Chapter 25

CHAPTERTWENTY-FIVE

The following morning,Paige snatched up a scone from the inn’s crowded breakfast room and filled a to-go cup with coffee before heading out to the bookstore.

“That must have been some bath last night,” Patricia announced from where she was watering the hanging baskets on the veranda. “You certainly have more pep in your step this morning.”

Paige’s cheeks burned. Of course the woman must know about all the secret entrances to her inn. Did she also know what she and Tanner were up to the night before? That her bath was actually for two? Great. Now the rest of her was burning just thinking about all the things Tanner did to her in that bathtub.

Pasting on a bright smile, she risked a glance over at Patricia. “It’s amazing what a good night’s sleep will do for you, right?”

Not that there had been much sleeping last night. Still, she felt energized in a whole new way. For the first time in her life, someone was choosing her. Tanner wasn’t going anywhere. And she was pretty sure it could last forever.

“Mmhmm. A good night’s sleep is always amazing,” Patricia replied. “See you at the parade.”

Paige wasn’t sure, but she thought the other woman might have winked at her before she disappeared back into the inn.

Hayden was setting up a table outside his mother’s store, Knotical, when Paige arrived at the bookstore.

“Mornin’, Paige,” he said a bit sheepishly.

He looked a lot younger out of uniform. His titanium leg was on full display beneath his golf shorts. Her throat clogged up thinking about all that he’d gone through at such a young age. She impetuously threw her arms around his neck and hugged him. He hesitated before returning her embrace.

“What’s this about?” he asked.

Paige unwrapped her arms, patting his rock-solid chest when she stepped back. “Law enforcement should always be celebrated when they return home safely from a shift.”

“Amen to that,” Claire Lovell added from her perch in the doorway of her shop.

Paige met Claire and her sister Kitty, Knotical’s co-owner, when she first took over for Denise and Lou weeks ago. Hayden’s mom won Paige over immediately with a welcoming smile, and her perky demeanor. Kitty went a step further with a slice of hummingbird cake that was to-die-for. While Kitty was more earth mother, Claire was one of those southern ladies who knew how to expertly apply her makeup to always look fresh and camera-ready. Her sassy short hair held its volume, even in the face of smothering humidity, without ever having a hair out of place. Silver bracelets snaked up her forearm, giving Claire her own personal soundtrack wherever she went.

Her son definitely did not get his height from his mother. Even with her hair teased high on her head, she barely reached his shoulder. What she lacked in height, though, she made up for in mother’s intuition. Given the way her eyes were darting between Paige and her son, that intuition was picking up the wrong vibe.

“I’ve adopted your son as my little brother,” Paige explained.

Claire tried hard to disguise her look of relief, but Paige saw it anyway. She almost laughed. Hayden’s mother likely had her future daughter-in-law picked out for him and he didn’t know it yet.

Hayden rolled his eyes. “One sister is enough,” he said.

“Too late. You’re stuck with me, too.”

“Paige! Deputy!” Whitney called from down the block.

Hayden grinned. “There’s a sound I never thought I’d hear.”

Whitney pulled free of Donella and Sonny’s hands and raced down the sidewalk toward them.

He lifted her up and spun her around. “Now you’re flying like a butterfly,” he said.

“Not without her wings,” Donella said. “We are on our way to the studio to get her into her costume.” She placed her hand on Paige’s arm. “I don’t know how I’ll ever be able to thank you.”

“Seeing—and hearing—Whitney so happy is thanks enough.”

Donella looked around the town square all dressed up for the weekend’s festivities. “I never pictured myself in a place like this.”

“Give it time,” Paige said. “In a few weeks you’ll never imagine being anywhere else.”

Hayden lifted an eyebrow. Paige ignored him.

“I better get the store open.” She crouched down to hug Whitney. “You enjoy the parade. I’ll be in the front row of the gazebo for your recital.”

Whitney placed her palms on Paige’s cheeks. “I missed you last night,” she whispered.

Paige felt the sudden sting of tears at the back of her eyes. “I missed you, too. But aren’t you a lucky girl to have your momma back? And a whole town of new friends.”

“You’re not gonna leave, are you?”

“No.” Paige shook her head. “I believe I’ll stick around.”

