Braden helped himself to a glass of orange juice and a gigantic blueberry muffin from a large basket on the kitchen counter. The large house was quiet. He felt an immediate sense of guilt at being the only one still at home when everyone else was at the chocolate factory. Even his grandfather had ventured out of the house despite his tendency toward being a bit of a recluse. Braden looked around him, scanning the gleaming hardwood floors, the porcelain backsplash behind the counter and the copper pans hanging by the stove.
He knew he’d been raised as a child of privilege since his family were the owners of a very profitable and well-known chocolate business. Growing up in a quaint, small town in Alaska had been wonderful. But he’d always been aware of the huge gaping hole in his family. Sage’s abduction had left unresolved trauma and indelible scars. Although he’d always felt loved, he had been acutely aware of his parents’ despair. Throughout his childhood, they’d kept his missing baby sister’s nursery intact, like a shrine to her memory. The mere mention of her name, Lily, had always reduced his mother to tears. Over time Braden had learned not to speak her name and to stuff down his heartfelt feelings about his sister. It had taken a toll on him, a fact he’d buried for many years.
Sage’s return had done so much good for his family. Being reunited with his sister after twenty-five years had been a life-affirming event.
Braden let out a groan after checking the time on the kitchen wall clock. He was supposed to be at North Star Chocolate’s offices in fifteen minutes to meet with his older brother, Connor, about assuming a position in the company. Not wanting to be late, Braden quickly grabbed his wallet and keys before making his way to his truck.
Driving into the heart of downtown Owl Creek was a visual treat for the eyes. He grinned at the sight of his hometown all decked out in the holiday trimmings. It almost made him feel hopeful.
Once he reached the factory, he exited his vehicle and entered the large brick building. The heady aroma of chocolate filled his nostrils as soon as he stepped foot inside. It was a scent that smelled like home to Braden, bringing back warm and cozy memories of childhood. The smell was as familiar to him as his own name. As soon as he could walk, Braden had been a frequent visitor to the chocolate factory. It had been a little bit like a Willy Wonka experience. He and Connor had been extremely fortunate as children to have every confection imaginable at their disposal. Braden grinned at the memory of him and his older brother sneaking into an off-limits area and taste testing a limited-edition batch of marshmallow chocolates. By the time Beulah discovered them, both had been sick to their stomachs from overindulging. It had been a long time till either one of them ate another piece of chocolate.
Braden began walking toward the executive offices. He paused along the way to greet employees who enthusiastically called out to him and gave him hugs and warm greetings. By the time he reached his brother’s office, Braden felt buoyed by the goodwill of the staff. Somehow he’d forgotten how generous the residents of Owl Creek could be. Braden had known most of them his entire life and during the period of his self-imposed exile, he’d missed them all a great deal.
He rapped hard on Connor’s office door, then pushed his way inside, grinning at the quirky items his brother had used to decorate his work space. A five-foot bubblegum machine was in the corner while a cutout figure of Superman rested behind his desk. Signs of the impending holiday were everywhere—a miniature Christmas tree sat on his desk with the lights twinkling and shimmering; a green-and-red wreath with a big white bow hung on the wall.
Connor’s eyes lit up when Braden entered his office. He stood up from his chair and greeted him with a warm clap on the shoulder. “Hey, Braden. It’s good to see you here. Thanks for coming by.”
Connor, dressed in a crisp pair of khakis and a dark shirt, radiated confidence and an air of laid-back professionalism. With his dark hair and blue eyes, he’d always impressed the ladies in town. A confirmed bachelor, Connor wasn’t likely to settle down anytime soon, although his two best friends, Gabriel Lawson and Hank Crawford, had both recently gotten married to the respective loves of their lives. Braden wondered if it would change the dynamic between the Three Amigos since his brother was now the only single one of the trio. Frankly, Braden couldn’t imagine Connor falling in love and devoting himself to home and hearth.
“It feels good to be here. It’s been a while since I’ve walked through these doors.” A feeling of pride swelled up inside him. What his family had built with their chocolate company was incredible. They had created a great deal of jobs right here in town, along with giving the local economy a big boost.
“We’ve missed you.” Braden heard the raw emotion crackling in his brother’s voice. Although Connor was a jokester, there were moments like this where his heart shone like the sun. Braden had always looked up to his suave older brother, and he always would.
“Ditto,” he said, his throat feeling clogged with sentiment. He wasn’t certain he could put into words how deeply he’d ached to be reunited with his family. He’d missed seeing them on a daily basis and the closeness they all shared. No matter the distance, his family had always been at the center of his heart, right along with Piper. Being away from them had been a self-imposed punishment. He hadn’t felt worthy of being hailed as a hero.
“So, are you ready to sit in the corner office and join us as an executive?” Connor asked.
“What were you thinking?” Braden asked as a kernel of discomfort lodged in his chest. He had avoided this discussion for so long, and he needed to know what was expected of him. Although he deeply respected the family business, he still couldn’t see himself sitting behind a desk all day like his brother. But how could he tell his family that he wouldn’t be content doing the very thing they all enjoyed?
