Her Secret Alaskan Family

by Belle Calhoune

  Had she made a mistake in traveling so far outside her comfort zone?

  The truth shall make you free. The Bible verse from John washed over her. Lately it had really resonated with her. Truth was important. Being here in Owl Creek meant she was one step closer to uncovering the secrets from her past.

  She shifted from one foot to the other, trying to keep her toes warm in her flimsy boots. Hank had been spot-on in his assessment of her winter gear. She made a mental note to purchase a sturdier pair, ones with insulation from the snow and ice.

  Miss Trudy Miller, the owner of the bed-and-breakfast where she would be staying, had sent Sage a message stating she would be picked up at the pier by her daughter Piper. Sage glanced at her watch, wondering if they had gotten the pickup time wrong. Suddenly, a large white van came barreling into the lot, stopping with a loud squeal. A few seconds later, a woman came running toward her holding a sheet of poster board with her name on it. Sage grinned at the sign being held up by the petite woman with dark curly hair and tawny-colored skin. She was wearing a red-and-black-checkered jacket with a thick turtleneck peeking out from underneath it, along with a sturdy pair of boots.

  “Are you Sage Duncan?” the woman asked breathlessly as she reached her side.

  “Yes,” she answered with a nod.

  “I’m Piper. Trudy’s daughter,” she said, showcasing a set of pearly whites as she smiled at her. “So sorry I’m late. My van didn’t want to start for me. Betsy gets finicky once the temperature plummets. Let me get your luggage.”

  “Oh no, I can manage. It’s rather heavy,” Sage explained, feeling guilty about making Piper carry her supersized valise.

  “No worries. I’m mightier than I look,” the other woman said with a wink, grabbing the bag and lugging it toward her van. She looked over her shoulder at Sage. “I grew up with an older brother who loved to wrestle. It made me strong.”

  Sage chuckled at the image of Piper wrestling her brother. She’d always wanted siblings but had been raised as an only child. Now that she looked back on it, she viewed it in a whole new light. She’d always known she was adopted. According to her father, Jane had struggled with infertility. Aunt Cathy, her mother’s sister, had made a reference at her mother’s funeral about desperate choices she’d made in the past. Although Sage had tried to get her to elaborate, her aunt refused to tell her anything further on the subject.

  Sage reached for the poster-board sign, then picked up her small checkered duffel bag and followed behind Piper. She looked around her at the pine trees and the huge mountains looming in the distance. Wow. She really was in a completely different world right now, miles and miles away from sandy beaches and orange groves.

  As they drove along snow-covered roads, Piper took the time to point out local landmarks, the shops in the charming downtown area and the Snowy Owl Diner where Piper worked when she wasn’t helping out at the bed-and-breakfast. Sage sat back and tried to let it all soak in.

  “Owl Creek isn’t a very big town, but the folks here are tight-knit and friendly.” She let out a throaty chuckle. “That’s not to say there isn’t the occasional drama breaking out, but it usually involves game night or the annual Alaskan cook-off competition. For the most part, this town is the very definition of serenity.”

  Sage could use a little peace right about now. She was trying to mourn her mother’s death while wrapping her head around her unforgivable act. It was all so hard to process. But she knew coming to Owl Creek might give her the closure she so desperately craved.

  Piper continued. “If you want a good bison burger, come on over and check the diner out. We also make a mean salmon chowder.” Pride rang out in her voice.

  “Mmm. Those both sound delicious,” Sage’s appetite kicked up at the mere mention of food. She hadn’t eaten a bite since her layover in Seattle and her tummy was beginning to grumble.

  Sage’s heart began to hammer inside her chest as Piper pointed out a white chalet-style shop. A help wanted sign hung in the window. “There’s the famous North Star Chocolate Shop,” Piper told her, slowing down as they drove past it. “It’s one of the main industries of Owl Creek. There’s a factory down the road where they make the chocolate. They give tours twice a week.” She licked her lips. “And they give out chocolate samples.”

