Chapter Nine
CHAPTER NINE
Monday morning dawned bright and beautiful. Streams of light trickled through Caleb’s bedroom window, gently waking him up so he could greet the day head-on. He wasn’t sure that he would ever get used to the sight of the majestic mountain peaks looming in the distance. He had to hand it to Alaska. The views were spectacular. After a quick shower and getting dressed, he headed down to breakfast. Sitting down for a meal with his brothers and Hattie was always a highlight of the day.
“What do you look so chipper for?” Xavier asked as Caleb sailed into the dining room in a burst of energy and excitement for what lay ahead.
“It’s going to be a wonderful day,” Caleb announced. “I’m going to be Yukon Cider famous.” He grinned at his brothers as he ran a hand along his jaw.
“Don’t get ahead of yourself,” Xavier said, shaking his head. “That’s when things go wrong. Trust me on that.”
“I was joking,” Caleb said. “Where’s your sense of humor? Lighten up a little.”
“I’m good,” Xavier said. “Just be careful not to get an inflated ego over being in the spotlight.”
He knew exactly what Xavier meant. Caleb was aware that he’d gotten a little too gassed up about himself after being cast on Love Him or Leave Him . He had been of the belief that his star was on the rise and nothing could stop him. It had all come to a grinding halt when the show aired and he was vilified by the public. His reputation had been in tatters. And he had never quite recovered and restored what he’d lost.
“I’m curious. Did you get enough beauty rest last night?” Landon asked, unable to hide his smirk.
“Actually, I did. I used one of those face masks before bed and then I put on a gel eye mask. I’m also trying out this hydrating moisturizer. I think it’s going to become my new routine,” Caleb said, filling his plate with fruit and protein. He didn’t want to feel stuffed to the gills for the photo shoot. If he’d had a few more weeks to prepare, he would have hit the gym a few times a week. They were just test shots, but still, he wanted to make a good impression.
“Look at you,” Xavier said, “Caleb Stone. Alaska’s next top model.”
Landon chuckled along with Xavier.
“Laugh all you want, but this is exciting for me,” Caleb admitted. “It’s a chance to get back to doing what I love. I can’t tell you guys how much I’ve missed it.”
“We’re happy for you, Caleb,” Landon said. “It’s nice to see you smiling the way you used to before you were on the show.”
Xavier grinned at him. “That’s right. We won’t ever stop rooting for you, Caleb. We always want to see you shine. You’re going to rock this campaign.”
“I hope to make all of you proud, including Mom,” Caleb said. “I already miss her.”
“She’s been proud of you since the day you were born, Caleb,” Xavier said. “She would be proud of you if you ran butt naked through Moose Falls.”
“Don’t give me any ideas,” Caleb said, causing his brothers to burst into a fit of laughter. Within seconds they were all letting out belly laughs and clutching their sides. Caleb wiped his eyes with his sleeve as his laughter subsided.
“So, I hate to get heavy, but I think we should all check in. Any thoughts on what to do with our inheritance?” Xavier asked, his gaze narrowed as he looked back and forth between them. “I’m good with both scenarios since I’ll be permanently living here with True.”
“I’m on the fence. It’s too soon for me to make an ethical decision,” Landon told them. “It hasn’t been lost on me that Yukon Cider is our legacy.” He shrugged. “But I’m a scientist.”
Caleb was taking it all in. Being in Moose Falls was complicated. So far he was enjoying the experience and soaking in the wonderful aspects of Alaska. But he had no clue as to what they should do. “I need more time,” he admitted. “My natural inclination is to sell, but like Landon said, it’s so tied up with Hattie. I can’t imagine letting go of all that.”
“Hey, where is Hattie?” Landon asked, looking toward the door. “She’s never late for breakfast.”
“You’re right. Maybe she’s just sleeping in,” Xavier said.
“Hattie? Not likely,” Caleb said, reaching for his orange juice and swigging the last of it down.
Soft footsteps heralded the arrival of Jacques, who quickly made his way over to them.
