An Alaskan Christmas

Oliver’s hazel eyes twinkled. “S’mores are my favorite!” he said with a squeal of glee. He turned toward his mother. “Can we please go?”

Maggie reached out and tweaked her son’s nose. “Of course we can. S’mores are my favorite too.”

Finn watched the interaction between mother and son. Their tight bond was evident. He looked away for a moment, casting his gaze at the fishing boats docked by the pier. The boats served as a distraction from the feelings bubbling up inside him. A wave of longing for his own mother washed over him in unrelenting waves. He’d lived without her for almost twenty years, but the pain of her loss still lingered. It still gutted him when he allowed himself to think about it.

He didn’t know why, but lately the memories had been coming at him fast and furiously. And the guilt he felt over her death never seemed to let up.

“Finn!” Hazel called out. “Would you like to join us?”

Finn turned his attention back toward the group. “I have a few things to do, but I’ll meet you over there in a little bit. Don’t worry about the luggage. I’ll bring it over to the Moose.”

“Thanks, Finn,” Maggie said with a nod of her head. “We really appreciate it.”

Finn didn’t say a word in response. He merely nodded his head. Something about seeing Maggie again after all these years made him feel tongue-tied. She was so polished and put together. There was a regal air about her, although she didn’t seem like a snob. She was miles away from the tomboy who’d run around with skinned knees and untied shoelaces. He doubted whether they would even have a single thing in common.

“We’ll see you later then,” Jasper said, clapping Finn on the back.

Hazel clapped her hands together. “Well then. What are we waiting for?” she asked, motioning for everyone to follow her down the pier. Finn watched as they all walked toward Jasper’s car. At one point Oliver turned back toward him and waved. The thoughtful gesture made Finn smile. He waved back at him, getting a kick out of the way the boy’s face lit up with happiness.

Finn was glad they were traveling by car. Even though the Moose Café wasn’t far, the ground was a bit slick from a recent snowfall. Maggie and Oliver weren’t even wearing boots, he thought with a chuckle. Something told him it wouldn’t take either of them long to figure out they were essential for Alaskan winters.

Once he was alone, his mind veered toward the pressing matter at hand—Tobias’s bequest in his will. It couldn’t have come at a better time. For weeks now he’d been in a financial bind. He’d needed to come up with a large amount of cash so he could buy into a partnership in O’Rourke Charters, his brother’s business. So far his part-time job at the docks hadn’t brought in much cash, and his hours spent working for O’Rourke Charters were few and far between. Living in a town recovering from a recession made finding a high-paying gig almost impossible. He was so close to achieving his dream of being his own boss. His financing had been approved, but for a lesser amount than he’d expected or needed.

Tobias had come to the rescue and left him a nice sum of money in his will. Although Tobias had placed a condition on receiving the funds, Finn couldn’t be more thrilled about it. He clenched his jaw. Finn wasn’t too sure how Maggie would feel about working side by side with him. Despite their past friendship, they hadn’t been close in twenty years. The situation could prove to be very awkward. He no longer knew Maggie well enough to predict her reaction.

Just as the group departed in Jasper’s car, another vehicle pulled up to the pier. It took only seconds for Finn to recognize it. He watched as his brother, Declan, got out and walked toward him. With his blond hair and movie-star good looks, Declan radiated charm. Until he’d married his wife, Annie, he’d been known around town as something of a ladies’ man. Now he was enjoying the white picket fence and impending fatherhood. Although he was happy for Declan, Finn couldn’t help but feel envious. That type of life wasn’t meant for him.

“How’d it go?” Declan asked in an overly casual voice.

“Fine. Like always,” Finn said in a curt voice. He didn’t know why it bothered him so much to have Declan constantly checking on him. His brother must trust him since he employed him as one of his pilots. Yet, time and again, he gave Finn the feeling he was constantly peering over his shoulder. As the older brother, it didn’t sit right with Finn. After all, for most of their young lives Declan had followed in his footsteps.

That was a long time ago, he reminded himself. Before he’d let Declan know he couldn’t count on him.

Declan rocked back on his heels. “That’s good,” he said, quirking his mouth. Finn knew well enough by his brother’s expression something was brewing. Declan was now shifting from one foot to another and clenching his teeth.

