Читать книгу Her Secret Alaskan Family - Belle Calhoune - Страница 16

Hank drove down Main Street as a feeling of contentment spread through him. Snow had fallen late last night, covering the landscape with a healthy dusting of the frosty white stuff. There was no finer place in his opinion than Owl Creek, the place he was fortunate enough to call home. Being in Homer had been an interesting change of pace, but he wouldn’t trade his hometown for anything in this world. He beeped his horn a few times at passersby, who called out friendly greetings to him in return.

He loved being out and about during office hours. He had just come from Opal Reed’s house after rescuing her cat from the clutches of a snowy owl who had been hiding in her barn.

Opal had insisted on thanking him with tea and chocolate chip cookies. Earlier this morning he had been called out to settle a dispute between two fishermen who were feuding over a rare blue-colored king crab. Hank had managed to calm the situation down and convince Lou Baskin and Denny Phillips to share the unusual crustacean. When he’d left them the pair had been taking selfies together with the crab and cracking jokes about alerting the media. He chuckled at how raging controversies could be settled so amicably once people used their hearts and common sense.

Small-town life might not be for everyone, but he wouldn’t trade it any day of the week for a high-paying job in a big city.

He frowned as he spotted a few journalists standing outside the North Star Chocolate Factory. They were like buzzards who had descended upon them in droves.

It was a downright shame how people had no respect for boundaries anymore. Nor did they understand that the North family had been through the worst tragedy a family could endure. In every practical way, they were still stuck in limbo with no sense of closure. He truly wondered if they would ever achieve it. Connor didn’t talk about it a lot, but he knew the weight of it hung around his neck like an anchor.

Hank pulled into a spot right in front of the Snowy Owl Diner. The sheriff’s office was only a short walk down the street from his go-to restaurant, which made it convenient. Once he stepped out of his squad car, he beat a fast path toward the diner. He was right on time for his weekly lunch with his two best buddies. His stomach groaned as he entered the establishment.

With a wave at Piper, who was behind the counter serving up meals, he headed toward a table in the back of the diner. Both Gabriel and Connor were already seated and engaged in an animated conversation. Hank slid into the booth next to Gabriel in a seat facing the door. As a sheriff he always wanted to be able to see who was coming and going. It had been ingrained in him when he was in the police academy.

“Hey, Sheriff. What’s going on? How was Homer?” Gabe asked, clapping him on the back as a form of greeting. With his warm brown skin, dimples and soulful brown eyes, he exuded raw charm and personality. Hank couldn’t remember a time when they hadn’t been friends. Matter of fact, the three of them had been tight since they were in preschool. The three musketeers. One for all and all for one.

“It was great to connect with other law enforcement officials. I was able to spend some time with my buddy Boone Prescott, but I couldn’t wait to get home to Addie,” he confessed. He felt a little sheepish admitting it. Neither Connor nor Gabriel had even the slightest idea of how a child could transform a person’s life. Until recently, he hadn’t either. It wasn’t all unicorns and sunshine, but it was the purest love he’d ever known. Hank hoped one day they would both know that type of unconditional love.

Connor shook his head and chuckled. “If someone had told me a year ago that you’d be hightailing it home to change diapers I would have laughed myself silly.”

“Go ahead and laugh,” Hank responded. “That little princess makes me happy just by looking in my direction.”

“We know she does,” Gabe chimed in. “No one deserves happiness more than you, buddy.”

“Right back atcha,” Hank responded.

Hank saw a glint of sadness flickering in Gabriel’s eyes. Within seconds it vanished, replaced by his congenial smile. Hank felt a burst of sympathy for his friend. If things hadn’t unraveled with Rachel, he might have had his own child by now. Instead, Gabe was still nursing a broken heart.

Connor sent Hank a look laced with meaning. He also understood Gabriel hadn’t yet moved past having his bride run out on him forty-eight hours before the wedding. It hurt Hank to even think about how devastated his pal had been to lose the other half of his heart three years ago.

Rosie the waitress stopped by the table and poured coffee into Hank’s mug. When he opened his mouth to put his order in, she shook her head. “They already ordered for you.”

He looked at Gabriel and Connor, then shook his head. “How did you know what I wanted to eat?”

