Alaskan-Reunion (10 page)

“Which she did of her own accord. No guilty person does that!” a voice shouted out from behind her. Paige turned around and caught sight of Honor, Cameron’s younger sister. She was standing in the aisle, her long dark hair swirling, an irate expression stamped on her face. Paige wanted to sob at the sight of her. With her petite stature and delicate features, she didn’t bear a resemblance to her brothers, but there was no question she was 100 percent Prescott.

“These interruptions are beyond the pale,” Dwight said in a high-pitched voice that bordered on a screech. A few people openly snickered.

“This is a town meeting, Dwight. As residents of Love, we have a right to voice our thoughts and opinions,” Grace said in an impassioned voice. “Otherwise it’s a dictatorship.”

“No young ladies want to move to a town in the wilds of Alaska that is known for being led by dictators,” Myrtle shrieked. She was standing in the aisle next to Honor, dressed from head to toe in peacock print and rhinestones. Although mere days ago Paige had viewed her as a harridan, Myrtle was now beginning to grow on her.

Boone stood up and raised his fingers to his mouth. His loud whistle cut through the chaos. “Settle down, everyone,” he said. A heavy silence ensued. It seemed no one wanted to mess with the town sheriff.

“I think we owe Paige an opportunity to finish what she was saying.” Boone nodded in Paige’s direction. “We’re listening.”

“I—I think this town should have a cannery. And it would have been up and running now if it hadn’t been for my father. But the present situation doesn’t have to stay that way. We...this town...can still move forward with the project. The influx of money can make it happen. It could pay for the completion of the building and all the start-up costs.”

“And why should anyone trust you?” Dwight called out.

Paige refused to look at Dwight. She focused on the villagers. “Because I was raised here and I love it more than words can ever fully express. And I’ve brought my daughter here so she can grow to love it as much as her parents do. Emma is a Prescott and I want her to be proud of who she is. I want her to know that forgiveness and redemption are possible. And even though my father did something despicable, he taught me to tackle things head-on. That’s what I’m trying to do. This town could grow financially by leaps and bounds if we’re exporting canned fish products. And think of all the jobs there would be. With my business background, I think I could be an asset to the project.” She swung her gaze around the audience. “Thank you for listening.”

A smattering of loud applause broke out, accompanied by a few whistles. As Paige headed back to her seat, she realized that Cameron was clapping louder than anyone. Dwight was apoplectic. He was trying to say something, but the clapping drowned him out. She couldn’t help but smile at her small victory. The room was pulsing with electricity. Although she knew not everyone in the room was cheering her on, it felt amazing that she actually had supporters. There were people here who believed in her and what she was hoping to accomplish.

Paige smoothed the back of her skirt and sat back down. Cameron reached over and squeezed her hand. She blinked past the tears pricking her eyes and looked over at him. He winked at her. “Well done, Paige. Well done.”

His supportive gesture was surprising since she knew he was still on the fence regarding her involvement in the stolen funds.

“Thank you for your discernment, Miss Reynolds. This matter will be taken up before the town council and will be voted upon by the villagers at a future meeting. I move that we conclude this meeting,” Jasper said.

“I second it,” Hazel said smoothly.

“Wait one minute,” Dwight said in a raised voice just as Jasper banged his gavel down, effectively closing the meeting.

“Meeting adjourned,” Jasper announced in a gleeful tone.

Before Paige could even gather her composure, she found herself surrounded by a group of residents. Old friends were grabbing her hand and patting her on the back, showering her with words of thanks and encouragement. Grace came up and gave her a hug. “It’s so nice to meet you, Paige. It was so brave of you to come here tonight and address the town.” Grace shuddered. “I’ve had to do it once or twice myself and can attest it isn’t easy.”

“I have to admit my knees were knocking,” Paige said with a chuckle. “I’m surprised no one heard it.”

Grace laughed along with her. “You’ve got spunk. I like that.”

“Spoken by a woman who has plenty to go around,” Boone said as he sidled up behind his wife and wrapped his arms around her waist. He placed a tender kiss on the side of her forehead that had Paige yearning for her own tall, dark and handsome Alaskan.

Hazel, Jasper and Myrtle joined her circle of supporters.

Myrtle stepped forward and reached for her hand. She patted it. “I appreciate your courage in coming back here, young lady. You have my full support. If there’s anything you need moving forward, please don’t hesitate to let me know.” She sent Paige a knowing look. “As the local historian, I know this town like the back of my hand.”

