On his way back to his office, he strolled by the counter where Grace was sitting down enjoying a coffee and a cinnamon bun.
“Awful nice of you to take the time to help out with the letters. Once word gets out, you’re going to have a line going out the door.”
Grace appeared to be brushing crumbs off the sides of her mouth. “I enjoy helping them. I just hope they don’t get their hopes up too high.”
“What do you mean?” Boone asked. “Isn’t hope a good thing?”
“They seem so...invested in these women. They’ve really poured their heart and souls into these letters.” Grace’s eyes radiated concern.
Boone raised an eyebrow. “Shouldn’t they be invested? They’re courting them with the hopes of marrying ’em. I’d call that an investment.”
“Even more reason that they should be careful,” Grace said as she tied her apron back on and headed behind the counter to finish her shift.
Grace’s cryptic comment left him scratching his head. Had life taught Grace to be leery of happily-ever-after? And if so, what experiences had led her to feel so strongly about the subject? Now that he thought about it, he realized it was high time he learned more about Grace Corbett.
* * *
Boone had been dead-on about the demand for her writing services. Over the next few days, one by one, men trickled in to the Moose Café asking for her assistance. They were incredibly sincere and determined to find the right words to court their ladies. Seeing so many men go the extra distance to woo their women was impressive. She helped as many as she could before Cameron pulled her aside and sternly reminded her she was on the clock.
On the clock. Yet another reminder that time was ticking away from her.
A phone call this morning from Tony had reminded her that she needed to focus her energies on her assignment rather than good-looking lawmen and sweet-faced, whiskered mayors. When she’d seen the New York City area code on her caller ID, something inside her had wanted to ignore that call. It was surprising, since she’d jumped through hoops for the past four years to impress her boss. Shouldn’t personal attention from Tony be a validation of everything she’d worked so hard to achieve?
“Grace! How are you? It’s Tony.” His thick, New York accent rang out over the line.
“I’m doing well, Tony. So far, so good.”
“Just calling to check in. I was expecting some sort of update from you by now. Perhaps a sneak peek of the first article.”
A feeling of annoyance flooded her. An update? She’d been in Love for less than a week. Leave it to her boss to expect everything to happen at warp speed.
“I’ve been laying the groundwork for the series. There’s no need to worry. It’s going to be great. I’ve been meeting lots of interesting people and finding out the secret history of the town. I’m going to a tea to meet some of the ladies who moved here for Operation Love.”
A long silence ensued.
“Tony? Are you still there?”
“I don’t have to remind you of how much is riding on this series. With faltering sales and consumers flocking to the internet for their news, the newspaper business is at a crossroads. We’ve put considerable resources behind you, Grace. This series has to be a blockbuster.”
Grace swallowed past the lump in her throat. Blockbuster? Sure! No pressure.
“Oh, it will be, Tony. There’s a veritable gold mine of information here.” Gold mine. No pun intended.
“Keep your eye on the prize, Grace.”
By the time the call had ended, she felt a sense of urgency about her assignment. Tony had sounded fairly grim over the phone. There was a lot of behind-the-scenes politics involved with running a newspaper. She could only imagine what pressures he was facing, but now it was trickling down to her. Fear nestled its way inside her. She couldn’t lose her job! It was the one constant in her life. When her world had turned upside down two years ago, she’d buried herself up to her elbows in her work. It had been a lifeline. It served as proof that she wasn’t a total failure.
Later this afternoon Hazel was hosting a “welcome to Love” tea for all the new women in town. The social event would give her an opportunity to find out more about the participants in Operation Love. There were so many burning questions she needed to ask. What had motivated them to come all the way to Alaska to find love? Were they serious about marrying one of the men? Did they imagine themselves settling down here?
Now that she’d met and befriended Gunther, Lionel and Abel, she felt invested in the outcome of their romances. There was no way in the world she was going to sit by idly and watch anyone take advantage of their sweet natures and their eagerness to find love. She’d been on the receiving end of heartbreak, and she knew firsthand how it devastated a person’s life. Especially when it came out of the blue. She didn’t want the same thing to happen to them. If these ladies didn’t pass muster, she was prepared to do anything in her power to dismantle the relationships.
Before Grace knew it, several hours had flown by, and she and Sophie were making their way to the lodge to help Hazel prepare for the tea party. She couldn’t help but smile as she looked around at all the beautiful, decorative accents scattered around the room. The overall effect was lovely.
“Thanks for helping out, girls. What I know about tea parties would fit on a postage stamp,” Hazel said with a grateful smile.
“I think this is just about the prettiest table set for high tea that I’ve ever seen,” Sophie declared.
“I’ve had this china for thirty years. It was supposed to be part of my trousseau, but I never did get married.” Hazel’s voice held a note of wistfulness that was hard to ignore. “That ship sailed.”
“You never know, Hazel,” Grace said. “Love doesn’t have an expiration date.”
Stop the presses! Those words hadn’t really just come flying out of her mouth, had they? She was beginning to sound like a sappy greeting card.
“Grace is right, Hazel. Love may be right around the corner,” Sophie said in a chipper tone.