  “That sounds fun,” Sage said. “I’ll make a point to swing by there.” She hoped her nerves weren’t showing, but it was hard to stay calm, cool and collected when anything related to the North family was mentioned. She had researched the family and memorized their names and faces. Nate and Willa were Lily’s parents. They had two adult children, Connor and Braden. Beulah North was the matriarch and head of the chocolate company. She was married to Jennings. There were also some other cousins, aunts, uncles and distant relations.

  While looking at photos of the family, Sage had tried to find a resemblance between herself and the Norths, but there really wasn’t anything discernible. There was a part of her that wondered if Nate and Willa would take one look at her and recognize her as their own. Was such a thing even possible, or was she simply being fanciful? Maybe this was all a grand mistake. Perhaps she wasn’t Lily North after all.

  Piper slowed the van down and turned down a snow-covered lane lined with stunning spruce trees. At the end of the street stood a pewter-and-black sign announcing Miss Trudy’s Bed and Breakfast. Piper turned into a driveway and announced, “We’re here!”

  The inn was a beautiful yellow Victorian house with white shutters. A bright blue door and a wraparound porch lent the home an inviting look. With the snow nestled on the roof, the bed-and-breakfast looked like something from a quaint Alaskan postcard. To complete the picture, a wooden statue of a moose sat knee-deep in snow in the front yard, and a Siberian husky ran toward the van, barking enthusiastically and wagging its tail.

  Sage got out of the vehicle just in time to witness the dog jumping up on Piper and enveloping her in a bear hug. The petite young woman threw back her head and laughed. “Okay, down, Astro. You almost knocked me over.”

  Astro ran over toward Sage and began curiously sniffing her. She held out her hand, obliging the husky. When the dog began to lick her hand, Sage knew she’d gotten a stamp of approval. Rather than follow them the toward the house, Astro ran toward the back of the property as if he was on the hunt for something.

  As soon as they stepped inside the bed-and-breakfast, Sage felt a heartwarming vibe pulsing in the air. The inn felt cozy and warm. A blazing fire roared in the fireplace, colorful throws and pillows graced the living room area and picturesque photos hung on the walls.

  “Hey, Mom. We’re here,” Piper called out, depositing Sage’s luggage by the staircase.

  “I’m in the kitchen,” a voice called out.

  Piper motioned for Sage to follow her as she walked down the hallway toward the sound of her mother’s voice. Sage let out a low groan at the delicious smells wafting in the air. She wasn’t sure what was cooking—perhaps pasta or bread—but it made her stomach lurch with hunger.

  Once they crossed the threshold into the kitchen, Trudy greeted her.

  “Sage! I’m so glad you’ve arrived safe and sound.” The innkeeper was nothing like Sage had imagined. In her mind, Sage had envisioned Trudy as a sweet little old lady with white hair and granny glasses. But with her long wavy red hair, colorful bandanna and eclectic attire, she looked fun and stylish. Her green eyes were bright and engaging. Sage thought she was a stunning woman.

  Before she could say a word, Trudy enveloped her in a tight hug. Without warning, Sage felt tears pooling in her eyes. This hug felt like home. It reminded her of her own mother and hundreds of embraces they had shared through the years. Trudy smelled like lemons and vanilla and kindness. She inhaled a deep breath and tried to compose herself.

  When Trudy released her she stood face-to-face with Sage and looked deeply into her eyes. “You’ve had a l
ong journey to get here. Why don’t you let me show you to your room so you can rest up before dinner?”

  “Thanks, Trudy, but if I lie down I probably won’t come back down till morning,” Sage said, chuckling.

  “I have to head over to the diner to get ready for the dinner crowd, but I’ll bring Sage’s luggage upstairs to her room,” Piper offered, leaning in to give her mother a kiss on the cheek. “Let’s catch up later.” She swung her gaze toward Sage. “It was great meeting you. Come on over to the diner soon. Your first meal is on me.”

  “Thanks for everything, Piper.” Sage liked her a lot already. She appeared to be independent and feisty. And she had treated Sage like an old friend.

