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“Piper! Take a breath,” Trudy urged her daughter. She turned toward Hank. “By the way, I agree one hundred percent with everything your sister just said. You can’t see what’s so obvious to the rest of us. The two of you belong together!”
Hank leaned forward in his chair and placed his forearms on the desk. “What makes you think she loves me?” He hadn’t considered his feelings might be reciprocated by Sage, even though he knew there was something powerful brewing between them. Pure adrenaline began racing through his veins.
“The only one who can answer that question is Sage,” his mother snapped. “But since you’re not talking to her, you might never find out.” She placed Addie down on the floor. She began taking faltering steps toward her father. Every day her coordination was getting better.
“Way to go, baby girl! You’re going to be running soon,” he said, opening his arms wide.
Piper rolled her eyes. “Don’t change the subject!” She tapped her watch. “The clock is ticking. I heard Sage might be going back to Florida soon. You need to make things right with her. Now!”
Piper and Trudy stared him down like he was the enemy. It had always been like this with his family. Two against one. What was the point in arguing with them? As with most things, they were right. He’d acted like a jerk. He hadn’t allowed himself to see Sage’s side of the situation at all. And he needed to talk to her before she left Owl Creek.
He let out a groan. “The two of you didn’t have to march down here to confront me. I already know that I messed up with Sage. I’ve been racking my brain for a way to make amends with her. In case you were wondering, it’s been killing me.”
Piper sent him a satisfied look. “Happy to hear it,” she said, folding her arms across her chest and tapping her foot.
“Piper, be nice,” Trudy scolded.
“I was just kidding, Mom,” Piper said. “Hank knows I want only the best for him.”
Hank winked at her. “Ditto. Now give me some advice about how to approach Sage.”
“She’s over at the chocolate factory along with everyone else in town,” Piper informed him. “I had to close the diner early since it was completely empty. Go to the press conference and tell her how you feel.”
He ran a hand over his face. “I can’t do that in front of everyone. How would that look, for the town sheriff to act like a lovesick fool?”
“You seriously need to get over yourself. Women love romantic gestures. It shows that you’re willing to put your pride aside in order to get your happily-ever-after,” Piper said.
Trudy vigorously bobbed her head up and down. “Listen to your sister. She’s read hundreds of romance novels. She knows a lot about happy endings.”
“Are you sure?” Hank asked, feeling a bit skeptical about showing up in front of the entire town. The very thought of all those prying eyes was enough to make him break out in hives.
“We’re sure,” Trudy and Piper said in unison.
Hank picked up Addie and handed her to Trudy. “Can you take her, Mama? I’m fixing to head over to the chocolate factory where I may or may not make an utter fool of myself.”
Piper pounded him on the back. “Well, if you go down, at least it’ll be in a blaze of glory. Your name will be on people’s lips for weeks.”
“That’s very reassuring,” Hank drawled.
“I’ll see you later at the inn,” Trudy said, bundling the baby up before she headed outside. “I can’t keep Addie out in that cold, but I want a full report later.” She pressed a kiss on her son’s cheek. “Godspeed, Hank. Go get your happy ending, son.”
Hank turned back toward Trudy and pulled her into a tight hug. “I’m sure going to try my best, Mama.”
* * *
Standing on the steps of the chocolate factory in preparation for the press conference reminded Sage of the first time she’d come here with Hank, and her birth parents had been speaking to the press from this very spot. She had been under the impression that the press conference would be reduced to a few media outlets and a small number of residents. But now as she scanned the large crowd it caused butterflies to soar in her stomach. It appeared as if the entire town had turned out to hear about Lily North’s mysterious return. She prayed everyone would understand her reasons for keeping silent during her stay in Owl Creek. It was time to lay everything out in the open.
Willa and Nate began b
y reading a statement about Sage’s discovery of her true identity and her ties to Owl Creek. Although their words were emotional and eloquent, they didn’t give any specifics about Jane Duncan. They had all agreed to handle it in a manner that would give Eric peace about his deceased wife. And even Connor concurred that seeking vengeance was pointless due to Jane’s death. Aunt Cathy would be spared prosecution for aiding and abetting her sister.
“Mr. and Mrs. North. Will you be seeking charges against anyone with regard to the kidnapping of your daughter, Lily North?” a reporter asked.
Willa looked over at Nate before answering. “No, we will not. We are one-hundred-percent certain that the individual who abducted our daughter is no longer living. And we are also satisfied that her crime was carried out alone without assistance from anyone. Our wish is to move forward with the knowledge that our family is now whole. We’ll leave the judgment up to God almighty.”
Sage breathed a sigh of relief that they had all made the decision not to publicly name Jane Duncan as her abductor. She wasn’t certain her mother deserved such grace, but she felt content with the outcome. It gave her a measure of peace.
A dark-haired female reporter threw out a question from the press area. “Hello. Grace Prescott reporting for the Love, Alaska Gazette. Sage. Lily. Which name are you going to use from now on? Do you have your own statement about your discovery?”
