Page 27

Keegan pulled his gaze off Sascha and back to the road, frowning as he carefully navigated the icy roads with his precious cargo.

The biggest thing about Sascha had been her free spirit and her inner light…but that light was dim right now. She was holding herself small in the back of his truck, and he wasn't okay with that.

He couldn't ask any personal questions right now, not with Gabby and Bella there, but he could do what they'd done seventeen years ago, and have fun with what they had.

He tightened his grip on the steering wheel in resolve as he turned into a dirt parking lot for a log-cabin general store called Alice's. "First stop," he said. Alice's. Damn. He remembered this place. It had been a long time. "Alice was the first person who bought anything from me. I used to bring her stuff for free, and she's the one who insisted on paying me."

He opened his truck just as the front door of the store opened. An older woman with gray hair, hiking boots and jeans came out on the porch. A tall woman who still looked strong, she put her hands on her hips. "Well, if it isn't Keegan Hart. Too big for your britches to come and see us?"

He grinned and jogged up the steps to wrap the older lady up in a hug. "Never too big for you, Alice."

She hugged him back, her blue eyes glistening as she put her hands on his cheeks. "I've been watching you, my boy. I'm so proud of what you've done with your bakery. So proud. You started here, remember?"

"I do." He was suddenly so glad he'd come. Bella had been right. He'd needed to get back out on the road, and connect with the people and the reason he'd fallen in love with baking in the first place. Baking was about keeping the memory of his mom alive, doing justice to the home she'd created, to the love she'd shown. Not some corporate numbers crap. "Sorry I haven't been back. I got lost," he said quietly.

Alice smiled. "Haven't you heard? Not all who wander are lost." She gestured at the truck. "Who did you bring with you?"

He looked back at the truck. Suddenly, he was overwhelmed with emotion as his gaze landed on the three females walking toward him. His sister. His daughter. And Sascha.

He cleared his throat, trying to stay focused. "My sister, Bella. Bella, this is Alice. She was my first supporter."

"I'm so happy to meet you!" Bella hugged Alice.

Alice gave Bella some love, then her gaze went to Gabby and Sascha. "You have a daughter?"

He raised his brows, startled by her observation. "What?

"She has your eyes!" Alice held out her hands to Gabby. "Tell me your name, and why I never met you before."

"My name's Gabriella," Gabby said. "Keegan and I just found out about each other, so it's all new."

Oh, crap. Teenagers.

Sascha grimaced, and Alice immediately raised her brows at Sascha. "She looks just like you. What's your name? You're Mom, right?"

Sascha nodded. "My name's Sofia—"

"You've been holding this massive secret all this time, Sofia? You didn't tell either one of them about the other? Gabriella is what, fifteen? Sixteen? And you hid who her dad was this entire time?"

Sascha's cheeks turned pink, and Keegan swore under his breath. "It's fine," he said quickly. "We're working it out. Not a big deal."

"It is a big deal," Alice said. "You lied to them both?" she asked Sascha.

"Alice," Keegan warned, but Sascha pulled her shoulders back.

"Yes," she said, her voice strong and defensive. "Gabby's sixteen, and yes, I didn't tell either of them. It's complicated—"

"Of course it is." Alice said. "I had one of those."

Sascha blinked. "One of what?"

"A secret baby daddy. Sometimes you have to do that." Alice gave Sascha a look of such understanding. "It's a hell of a burden to carry."

Sascha's eyes glistened with sudden tears, but she shrugged, clearly trying to play it off, but not before Keegan saw her reaction.

Shit.

They all stared at the older lady in surprise. "Really?" Sascha finally asked.