“Well, we’d love for you to start as soon as possible. Everyone’s excited about having you on board as a member of the executive team.” Connor’s smile stretched from ear to ear. He resembled a kid on Christmas morning.
Braden nodded. If he started working right away at North Star Chocolates, how would he find time to help Piper? He’d given her his promise after all, and he didn’t intend to let her down. He had been disappointing her for way too long. If he didn’t follow through, it would put even further strain on their friendship. “Would you mind if I started after Christmas? I promised Piper I would help her out with the diner, and I don’t want to leave her in the lurch.”
Connor knit his brows together. “You’re helping at the Snowy Owl? How so?”
Braden hesitated. He needed to tread carefully. Piper had confided in him about the diner’s financial situation, and he didn’t want to violate her trust. As it was, he considered himself on shaky ground with her. “It hasn’t been easy for Piper to run the diner all by herself. She’s a proud person by nature, so she’s been reluctant to ask for help.”
“Hank would have helped out in a heartbeat if she’d asked. I don’t know a single person in town who wouldn’t pitch in if Piper needed it.”
“Please don’t make a big deal out of it with Hank. I don’t want Piper thinking I was spreading her business around town,” Braden cautioned, cringing at the idea of being in the doghouse again with his bestie. Things were so much better when she was smiling at him rather than glaring.
Connor narrowed his gaze as he stared at him. “There’s nothing seriously wrong with the diner, is there?”
“Just a few growing pains. Piper and I have it all under control,” he said smoothly, not wanting to tell an outright lie to his brother. From what he’d seen by perusing the books, things were looking dicey for the Snowy Owl. Time was of the essence if they were going to turn things around. But he couldn’t tell his brother any of those details.
“Well, I’m glad that you and Piper are spending time together,” Connor said. “I was beginning to wonder if the two of you outgrew each other. You haven’t been hanging out with her at all.”
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Braden stuffed down his irritation at his brother’s comment. “She’s my best friend, Connor. I hope that never changes.”
“Happy to hear it,” Connor said, grinning. “I’d like to have you on board at the company after the New Year. That way you can help Piper through the holiday season and then join the ranks here as a junior executive in the marketing department. It will be great having the whole family working together.”
Braden nodded. He hoped and prayed things would be looking up for Piper and the diner.
Being back in Owl Creek was where he wanted to be, but he wasn’t sure about becoming an executive. Throughout his childhood he’d been the kid who had gazed out of the classroom window and yearned to be outside in the fresh outdoors. Not much had changed since then. He always chafed at being indoors too long.
And he wasn’t certain how long he could keep up the pretense with Piper. He was struggling to figure out whether or not to come clean about his argument with Jack and realizing that if he didn’t he wasn’t living up to the person he wanted to be. He wasn’t living his faith in the ways he should. I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth. The passage from John washed over him, serving as a potent reminder of what was at stake. Truth was important, particularly in God’s eyes.
So far, being back in Owl Creek was proving to be a lot more complicated than he’d ever imagined. And for the life of him, he wasn’t certain if he could stay in Alaska much longer without shattering into a million little pieces.
* * *
Piper’s gaze wandered outside toward the town green where a group of kids were engaging in an after-school snowball fight. A smile twitched at the corner of her lips. Although she loved the diner, sometimes she felt the urge to head outside and play in the snow just like the children she was watching. It would be nice to be carefree and devoid of adult responsibilities. At least for a little while. Her mind flashed back to lazy afternoons spent skating at the lake or dog mushing on the trails at Gray Owl woods. She’d been so blessed to have an idyllic childhood.
Not everyone was so fortunate. Her mind veered toward Braden. Although the North family was loving and tight-knit, Braden had been scarred by the kidnapping of his sister. Life in the North household had been fraught with tension and grief in the aftermath. It had affected every single member of the family in one way or another. Braden had gone inward, as if protecting himself from the world around him. Although she’d always been one of the few people he’d let in, lately that hadn’t been the case. He’d built up a barrier between them that she hadn’t been able to tear down.
Granted, Braden had agreed to help her rescue the diner, but he was still keeping her at arm’s length. What had come between them? She couldn’t stop asking herself that elusive question. She’d probably ponder it over for the rest of her days unless she received answers.
“I’ll have a ham and cheese omelet with a cup of the salmon stew.” Piper’s attention swung back to her customer. She jotted down the order on her notepad and smiled at the elderly gentlemen dressed in reindeer pajama bottoms and a thick red sweater. “Coming right up, Otis,” she said, trying to make her voice sound a lot cheerier than she felt. Otis Cummings was one of the diner’s most faithful customers. Rain, shine or in the midst of a raging snowstorm, she could depend on Otis to show up at the Snowy Owl for his favorites—omelets, sourdough flapjacks with strawberries and a big bowl of cornmeal maple mush. He always washed it all down with a piping hot cup of apple cider.
“Thank you for serving breakfast in the afternoon, Piper. My wife used to make me this very meal for lunch every time I asked,” Otis explained, his voice raspy with emotion. “I sure miss her. The holidays won’t be the same without June.”
