Chapter Nine – Doreen
Doreen’s heart skipped a beat as she rounded the last bend in the path and Sorcha and Christopher’s cabin came into view.
Last night, with its fairy lights glowing against the deep blue winter darkness, it had looked like something straight off a Christmas card.
This afternoon, under a soft wash of pale sun, it looked even better.
Like the kind of place where you could curl up with a book and watch the snow fall while smoke curled lazily from the chimney and warm light glowed behind frost-edged windows.
Last night, if she was honest, she’d been almost as excited about seeing the deputy again as she’d been about catching up with Sorcha and finally meeting Christopher.
Today was different. Today was all about Sorcha.
With no handsome, safety-minded deputy in sight, and oddly, that took the pressure off.
So, when Sorcha had texted earlier this afternoon—If you’re free, come over. I’d love to catch up. Doreen had accepted without a second thought.
Sorcha was the reason she was here in Bear Creek in the first place, and Doreen didn’t want to lose sight of that. Even if, somewhere between Jake, Bash…and James…her focus kept slipping.
No, James was not here this afternoon, she reminded herself. He was probably off rescuing someone from a snowdrift or making sure the roads were safe.
So why had she spent the entire walk here trying to steady the flutter low in her stomach? A flutter that had only begun when she’d met him.
“We’re here!” Jake called out as he came pounding up the trail behind her and spotted the cabin. He took off instantly, Bash bounding after him in wild circles that kicked up tiny explosions of powdery snow.
“Bash,” Doreen called, trying not to laugh, “you could at least pretend to mind your manners.”
The dog responded by gleefully plowing nose-first into a snowbank.
“Yeah, that’s what I thought,” she sighed, but couldn’t suppress a smile as she followed them up the path.
The trail had been freshly cleared since last night, making the walk easier than expected.
A soft wash of gold spilled through the trees as the sun sank lower, turning the snow into a pale, glittering light.
Doreen smoothed her hair, an automatic gesture she knew was useless in these weather conditions, but did anyway.
Because after last night’s moonlit walk…
And this morning’s dog training with James…
She felt oddly exposed.
As if all the new, confusing, warm feelings she was trying so hard to keep contained were written plainly across her face.
Which was ridiculous.
Probably.
Still, she wasn’t entirely sure she could hide anything from Sorcha. Her friend knew her too well. They’d worked side by side for years. First at the little newspaper where Doreen hired her fresh out of college, then later at the magazine where their careers and friendship both grew together.
Jake reached the porch and leaped up the steps, and knocked at the door. The kid had as much energy as Bash, who stood beside him, tail wagging, head tilted as he listened to someone approaching.
Doreen had just reached the top step when the door swung open to reveal Sorcha standing framed in the doorway.
Was it her imagination, or did Sorcha look different? Her skin glowed with a luminous quality Doreen had never seen before, her smile deeper and more serene. Was that what true love did to you?
And after seeing Sorcha with Christopher last night, she did not doubt that true love was exactly what they shared.
“You made it!” Sorcha exclaimed, pulling Doreen into a warm hug.
“We did,” Doreen replied as she stepped back. “The walk was gorgeous. The cabin is gorgeous. The scenery is gorgeous. And you are gorgeous.”
“I’d have to agree with you there.” Christopher appeared behind Sorcha, tall and solid in the doorway.
He caught Sorcha gently around the waist, his fingers brushing her hip in a protective, almost unconscious gesture.
The intimacy of it struck Doreen. They moved together as if they’d been partners for years, not weeks.
Must be nice to be in that honeymoon phase, she thought, a small pang of something like envy piercing her chest.
Christopher immediately crouched down to Jake’s level, his voice warm and engaging. “Jake, I could use a strong helper today. Do you want to come help me with a few cabin repairs?”
Jake’s eyes widened with excitement. “Yes! What kind of repairs? Do you have tools? Can I use a hammer?”
Christopher laughed, the sound deep and rich. “I’ve got a whole toolbox with your name on it. We need to fix a loose railing on the back deck.”
“Cool!” Jake exclaimed, already unzipping his coat.