“Good morning, gentlemen. Hattie isn’t feeling that well this morning, so she wanted the three of you to head off without her,” Jacques announced.
“Oh, no,” Landon said. “What’s wrong? Should we call her doctor?”
Xavier jumped up from his seat. “Should we go see her?”
Jacques waved his hand at them. “Let’s not get ahead of ourselves. Your grandmother is terminally ill, and she’s going to have ups and downs. She won’t want any of you to make a fuss.” He made a face. “You know Hattie.”
Caleb sighed. “Yes, we do. She probably told you to minimize whatever’s going on. Am I right?” Hattie was the type of person who had probably denied being in labor when she was ten centimeters dilated. She didn’t like a fuss being made over her. Celebrating her birthday was the one exception. On that occasion they had been allowed to throw her a party with gifts and cupcakes.
“If I thought she needed medical attention, I wouldn’t hesitate to tell you,” Jacques said, convincing them in a matter of seconds that he wasn’t withholding crucial information. All three of them knew that he was an honorable man. He was motivated by his love for their grandmother and a deep sense of integrity. Caleb thought that his brothers, much like himself, couldn’t rid their minds of the image of Hattie passing out a couple months ago during a reception at the mayor’s mansion. It had been their first rude awakening about the unpredictability of her illness. Despite her putting on a good act, they all realized she was rapidly declining.
“I’m going to bring her some tea and try to get her to eat some scrambled eggs and toast,” Jacques said as he turned on his heel and headed straight toward the kitchen.
Once Jacques left the dining room, a hushed silence descended over them.
“I don’t know why I always forget what brought us here,” Caleb said, pushing his plate way from him. His appetite was gone, decimated by the news about Hattie.
“I know what you mean,” Landon said. “Obviously we came due to the inheritance and Hattie’s situation, but it seems impossible that she won’t be around a year from now.”
Xavier frowned. “A year? It could be six months or less. We don’t know what the future holds with regard to her health. I think that’s what Jacques was getting at.” He ran a hand over his face and let out a deep breath. “It’s time we started having more discussions about Yukon Cider and where we see things going. We can’t wait until the year’s up to decide.”
“But what if we aren’t sure?” Landon asked. “This could change the entire course of our lives.”
“I think it already has,” Caleb said, thinking about Xavier’s engagement to True, their bond with their long-lost grandmother, and having their father back in their lives.
At the moment it felt as if things were moving quickly in Moose Falls. Their contract with Hattie stipulated that they must stay in Moose Falls for a period of one year and learn the ropes at Yukon Cider. More than five months had passed, leaving them with less than seven months to make an earth-shattering decision.
If he voted to stay and run the company, all of his Hollywood dreams would evaporate. He couldn’t pursue an acting career from Moose Falls. But he would be with his brothers, which was the best part of returning to Alaska. And there was Sophia. Sweet, gorgeous Sophia. She was a definite inducement for sticking around. On the other hand, selling Yukon Cider would provide financial independence and give him a pathway to a life in California.
Frankly, he was just as confused as he’d been on the first day he arrived in Alaska. And he still had no idea how he was going to come to a decision.
As Monday rolled around, Sophia couldn’t be more excited for her first test shoot for Yukon Cider’s new campaign. Lily was staying with her grandfather today, as she did twice a week, so after dropping her off with G-pop, Sophia headed straight to work, doing her best to decompress by absorbing the beautiful landscape that she drove past. She would never get used to the jaw-dropping sights Alaska provided. Sophia cranked up the radio and mellowed out to Adele ballads.
Just breathe in and out. Relax. Rid your mind of the yucky stuff. Today is going to be a wonderful day. She repeated these mantras over and over again until they sank in.
Today was going to be a wonderful day, and she was going to greet it with positivity and clarity. She was going to be spending time with Caleb, which was a win-win for her. She had never imagined that she would like this man so much after hating his guts on television. There was a disconnect between the man he’d been portrayed as and the man he was in actuality. She knew it with every fiber of her being. Caleb Stone was a good man. And she hoped with all her might that this campaign took off and Caleb got some of his good name back. If she could do anything to help him soar, she would do it in a heartbeat.
