His Unexpected Return--A Fresh-Start Family Romance

by Jessica Keller

  “Remember the story Jesus told in the Bible about the prodigal son?”

  On one of the other days they had spoken, his mom had brought up the same parable. Wade had used his phone to look up the word prodigal later on. It meant wasteful and reckless.

  A perfect word for the person he had been. The person who had hurt everyone.

  Wade dipped his head. “We talked about it the other day.”

  “His father celebrated his return just like we celebrate yours.”

  Wade also remembered that the guy’s brother had been angry about the prodigal’s return. When Wade had read the story in his Bible before bed the other night, he’d agreed with the brother—the brother who stayed had the right to be upset, just like Shannon and Rhett were completely in the right.

  He opened his mouth to say so, but his mom breezed on. “The thing we like to forget is that God knows we are just dust. That’s all He used to create Adam, you know. At the heart of it all, we’re dirt. It ain’t pretty when you think about it that way.” She pursed her lips and shook her head. “But God knows that fully and has loved us since dirt, day one. If He knows the dirt in our hearts and loves us, who are we to decide we’re not good enough? To punish ourselves when He doesn’t? Do you know better than God, Wade?”

  “No, ma’am,” he mumbled.

  “I sure hope not.”

  Wade’s throat clogged with emotion. He would have to think on what his mother had said, turn her words over and examine them and pray before he internalized anything, but they were like a line thrown into a raging ocean, giving him a chance. An offer of hope. No different and no less powerful than the rope the people on the yacht had tossed to him five years ago in the Gulf, saving his life.

  Could a person fake their death, hurt everyone they cared about and still find grace? He had come home clinging to that hope, and maybe he would only find forgiveness in his mother. If so, then that would have to be enough.

  He had never considered the idea of forgiving himself though.

  He couldn’t.

  He regretted what he had done. Hated that he had put people through such a thing. If he could take it back, he would do it in a heartbeat. His choice had been weak and selfish and wrong.

  No one would be okay with him just shrugging off his actions and moving on. With deciding to forgive himself and act as if he hadn’t caused some great fallout in his family. That would only create further hurt.

  His mom adjusted how she was sitting and folded her hands in her lap. “Now I have something I want you to get after for me. I’m sending you out as my hound dog on a trail. Understood?”

  A favor for his mom? “Anything.”

  “Your sister needs you.”

  His stomach knotted into a stone.

  She tapped her finger on the armrest and leaned forward. “She’s dating a man who is no good for her. Cord Anders.” His mom spit out his name as if it tasted sour.

  “What do you mean no good?”

  Wade hadn’t spotted his twin around the ranch much since being back, but he had assumed she was avoiding him. Sure, the first night had gone well, but even then she had said he had hurt her and she was angry. He didn’t expect to gain back the same friendship they had once shared. “I’m glad you’re not actually dead” is very different than “Let’s be friends again.”

  “That man says something and Shannon believes it as truth. He tells her to jump, she asks how high. He says she shouldn’t be around her family and she leaves.” His mom’s words came quicker and quicker. “Around him, she shrinks into a person she’s not meant to be. He controls her. Won’t even show his beefy face on our property.”

  “When I’ve seen her, Shannon has seemed happy,” Wade said tentatively. He didn’t know if this information about Cord was true or maybe something that had happened in the past that was long over. No one had mentioned Shannon having a boyfriend but then again, it wasn’t as if anyone had started sharing confidences with him either. He would have to ask Rhett to clarify what their mom was telling him.

  “She has been somewhat better since that tornado. I think the thought of losing more of her family—even for a few minutes—scared her a bit. She’s spent more time around us since then and seems to be on good footing with Rhett again. But Cord still has a hold on her. Mark my words, that man will try to rein her back in soon.”

  Wade lifted his hands. “Say that is the case, what do you want me to do?”

  “Talk some sense into her. She might brush off Rhett and Cassidy and Macy and me, but she’ll listen to you. She always has.”

  “I don’t think my words hold sway with her anymore.”