Whitney kissed both Paige’s cheeks. “Sonny, you stay here and keep Gladys company.” She plopped the rabbit into the golf chair the caddy set up. “Make sure you put her on your shoulders when Tanner goes by so she can see him.”

Sonny bowed to the little girl. “As you wish.”

* * *

As expected,Whitney, Emily, and the rest of Audra and Ginger’s Tiny Dancers were a big hit. What wasn’t expected was Ginger going into labor as their encore. The McAlisters—and half of the residents of Chances Inlet—were already crowded into the labor and delivery waiting room by the time Paige and Cassidy arrived. Kyle, Cassidy’s boyfriend, stayed behind to manage the store.

Bernice was entertaining the children with a movie on her cellphone. Lois, from the Java Jolt, set up a pot of her specialty coffee in the corner. Tatum Fisk brought over cookies and cupcakes from her bakery. Even Tony from the Slice and Sip pitched in with enough pizza to feed the entire hospital.

“This town is better than Disneyland,” Donella remarked.

“Just wait until you see it at Christmastime,” Cassidy said, helping herself to a slice of pizza.

Donella and Whitney exchanged a delighted smile.

“How is it going?” Paige asked her father. He looked a little peaked.

“Just suffering a little PTSD from when we were all here last year,” he said. He twined his fingers through his wife’s. “Although this time it’s for a much happier event.”

“Last year wasn’t so bad,” Patricia said.

“That’s because they gave you the good drugs and a bed while the rest of us suffered out here,” Miles joked.

Lori swatted his arm. Tanner entered the room along with Will Connelly and his wife Julianne.

“Did we miss it?” Will asked.

“She’s pushing now,” Patricia said. “Kate and Alden are back there with Gavin.”

Jane held up her cellphone so Ryan could join in. Emily, Henry, and Miles made funny faces into the phone’s screen.

Tanner stepped up beside Paige. “What are the rules here?” he whispered. “Am I allowed to stand by you in public?”

She grabbed his hand with hers and gave it a squeeze.

“I love it when you push the envelope, Hollister,” he teased, moving a little closer to her.

Kate came through the hydraulic doors wearing a huge smile. Gavin followed her out carrying a baby swaddled in a pink blanket. A collective “aw” went up from those gathered in the room. Emily, Henry, and Whitney silently crept forward to get a better look.

“Here she is,” he said, his voice shaky. “Hazel Patricia McAlister.”

Patricia moved toward her son and his daughter while Jane trailed her with the cell phone.

“She’s beautiful,” Patricia and Ryan said at the same time.

Everyone laughed as they all began to circle around Gavin and the newborn.

“Paige!” Summer suddenly burst into the waiting room, Luke Kessler breathing hard behind her. “Thank goodness you’re okay.”

Everyone turned at once to stare at the newcomers.

“Summer! What are you doing here?” Paige couldn’t believe her best friend was standing in front of her.

“I—we came to surprise you. But we went to the inn, and you weren’t there. Then we tried the bookstore, and the guy there said you were at the hospital and I was so scared something had happened to you.” Summer hugged Paige tightly. “But you’re okay. You’re really okay.”

Paige laughed. “I’m fine. Ginger had her baby.”

“Oh my gosh.” Summer glanced around the room. “She’s gorgeous. I’m so sorry for intruding.”

“You’re not intruding,” Patricia said. “Any and all friends of Paige are welcome in our family.”

“Um, everyone. This is my best friend Summer Pearson and her boyfriend, Luke Kessler.”

“Summer Pearson the cellist?” Jane asked.

Julianne clapped her hands together. “I’ve been dying to meet you.”

Her husband nodded at Luke. “Kessler.”

Luke grinned at Will. “My ribs thank you for retiring, Connelly.”

“I’m so glad you’re okay,” Summer said before swatting her.

“Ow!”

“Why aren’t you answering Mrs. Kliphuis’ calls?” Summer demanded.

“Mrs. Kliphuis?” What could Preston’s principal possibly want with her? “I blocked her weeks ago.”

“You shouldn’t have done that, silly.” Summer took both Paige’s hands in hers. “She’s got great news. You can have your job back. The board decided to un-fire you.”

