by Piper Rayne
So I’m not surprised that after a moment he nods, agreeing with me. “Okay then, let’s talk about the blonde.”
“I don’t really care who she is.”
He jumps off the table and meets me at the window. “I’m not saying you care in the same way Nikki does, but you couldn’t stop looking at her.”
“Funny that you think I was into her, yet you went and tried to snatch her up first.”
He laughs and stuffs his hands into his jeans pockets. “Why do you think I did that?”
I glance at him. “Because she was more into me, you’re gonna act like you hit on her to spur me to make a move? Of course you’d play it that way.”
He chuckles again and holds up his hands. “I swear. I have no interest in the woman.”
I shake my head. “Yeah, okay.”
“She didn’t give off the vibe I like.” He shrugs.
“Vibe?”
“She looks like the kind of girl who has a stipulation of, like, four dates before she’ll sleep with you.” He smacks me on the back. “That’s more you than me.”
I tilt my head and wrinkle my forehead. “And what exactly does that say about me?”
“Come on, you were the steady boyfriend in high school. Reese?”
“I’m far from the guy I was in high school.”
“I’m amazed you got out of college without a fiancée.” He walks back, snags the papers from the desk, folds them, and puts them in his back pocket.
“I wasn’t looking for one. In fact, I purposely made sure not to go down that road.”
He turns around and points at me. “Exactly, and that’s the difference between us. I didn’t have to mentally tell myself not to get serious with anyone. I knew I’d never get to that point with a woman.”
I’m not going to call Jed out on his crap, but his parents’ divorce kind of messed him up. His dad was a complete douche and cheated on Marla, then he apparently cheated on his second wife too. I think Jed is worried that adultery is a genetic affliction or something.
“Tell me one reason why you aren’t married with two kids yet?” He crosses his arms and gives me a look like, “This should be good.”
“First of all, I’m only thirty. And I’m not getting married, maybe ever.” I brush past him toward the back door. I haven’t made my mind up completely about whether I’ll ever get married, but I’m damn sure not ready to open myself up for that anytime soon.
Jed stops before we exit and stares at me for a moment as though he wants to call me out, but he places his hand on my shoulder and doesn’t go there. Instead he says, “A date doesn’t mean forever. If you see the blonde again, ask her out.”
I say nothing. Presley’s and my conversation was easy. I love that she knows nothing about me. She doesn’t know I’m Cade Greene, once a twelve-year-old boy who lost his mother tragically. Cade Greene, son of handyman extraordinaire, Hank Greene, who took over the business from his dad. Cade Greene, stepson to Marla Greene, the woman involved in every fundraiser and committee in town. And Cade Greene, brother to four, stepbrother to four, and half brother to one. My family name in this town has a long past, and I never forget that. Neither does anyone in town.
I shrug. “Maybe if I ever see her again.”
He opens the door, the low light flickering through the trees behind the back parking lot. “Thata guy!”
Of course, I’m sure that woman is long gone by now.
The next morning, I take an Uber from Glacier Point Resort in Lake Starlight to the lawyer’s office since I didn’t want to stay in Sunrise Bay.
I climb out of the car under the dark awning that says Trent Lawson, Attorney at Law. The bell rings when I step into the small office. There’s one desk with a middle-aged receptionist sitting behind it.
She peeks up and her eyes widen. I saw her at the funeral yesterday. She was among the group of people talking about whatever that competition thing was. “Hello,” she says and looks down. “You must be Presley Knight?”
I nod.
She smiles. “Let me just poke my head in to see if Mr. Lawson is ready for you.”
“Thank you.” I give her a nervous smile.
She stands and heads down a short hallway, so I take a seat in the waiting room. I’d really hoped to talk to Clara before today. My stomach twists over how she’ll react to the news that I’m in town. Then again, I’m just assuming she’s been kept in the dark. Maybe her parents were up-front with her all these years.
“He’ll see you now.”
The receptionist waits for me to stand, then she walks me down the hall to his office door, holding her hand out for me to enter. After I do, she shuts the door.
I get my first look at Mr. Lawson, and my initial thought is that he doesn’t suit his voice. He’s a shorter male, stout and balding, but his voice holds this timbre that made me think he was six-five, two-twenty, and played rugby when he wasn’t in a courtroom.
He called me five days ago to tell me he had a client who had passed away and my name was listed in the will. I knew immediately who had died, and I was surprised to hear that she even knew who I was to be in her will. I booked a flight to Alaska, much to my mom’s dismay, and here I am—ready to get whatever broach or photo or letter of apology the deceased woman has left me. Then I’ll go back to Connecticut and my parents, especially my mom, will be happy it’s all over with.
Of course, there isn’t a ton for me to go back to other than a few friends and my parents. I haven’t really been hitting it out of the park in the job or social arena since graduation. Barely making rent, working jobs I don’t enjoy but enable me to live on my own. I’m not even going to think about my barren love life.
“Miss Knight. Good to meet you,” Mr. Lawson says as he stands behind his desk.
“Thank you, same.” His office chairs are surprisingly comfortable, and I cross my legs, placing my purse on my lap.
