Page 13 of An Alaskan Twin Surprise (Home to Owl Creek 2)

What he needed to do was remember the dark weeks and months he’d gone through after her desertion. During that miserable time, it had hurt to even take a deep breath. He’d barely slept or eaten. Gabriel had transformed into a shell of his former self. He’d given up on life and love.

As a result, he’d vowed never to allow love to blindside him ever again.

Chapter Five

Rachel maneuvered the back roads leading to the center of town like a pro. She felt very confident behind the wheel, which wasn’t always the case on snowy Alaskan terrain. Learning how to drive over these snow-packed roads as a teenager had been a rite of passage. She smiled as she remembered how her teddy bear of a father cringed every time she hit the gas during their driving lessons. The look etched on his face had been one of pure terror. Just the thought of it made her chuckle out loud.

It was nice to finally be able to think of him without feeling as if she couldn’t breathe.

They had made so many beautiful memories together. Instead of dwelling on his last moments, Rachel wanted to honor the way he’d lived his life. She’d tried very hard over the past few years to make progress toward that goal. Her therapist had been very encouraging about the strides she’d made toward healing, although she knew she still had a long way to go on her journey.

As she drove past familiar sights, Rachel felt a hitch in her heart upon seeing her father’s old hangar. One of these days she would summon the courage to stop by with the twins for a visit, but not today. She wasn’t ready for such an emotional trip down memory lane.

Thoughts of Gabriel popped into her mind. The last time she’d seen him he’d been trying to place some distance between them by pushing her away from him. His actions had been symbolic, she realized. Although it had hurt to be rejected by Gabriel, she really couldn’t blame him. Why would he want to have her in his arms after everything she’d put him through? She wondered if he’d returned from his trip to Lake Hood. It was a flight he’d made dozens of times and thankfully it wasn’t one of the riskier ones. Her own father had flown to the seaplane base on many occasions during his career. A few times he’d taken Rachel along with him, and on those occasions she’d been on top of the world. Daddy’s little girl. He’d always made her feel special. And so very loved.

She looked in her rearview mirror just as Lizzy reached out to hold hands with her twin sister. Faith let out a sharp cry when her fingers ended up in her sister’s mouth. “No, Lizzy. Be nice. Don’t give Faith a boo-boo. You’re making her sad.” A contrite Lizzy began placing kisses on Faith’s hand, and within seconds, the tears subsided. Lizzy was teething something fierce and didn’t hesitate to clamp down on anything in her eyesight. Taking the girls into town with her was an act born out of necessity. She couldn’t very well leave them at the house with her ailing mother.

A few days ago she’d had the opportunity to meet Tessa Jacobsen, the nurse who’d been coming to the house to help out with her mother’s care. She was a wonderful woman who had an easy manner and a generous heart. Dedicated and hardworking, she got along famously with Helene. Having Tessa’s assistance on a part-time basis would help Rachel out tremendously. Neil offered to pay for Tessa’s services, which was a huge relief. As it was, Rachel needed a mother’s helper to assist her in watching the girls for a few hours in the afternoon so she could focus on Helene’s care. One-year-olds tended to need a lot of attention. She’d been juggling those responsibilities along with her mother’s care since her arrival in Owl Creek and it was getting a bit complicated, not to mention exhausting. Spending one-on-one time with her mother was crucial, especially in light of her revealing conversation with Gabriel.

She needed Helene to open up t

o her so she could encourage her to undergo whatever treatments her doctors advised. Although she had an idea of what her mother was facing, Rachel needed to hear it from Helene’s lips. Learning she might have a fighting chance had left Rachel feeling hopeful even though broaching the subject was a bit daunting.

While Tessa was on the clock, Rachel decided to drive into town so she could put up a few notices about a babysitter for the girls. Hiring a sitter would free up some of her time so she wasn’t constantly feeling torn between the girls and caring for her mother.

Rachel bit her lip as she gazed over at the Snowy Owl diner. It would be the perfect spot to hang up some signs in her search for a mother’s helper. Bringing her daughters with her was a bit nerve-racking, since it was the first time she’d ventured into town with them. She knew it was silly to feel as if she owed the townsfolk an explanation for her life choices since she’d left Owl Creek.