As she was discovering, Caleb was a special man, and she hadn’t had much special in a long time. If ever. Lily was the magic fairy dust in her life, but she yearned for something romantic, something real. It wouldn’t be enough for her to venture into a relationship that was purely physical. She’d done that in her younger years and come to deeply regret it. Her relationship with Donny had leaned on the physical as well, which had resulted in Lily. Although she hadn’t been planned and Donny hadn’t stuck around, Lily was the absolute love of her life.
Once she arrived at Yukon Cider, Sophia discovered that she had her own office on the second floor, complete with her name on the door and a fresh bouquet of flowers sitting on her desk. Her pulse raced as she read the card. Looking forward to working with you. Don’t forget to make me look good. Caleb.
At this point she couldn’t wait to make her way downstairs to the space they had set up as a studio for today’s test shoot. Although she was accustomed to working solo, she’d been surprised to be given a team to work with. Sophia had told Hattie she didn’t need a producer since that was a job she wanted to perform herself. Video production was in her skill set, and she was confident about her abilities. Having a team was an added bonus that she hadn’t been expecting.
When she walked in the studio, her eyes went straight to Caleb. Good golly, Miss Molly . He was looking like the sweetest Alaskan eye candy. He was wearing a nicely fitting pair of charcoal-colored slacks and an oatmeal-colored sweater that accentuated his rugged physique. Caleb was fine! No wonder he’d been the final man standing on Love Him or Leave Him . Could she really blame the twins for falling for him?
She immediately walked over to Caleb and greeted him. “Hey, Hollywood. Looks like you got your beauty rest last night. Thanks for the flowers,” she added. “It was a nice way to welcome me to Yukon Cider.”
“You’re very welcome. It’s a great place to work, and everyone is excited you’re coming on board. Hattie has been shouting it from the rooftops.”
Hearing that made Sophia feel good. Especially since she held Hattie in such high esteem. It was like getting the golden stamp of approval from the head honcho.
“So, are you ready to go viral?” Sophia asked. She had a gut feeling that Caleb would blow up as the spokesman for Yukon Cider. The product was gaining in popularity, and with Caleb’s looks and personality, he was destined to take the company to greater heights. And along the way, Caleb would find himself getting tons of publicity and shine.
Caleb crinkled his nose. “As long as it’s in a good way this time. I definitely don’t want to go viral for being in a love triangle. Been there, done that,” he said, rolling his eyes.
Although Caleb was trying to make a joke of his past, he had already let her see how deeply affected he had been by his appearance on the reality show. She suspected his wounds ran deep. His coping mechanism was to act self-deprecating about it at times.
“I think natural colors would work with your complexion and the setting. Why don’t we go for the taupe and the cream? We’re just doing some test shots today so we can play around with a few concepts.”
While Caleb changed into his first outfit for the indoor shots, Sophia checked and rechecked her camera to make sure she had everything perfectly lined up.
Her mood was a bit muted due to the issues with Donny. She had thought about his visit all weekend, asking herself what had prompted his unexpected decision. On some level she knew he loved Lily, but he had never expressed a single desire to actively raise her. This sudden reversal was mind-boggling. And concerning. It made her stomach clench up just thinking about being separated from Lily. For the last four years it had been the two of them against the world. Honestly, it wouldn’t be easy to be accommodating to a man who wasn’t even paying child support, but she would do so if it was in the best interest of her child.
Shake it off! She needed to strut her stuff today and showcase her skills so Hattie would see she had made the right choice in hiring her. When Caleb returned from the changing room, Sophia gave him a nod of approval. Although she couldn’t imagine him not appearing attractive, at the moment he looked amazing. The clothing fit him like a glove. Taupe cords, a V-neck cardigan, and a pair of Timberland boots. He had the requisite swagger to totally pull off this photo shoot and elevate the Yukon Cider brand.