Paige smiled at Myrtle, feeling slightly overwhelmed by the crush of people. Most of them she knew, but there were a handful of young women who she suspected were in Alaska to find their other halves under Jasper’s Operation Love program. They were smiling and upbeat and positive about her plan.

Without any fanfare, Honor stepped forward and stood before Paige, her sweet face wet with tears. “Oh, Paige, I’ve missed you so,” Honor cried as she threw herself into Paige’s arms.

“I’ve missed you, too, sweetie,” Paige said as she hugged the young woman who had been like a sister to her. When everything had fallen apart for her in Love, Honor had been attending college out of state. They had never had a proper goodbye. Ashamed of her father’s actions, Paige had never had the courage to reach out to Honor. Since Cameron had severed all ties with her, she hadn’t felt right about dragging Honor into the whole mess.

When they pulled apart, Paige noticed Cameron standing nearby, his gaze trained on the two of them.

“Are you back for good?” Honor asked. There was such hope radiating from her eyes.

Back for good? It was a complicated question, one she didn’t have a ready answer for. She didn’t want to extinguish Honor’s joy, but she couldn’t give her false hope either. She had returned to Alaska for a specific purpose. Cameron was now aware of Emma’s existence and he was beginning to form a bond with her. Fulfilling her father’s dying wish was a bit trickier, but she was now one step closer to achieving it. If the town decided to proceed with the cannery project, Paige would relocate to Love for a period of time in order to support the project. She was hoping to be hired on to work as a consultant. At the moment everything was up in the air.

“To be honest, I’m not sure, honey,” Paige said, reaching for Honor’s hand and gripping it tightly. “If the cannery project doesn’t pan out, it might make sense for us to return to Seattle. I don’t know what the future holds, but I’m here now. And I can’t wait for you to meet your niece.”

Honor let out a little squeal and began to gush about Emma. She told Paige about completing graduate school and her plans to work in wildlife conservation in Alaska. They made plans to have lunch one afternoon and to catch up on everything they had missed in each other’s lives.

Paige glanced in Cameron’s direction just in time to see his retreating figure as he quietly slipped out of the room. She felt a hitch in the region of her heart upon seeing him walk away from her. He was the only one with whom she really wanted to celebrate this moment. Although she appreciated every last gesture of support, Cameron’s presence was the one she craved. More and more she found herself relying on him like a lifeline the same way she had done in the past. Although her head knew he no longer belonged to her, it seemed her heart still hadn’t got the message.

* * *

It was still light outside when Cameron left the town hall building and headed back toward the Moose Café. His truck was parked out in the lot behind his establishment. As he walked along Jarvis Street, he paused to peer in shop windows. In many ways this downtown area was the heart and pulse of Love. Despite the financial slump, the wheels were still turning for the shop owners and proprietors. Not a single shop had closed its doors. The town had rallied from within and supported all the businesses so that no one went under. It had been extraordinary. No matter what problems Love faced, his hometown was remarkable.

He was wrangling with feelings way too complicated for him to even process at the moment. Paige had made him so proud tonight by speaking out on behalf of the cannery. She had been brave and honorable and very ambitious. He had almost stopped breathing when Honor had asked Paige about her long-term plans. After flying high on the heels of Paige’s rousing speech, his spirits had plummeted once he realized that Paige and Emma in all likelihood would not remain in Love. Suddenly the threat of them leaving hung over him like a dark cloud.

His life was better with them in it. Emma was a Prescott and he wanted her to live here in Alaska and be right in the thick of his big, spirited family. Maybe he was being selfish, but he wanted to be her father in every sense of the word. He still hadn’t spent much quality time with her, just snatches here and there. He wanted his daughter to play with his nephew, Aidan, and learn how to skate at Deer Run Lake. The thought of not seeing her on Christmas morning gutted him. It would be such a blessing to watch her rip open presents and sit next to her in the pew at church.

He was so tired of losing people in his life. His mother. His father. Ruby. Paige. He had already lost precious time with his daughter. It would be agonizing to say goodbye to his child. His mind was whirling with the details of the conversation he had overheard between Paige and Honor.

I don’t know what the future holds.

Before he knew it, he had reached the back lot. He stepped up into his truck and revved the engine, hoping to drown out his thoughts. Paige’s words burned in his ears. Had she come back only to leave again?

How could she even consider separating him from his daughter? Hadn’t she already done that for fourteen long months? Anger rose up inside him. He slammed his fist on the steering wheel. Resentment began to consume him. Knowing this wasn’t the way, Cameron lowered his head onto the steering wheel. It was this type of quick-burning fury that had got him into this situation in the first place. Two years ago he had chosen to believe the worst of Paige when he hadn’t had all the facts at his disposal. Now that she had made him aware of her trust fund, all of her actions made sense. For the first time he was forcing himself to look in the mirror and accept the role he had played in Paige leaving Love.

