Page 37 of An Alaskan Twin Surprise (Home to Owl Creek 2)

Rachel stepped outside on the back deck and gazed at the rugged mountains in the distance. It felt as if she could almost reach out and touch them. It was a gorgeous afternoon in Owl Creek. The sky was the glorious color of Alaskan forget-me-nots and there wasn’t a cloud in sight. Even the temperature was cooperating. According to the local weatherman it was supposed to be unusually warm for November in Alaska. Rachel had convinced Helene to accompany her and the twins to the town fair featuring a book-and-bake sale. It was important to get her mother out of the house so she could interact with others. She’d also been encouraging Helene to accept visits at the house from her close friends so she wasn’t cut off from the world around her.

This was the hometown she remembered, Rachel thought as they arrived at the town green. People were gathered around talking and sampling the baked goods. A crowd of kids stood around discussing whether they should go sledding or ice skating. Helene was surrounded by well-wishers. Rachel herself was deluged with townsfolk crowing over the twins. No one was shunning her or asking probing questions. A feeling of acceptance settled around her like a cozy throw.

They’d met up with Gabriel a short time after their arrival. It wasn’t long before he allowed the twins to wrap him around their little fingers. He’d bought them a blueberry muffin that they were each taking turns munching on, as well as festive red balloons he’d tied to the stroller.

Her stomach did somersaults the moment Gabriel showed up looking ridiculously handsome in his green parka and jeans. Just watching him interacting with the girls gave her goose bumps. It made her realize how much her daughters could benefit from having a father figure in their lives, one who would cherish them just as much as she did herself. She’d given up on that idea a long time ago after Jonathan walked away from his responsibilities, but suddenly, hope furled inside her.

“I’ve been wondering when our paths would cross.” The familiar voice washed over her like a warm spring rain.

When she turned around, Trudy was standing there, just as she’d expected. With her long red hair and eclectic clothes, Piper and Hank’s mother was a vibrant and caring woman. She greeted Rachel with a big hug and an effervescent smile.

“It’s so great to see you. Piper has been talking about you nonstop for the last few weeks. She missed you something fierce.”

“Reuniting with Piper has been one of the best things about being back in Owl Creek. We picked up right where we left off.” Rachel felt a grin stretching from ear to ear. She still felt thankful about her friend allowing her to make amends.

“Your twins are precious.” Trudy grinned at both the girls. “My granddaughter Addie would love a playdate. They’re around the same age.”

“We’ll have to make that happen,” Rachel said, excited about the possibility of her daughters having same-aged friends in town. Although the twins had each other, socialization with other children would be so important for their development. If she decided to stay in Owl Creek, it would help them.

Trudy turned toward Gabriel. “Hank told me about your big news,” she said, clapping him on the shoulder. “It sounds very exciting.”

Big news? Gabriel hadn’t shared anything with her, Rachel realized with a deflated feeling.

“Is it something you’re keeping under wraps?” she asked, trying not to feel a little left out. She wanted to know everything in Gabriel’s world, especially the triumphs.

“Oh no! Did I say something I shouldn’t have?” Trudy asked, clapping her hand over her mouth.

“Don’t worry about it, Trudy,” Gabriel said, his tone reassuring. “I just haven’t shared it with anyone other than Hank. I just happened to run into him after I found out.”

“Me and my big mouth,” Trudy muttered, sending Gabriel a regretful look before she walked away.

Rachel placed Faith in the double stroller while Gabriel deposited Lizzy right in front of her. She could tell by the way they were rubbing their eyes that they were ready for a nap. Within seconds their little eyes closed and they were off to dreamland. It provided the perfect opportunity for her to press Gabriel about his news.

“So, what’s going on with you?” she asked. “It sounds like congratulations are in order.”

“I guess you could say that,” Gabriel replied, pausing for a moment before continuing.

“I was offered a really great opportunity to partner with a company out of Homer. The corporation is called Avid Adventures. It’s really going to take Lawson Charters to the next level.”

“That’s wonderful news! What exactly will you be doing?” Gabriel was such a hard worker. It was always amazing when someone reaped the benefits of their long hours and dedication. She couldn’t think of anyone more deserving of an opportunity to grow.

Gabriel’s grin stretched wide. “Well, this company wants to pay me an exorbitant amount of money to fly wealthy clients to inaccessible areas of the state. I would be taking clients to the arctic circle, among other out-of-the-way destinations. Believe it or not, there are lots of people who crave adventures like having a pilot land on a glacier or fly them to isolated areas where there aren’t even runways.”

Rachel froze. A feeling of dread rose up inside her. From the sounds of it, Gabriel would be doing the most dangerous type of flying. Her throat felt dry. As the daughter of a pilot, Rachel knew the inherent risks of flying to that region. The weather itself was a challenge to pilots trying to land in that difficult terrain.

“I—I thought you were focusing more on local gigs.” Rachel could barely focus. Her heart was beating like thunder inside her chest. All she kept thinking about was the fact that Gabriel would be far away from Owl Creek flying into challenging weather scenarios in off-the-grid locales.

“I was, but then this venture was placed in my lap. It’s an incredible offer. With the type of salary they’re offering I can really put some money into expanding Lawson Charters. I’ll be able to buy a new seaplane and hire some more staff.”

She allowed the idea of it to roll around in her head. Money wasn’t everything, especially if you were pushing yourself to the limit and placing yourself in harm’s way. She knew it hadn’t ever been important to Gabriel to g

et rich. So what was this all about? A desire to live on the edge? If that was so, then they really were at odds. Over the last year she’d learned about what truly mattered—family, faith and serving her community as a nurse.

For so long she’d lived with the consequences of being afraid. She’d lost her fiancé, her hometown, family and friends. She couldn’t go back to being anxious and fearful about Gabriel’s safety. It would trickle down to the way she mothered her children and how she lived each and every day. It would make life stress-filled and uncertain. She owed more to her children, and to herself.

Gabriel was looking at her with an expectant expression stamped on his handsome face.

She knew he was waiting for her to congratulate him, but the words were stuck in her throat. It made her feel small to deny him such a simple pleasure, but she couldn’t give him false praise. If there was even a small hope for the two of them, she had to be honest. The past had taught her that particular lesson.

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