“I’m sorry, man. Dorinda wasn’t at her desk, so I just came through.”
Dorinda Clark was Hank’s secretary. She was a stickler for announcing any and all visitors to the sheriff’s office. If Connor had dared to rush past her desk in order to get to Hank, she would have put him in his place. Thankfully for Connor, Dorinda had gone home early due to a doctor’s appointment.
Connor paced back and forth, full of unbridled energy. With an athletic build, a dark head of hair and classic features, he cut an impressive figure. Along with himself and Gabriel, Connor was considered one of the most eligible bachelors in Owl Creek. In a town with roughly six hundred residents, Hank didn’t consider it much of an achievement. He’d known most of the single women in town since childhood. Not a single one truly interested him. If he did somehow venture back into the dating pool in the future, he wanted to feel something special. Sparks. If he met a woman who gave him goose bumps he’d pursue her in a heartbeat.
“There’s nothing to be sorry for,” Hank responded. “I’d just like to remind you that I actually conduct business in this office from time to time.”
His comment caused the sides of Connor’s mouth to twitch. They both knew if the walls could talk there would be quite a few stories to be told. Hank’s office had become an unofficial gathering place at moments of crisis. Between Gabriel’s fiancée having ditched him a few days before the wedding, Hank having found out his ex-girlfriend had given birth to their daughter in secret and Connor’s distress regarding the unsolved kidnapping of his sister, there had been loads of drama.
Hank placed his hands behind his head and laid his feet up on his desk. He might as well get comfortable since he had the feeling Connor was about to unload on him. And he didn’t mind one bit. It was the least he could do for his lifelong buddy. How many times had he vented to both Connor and Gabriel about Theresa’s deception? More times than he cared to remember. He felt thankful that his life had calmed down and he was happily raising his baby girl. God was good!
“Point taken,” Connor answered. “I’m just feeling a bit riled up and frustrated. My parents are being manipulated by this anonymous letter writer. It’s giving them hope that Lily is alive.”
“It’s okay to hope,” Hank said calmly.
“No, it’s not,” Connor said in a sharp tone. “After all this time, it’s almost cruel to dangle a carrot in front of their eyes.”
“I know you want to protect them, but there are some things you can’t shield them from.”
His friend’s expression hardened. “If there’s someone out there who’s messing with my family, they need to be dealt with before things spiral any further out of control.”
“I know it’s always been your goal to see that justice is served in this case.”
Connor nodded. “I want the perpetrators to be caught and prosecuted. Seeking justice doesn’t necessarily mean Lily will come back to us,” he said. “You have to admit it’s a long shot to imagine it will all work out in the end.”
Hank shrugged. “Stranger things have happened. I’m sure you’ve heard those stories on the news about grown adults who are reunited with their birth parents. And even though it’s not likely, I get the impression that your folks need to do something proactively to make them feel as if they haven’t given up on Lily.”
“None of us have ever given up on her,” Connor said, his voice thick with emotion. “Not a day goes by when we don’t think about her and what might have been if someone hadn’t taken her from us.”
“I know, Connor. And I understand it’s your nature to be guarded, but don’t forget about the information in the letter regarding the baby blanket. That’s been a well-kept secret since Lily was taken. The fact that it was in the letter might be the incontrovertible proof your family has been seeking.”
Connor ran a hand over his face. He looked a bit beaten down. “You’re right. I suppose I need to keep an open mind about it, but I can’t shake off this bad feeling that my parents are headed for a world of heartache.”
Hank prayed his pal was mistaken. Willa and Nate North had endured every parent’s worst nightmare, yet they’d still managed to raise two amazing sons and live a faith-filled existence. After all this time they deserved closure.
“I should probably tell you about what happened earlier with Beulah.” Hank made a face. “She was sitting with Sage when I walked into Tea Time. We started talking about the twenty-fifth anniversary of the kidnapping and she told Sage about the baby blanket. I think she was feeling sentimental and it slipped out.”