No matter what anyone else thought, Lizzy and Faith were her anchors. She couldn’t imagine her life without them. It was uncanny how much the twins had transformed her world.

“You’ve got this,” she murmured, giving herself a pep talk. If she had a dollar for every time she’d given herself one since the birth of her girls, she would be on easy street. She parked her vehicle, then plucked the girls out of their car seats, placing them side by side in their double stroller. Thankfully the diner had a ramp in addition to the steps. As she propped the door open so she could wheel the stroller inside, a whiff of down-home cooking reached her nostrils.

She wasn’t certain if her mind was playing tricks on her, but it seemed as if all eyes were trained on her as she entered Piper’s establishment. Bracing herself for whispers or rude stares, Rachel vowed to herself that no matter what, she wasn’t going to allow it to break her. Hopefully, they would show her grace.

A few people called out to her while others greeted her with warm smiles. Mrs. Jenkins, her high school English teacher, grabbed her gently by the arm as she passed by her table and said, “It’s wonderful to see you back in town. You were always my best student, bar none.” A sense of incredible relief spread through her upon hearing her warmhearted words. The looks sent in her direction were filled with curiosity, which was perfectly understandable. She didn’t detect a hint of censure in any of their gazes.

As soon as she spotted Rachel, Piper made a beeline in her direction, letting out a delighted squeal as she reached her side. She hugged Rachel before turning her attention to the twins. “I’m so glad you stopped by with your girls. I’ve been hoping to meet them.”

Piper got down on her haunches so she was eye level with Faith and Lizzy. She reached out and gently caressed their faces, one at a time. “Aren’t you two just the spitting images of your mama? You’re blessed,” she said, looking up at Rachel with tears in her eyes. “You always did want to be a mom more than anything else in the world.”

Piper’s words served as a reminder of her younger self. Back then Rachel dreamed of marrying Gabriel and creating a family with him while juggling a nursing career. Her life had seemed perfect until she’d scratched the surface and discovered flaws.

“Don’t look now but your ex-fiancé is here,” Piper murmured in a low voice.

Rachel turned around and scanned the area, immediately spotting Gabriel sitting by himself at a booth. They made eye contact and she responded to his nod with a wave before turning back around. She felt a profound sense of relief simply knowing he was back safe and sound from his trip to Lake Hood. His well-being was no longer her concern, but she couldn’t deny she still cared.

“I said not to look!” Piper said in a loud whisper, rolling her eyes.

Rachel covered her face with her hand and let out a nervous laugh. The sight of Gabriel was causing a funny, fluttering sensation in her stomach. It was an odd feeling to realize he still had such a strong effect on her. Her ex, Jonathan, had never made her feel anything remotely like this. Seeing him seated at that particular booth brought to mind all the times they’d shared a meal at this very diner. Back when Piper’s dad, Jack, had been alive he’d always made a point to treat them to ice cream sundaes after their meal. She knew Piper, Hank and their mother, Trudy Miller, were still mourning their loss. Rachel could empathize with them. Memories of her own father were everywhere in Owl Creek.

Piper let out a groan. “Do you remember Shelby Warren?”

“Of course I do. She has the distinction of being the snarkiest person I’ve ever had the misfortune to meet.”

Piper made a face. “I’m so sorry, but she’s coming straight toward us.”

The strong odor of cloying perfume announced the arrival of Shelby, one of Rachel’s former classmates. With her long dark hair and wide-set eyes, she was a very attractive woman. Rachel had always thought it was a shame that her beauty only rested on the surface.

“Well, I almost can’t believe my eyes,” Shelby said, her tone full of surprise. “Rachel Marshall! I never thought I’d see you back in Owl Creek, especially not after the way you left Gabriel in the lurch.” The smirk on the woman’s face was a familiar one. Shelby had been Rachel’s nemesis all through school. She’d had a major crush on Gabriel, and as a result, had taken out all her animosity on Rachel.

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