Chapter 5 #2
“My grandma wanted to see Alaska. It was on her bucket list.”
“Oh, so you’re not going to be stationed here?” Sadie asked, sounding almost disappointed. What part about this not being a date had her middle sister missed? Maybe it was pregnancy brain. But most likely, it was just Sadie being . . . Sadie.
“Actually, I am.”
Haylee’s head snapped up at that. “Where?”
“Anchorage.”
Haylee wondered if he meant Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, the same base Dylan hoped to get assigned to so he could be closer to his parents.
A new sense of dread washed over her.
Dylan’s parents didn’t know about Melly either.
But now that the cat was out of the bag, it seemed only fair to tell them.
Even if they hated her for it. They’d been kind enough to her when she dated Dylan, but in the way they would be kind to a visiting friend.
Not a woman their son might someday marry.
They might not be kind at all when they found out the secret she’d been keeping.
“What’s on your grandma’s bucket list?” Sadie asked as she shoveled in her chili. Haylee remembered that phase of her pregnancy well. Weird that she sort of missed it.
“She wants to see the Northern Lights.”
“They were out the other night,” Sadie said. “But the sky was overcast. I’m sure they’ll be out again soon. Kind of a normal thing around here during the winter. What else?”
“We’re going to visit the North Pole.”
“Solid choice,” Sadie agreed. “You have any nieces or nephews? You can purchase a deed for a square inch of the North Pole in their name when you visit the Santa Claus House.”
“Afraid I’m the only grandkid.”
“No kids of your own?”
“Not yet.”
Not yet. Oh, those dang butterflies were now out of control.
“Do you want kids?” Sadie pressed.
“Sadie, leave the poor man alone.”
“Am I bothering you, Logan?”
“Not in the slightest.”
Sadie flashed Haylee a victorious smile before firing off another question. “Are you married? Engaged? Dating?”
“None of the above.”
“A handsome soldier such as yourself is single?”
“Sadie,” Haylee groaned in warning.
“As it turns out, yes.” His gaze flickered to her so briefly she thought she imagined it.
It was probably those pesky butterflies, causing her to hallucinate.
It didn’t matter that Logan was single or that he’d be stationed a mere hundred miles north—which wasn’t that far when one considered how far away the rest of the country was.
None of it mattered because Haylee was not getting involved with Melly’s late father’s best friend.
No matter how handsome or kind or selfless he was.
It was wrong.
Didn’t Sadie see that?
“Did you know that Haylee, too, is single?”
“What else does your grandma want to do in Alaska?” Haylee asked, pleading for him to simply ignore that last comment and move the conversation back into neutral territory.
“She wants to pet a reindeer,” Logan said, pushing aside his empty chili bowl. “She’s pretty adamant about that one for some reason.”
“She can do that at the Christmas carnival!” Sadie announced.
“There’s a Christmas carnival?”
“Right here in town. Tomorrow. You didn’t know?”
“Guess I missed the memo,” Logan said. “There’s really going to be reindeer there?”
“Yes,” Haylee answered, hoping to cut off her overly enthusiastic sister before she tried to set the two up on some sort of makeshift date. “It’s all Melly’s been able to talk about for days. She doesn’t just love dogs. She loves all animals. She’s very excited about the reindeer petting zoo.”
“I think she’s going to grow up to be just like her Uncle Conner and Uncle Marc,” Sadie said. She looked to Logan and added, “They’re veterinarians.”
“Marc is your . . .”
“Oldest brother. Grumpy, brooding type. Conner’s my hubby. The absolute best man on the planet. They run the local vet clinic together.”
“Where is this Christmas carnival taking place?” Logan asked, as though he were genuinely interested in attending a crowded small-town event. Another difference. How she thought Dylan and Logan were so alike at the beginning of this lunch was a mystery to her now. Clearly, they were opposites.
“At the city auditorium.”
“So, it’s indoors?”
“Some of it, yes.” Sadie pushed her empty bowl to the edge of the table and finished the remnants of her cornbread. “Man, that hit the spot.”
“The reindeer are inside?” Logan asked.
“The reindeer are outside. So dress warm. Maybe wear a real winter coat. It’s supposed to be above zero, but you never know.”
“We have winter coats at the store,” Haylee suggested, remembering he’d only packed one.
He offered her a smile that lingered a couple of seconds longer than she expected, reminding her how attractive he was when his lips tipped up.
Not that she needed reminding. The image of his lethal smile would be burned into her brain long after he left town and forgot all about her.
“Is it a dog-friendly event?” Logan asked.
“Not really,” Haylee said, her tone apologetic.
“On account of the reindeer and not wanting to spook them,” Sadie added. “You have a dog, right?”
“I do.”
“You can drop him off at our parents’ place. Dad hates these carnivals, so he’s offered to dog sit. Tell him I sent you. It’ll be fine. Wait, does your dog get along with other dogs? Because there will be a lot of other dogs there.”
“He does.”
“Well, there you go. Free dog sitting and your grandma can pet all the reindeer she wants.” Sadie slid out of the booth as Willamina signaled to her at the front counter, to-go bag in hand. “Haylee’ll give you directions.”
Haylee dropped her face into her hands as Sadie wove her way through the crowd without so much as a goodbye.
“I’m sorry about that,” she said.
“Why? She’s your sister, right?”
“I only claim her sometimes,” she teased.
There’d been a time when the two couldn’t stand each other, but since her middle sister moved back to Sunset Ridge a few years ago determined to turn a new leaf, their relationship began to mend.
Most days, they even liked each other now.
Today, however, was one of the debatable days.
“Lunch is on me, kids,” Sadie said, passing their table on her way out. “Don’t stay out too late. Or do.”
“It’s not even noon,” Haylee called after her. But she was out the door before either of them could utter a thank you for the free meal.
“Is this Christmas carnival a big deal?” Logan asked instead.
“Yeah, you could say that.”
She knew he was asking about the town’s investment in their annual event, but the question hit her right in the solar plexus. Dylan was supposed to come to Sunset Ridge for the Christmas carnival to meet her family.
Instead, he bailed by breaking up with her.
“I don’t have to drop Jasper off with your dad.”
“Really, he won’t mind. My parents have a huge yard, and enough dog toys, beds, and treats to run their own doggie daycare. Oh, and Allie’s going to be there.”
“It would probably be cruel of me to deny Jasper a date with his girlfriend,” Logan teased.
A zing of warmth shot through her at his words. Or maybe it was the way he was looking at her, like he enjoyed her company. It made her feel all warm and fuzzy, like being wrapped up in the coziest blanket. It was the only reason for what she agreed to next.
“Meet me at the reindeer petting zoo tomorrow at one,” Haylee said, sliding out of the booth and slipping her coat back on.
“I can’t promise Melly will be all that excited to meet a stranger, but if you can overlook her inevitable disinterest considering you’re not a reindeer, you’re welcome to join us. ”
“Thank you,” Logan said.
“Oh, don’t thank me yet.”
“No?”
“My family and my best friend will be there too, so good luck with that.”