AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Ha! Is that what she told you?” Jasper grunted. “It’s been almost two years since you saw that woman. I wouldn’t trust a word that comes out of her mouth.”
Cameron clenched his teeth. “That woman has a name. It’s Paige. I expect you to settle down and treat her with the respect she deserves.”
“R-respect?” Jasper sputtered. “After what she and her father pulled?”
“Regardless of what she may have done, she’s still the mother of my child.” He ground out the words with a fierceness that surprised him.
Jasper waved his hand at Cameron. “You always had a soft spot for that—”
“Don’t finish that sentence!” He glared at Jasper. “And if you can’t manage to pull it together, it’s probably best that you leave my establishment.”
As Cameron turned away from Jasper and began to walk toward Paige and Emma, he felt a surge of triumph rise up inside him. Jasper’s comments highlighted the fact that Paige was still under a cloud of suspicion. Most here in Love wouldn’t welcome her back. Cameron himself still had major questions and doubts about her involvement in the embezzlement scheme. Standing up to Jasper wasn’t about any lingering feelings he had for Paige. He’d fallen out of love with her a long time ago. It was now all about his innocent daughter, who didn’t deserve to be pulled under by a town scandal and enmity for her mother.
Regardless of what Jasper thought, it wasn’t about defending the woman he had once loved. It was about safeguarding the baby whom he now felt duty-bound to protect.
Chapter Four
As soon as Paige had stepped into the Moose Café, she’d felt an electric current simmering in the air. Although she hadn’t been nervous a few minutes ago, there was a sudden fluttering sensation low in her belly. Maybe this hadn’t been a good idea after all. Familiar faces jumped out at her. Folks she’d known for years became wide-eyed at the sight of her. A few of them even whispered behind their hands and pointed at Emma, causing her to snuggle her daughter even closer against her chest. From across the room her eyes locked with Cameron. He wasn’t alone. Even though she’d known it might happen sooner than she’d like, the sight of his brother and grandfather hit her like a ton of bricks.
The past and the present blurred as memories from two years ago assailed her senses. As town mayor, Jasper had led the outrage against the daughter of Robert Reynolds. It hadn’t mattered to him that they’d known each for years or that she was his grandson’s longtime girlfriend. As town sheriff, Boone had grilled her with questions about the embezzlement of the funds. Throughout the grueling process she’d told them the truth—she’d known nothing about her father’s criminal acts. She was innocent, even though no one had believed in her.
She inhaled a deep breath, reminding herself that she’d chosen to walk this path of redemption and reconciliation. No matter how unpleasant, she was going to keep trying to make a difference in Love, and, in the process, serve as a positive role model for Emma.
Before she knew it, Cameron was at her side, his gaze focused on Emma. His eyes flickered with an emotion that resembled pride. Her daughter reached out a chubby hand and tugged at Cameron’s chin. The gesture surprised Paige since Emma always seemed so finicky with strangers. In response, Cameron let out a throaty chuckle, which made Emma giggle. She winced at the notion that her daughter didn’t know her own father, even though she appeared to be taking to him like a duck to water. From this point forward, she vowed, these two will be in each other’s lives. Girls always need their daddies.
“Do they know about Emma?” Paige asked, her eyes darting nervously toward the back of the café. Hazel was now standing at the table, a stunned expression etched on her face. She swung her eyes toward Paige.
“I just briefly filled them in. I’d like them to meet her. Are you all right with going over there?” Cameron asked, his gaze intense as he studied her face.
“Of course,” she said, knowing this meeting had been inevitable in a town this size. And the sooner she crossed these bridges, the sooner she could start working toward resurrecting the cannery deal and returning a portion of the stolen money. Her goals wouldn’t be achieved by avoiding awkward encounters. Feeling as if all eyes were on her, Paige followed behind Cameron as he led her to the back table.
With her head held high, she met Jasper’s mistrustful gaze steadily. She felt her chin wobbling under the pressure but she held her ground.
“Well, Miss Paige Reynolds, I must say I never thought our paths would cross again,” Jasper drawled. His silver eyebrows danced above his eyes. He opened his mouth, then quickly shut it. Something told her she wouldn’t have enjoyed whatever he’d stopped himself from blurting out. The mayor of Love was well-known for his caustic wit.
“Hello, Paige,” Boone greeted her. “It’s been a long time.” His expression didn’t give much away, although his eyes radiated wariness.
“Boone,” she said with a nod. “Two years, to be exact.”
Boone took a step toward her and reached for Emma’s chubby finger. “Well, who do we have here?” he asked in a soft voice.
“Her name is Emma,” Paige said. “Emma Prescott.”
She felt the heat of Cameron’s gaze as he studied her. Was that a pleased expression on his face? She wasn’t quite certain, but it sure looked like it. So far, Cameron seemed to be handling the situation pretty well. Even though he’d been surprised by the news last night, his reaction had been one of acceptance, despite his anger at her for waiting so long to reveal the truth. This was the true Cameron. Upstanding. Mature. Honorable.
Thank You, Lord, for allowing Cameron to see Emma as a gift and not a hindrance. She’s the light of my world, so I’m praying she’ll be a ray of sunshine in his.
“She looks just like you, Cam,” Boone said, a smile playing around his lips. “Much better-looking, of course.”
Cameron’s grin widened. Emma couldn’t take her eyes off him. It was as if her daddy were the sun, the moon and the stars. Paige sighed. Once upon a time she had thought the same thing about Cameron. And he’d proved her faith in him time after time, until in one terrible moment he had betrayed their love. She winced at the recollection of how coldly Cameron had treated her. Being innocent hadn’t spared her from the town’s or Cameron’s judgment and scorn.
After all this time it still wounded her to remember those dark days. The scars were still there, whether or not anyone cared to acknowledge them.
“I won’t even argue that point with you, Boone. Emma is by far the best-looking Prescott,” Cameron said, earning himself a pat on the back from Boone.
Paige felt as if a weight had been lifted off her shoulders as she watched the easy camaraderie between Cameron and his brother. She’d once been friends with Boone, so it was a relief that he didn’t seem to be shunning her. Or Emma. It would mean so much for her daughter’s future to have tight family connections in Love. Jasper, on the other hand, appeared as frosty as Mount McKinley in the dead of winter. Gritting her teeth, she reminded herself to make the best of the awkward situation.
“How old is the little one?” Jasper asked, jutting his chin in Emma’s direction.