Bless his heart, she thought as she recalled how he’d lost his wife a year ago. He was a sweet man who did his best to spread goodwill despite his own devastating loss. He served as a reminder that her family wasn’t the only one who’d lost people they loved. Her close friend, Rachel, had suffered the tragic loss of her father in a plane crash back in high school. Like Piper, she had mourned the tremendous void in her life. Somehow, it helped to realize she wasn’t alone in her grief. Others were struggling, as well. The loss of a loved one left an indelible mark.
The sound of the bell jingling alerted Piper to a customer entering the diner. She’d placed the bells above the door to add some holiday cheer to the establishment. Every time she heard it jangle, it made her smile. Little by little it felt like she was getting into the holiday spirit. When she turned toward the entrance, Piper felt a little rush at the sight of Braden walking through the door. At the moment he represented hope. Despite the chasm between them, she still felt as if he was a strong shoulder to lean on when she needed it the most. Braden made a beeline in her direction, his strides full of purpose. He had a lean and rugged physique, one that mirrored his active lifestyle. It wasn’t surprising to see several female customers watching him with keen interest.
“Hey there.” He greeted her with a smile. “So you’re running the place and waiting tables?” Braden asked, letting out a low whistle. “Your work really never ends, does it?”
“I’m just subbing for one of my waitresses, Elena,” she explained. “She’s come down with some stomach bug.”
“Put me to work,” Braden said, glancing around the restaurant. “It’ll give me a chance to figure out what’s working here and what isn’t.”
“Sounds good if you’re up to it,” Piper said. “It would be helpful with the dinner rush coming later on.” She made a face. “Not that there’s going to be a big crowd, but I’d still appreciate the help.”
Braden nodded. “Just tell me what to do, and I’ll get right on it.”
Piper motioned for Braden to follow along with her as she headed toward the counter and put Otis’s order on the order wheel. Along the way she greeted customers by name. It was the beauty of living in a small Alaskan village. Everyone knew each other. And when a stranger visited or relocated, they were welcomed to the town with gratitude. Thanks to North Star Chocolate Company, Owl Creek had a steady stream of tourists.
She took a few minutes to explain things to Braden regarding greeting customers, taking orders and how to put the orders in for the diner’s cook, Clara Teague. Braden was a quick study, and she watched from a few feet away as he handled his first customers—a group of friends who were catching a late lunch. Piper stuffed down her annoyance as Braden flashed a pearly smile and used his charm on the women. It shouldn’t bother her at all since he was doing her a favor and helping out, but it made her feel territorial about Braden, which was utterly ridiculous. They were close friends and nothing more.
And yet she still didn’t like seeing women flirting with him. It caused tension to build up inside her. She clenched her hands at her sides, then forced herself to turn away from the sight of it. Her stomach was all tied up in knots and she had no idea why. Perhaps the stress of the situation with the diner was taking a toll on her.
Piper felt someone tugging at her sleeve. When she looked down, Otis was looking up at her with a grin on his face. “Don’t worry, Piper. Braden only has eyes for you.”
She felt her stomach dip. “Oh no, Otis. Braden and I are only friends.” She felt flustered at the mere suggestion that Braden was interested in her romantically. Or that she had her heart set on him.
Otis knit his brows together. He placed a finger on his chin. “Sorry. My mistake. I thought I sensed something brewing between the two of you.” He shrugged. “What do I know? I guess my radar is way off.”
Piper felt heat spreading across her face as she walked back toward the kitchen. She didn’t know what was wrong with her. Normally she would laugh off a comment like the one Otis had just made. Perhaps the tension she felt every time she was in Braden’s orbit was messing with her. He was doing a decent job of pretending as if everything was fine, but she saw something
lurking in the depths of his eyes that worried her. Things were not fine between them. She knew it with a deep certainty.
Right after the last customer departed and Piper hung up the Closed sign, Braden slumped into a booth seat. He wiped his hand across his brow. “Wow. I really worked for that paycheck.”
Piper sat down across from him. “Ha. I see you’ve got jokes. I can’t afford to pay you, but I will supply you with as many chocolate cherry shakes and bowls of fish chowder you desire. Or anything else you’d like from the kitchen.”
Braden began sniffing the air around him. “How about some of that pie you just took out of the oven? It smells incredible.”
“Sure thing. Let me go see if it’s cooled down.” Piper headed into the kitchen where two pies were cooling. One was a blueberry rhubarb, the other a pecan. Piper felt the temperatures with the back of her hand. She cut two pieces of the blueberry rhubarb pie, then grabbed a carafe of milk from the fridge and poured two tall glasses. After placing everything on a tray, she walked back to the table, doing a careful balancing act. Braden jumped up as soon as he saw her, saying, “Do you need help?”
“I’ve got this,” she said, placing the tray on the table. “I grew up in this diner. I’ve been balancing trays since I was a kid. And I’ve gotten a lot better at it.”
As soon as Piper sat back down, they both dug into the pie. It always felt gratifying when someone liked one of her pies. Baking was one of her favorite pastimes, and it had become a source of stress relief for Piper. The fact that customers enjoyed them was an added bonus. Judging by Braden’s reaction, he was a fan. It made her feel ten feet tall.
Alaskan Christmas Redemption Page 5
