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But they'd just found him. They'd just opened the door to possibilities that felt like a gift from the universe. Gabby's father. Sofia's first love…and second love…
"Hello?" Eliana said. "Are you guys still there?"
Sofia held her hands out helplessly to Keegan, and he swore under his breath. "Yeah, we're here. It's not popular advice, Eliana."
"It's not my job to be popular. Sofia, are you leaving? Tell me you're leaving."
Sofia's gaze slid to the car she'd borrowed from Jocie, which, true to Keegan's word, had been moved to his house while they'd been delivering the Hart Bakery goodies. It was parked to the side, with chains already on its tires for the trip over the mountains to get back home. All she'd wanted was to get back to her store and to get space from Keegan, but now that it was being forced upon her, she didn't want to go.
She wanted to attend the Hart party with Gabby, to let her daughter meet her family. To experience a Christmas with the kind of family she'd always dreamed of having. A kiss under the mistletoe. A holiday of hope for love, for a family, for all the things she'd convinced herself she could live without.
All it had taken was Eliana snatching it away for Sofia to finally realize that was what she wanted.
But at what cost? Her life? Gabby's life? That cost was too high. The paparazzi too real. She would never ever forgive herself if she made the selfish decision to stay with Keegan and Gabby was endangered as a result.
It was Keegan who was strong enough to make the decision. "I'll have them leave," he said finally. "I'll hire security to see them home, just in case pictures have been leaked already."
"I'll have my team check as well," Eliana said. "Sofia, you know the drill."
The drill. The text that would come from Eliana or someone else, the one that meant run. Disappear. Forever. "I can't do that, Eliana. I can't disappear from my life. I love my life."
Gabby gasped. "Disappear? No!"
"I know," Eliana's voice softened. "We'll do whatever we can to keep you safe. But please, help yourself and go home for now. Keegan, do not approach him. At this time, as far as we know, he still believes she's dead. Don't open that door."
"Right. Okay." He hung up the phone, and the three of them stared at each other. "We can find him," he said quietly. "But it doesn't sound like that's a good idea."
Sofia shrugged. "For sixteen years, we've been hiding. I thought for a moment that we didn't need to hide anymore."
"Mom?" Gabby was holding her hand, something the teenager hadn't done for a long time. "What do we do?"
She took a breath. "We'll head home, and then figure things out."
Tears filled Gabby's eyes. "I don't want to go home. I just found them."
"I know. Me, too."
Keegan cleared his throat. "Both of you, into my house now. We'll wait in there until security shows up. No one's going to be taking pictures of you inside my house. But let's go."
Gabby spun around and ran for his house, but Sofia had a feeling it was more because that's where she wanted to be, not because she was scared to be outside.
Sofia glanced around the property as she followed Gabby, but she didn't see anyone. "Would there really be someone hiding in the bushes?"
Keegan put his hand on her lower back as they headed toward the house. "Not likely, no. But it has happened."
Gabby was already at the door, waiting for him to unlock it. He punched a code in the keypad, but the way he made Gabby put it in her phone so she would always be able to get in made Sofia's heart tighten. Such a strong statement of welcome went such a long way toward giving Gabby hope that Keegan meant it when he'd said he'd always be there for her.
They stepped inside, and both she and Gabby gasped. "This is gorgeous," Gabby blurted out.
"It really is," Sofia agreed. It was an oasis of warmth and home. Very casual, cozy, and comfortable, with big couches, a fireplace, and an open floor plan that let her see the gorgeous kitchen that was bigger than her entire apartment and store combined. Huge windows looked out onto nearby mountains and horse pastures, and there was even what looked like a covered pool in the backyard. The space was large enough for the entire Hart clan to gather with friends, but intimate enough that it would never feel lonely. "It's literally my dream house."
Keegan smiled as he hit a button on the wall that lowered the shades, hiding them from the view of the outside, and stealing their view. "Thanks. Make yourself at home while I make some calls. The kitchen's all yours. There's always some good food in there, between me and Bella."
"Awesome." Gabby headed straight for the kitchen, while Keegan took Sofia's hand and drew her toward the fireplace.
She went willingly, wanting to preserve every last moment with him before she had to leave. Keegan draped his arm around her shoulder, and she leaned against his side while he dialed. "Dylan," he said into the phone. "I need an escort for Sofia and Gabby. They need to head home ASAP. How soon can you get a couple folks here?"
While Keegan made plans, Sofia turned into Keegan, slid her arms around his waist and rested her cheek against his chest, while she watched Gabby going through the fridge. She noticed that there were Christmas lights strung up around the kitchen, a massive poinsettia on the island, and a huge, gorgeous Christmas tree in the corner of the living room.