“What’s going on? I know you didn’t come down here just to say hello. Give it to me straight.”

Declan quirked his mouth. “I need to firm up my plans regarding O’Rourke Charters. I know you said you were in, but I’m going to have to draw up contracts and take the final payment from you. Business has slid a bit even with the second plane, so I’d like to get moving on the purchase of a third one. I need for us to get moving on this partnership and secure more financing, as well as getting this infusion of cash from you.”

Declan had been in a plane crash over a year ago. As a result, one of his planes—Lucy—had been damaged beyond repair. Because Declan had been trying to save money on his premiums on his insurance payments, he had reduced his coverage months before the crash. As a result, the policy hadn’t fully covered the damages. Declan had managed to purchase a gently used seaplane a few months ago, but the company had taken a loss while operating with only one plane. Now his brother had his eye on a third plane in order to expand the business. Finn couldn’t blame him for wanting to secure his company’s future. Declan gave Finn flying hours as often as he could, but until he bought into O’Rourke Charters and they purchased another seaplane, Finn wouldn’t be hired on as a salaried pilot. His dream of co-ownership would be on hold.

Finn scratched his jaw. “I know I’ve put you in a bind and I’m sorry about it.”

Declan cut him off. “Finn, I’m not blaming you for not getting all the financing you needed, but I’ve been as patient as I can for the last few months. The bottom line is I’ve got to make some serious decisions about the future of O’Rourke Charters. If you want to join forces, I’m going to need us to sign a contract and have you make a substantial contribution to buy your way into the business.”

“Declan, I’ll be honest with you. I wasn’t sure how I was going to come up with the last portion, but my prayers have been answered.” Finn reached into his jacket pocket and pulled out the paperwork he’d received yesterday afternoon.

“What’s this?” Declan asked as Finn handed him the documents.

“I got a visit yesterday from Lee Jamison. He’s the executor for Tobias’s will.” He shook his head, still in disbelief over his windfall. “Believe it or not, Tobias left me a nice-sized sum of money.”

Declan raised a brow. His eyes scanned the paperwork. He let out a low whistle as he swung his gaze up to meet Finn’s. “Tobias was mighty generous. You know what this means right? There are conditions.”

Finn nodded. “Yes. I’ll have to help Maggie get the shop ready for its grand opening, then help her get it up and running for a total period of no less than four weeks. At such time the shop successfully opens, then I’ll get my inheritance.” Finn repeated the terminology he’d memorized from the paperwork. “Then I can buy my way into O’Rourke Charters.”

Declan let out a hearty chuckle. He slapped Finn on the back. “I can’t believe it!” He grinned at Finn. “You always do land on your feet.”

“Not always,” Finn said, “but thanks to Tobias, we’re going to be partners.”

More than anything, Finn wanted to be a co-owner of O’Rourke Charters. He wanted it more than he’d desired anything in his life. For so long he had denied how great it felt to be up in the wild blue yonder flying a plane. But he couldn’t stuff it down any longer. It was where he was meant to be and being a pilot was his destiny. From the very first time his grandfather had taken him up in the air and let him fly the plane, Finn had been a goner. Killian had told him it was his destiny. Being co-owner of O’Rourke Charters would give him stability and respectability. It would give him a purpose. It would allow him the opportunity to live out a lifelong dream. And even though his grandfather wasn’t around any longer, perhaps he could still make him proud.

“Four weeks will be fine,” Declan said with a nod. “I can work with that.”

Finn grinned at his brother. It felt as if a huge weight had been lifted off his shoulders. “I appreciate it. And I’m not going to let you down this time. I promise.”

“You better not,” Declan said, his blue eyes flashing a warning. Finn knew he was referencing the countless times Finn had bailed on him in the past. Not this time, he vowed. He was no longer the man he used to be. Finn liked to believe he’d grown and matured over the past few years. He wasn’t walking away from things anymore. Finn was done with running away from home and everything he held dear.

Declan turned back toward him. “I’m really happy for you, Finn. And for our future partnership. I really do want this to work out.”

“Me too,” Finn murmured as Declan turned away and continued back down the pier. Once his brother was out of earshot, Finn murmured, “Things are going to work out. They have to.”

