When they were within a few feet of her vehicle, Bailey used her remote to start the engine so it would be warmed up.
“So, I’m still wondering about what you owe Hattie for? Care to explain?”
Bailey sucked in a deep breath of the frosty Alaskan air. She might as well explain herself. There was no point in withholding this information when Hattie might divulge it to her grandson herself at some point.
“When I was nine, my father died. It totally wrecked my family, especially my mother. She was so grief-stricken that she lost her ability to even take care of us. She was so steeped in depression and grief that she gave up on life.” Bailey shuddered as the dark memories came creeping back. “Because there were four of us, my sisters and I started taking care of each other and the house. But it was a lot, because we were mourning, too, and we were young kids.”
Landon let out a fretful sound.
“One day your grandmother showed up at our house with groceries and toys for us girls. She went into my mother’s bedroom and sat with her for hours. She made her tea and prepared lunch for us as well. That day was the first time in weeks that my mother left her bedroom. From that point on Hattie was a fixture at our house, helping out and encouraging all of us. She let us know that we could move past our grief.”
“That’s amazing,” Landon said, “and it sounds like Hattie. She’s always there for others. A rock.”
“And even though my family is still a bit dysfunctional in their grief, she saved us in every way that one person can save another. She rescued all of us, my whole family. If it hadn’t been for her, I genuinely believe that we might’ve been put into foster care and separated from one another. We would have lost our house. Because of her that didn’t happen. And she’s been looking out for us ever since in small and wonderful ways.” She drew in a deep breath. “She got me this job in the cider lab that I’m not sure I was even qualified for. I’ve proven myself and worked really hard to do so, but Hattie gave me a shot. She believed in me. Way more than I believed in myself.” Bailey’s heart was full and overflowing with gratitude for Hattie.
“She saw your raw potential. Hattie is an incredibly wise woman with a wide-open heart.” His love for Hattie was crystal clear.
“And that’s why I would go to the ends of the earth to make her happy. If this faux relationship can help her leavethis earth with a smile on her face and feeling as if her loved ones are settled, then I’m all in.”
He reached out for her gloved hand and squeezed it. “I appreciate you sharing this with me. It can’t be easy talking about such a heartbreaking time in your life.”
“It isn’t,” she admitted. “But your grandmother’s many kindnesses shaped my life. She’s never talked about it or taken credit for it, but in my book she’s a shero.”
A harsh wind washed over them, and they both winced against the onslaught. A light smattering of snow began to fall from the inky sky.
“We better get out of the cold before we freeze our buns off,” Bailey said.
Landon leaned in for a goodbye hug. “If I haven’t said it before, I appreciate you. I won’t ever forget that you did this for me. And Hattie.”
He was standing so close that she could smell the sandalwood aroma of his cologne. Achingly close. The idea of kissing him flitted through her mind. She had never been one to shy away from making the first move, but this situation was a bit different. Even though she felt as if a relationship was being formed between them, the romance storyline wasn’t real. Only in her dreams, she thought.
Bailey was feeling a bit choked up by Landon’s gratitude. As far as she was concerned, the Stone family owed her nothing. Hattie had given them the world.
As she drove away from Northern Exposure, she looked up to see Landon’s gaze trailing after her. He had been so sensitive and caring when she’d told him about Hattie’s support for her family. It made her believe that she could confidein Landon and tell him all the things she held close to the vest. Tonight had truly broken the ice between them, and she wanted more. She needed to spend time with Landon outside of Yukon Cider so that she could peel back his layers to see what was resting beneath the surface. Something told her that there was a lot there, and she couldn’t wait to discover it all.
