Braden couldn’t envision Piper losing ownership of the restaurant either. It would be agonizing for her. Not to mention Trudy and Hank. They were all invested in it. The townsfolk would be both saddened and upset. Piper would be the subject of endless gossip about the circumstances of her losing ownership of the Snowy Owl. She wouldn’t be able to bear it if the townsfolk discovered that the diner had been struggling since before her father’s death. He knew Jack’s reputation was important to Piper. People would sympathize with her as well, but he knew she would be inconsolable. If there was even a small chance of them reversing things, he wanted to give it his all. It would be his penance for shaving years off Jack’s life. If it hadn’t been for him, Jack might be here today, doing everything he could to boost the restaurant and spreading his effortless charm throughout the establishment.
“We should meet up so you can give me an opportunity to look over the books and all of your monthly bills along with revenue. That’ll at least give me a snapshot of what’s been going on.”
Piper made a sad face. “Sure thing. I hope you see something in there that I missed, but I crunched the numbers over and over again. It’s not looking good.”
“We have to look at all your options. You might need a lawyer or a consultant.”
She shook her head. “I don’t have money for an attorney. It’s a lack of money that’s gotten me into this situation in the first place.” Piper let out a frustrated groan.
“Why don’t we meet this evening to try and sort some of this out?” he suggested. From what he’d initially gathered, they had only a short window of time to get things dealt with before everything imploded. That needed to be prevented at all costs.
“That sounds good. Come by after I close up,” she told him. “I have to get back out there, but I’m so thrilled you changed your mind about helping me.” She flashed him a smile. “In case you didn’t realize it, I’m super grateful.”
“Get back to work,” he said, making a shooing motion with his hands. “I’ll see you tonight.”
After Piper rushed out of the office, Braden sank down into one of the chairs and let out a ragged breath. Fake it until you make it. He usually hated the expression, but at the moment it held a deep significance. He had managed to put on an award-winning performance with Piper. Hopefully she hadn’t detected anything lurking under the surface. She was a fairly intuitive person, and she knew him so well. He never wanted her to see the cracks.
It was hard keeping secrets from Piper, especially one as substantial as this one. Although he had spoken the truth about owing her, there was so very much he’d omitted—truths he was too scared to ever confess to her.
And so instead he would help her figure out where she stood with her long-term ownership of the diner, and if possible, help her hold on to it. Maybe then he wouldn’t feel as if he owed Piper a debt he could never repay.
* * *
The rest of the day passed by in a blur for Piper. Although she still felt nervous and scared about the future, just knowing Braden would be assisting her in the weeks ahead made her feel as if she wasn’t so alone. It was a comforting feeling. Piper was tempted on a daily basis to confess everything to her mother and Hank, but she always stopped short before she did so. Telling them the disastrous news about the diner would change the way they regarded Jack, and she couldn’t bear the thought of them feeling such a deep sense of disappointment in her father.
If she could turn things around and rescue the establishment, no one would ever have to find out that the diner had been struggling well before she inherited it. Braden’s surprise appearance at the diner had lifted her spirits and given her a hearty dose of hope. Some might call her foolish for being so optimistic, but the alternative was too horrific to imagine. Having it ripped away from her would serve as a gut-wrenching blow. Failure really wasn’t an option.
But now she wasn’t handling this situation by herself. Braden was by her side.
For the first time in ages, she’d felt as if she had been looking at her best friend instead of the cold, remote stranger he’d transformed into. But even though Braden was saying all the right things, something still seemed off between them. If they were going to work together to save the diner, she needed to figure out what had changed so dramatically between them. She knew she wasn’t imagining things.
It had started in the aftermath of her father’s death. Although Braden had been a rock for her to lean on, he had exhibited signs of strain and discomfort. It was as if he didn’t feel right in his skin all of a sudden. Had she leaned on him too much? Was he uncomfortable because he hadn’t been able to save Jack’s life with his CPR techniques? Although she’d tried to convey to Braden how grateful she was for his lifesaving attempts, maybe it hadn’t sunk in. Perhaps he couldn’t move past not being able to save her father’s life.
Midafternoon Hank stopped by for lunch with his best friends, Gabriel Lawson and Connor North, Sage and Braden’s brother. Friends since they were toddlers, the three men always referred to themselves as the Three Amigos. Just watching the camaraderie flowing so naturally between them caused a sharp pang to shoot through her. It used to be like that with her and Braden. They had been inseparable. Everything had been effortless.
Look on the bright side, she reminded herself. Being in such close proximity to Braden could change things. Perhaps they just needed to get back to their natural rhythms. Maybe then their friendship would return to being what it once had been—spectacular and full of ease. That and saving the Snowy Owl was all she truly wanted for Christmas.
“Hey, little sis. How’s it going?” Hank asked as he approached her, a smile gracing his handsome face. There were few people in her life who she flat out adored. Hank was one of them. As town sheriff, he was a beloved figure in Owl Creek. With his sandy-colored hair and blue eyes, her older brother looked nothing like her. But regardless of their physical differences, they were still bonded by blood and their love for one another. Like her mother always said, Real love is color blind.
“I’m doing all right,” she answered, matching Hank’s grin with one of her own. “Today has been fairly busy. Considering how up and down things have been lately, it’s a blessing.”
Hank seemed to be studying her. He was gazing at her intently as if trying to read her facial expressions. “So, how’s the bottom line? I know running a restaurant isn’t easy, especially in a small town like Owl Creek. You must have taken a hit with the new establishments that have opened down the street.”
She waved her hand around, highlighting the restaurant. “We’re keeping our heads above water,” she answered. “The customers keep coming back, so it’s all good, Hank.” It pained her to tell half-truths, but she didn’t know what else to do at the moment.
Now would be the time to tell her brother all about the diner’s precarious financial situation and the very real possibility that she would have to close the Snowy Owl’s doors. He would be shocked, and he might even lecture her about withholding the truth for so long. But at least this huge secret wouldn’t be weighing on her conscience. Maybe then she would be able to breathe normally without feeling a sharp pain in her chest. She knew something else with a deep certainty. Hank would move mountains to help her, which was the exact reason she couldn’t confide in him. Her older brother was a loyal and compassionate man who had been through a lot over the past few years. Now, after his marriage to Sage, he had finally found happiness. There was no way she could place this huge albatross around his neck, regardless of what it might cost her.
“That’s good to hear, Piper. Don’t be a stranger. You and Mama need to come over for dinner real soon.”
Piper cocked her head to the side. “Did you learn to cook in the last few months? Because the last time you made a meal for us you almost burnt your house down.”
He reached out and playfully tweaked her nose. “You’re a regular comedian aren’t you? Sage has been teaching me some of her recipes.” He puffed out his chest. “I made pot roast the other night.”
Piper fanned her face. “As I live and breathe. Love has sure transformed you, Hank Crawford.”
“It surely has, and I couldn’t be any happier about it,” he said, brushing away curls from her temple then placing a kiss there. “I have to head back to the sheriff’s office, but I’d like to see you sometime away from the diner.” He shook a scolding finger at her. “Remember, if you live, eat and breathe this place, it’ll lead to burnout.” With a warning look, he strode away from her toward the door.
Burnout. Little did Hank know how close she was to being consumed by the flames. She needed something good to happen to turn things around. She needed God to show her that the dream her father had nurtured for so long wasn’t going to turn into ash. Piper pressed her eyes closed and prayed. Dear Lord, please hear my prayer. I need Your help more than I ever have before. I’m in trouble and I’m scared of what’s to come. Please help me weather this storm.
