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“I fell in love with him.”
Roger let out a sigh. “Finally. I’ve been waiting for this day for what seems like an eternity.”
Sophie let out a hollow-sounding laugh. “I always thought love would lift me up. And it did for a while. But now it’s as if someone ripped off my rose-colored glasses and forced me to see reality.”
“Reality being that Noah was hired by John to watch you?”
Sophie nodded. “And romance me.”
There was a huge lump in her throat. It still felt agonizing to know Noah was so calculating and sneaky.
Her father held up his hand. “I’m not sure I believe that. I saw the way he looked at you, spoke to you. Why would he continue to plead his case after his cover was blown? At that point the jig was up. He wasn’t going to gain anything by doing that. And if he was just in it for the money, why was he at odds with John?”
Something flickered inside Sophie as she listened to her father’s logical assessment. She so wanted to believe in Noah. Her pulse began to race and she felt a kernel of hope blossoming inside her. She shut her eyes tightly and shook her head. “I’m not going to tie all of my hopes and dreams on a maybe, Daddy. Noah had many opportunities to come clean with me, but he blew it.”
“So this adventure in Alaska...is it over?”
Over. The thought of leaving Love permanently was an unsettling one. “I have to go back there tomorrow. Jasper and Hazel are two of my closest friends. They’re getting married in a few days and I’m a bridesmaid.” For the first time in four days, Sophie grinned. Just the thought of seeing her dear friends tie the knot caused a groundswell of emotion to rise up inside her. She wouldn’t miss their special day for anything in this world. “It won’t be easy to face everybody, but I’m determined to be strong.”
“What about Noah?”
Sophie scoffed. “I’m sure he’s left Love by now. After all, he’s not really a cook. And there’s nothing left for him there now that his assignment is over.”
Her father leaned over and placed a kiss on her cheek. “I’ll support you no matter what you decide to do. Promise me one thing, Peaches.”
“Sure thing.”
“Make sure you keep a clear head and an open heart.”
Tears misted Sophie’s eyes. Her father was being sentimental and so incredibly loving. He had given her a soft place to fall over the past few days. She nodded her head instead of answering. She wasn’t certain she could hold it together long enough to reply. At the moment she didn’t know up from down. All she knew was that it was going to take a really long time to get over Noah Catalano.
* * *
The very next day, Sophie was on her way back to Alaska. After flying to Anchorage, she was met at the airport by O’Rourke Charters. She was now on her way to Love. She peered out of the window of Declan’s seaplane and admired the stunning Alaskan landscape. Butterflies soared in her stomach as the beloved fishing village came into view. The craggy mountains and the glistening waters of Kachemak Bay made her eyes moisten with emotion. Sophie placed her face against the glass and smiled as the snow-dusted fir trees came into view.
As they began their descent, she felt her excitement building. It was almost as exciting as the very first time she’d flown into town. This time, too, Declan landed the plane on the water with incredible finesse. Sophie barely felt a thing.
As soon as they disembarked, she asked him for a favor. She needed to see Hazel. “Declan, I need a ride to the Black Bear Cabins. Can you swing me over there?”
He flashed her a brilliant smile. “Anything for you, Sophie. It’s sure good to see you back where you belong. And right in time for the wedding tomorrow.”
Sophie grinned at him. In spite of everything, it felt good to be here. She had no idea if she was back in town for keeps or simply sticking around long enough to be a part of Jasper and Hazel’s wedding. How could she remain in Love when there would be so many memories of Noah everywhere she looked? Wouldn’t it be better to go back to New York City and work on her relationship with her father?
Declan dropped her at the main lodge, sending her off with a wave and a promise to see her at the wedding. Sophie walked up the steps toward Hazel’s front door. She stood on the porch for a few minutes, suddenly feeling awkward. What if Hazel rejected her? What if she was angry Sophie hadn’t told the whole truth about her origins?
No! Sophie knew her friend better than that. She was the most accepting woman in the world. If anyone would have her back it would be Hazel. Sophie rapped insistently on the door. Although Hazel had an open-door policy, Sophie knew her appearance might be a surprise.
When the door swung open, Hazel greeted her with a loud shriek. She wrapped her up in a gigantic bear hug and almost squeezed the life out of her. Then she tugged on her coat sleeve. “Come on inside. You had me scared you might miss my wedding, although my gut told me you never would.”
“I’m sorry I left so abruptly. Everything happened all at once. I barely knew if I was coming or going,” Sophie explained.
“Oh, pish tosh!” Hazel said with a dismissive wave of her hand. “You don’t have to explain a single thing to me, although I would have loved knowing about your connection to Java Giant. The Moose Café could have benefited from a few pointers.” Hazel winked at her. “And now I know why you took to being a barista so quickly. You were a ringer!”
Sophie let out a sigh of relief. “I came here looking for a fresh start. I should have told you my real name ages ago. Forgive me, Hazel.”
“There’s nothing to forgive.” Her friend reached out and gently shook her.
“Thanks for saying so.” Sophie felt as if a huge weight had been lifted off her shoulders.
