Sparkle wasn’t Rick’s type. Come to think of it, Courtney would be a better fit for Rick. For some reason, though, Rick had latched onto Sparkle and had gotten her to talk. Something Donovan hadn’t seen when he lived in Sweet Home.
“You two go find something to do,” Piney said. “On second thought, Rick, help Sparkle get ready for the lunch crowd. I need vegetables cut up.” She glanced over at Boomer. “Don’t forget to wash your hands before you touch anything in the kitchen.”
“Nice to meet you, Ms. Douglas,” Rick said, and then he turned and followed Sparkle into the kitchen.
Piney watched as well until they were gone. “Is that boy up to no good?”
“No, ma’am.” Donovan would have to make certain of it.
“Do you promise that he’s not toying with Sparkle, because she’s an easy target,” Piney said, glaring at Donovan as if to get the truth out of him.
“I promise,” Donovan said. “Rick is a good man.”
Piney switched gears, gesturing to where Hope stood at the cash register. “What’s going on with you and her?”
“Nothing.” Donovan started to point out that she’d sent Hope on a fool’s errand the other night, delivering groceries to them. But Piney’s motives were obvious.
“Donovan Stone, you owe that girl for the hell you put her through. Don’t you forget that.”
“What about the hell she put me through?” he asked.
For a long moment, he and Piney had a stare-off, but he caved first. He had too many questions for her, so he got right to it. “I found a newspaper clipping in my grandmother’s office saying the town had gone dry.”
“Your grandparents are sorely missed here in Sweet Home,” Piney said with genuine emotion in her voice.
“I noticed the bar is boarded over and that you don’t have any alcohol on your shelves,” Donovan said. “I assume the town is still alcohol-free?” He noticed Hope was sweeping near the diner and he was certain she was trying to listen in.
“Why are you asking whether the town is still dry?” Piney looked at him as if he were being insensitive with Hope standing so near.
“I should’ve explained myself first. I want to bring back Nan’s Wines of Alaska tasting for one last time. To honor her. I figured I would need to get permission to serve alcohol.”
“From the town council,” Piney said.
Donovan had assumed the town council was defunct. But odd things happened in Alaska and who knew who or what the town council consisted of now. As an example, Donovan had read a funny tidbit that Talkeetna had repeatedly elected a cat as mayor.
“Do you know when the town council will meet next?” Donovan asked.
“I’m on the council,” Piney said without answering his question.
It wasn’t surprising that Piney was a council member. She’d been here forever and the Hungry Bear was a hub—especially now, with the hardware store closed. Certainly many town complaints were aired right here in the Hungry Bear’s aisles.
“Can you add me to the agenda for the next meeting?” He and Rick would have to draw up a proposal.
“Certainly.” Piney looked over at Hope with worry in her eyes, which made Donovan wonder if Hope had a drinking problem now and Piney was concerned for her sobriety.
“When is the next meeting?”
“The twenty-eighth,” Piney answered.
“Thanks. Just a couple more things.” Donovan retrieved the paper from his coat pocket, which had all his questions on it. “Oh, yes, I need an interior decorator, someone who has a good eye for what an Alaskan lodge should look like.”
“Hope. She’s your girl,” Piney answered quickly.
Yes, Hope had liked moving around furniture and fussing with pillow placement when they were kids, but that was then. He put both hands on the table and leaned forward. “Hope’s not my girl!” Not anymore.
There was a small gasp. Apparently, Hope was still nearby. But he didn’t care. He wouldn’t put himself through it—taking decorating tips from the person who’d killed Beau. But then he remembered his promise to Beau to at least try to forgive. Man, this is going to be hard. A process . . . not unlike AA. Beau couldn’t expect him to forgive overnight, could he?
Piney just sat there with a pleasant expression on her face, as if she were enjoying the show.
He decided he’d ignore all the women in the Hungry Bear and plow forward. “I need a housekeeper, too. Before you say anything, don’t suggest her.” He was sure Piney knew who he meant.
