Page 62 of Cherishing Happily Ever After

Steph glanced between them. They were definitely acting strange. But then again, it was a strange situation, and it didn’t matter. She was just so happy to have them there.

“I can’t wait to show you Lynx Creek. But I should take you for lunch first.” Stephanie jumped up from the kitchen table. She was sick and tired of being stuck in the house. Reporters or not, she didn’t care. It was time to show her parents what she’d been working on. “And there’s actually someone I’d really like you to meet.” She glanced around for her sisters. Hope still had her phone, and although she appreciated her sister’s attempt to shield her from whatever tabloid stories were out there, she was getting more than a little annoyed that she wouldn’t give it back. “I just need my phone and—”

“Oh, sweetheart,” her mom interrupted her. “I’m just so tired from all the travel, can we maybe have a bite to eat first? Katie—who is just lovely, by the way—told us that Birchwood is the best restaurant in town. Can we stop there?”

Stephanie tried not to be disappointed. More than anything, she wanted her parents to be excited about Lynx Creek, and she was beyond excited to show them everything she’d been working on. But… “Okay, sure. Let’s go. I just need my phone. Where is—”

“Hope’s gone,” Faith announced as she walked into the kitchen. “She took Cole into the city for some shopping.”

“What?” Steph didn’t even try to hide her shock. “Now? Today? But…she has my phone.”

“I think it’s in her purse.” Faith shrugged. “Sorry.” She turned to Bonnie. “Did I hear you’re going to Birchwood? Can I come? I love Birchwood, and Logan’s working and—”

“Of course, dear.”

Stephanie looked between her mother and her sister, both of whom were acting as if they were completely possessed. She shook her head. It had been a long few days. Maybe a decent meal would do them all some good.

“Let’s all go,” Steph said. “Afterward we’re going to go by Lynx Creek so I can—”

“Oh great.” Faith interrupted her. “I’d love to join.”

It wasn’t really an invitation, but Steph shrugged and went in search of her purse. Maybe Travis would be there and she could talk to him? She missed him. A lot. More than she expected. But she also needed to put things right between them. She needed to make sure he was okay. Her lack of cell phone was starting to get more than a little annoying. “Can I use your phone to—”

“You’re not wearing that…” Faith interrupted her. “To Birchwood?”

Stephanie looked down at her jeans and blouse. True, it wasn’t her nicest outfit. She hadn’t really grabbed much when she’d left the cabin. But she didn’t look bad by any stretch, and she definitely looked appropriate for Birchwood.

“What’s wrong with—”

“Really, dear. Maybe Faith has something you can wear.”

She didn’t even try to hide her surprise as Steph looked first at her mother and then her father, who simply shook his head and sighed.

“Oh!” Faith clapped her hands. “I bought the cutest sundress the other day. It would look great on you. Come on.”

“You’re almost a foot taller than me,” Steph protested as her sister dragged her from the kitchen. But she didn’t bother protesting very hard if it meant they could get done with a meal and get over to Lynx Creek faster, she’d go with it. The only thing fueling her now was the hope that Travis would be there.

Lunch had gone well and her parents had enjoyed Brody Morris’s food, as she knew they would. He was one of the best chefs around. But Stephanie was on edge, anxious to get out of there and to Lynx Creek. Her sisters had been right; most of the paparazzi had left town, apparently annoyed that they couldn’t get the scoop they wanted and the townspeople generally were uncooperative with them. A few still lingered, but they lost interest when they saw it was just Stephanie with her parents and one of her half-sisters. Most of the tabloids had run all the stories about Stephanie’s found sisters ages ago. It was old news.

She’d tried to ask Faith a few times to see the stories that had been written about her and Travis. Had they even mentioned him, or had she been effective getting ahead of it with her explanation? There were so many unanswered questions that she was starting to go crazy.

What had they said? But more importantly, how had Travis reacted to it? Would he be okay with the press knowing about him? He was a strong man, but even the strongest of people could be broken down by the intensity of the paparazzi. She needed to see him. This was ridiculous.

“Faith.” She interrupted a story that Faith was telling her mother and although she should feel bad, she didn’t. She needed a phone. “I need to borrow your phone, please. I need—”

“Should we get going?” Her father reappeared from a visit to the restroom. “I’m eager to see your special place, pumpkin.”

Steph smiled gratefully at her dad, who was beaming at her. “I can’t wait to show it to you, Dad. You’re going to love it.” Instantly, she started to feel calmer.

Her dad squeezed her hand and looked straight in her eye. “I know I will, kiddo. Let’s go.”

They made the short drive to Lynx Creek, and only a handful of reporters followed them. Someone, Stephanie assumed it had been Travis, had put a large Private Property sign up on the other side of the makeshift bridge, and the few reporters who followed them obediently stopped on the other side. From the passenger seat of Faith’s SUV, Steph exhaled and for the first time since she’d left her property the day before, she felt she could breathe again.

“Happy to be back?” Faith smiled at her.

“So happy. I can’t believe it’s been less than twenty-four hours and already I feel like this.”

“That’s a good sign, sweetheart.” Her mother reached up and patted her shoulder from the backseat. “That means this is home.”

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