Lord, please help me. I don’t want this rage to consume me
any longer. I’m so tired of feeling helpless against the things in my life that cause me strife and anxiety. I am trying to be a better man, one who is more focused on what’s ahead of me than what’s behind me. I want Emma to be proud to call me Daddy.

He began to take calming breaths. Within seconds the anger dissipated. “Thank You, Lord,” he whispered. Rage didn’t have any place in his world now. From this point forward his existence was all about a pint-size cutie who had wormed her way into his heart in record time. He needed to be the best man possible for her. A man driven by faith and not fear. And because of the all-consuming love he felt for Emma, he was going to do everything in his power to make sure that she stayed right here in Love where she belonged.

Chapter Eight

E
ven after Sophie’s return to work after her illness, Cameron still continued to ask Paige to fill in a few hours here and there at the Moose Café. Paige loved working at the café. Perhaps it was the customers. Most were kind and regaled her with funny stories about Love or bits of town gossip. Of course, every now and again she would run up against a customer who wanted to rant and rave about her father. She had learned to deal with those situations with grace and an open heart. If God wanted to use her as a vessel for forgiveness, she was willing to be His instrument. She loved the hustle and bustle of the place and the smell of coffee floating in the air. And she loved the fact that Cameron knew he could rely on her. It made her feel wanted and needed. It was her fervent hope that one of these days he would come to his senses and realize that she hadn’t been in collusion with her father. At least that way Emma would never pick up on any strained vibes between her parents.

Most days when she filled in, Fiona drove in with her so that Cameron could spend a little time with Emma. Cameron seemed to love those moments. Paige knew she had done the right thing in returning to Love when she watched the playful interaction between father and daughter. Somehow it eased the grieving process she was going through for her own father. Day by day the ache of loss was beginning to lessen.

During her afternoon break Cameron approached her as she was digging in to a grilled turkey-and-avocado sandwich with a side of kale chips. He’d made her one of his new creations. A white-chocolate mochaccino. Although one sip of it confirmed it was rich and calorie laden, she wasn’t going to fret about it. She was feeling self-indulgent today.

“Hey, Paige. I have an Emma question. Is it my imagination or am I growing on her?” Cameron asked.

Paige swallowed a bite of her sandwich. She tried not to groan out loud at how good it was. “It’s not your imagination. She lights up when she sees you. And she’s very comfortable in your presence.”

“I thought so!” Cameron said, his voice full of excitement. “She doesn’t give me that ‘Who’s he?’ look anymore.”

Paige laughed at the visual. Emma had a very expressive face and she knew that particular look very well. She had always called it Emma’s grandpa face since she tended to scrunch up her nose like a little old man. “Believe me, that’s progress. When Fiona first came to us, it took Emma a long time to accept her. Now she adores her.”

“So, do you think I can spend some alone time with her this weekend?” Cameron tossed the question out casually but she could see the expectant expression etched on his face.

Although she had logically known this day would come, she didn’t feel prepared. Not by a long shot. She put her sandwich back down on her plate. “Do you think you’re ready for that?” Paige asked. She was biting her lip. Suddenly her pulse was beating erratically at the idea of Emma being taken from her normal setting.

“I take it you don’t.” Immediately he sounded defensive.

“No, it’s not that. It’s just that Emma gets fussy sometimes and she’s really hard to get down for her nap. And she’s pretty finicky about meals.” She found herself rattling off a litany of reasons. “She’s also been having these issues with allergies. Some foods like strawberries and peas have been giving her an allergic reaction.”

Cameron crossed his arms. He frowned down at Paige. “Something tells me you could come up with a hundred reasons why I can’t spend some one-on-one time with my daughter.”

For a moment she felt like a deer caught in the headlights. Cameron’s eyes were like laser beams boring a hole straight through her. She opened her mouth, then snapped it shut.

“You’re right. I’m sorry,” she apologized. “This is all new for me. It’s only ever been me. And Fiona. And lots of support from God along the way. Emma had a great bond with my dad but he was too ill to take care of her.” She shrugged. “I suppose I’m having a little trouble letting go.”

“She’s safe with me. I’d never let any harm come to her. Not on my watch.” His expression was so fierce it almost made Paige laugh. But she knew he was serious. He was fighting for some quality time with Emma and she had no right to stand between them. After all, she had come back to Alaska for this very reason. So Cameron could forge a bond with Emma. There was no point in putting roadblocks in his path.

