His Unexpected Return--A Fresh-Start Family Romance

by Jessica Keller

  One last hurdle. He could do this.

  But first, he needed to reassure Cassidy before he was away from her for three days. She knew he had to go to Houston but he had given vague reasons. Just that he had some unfinished business to take care of. When she had pressed and asked what sort of business, he had told her it wasn’t a big deal. Now that she had spelled out her fears, he didn’t want her doubting anything.

  Wade wrapped his arms around Cassidy, dragging her to him. “I love you.” His voice cracked. “I never stopped.”

  She nuzzled against his neck and pressed a kiss to his skin there. “I love you too, Wade. I always have. I always will.”

  Chapter Eleven

  Wade tried to get up from his chair but a sharp slash of fire raced through his neck and back, traveling up into his head. He gasped. Musty air from the usually unoccupied staff house filled his lungs. He suffered through a few coughs that sent blades of pain through his body.

  He tried to lift his arm to see his watch but couldn’t. The doctor had warned him that they had cut deeper into his side to remove more lymph nodes than they had initially planned. He would be sore and it would possibly be a while until he could lift his arms higher than mid-torso.

  Wade closed his eyes against a wince. He didn’t need the clock to confirm what day it was. He had spent Friday and Saturday in the hospital. When they released him on Saturday evening, Shannon had stayed with him at a hotel in Houston to give him another day to heal before the long car trip home. She had driven him back to the ranch late on Sunday night, helping him into the staff house when they were sure no one would see them. He had spent Monday alone in the house, sucking on ice shards while he waited to feel better.

  The feeling better part? It had never happened.

  Now it was Tuesday.

  Day four. Piper’s birthday.

  He had to get up.

  “God, please.” His voice was hoarse from disuse. “Please give me the strength to get up.”

  It wasn’t supposed to be like this. He was supposed to be up and around by now. He was supposed to feel fine. His team of doctors had shared stories with him about patients who went to the movies on day three or four. Or had coffee with friends by now. Out. Among the world. But Wade couldn’t get up from a chair without what felt like a herculean amount of effort.

  A tremor went through his body. Had Shannon cranked his air-conditioning when she checked on him this morning? He was freezing.

  The front door clicked open and he lifted his lids to see Shannon. She strode closer and frowned. “You still look horrible.”

  “Thanks, sis.” He coughed and it hurt. Man, it hurt. So much.

  She bent near and pressed her hand to his forehead. “No fever. So probably no infection. At least you have that working for you.”

  Wade sucked in a quick tight breath. “I need you to help me get up and get ready for Piper’s party.”

  She set a hand on his shoulder and applied pressure. “You’re not going anywhere.”

  “I have to, Shannon. If I’m not there—I promised Piper. I told Cassidy I wouldn’t let either of them down.” But here he was letting them down, being the disappointment he had always been. Everyone would be left to mutter “older Wade, same shenanigans.”

  Why hadn’t he insisted on putting off the surgery until after Piper’s party? His doctor had presented a great argument for the quick surgery, but it had been Wade’s health at stake. He could have put it off.

  He should have put it off.

  Wade imagined waiting and learning that cancer cells had infected more lymph nodes or moved elsewhere. Taken over the other side of his thyroid. No, he couldn’t regret getting it out as rapidly as he had but the timing was horrible to say the least.

  But they told him he would be fine by day four. He had counted on it.

  “Maybe you should have told her what you were going through, then there wouldn’t be a big fallout over you not showing up.” She yanked a phone from her back pocket. “You could just give her a call.” She jiggled the phone near his face. “But if you do, she is going to want an explanation.” She tucked her phone back away. “And what would you tell her, Wade? What would you say?”

  “It wasn’t supposed to be like this. They had said I’d be fine in two or three days.”

  “Yeah, well, I called and talked to them and they said you could be healing slower if you were run-down before the surgery. Which, let’s be honest, you were.”

  “I hadn’t slept a full night in a month.”

  “On top of that, you were working yourself to the bone.”

  “There were things to do.” He hadn’t been able to finish the cabins in time. He hoped Rhett could find someone else to finish them before they were needed later in the summer for campers.

  “Well, I know for sure you’ve slept through the night for at least the last two or three nights. Keep it up and you’ll be able to be up and around soon. If not, we’ll ask at your appointment on Friday.”

  “I’m going to sit up. It hurts, but I can do it.” He braced his arms on the armrests. He had been getting up on his own to grab snacks and things like that when Shannon wasn’t around. It was just he preferred to save it for when movement was absolutely necessary. With a grunt and a jerky movement that did nothing to ebb his pain, Wade shoved to his feet. The muscles running along his neck and shoulders screamed in protest. He grabbed onto a nearby table to steady himself as he wheezed out a breath.