Piney nodded and motioned to the bulletin board on the wall. “In that case, put up a flyer. There’s bound to be someone in Sweet Home who would be happy for the work.”
“Thanks, Piney.” Donovan rose, only then remembering his last question. “Do you know who might have shoveled the lodge’s walkway and laid firewood by the fireplace before I arrived?”
“Probably Hope.”
Donovan frowned at Piney. “No disrespect, but you’re starting to sound like a broken record. I know for sure it wasn’t Hope.” He knew one thing: Hope wouldn’t go against his wish for her not to have anything to do with him again.
“It couldn’t have been Sparkle,” Piney countered. “She’s still healing from surgery. I could ask around.”
“No. Don’t. Thanks anyway. Boomer and I better get back to picking out the rest of the groceries.” He looked down at the furball cuddled in the crook of his arm. He really liked this dog and had to admit there was no way he could give him up now. Mr. Brewster was a sly devil, but that didn’t mean the old man was right about Donovan staying on in Sweet Home. He’d only be here long enough to get the work done on the lodge.
And when Donovan saw Mr. Brewster again, he was going to ask about the shoveled walkway and the dry firewood. Maybe he’d know who it was that Donovan should thank.
* * *
• • •
DONOVAN WAS WRONG. This one time only, Hope had gone against his wishes. She’d been the one to shovel the walk and to make sure that Donovan had good firewood. It was the least I could do. Besides, she hadn’t technically disregarded what Donovan wanted from her, which was nothing! He hadn’t seen her do it and he’d never know it was her. She’d done her elf’s work the night Piney told her that Donovan was returning to town. She hadn’t intended to slip out and go to the lodge in the dead of night, but after she woke up from her talk with Izzie, she couldn’t go back to sleep.
At the time, Hope wasn’t completely sure that Piney was right about Donovan coming home for a visit anyway. So she had nothing to lose, except a few hours of sleep. She loaded her hatchback with firewood, drove out to the lodge with her snow shovel, then made fast work of the walkway, as there were only a couple of inches of snow. Next, she located the key that Elsie Stone kept hidden for the Sisterhood of the Quilt under the loose railing on the back porch, carried the firewood inside, and placed it by the large hearth in the living room, leaving newspaper for tinder and matches, too. It was weird to be back in the lodge. Such good memories from childhood, but terrible ones at the end. When she arrived home and fell into bed, she should’ve slept soundly, but she didn’t. It wasn’t Izzie who visited, but memories of Donovan.
Today, Hope had only caught a smidge of Donovan and Piney’s conversation. But the whole town had to have heard him exclaim that Hope wasn’t his girl anymore.
Donovan wheeled his shopping cart by her.
“Wait up.” She pulled a fleece bag from the bottom of the shopping bag pile. Most bags were made from shirts, dresses, and pants, but this one had come from an old baby blanket. “Boomer will be more comfortable with a little padding. Put this under him.” And then, because she was feeling sassy, she added, “We like all our customers to enjoy their visit to the Hungry Bear. Even the runts.”
Donovan looked at her with a strange expression . . . like maybe she’d lost it? Or maybe i
t was surprise and appreciation? Who knew?
Finally, he said, “Thanks.” He positioned the blanket in the bottom of the cart, then gently set Boomer on top before going on his merry way. Not that he seemed all that merry. More like confused. Or disgruntled. She had no idea anymore what was up with him, which was fair, since he didn’t know anything about her either.
From her spot at the front, Hope watched as Donovan carefully positioned items in his cart, making sure not to bury Boomer. When the first cart was full, he returned for a second.
As he went to pull little Boomer from his makeshift bed, Hope said, “Leave him. I’ll keep an eye on the small fry. He won’t be in anyone’s way here.”
Donovan nodded. “Okay.”
She pulled Boomer’s cart behind the counter while Donovan rushed off to get more.