Rosie rolled her eyes. “Hank, you order the same thing every time you eat lunch here. Trust me, it’s not a national secret.”

As Rosie walked away, both Connor and Gabe threw back their heads in laughter. Hank joined in and began chuckling right along with them. Hanging out with these guys always made him feel better.

Both men were sought-after bachelors in Owl Creek. Connor, as the heir to the North Star Chocolate Company, was viewed as the ultimate catch, while most of the single ladies in town wanted to soothe Gabriel’s shattered heart. Neither seemed particularly interested in settling down, however. Not that he should talk. Although he had once dreamed of picket fences and the storybook happy ending, he hadn’t thought of those things in a very long time.

“So how are you holding up?” Hank asked Connor. He could see the telltale signs of stress on Connor’s face. Slight shadows rested under his eyes and creases lined the sides of his mouth. Hank knew he had a lot weighing on his mind.

Connor shrugged. “It’s been rough, particularly on my folks. No wonder Braden headed off to parts unknown. The anniversary is always intense, but this year it’s ten times worse with all the hoopla surrounding it.”

Connor’s younger brother, Braden, hadn’t stuck around Owl Creek to endure the onslaught. He was off somewhere trekking in the Himalayas and seeking out adventures. Hank felt a surge of anger toward Braden for deserting his family during their hour of need. But he knew it wasn’t right to judge the situation since he hadn’t walked in his shoes. Being a sibling to a kidnapped and missing baby hadn’t been easy on either Connor or Braden. The ripples of the kidnapping were far-reaching and complex.

Hank sat up straight in his booth when Sage walked into the diner. He watched as Piper came from behind the counter and greeted her with a big hug. It would have been impossible not to notice Sage in her hot-pink coat and matching beret. The sight of her gave Hank a little boost on an otherwise humdrum day. He felt his mood soaring.

He couldn’t help but notice a few other men in the diner looking in her direction too. A feeling of possessiveness rose up inside him. An attractive woman showing up in Owl Creek was rarer than a comet sighting. It made him feel a little grumpy to know other guys might be interested in Sage, which was ridiculous since he wasn’t in the market for romance...

“Hank? Hank? Earth to Hank!” Connor said, waving a hand in front of his face.

“Sorry. I got distracted,” he muttered, managing to drag his gaze away from Sage.

“I see who has your attention and she’s quite the looker,” Gabriel drawled, his eyes alight with merriment. “I don’t blame you one bit.”

Connor turned around and craned his neck. Hank kicked him under the table.

“Ouch! What did you do that for?” Connor asked as he reached down and rubbed his shin.

“Because I don’t want Sage to think we’re staring at her,” Hank grumbled.

“Even though we are,” Gabe said with a good-natured chuckle.

“Sage? Who is Sage?” Connor asked, glaring at Hank.

“She’s just arrived in Owl Creek from Florida and she’s staying at my mom’s inn,” Hank explained. He didn’t bother talking about how gorgeous she was or how she piqued his interest as no other woman had in quite some time.

“Please tell me she’s not a journalist,” Connor said with a groan, his expression mournful. “I’m a little sick of them shoving microphones in my face and taking my picture.”

“Not even close,” Hank answered. “She’s a second grade teacher.”

“Good!” Connor picked up his mug of coffee and took a long sip.

Hank swung his gaze up just in time to see Sage being seated at the booth diagonal to where they were sitting. She looked surprised when their eyes met. He lifted his mug up in greeting and waved to her with his other hand. She nodded in his direction and smiled.

Although Hank went back to his conversation with his best friends, he had a hard time focusing on chitchat when Sage was so close. She was proving to be a beautiful distraction, one Hank couldn’t allow to disrupt his tranquil world.

From the moment she’d walked into the Snowy Owl Diner, Sage had felt as if she was on display. The stares and whispers of the townsfolk didn’t escape her notice. She wasn’t entirely certain if she was being treated with suspicion or mere curiosity. Was it possible they recognized something about her? Perhaps she was simply being paranoid. It was a bit awkward to walk around town harboring an explosive secret that could change the lives of several people in Owl Creek.

