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Cameron chewed the inside of his cheek. The truth was there had been more reasons to disbelieve Paige about her involvement in the embezzlement scheme than reasons to believe in her innocence. After so long it would be difficult to do a complete turnaround. Facing the fact that he had been wrong would mean taking responsibility for the events that had led to her leaving town and giving birth to his daughter in secret.
He clenched his jaw. “My reservations about the cannery are based on practical matters that have nothing to do with your character or our past relationship.”
“Well, that’s at least something,” Paige cracked.
Cameron glanced at his watch. “I hate to run without being able to help you very much, but we’ve got a crisis brewing at the café. Both Sophie and one of my new hires are out sick today with a stomach bug. Hazel is holding down the fort for me, but I’m guessing it’s going to be a madhouse soon, what with the lunch crowd coming in.”
“I can fill in for them, Cameron. In case you’ve forgotten, I waitressed all through college.”
Cameron studied Paige’s earnest expression. He knew she was determined to undo the wrongs of the past, but did she really want to subject herself to customers who might still be harboring animosity toward her and her father? It was way above and beyond the call of duty. It seemed like a surefire way to get her feelings hurt.
“I don’t doubt your waitressing skills,” he admitted, a smile threatening to break out on his face at the thought of Paige wearing one of the café’s moose T-shirts. “It might get rough with some of the townsfolk.”
Paige straightened her shoulders and lifted her chin up. “I’m tougher than you realize. I don’t skulk around like a guilty person, because I’ve done nothing to be ashamed of. And maybe, just maybe, the more I show my face around Love, the more people will come to realize that they misjudged me.”
Hearing those words tumble out of Paige’s mouth caused a feeling of doubt to slither through him. Was he one of those people? After all, he was far from convinced of Paige’s innocence. It was one of the main reasons he knew they could never have a future together. Trust was a cornerstone to every relationship. Without it, the foundation would crumble into dust.
He cleared his throat. “That’s mighty brave of you to volunteer. And if you really want to help, I could sure use an extra pair of hands.”
Paige smiled so wide he thought it might take over her entire face. “Terrific. That’s great. Let me call Fiona and have her pick up Emma at the café.”
At the sound of her name, Emma stretched her hands toward Paige, begging with her eyes to be back in her mother’s arms. Paige plucked Emma out of his arms. Cameron immediately missed the little bundle he’d cradled. She had smelled of baby powder and lavender.
Even though Paige was helping him out in a pinch, he still wasn’t certain he should have agreed to let her waitress for him. Being near her was stirring up emotions he was struggling to suppress. For so long he had convinced himself that she was nothing more than a liar and a fraud. Now, with her unexpected return, she was showing him with every word and deed how wrong he’d been. Dishonorable women didn’t risk everything to return to a place that had virtually disowned them. Untrustworthy women didn’t rack their brains trying to figure out a way to bring revenue to a struggling town.
As he drove away from Paige and Emma toward Jarvis Street and the Moose Café, he fought against old feelings that threatened to choke him. Against his best intentions and his resolve to remain immune to Paige, she had swarmed over him like a hive of honeybees, leaving him feeling defenseless and rattled by her presence in his world. Although he was committed to being the best possible father he could be, there was no way he was going to allow Paige back into his heart. Been there, done that. He had the bruises to prove it. He wasn’t going down that road again.
* * *
The Moose Café was packed to the gills with customers. Cameron had really hit the nail on the head when he’d made the decision to open a coffee bar–eatery, Paige marveled as the hum and buzz of the lunch crowd pulsed in the air. The success of the café spoke volumes about Cameron’s work ethic and his ability to tap into the needs of his beloved community. From what she had observed, they’d all given his establishment a huge stamp of approval.
Paige had felt triumph surge through her as she served her first customers of the day. Although she had received a few not-so-pleasant stares, the majority of the townsfolk simply seemed happy to be waited on. Not a single one had declined service from her. A few had even greeted her warmly by name. On occasion she’d caught Cameron staring at her. As soon a
s she met his gaze, he’d glanced away, making her wonder if she’d imagined his scrutiny.
She couldn’t seem to wipe the grin off her face. Paige was certain Cameron didn’t understand one bit of her elation about waitressing at the Moose Café. While he thought she was sure to get her feelings hurt by his patrons, she was regarding it as an opportunity to get back in the swing of things. Before her father had betrayed the town’s trust, the Reynolds family had been popular in Love. She couldn’t remember a time when she hadn’t been treated with warmth and grace by the townsfolk. She had been considered a hometown girl, even though she hadn’t been born in town. A sense of community had been what she had been missing in Seattle.
She looked down at her T-shirt. The big cartoon moose seemed to be laughing at her. No doubt he questioned the wisdom of what she was hoping to achieve here in Love. She let out a giggle, earning herself a few stares from customers. Oh, brother! As if they needed yet another reason to be suspicious of her. Now they might just suspect she was plumb crazy.
“You! Miss Paige Reynolds.” Paige froze at the imperious tone of the woman’s voice calling out her name. She turned her head toward the voice and saw long, weathered hands with fire-engine-red nails beckoning her. Letting out a low groan, she made her way over to the table.
“I almost cannot believe my eyes!” the woman cried out.
Paige had to bite her tongue. The Duchess, Myrtle Maplethorpe, was known for her fantastic, colorful ensembles and her snobby manner, among other things. She was a town gossip and their local historian.
“Mrs. Maplethorpe. How lovely to see you. It’s been such a long time,” Paige said, oozing every ounce of charm she had in her arsenal.
Myrtle peered up at her as if she were examining her for defects. She blinked furiously behind her glasses. “They said you’d come back, but I had to see it with my own eyes.”
With her thick Coke-bottle glasses, she had been long-rumored to be unable to see very much of anything, although she’d had no difficulty spotting Paige. She knew from experience that what the older woman didn’t see with her own eyes she made up with her fanciful imagination. It was important to tread lightly with Myrtle. The last thing she needed in this world was to be the subject of unfounded gossip. From what Paige remembered, Myrtle dished up dirt the way Cameron provided coffee drinks in the café. Hot and steaming.
She forced herself to smile. “Yes, I’m back,” she said, her voice filled with false cheer. Myrtle Maplethorpe had always got under her skin. She was an uncharitable, mean-spirited woman masquerading as a paragon. Paige knew people like this were dangerous.
“And rumor has it you brought a baby back with you,” Myrtle continued in a scandalized tone. She made a tutting sound and shook her head. “I can’t believe you kept that poor child separated from her father for so long.” She arched an eyebrow at Paige. “If he is indeed the father.”
Paige opened her mouth to tell Myrtle that she could take a flying leap off the town pier, as far as she was concerned. All of a sudden Cameron was there standing beside her. His hand reached for her arm in a familiar gesture that was meant to rein her in. “Well, hello there, Myrtle. You’re looking lovely in that purple turban,” Cameron gushed.
Myrtle swatted her hand in his direction. “Oh, stop your flattery. You could charm the birds right out of the trees, Cameron Prescott.” She peeped out at him from over her glasses. “I was just chatting with Paige here about how shockingly she has acted in the secret-baby department. Imagine keeping something so vital from a father who hails from one of Love’s founding families!”
