obvious?” he asked. It was a slightly uncomfortable feeling knowing the entire town might be gossiping about his relationship with Piper. And here he’d thought virtually no one had noticed.
“I doubt most people gave it a second thought, but you’re my son. I’ll always care about what’s going on in your world.” His father’s steely gaze never left him. It was clear he was still seeking an answer to his question.
“It involves her,” he admitted. “She’s still my best friend, but I’m afraid I’m going to lose her.” The very thought of it made his heart constrict. It felt like he was on a runaway train he couldn’t stop from careering off the tracks.
“Because o
f this...secret?” his father pressed.
Braden nodded. “I thought by helping her with the diner I could make amends, but I still feel such guilt. And I don’t have the courage to tell her what she needs to know.”
“Are you being prayerful about it? God knows what you’re going through. If you can’t tell me or Connor or even Piper, make sure you tell Him. He will guide you home.”
Braden felt moisture welling up in his eyes. Home. For so long he had been homesick for this very place. Alaska was firmly rooted in his identity, as was being a member of the North family. Being able to come back to Owl Creek had been his heart’s desire for a long time. But it hadn’t turned out to be as idyllic as he’d imagined. Time hadn’t healed all of Piper’s wounds, and the ones he was carrying around still weighed heavily on him.
“I do talk to Him. All the time. I’m struggling a bit to understand why terrible things happen to good people. No matter how much I toss it around in my mind, nothing seems to make sense. It makes me so mad and frustrated.”
Nate grasped his hand and squeezed it tightly. “I’ve been about as low as a man can be after our child was stolen from us. I was angry at God for allowing someone to steal Lily right from our own home where she should have been safe and sound. At times I was so bitter and enraged I could hardly see straight. But a wise man gave me some sound advice I’ve never forgotten. It’s okay to be angry, but don’t stay that way. Walk with Him.”
Braden closed his eyes and began to fervently pray. Lord, please show me the way. Give me the courage to be the man I want to be. Let me stick this thing out with Piper and help her get the diner in a solid place before I tell her the truth.
Why did it seem as if his attempt at redemption was stalled? Helping Piper with the diner wasn’t alleviating any of his guilt. Perhaps there was only one way to truly find the closure he was seeking. He knew now what he had to do. Whether he stuck around town or not, he needed to be completely honest with Piper. He would wait until after Christmas and then tell her what he’d been holding on to for the last four years. Then and only then would he be able to look her in the eye and know he was being a friend in the truest sense of the word.
* * *
Piper had no idea how she was going to last all day at the diner without looking at Braden. Ever since he’d shown up this morning, she’d been avoiding being alone with him or making more than minimal eye contact. Last night had been euphoric until the point when she’d shared a kiss with Braden. She’d actually lost sleep over it because her stomach had been tied up in knots.
What had she been thinking by kissing him back? She should have pushed him away rather than melting into his embrace. And she’d ended up being totally embarrassed when he’d instantly regretted kissing her then told her he might be leaving Owl Creek. It had served as a one-two kick in the gut. This type of situation between them was unprecedented and incredibly awkward. If someone had told her last year that she and Braden would share a tender kiss in the future, Piper would have laughed them right out of town.
On several occasions Braden looked at her as if he wanted to say something. Each time Piper looked away and occupied herself with a task. She thought she might just scream if Braden brought it up. Right now even the slightest thing could push her over the edge.
Perhaps the Christmas countdown would help alleviate the tension. Today was ugly sweater day, and she was doing her best to honor the event by wearing the ugliest one she owned. In her opinion it was actually more adorable than ugly. Looking at the design reminded her of her father. Dancing penguins wearing Santa hats were emblazoned all over the fabric. Her parents had given it to her a long time ago, and she’d been wearing it every year since.
When she looked up from mopping up a coffee spill on the counter, Braden was standing in front of her, a quizzical expression stamped on his face.
“I was just wondering how long you plan to avoid me?” He tapped his watch. “We’re already going on five hours now.”
With a roll of her eyes, Piper responded, “Seriously, Braden. I have a lot on my mind with regards to the diner, so it’s pretty self-absorbed of you to think you’re the focus of my current mood.”
Braden shrugged. “It’s just that you’ve barely said two words to me all day. That’s not normal.” He plucked at his sweater. “And you didn’t even comment on my Christmas lizards.”