  “She’ll listen to you.” His mom’s cheeks were turning red. “I’m sure of it.”

  Wade pinched the bridge of his nose. He needed her to calm down. “I’ll try, Mom. I’ll do what I can.”

  “That’s all I ask.” She pressed back into the chair and let her head loll in the direction of the windows.

  The nurse cleared her throat. “It’s about time for our meds, and a morning nap is probably a good idea.”

  Wade sent the nurse a thankful smile. He checked his watch as he rose to his feet. He had an errand he wanted to run before his appointed time after lunch to meet Cassidy and Piper.

  “I’ll talk to Shannon when I think I have a good opening. I promise,” Wade assured his mom. She nodded and then shooed him out the door.

  * * *

  Cassidy got up from the picnic table and wrung her hands as she paced. She had picked this spot by the lake because while it was out in the open, it was not a location at the ranch where everyone on staff could overhear them. Piper ought to have the opportunity to meet her dad in a safe environment away from people who might gape at them.

  She tugged on her shirt, fanning the fabric to allow for airflow. Afternoon outside under the Texas sun in summer hadn’t been Cassidy’s best idea. They were dealing with enough stress without the elements causing more. Air-conditioning would have been welcome right about now.

  Piper hopped down from the bench to trail after her. The pigtails Cassidy had braided and re-braided multiple times bobbed with her movements. “Where you going, Mom?”

  Cassidy stopped pacing. “Nowhere, sweetheart. Sometimes people just need to move around when they’re nervous.”

  “How come you’re nervous?”

  Cassidy smoothed flyaways back from Piper’s face. She had forgotten to hairspray Piper’s braids like she normally did. “Just about meeting your dad for the first time.”

  Piper cocked her head. “But I thought you knew him already? You have pictures of him in the house.”

  Cassidy choked on a laugh. She had known Wade far too well. “That’s not what I mean—I’ve known your daddy most of my life. What I meant was you. You meeting him.”

  “I met him the other day.”

  “Not really.”

  Piper shrugged.

  A figured crested the hill that led toward the lake. Wade wore boots, dark jeans and a light blue button-down shirt. His sleeves were rolled up to his elbows, showing off his tanned muscular forearms. He was lugging a banker’s box in his hands.

  Piper bounced up and down. She cupped her hands around her mouth. “You better walk quicker than that,” she yelled. “Mom says she’s all nervous.”

  Cassidy groaned. Piper was at the repeat-everything stage of childhood. She should have known better than to say something like that to her daughter. If Wade was going to be around Piper more, Cassidy would have to keep a better rein on her words around her daughter. She didn’t need Piper telling Wade things he had no right knowing.

  Wade’s gaze landed on Piper and then skirted to Cassidy, a hesitant smile lighting his features. A chunk of his hair flopped out of place with each step. Cassidy was certain she had never seen a man more handsome than Wade in that moment.


  He was only paces away. “Did she now?” He set the box down and then closed the distance to Piper. He lowered himself to a knee, getting down to Piper’s level, and leaned toward her. “Thanks for telling me.” Holding up a hand, he mock whispered to their daughter. “Because between you and me, the truth is I’m a little nervous too. Glad I’m not the only one.”

  Piper laughed and popped her hands to her hips. “Well, I’m not.”

  “Oh, good.” Wade rocked back to sit on his feet. “At least one of us is brave.” He held out a hand to her. “My name is Wade.”

  Piper wrinkled her nose and let his hand hang there in the air.

  A cow from a pasture beyond the hill lowed and another answered back. The plunk of a fish or frog jumping into the lake seemed louder in the wake of Piper’s silence.

  Wade’s eyes widened. He looked to Cassidy, silently asking what he had done wrong. His light green gaze begged her to intervene. Most of her memories of Wade were of a self-assured and overconfident young man, so seeing vulnerability etched in every line, every part of his expression undid her. Cassidy put her hands on her knees and dipped toward their daughter. Maybe it was too much, too soon for Piper.