“I know, Cameron. It isn’t that I don’t think she’s safe with you. I just need someone to cut the cord I’ve had tethered to me since the day she was born.” Paige’s voice cracked with emotion.

He placed a hand on her shoulder. “Hey. Nobody’s asking you to cut off any ties. I just need to establish something between Emma and myself that is separate and apart from you. It’s wonderful that you’ve acted as a bridge between us, but at some point I have to step up as a strong presence in her life.”

“I get it. And I have to admit that in the beginning I was really worried about the lure of the Prescott family. I kept thinking that you had so much to offer Emma. It’s hard sometimes to deal with the fact that she has no family on my side other than myself. There are no bells and whistles. No little cousins to run around with or a treasure-hunting grandpa to hang out with.”

“She has you. That in itself is amazing. And Jasper hung up his treasure-hunting days when Grace discovered that the Prescott ancestors didn’t strike it rich in gold. No more spelunking for him!”

“Oh no. What a shame,” Paige said. “He must have been devastated after believing in that Prescott family legend for so long.”

Cameron shrugged. “Sometimes when one dream dies, it’s time to find another one. How does Saturday sound for Emma? I’ve taken the day off.”

“That will be fine,” she agreed with a nod, wishing she still didn’t have qualms about Emma spending the day with Cameron without her.

As he walked away to take care of a customer, Paige couldn’t get Cameron’s comment out of her mind. Giving up on a dream wasn’t half as easy as he believed. She had once imagined a life with him—until those visions had crumbled into dust. Even though she had stopped fantasizing about a future with Cameron years ago, all of a sudden she couldn’t stop thinking about what might have been if events hadn’t altered the course of their relationship.

Marriage? A cozy house with a view of the mountains?

She immediately chided herself for taking this sentimental trip down memory lane. Aspirations were wonderful things, but it wasn’t wise to continue to fantasize about things that would never come to pass.

* * *

Cameron wiped his brow as he quietly shut the door on the guest room he had transformed into a makeshift nursery. It still had a long way to go before it was sugar, spice and pink teddy bears, but he was committed to finishing the room with a fresh coat of paint and all the trimmings.

After running him ragged for the past few hours, Emma had finally settled down for a nap. But not before calling out for her mama numerous times. Finally, out of sheer exhaustion she had drifted off into slumber on his shoulder. Using an equal measure of agility and finesse, he had placed her down in the crib that had been passed on to him by Liam. At first he had felt guilty about taking the crib that Liam had built with his own hands for Aidan, but his brother had insisted. Something about it had felt wrong, as if Liam didn’t believe he would ever find love again and add to his family.

Why hadn’t anyone told him how difficult it was to watch a fourteen-month-old for a few hours? The diaper change had thrown him for a loop. He scratched his head, still feeling unsure as to whether he had put the thing on correctly. And she had been fidgeting so much that he’d ripped a few of them while trying to change her.

Did the diapers even fit properly? Her pudgy little legs had looked crammed in. He didn’t want her legs to chafe against it, thus giving Paige evidence of his deficiencies in the baby-watching department.

He let out a grunt. Was he really standing here worrying about diapers? It was amazing how much self-doubt could arise when child care was involved.

Cameron was pretty sure he had sprinkled her with so much baby powder that she resembled a powdered doughnut. But it wasn’t as if Paige had given him a how-to manual. Sure, she had passed on a few tips, but he was flying by the seat of his pants.

Out of sheer desperation he had placed an SOS call to Liam, telling him he needed his assistance immediately. Liam had promised to come over as soon as possible. Cameron hadn’t mentioned anything to his brother during the phone call about watching Emma for the day.

Within fifteen minutes he heard the screech of tires in his driveway. Before Liam could even let himself in, Cameron jerked the door open to greet him. With his dark hair and rangy build, he bore a passing resemblance to him and Boone. Girls had always claimed Liam had a soulful and sensitive vibe. Like Honor, he was tenderhearted.

“I don’t think I’ve ever been so happy to see somebody in my life.” Cameron felt his whole body sag with relief.

“What’s the emergency?” Liam asked as he stepped inside the house. He was looking all around with a frantic expression. “You said it wasn’t anything medical, but it sounded urgent.”

“It’s Emma.” He put his fingers up to his lips. “Shh. I just put her down for her nap.”

“You didn’t mention she was here.” Liam frowned. “Did something happen?” he whispered.