“From your lips to God’s ears,” Hazel said as she tilted her head and looked upward. Both Sophie and Grace laughed at the expectant expression on Hazel’s face. Grace had a sneaking suspicion that Hazel’s feelings for Jasper were not platonic, but she would never ask her outright. She prayed Hazel would find a love to sustain her through the good times and the bad.
“Oh, I almost forgot,” Grace said as she reached for the floral bouquet. She placed the vase containing baby’s breath and forget-me-nots, the official state flower of Alaska, in the middle of the table. She stood back and looked at the table with a critical eye. Everything looked perfect.
Ten ladies in all would be coming today. Six of them had found matches in town already. She’d already peppered Hazel with questions about which of the ladies was actively in a relationship, so she had a good idea of which women she should pump for information during the tea. Helping out Hazel was so much fun, she’d almost forgotten that it wouldn’t be a purely social event. For her, it would be a means to an end.
The women began arriving two and three at a time. There was such a range in ages, heights, sizes and skin colors. Seeing such a diverse group made Grace smile. It reminded her of being back home and walking around New York City where she saw a melting pot of people on a daily basis.
Grace looked down at her outfit. She’d dressed up for the tea party in a cute black-and-cream dress with three-quarter length sleeves. Once she’d reached the lodge, her boots had been replaced by a pretty pair of red heels. Most of the women were dressed in slacks and sweaters. Almost all of them had arrived wearing Hazel’s boots, which they’d since taken off and replaced with flats. If Hazel ever decided to get serious about selling her boots, the women in this room could be a great marketing tool.
Her ears immediately perked up when a woma
n stuck out her hand and introduced herself as Wanda. Gunther’s girlfriend was a tall, big-boned woman with dirty-blond hair and an easy smile. One by one the women came into the lodge. Anabel. Lucy. Claire. After a while, Grace couldn’t remember all their names anymore. But it was nice to be in the midst of so many women. So far, she hadn’t seen all that many in town or at the Moose Café. There really was a serious woman shortage here in Love.
There was a buzz of activity in the room that reminded Grace of a hive of bees. Everyone seemed happy to be at the lodge, mingling and enjoying cucumber sandwiches, pastries, blueberry tarts and an assortment of teas. The atmosphere was upbeat and friendly. All the ladies seemed completely at ease.
Hazel, wearing a floral skirt that hung well past her knees, clapped her hands together to get everyone’s attention. “Thanks for coming, ladies. Everyone take a seat.” Hazel motioned toward the elegantly laid table in the dining room. Once everyone had taken their place at the table, she continued. “The main reason for us gathering here today is to officially welcome you to Love and to be able to meet in fellowship as women who are living the Alaskan lifestyle. It’s important when you live in a community like Love to establish the bonds of friendship and solidarity. It can be an isolating experience due to the weather and the lack of sunlight. That’s one of the reasons we’re having the ice-skating social on Saturday.” She let out a hearty chuckle. “I know from firsthand experience how intimidating it can be to acclimate to Alaska. The driving conditions. The frigid temperatures. Trying to make sense out of reindeer sausage.” A collective laugh rose up among the group. Grace noticed a few women making faces at the mention of reindeer as a food source.
“I asked Pastor Jack to stop by to offer his support and prayers. If you haven’t met him yet, he’s the good-looking guy in the room. The only guy I might add,” Hazel said with a laugh.
Grace had never seen a pastor like the one who’d arrived a few moments ago. He was young—way younger than the pastor at her family’s church. Early thirties, she would guess. He was a handsome man with cocoa-brown skin and a smile that wouldn’t quit. He was wearing fashionable jeans and a chunky wool sweater. Everyone welcomed him with enthusiasm and huge grins.
He looked around the table, a beautiful smile etched on his face. “Let’s hold hands everyone. It’s a simple way of connecting with one another. We’re all pieces of the same puzzle, after all.” Everyone reached out and held hands around the table as Pastor Jack began to recite his blessing. “Dear Lord, we ask that You bless this wonderful group of women on their journey. They’ve come here as an act of faith and in order to live in love, the way You intended. Lord, please safeguard and protect them during the rough moments that may crop up on the road ahead. Hold each of them in the palm of Your hand and point her toward everlasting love.”
A hush fell over the table as Pastor Jack’s words seeped into the atmosphere. In all her life, Grace had never listened to a prayer as poignant as the one she’d just heard. It humbled her to be included in such a rich and moving prayer. When was the last time anyone had prayed for her? Again, she felt a sliver of discomfort at the knowledge that she wasn’t in the same category as these other women. She didn’t deserve to be included in Pastor Jack’s prayers.
Later, as the social wound down, Grace found herself reluctant to say goodbye to all her new friends. She made a point to invite them to stop in to the Moose Café for a complimentary cappuccino, per Cameron’s instructions. Although she knew he regarded it as a business promotion, she’d be thrilled to reconnect with these women and see them on a regular basis.
“Grace.” She turned around to find Wanda looking at her with a contented smile. “I just wanted to say thank you. I know you helped Gunther put all those beautiful words down on paper.”