“Looking good, Hollywood,” she said, giving him a thumbs-up sign.
“Thanks. You’ve got a good eye for clothes,” Caleb said. “This is an outfit I want to own.”
“Ready to rock and roll?” she asked.
“I was born ready,” he quipped, winking at Sophia.
She let out a groan. “Come on. You can do better than that.”
“Let’s go,” Caleb said. “I’ll put my money where my mouth is.”
“Save some of this energy for the shoot,” Sophia said, getting into photographer mode as she told Caleb where to stand for the first batch of pictures.
“That’s it,” Sophia said as she took photo after photo. “Put your chin down, eyes looking up. Awesome,” she said, excited at what she was seeing. Caleb was a natural. He exuded raw sex appeal while at the same time projecting a laid-back, natural vibe.
She had to give it to Caleb. A lot of her subjects, even professional models, got tired of the repetitive nature of photo shoots. Caleb was a pro. His hundredth photo was as sharp as the first one.
Toward the end of the shoot, Hattie crept into the room, clearly trying to make a discreet entrance. She stood on the sidelines, proudly watching her grandson’s every move. Her face lit up like sunshine, even though her complexion seemed a bit pale. Sophia thought it might just be the sweetest thing she had ever seen. She knew her dad looked at Lily in the exact same manner.
“Okay, I think that’s a wrap for this session,” Sophia said. “Time for a break, Caleb. Why don’t you get some water in the break room?”
Hattie appeared at her side, shaking her head as if in amazement.
“Imagine being that good looking. God took extra time with that one,” Hattie said, gazing adoringly in Caleb’s direction.
“Hard to imagine,” Sophia quipped. She knew better than to argue the point with Hattie. As it was, the older woman wasn’t wrong.
Hattie locked eyes with her. “Did I tell you there’s no policy against employees dating?”
Sophia chuckled. Leave it to Hattie to brighten her mood and make her laugh out loud. “Yes, Hattie. You sure did.”
“Caleb is as single as a dollar bill,” Hattie added, a gleam twinkling in her eye.
“Is he?” Sophia asked, trying to keep a straight face. Hattie was all kinds of adorable when she wore her matchmaker hat.
“Just like you, in case I missed something.” Hattie’s gaze was steely and unwavering.
“Nope. You haven’t missed a thing.” As if Hattie didn’t know everything there was to know about every single resident of Moose Falls. She was always privy to all the goings-on in Moose Falls. She suspected it was because Hattie was old-school Moose Falls, having been born and bred here. The older woman was trustworthy and solid. She’d also put their small town on the map with Yukon Cider.
She tapped a finger to her chin. “If I didn’t know any better, I would think you’re trying to play matchmaker. Or maybe you just want all of your grandsons to fall for locals and stay permanently in Moose Falls.”
“Who, me?” Hattie asked, pressing her hand to her chest. “I would never.”
“Wouldn’t you, though?” Sophia asked, shaking her head. She wasn’t certain, but she recalled hearing that Hattie had done a little matchmaking between Xavier and True. She was probably gloating on the inside about their engagement.
“What’s cooking over here?” Caleb asked as he walked up to them. “The two of you look as if you’re hatching some sort of plot.”
“Never ask two ladies what they’re discussing in private. Didn’t Daisy teach you that? You might get your feelings hurt.” With a smirk Hattie walked off, leaning heavily on her cane.
Caleb’s gaze trailed after her. “I should have known better than to ask. Sometimes I feel like a fly walking right into the spider’s web.”
Sophia chuckled at the image of Caleb as a fly and Hattie as a spider.
“You need to bring your A game to deal with Hattie.”
“I know that’s right.” Caleb shrugged. “And she wasn’t even feeling well this morning. Imagine if she was in tip-top shape?” Caleb winced.
Sophia frowned. Although she had been noticing signs of wear and tear on Hattie, it was par for the course for someone in her condition. It was a bit sobering to hear she wasn’t feeling well. Most of the time Sophia thought Hattie sucked it up and put on a front for her family and friends. Being sick meant weakness to a woman like Hattie.
