Page 34 of An Alaskan Wedding (Alaskan Grooms 1)

Honor’s cheeks flushed and she gazed down at the hardwood floors. “I’m sorry,” she mumbled.

“Second, I owe you an apology,” Boone said.

Honor slowly lifted her head up. Her mouth hung open. “A what? An apology?”

“Yes. An apology,” he repeated.

Honor gaped at him. Her gray-blue eyes flickered.

“Come on. Don’t act like I’ve never apologized before.”

She slowly nodded her head. “Maybe once when we were kids.”

“I was wrong in the way I handled things,” he admitted. “The other night Grace made me realize how I never acknowledged your pain or the heartache you went through. She was right. I was so busy making sure you didn’t marry Joshua that I ran right over you and your feelings in the process. And in doing so, I harmed our relationship. I know it pained you to end things with Joshua. I know you loved him. And I’m sorry if it gives you pain to know he married someone else.

“I love you, Honor. To this day, one of the happiest moments in my life is the day Mom and Dad brought you home from the hospital. I couldn’t fathom that something so beautiful and perfect belonged to us. I don’t want to be on opposite sides of the fence anymore. All I want is my sister back.”

Honor rushed at him, landing with a thud against his chest. She began crying and talking incoherently. “I’ve missed you, Boone,” she said. He put his arms around her and held her tight. He raised his hand and stroked her hair the way he’d done when she was a little girl. She smelled of sunshine and roses and sweetness.

She looked at him somberly, her eyes red rimmed with emotion. “You can’t go through life judging people, Boone. Even though Joshua made a lot of mistakes, he was a good person. And you couldn’t see that... You were blind to it. Promise me you won’t make that mistake again.”

“I promise you, I won’t.” He reached out and tugged her finger the same way he’d done ever since she was little They locked gazes. “I’m a different man these days, Honor. I don’t see things through the same narrow lens.”

Honor smiled at him, a genuine, contented smile that reminded him of her youthful self. It gave him a pang to see her like this after such an agonizing estrangement. Hope for their renewed relationship burgeoned inside him. With God, all things were possible, he reminded himse

lf.

His sister reached for his other hand and led him back toward the kitchen. Liam stared at their joined hands and grinned so hard it threatened to crack his face.

“Well done,” Liam said with a nod of his head.

Once lunch was finished, Honor volunteered to do the dishes while Boone caught up with Liam. Aidan settled into playing with his blocks while Boone and Liam sat in the living room.

“I’m so glad you decided to come out the other night to the skating party,” Boone said, a smile tugging at his lips at the memory of Aidan on the ice.

“I’m not sure I was ready to be at a social gathering, but seeing Aidan out there having the time of his life was priceless.” Liam reached out and clasped his shoulder. “Thanks for inviting us.”

“Any opportunity to be surrounded by my family, and I’m going to grab it with both hands,” Boone said.

“After the skating party we stopped by to visit with Jasper for a spell,” Liam said. “I wanted to take a look at that ankle and make sure it was healing properly.”

Boone nodded, wishing he’d had time last night to check on Jasper. “I haven’t seen him for a few days. How’s it holding up?”

“It’s healing up nicely, although it was a bad break. His bones aren’t what they used to be, due to his age. But he’s getting around pretty well on the crutches.”

“That’s good to hear,” he said, happy to know that his grandfather was on the mend. “He really had no business being out there at the cave. I wish he could finally lay all that legend lore to rest.”

“What’s worse is that he hasn’t been taking his medicine,” Liam added.

“The statins for his heart?” Boone asked.

“Yes,” Liam said in a solemn voice. “And he really needs to keep taking them, as well as adjusting his diet and exercising.”

Boone bit the inside of his lip. “What you’re saying is that he’s at risk for another cardiac episode if he doesn’t straighten up his act.”

“Yep. That’s what I think,” Liam said. “He needs to start taking his conditions seriously instead of creeping around in caves chasing gold.”

Liam’s thoughts mirrored his own. Hearing it confirmed by a medical doctor cemented his opinion that Jasper needed to rein in his activities and make a few lifestyle changes. No more burgers and fries or corn dogs.

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