She shook her head. “Those were his sentiments. I just helped him shape them a little bit. He deserves all the credit.”
“Well, he sure speaks highly of you. He said you were incredibly generous with your time.”
She felt her cheeks flushing with all the praise Wanda was heaping on her. “It was my pleasure,” Grace said. “He’s a wonderful guy.”
“He is,” Wanda gushed. “I feel so blessed to have met him right off the bat. When I first arrived here in Love, I wondered whether or not I’d made a mistake in coming here. Everyone in my family told me I was all kinds of crazy to pack up and leave Oregon for Alaska. But I really feel that God pointed me in this direction after I read Mayor Prescott’s article.” She lowered her voice to a whisper. “This may sound strange, but I felt as if Jasper was talking directly to me.”
“Jasper does have that effect on people,” Grace answered. Thoughts of Jasper usually caused her to smile. The morning after their adventure in Nottingham Woods she’d received a beautiful floral arrangement at her cabin, courtesy of the mayor. The attached note had read, “So happy to hear you’re doing well. Thanks for being such a trouper. So thrilled you decided to live in Love.”
“He’s pretty special,” Grace conceded. For the first time she realized that Jasper reminded her of her own grandfather. They both had spunk, determination and an innate ability to connect with people. Grace felt the sharp ache of loss she always experienced when she remembered Grandpa Corbett. Certain holes were never filled.
“All of us owe him a debt of gratitude,” Wanda said in a raised voice. “Without Operation Love I’d still be back in Oregon working at the family produce farm.”
“So, do you think you’ve met the one?” Grace asked. Wanda seemed very sweet, but if she was wishy-washy about Gunther, the poor man needed to know not to put all his eggs in one basket. After all, most of the females would have their pick of any man in town given the imbalance.
Wanda tucked her head down. Her cheeks turned rosy. When she lifted her head up there was a sheen of moisture in her eyes. “Yes, I do. I know life isn’t always going to be easy living here in Love, but I’d be honored to live out the rest of my days with Gunther.”
And there it was. Wanda was head over heels in love with Gunther. It oozed out of every pore in her body. It glistened in her eyes. Her voice overflowed with sincerity. Her feelings were the real deal. Grace was ashamed for doubting her and assuming the worst.
A feeling of relief flooded through her at the knowledge that there might be a happy ending for Gunther and Wanda. “I’m happy for the two of you. You’re very blessed.”
“Don’t worry, Grace,” Wanda said. “You’ll meet someone soon. Unless of course you already have,” she said with a wink.
Boone’s handsome face came to mind. The sandy-brown hair that sometimes fell across his forehead and almost hid his eyes. The eyes that always seemed to see straight through her, right down to the things that mattered most of all. The laughter that emanated from deep inside him and wrapped itself around her like a cloak.
She had met someone. The type of someone who made it impossible for her to even glance in another man’s direction. Whenever he was nearby, she had the sensation of needing to catch her breath. He was funny and protective. He’d rescued her on three separate occasions. Although she was an independent city girl, he made her feel safe and sound. She let out a sigh as she struggled to process what was happening to her. Falling for Sheriff Boone Prescott wasn’t on her to-do list. Her life in New York City meant the world to her. She couldn’t imagine giving up her life there or her job at the Tribune.
Grace glanced around the room. Everyone in attendance had pure motives for disrupting their lives and venturing so far off the grid. She’d talked to most of them and overheard snippets of their conversations. They wanted love. True, enduring love. They’d all collectively decided to put together an ice-skating social so they could all become part of the Love community. Despite her cynicism, all the women seemed authentic and down-to-earth. There didn’t appear to be a bad one in the bunch. So far she was the only one who was in town under false
pretenses. And although she had wanted to relax and fully enjoy the camaraderie and festivities related to the tea party, there was a part of her that couldn’t let down her guard. She only had five weeks left in Love, and there was no point in making friends with these women. Even though she was starting to fall in love with this charming Alaskan village, she couldn’t pretend that her future resided here. There wouldn’t be any happy ending for her and Boone. If he discovered her true agenda in Love, there was no doubt in her mind that he would want nothing to do with her.
* * *
As he walked into the Moose Café, Boone felt a surge of disappointment upon remembering that today was the tea party at the Black Bear Lodge. Grace would be missing in action. He felt a little ashamed of himself for having considered searching for information about Grace online last evening. With dozens of Grace Corbetts possibly residing in New York State, he imagined it would have been an exercise in futility. He felt foolish for even considering such a thing, even though he was curious about her background. Up to this point she’d done nothing to warrant his suspicions other than pad her résumé and wear inappropriate shoes. Yep. It was official. He was losing his mind over Grace.
At least a hearty meal would be a diversion from his recurring thoughts of her. Cameron had called him earlier and invited him for lunch. Boone was torn between being optimistic about the status of their relationship and suspicious of Cameron’s motives. Once they sat down to a lunch of caribou stew and sandwiches, Cameron brought up what was on his mind.
“So, Honor’s back, huh? Guess I’m the last to know.”
An Alaskan Wedding Page 10