Rick and Sparkle reappeared, carrying stacks of packaged salads, and shelved them in the case on the diner side of the building. Rick touched Sparkle’s elbow, said something to her, and then they came over to Hope.
Rick glanced in Boomer’s cart. “What’s going on here?”
“Babysitting,” Hope answered.
Sparkle reached down and scratched the puppy behind the ears. “He’s the sweetest thing I’ve ever seen.”
Hope laughed. “You say that about every dog you meet.”
Donovan maneuvered his cart back toward the front, looking ready to check out.
“Did he tell you about our trip to Anchorage?” Rick asked, smiling.
That saved Hope from trying to figure out where he’d gone. “Silent as the grave.” Oh, crud. What a stupid thing to say. What was wrong with her?
Donovan frowned.
Rick didn’t seem to notice her faux pas. “Anchorage was quite the adventure. We loaded up on stain for the exterior of the lodge. I’m hoping we get a few warm days. The lady at the store said it might get into the forties for a short period of time, which is all we need.”
“Or she might’ve just been feeding you a line, hoping you’d clear her inventory this late in the year,” Hope said teasingly but also because there might be some truth in it. Winter was here and the forties wouldn’t be seen for many, many months.
“You might be right,” Rick said with an Oh, well easiness. “Then we went to the furniture store.” He turned toward Sparkle. “I bought a couple of large beanbags. You should come out to the lodge and watch movies with us tonight.”
Sparkle dropped her head, looking embarrassed.
Donovan jumped in, as if to ease Sparkle’s discomfort. “We bought a bunch of kids’ movies. Christmas ones, too. We thought it would be cool to stock up for the future buyer, for when families come to stay at the lodge.”
The phone rang and Piney picked it up. “Hope McKnight, it’s for you.”
“Can you take a message?” she asked. That was when she noticed the confused look on Donovan’s face.
“McKnight?” he asked.
Hope straightened her shoulders and dared him with her eyes to contradict her. “I kept my maiden name.”
Rick laughed and laid his hands on their shoulders. “Looks like the two of you have a lot of catching up to do. Hope, you should come out for movie night, too.” He looked at her with some pleading in his eyes.
Sparkle gave her a quick glance, too, as if to say, I’ll go if you go.
But Hope didn’t want to. It would be beyond uncomfortable.
“Bring your daughter,” Donovan suggested. “I’d be interested in her ideas for what might keep teenage guests occupied.”
Hope was more concerned about keeping Ella out of the lodge’s wine cellar. “I’m sure she can’t make it. A busy teen and all.” She frowned. “But I’ll come.” For Sparkle’s sake. And for no other reason.
Rick smiled broadly. “Also, it’ll give you a chance to look around the place. Donovan said he was going to ask you to give him some decorating ideas.”
Hope was shocked. Donovan looked shocked, too, at first, but then he seemed angry. Like he was going to plug Rick’s mouth to keep it from running.
“I don’t know anything about decorating.” Which wasn’t true. As a kid, she liked to pretend she was an interior designer. But now, who had time for fanciful things like decorating? Certainly not her.
“Donovan says you understand the spirit of Alaska better than anyone.” Rick looked outside, as if Courtney might reappear and challenge him on the unfounded claim.
Piney came from nowhere and patted Hope on the back. “Then Hope accepts. She’d love to decorate the lodge.”
Hope was speechless. But darn if she wouldn’t find her voice and let Piney know that she didn’t like getting thrown under the bus.
Piney pointed to the groceries. “How about I check you out? Hope, you sack.”
“We’ll get out of your hair.” Rick ushered Sparkle back to the diner and they took a seat in a booth.
Happily, Piney rang up the groceries. “I appreciate you patronizing my store, Donovan. Especially since you just came from Anchorage.”
“Happy to do it,” Donovan said.
His sincerity made Hope’s heart twitch, which was a shock unto itself. She’d come to accept that her heart was closed after many years of disuse. She’d been asked out by many of the lumberjacks who passed through Sweet Home, and before that by a few of her classmates before they’d married. She never had felt a thing, though. But something was happening now. And Hope was not happy about it. Opening herself up to feelings for Donovan now felt as reasonable as having open-heart surgery without anesthesia.