Now all he had to do was explain his inheritance from Tobias to Maggie and break it to her about the stipulation requiring him to work side by side with her at Keepsakes. Finn let out a deep breath. He wasn’t sure what he would do if she objected. Would he still be eligible for his inheritance if she declined his help? His whole future now hung in the balance.

Chapter Two

Maggie found herself smiling as they pulled up in front of the Moose Café. As they’d driven down Jarvis Street, with its old-fashioned charm and festive holiday decorations, the quaint downtown area of Love had captivated her. Although she’d visited on three occasions as a child, her favorite had been during Christmastime. She’d been overjoyed to experience the town decked out in all its holiday glory. Those same feelings were rising up within her at this very moment. Nostalgia warmed her insides.

A fully decorated Christmas tree sat on the town green while pine wreaths and red ribbons graced every lamppost lining the street corners. This town was getting ready for the holiday, even though it was a month away.

She’d been a little surprised to see Uncle Tobias’s shop all shuttered up as they drove by. It stood out amid all the other festively decorated shops. Keepsakes looked abandoned and neglected. Maggie didn’t bother to point it out to Oliver. She didn’t want him to be disappointed so soon after their arrival.

Poor Uncle Tobias, she thought. He had loved his shop so much. How she wished things hadn’t been so tumultuous in her own life for such a long time. Perhaps she could have relocated to Love a year ago and helped out her uncle. Once Maggie entered the Moose Café alongside Jasper, Hazel and Oliver, the tinkling sound of the bell above the doorway welcomed her. As soon as she crossed the threshold, she noticed sprigs of holly dangling down from the ceiling. The interior of the establishment was decked out in Christmas decorations. Wreaths. A fully trimmed Christmas tree sitting in a corner. She noticed all of the waitstaff were wearing T-shirts with moose on them. Delectable odors assaulted her senses. Her stomach began to grumble, serving as a reminder that they hadn’t eaten in several hours. And she wasn’t sure the quick snack of pretzels and fruit they’d grabbed at the Anchorage airport even counted.

Oliver—her finicky eater—often needed to be encouraged to eat more. As it was, he practically lived on pizza, french fries and chicken nuggets. She looked down at him, eager to know his feelings at every point in their journey.

“This place is cool!” Oliver said, his voice brimming with enthusiasm. Maggie felt herself heave a little sigh of relief. It was so very important that Oliver embrace their new hometown. Maggie didn’t think things would work out in Love if her son wasn’t happy. After all he’d been through, Oliver deserved to be joyful.

And so do I, she reminded herself. Oliver wasn’t the only one who had been put through the wringer. As a mother it was easy to ignore her own needs, but she vowed to do better at being a more content, well-rounded person.

Maggie followed the trail of her son’s gaze. He was looking at a pair of antlers hanging on the wall. He couldn’t seem to take his eyes off them. Although the vibe of the Moose Café was rustic and a bit on the masculine side, Maggie could see a few feminine touches. Red-and-white carnations sat on each table. Soft, romantic paintings hung on the walls. It gave the establishment a nice, eclectic atmosphere.

“Thanks for the thumbs-up.” A deep male voice heralded the appearance of a chocolate-haired, green-eyed man. He greeted them with a warm smile and patted Oliver on the back. “Those antlers are pretty awesome, aren’t they?”

Oliver bobbed his head up and down in agreement. He flashed the man a gap-toothed smile.

“Cameron!” Jasper called out, addressing the dark-haired man. “We need a table for four, please.” He gestured toward Maggie and Oliver. “This is Tobias’s niece, Maggie Richards. You two might have met back when Maggie visited Love as a child.” Jasper flashed her another pearly smile. “Maggie, this is my grandson, Cameron Prescott. He owns this delightful establishment.” Pride rang out in Jasper’s voice.

Cameron stuck out his hand by way of greeting. “Nice to see you again after all these years. It’s been a long time. I’m happy to hear you’ll be opening up Keepsakes soon.”

“It’s wonderful to be back,” Maggie said. “And I’m very excited about the shop. Oliver and I have been very blessed by Uncle Tobias.” Maggie didn’t even have the words to express her gratitude about this opportunity. Her heart was filled almost to overflowing.