Connor let out a groan. “Granny is way too trusting. She has no idea what someone could do with that type of information. Even after all that’s happened to our family, she still believes people are good at heart.”
“Come on, Connor. I know you believe that too. There’s no need to worry about Sage. She’s not going to say anything to the press or to anyone else for that matter.”
The other man rolled his eyes. “How can you be sure of that?”
“I just am. She has kind eyes.” Hank wanted to pull back the words right after they flew out of his mouth. Yikes. What was wrong with him?
Connor let out a snort of laughter. Hank realized he’d stepped right into that one. He didn’t know why he was jumping to Sage’s defense since he still had a few questions about her sudden appearance in town. Perhaps she really was a journalist writing a piece about the Lily North case. Or maybe he was just being paranoid.
“You like her,” his friend said with a knowing look. “It’s written all over your face.”
“I barely know the woman,” Hank protested. He felt his cheeks getting red. Connor could always see straight through him.
“Kind of reminds me of third grade when you had a major crush on Clara Tomkins. Even though you wouldn’t admit it, Gabe and I saw right through your denials.”
Connor knew him like the back of his hand. The good, the bad and the ugly. Hank could deny it all he wanted, but there was something about Sage that tugged at the tender place inside him he’d been safeguarding. He just needed to stuff those feelings down until she returned to her life in Florida.
Connor sat down in the chair across from Hank. “But you’d like to get to know her better. Am I right?”
Hank let out a sigh. “These days I only have room in my heart for one little lady. And her name is Addie Crawford. What’s the point in pursuing something when I know it wouldn’t go anywhere?” He swung his legs off the desk, sat up straight in his chair and met Connor’s gaze head-on. “If you want the plain, unvarnished truth, I think romance is in my rearview mirror. Does it make me happy to say that? No, of course not. But I’m a realist. Been there, done that. I’ve got the scars to prove it.”
Connor let out a low whistle. “You sound even more jaded than I am. Theresa really did a number on you.”
“Call it what you like, but I don’t have any interest in getting burned again. I’d much rather focus my energies on making sure my daughter is happy and healthy than dodge minefields in relationships.” He shuddered. “I’ve traveled down that road before.”
“It has to get lonely though. God didn’t intend for any of us to walk through this life alone.”
Hank knew there was truth in his best friend’s statement, but he also felt strongly about his own position. A long time ago he’d believed in happily-ever-after and a love that would endure all the bad things life threw in one’s direction. Having his heart shattered had changed all of that. Being played for a fool had hurt his pride. And for the life of him he couldn’t imagine a woman coming into his life who would inspire him to take the plunge again.
Chapter Six
Sage woke up the next morning to a beautiful Alaskan day. Sunshine streamed through her bedroom window, serving as a reminder that she needed to get up and face the day. She hadn’t traveled all this way to spend her time sleeping!
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br /> Sage had no idea what she would discover in Owl Creek today, but the very idea of uncovering new facts about her birth family intrigued her. Meeting her grandmother yesterday had been emotionally satisfying even though it had ended abruptly. She really liked Beulah North. If things were different, Sage could well imagine herself sharing many teatimes in the future with the grand dame of Owl Creek. But Beulah had no idea who she really was, and in all likelihood, never would.
A quick look outside revealed a recent snowfall. Everything was covered in a layer of white. It was simply beautiful with the sun glinting against it, creating the appearance of shimmering diamonds. Although Sage wasn’t too certain about driving in the fluffy white stuff, she knew it was important to make her own way around Owl Creek without relying on Trudy for transportation. The Owl Creek library was on her to-do list. Surely they would have local records on microfiche regarding the kidnapping. Although she’d read a bit of material from the items found in her mother’s belongings and on the internet, Sage wanted to get the Owl Creek perspective. She had goose bumps just thinking about how deeply the kidnapping had affected this small town.