  A few minutes later a loud bang rang out as Piper slammed the door behind her. Trudy winced, then muttered under her breath. “How many times have I told her not to slam the door?” She cocked her ear to the side, then let out a sigh that sounded like relief. Seconds later, a loud wailing sound echoed from down the hall.

  “Now she’s done it! She’s woken up my grandbaby,” Trudy said with a scowl.

  Trudy scurried out of the kitchen, only to return a few moments later with a baby in her arms. She was rocking the little girl back and forth while making soft cooing noises to settle her. The baby calmed down and began to nibble on her fingers.

  “Would you mind holding her for a moment?” Trudy asked Sage, holding the baby out to her before she even had a chance to answer. “I have to run upstairs to check on a radiator I just heard rattling.”

  “Sure,” she answered, gently taking the baby in her arms. Although she didn’t know a whole lot about kids, this little girl looked like a doll come to life. With her wide green eyes, bow-shaped lips and wispy curls, she was destined to be a heartbreaker.

  “Hey there,” Sage crooned. “Aren’t you the sweetest little thing?”

  The baby gazed up at her with a look of surprise etched on her cherubic face. Her lips began to tremble, and her eyes began to moisten.

  “Oh no. Please don’t cry,” Sage pleaded. She began to hum and move from side to side in the hopes of soothing the little girl. What did people do to get babies not to fuss? The tyke opened her mouth and let out a wail.

  Sage heard the opening and closing of a door, followed by heavy footsteps.

  Please, Lord. Let it be Trudy coming back to rescue me. I can handle second graders, but crying babies are a little bit out of my league.

  Suddenly, Hank appeared in the doorway with an expression of utter shock on his face.

  His brows knit together in a frown. “Sage! What are you doing here? And why is my daughter crying loud enough to pierce an eardrum?”

  Chapter Two

  Seeing Sage standing in his mother’s house cradling his baby girl in her arms was a disorienting experience for Hank. On one hand it was incredibly heartwarming, but hearing Addie’s earsplitting cries was also an agonizing sensation. He still hadn’t gotten used to those wailing noises. It always made him feel as if he needed to protect his daughter against anything and everything that might harm her. As her sole living parent, Hank was all she had in this world, along with her grandmother and Piper.

  “Hank!” Sage’s eyes went wide. She looked at him then down at Addie then back at him again. “She’s yours?” she asked.

  “Dada!” Addie squealed, squirming in Sage’s arms to get to him.

  Hank moved toward his daughter with outstretched arms. He plucked Addie from Sage’s grasp and began to rub her back and speak soothingly to her. It had taken him a while to get the hang of it, but now he knew how to placate his daughter. It was all in the tone and touch. Addie immediately began to calm down. She stuck her thumb in her mouth and began to vigorously suck it. Sage was still staring at him with her mouth hanging wide-open.

  “She’s mine all right. Every precious inch of her.” He pressed a kiss against Addie’s temple. “I assume you’re staying here at the inn.”

  “Yes,” she said with a nod. Her expression radiated confusion. “Trudy’s your mother?”

  He grinned at her. “So they tell me.”

  Sage didn’t crack a smile. She still looked a bit shell-shocked.

  Trudy came rushing back into the room. “Sorry to leave you hanging, Sage. False alarm.” As soon as she spotted her son, the older woman’s face lit up. “Hank! You’re home. How was your trip?” She leaned up and planted a kiss on his cheek. “We missed you.”

  “It was time well spent,” the sheriff said, putting his free arm around his mother. “But I’m happy to be back in Owl Creek. I missed my best girls something fierce.”

  “So you met Sage?” Trudy asked. “She’s going to be staying here while she’s visiting Owl Creek.”

  “We met,” Hank said. “She was bonding with Addie when I got here.”

  Sage shot him a look of surprise. He wanted to laugh out loud. She probably thought holding a squalling baby was the furthest thing from bonding. It was fun to ruffle her feathers a tad. She seemed as if she had a tight rein on her emotions, and it would be nice to see her unwind a bit and let loose.