The diner was cheery and bright, with red leather booths and lemon yellow walls. The countertops were white marble and the floors were a black-and-white parquet. A five-foot bubble gum machine sat on display by the hostess stand.

As soon as she’d spotted her, Piper raced to her side, which had been a huge relief to Sage. The vivacious young woman had quickly whisked her over to a table and taken her order, reminding her that it was on the house. She felt thankful for Piper’s presence. It felt a bit disorienting to know such a small number of people in town, and once again, she asked herself if coming here had been a colossal mistake.

“Don’t worry about the stares,” Piper said in a reassuring tone. “This is a small Alaskan town where everyone has known one another since the cradle. You’re a novelty.” Piper winked at her. “And a pretty one at that. You’re going to get noticed.”

You’re going to get noticed. Her stomach sank upon hearing Piper’s words. In actuality it was the last thing Sage wanted. Going under the radar had been her goal. She was beginning to realize it might be almost impossible in a town this size.

When Sage saw Hank seated a few feet away from her, there was no mistaking the little butterflies racing around in her stomach at the sight of him. Thankfully, the menu had provided a nice distraction from his close proximity, and she’d ordered herself a delectable lunch.

“Here’s your bison burger with a side of rosemary fries,” Piper announced as she placed Sage’s plate down in front of her. “Take a bite and tell me if you like it.”

Sage nodded and dug in. Piper was staring at her with barely contained excitement. Clearly, she wanted to know Sage’s opinion about her culinary offerings.

The burger was juicy and cooked to perfection. The flavor of the meat popped on her tongue. It was definitely a unique taste she hadn’t experienced before. “It’s delicious,” she said, feeling pleased she could give Piper positive feedback. “Cooked and seasoned to perfection.”

“Yes!” Piper crowed in an animated voice as she raised her fist in the air. She did a little dance back toward the counter. Sage let out a giggle at her antics. Sometimes she wished she could be as spontaneous as the other woman seemed to be. Traveling to Owl Creek was probably the most daring thing she had ever done in her life. Only time would tell if it had been a wise decision.

Although she tried to block it out, Sage could hear the conversation between Hank and his two friends as clear as day. She knew without a doubt that one of his lunch companions was Connor North. He had walked by her table a few moments ago and she’d nearly let out a gasp of surprise at the sight of him. With his dark hair, blue eyes and striking features, he looked remarkably like the press photos of him. She felt her pulse quickening at the idea of being so close to someone who might be her blood relation.

“I’ve hired a team of private investigators to look into the case,” Connor was saying, his tone radiating intensity.

“Do you really think they’ll come up with anything after all this time?” their companion asked.

“I don’t know, Gabriel. When it happened, my family hired the best private investigators money could buy, but the trail went cold,” Connor responded. His expression looked grim. “I do know that I want this thing to be pursued until all leads are checked out. Someone has to know something. People just don’t vanish into thin air.”

“I completely agree with you,” Hank said with a nod. “It would have been near impossible to pull off something like that without anyone knowing about it.”

The man named Gabriel nodded and kept eating his meal.

Connor banged his fist on the table, causing both men to look up at him. “Someone needs to be prosecuted for abducting my sister! My family has been through the ringer and we deserve peace.”

Suddenly their voices quieted, and they were now talking in hushed tones. A part of Sage felt relieved she could no longer hear their conversation. It had gotten way too intense.

Peace. Sage also wished peace for the North family. It was one of the reasons she had come to Owl Creek. She had hoped to discover that the North family was doing just fine all these years later. If that was the case, it would be much easier for her to walk away and stop torturing herself with images of faded press clippings and age-enhanced photos of a missing baby girl. She could put a lid on this whole nightmare.

But judging by Connor’s anger and the things she had overheard him say, it wasn’t even close to happening. The Norths were still struggling, and Connor was seeking vengeance. A reckoning of some sort for his sister’s disappearance.

Sage shivered at the idea of what might happen if she revealed herself as Lily North. They might not even believe her story. And if they did, her beloved father could be the target of that quest for justice. He might be prosecuted and incarcerated. She might lose him forever.