Bash, sensing adventure, gave a joyous bark and followed Jake inside, tail wagging wildly.
Christopher winked at Sorcha as he straightened, and Doreen caught the look that passed between them.
There were no words. It was as if they weren’t needed.
But the glance was so intimate that Doreen had to glance away, feeling like she was intruding on them.
“Come in, come in,” Sorcha urged, taking Doreen’s coat. “It’s freezing out there.”
As the door closed behind them, Doreen suddenly realized she’d been neatly maneuvered into being alone with her best friend.
Yes, the setup felt subtly orchestrated, and she narrowed her eyes at Sorcha, who merely smiled innocently back.
Of course. Sorcha didn’t just want to “catch up.” Sorcha wanted intel.
Sorcha led the way into the kitchen, where the kettle was already steaming on the stove. The room was warm and fragrant with the scent of something baking…gingerbread.
“Sit,” Sorcha gestured to a stool at the kitchen island. “I’ll pour you some tea.”
“Tea?” Doreen raised an eyebrow. “What happened to the caffeine queen?”
Sorcha reached for a mug, filling it with a pale golden liquid that smelled of ginger and chamomile. “Coffee hasn’t been sitting right with me lately,” she said lightly, passing the mug to Doreen. “This tea is heaven. You have to try it.”
“Smells wonderful.” Doreen inhaled the aroma as she accepted the cup.
“Let’s go and sit by the fire,” Sorcha suggested, leading the way to the living room.
The hearth crackled with a cheerful blaze, casting dancing shadows across the polished wood floor.
Bash had abandoned outside work and instead claimed a spot in front of the hearth, stretching out with a contented sigh.
From somewhere at the back of the cabin came the distant sound of Jake’s excited voice and Christopher’s deeper responses, the rhythm of their conversation easy and companionable.
Doreen sank into a comfortable armchair, cradling her mug between her palms. The tea was surprisingly good, sweet with honey and warming from the ginger, and oh so soothing. Just what she needed.
Perhaps if she lived in a place like this, she might switch from coffee to tea. Not just for the drink, but for the slower, quieter life that came with it.
Sorcha curled up on the sofa opposite, tucking her feet beneath herself as she studied Doreen’s face with that knowing look only a lifelong friend could give. Her head tilted slightly, auburn hair falling over one shoulder.
“You look different…” Sorcha began. “Did something happen?”
Heat rushed to Doreen’s cheeks. Was it that obvious? She focused intently on her tea, avoiding Sorcha’s eyes. “It’s all this mountain air. James came by this morning,” she admitted. “For Bash’s training.”
Sorcha’s smile brightened considerably, her eyes sparkling with interest. She pressed her mug to her chest, leaning forward slightly. “And?”
The blush deepened, spreading down Doreen’s neck. “And nothing,” she protested weakly. “The training went well. Jake loved it. Bash is actually listening to commands now.” She took a sip of tea, buying herself a moment to compose herself. “And James is... very good with them both.”
“Just with them?” Sorcha prompted, her voice teasing.
Doreen sighed, giving in. “Fine. I enjoyed it too. More than expected.” The admission felt both terrifying and freeing. “He’s... a good man.”
“In what way?”
“He’s gentle. Patient.” Doreen traced the rim of her mug with one finger. “And he looks at me sometimes like…” She broke off, because saying the rest—like she was worth looking at—might make all of this too real.
Sorcha leaned forward, her expression softening into something more serious. “You know,” she said, her voice taking on a confiding tone, “Christopher only stayed in Bear Creek because his car broke down.”
Doreen looked up, surprised by the change in subject. “Really?”
Sorcha nodded, her eyes distant with memory.
“He was just passing through. Got stranded in a big snowstorm…” She smiled, a private smile that made Doreen feel like she was glimpsing something precious.
“He came here to stay at Bear Creek Cabins, but the place, and the people, got under his skin...” She paused, her gaze returning to Doreen. “And he found himself.”
“Is that what happened to you?” Doreen asked gently.
“I’m not sure if I’ve thought about whether I found myself,” Sorcha said. “But I guess in finding Christopher, I did. Because you know this small-town life was never for me.”
“But now it is?” Doreen asked.