“I’m sorry to hear that,” Sophia said. “And a bit surprised she came to the test shoot.”
“I think she’s making a point to show my brothers and me how much she cares about us while she can.” She heard a little hitch of emotion in Caleb’s voice. Sophia sensed he was grappling with Hattie’s illness and coming to terms with the fact that the clock was ticking. Time wasn’t on their side. “I really don’t want to do a single thing to disappoint her as a spokesmodel.”
“I don’t think you have anything to worry about in that regard.”
“Thanks for the vote of confidence,” Caleb said.
“You’ve gotten close these last few months,” she told him. She had noticed their tight bond at True and Xavier’s engagement party. They seemed to get along like a house on fire. Objectively, she surmised that out of the three Stone brothers, Caleb was most like Hattie. They were both energetic extroverts who were at ease in social settings. Both had charismatic personalities. She found it interesting, since they’d been separated for the better part of two decades.
Caleb made a face. “We have. It seems unfair that for so long we were separated. I know it was hard for Hattie to come to us due to her dialysis and being ill, but I wonder why my mother wouldn’t take us back home for short visits.”
Home. He was now referring to Moose Falls as home, a development she found interesting. From what she had gleaned from True, the Stone brothers hadn’t thought of Moose Falls as home in decades.
“Have you ever asked Daisy that question?” Sophia asked. From her brief encounter with Daisy Stone, Sophia sensed she was a loving yet resolute woman. Raising three boys on her own couldn’t have been easy, and Daisy projected a little bit of Hattie’s iron will. She wasn’t a woman who would bend easily. “And not to pry, but maybe your parents’ divorce was a bitter one.”
“I used to ask questions all the time when we were kids,” Caleb explained. “But now, as an adult, I know it’s futile. She shuts down whenever we bring it up.” He made a face. “Matter of fact, it just happened while she was here.”
“You deserve answers. All of you do. I mean, it changed the course of your lives.” She didn’t want to overstep, but clearly Caleb was still affected by choices that had been made on his behalf.
“You’re right about that.”
There was a look in Caleb’s eyes that let her know that this issue wasn’t even close to being squashed. Caleb was struggling to get answers from his mother. And she had the feeling that he would be in limbo until he could get to the bottom of it.
“You did a great job today, Caleb. I’m really stoked about this campaign,” Sophia told him. Her words lifted him to the stratosphere, giving him a feeling of confidence about his new role. Normally he didn’t need a boost to feel good about himself, but ever since his reality show debacle, Caleb had allowed negative thoughts to creep into his head.
“Thanks, Sophia. It felt good to be in front of the camera again. I’m not sure why, but it always feels really natural.” Every single time it felt as if a light bulb had been turned on inside him whenever cameras were around. He never felt shy or uncomfortable.
“Well, you come across as if you were born to do this. Come take a look.” She waved him over to her side. “I know this isn’t your first rodeo, but you really took to my instructions well. These test photos are pure gold.”
Caleb moved closer to her and looked at the pictures she brought up on her camera. As she flipped from one photo to the next, Caleb felt goose bumps pop up on his arms and neck.
“You’re an amazing photographer,” he said, awestruck. He knew that he was a good-looking guy, but Sophia had managed to capture him in the best light possible. And he didn’t mean the actual light. She had pulled something out of him that really popped in the photos. He had taken many head shots in his time, but none had looked this professional.
“I’m only as good as my subjects,” Sophia said. “Let’s just say we make a great pair. I think Hattie is going to love these test photos and where the campaign is headed.” Despite the positive words coming out of her mouth, her brow was furrowed, and there was a look of tension etched on her face.
“Hey, anything wrong?” Caleb asked. “Maybe it’s not any of my business, but I don’t like those little crinkles on your forehead.”
“Just some personal stuff,” she said curtly. Her mouth was set in a grim line that he wasn’t sure he should try to cross.