Maggie had vowed to be more courageous in her life. Fear had always been such a stumbling block. It was one of the reasons she’d stayed with Sam for so long and put up with his run-ins with the law and his inability to hold a job.

If anyone had told her a year ago that she would move to Alaska in order to run her uncle’s shop, Maggie never would have believed them.

“And we’re very grateful to have you back in Love,” Hazel added. It had been Hazel who had called Maggie to tell her about her uncle’s death. Then weeks later she’d called again to direct her to call the executor of her uncle’s estate to inquire about her inheritance.

Upon hearing all the details about her inheritance, Maggie wanted to pinch herself. In one fell swoop, her entire life had changed. She grinned at Hazel. Maggie couldn’t believe she was standing next to the impressive woman who had created the genuine Alaskan Lovely boots that had taken the country by storm. Uncle Tobias had told her all about Hazel’s creation of the boots and the way the town of Love had set up a business to mass-produce them.

Maggie couldn’t really put her gratitude into words without explaining about the major losses she’d endured and the shameful circumstances of Sam’s death. It had cost her everything she’d worked so hard to build for her family. And she couldn’t afford to talk about it to anyone in this town. She’d uprooted her entire life in order to start over here in Love. And she wasn’t going to tarnish it by revealing her deepest, darkest shame.

Maggie wanted to be respected in this town. She wanted her son to be free of any stigma.

Maggie felt a tug on her sleeve. “Mommy. Can I go over to the jukebox?” She looked down at Oliver, who was pointing toward a tomato-red jukebox sitting in the corner of the room.

“Why don’t I show you how it works?” Cameron suggested. “Make yourselves comfortable at any table you like.”

Cameron walked away with Oliver at his side. Maggie watched them for a moment, feeling wistful about the lack of men in her son’s life. It made her ache to remember how many nights Oliver had cried himself to sleep over his father.

“Tobias told us about the loss of your husband when it happened. He was heartbroken for you and Oliver.” Jasper turned toward her and cleared his throat. “Maggie, Pastor Jack told us about the tragic circumstances.”

Maggie felt her eyes widening. A wild thumping began in her chest. The jig was up. Her secret had been exposed. “How did he know about it?”

“He contacted the pastor at your church to find out if we could do anything to make your transition to Love any easier. Although we already knew you were a widow, we didn’t know the specifics.”

“W-what did Pastor Baxter tell him?” she asked, her heart in her throat. Lord, please don’t let everyone here in Love know already about Sam holding up the grocery store. I want to protect my son. He’s innocent in all of this. It will be just like back home all over again. Name-calling. Finger-pointing. Judgment.

Jasper looked at her with sad eyes. “He told Pastor Jack that your husband was killed in a grocery store holdup.” He made a tutting sound. “It’s so very tragic for your family.” He began patting her on the back.

Maggie felt her shoulders slump in relief. She felt horrible for allowing this version of the story to go unchallenged, but for Oliver’s sake she had to keep quiet. He’d endured enough. And he was just a little boy. She couldn’t let the sins of the father be visited on the son.

“Grief is a process, Maggie. We know you’re probably still trying to wrap your head around such a profound loss.” Jasper’s blue eyes became misty. “Never fear. We’re here for you. We’re going to make sure y’all have a joyful holiday season.”

“Thank you, Jasper. I feel very blessed to receive such a warm welcome here in Love.” Maggie blinked several times, doing her best to hold back the tide of tears.

Suddenly, Oliver came racing to her side. “Mom. Sophie said I can go in the kitchen and make my own pizza.”

Sophie—the beautiful, Titian-haired waitress standing behind Oliver—was smiling down at her son as if he’d hung the moon. This town really was full of genuinely kind folks.

“Oliver is going to help me make a masterpiece,” Sophie said with a grin. The Southern twang and the red-and-white Santa hat perched on her head only made her appear more adorable, Maggie realized.

“That sounds like fun,” Jasper said with a nod. “I think I’m going to come with you and take some notes so I can whip up a pizza at home.”

Hazel let out a groan. “That’s all I need,” she groused. “I can already smell the burned pizza.”

Jasper scowled at Hazel.

“Come on, Jasper,” Oliver said, tugging at the mayor’s sleeve.

