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Paige released a huge breath. Her features appeared less tense than a few moments ago.
“I think I can live with that,” she said with a nod of her head.
On impulse, he reached out and brushed her hair away from her face. His fingers trailed down her cheek, lingering way longer than they should have. Their eyes held and locked. Tension simmered in the air between them. He took a step closer so that they stood mere inches away from each other. His finger moved toward her lips and he gently traced the outline of them. If he just dipped his head down, their lips could meet in the sweetest of kisses. Just one tender caress might serve as a reminder of everything they had once shared.
The familiar jingle of a bell warned him that they were no longer alone, despite the Closed sign on the front door. A quick turn of his head confirmed that fact.
Paige’s nanny had just crossed the threshold with Emma, who was holding her hand and taking dainty steps beside her. A brown teddy bear, who looked as if he had seen better days, was in her other hand. Although Cameron was tickled at the sight of his daughter teetering toward them, he wished his tender moment with Paige could have lasted longer. He wasn’t sure if he would have followed through with it, but the sudden urge to place a soft kiss on her lips had roared through him just as they had been interrupted.
“Mama,” Emma cried out, lifting her hands up to Paige. The teddy bear fell to the floor. He quickly picked it up and dusted it off on his shirt, then handed it back to Emma, who was now peeping up at him from Paige’s arms.
“Here you go, princess,” Cameron said in a singsong voice.
“Say ‘Thank you, Dada,’” Paige instructed. “Dada picked up Lola Bear.”
Emma frowned at her mother. She shook the bear. “Lola,” she repeated.
“Dada,” Paige said again, then looked at Cameron. “That’s Dada.”
Emma looked away, then burrowed her face into Paige’s chest. Cameron felt a stab of disappointment. At the moment he would give anything to hear Emma call him Daddy. It was amazing how quickly one’s priorities changed once a child came into existence. But he needed to be patient. Children learned at their own time and pace. Such things couldn’t be rushed.
“The wee one is plumb tuckered out. She had a fitful nap earlier,” Fiona explained, stepping forward to pat Emma on the back. Paige swayed from side to side, rocking Emma into slumber.
Cameron found himself transfixed by the sight of mother and daughter sharing such a heartwarming moment. Even though he and Paige were no longer romantically involved, they were still a family.
“I should get her home,” Paige whispered after a few minutes, reaching for her purse.
With a lump in his throat, Cameron said his goodbyes and watched as Paige, Emma and Fiona left the café and headed back to the homestead for the afternoon.
He didn’t quite know how to explain the ache in his chest. It was as if their absence had somehow created a hole inside him that nothing else could fill up. A few days ago the Moose Café and the Prescott family had been the most important things in his world. That was no longer true. As soon as Paige had introduced him to his beautiful little girl, a portion of his heart had no longer been his own. Emma now owned a huge chunk of it. And he had the sneaking suspicion that if he wasn’t careful, her mother might soon lay claim to the rest of it.
Chapter Seven
The weekly meeting for the town of Love was scheduled to start at 6:00 p.m. sharp. As Paige walked down Jarvis Street toward the historic town hall building, she took a few soothing breaths to calm her nerves. Sunlight danced across her face and she found herself feeling thankful for the extended hours of daylight. She couldn’t believe Wednesday had rolled around so quickly. Doubts were beginning to creep in. Was it really a good idea to stand before the council and the residents of Love to lobby for the town to revisit the cannery deal?
Don’t bite off more than you can chew, Paige. That had always been one of her father’s favorite expressions. Ever since she was a little girl, he had warned her against it. More times than not, due to her stubborn nature, she hadn’t heeded his advice. She stood still for a moment and shut her eyes as bittersweet memories washed over her. Her father’s presence was strong in her heart and mind today. The terrible ache of loss was still there, serving as a reminder that the imperfections of human beings didn’t mean they were loved any less. Hate the sin an
d not the sinner.
Keep going. Don’t give up now. His encouraging voice whispered in the wind. Despite everything, she still was holding on to all the good qualities of the man she’d cared for so dearly. Living beyond his means had led him to do a despicable and desperate act. But it couldn’t erase all the good years when he had been her everything. Now it was time for her to work toward allowing him to rest in peace.
Before she knew it, she had reached the town hall. The brick-and-white building was three stories high and one of the oldest landmarks in town. Old-fashioned lampposts graced the sidewalk in front of the building, while Arctic willow shrubs sat by the first-floor windows. Once she stepped inside, gleaming hardwood floors and copper accents jumped out at her. Steeped in history, this building was one of the most ornate in town. A hum of activity emanated from the meeting room down the hall. In order to get to the room, she had to walk the gauntlet of residents who were gathered in the hallway. Some nodded or sent a smile her way, while others began whispering or looked away at the sight of her. The murmurs were a glaring reminder that her reputation in Love was tainted by past events. Even Cameron didn’t fully believe in her. Not in the ways that mattered most.
Lord, please be with me. This meeting is so important for Love’s future. And it would be a huge step forward in providing closure for everyone who was harmed by my father’s greed. Let their minds be open to what I have to say.
Cameron was already seated in the front row when she walked in. She let out the breath she had been holding ever since she had walked into the building. Some of his earlier comments had led her to believe he might stay away tonight. Part of her wouldn’t have blamed him if he had. The first cannery project had brought him more grief and shame than he could ever have anticipated. And he still questioned whether she had been in collusion with her father. She could see the doubts radiating from his eyes now and again.
As if he sensed that she was there, Cameron turned and waved at her, beckoning her over to sit with him.
“I didn’t know if you would be here,” she said once she reached his side, feeling immensely relieved by his strong presence. At the moment she desperately needed to be bolstered.
“I told you I’d come. Despite what I said about not being your ally, I stand behind your proposal. And I won’t hesitate to let folks in town know that I think it’s a no-brainer.”
Gratitude swelled inside her chest. “Thank you. That makes me feel so much better. My nerves are beginning to get the best of me.” She smoothed back a few runaway strands of hair.
Cameron gazed down at her, his handsome features creased with concern.
“Remember what brought you back. Emma and your father’s dying wish. You’re acting in the best interests of this town. Don’t overthink this. I don’t think you can go wrong if you speak from your heart.”