Was this her way of telling him to stay in his lane? He was going to press on anyway. If there was any way he could help her, Caleb was committed to doing so.
Some of her team members, including her married assistants, Max and Laura Abbott, were still in the room, so he knew she might be reluctant to discuss anything personal. But he was going to ask anyway and let her know he cared.
“Anything you want to discuss? I’m a good listener.” And he wasn’t exaggerating. Since he had two brothers, Caleb was used to having his ear bent with their troubles. Between cheating fiancées and underhanded colleagues at work, Caleb had heard it all.
“I’m just frustrated. Lily’s dad has been MIA for four-plus years.” She began packing up her camera equipment, her movements jerky. “Trust me, he would never be a candidate for father of the year. He has a history of canceling his allotted weekends with Lily.” She let out a snort. “And don’t get me started on child support payments. If he ever cuts me a check, I’m going to pass out from shock.”
“Sounds like a winner,” Caleb spat out. Men like Sophia’s ex made him angry. It wasn’t fair that she had to shoulder the child raising all on her own with no support.
This issue was a little bit of a trigger to him due to his own father’s parental neglect. At least Red had made regular child support payments. Money had never been the issue with Red’s absence. Three boys going without a father was a recipe for disaster.
“On Saturday when I returned home from having coffee with you, Donny was in my driveway waiting for me.” He could see a look of escalating tension on her face. “He informed me that he’s retained an attorney in the hope of getting joint custody.” She let out a strangled sound. “This from a man who barely sees his child and doesn’t know the first thing about her likes and dislikes.” Tears pooled in her eyes, and she tried to blink them away.
“Yet he wants joint custody!” she said, her voice raised. Several of her team members were still in the room and within earshot. They quickly packed up their belongings and made a fast path out of the room.
“And now I’m being unprofessional,” she said, wiping tears from her cheeks and breathing heavily. It made his soul ache to see her so broken up about the situation. She had every right to be upset.
He placed his arm around her and pulled her close. Now, it was just the two of them in the space. He ached to do what he’d been wanting to do since the first time they’d met. Caleb wanted to kiss her as she’d never been kissed before.
“It’s not unprofessional to be emotional,” he told her. “Plus, the shoot is over. You’re on a break.”
“You’re a sweetheart, Caleb. Has anyone ever told you that?” she asked, making a sniffling noise. Her eyes were a little red, but she couldn’t have looked more beautiful in this moment. He gave her a lot of credit for showing her vulnerability.
“My mom says it several times a week,” he said, smirking. He got just the reaction he wanted from Sophia. Her lips began to twitch, and a smile stretched across her face.
She placed her hands on his chest and threw her head back in laughter. “I walked right into that one, didn’t I?” Suddenly, she was so close to him, tantalizingly close. She smelled like something sweet, a mix of flowers and vanilla. Maybe some sort of soap. Whatever it was, he just wanted to be near her, to immerse himself in this alluring scent.
“I don’t know if this is the time or place, but—” he began, before being interrupted by Sophia.
“Kiss me, Caleb,” she said, grabbing hold of his sweater and pulling him toward her so that he had easy access to her lips. Caleb dipped his head down and placed his lips over hers in a kiss that went from tender to fiery in an instant. Her lips were soft and supple. This kiss had been months in the making. He’d wanted to kiss Sophia ever since he first spotted her across the room in True’s tavern.
It had been well worth the agonizing wait. He wasn’t sure if his feet were still on the ground. He was soaring. Flying.
Sophia kissed him back fiercely, as if she too was feeling a sense of urgency. Want pulsed in the air between them. He felt a little bit frantic, as if they needed to make this connection in the here and now before anyone interrupted them. There had been so many moments that had passed through his fingers when he had wanted nothing more than to kiss her. Caleb encircled Sophia’s waist with his hands and pulled her against him so that no space lay between them.
It wasn’t until after the kiss ended that Caleb remembered that he’d promised himself not to allow his heart to overrule his head.