  “What is it, baby? Do you want to do this another time?”

  Wade swallowed hard.

  Piper scrutinized Wade’s outstretched hand as if it was a complicated math problem, then she swung her gaze to Cassidy. “I thought he was my dad.”

  Legs wiggling from the emotional adrenaline pulsing through her, Cassidy put a hand to the ground and dropped down next to Piper. “He is, Piper.” Wade was the only man Cassidy had ever been with, so she was sure on this point. Since having Piper and becoming a Christian, Cassidy hadn’t even dated anyone else. A few had asked—even the megastar country singer Clint Oakfield—but Cassidy had never been interested. She had decided long ago to devote her life to raising Piper and helping at the ranch.

  Protecting herself from further pain and rejection was a nice bonus.

  She gestured toward Wade. “Wade Jarrett is your father.”

  “Then why can’t I call him Dad?” She looked back and forth between them. Finally she glared a little at Wade. “Why didn’t you say I’m your dad instead of My name is Wade?”

  Wade drew his hand back and scrubbed it over the stubble on his chin, then down his neck. “I—I wasn’t too sure what you would want to call me. Given everything, I wanted to leave that up to you.”

  Piper put her hands back on her hips. “Well, if you’re my dad, I want to call you Dad.”

  Wade looked at Cassidy, clearly seeing if she was okay with this happening.

  Cassidy nodded. “Whatever you’re both comfortable with is fine.”

  Piper grinned and thrust out her hand, bright pink cast and all. “Then I’m Piper. It’s nice to finally meet you. I’ve wanted a dad for a really long time and Mom always said you would be a good one.”

  Wade’s Adam’s apple bobbed noticeably and his hand shook as he took her little casted hand in his. “It’s really nice to meet you too, Piper.” His voice was thick with emotion. “I think this very well may be the best day of my life.”

  Piper scrunched her mouth to one side and looked up in thought. “Know what? Mine too!” She dropped his hand and gave a hop before barreling against his chest for a hug. As Wade wrapped his arms around her, he rocked back a little, bringing her little cowboy boots clear off the ground. They stayed like that for a while.

  He set her back down and rose, but not before Cassidy caught him swiping at his eyes. She was too. It was impossible not to be moved by Piper’s reaction. Cassidy turned away and fanned her face. She focused on someone driving a four-wheeler in a distant field—more than likely Rhett since it looked like Kodiak, his reddish brown retriever, was jogging near the vehicle—as she collected herself.

  “I—I have something for you.” Wade’s voice made Cassidy twist back around. He dusted his hands off on the thighs of his jeans, looked at Piper, looked at the box and hesitated.

  “A present!” Piper bounded toward the box. “What is it?” She tugged up the lid and let out an ear-piercing squeal. She squatted beside the box. “He’s for me?” She started to cry. “Really?” A loud wail shook her shoulders. “He’s mine?”

  Cassidy hustled to where Piper hovered over the box. A medium-sized gray-and-white cat poked his head out the top. His green eyes fixed on Piper. As her cries got louder, the cat licked its lips and cowered into the box.

  Cassidy whipped her head in Wade’s direction. “A cat?”

  “He’s really mine?” Piper blubbered the words between tears. “I get to keep him?”

  Wade took a half step toward Piper and then stopped and looped his hand around the back of his neck. “I’m sort of out of my depths here. Are the tears good? Bad?”

  “You got her a cat?” Cassidy bit out the question.

  But at the same moment, Piper twirled toward Wade and launched herself at him, hugging his legs. “I love him! Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.”

  Wade scooped her up. “Your note said that’s what you were missing.”

  “Now I have everything I dreamed about.” Piper put her hands on either side of her father’s face. “You’re the best dad in the whole world.” She squirmed out of his hold and charged back toward the cat again. Piper scooped the ball of fur into her arms, cradling him like a baby.

  Cassidy took a few steps in Piper’s direction. “Careful, sweetheart. Cats don’t usually like to be held like that.”