Above all else, Sage couldn’t allow that to happen. Throughout her life, especially when her mother had been having emotional difficulties, Eric Duncan had been her rock. Without him, she might not have made it through the tender middle school and teen years with her self-esteem and beliefs intact. He had taught her what it meant to be a child of God and a woman with strong convictions. Although she had loved her mother very much, her father had always been her world.

And that, she vowed, would never change.

By the time Hank had finished his lunch and calmed Connor down a bit, Sage was gone. He stuffed down his disappointment. He had intended to stop by her table on his way out and check in on her. But while he had been serving as a listening ear to Connor, Sage had slipped out of the restaurant. It shouldn’t matter to him that she’d left, but it did. Hank really didn’t want to examine the reasons why.

With a sigh, he headed out of the diner and walked down the street toward the sheriff’s office. It wasn’t as if he didn’t have things to do. He had a bunch of paperwork to complete as well as checking in on a few older residents who lived farther out from town. Some of them didn’t have working phones and tended to be off-the-grid. Hank made it his personal mission to make sure they were safe and sound. Even if you were a born-and-bred Alaskan, winters could be challenging.

He hadn’t walked more than twenty feet away from the diner when he saw a flash of pink. Sage was standing in the middle of the sidewalk looking around her in all directions.

A feeling of relief swept through him at the sight of her.

“Sage! You look a little confused. Are you lost?”

A sheepish expression crossed her face. “I got a little turned around. Trudy told me how to get to my destination, but needless to say, I walked in a big circle. I’m not sure where I went wrong.”

“Where are you headed?”

“The chocolate factory. I was hoping to get a tour.” She sniffed the air. “I’m surprised I can’t smell it from here.”

Hank grinned. “Oh, trust me. When you get close to it, you can smell the chocolate. It’s utterly delectable.”

Sage rubbed her mittened hands together like a little kid. “I’m looking forward to it. Chocolate is my weakness.” It had been a long time since Hank had seen someone so excited about the North Star Chocolate Factory. Although the townsfolk loved it, they were also used to it, so people didn’t tend to get overly animated about it. It was like having the Grand Canyon in your hometown. You knew it was spectacular, but you didn’t rave about it all the time.

“How about I drive you over there? It’s not far, but you’re going to slip and slide all over the place in those boots.” Hank really didn’t want to keep harping on Sage’s attire, but she was going to find out the hard way that frostbite was a very real thing in wintry Alaska.

Sage made a face and looked down at her suede boots. “Getting a sturdier pair is on my to-do list. Trudy told me to order some genuine, Alaskan-made boots. Lovely Boots she called them.”

“That’s good advice.” He nodded, then pointed toward his squad car. “It’s a quick ride to the chocolate factory. I don’t mind taking you, Sage. That way you can orient yourself to the downtown area.”

“I don’t want to inconvenience you since you’re on the clock,” she demurred.

“No worries there,” Hank said. “If there’s any kind of emergency I can be reached at all times.” He flashed her his best smile. “I consider it my civic duty since you’re a visitor to Owl Creek.”

“If it’s not a bother, I accept,” she acquiesced, walking beside him toward his squad car.

A feeling of triumph roared through him. There was something about this woman that made him want to be in her orbit. At the same time, he couldn’t get rid of the sinking feeling she was being a bit standoffish. Or perhaps he was simply jaded based on his past. It wasn’t fair to view her through a cracked lens.

He opened the door for Sage, then waited as she slid into the seat. Once he got behind the wheel, Hank started the engine and backed out of his spot and onto Main Street.

He looked over at her. “Have you ever gotten a ride in a squad car?”

“I can’t say I have,” she answered. “I’ve always been a rule follower. When I was a kid, I always colored inside the lines.”

Hank wasn’t sure whether Sage realized it or not, but her statement told him a lot about her. “I had my first ride in a squad car when I was six years old.” Hank chuckled at the memory. “I stole a candy bar from the local market. Trudy insisted the store owner call the sheriff’s office to report me. The sheriff arrived and put me in the back of the squad car and lectured me about how stealing was a crime and a sin. I had just learned the Ten Commandments so I was shaking in my boots.”

“That’s a bit harsh for a six-year-old,” Sage said, making a tutting sound. “You must have been terrified.”