Piper looked up at the sweater. She honestly hadn’t even noticed he was wearing it. She could feel the corners of her mouth twitching with merriment despite her vow to remain indifferent toward him. Braden had worn this particular sweater since high school, and it had generated loads of jokes between them. Just as she was about to make a funny comment about it, she remembered he was planning to leave her in the lurch all over again. A feeling of frustration stoked inside her. Why did it always seem as if she was being left behind? Even though she’d hoped things were mending between them, last night had put another wedge in their friendship. If he left Owl Creek, she wasn’t sure their relationship would ever fully recover.
Piper shrugged. “Great sweater. I’ve got lots of work to do. These pies aren’t going to bake themselves,” she said.
“Piper—” Braden began before she cut him off.
“I’ve got to check in with Birdie and crunch some numbers. I need to see in black and white that they’re shifting in a positive direction. If they’re not, I might as well pack up and call it a day.” She turned away from him just as she felt the sting of tears pricking her eyes. Piper beat a fast path to the small office at the rear of the kitchen. The last thing she needed or wanted was for Braden and her employees to see her break down in tears. As the owner of the Snowy Owl, she needed to maintain a stiff upper lip and an air of professionalism.
For the next hour, Piper busied herself with a dozen things related to the running of the diner. Several customers sought her out to tell her how much fun they’d had at the restaurant’s tree trimming party. A quick scan of the numbers verified a big increase in profit due to their special promotions. While she’d lain awake last night, Piper had been hit with a grand idea. The pies were an undisputed hit. Even though the holidays would be over and done with in a few weeks, she needed to keep her eyes on maintaining a profit and not backsliding. Braden had been right. She needed to focus on the pies and become more entrepreneurial.
Pie in the Sky Pies. She would turn her pies into an actual business operating out of the Snowy Owl. Hadn’t her father always dreamed of coming up with an idea that could increase his business and heighten the establishment’s profile? She could start small and then build if sales justified it. And if it didn’t take off, there wouldn’t be a huge deficit. She would allow the pie business to grow organically and not take any major risks. Just thinking about this venture caused butterflies to soar around in her stomach. For the last four years, she’d been operating in the darkness without any foreseeable way out of the financial dilemma at the diner. Now, there was an opportunity to piggyback on the success of the pies and make a lasting impact.
Piper had a whole row of pies cooling on the counter while Clara and Jorge serviced the lunch orders. The increase in customers was sure and steady. Seeing all of the ugly sweaters served to uplift her. Everyone wanted to enter the ugly sweater contest in the hopes of winning the grand prize—a weekend at Trudy’s inn along with dinner at the Snowy Owl and afternoon tea at Tea Time.
Braden entered the kitchen and approached her. “This has gone on for too long. Can we talk now?” he asked in a frustrated tone.
“I can’t. Don’t you see I’m baking at the moment?”
She let out a little squeal as Braden grabbed her by the hand and began pulling her toward the door. She began flailing around. “What are you doing?”
“I need to talk to you in private. And since you’re not speaking to me at the moment, you leave me no other choice.” Braden led her outside through the back door despite her
vocal resistance.
She wrapped her arms around her middle and faced him. “It’s freezing out here! We could have gone into the back office to talk.”
Braden spread his arms wide and looked up at the sky. “Why stay indoors when you have a great big Alaskan sky with the promise of snow at any moment?”
Piper quirked her mouth. “In case you haven’t noticed, we already have enough snow on the ground to last till next Christmas. We hardly need any more.”
“Snow is part of the Alaskan culture. Embrace it.” Braden held out her coat, which she quickly shrugged into. “I want to show you something. It’s going to turn that frown upside down.”
She let out an exasperated groan. “Braden! I don’t have time for show-and-tell. We actually have an increase in customers today, so it’s all hands on deck. Plus I have to bake some more pies.”
He grinned at her. “I can’t dispute that those things are important, but you’ll definitely want to make time for this. Give me ten minutes and I promise you won’t regret it.”
She clenched her jaw. How had she forgotten how persistent Braden could be when he became fixated on something? “Will you stop pestering me if I agree?”
“Yes. I promise. And don’t worry about the diner. I already told the staff you were stepping out for a bit.”
“I guess you thought of everything,” she grumbled.
Undeterred by her snarky attitude, Braden motioned her to follow him as he began walking down Main Street. As she trailed after him, all Piper could think about was balancing the books and all the ingredients she needed to purchase in order to make more pies tomorrow. It was a never-ending cycle of work.
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