The room suddenly grew quiet. The only sounds were Hazel’s soft baby snuffles.

“Oh, and here’s the best part,” Summer continued, oblivious to Paige’s impending heart attack. “That snake Jon was two-timing his wife with multiple women. Not just you. One of them went to his wife with proof and she’s kicking him out and taking all his money. The board got wind of it and they are re-instating you with back pay and a written apology.”

“Sum.” Luke put his hand on Summer’s shoulder.

“Well, they haven’t agreed to the written apology yet, but my brother is insisting on it. You know how he . . .” Summer’s voice trailed off.

“You were fired?” Of course her father would speak up first.

“You’re the other woman?” Bernice tsked.

“Was this documented in the media?” Miles asked.

“Paige?” Summer whispered. “Please tell me they knew about this already.”

Paige risked a peek around the room. Everyone was focused on her with varying degrees of shock. Even Tanner. Her chest began to constrict so fiercely she wasn’t sure she could pull in another breath.

“Who the hell is Jon?” Tanner wanted to know. “And why is this the first I’m hearing about all this?”

The disappointment in his eyes gutted her. Paige jerked her hands from Summer’s grasp. “I’m sorry,” she choked out before bolting from the room.

* * *

The dogs were feeling neglectedafter being deserted at the inn while everyone else in the family was at the hospital. Paige took pity on them, inviting Tessa and Midas up to her suite so she’d have company as she packed. Tessa anxiously shadowed her around while Midas investigated every nook and cranny of the room with his snout.

“Your family will be back soon enough,” she told the dogs. “They’ll have lots to celebrate. Midas?” The dog looked over at her. “You are going to have to learn to share.” The dog grunted and went back to exploring. “Oh, who am I kidding, that baby will have you wrapped around her finger in less than a week.”

“I’d say that’s highly likely.”

She looked up from the duffel bag she was hastily filling. Her father was leaning against the doorjamb, arms crossed over his chest. She hated the disappointment she felt that it wasn’t Tanner standing there. Not that she blamed him for being angry at her. Less than twenty-four hours ago, they lay together on this very bed, his legs wrapped around her and she’d told him she trusted him.

Just not enough to tell him the whole truth about her life. About her mistakes. Her embarrassment. Because she was too scared to give him everything.

The irony was they both had trust issues. Tristan burned Tanner just as badly as Jon burned her. By withholding the truth. And she’d gone and done it to Tanner again. She deserved his disappointment. Not to mention the disgust he likely felt.

Her hands were shaking as she tried to stuff her flip flops into the overflowing bag. One fell to the floor. When she reached down to pick it up, her father’s hand closed over hers. Paige froze. She had no memory of him ever touching her before this moment. His palm was warm against her skin. His grip was sure and steady.

Comforting.

Before she could stop herself, she leaned into him. He pulled her into a hug, holding her with the same gentleness one might hold a valuable piece of crystal. Paige once vowed never to cry in front of her father, but it was soothing to let it all out while wrapped in his secure embrace.

“Hush, child,” he murmured while his palm stroked her back. “I’ve got you.”

He led her over to the loveseat. They both sat while Paige tried to get control of her emotions.

“I wish you would have told me what was troubling you when you first arrived,” he said.

“I figured you would call mom, and she’d tell you everything.”

“Ah. So that’s what that conversation was about at the baby shower.”

She brushed her hair off her face. “You knew something was up when I first got here?”

He arched an eyebrow. “It’s part of my skill set.”

“But—”

“I was hoping you’d tell me when you were good and ready,” he interjected.

“Instead, I embarrassed you in front of your new family.” She hung her head. “I’m so sorry.”

He looked askance at her. “What exactly did you do to embarrass me?”

She brushed the tears from her cheeks. “Well, I was a gullible fool, for starters.”

Her father actually chuckled. “Welcome to the human race, Paige. We all make mistakes. If you’re not making them, you’re not really living.”

“Not on the grand scale I did. I wrecked a family, Dad. People I don’t even know crucified me on social media. I was fired from the job I love. For cause! They actually put the word ‘adulteress’ in my file.” She shivered.

“You have a big heart, Paige. Someone ugly took advantage of that. You did nothing wrong.”