“What are you fixing for dinner, then?” Piney said. “I have a nice roast there in the meat case.”
Donovan nodded. “That’s a good idea. Do you mind wrapping it up for me?”
Piney motioned to Hope. “You take over here, and I’ll be right back with that roast.”
Hope grabbed the roll of aluminum foil and two cans of green beans and rang them up. “Do you even know how to make a roast?”
Some of the old mischief was visible in his eyes. “No. But I figured either you or Sparkle would.” His expression became more serious. “Thanks for agreeing to come to the lodge tonight.” Then he backtracked. “Not for me, of course, but for Sparkle and Rick.” He gestured toward the diner. “That’s something, isn’t it?”
Rick and Sparkle seemed like an odd pair, but who could tell when a couple was going to click? Or unclick, as was the case with her and Donovan.
“I’m happy to do it. I’d do anything for Sparkle and Piney.” They were the only family that she and Ella had left.
Except there were limits. Piney seemed hell-bent on forcing her and Donovan together. But there wasn’t the slightest chance of that happening. That stupid nursery rhyme raced through Hope’s head.
All the king’s horses and all the king’s men,
Couldn’t put me and Donovan back together again.
Chapter 7
“WHAT’S GOING ON?” Ella asked. “Why are you getting dressed up? You aren’t going to church for some reason, are you?”
Hope looked down at the dress she’d put on and groaned. She’d better go change. “I’m headed out to Home Sweet Home Lodge.”
Ella’s brow creased. “Why? That place is abandoned.”
“The grandson of the people who owned the lodge is back in town to put it up for sale,” Hope said.
“Then why are you going out there?” Ella asked.
“We were friends when we were kids,” Hope explained as benignly as she could.
“Oh?” Ella’s eyebrows rose to the ceiling. “Mom, do you have a date?” She seemed to think the idea was both funny and absurd.
“No, I don’t have a date. Sparkle seems to have a crush on Donovan’s friend Rick.”
“Donovan? Why does that name sound familiar?” Ella asked.
“I don’t know,” Hope lied. She seemed to lie a lot to Ella, as far as Izzie was concerned. “Anyway, Rick invited Sparkle out to the lodge to watch a movie tonight. Sparkle won’t go unless I go, too.”
“You guys are acting like a bunch of freshmen.”
“Would you like to come along?” Hope didn’t know why she’d asked. Okay, Donovan had invited Ella, but maybe deep down she really did want Ella to get to know her dad . . . without there being a bunch of drama to go along with it.
“Sure,” Ella said, surprising Hope. “As long as I don’t have to wear a dress, too. Can I bring Lacy along?”
Safety in numbers. “Absolutely.” Then a razor of panic slid through Hope. What if Ella figured out that Donovan was her father? She tamped down the fear; there was no way for her to find out. “Can you be ready in five?” Then, as an afterthought, she added, “Grab a couple of cheese sticks for you and Lacy. Dinner will be late.” Hope was going to have to cook the roast while Rick chatted up Sparkle. At least the roast would keep Hope busy, which would ward off her feeling awkward around Donovan. She wondered if Elsie Stone’s pressure cooker was still on the premises and safe enough to use after all these years.
“I’ll go call Lacy,” Ella said as she raced from the room.
Hope still needed to change back into what she was wearing earlier—turtleneck, kuspuk, and jeans.
Fifteen minutes later, they picked up Sparkle. Lacy was going to drive out later, as she had to finish her chores first.
Hope glanced over at Sparkle, who seemed as nervous as Hope felt. Ella had earbuds in and had no idea how tense the women were in the front seat.
“Thanks for agreeing to come along,” Sparkle said quietly. “I know this has to be awkward for you.”
“I’m happy to do it,” replied Hope. Oh, she was definitely going to hell for all the lying she was doing.
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