The look etched on Oliver’s face said it all. There hadn’t been a lot of smiles or laughter in the last year. Lately, Oliver had begun to turn a corner, but his grief had been all consuming for such a long period of time. He had shrunken down into a quieter, less joyful version of himself. Maggie wanted the old Oliver back, the one who laughed with abandon and didn’t seem afraid of the world around him. With Christmas coming in four weeks, she wanted Oliver to experience the wonder of an Alaskan Christmas.

At least for the moment her son seemed to be over the moon. She prayed this new adventure didn’t get old. Love, Alaska, was a small, quaint town where everyone knew each other. Maybe over time they would be embraced by the townsfolk.

Once Oliver headed toward the kitchen with Jasper and Sophie, Hazel turned toward Maggie. Compassion flared in her eyes.

“There’s no need to fret, Maggie. I’m the only one here in town who knows the truth about the holdup. And I’m not about to share your personal business with anyone, not even my husband,” Hazel said in a reassuring tone. “It’s not my story to tell.”

Maggie looked over her shoulder to make sure no one might overhear her conversation. “Thank you, Hazel. I appreciate you keeping it in confidence. I really don’t want everyone to know Sam was killed while holding up the store,” Maggie said in a soft voice. “I just want a clean slate.”

Hazel reached out and patted her on the shoulder. “Everyone deserves a shot at getting their life back on track. God loves you, Maggie. And pretty soon, this whole town will consider you and Oliver as one of our own.”

One of our own. Just the idea of it caused tears to pool in Maggie’s eyes. It was the very thing she hoped to establish for her son here in Love. She let out a sigh. Hazel knew her shameful secret, but thankfully she wasn’t going to divulge it to anyone.

Rather than being an innocent victim, her husband, Sam, had been the gunman holding up the grocery store. And he’d been shot in the process, losing his life and making their son fatherless. The ensuing media attention had been a vicious whirlwind. Maggie had been the recipient of hate mail, harassing phone calls and even a few death threats. She had been fired from her job and they had lost their housing.

This opportunity for a fresh start was a blessing from God. And Uncle Tobias. He had loved Maggie so much he’d laid out all the groundwork for her to rebuild her life in his hometown.

Most people wouldn’t believe it, but Maggie had been totally clueless about Sam’s illegal activities. In the end, she had paid dearly for believing in her husband. For loving him so much she’d had blinders on.

“Never again,” she murmured to herself as Hazel led her toward a table. In her humble opinion, love led to hurt and pain, loss and disillusionment. She had no interest in going down that road again. She was going to focus on her son and his well-being. She would be both mother and father for Oliver. Maggie wouldn’t be looking for love in this small fishing village.

Romance could go knock on someone else’s door.

Chapter Three

By the time Finn made his way to the Moose Café, his stomach was grumbling like a grizzly bear. Even though he was short on money these days, his belly hadn’t gotten the message.

Finn tried to stuff down the feelings of frustration with himself. In many ways it felt as if the past year had been about starting over from scratch. Although he had made positive strides, he was still miles away from where he wanted to be in his life. He couldn’t help but envy Declan.

While he’d been backpacking his way around the country and avoiding any hint of responsibility, Declan had been building up his company and cementing his ties here in Love. Now his younger brother was a newlywed and soon-to-be father. For a man like himself, who had always rejected the notion of settling down, Declan’s life looked pretty idyllic.

You’re not cut out for all that, he reminded himself. It would all just fall apart, just like everything else.

Finn smiled at the reindeer-and-candy-cane wreath gracing the door of Cameron’s establishment. He knew his friend had a zany sense of humor. Everyone in town had gone holiday crazy right after Thanksgiving, even though Christmas was still a few weeks away. He sauntered into the Moose Café, eager to grab a bite to eat. Although his stomach urged him to order a big meal, he knew his budget wouldn’t allow it. Every extra nickel he had would go into his savings account.

The moment he entered Cameron’s establishment, a warm feeling came over him. Even though the food was stellar, Finn knew he frequented the Moose Café for the cozy, down-home atmosphere. It was a feeling he’d been seeking his entire life but hadn’t yet found on a personal level. A place to call home.

The sound of hearty laughter drew his attention to a table dead center in the dining area. His eyes went straight toward Maggie. She was laughing and he could see the graceful slope of her neck as she reared her head back.