  As if to prove her wrong, the cat went limp in Piper’s arms and closed his eyes happily.

  Wade shrugged. “The people at the shelter said he was friendly and liked kids. I guess his old owners had to move to an apartment that didn’t allow any pets and they were pretty sad to part with him.”

  “I love him so much.” Piper kissed the cat right between his ears. “I think I’ll name him Cloudstorm. Isn’t that a good name? Because his white and gray patches look like different clouds in the sky. And gray clouds are storm clouds. Look at his eyes! He’s so pretty.” She ran a finger over one of his front paws. “Either Cloudstorm or I’ll name him Cow.”

  “Please not Cow,” Cassidy said. Piper’s pony named Sheep already caused enough confusion among the staff. All they needed was a cat named Cow strutting around.

  Wade gathered the box and they walked back toward the big house together. When they made plans yesterday to meet, Cassidy had been firm about them spending no more than a half hour together so Piper could ease in to the idea of Wade being around. Who was she kidding? The time limit was for Cassidy’s benefit. She needed small doses to accept this change.

  Cassidy fought the urge to say something snappy to Wade the whole walk back. He and Piper looked so happy, but Cassidy clearly needed to set more ground rules for Wade. If he wanted things to work between them as co-parents, then he needed to understand that he couldn’t just spring life-changing things on her without any warning.

  Nothing would be more life changing than coming back from being assumed dead, but that was a twist she hadn’t been able to control.

  When they reached the house, Cassidy told Piper to bring the cat inside.

  “Grandma will love meeting Cloudstorm.” Cassidy pointed toward the house.

  “I still might call him Cow.”

  “Save that for if you ever have a black-and-white cat,” Cassidy said. “Stay inside until I come and get you, okay?”

  Piper charged up the front steps with her new cat in her arms but before she reached the door, she spun around. “Hey, Dad?”

  Wade coughed a little. “Yeah?”

  “My cast comes off soon. Not tomorrow but the next day. Are you coming with us?”

  He looked toward Cassidy.

  “Only if you want to,” she whispered.

  His left eyebrow went up. “Morning or after
noon?”

  She wondered why it mattered. “Early-morning appointment.”

  He sent Piper a huge smile. “I wouldn’t miss it for the world.”

  “Great.” Piper grinned back at him. “Mom said we could do something in the water afterward. She promised.”

  When Piper was safely tucked inside the house, Cassidy jerked her chin in the direction of the barn. “We need to talk.”

  Wade followed along. “Is this about the cat? I should have asked you. But I already thought this through. If you don’t want it, then we can keep it at the big house for Piper to visit. No one in my family will care.” Wade was rambling. He had always fast-talked when he was worried. “It might even be good for Mom to have a pet in the house for company. Other than Kodiak, of course. But that dog is strictly attached to Rhett. She follows him around as if he were the only person alive. So she’s not much company for Mom or anyone else for that matter. That dog growled at me every time she saw me the first three days I was here.”

  Cassidy latched onto his arm and dragged him at a faster pace away from the house. Each step released a puff of sunbaked dust into the air. Once they were around the corner of the large barn, she released her grip on Wade and pivoted so she was facing him. “You can’t do things like that.”

  “What?” He stumbled a step in retreat, his back crashing into the red barn’s wall. “I can’t give my kid a gift?”

  Cassidy growled. “You can’t just buy or bribe your way into her heart. That’s not how parenting works, Wade.” It wasn’t how love worked.

  “That wasn’t what—”

  “Don’t you tell me that’s not what just happened back there.” She pointed in the direction of the lake. “That cat is supposed to smooth over five years of not being around. She’s just supposed to hug that cat and forget that you’ve never been there.” Cassidy’s chest burned. Fear coated her words. The truth was Piper was at an age where she could easily decide she liked Wade more than Cassidy and wanted to spend all her time with him if he ended up acting more like a fun uncle than a father. If the choice was the guy who gave her presents or the woman who enforced rules and told her no ice cream before bed, every kid was going to pick the gift giver.