  “How about sticking around for dinner?” Trudy asked. “I’m making chicken piccata, one of your favorites.”

  Hank had smelled the meal cooking from the moment he’d walked into the house. Between the delectable aroma of the food and Sage’s presence, he really wanted to stay for dinner. Originally he had planned to head back to his house so he could give Addie a bath and spend some quality time with her before supper, but all that flew out the window with his mother’s invitation.

  “Don’t mind if I do,” he said, making a funny face so Addie would giggle. He loved the sound of her tinkling laughter. It made him feel as if all was right with the world, even when it wasn’t.

  Sage smiled as she watched his interaction with Addie. It made her look even prettier, which didn’t seem humanly possible. He didn’t want to feel anything romantic for Sage, but there was something hovering in the air between them. A type of chemistry he couldn’t ignore. And even though he was loath to pursue anything with her, it didn’t mean he couldn’t sit down for a meal at his mother’s table and enjoy her company.

  “How can I say no to my favorite dish?” he asked. “Why don’t you let me set the table for you? How many of us are there this evening?”

  “Just the three of us. Piper’s at the diner. And those two journalists went in to town to eat,” Trudy explained with a roll of her eyes. She heaved a little sigh. “Things have been so slow lately with reservations that I was hardly in a position to turn away those muckrakers. But I wish I could have. I just feel so guilty about giving them room and board when they’re working overtime to stir up painful memories here in Owl Creek.”

  He reached out and patted his mother on the back. “You’re just giving them a place to lay their heads, Mama. You’re not responsible for what they write or the wounds they might be reopening.”

  “Muckrakers?” Sage asked with a frown.

  Hank turned toward her. “Hordes of so-called journalists have descended upon us due to the anniversary of the kidnapping. They’ve been a bit intrusive. They’re not all reputable outlets either. It’s put a big strain on the town, mostly on the North family.”

  “Oh, that’s terrible,” Sage said, her features creasing with concern. “I can’t imagine how painful it must be to have it all stirred up again.”

  Trudy made a tutting sound. “It was such an awful time. All of the memories of it have come crashing back even though most of us have tried to forget. It cast a pall over the whole town. There was a lot of suspicion and finger-pointing.” She shivered. “No one wants to relive it.”

  “Willa and Nate pray every day to be reunited with Lily,” Hank added gruffly. “Lord willing, it’ll happen.”

  “They’re always in my prayers,” Trudy said. “I truly believe the Lord will show Lily the way back home.�
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  Hank deposited Addie in her high chair and made quick work of setting the kitchen table. Trudy brought food over from the stove and began placing it on the plates. A nice salad and sourdough bread complemented the meal.

  When they sat down to eat, they held hands while his mom prayed over the food. Hank couldn’t deny how nice it felt to feel the warmth of Sage’s hand in his. It had been a long time since he’d held a woman’s hand in his own.

  At one point during dinner, he looked over at Sage only to find her staring at his ring finger. He couldn’t really blame her since he had done the same thing to her on the ferry. Nevertheless, Hank felt a sliver of annoyance as it dawned on him why she might be curious. Was Sage one of those people who judged single parents? He had dealt with a few over the past eight months and it made him feel defensive. A sudden noise from Addie caused him to turn in her direction. She was sitting in her high chair with her lip stuck out and a disgruntled expression stamped on her cute little face. It looked as if she was about to wail something fierce. Instinctively, he reached over to try to soothe her.

  “Leave her be, Hank,” Trudy said in a scolding tone. “You can’t spoil her at every turn. You can’t let her know she’s got you wrapped around her little finger.”

  He let out a sigh, knowing his mother was right.

  “I’m a single dad,” he explained, locking gazes with Sage. “Addie’s mom died in an accident about eight months ago. She was three months old at the time and had been living in Kodiak with her mother, Theresa. Sad to say, but I didn’t even know she existed. Then in one fell swoop I found out I was her sole parent.”

  Sage let out a gasp. “Finding out about Addie must have turned your world upside down.”