“Now, it’s everything I want and more.” Sorcha’s eyes misted with tears as she turned and looked in the direction of Christopher’s voice. “It’s like this is the life I always wanted but never allowed myself.”
“Why?” Doreen asked.
“You know how my mom felt about small-town life…” Sorcha began.
“No, I mean, why do you think you never allowed yourself to want this?” Doreen held her breath.
Sorcha’s life in so many ways mirrored her own. Different details, same pattern—telling yourself you didn’t want the thing you were secretly terrified to lose.
Sorcha wrapped her hands around her mug, her eyes growing thoughtful.
“I think I was afraid. Afraid that wanting something simple would make me simple. That choosing a quiet life meant I wasn’t ambitious enough.
” She laughed softly. “You know my mom always pushed me to want more, go further, climb higher. In her eyes, small towns were places you escaped from, not places you chose. I suppose I saw choosing this as a betrayal. But I was wrong.”
“I get that,” Doreen said quietly. “After Walt, I convinced myself that wanting a partner was a weakness. That I was stronger alone.”
“And now?”
Doreen sighed as she stared into the fire. “Now I don’t know what to think. James is... unexpected.”
“The best things usually are,” Sorcha said, leaning back against the cushions. “You know what Christopher told me when I was panicking about staying here? He said sometimes the universe delivers exactly what you need, not what you thought you wanted.”
“That sounds suspiciously like fate,” Doreen replied, arching an eyebrow.
“Maybe it is.” Sorcha took a sip of her tea, watching Doreen over the rim. “Would that be so terrible? To let something good happen without questioning it to death first?”
The fire popped and hissed, sending up a shower of sparks as Doreen considered this.
Bash twitched in his sleep, paws moving as if chasing dream squirrels.
Outside the window, snow had begun to fall again, large flakes drifting past the glass in lazy spirals, turning the world beyond into a soft, white blur. So comforting. So cozy.
Yet Doreen felt nothing but confusion.
“I’m scared, Sorcha,” Doreen admitted, her voice barely audible over the crackling fire. “I don’t want to repeat the heartbreak of my past. I don’t know if I trust my own judgment anymore.” The confession felt raw, exposed, like peeling back a bandage from a wound that hadn’t fully healed.
Sorcha reached across the space between them, her hand finding Doreen’s. “There’s nothing wrong with that. There’s nothing wrong with you. You’re being careful because you’ve been hurt. You’ve learned to protect yourself.”
Doreen’s throat tightened with emotion. She squeezed Sorcha’s hand, unable to speak for a moment. The words sank in slowly, touching places inside her she kept carefully hidden.
“Don’t close the door before you give yourself a chance to open it,” Sorcha added softly.
Tears pricked at the corners of Doreen’s eyes, hot and unexpected.
She blinked them back, swallowing hard against the lump in her throat.
Sorcha’s words echoed inside her, resonating with something that had been quietly growing since that first moment James had looked at her in the snowy parking lot. A look that had given her hope.
Could she trust this feeling? This quiet, persistent unfurling in her chest whenever she thought of him?
Sorcha released her hand, reaching for her tea again. She rested her other hand briefly, unconsciously, on her stomach before taking a sip. The gesture was so quick, so natural that Doreen almost missed it.
Almost.
Her eyes narrowed slightly, taking in Sorcha’s glowing skin, the herbal tea instead of coffee, and Christopher’s protective touches. A suspicion bloomed in her mind, unexpected and incredulous, but she pushed it aside. Surely Sorcha would have told her if…
Christopher’s voice drifted from the back of the cabin, followed by Jake’s excited response. Bash’s ears perked up at the sound, but he remained sprawled contentedly by the fire, too comfortable to move.
“Do you think...” Doreen hesitated, gathering her courage. “Do you think I’m being foolish? About James?”
Sorcha’s expression softened. “I think it’s time you let yourself have something good,” she said quietly. “And James is the kind of man you can put your trust in, and he will not let you down. Believe me…”
Was she ready to believe?
Yes. Maybe she was.
Maybe it was time to stop slamming doors on anything that looked like happiness… and crack one open instead.