“Except for not being smart enough to know better.” She smacked her head. “I was so desperate for attention that I didn’t even realize I was being used. I ignored all the signs just so I wouldn’t be alone. How pathetic is that?”

“You are not at fault here. There’s no crime in opening yourself to someone.”

“There is if you get burned,” she argued.

He made a growling noise. “For crying out loud, Paige. If you weren’t a grown woman, I’d take you over my knee. Hell, I have a good mind to march you down to the office and lock you into a jail cell until you come to your senses. You did nothing wrong. Summer said it’s all worked out. You can go back to your job and resume your life.”

She groaned. “Except now my colleagues and the kids’ parents won’t be whispering about me with condemnation. It will be pity, instead.”

“You can always stay here,” he offered.

“Are you kidding? Everyone in this town knows my humiliation now, too.” She shook her head. “You saw how they looked at me! It was obvious what they were all thinking. I’m not going to saddle Patricia and her family with my toxic reputation.”

“I think you’re jumping to the wrong conclusions, Paige.”

“Am I? You heard Miles ask if there’s any media coverage.” She buried her face in her hands. “Oh, God, I hope not.”

Her father gently pried Paige’s hands from her face. “There aren’t many things Miles and I see eye-to-eye on, with the exception of his mother’s happiness. Today, though, he and I are on the same page. We both want to punish this Jon guy. I hate to break it to you, but Miles now considers you his sister to protect. Sure, he’s abrasive and obnoxious about it most times. But I’ve learned it’s his way of caring.” He sighed. “Miles and Summer’s brother are already in cahoots making plans about your legal strategy. I wouldn’t put it past the congressman to subpoena the guy before a congressional committee if he could pull it off.”

“Seriously?”

He nodded. “Gavin, Ryan, Will, and Summer’s friend, Luke, are advocating bodily harm. Kate was spouting off about the misogynistic hierarchy within school systems. She offered to apply her skills with a scalpel to unman every male member of the Preston Board of Directors. As a member of law enforcement, I can’t condone that kind of violence. But believe me, if that guy Jon or any of those board members ever step foot in this county, God help them.”

She gave him a watery smile. “But—”

“No buts, Paige.” He pulled her back into a hug, this one tighter than before. “We all have skeletons in our closets. Even the McAlisters. Stick around and they’ll tell you all about them.”

She buried her face in his shirt. “Am I one of your skeletons?”

He pulled back. “What kind of question is that?”

Paige forged on. The thought had been circulating in the back of her mind for years. Her conversation with Hayden last night only made the question more important. “Do you regret getting involved with my mom? Having me?”

“Whatever gave you that idea?” He looked like she had physically struck him.

“My grandfather always told me your wedding was a shotgun wedding.”

“Yeah, the shotgun was for your mother.” He leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees. “Have you never wondered why you only have one set of grandparents?”

She sank her teeth into her bottom lip knowing what she was about to say would likely hurt him. “I figured they didn’t want me, either.”

He whipped his head around to stare at her, a thunderstruck expression on his face. “Is that what you thought? That I didn’t want you?”

The only response she could manage was a nod.

Mumbling something that sounded violent, he got to his feet and began to pace. It took him several trips back and forth before he was composed enough to speak. Still, his voice was edgy with emotion.

“Nothing could be further from the truth. I grew up in foster care. The only thing I ever wanted was a family. Believe it or not, I was excited when your mom told me she was pregnant. Still, it was one hundred percent her choice what we did about it.” He shook his head. “Of course, your grandfather had other ideas. He saw a good excuse to yank her back to Iowa, and he took full advantage of it.”

“But if it weren’t for me, you and mom wouldn’t have married.” It was a statement of fact. Not a question.

He stopped in front of her. “No.”

She sighed. “Thank you for being honest with me. Mom constantly dances around the subject like she wants me to believe my conception was some big love story. Honestly, I always felt like were it not for me, she would have had the life she dreamed of.”

“That’s not the way it went down.” Sighing heavily, he returned to the loveseat. “Circumstances got in the way of your mom realizing the dreams she thought she wanted. First it was me getting deployed overseas. Then your grandmother died. Both things sending her back to the farm. But know this, she never once felt like you killed her dreams. Her dreams changed when you were born, yes.” He took her hand. “They became all about you. She always told me you were the gift she got to keep forever.”

