One Snowy Night (Sweet Home, Alaska #1) - Patience Griffin Page 0,88

put Boomer on the floor and she and Lacy got to their feet.

Donovan pulled the Parmesan cheese from the fridge, but his curiosity was too strong to resist. He handed Rick the pot holders. “Take the bread out. I’ll be back in a second.”

He headed down the hall but didn’t go into the studio. Instead he listened from just outside the door.

“Good grief, Mom,” he heard Ella say. “Did you buy out the store?”

“Several stores,” Hope replied. “Listen, would you and Lacy like to make a quilt for one of the cabins?”

Piney chimed in. “We could really use you girls’ help. How about Wandering Moose Cabin? It’s a Rail Fence quilt. Not that hard. It won’t take you long with the two of you working together.”

“I guess,” Ella said. “I’m loving the moose fabric.”

“Me, too,” Lacy squealed.

It was working, just like Piney had predicted. He was sure that if Ella would just get involved, the Sisterhood of the Quilt would provide some stability for her. Give her a life raft in a sea of teenage angst.

Chapter 16

HOPE WOKE UP in her lodge bedroom to the smell of coffee brewing downstairs. She felt groggy from her throbbing sprained ankle. She’d been lucky last night that Donovan hadn’t insisted on carrying her upstairs. Instead Rick and Sparkle had come to her rescue and helped her up to her room. But Hope couldn’t shake how good it felt yesterday to be cradled in Donovan’s arms. She squeezed her eyes shut, disgusted with herself.

She would do better today, she promised herself. Besides, she had a lot to occupy her mind if she was going to have everything decorated in time for the Wines of Alaska event. She put her feet over the side of the bed and took a second to strategize how best to get to the coffee. She hopped and hobbled to the door, then fumbled her way downstairs as quietly as she could, though her ankle hurt like crazy. As she neared the kitchen she heard, “Do you want me to fix you eggs? Bacon?” Donovan sounded as eager as Boomer begging for a treat.

“No. I’m good,” Ella said sharply. She sighed. “Mom said I need to thank you for the new clothes.”

“No problem. Do you need a lunch for school?”

This was painful. Hope decided to help him out. She plastered a smile on her face and hopped into the kitchen, hoping pain didn’t register on her face. “So how is everyone this snowy morning?”

Ella rolled her eyes. “I assume you don’t need the car today. Can I take yours?”

“Yes, as long as you come straight home after school.”

“What about Tyler’s party?”

“You have to get your homework done and have dinner here before you go.” Hope went on, hoping to defuse the argument that was coming. “Bring Lacy with you after school. I bet Aberdeen will be here and we can have a family dinner.”

Ella’s gaze flitted to Donovan, then back to Hope. “No family dinner. Lacy and I can eat in the room I’m staying in. Speaking of . . . when are we moving into the cabin like you promised?”

Hope opened her mouth, but Donovan jumped in.

“It would be better for your mom if she stayed here until her ankle healed.”

“Yeah. Sure. Mom can stay here,” Ella said firmly, “but I’ll go stay in one of the cabins.”

“Nope,” Hope said. “You and I stick together.”

Ella threw her half-eaten toast in the trash, mumbling under her breath, “Unless I’m staying at Lacy’s.”

Hope decided to ignore it. “Have a nice day at school.”

Ella harrumphed, then turned to the dog at her feet. “Come on, Boomer.” They left the room.

“Aren’t you worried she’ll follow through?” Donovan asked.

“Not this time.”

“But you didn’t tell her not to,” Donovan said.

“It’s best not to engage when she’s being snotty. Can I give you a piece of advice when it comes to Ella?”

“I guess so.”

“What you’re doing is not how you do it,” Hope said.

“Do what?” Donovan asked.

“The eggs, bacon, and lunch thing. You can’t get Ella’s affection that way. You’re going to have to be cool.”

“I am cool,” Donovan said, but there was a bit of questioning in his voice.

“Maybe you were cool in high school, but this is a different kind of cool. I’ve had years of practice and I still blow it all the time. Just be chill and let her come to you. It’s like holding out your hand to a dog to let it know you first, instead of running straight to