Page 11 of An Alaskan Twin Surprise (Home to Owl Creek 2)

Rachel smiled as she lovingl

y looked at her girls. “They’re two peas in a pod. They are very different personality-wise, but I think it’s safe to say they’ll be best friends.” She let out a sigh. “I hope they’ll always have each other’s back.”

Gabriel thought of his own four siblings. Although his older sister Tabitha was the only one who still lived in Owl Creek, they were all still close. Growing up in a large, tight-knit family had always made him want to have his own big, bustling clan. At the moment it seemed as if that particular dream was way out of his reach. He’d have to settle for being an uncle to Tabitha’s soon-to-be child, who was expected in a few weeks.

“And what about their father?” Helene asked with a raised brow. “Shouldn’t he have their backs as well?” She paused to take a lengthy sip of her tea.

For a moment the table became very quiet. Tension flared in the air. Suddenly, Gabriel wished he’d declined the invitation to share afternoon tea with mother and daughter. Somehow he had forgotten how quickly things tended to spiral out of control between them. It was turning into an incredibly awkward situation.

Gabriel darted a glance in Rachel’s direction. Her cheeks were turning pink. “Mama...please!” she said in a sharp voice. “I already told you, he’s not in their lives or mine. He didn’t want to be a father and he made it abundantly clear to me he had no intention of being a part of raising them.” Her brows were knitted together as she shot Helene a glare. “It’s not something I want to discuss any further. Anything the girls will ever want or need, I can provide for them.”

Helene made a tutting sound. “What kind of man walks out on his children and doesn’t take responsibility for the lives he created?” Gabriel was pretty much wondering the same thing, but he would never add fuel to the fire by saying so.

“That’s enough, Mama,” Rachel cautioned in a stern voice.

He could practically see the steam coming out of her ears. Helene was pushing her daughter to the point of no return. It would only be a matter of time before Rachel lost her composure. She was like a slow-heating kettle when it came to her emotions.

“I would love to know Gabriel’s opinion on the matter,” Helene said, her gaze focused on him like laser beams. She raised a questioning eyebrow in his direction.

“It’s none of my business,” he replied in a curt tone. He wasn’t interested in being dragged into such a personal matter. Besides, Gabriel didn’t want to know the nitty-gritty details of Rachel’s love life. “If you’ll excuse me, I really should be getting back to work.” He abruptly stood up from the table and said, “Thanks for the tea. Much appreciated,” before beating a fast path away from the kitchen.

With every step he took, he felt anger pulsing in his veins. He felt nothing but disgust toward any man who walked away from his responsibilities. Fatherhood was a precious gift. A blessing from God. Who wouldn’t embrace it? It infuriated him for those two precious little girls who were innocent victims of their father’s selfishness. Rachel’s beautiful face flashed before his eyes. The thought of a man not wanting to be with her stunned him. For so long it was all he’d ever wanted or needed.

Life wasn’t fair. He would have done anything, sacrificed it all to be with her. But she hadn’t wanted him, had she? She’d chosen a different life for herself, one that had brought two beautiful babies into her world, along with a man who hadn’t been built for the long haul. Gabriel didn’t know why it bothered him so much. Rachel wasn’t his woman anymore. Their lives were miles and miles apart from the days when they’d finished each other’s sentences and shared their dreams under a sky full of stars.

Shouldn’t a part of him feel satisfaction that she’d gotten burned after what she’d done to him? But the truth was, he didn’t feel one ounce of pleasure in learning about Rachel’s setbacks.

Matter of fact, it made him feel things he didn’t want to face. Not today. Maybe not ever.

* * *

Rachel’s face still felt warm with embarrassment. It had been mortifying to have her mother air her dirty laundry. What must Gabriel think? He already had every reason in the world to think poorly of her. This information surely only served to make her look worse in his eyes. She still felt a great deal of shame about Jonathan DeMarco walking away from her and the girls. Rachel had met Jonathan at a low period in her life. Away from her beloved hometown and estranged from Gabriel and most of her loved ones, Rachel had been completely adrift for a very long time. Over a year after her arrival in Denver when a few of her nursing friends invited Rachel to a night out at the rodeo to lift her mood, she’d met the handsome bull rider. She’d been swept away by his charm and good looks. In the long run, Jonathan hadn’t been interested in home and hearth. He’d told her he wasn’t the type to plant roots and wanted to travel around on the rodeo circuit. And when he discovered she was pregnant, he’d made it clear to her that he didn’t want to be a father to the twins.

Helene wagged a finger in her direction. “Wipe that frown off your face. You’re too pretty to scrunch up your features like that. You’ll get wrinkles.”

Rachel stopped gathering up the plates and met her mother’s gaze head-on. “I have no idea why you brought up the subject of Jonathan in front of Gabriel.”

Helene grumbled. “Why not? I think Gabriel would want to know you’re as single as a dollar bill. Not to mention the fact that the girls don’t have a father in the picture. He can have a ready-made family in a heartbeat.”

Rachel felt her jaw drop. Had she heard her mother right? Was Helene attempting to play matchmaker?

“Are you joking?” Rachel asked. “Because it’s not very funny.”

“I’m serious. I’ve never seen a man more devoted to a woman than Gabriel was to you. Love like that doesn’t die. I’m sure both of you still have feelings for each other. Spending time in each other’s presence can spark the flame all over again.”

“Hush, Mama, before he hears you. I couldn’t bear it if Gabriel thinks I’m plotting with you to win him back. It couldn’t be any further from the truth. Besides, do you honestly think he wants anything to do with me after what I put him through?” She wasn’t sure if it was Helene’s illness talking, but Rachel had to set her straight before her mother dug in her heels. Helene Marshall was a force to be reckoned with when she fixed her mind on something.

The older woman’s jaw trembled. “Those girls deserve a family. And you shouldn’t walk through life alone.”

Rachel saw the raw emotion etched on Helene’s face and she knew it was genuine.

Although she’d gone about it the wrong way, Rachel knew instinctively her mother hadn’t been trying to hurt her by bringing up Jonathan in front of Gabriel. In her own way, she’d been coming from a good place, even though it was misguided. The idea of her reuniting with Gabriel after all these years was far-fetched to say the least. She imagined neither one of them was the same person they’d been three years ago. Time hadn’t stood still.

She reached out and gripped her mother’s hand. “I know you’re only trying to help me and the girls, but I don’t want you to be disappointed when it doesn’t come to pass. He and I have both moved on from our time together. There’s way too much water under that particular bridge. I’m not in love with Gabriel anymore. It’s possible that I might find happiness with someone in the future and be able to give the girls a father figure, but it won’t be with Gabriel. Not now. Not ever.”

A sound in the doorway drew her attention. Gabriel was standing there with his tool belt slung around his shoulder. Rachel knew immediately he had overheard everything she’d just said about him. Her heart ached with regret. He had no way of knowing she’d only responded in that particular way because Helene had been matchmaking. Before she could say a word, Gabriel said, “I just wanted to say goodbye. I need to make another trip to the hardware store. I’ll be back at the end of the week when I get back from my trip to Lake Hood.” With a terse nod, he was gone.

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