After she had dressed and made herself presentable, she headed downstairs. As she descended the steps, a savory aroma hovered in the air.
“Good morning, Trudy,” Sage said as she walked into the light and airy kitchen. Trudy was living proof that this part of the house was the heart of the home. It radiated warmth and goodness.
“Hey there, Sage,” Trudy said, turning around and greeting her with a welcoming smile. “I sure hope you’re hungry. I’ve made a bunch of blueberry pancakes, rosemary home fries, reindeer sausage and some scrambled eggs. I used Yukon Gold potatoes which you must try while you’re here.”
Sage rubbed her stomach. “You’re spoiling me, Trudy. I always skip breakfast in the morning, but your meals are too scrumptious to resist. This will tide me over till this evening.”
The innkeeper beamed. “I set a place at the dining room table for you, but you’re free to eat right here in the kitchen if you like.”
“Thanks. I’ll sit right here if it’s all right. I like the company.” Trudy nodded, and Sage settled into a chair. A gurgling noise caused Sage to turn her head to the side where Addie was standing up in a playpen. She was holding on to the side and smiling at Sage. On impulse, she stood and walked over toward her. She bent over and peered down into Addie’s irresistible face. Although she really wanted to scoop her up into her arms, Sage resisted the impulse. She had no illusions about the rigors of raising a baby, but Addie seemed like a sweetheart.
She reached down and swept her palm across the little girl’s cheek. Once again, Addie had Sage thinking of things she imagined were years and years in her future. Diapers and Binkies and baby strollers. The smell of baby powder lingered in the air, serving as a reminder of why she’d traveled all this way in the first place. Although Addie was a bit older than she herself had been at the time of the kidnapping, looking into her eyes reminded Sage of all the North family had lost. She imagined they’d loved her as much as Hank adored Addie. Babies were precious gifts.
Although she would never ask Trudy for the details, Sage was incredibly curious about why Hank hadn’t known Addie existed until she was three months old. It was none of her business, but she had the feeling there was an interesting story behind it. She couldn’t quite put her finger on it, but there was something about Hank Crawford that didn’t quite compute.
She sensed a sadness behind the jovial smiles, as if he was masking a world of pain. Had Addie’s mother broken Hank’s heart?
“Come and get it while it’s hot from the griddle,” Trudy called out, dragging Sage out of her thoughts about Hank.
With a regretful sigh, Sage turned away from the baby and made her way back to the table. Right after she sat back down, Trudy placed a plate overflowing with food in front of her.
“Is this all for me?” Sage asked, chuckling. There was no way in the world she could pack all of this food in, but she sure intended to try.
Trudy patted Sage on the shoulder. “Don’t take this the wrong way, but I think you need some TLC. You’re an incredible young woman and I can tell you have a lot of heart, but I sense you’re going through something difficult.”
Sage tried to swallow her food, but raw emotion clogged her throat. She reached for her glass of orange juice and took a sip. Trudy was showing her motherly love and it caused a groundswell of grief to rise up inside her. Despite what her mother had done, Sage loved her. She missed having a mother. And she was still trying to wrap her head around the loss and her stunning deathbed confession.
Trudy held up her hands. “I’m not prying. That’s not my way. I just want to let you know you’re in a safe place to heal from whatever you’re going through. And you can stay here for as long as you like. I welcome the company.”
Sage felt such gratitude for being seen by Trudy. Even though her goal had been to keep a low profile while she was in town, it felt comforting to have the other woman acknowledge her pain. She felt so raw and ragged on the inside. It was such a heavy load to bear.
“I lost my mother recently,” Sage blurted out. “I’m trying to work through my grief. Some days I feel all right and then other times I feel as if the bottom is falling out of my world.”
Not to mention she was having an identity crisis of sorts. All of her life she’d been Sage Duncan and now she had to deal with the reality of being a completely different person.