“I’ve been watching her for the last four hours. You know how it is. Parent-child bonding time. But I think I may be in way over my head. She’s been a little... Um, how should I put this? Challenging?”

Liam’s jaw dropped. He stood as still as a statue. “That’s the urgent matter you called me over here for? You have got to be kidding me.”

Cameron frowned. “Hey! Have a little compassion.”

Liam folded his arms across his chest and shook his head. “Here’s my advice. Man up, little brother.”

“I am manning up. I just needed some backup just in case.” His voice trailed off. He wasn’t sure how to put his concerns into words.

Liam scoffed. “In case what? She’s a little over a year old. Are you afraid she’s going to explode or something? Get a grip!”

Cameron gulped. “I’ve been reading this book. It’s called
How to Tame a Toddler
and it’s a runaway bestseller. Problem is, none of that stuff worked with Emma.”

Liam raised an eyebrow. “Tame? She’s not a circus animal.”

Cameron rolled his eyes. “It’s just that I need some pointers from someone who’s been there. She was crying for quite a bit,” he admitted, wincing at the memory of Emma’s heartbreaking wails. “I almost caved in and called Paige.”

“If she cries, try to see what’s wrong. Check her diaper. See if she’s thirsty or hungry,” Liam suggested.

“Gee, why didn’t I think of that?” Cameron drawled.

Liam gritted his teeth. “’Bye, Cameron,” he said in a clipped tone.

“No! Sorry. It just slipped out. I’m a little bit fried at the moment. Please don’t go.” Cameron pulled at his brother’s arm.

Liam turned back toward him. “What are you so panicky about, anyway? She’s a baby.”

“A baby I’m just getting to know.” Cameron raked his hand through his hair and let out a ragged sigh. “I’m not feeling sorry for myself, but I missed out on the first months of caring for Emma. I should be a pro at this by now, but instead I’m floundering.”

Liam touched Cameron on the shoulder. “That was a tough break, you missing out on all that time with her. I can’t imagine not having experienced Aidan’s first moments. I know this hasn’t been easy for you. And believe it or not, all first-time fathers have fears and doubts. It’s perfectly normal.”

A feeling of sadness enveloped him. “I’m trying not to wallow in it. And I know I’m blessed to have Emma, but I hate this feeling that I’m never going to be able to make up for lost time.”

“You can’t turn back the clock, Cam. But what you can do is be there one hundred percent for your daughter from this point forward. You can get to know her day by day, moment by moment. Children are resilient. And as long as you nurture them, love them and keep ’em safe and protected, you can consider yourself a very accomplished father.”

Cameron let go of the deep breath he had been holding. “I think that I can do all of those things. Especially the love part.” He grinned at his brother as excitement rose up inside him. Fatherhood was going to be a journey, one he was looking forward to tremendously. He was already anticipating moments such as bringing her to her first day of nursery school and taking her sledding at Deer Run Lake. And like Liam had said, every father harbored fears. It was how he tackled those fears that would determine his future with Emma.

“You’re going to be an excellent father, Cam. You’re well on your way,” Liam said.

Hearing those words from his big brother meant the world to him. Liam was an amazing dad, one who had raised Aidan in the shadow of a tragedy that had threatened to pull Liam under. Because of Aidan, his brother had fought his way through that dark time and emerged a stronger father than ever to his little boy. If Cameron could be half the father Liam was, he’d consider himself a success.

All of a sudden he heard soft cries from the baby monitor.

“That was a quick nap,” he grumbled. “Let me go check in on her. Maybe I can get her back to sleep.”

“Or not,” Liam said with a smirk. Cameron scowled at his brother. He was pretty sure Liam was enjoying seeing him a little bit frazzled. He walked a few feet down the hall until he reached the nursery. Cameron wrinkled up his nose as soon as he opened the door.

“What’s going on?” Liam asked from right behind him.

He turned toward his brother. “There’s a baby in there who doesn’t smell too good.”

Liam threw back his head and chuckled. “Dirty-diaper duty. It’s part of the terrain, Cam.”

“Hey, you wouldn’t want to show me how it’s done, would you? Show me the ropes?” he asked hopefully.

“Listen, this is a rite of passage. It’s a dad thing. You’ve got to do this and take it on the chin.” He gave him a thumbs-up sign. “No worries. You’ve got this.”

“Thanks, Liam,” he muttered as he entered the room and advanced toward Emma’s crib. She was lying on her back and looking up at the mobile he had just placed on the ceiling yesterday. It was a sun, moon and stars. At night they lit up with a phosphorescent glow. Despite her earlier cries, she now seemed content to babble and stare up at the whirling figures.