“Not really.” He cast her a glance. “You see, the sheriff was my father. And what I learned on that particular day has stuck with me ever since.” Hank looked away from her and kept his eyes on the road. “On the way home he made a few stops to different townsfolk who needed his help. I don’t think I’ll ever forget the way they looked at him and how grateful they were for his assistance. On that very day I decided to be just like him so I could be the type of man he was.”

“So you decided to become a sheriff like your dad. Have you managed to live up to his image?”

“Not even close,” he said, letting out a ragged sigh. “But I’ll keep trying.”

As they rounded the block, Hank pointed out the side street he was cutting down from Main Street. “So from where you were standing in front of the post office, you head down Spruce Street, then make the left onto Forrest, then you continue straight and it’ll be coming up on the left.” A few moments later, Hank turned into the lot for the North Star Chocolate Factory. “And here we are,” he announced. “The place where the chocolate goodness happens.”

Sage was peering out the window with her face almost pressed against the glass. “What’s going on here? Why is there such a large crowd? Perhaps they really are giving away free chocolate.”

As he drove closer to the entrance, Hank noticed a swarm of journalists buzzing around the building. He recognized the two men who were staying at his mother’s inn along with a host of others he’d seen around town over the last week. Releasing a groan, he parked his vehicle in front of the entrance. “Those are the muckrakers Trudy was talking about.”

Sage looked at him with wide eyes. “Why are they all standing around?”

“I don’t know, but I’m going to find out,” he said, getting out of the squad car. Just for good measure, Hank flipped the blue-and-red flashing lights on. He prayed the situation didn’t get ugly, but he needed to make sure order was maintained in his town.

By the time he went around to open Sage’s door, she’d already stepped out of the squad car. She was looking at the mayhem as if she’d rather be anywhere else but here. He couldn’t say he blamed her.

“These journalists are walking a fine line between freedom of the press and harassment,” Hank muttered.

“Something tells me I won’t be touring the chocolate factory today,” Sage said, her expression radiating disappointment.

“Don’t worry. I’ll make sure you get a tour soon.” Hank reassured her.

Suddenly Hank spotted Connor’s parents, who were standing on the top step of the entrance to the factory. The journalists were at the bottom of the stairs, jockeying for position as they clicked their cameras and held out their microphones. Nate and Willa North had their arms joined and appeared to be preparing to make a statement. Nate held a piece of paper in his other hand.

Confusion swept over him. Connor hadn’t mentioned anything about his parents having a press conference. Clearly he hadn’t known anything about it.

Nate cleared his throat and effectively commanded everyone’s attention. The crowd stilled and hushed. “Hello, everyone. Because the press is here in Owl Creek, we would like to do something we have contemplated doing for twenty-five years.” He reached for his wife’s hand. “We are humbly offering a sum of one million dollars to anyone who can lead us to our missing daughter, Lily, and to the person or persons who abducted her.”

Bedlam ensued with the journalists screaming questions at the couple until Nate raised his fingers to his mouth and let out a deafening whistle. “Recent developments in the case have given us reassurance that Lily is out there.” He looked over at his wife who nodded at him.

Nate continued to speak. “We’ve received a letter from the person who we believe stole our precious girl. It states that Lily is alive and well. And it’s given us our best lead yet in finding our daughter and bringing her abductors to justice. We’re hoping a monetary offering will be a huge incentive in aiding this investigation.”

As town sheriff, Hank had known about the letter for weeks now. He, along with the Norths’ legal team and the FBI, had encouraged the family to keep a lid on it. Now the cat was out of the bag and the journalists would have a field day with the information. He wasn’t sure what Nate and Willa were thinking in making the information public, although he knew they were probably feeling desperate and running on fumes. Twenty-five years was a long time to be in limbo.

Hank ran a hand through his hair and drew in a deep breath. He turned to Sage to suggest she reschedule her visit to the factory for another day, only to find her gone. He whirled around and surveyed the crowd, hoping to catch a glimpse of her hot-pink beret. Coming up empty, Hank walked over to his squad car just to make sure Sage hadn’t sought refuge inside the vehicle. The passenger seat was empty.

Sage had vanished into thin air without a single word of goodbye.