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“You won’t believe what happened while you were gone!” Hazel’s voice sounded almost like a shriek.
“At this point I’ll believe anything,” Sophie said, her own voice dripping with sarcasm.
“Guess who came back to Love day before yesterday?” Hazel didn’t wait for her to answer. “Marta! She came back with a story about a sick relative and a reading of a will.” Hazel rolled her eyes. “Long story short—she asked for her job back at the Moose Café. And Cameron agreed, since Noah—” Hazel stopped talking midsentence. She clapped a hand over her mouth. “Sorry to bring up his name, Soph.”
Sophie tried to shake it off as if it didn’t bother her. “No worries. I’m glad the Moose Café has a cook now. I hated the idea of leaving you high and dry with the waitressing.”
“We understood your predicament. Honor and Grace came in to cover some shifts. We made do.” Hazel locked eyes with her. “Have you spoken to Noah at all? I noticed you haven’t been answering your cell phone.”
“No. I haven’t. I can’t.” Her hair tumbled about her shoulders as she fiercely shook her head. “I came back for the wedding. Nothing else.”
Hazel clapped her hands together. “Speaking of the wedding, I’ve got lots to do before tomorrow morning. I could use a bridesmaid’s help.”
“Whatever you need, I’m at your service,” Sophie said, bowing to Hazel as if she were royalty.
“Let’s get to it, then,” she exclaimed. “I’ve got my final gown fitting and I need to check in with Gracie and make sure Jasper got the marriage license.” She threw up her hands. “It will be a wonder if I get it all done.”
Sophie spent the remainder of the day helping Hazel with the final wedding details. As she made her way all over town, she was met with support and love. Not a single person denounced her for keeping her heritage a secret. One local wanted to know if a Java Giant would be opening in Love. Sophie had been happy to tell her it wasn’t going to happen. Cameron had worked hard to build up the Moose Café. He certainly didn’t need a huge corporation to come in and steal his thunder.
At Hazel’s request, Sophie stayed over with her at the lodge. Early the next morning all the bridesmaids convened at Hazel’s house. Not one of them peppered Sophie with questions about Noah or her unexpected exit from town. Nor did they ask her a single thing about being the heiress to the Java Giant fortune. It made Sophie realize that she might just have the very best friends in the world.
When it was time, they drov
e with Hazel to the church, where they helped her get dressed in her beautiful gown. They complimented her and took pictures with their phones and cameras. Hazel said she had never felt so lovely.
As the wedding march played, Hazel walked down the aisle with as much elegance as a queen. She looked stunning in her blush-colored gown. Sophie walked behind her with the rest of the bridesmaids. The church was filled to the rafters with townsfolk. It was a virtual sea of people—sitting, standing, pouring out of the church. Sophie couldn’t believe her eyes when she spotted Dwight holding hands with Marta and looking deliriously happy.
Jasper stood at the altar with his groomsmen beside him, looking as proud as a peacock. His chest was puffed out and the smile etched on his wizened face was gigantic.
He stepped forward to meet Hazel. Tears fell from his eyes as he said, “Thank you for joining me on this journey, my love.”
Pastor Jack began the wedding ceremony by inviting Hazel and Jasper to step forward to the altar. Sophie sat raptly and listened to every word, every nuance. It felt as if love was vibrating from every corner and pew of the church.
“You may now recite your own vows,” Pastor Jack announced, nodding at Jasper to begin.
Jasper reached into his pocket and took out a handkerchief. He dabbed at his eyes. “Hazel. I’ve given you a lot of guff over the years. It took me way too long to recognize you as my life partner and not just as my best friend. You are an exceptional woman. Generous. Loving. And probably the kindest woman I’ve ever known. I’m not sure if a grumpy old man like me deserves a woman as fine as you, but I’m determined to spend the rest of my life making sure you know the depths of my love for you.”
Hazel reached out and smoothed her hand across Jasper’s cheek. “My sweet Jasper. Even when you’re grumpy and out of sorts, I always know that your heart is as wide as Kachemak Bay. There isn’t anything you wouldn’t do for the people you love. You’re loyal and loving and true blue. And I can’t imagine loving anyone more than I love you.”
At Pastor Jack’s urging, they exchanged rings. “I now pronounce you husband and wife,” the pastor announced with a flourish. “You may kiss your lovely bride, Jasper.”
As she watched the bride and groom exchange a tender kiss, tears ran down Sophie’s face and she felt as if her heart had swelled to ten times its original size. There was so much love inside this church that it threatened to reduce her to a puddle of tears. This couple was living proof of the existence of love and the glory of God.
When she began walking down the aisle behind the bride and groom and the rest of the bridal party, she realized she’d left her bouquet in the pew. Once she retrieved it, she turned to head back down the aisle. Noah was standing in front of her, almost as if he had materialized from thin air.
Sophie let out a low moan. She wanted to pivot around and run in the other direction, but she didn’t want to give him the satisfaction of knowing he’d rattled her. She wanted to display a small measure of dignity. He’d broken her heart, but she was still standing.
“Sophie.” The raw edge in Noah’s voice made her shiver. He sounded like she felt. In pain. A little bit broken.
“I—I have to go,” she whispered, tearing her eyes away from the sight of him. In his dark suit and tie, he looked spiffy and way too handsome for his own good. She made an attempt to get past him, but he reached out and tenderly grasped her wrist, lightly enough that she could have easily released herself.
“Please don’t go. I need to talk to you.”
She shook her head. “There’s nothing more to say. None of it was real. Don’t you think I know that?”
“I love you. That’s as real as it gets. When I accepted the job, you were nothing but a name on a piece of paper. I took the assignment out of sheer desperation.” He winced. “My security company in Seattle is having financial problems and this was my big opportunity to rescue it and keep my employees on the payroll. I should have seen the warning signs with John, but I didn’t. In the beginning I thought you were the person he made you out to be—cold, calculating and disloyal. But during my time here in Love I got to know you, Sophie, and I realized you were the real deal.”
Sophie began to cry. She put her hands up to her face and sobbed. She wanted to believe Noah so badly, but with a past littered with people who’d used and betrayed her, she wasn’t sure she could. She couldn’t stand the idea of being hurt again by Noah.
