She let out a wistful sigh. “That sounds . . . nice.”
“Does Kansas feel like home to you?” He’d been afraid to ask that question most of all. Becausehewould never give up his home. Not for any amount of money the richest man could afford to offer.
“Wichita, actually. And no, it doesn’t.”
“Is that where you grew up?”
She tucked her hands into the front pockets of her jeans as they crossed the street. The restaurant was only four blocks away. “We moved around a lot, especially after my mom passed. It was like my dad could never quite get settled with her gone. But Wichita was the last place he was, so that’s where I went. I felt one of us needed to be close to him.”
“He’s gone too, then?”
“Yeah.”
“I’m sorry to hear that.” They waited at an intersection for the crosswalk signal to change. It wasn’t necessary as there were no cars coming, and Riggs was whining for having to stop and sit when there were so many smells to investigate. They waited anyway. “We lost both our parents when Rilee was ten.”
“You never get used to it, do you?”
“Not really.” He thought about telling her about Danielle, but he refrained. They’d talked enough about loss, which seemed unfitting for such a perfect day. Though Sunset Ridge rarely got above seventy degrees in the summer, it was still seventy-two. “I love the fresh smell of the bay.”
“You’re so lucky you get to live in a place like this. I mean, look.” She pointed to the street sign just as the crosswalk signal changed. “The name of your downtown road is Mooseberry Lane. How cute is that?”
“You could live here, too, you know.”
“If only it were that easy.”
It is. Still, Ford had three more days to make her realize it was so much simpler than she imagined. The money motive aside, he knew the lodge and the town could bring her happiness and fulfillment if only she gave it a chance.
“I hope they have crab legs for people here,” Cadence teased as they closed in on the bayside restaurant. Only half the tables on the patio were filled. Come this weekend, Warren’s would be packed with tourists from open until close.
“If you haven’t eaten Warren’s crab legs, you’re in for a real treat.”
She laughed when Riggs let out an excited bark, his tail going into hyper-drive. “I hope it lives up to the hype. I haven’t had a good crab leg in ages.”
As it was a weekday and not yet busy in the restaurant, they were allowed to seat themselves. Cadence hardly fell into her chair before Riggs stuck his bear-sized head in her lap. Ford almost scolded him, but she scrubbed a hand along his furry face and behind his ears and leaned in for a hug. He snuck in a lick to her ear, and she giggled.
“Does Riggs get to go with us to the Fireweed Festival too?”
“You think we could leavehimbehind?” He eased back into his chair and opened a menu he didn’t need, finally relaxing.
Ford hoped the legendary Fireweed Festival magic would ultimately change her mind and make her stay. All the locals claimed it had a special power. Something about it being the beginning of summer filled with opportunity and miracles. For now, he was simply thankful that they’d passed the photography studio without a second glance.
Chapter Nine
Cadence
Cadence lost much of her morning uploading photos to listings for clients in Wichita. It didn’t occur to her that they’d forgotten to stop by the local photography studio last night until just now when she came to an exterior photo filled with flowers. Closing her laptop, she hopped to her feet.
It was already Friday, and she desperately hopedtheTanya Rivers that Ford raved about could do the photo shoot and send her the edited versions before she left town. Since tomorrow Tanya would no doubt be at the festival, that left only today to get things done.Ifshe had time.
“Riggs, why didn’t you remind me last night?” Cadence asked the pile of fur on the floor beside the desk. Ford had left earlier to track down the guy about his well, but Riggs was more interested in a nap than a truck ride, and stayed with her.Probably the treat potential. “I know better than to wait for the last minute. Well, normally I do.”
She chastised herself all the way to the bedroom, where she quickly showered and changed. Probably wouldn’t make the best impression in her sweatpants.
Once ready, she found Riggs sprawled out at the windows. “I’ve never met a dog who loves the sunlight as much as you do.” She really needed to head downtown but couldn’t resist those sad brown eyes that begged for her to sit beside him and rub his belly. “Okay, just a couple minutes though.”
She sat with her legs crossed at the floor-to-ceiling windows and stroked Riggs’ belly. She let nostalgia take over, remembering the way it felt to sit here in front of this view at thirteen years old.And dream. “This used to be my spot, you know.” More than once Aunt Patty had found her passed out asleep on the carpet. Aunt Patty’s bedroom was off limits to the girls, but after a while, she stopped chasing Cadence out. She’d been the only sister allowed in.
The Alaskan view swept her away in a trance. The snowcapped mountains contrasted against the stark blue sky. The purple smudges of fireweed on the other side of the bay. Boats in the harbor. Spruce trees in droves. How could anyone want to leave this place?