“I called you in on your own because as you may have guessed, Clara does not know you exist.”
I nod although I didn’t know that for sure.
He pulls out an envelope from the file folder on his desk and hands it to me. My name is written on the outside in handwriting I don’t recognize. “This is for you. She’s written one to Clara as well. I advised her against her decision, but she was adamant that these were her last wishes.”
I shake my head. “I’m not sure I understand.”
“Your mo—Denise owned a building downtown. It was a sewing store, but she also taught lessons there or hosted group outings where she’d teach people how to complete a certain craft in one night. She was very talented with a needle and thread.”
“Yes, I’m aware of her store. I went by yesterday and it looked pretty empty.”
“With her being sick, Clara didn’t have a lot of time…” He shakes his head. “Anyway, as you might not have known, your fath—Walter passed years back in an accident on a fishing vessel. That left only Clara and… well, you.”
I nod, wishing he’d get to the point.
“Clara got the house, but when it came to the commercial building…”
“What is it?” I sit up straighter.
He sighs. “She left it to both you and Clara. The store, the building, is yours and hers to do with what you want. And if one of you wants to buy the other out, you can, or one of you can abandon the building, which would gift it to the other. You could both decide to sell it and split the profits. I tried to get an estimate of the value, but there are a lot of variables like whether you want to keep it as the sewing place or make it something else. I have all the appraisal paperwork in this folder for you to look over.”
I hold up my hand. “Together?”
He sighs and nods.
“Is she crazy? Or was she?”
“I warned her I didn’t think it was a viable plan. She didn’t have enough money in her estate for Clara to buy you out. I’m not sure about your financial situation…”
I shake my head to say I don’t
have that kind of money. “There is so much wrong with this situation.”
“My job is to tell my clients the risks and rewards of any situation, but this was her decision. Now, I’d like to plan a time for you and Clara to come in together. I’ll be here when she’s told, and I’ll probably invite a close friend of hers in for support.”
So he’ll bring in someone for her, but I don’t need a support system? Easy to see whose side this town is on. I hate when my mom’s right.
I stand. “Okay. Just let me know.” I round the chair toward the door.
I hear his chair slide back. “Miss Knight. I need to know if you’re interested in the building?”
Turning around, I remember another piece of my mom’s advice—keep your cards close to your chest because most people who normally wouldn’t cheat will, given the opportunity. We might not be playing rummy right now, but he wants to know what cards I’m holding so he can help Clara because she’s a Sunrise Bay townie. Well, if all I get is half a building for not being the chosen one, so be it, but I’ll let him know once I meet Clara myself.
“Just let me know when you want me to meet her and we’ll talk then.” I open his door and leave his office.
Instead of requesting an Uber, I walk around Sunrise Bay. Spring in Alaska is very different from Connecticut. The ground back home is thawing already, with green buds on trees, whereas everything here is still dreary and gray. Part of me wonders what the bay looks like during tourist season.
I find a park bench and open the letter from Denise Harrison, who until right this moment was a woman I’ve hated, I’ve been curious about, and I’ve mourned well before her death.
Presley,
What a beautiful name. I’m not sure I would’ve chosen it, but it’s lovely. I’m sure you’re wondering why I’m deciding to write my first letter to you when you’re twenty-nine years old and I’m on my deathbed. But I feel that I need to try to make amends and help you understand before I take my last breath. I know about my mother, Beatrice’s letters and gifts to you. It was very kind of your parents to allow her to do that for you. But when I gave you up, I understood my decision and that they were now your parents, as hard as that was for me. I do hope you realize we didn’t come to our decision lightly. And I’m sure you’re even more confused finding out about Clara, your biological sister who we kept.
Oh, Presley, I so wish I would’ve thought life could change, but when we became pregnant with you, we were two poor kids trying to make it, and at the time, we just didn’t think you’d have a decent shot at life if we raised you. We were in a bad place as a couple and well… good or bad, we gave you up so you’d have a wonderful life. A better life than the one we thought we could provide you.
After your grandma Beatrice died, I found the pictures your mom sent to her. It was the first time I learned of the correspondence you had with her. The woman always did amaze me with what she could get people to agree to. You’ve grown into a beautiful woman.
I guess I’ll get to the point because if I were you, an old lady’s dying apology after all these years wouldn’t be worth much. I want to give you a chance and a reason to stay in Sunrise Bay. It’s a wonderful little town and I hope you’ll consider taking over the store, making it into whatever you want. But please do it with Clara. You two are the last in both your father’s and my families, and I’d love nothing more than you two to be true sisters.
I know I’m asking a lot and I understand that you might just tear this letter up, sign off your rights to half the building, and go back to Connecticut. I’m sure I’d do that because sometimes I think I’ve lived scared my entire life. When I became pregnant with you, your father and I had run away from this small town and returned shortly after the adoption. I’ve tried to tell Clara as she grew older, but I could never bring myself to see what she would think of me after I told her. I’m a chicken. There you have it. You come from chicken genes. Well, not your father, he wasn’t a chicken at all, but that resulted in his death.
I’m losing track now. I do hope you stay and give life here a shot, but I understand if you don’t.