“Oh, darling, I’m so sorry for your loss,” Trudy said, her voice full of sorrow. “No wonder you needed a break from your life back home.” All of a sudden, Addie let out a plaintive wail from her playpen. Trudy walked over and picked up Addie, who clutched at her grandmother’s shirt as if she was a human life preserver.
Trudy turned back to face Sage. “But I know from my own personal experience that what you’re feeling is perfectly normal. It’s an up-and-down struggle. It gets better over time, but it never completely leaves you. It’s an ache in your soul unlike any other.”
“I keep wishing she’d had more time with us. There are so many things I’d like to ask her,” Sage confessed. “And now I’ll never get those answers.”
“That’s really difficult, Sage. But I think we all live with unresolved issues. Both of my husbands died unexpectedly, so I’ve always felt there were so many things left unsaid. I’ve always tried to focus on the love we shared and not the regrets.”
Sage wasn’t sure why, but she felt better just for having talked about her mother’s death with Trudy. It was so hard to bottle it all up inside and pretend as if everything was right in her world. She was dealing with so many tangled emotions. Trudy was a great listener and she radiated sincerity.
“Thanks for listening. And for understanding.”.
“Whoops. I almost forgot. This was placed under the door early this morning. It’s for you.” Trudy placed an envelope next to her plate. “Maybe you have an admirer.” She playfully winked at Sage, who shook her head and chuckled.
Sage picked up the envelope and eagerly opened it. She pulled out a piece of stationery the color of a robin’s egg. “It’s from Beulah!” she told Trudy, excitement rising up inside her as she read the bold script aloud. “‘Please join me at the North Star Chocolate Factory tomorrow for a tour and tasting. Your friend, Beulah North.’” She picked up a sausage and bit into it as she continued to gaze at the letter.
Trudy let out a whistle. “You sure made an impression on Beulah. Don’t get me wrong. She’s a great lady, but it typically takes some time for her to warm up. Sounds like you made a fantastic impression on her.”
“We spent some time together at the teahouse yesterday. She knew my tour of the chocolate factory was interfered with by the press conference and the ensuing mayhem. This invitation is really sweet of her.”
“It is, especially since she’s going through
a tough time.” Trudy waved at her plate. “Go ahead and eat up, young lady. Your food is getting cold.”
Sage dug into her food with a vengeance. She wasn’t sure if it was the Alaskan air, but her appetite had picked up tremendously ever since she’d arrived. Everything tasted wonderful. Once she finished her food, she stood up and walked over to the sink and quickly washed her plate and utensils. Although Trudy always insisted on Sage leaving the dishes for her to clean, she actually enjoyed helping out with chores. It made her feel as if she wasn’t simply a paying guest at the inn.
“Trudy, do you think you’ll be driving into town today? If so, could I hitch a ride?” she asked. She was still eager to go to the town library and search through the microfilm even though she hated to ask Trudy for another favor.
“Of course you can. I’m taking Addie in for her checkup, so you’re welcome to come along and I can drop you off wherever you like.”
“That would be perfect,” Sage said gratefully. Trudy was such a generous, warmhearted woman, and with each passing day, she was beginning to feel more and more like a close friend. Yet at the same time, Sage felt incredibly guilty about harboring this huge secret.
You don’t have a choice, she reminded herself. Everything would blow up in her face if she told anyone here in Owl Creek the truth. She’d overheard Connor saying he wanted justice and her father would be the scapegoat. She couldn’t allow that to happen. Not in a million years.
On the ride into town, Trudy drove down back roads after meeting up with detour signs on the regular route. It allowed Sage to gain a whole new perspective on the picturesque hamlet. They drove past a bright red-and-yellow little free library overflowing with books. The sight of it made her smile. Suddenly, a large home surrounded by spruce trees came into view. She let out a gasp at the magnificent home. It was a large two-storied log cabin house accented by beautiful stonework and large modern windows.
“Beautiful, isn’t it?” Trudy asked, turning her head toward the grand home.
Her Secret Alaskan Family Page 7