“She said that?” Could that be why her mother resisted Paige’s leaving so much? She wanted Paige all to herself?

He crossed his heart with his finger. “She assured me she was content in her life as long as she had you beside her. And you were pretty attached to her, too. I was deployed so often you hardly knew me. And when I came back…” He swallowed. “I wasn’t exactly in a good place mentally. Your mom and I believed it might be upsetting to suddenly interject a grizzly army veteran into your life while I was still…adjusting.”

Her heart formed a knot in her chest. Hayden was telling the truth. He had sacrificed her. And she paid him back by rebuffing every one of his gestures of love over the years. Suddenly, she was more ashamed of her behavior as a teenager than falling for Jon’s lies.

“By the time I got my head right, you wanted nothing to do with me,” he said quietly.

She leaned her head onto her father’s shoulder. “I’m sorry I was such a brat growing up. I should have tried to see things from another point of view besides my own stubborn one.”

Paige felt his chest rumble with laughter. “With age comes wisdom. Besides, I can’t really hold it against you. One of my foster moms used to threaten that the universe would pay me back for my stubbornness one day. Karma and all that.”

“I’m glad you finally got your big family.”

He laced his fingers through hers. “I’m glad you have two families who love you and want to see you happy.”

“I was sort of hoping to make it three families,” she whispered. “Do you think I blew it with Tanner?”

“Well, the poor guy is getting a bad case of whiplash from the number of times he’s been blindsided these past few months.”

Her heart sank at the truth in her father’s words.

He pressed a kiss to the top of her head. “Lucky for you, he’s made out of sterner stuff. I had to threaten to arrest him if he didn’t let me come up and speak to you first. Hayden is keeping him company out in the gazebo.”

A wave of optimism and profound relief washed over her. She jumped to her feet and raced to the door before turning around and throwing her arms around her father’s neck. “Karma may have had the last laugh on both of us when my car broke down in this town. Thank you, Dad.”

Summer was sitting at the bottom of the stairs with Luke beside her. Her friend’s eyes were red rimmed and puffy. “I’m so, so sorry.”

“She didn’t know, Paige,” Luke added.

“I know.” Paige gave her friend a firm hug. “It’s okay. Really.”

“Based on Tanner Gillette’s reaction, you’ve been keeping a lot from me,” Summer accused.

Her friend had every right to be angry. Paige would be, too, if the roles were reversed.

She took both of Summer’s hands in hers.

“I’m sorry. We were keeping it from everyone.”

The hurt in Summer’s eyes was painful to see. Her friend tried to pull her hands free, but Paige held fast.

“I didn’t realize I was lumped in with everyone else. But Tanner Gillette? Paige, I thought he was another jerk like Jon?”

“That’s just it. He’s not who either of us thought he was.” She squeezed Summer’s fingers. “The situation with Whitney is complicated, but it’s not my story to tell. You have to trust me on this. It’s—he’s—”

“You’re in love with him,” Summer whispered.

Paige nodded. “Against all odds, yes.”

A slow smile grew on Summer’s lips. “Well, then that’s all that matters.” She leaned into Paige’s embrace.

“Except I probably screwed it all up,” Paige told her. “He doesn’t like secrets.”

“Well, if he can’t get past this then he doesn’t deserve you. But something tells me you two will be okay.” She turned Paige by the shoulders and pointed her in the direction of the kitchen. “Go put my theory to the test.”

The lobby and breakfast room were blessedly empty with most people enjoying dinner in town. When Paige reached the kitchen, it was a different story. It seemed everyone who’d been in the hospital waiting room was crammed into the kitchen, all of them staring out the windows at the gazebo. Tanner was pacing in a circle like an animal in a pen. Hayden was standing on the steps.

“Oh my God! Is Hayden holding him at gunpoint?” Paige cried.

“It’s not a real gun,” Cassidy explained.

“It’s Henry’s squirt gun,” Miles said around a mouthful of cookie.

“I told y’all that toy was too realistic,” Jane protested. “It better disappear after this is over.”

“I’ll have Midas bury it in the yard somewhere,” Gavin suggested.

Paige spun around, the shock piling on. “Why are you not at the hospital with your wife?”

