Sophie shrugged. “More or less.”
“When do you have to go back?”
“We’re not going back.”
Cadence’s stomach performed a funny, confused flip.
“It’s too expensive to live in Hawaii when you’re trying to raise a daughter on your own with no education or work experience. Blake supported us. Hespoiledus. I begged a small diner to give me a waitressing job, but it hardly paid the rent. If it weren’t for taking home the food they were going to throw away at the end of the night, we might’ve gone hungry a lot.”
“How can he get away with this?” The injustice of it all left Cadence fuming. The man was a renowned surgeon, making more money than he could possibly spend. Yet, he left his wife and daughter to fend for themselves? It didn’t make sense.
“He hired a good lawyer.”
“What about—”
“All of our bank accounts were separate except one. He gave me an allowance every month, but when he asked for a divorce, that account dried up. I couldn’t afford a lawyer. Not a good one, anyway.” Sophie slipped out of her seat and stacked the empty bowls together. “I don’t know what my plan is, but I’m hoping the money we get from selling the lodge will give Caroline and me options. Maybe we’ll move back to Kansas, near you. I miss being near family.”
At the sink, Sophie shrieked like she’d seen a ghost.
Cadence didn’t even have to guess. “Ed?”
“Ed?”
“He’s a regular.” She scooped a few blueberries onto a serving spoon at the sight of the antlers in the window. “Aunt Patty used to spoil him with cabbage, or so I’m told. But I keep forgetting to buy some.” Cadence unlatched the window and slowly pushed the frame up.
“You’re not going to—”
Ed’s ear perked up, like an excited dog about to get a treat. “I guess this is his favorite place in town.” A pang of loss assaulted her chest as she watched Ed lap up the spoonful of fruit. Would Mr. Maxwell feed Ed, too? She couldn’t picture it.
“You sure seem to fit right in around here,” Sophie said once Cadence closed the window.
It was now or never.
“Sophie, I have two things to tell you.”
“Okay.”
Grabbing her sister’s wrist, she led her to the main living room and sat on the cushiest couch. “First, we have a cash offer. It’s verbal, but it’s from a billionaire who used to stay here during the Fireweed Festival weekend. It’s full price, quick closing, no strings attached.”
“That’s great news.” Relief filled those bleak eyes. And if Sophie was set on selling to secure a better future for her and her daughter, then Cadence wouldn’t fight it. But she would say her piece.
“The second thing—what would you think about keeping this place? We could run it together. There’s enough money in the trust to get us started for the first year, maybe a little longer. Caroline could go to school in a great town full of wonderful people. You could start overhere. With me. You would have a roof over your heads, and I promise you would never have to worry about where your next meal came from.”
“I-I don’t know.” Sophie let out a heavy sigh and sank back into the couch. “Do either of us know anything about running a lodge?”
“How hard can it be? I know, I know. Famous last words and all. But think about it. Aunt Patty did it by herself, with a little help during the busy summer months. There are only twenty rooms andtwoof us. We could handle cleaning and bookings, right?”
“Tessa would never go for it.”
“She doesn’t have to move here. She could be a silent partner. We just have to convince her to let us try.”
“You’re willing tomoveto Alaska? What about your job? You had some five-year plan to become the top agent. I thought you were close.”
“This place gives me more fulfillment. It feels more like home than Kansas ever has.”
“It has nothing to do with a certain dishy caretaker?”
There was no hiding a smile. “Maybe a little. But even if Ford wasn’t in the equation, I would want to stay. I always dreamed about moving back when I was younger, and now that I’m here, it feelsright.”