I can’t change how you feel, but please know, there was never a morning I didn’t wake up and you weren’t in my thoughts. A constant reminder of your biggest regret is painful to live with. Please don’t ever be like me. Don’t live with the what-ifs—go find the answers.
Love,
Denise Harrison
P.S. Clara can be hard to warm up. Give her a chance.
I drop the letter in my lap, annoyed that I’m supposed to somehow cater to Clara’s feelings. But as I read her line about the what-ifs, something resonated inside me. I already have enough what-ifs in my life. What if I would have majored in English rather than business? I might be happier. What if I would’ve stayed with Lincoln? I could be married right now. What if I hadn’t been given up for adoption? I look around. This could have been my town. I would’ve just lost the woman who raised me.
There’s nothing promising for me in Connecticut, but staying in Sunrise Bay and opening a business with a sister who didn’t even know I existed until today? I’d have to be crazy to consider it.
I stuff the letter in my purse and walk back to Sunrise Bay’s small downtown area. I head past the brewery to the sewing storefront. It’s small but nestled between a brewery and a butcher. The town is cute, like something you’d see in those cheesy Christmas movies where singers carol down the streets, everyone knows everyone, and people have your back. Is that such a bad place to live?
“You again.” Cade walks out of the brewery. He’s putting on a jacket over his dark plaid shirt. He really is sexy. “I thought I’d never see you again.”
I have to admit, for whatever reason, I feel as if Cade could be another “what if” should I decide to leave.
“Here I am,” I say, holding my arms out to my sides as though I’m inviting him to look at me.
And he does look his fill while I try not to let my entire body shiver under his attention. Then he looks back at the brewery before giving me his full attention. “Are you free for dinner tonight?”
I blink a couple of times. “Dinner?”
“Yeah, you name the place. I can give you a few references who will vouch for me not being a creep or an asshole.”
I giggle. It’s been a long time since I’ve laughed and that’s saying something. “Sure. I’m staying in Lake Starlight. Glacier Point Resort?”
His head rears back a bit as though I’ve surprised him. Glacier Point is fancy, but it’s not my money, it’s my parents’. “Perfect. There’s a restaurant in town there called Terra and Mare. I’ll call and make a reservation.”
“Great.” After a bit of awkward silence, I speak again. “I guess we should exchange phone numbers then.”
We pull out our phones and enter our information in the other’s.
“I’ll text you as soon as I know what time.” He walks backward toward the brewery.
“Sounds good. Look forward to hearing from you.”
“I can’t wait.” He smiles one more time and dips back into the brewery.
A loud “woohoo” echoes into the street from the brewery, and I feel a blush rush up to my cheeks. Is it really this easy to get a date here? Maybe what they say about Alaska having all the men is true.
“Way to go, man.” Jed slaps me on the back and lets out a howl so loud I’m sure Presley heard him outside.
I can’t stop smiling because she was so quick to accept my offer for dinner. “I gotta call Terra and Mare.”
“Oh, you’re not skimping, huh?” Jed says as I head over to the other side of the bar.
“Not everyone takes their dates to a food truck,” Molly jokes.
I laugh while I listen to the phone ring. Someone answers, then puts me on hold.
“I’ve never gotten any complaints,” Jed says, drawing a sketch of what he wants to do with the space next door. Looks like it’s to scale this time. He’s truly talented, and I always wonde
r why he came back here after college and isn’t designing high-rises somewhere.
“Who said anything about complaints? I mean, a meal takes up a lot of time when you could be doing other things.” She winks.
Jed laughs and glances my way. I slide my finger over my throat. Molly is way too flirtatious, and I already told Jed when she was hired on part-time that he couldn’t egg on her antics like he has all the years she’s been Nikki’s best friend. He clears his throat and concentrates back on the drawing.
The doors open and Xavier walks in with Clara. Gone is the heartbroken girl I last saw. Now she looks pissed as she stalks up to the bar. Xavier looks at Jed and me with a cringe. I know she was talking to the lawyer today.
“Give me the hardest stuff you have.” Clara slams her purse on the bar.
Molly’s gaze shoots up, but she grabs a bottle of whiskey and pours her a shot glass. Clara downs it, her brown hair thrown up in a ponytail, and slams the glass down.
“Do not tell Nikki anything about this,” Xavier whispers.
Like I would. I don’t agree with her morning radio show shit.
Since we just opened, they’re the only ones in here, so whatever is going on will only be between us.
“Don’t tell her that the town librarian is getting plastered this early in the day?” Jed asks.
“Turns out Clara isn’t the only Harrison left,” Xavier says in a quiet voice.
My eyebrows come together. “What?”
Xavier nods and his eyes widen in an “I’m just as shocked as you but trying to be a good friend and not tell her how fucked-up this is” look. “The blonde. She’s her sister.”
My phone slips from my hand, dropping on the bar then down to the floor, cracking my screen. “Fuck!”
“That’s why she looked familiar. I wondered if I’d banged her,” Jed says.
We both shake our heads at him.
“Good for you that’s not true.” Jed smacks me on the back with a grin.