“Just getting some grub. And neither of us wanted to miss this.” He held up his cellphone. Ginger was visible on the screen, Hazel sleeping in her arms.

“Oh, Paige, honey,” she said quietly. “I hate that you had to go through that thanks to that jerk. I wish I was there to give you a hug.”

“I’ve got it covered,” Kate said before wrapping her arms around Paige. “You can’t get rid of us that easily,” she whispered. “You’re one of us whether you want it or not. Still, I hope you want us. Because we want you in our family.”

Paige’s father slipped into the kitchen. He grinned at her.

“It’s probably too much to ask for privacy?” Paige said.

“We were all just on our way to the front porch.” Patricia made shooing motions with her hands.

A chorus of groans went up, mostly from Miles and Cassidy, before they all began to file out. Summer blew her a kiss. Donella gave her arm a squeeze as she passed.

“You’re right about this place sucking you in.” Donella’s lips twitched. “I’m looking forward to living here.”

Worried her courage might fail her, Paige hurried across the lawn. When Hayden spun around to greet her, she yanked the squirt gun from his hands.

“Give me that!”

She sprayed the water at the deputy.

“Hey!”

“Go!” she ordered. “Everyone is around front.”

He looked like he wanted to protest, before changing his mind and stomping off. Paige placed the squirt gun on the bottom step of the gazebo. She risked a glance in Tanner’s direction. He was seated on the bench, his face intense with an emotion she was having trouble defining.

Slowly, she made her way toward him.

“I’m sorry my father and Hayden were being so ridiculous. You don’t have to stay here. I’m sure there are other places you’d rather be.”

“Are you kidding right now? You expect me to just walk away?”

She wrung her hands together. “I wasn’t totally open with you. And I know you value that.”

He jumped up from his seat. “Yeah, I do. So why then must the people I love most in this world keep secrets from me?”

Her heart skipped. “Wait? Did you just say you love me?”

“Oh for the love of . . . you’re just now figuring that out? Did you hear anything I said last night? Or has that asshole damaged you so badly you can’t tell what’s real anymore?”

“Something like that,” she murmured.

He mumbled something ugly about Jon. “The issue is not me loving you. It’s you loving me and trusting me with your secrets.”

“I didn’t tell you because I was mortified!” she shouted. “I let someone take advantage of me. I let someone ruin my reputation. Make a fool of me. He took away my livelihood and my identity. You have no idea how humiliating that was for me.” She choked on her words. “I didn’t want you to see me that way.”

His face softened. “Sweetheart, those are the kinds of things you’re supposed to share with me. So I can make you feel better. So I can make things right for you.”

“You have made me feel better. I didn’t lie last night when I said I trust you. I do. Tanner, I lov—"

“Oh no.” He held a hand up. “You don’t get to say it back to me. Not yet. Not until I know you’re all in. With me. With Whitney. With this freaking town. Because this isn’t just for the time being, Paige. For me, this—” he gestured between them “—is forever.”

He whistled loudly. She heard the crunch of footsteps on the gravel path followed by the sounds of voices as everyone made their way onto the lawn.

“Get your camera ready, Cassidy,” Tanner called out.

There were a few catcalls when Tanner took both Paige’s hands in his. The fact that his were trembling as much as hers was the first sign that he wasn’t as sure of himself as he let on. Paige loved him even more.

He pulled her closer.

“I didn’t think I would survive without Tristan. He was literally a part of me. But I did survive. And then on a New Year’s Eve when all I wished was for the powers that be to bring him back to me, I ended up crossing paths with you.” He touched his forehead to hers. “I truly believe he sent you to me. And me to you. I love you, Paige Hollister. You filled the hole my brother left inside of me and now it’s overflowing. Please say you’ll spend your life with me.”

She ignored the chorus of sighs and gasps from the spectators, concentrating only on the sincerity in Tanner’s eyes. The knowledge that he meant what he said melted the last bits of her anxiety and replaced it with profound joy.

“I love you, Tanner Gillette,” she promised him. “Now and forever.”

He swept her up in a dizzying kiss as her friends and family swarmed the gazebo. Paige was engulfed in a sea of love and acceptance. She had finally reached her destination.