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Tears slid down Paige’s face and he resisted the urge to brush them away. Honesty came at a price, he realized. He’d hurt Paige by giving her the truthful answers she’d been seeking. All he wanted to do in this moment was take her into his arms and hold her against his chest to soothe her tears. He took a halting step forward, then stopped.
Did he still have the right to comfort her?
“But I didn’t know his whereabouts. I promise you. He told me nothing,” Paige insisted. “It wasn’t until months later that he showed up in Seattle telling me he had only a few months to live. I took him in because he was sick and dying and remorseful. No matter what he had done, I forgave him in that moment. I extended grace to him, knowing his life was ebbing away with every breath he took. So if I’m guilty of anything, it’s that. For giving my father a place to stay and for taking care of him instead of turning him in to the authorities. I admit that I did those things.”
Years ago, even months ago, he would have felt scornful about Paige’s explanation for harboring her father. But now, after holding his own daughter in his arms, all he felt was compassion. For a daughter who had a generous heart and a man who knew his time in this world had been coming to an end. And what an end it had been for Robert. Ravaged by cancer and vilified for being a thief and a liar. He wouldn’t wish that kind of downfall on any human being, especially not a man who had taught him so much about life.
“I can’t fault you for loving your father,” Cameron blurted out. “I’m glad you could provide him comfort in his final weeks.”
Paige’s eyes widened. She wasn’t the only one shocked by his statement. He’d managed to surprise himself with the admission. Mere days ago he wouldn’t have been able to say these words. His resentment toward Robert and Paige had been too strong and too ingrained in his very being.
Once Paige had stepped foot back in Love with his daughter, something had shifted inside him. Talking to Boone earlier had cemented it. Paige might very well
be innocent. He was no longer certain of her culpability. Two years ago there had been such a frenzy over Robert Reynolds and the embezzled money that everyone in Love had wanted to place blame. Paige had been the perfect scapegoat. He had to own his part in it. Rather than shout down the accusations, he had been so twisted up inside by Robert’s betrayal that he’d allowed himself to believe in Paige’s guilt. And he realized now that she had paid the ultimate price for her father’s crimes.
“Since you came back, I’ve been racking my brain trying to figure things out. It shames me to admit that I made assumptions about you, Paige. You were as much a victim as everybody else in this town. Maybe even more. You were driven out of your hometown based on suspicions and accusations. Because of what happened, you lost faith in your father. And that’s a terrible thing. I’ve been down that road myself with both my parents. I know what a kick in the gut it is.”
“I wish that I could say I understand completely, but I don’t,” Paige said in a low voice. “We loved each other. You were the other half of me. How could you have forgotten what we meant to each other?”
Cameron clenched his teeth. “I didn’t forget. I’ve never forgotten. Not then. Not now. I allowed my suspicions and anger to color my view of things. I’ll have to live with my colossal mistake, and someday I’ll have to explain it to Emma.”
Paige’s chin trembled. She looked down and fumbled with her fingers. “I wasn’t treated fairly by you or this town. I’m glad you are able to acknowledge that you were wrong. I hope one day soon the town will be able to recognize that I was innocent of wrongdoing. I want that for myself, but also for our daughter.”
Cameron had no idea if the townsfolk were at a point where they could see the error in their judgment of her. After believing Paige to be guilty for so long, it felt a little strange to let it all go. But, he had to admit, he felt as if a mighty weight had been lifted from his shoulders.
“For the time being I think we should focus on Emma and your idea for the cannery,” he suggested.
Paige nodded. “I agree. It would be wonderful if everyone in town rallies around moving forward with that project.”
Cameron couldn’t help but chuckle. So far Paige was proving to be very determined in her quest. As far as she was concerned, all roads led back to the cannery.
“What’s so funny?” she asked, a slight scowl marring her stunning features.
How had he forgotten that Paige hated to be laughed at? It was a pet peeve of hers that went all the way back to her teenage years.
He held up his hands. “I’m not laughing at you, but your persistence reminds me of that feisty fifteen-year-old girl who wouldn’t rest until Love declared a special day for snowy owls.”
Paige let out a low chuckle that seemed to emanate from deep inside her. She raised her hand to her mouth as if self-conscious. “I thought they deserved some recognition. They are unbelievably beautiful and underappreciated.”
Cameron grinned as memories of Paige’s snowy-owl campaign trickled through his mind. She had been full of passion and grit and dedication. And her efforts had paid off. To this day, the town had an annual “show some love to snowy owls” day. All thanks to Paige. It served as a reminder that this woman was capable of making incredible things happen by sheer will and determination. For the first time since she’d brought up the topic, he was beginning to believe that the cannery project might actually get off the ground.
“I’ve always loved snowy owls. I still do. And so does your daughter.”
Your daughter. The shock in hearing those words was beginning to wear off. All he felt now was a fierce desire to get to know Emma.
“In a few weeks they’ll be back in Alaska for breeding season. Maybe Emma would like to go out to the Nottingham Woods and catch a glimpse of them.”
Paige nodded. The corners of her lips turned upward into a radiant smile that traveled straight through him. “That would be great. I know she would be pleased with any kind of outing.”
“I want to get to know her. Her favorite color. What she likes to eat. The things that make her cry.” He felt a pang at the realization that he didn’t know very much about his own daughter. All he knew for certain was that he wanted to discover every last fact about her. Her birthday. Did she like puppies?
“Forgive me for robbing you of those answers,” Paige said. Her hazel eyes were full of regret. “If I’d told you about Emma sooner, you’d already know all those things. For starters, Emma loves pink. And her birthday is December 5th. The sound of thunder makes her cry. And she loves pancakes.”
He couldn’t dwell on all the lost moments. All he could do was focus on what lay ahead. Hopefully, a lifetime as Emma’s dutiful, doting father.
The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. The verse from Corinthians served as reassurance of the path he was walking on. There was no more time for holding on to bitterness.
“I think it’s safe to say that we both want what’s beneficial for Emma. The best way to give her that is to give ourselves a clean slate with each other. We need to put the past firmly behind us.” And in doing so, they would be cementing a bright and happy future for their child. Recriminations would only serve to hurt her. His own childhood living under the roof of two feuding parents had caused him more pain than he could ever adequately express with words. Emma’s life would not be marred by friction and discord.