  He wasn’t used to being weak. No control over what he could and couldn’t do.

  Shannon shook her head. “I really think you should just sit back down and take it easy.” Belying her words, Shannon came to his side and wrapped an arm around his waist for support. They walked around the room twice and then she helped him sit at the overhang of the kitchen counter while she fished things out of the fridge to make a sandwich.

  Wade traced a swirl in the countertop. “Maybe I could make a quick appearance?”

  “Please, Wade, be serious.” She pointed a butter knife at him. A glob of mayonnaise slid off and plopped onto the counter a foot away. “Even if you hobbled over to the party, people are going to take one look at you and know you’re not okay and there will be questions. Your bandage is bigger than I thought it would be.” She gestured at his neck. “You would have to rock a winter scarf to hide it. Do you even own a winter scarf?” She held up a hand. “Don’t even answer that. Let’s pretend you were able to disguise all of that.” She made a circle motion at her neck. “What are you going to do when Piper throws herself at you? You do understand that would be unavoidable, right? It’s her birthday, Wade. You’re her dad and she hasn’t seen you since last week. She’s going to fling herself at you.”

  “You’re right,” Wade said. He wanted to drop his head into his hands, but the movement would have hurt too much. “I don’t like it, but you’re right.”

  Piper would want him to hug her and pick her up and he was in no condition to do so. It would hurt his daughter’s feelings if he brushed her off when she jumped at him. And Cassidy would notice something was wrong with him the second she caught sight of him.

  His phone pinged with an incoming message.

  Shannon twisted to stare at where his phone rested on the little table near the reclining chair he had been sleeping in. “Want me to go get it for you?”

  “Thank you.”

  Shannon slid a sandwich in front of him and then went and got his phone. She set it next to the plate. “You know this is going to be Cassidy. The party starts in minutes and she’s going to be asking where you are.”

  Wade punched in his password and sure enough, there was a text from Cassidy.

  You should have been here an hour ago. Where are you?

  Wade stared at the screen for a second. He could tell her the truth now, but that would ruin Piper’s day. And to what end? If t
he doctors proclaimed him to be cancer free on Friday, then he would have worried her for nothing.

  He typed back.

  I won’t make it. I’m so so so so so so so so sorry.

  He shot off a second text right after that one.

  I’ll make this up to her. We can go away to a waterpark. A whole weekend of celebrating.

  Cassidy was quick to shoot back, This is unacceptable. Get here. Now.

  Wade sighed.

  I’m sick today.

  His phone rattled.

  Are you contagious?

  Wade closed his eyes for a heartbeat. He wouldn’t lie to her.

  Not contagious. Just feel awful. You know I’d be there if I could. Tell Piper I love her.

  Cassidy’s response took longer this time, but then a bunch came through in quick secession.

  She needs you!

  You can stop by, even if you’re sick.

  Do you know how often I’ve had to do things when I was sick? It’s called being a parent!

  You PROMISED you would come.

  This is NOT ok.

  Wade silenced his phone and set it on the cushion of the chair next to where he was sitting. Text messages could be misunderstood and often made things worse. He would have to wait this situation out until the weekend, after he had been to see his doctors and had answers. At that point his bandage should be removed, and he had looked up pictures online—the scar wouldn’t look too bad. It shouldn’t frighten Piper by then.

  Shannon still stood on the other side of the island, eyebrows raised. “You gonna enlighten me?”

  “Please tell Cassidy that I have a really good, completely legitimate reason for not being there. Please, Shannon. I’m begging you to help me. She had only just warmed up to us being together again and I don’t want to ruin anything.”

  “Well, you know what I would say to that.”

  “I already ruined it by not telling her.”

  “Look at you. Quick learner.” She came over and wrapped him in a gentle hug. “I’ll check on you later and I’ll make excuses as good as I can.”

  After she left, Wade made his way back to the recliner. He glanced at his phone again and debated calling Cassidy and setting things right, but he decided against it. The truth would take attention away from Piper on her special day and he wasn’t about to lie, so that left him with nothing to say. For now. Still, he stared at the screen until his eyes went heavy. His medication must have been kicking in.

  It wasn’t supposed to happen like this. He was supposed to feel fine today.

  The phone slipped from his hand as he fell asleep.

  * * *

  Cassidy prowled through the yard, surveying Piper’s birthday party in full swing.

  Purple balloons bobbed along the fence nearest the Jarrett house. Sheep, Piper’s pony, watched them suspiciously while Romeo, the miniature donkey who shared Sheep’s enclosure, seemed as if he couldn’t have cared less. The giant bounce house and inflatable obstacle courses were packed with kids from her preschool, as well as kids from the foster program who Piper had befriended. Cloudstorm stalked near the row of tables where food was piled.

  By all accounts, the party was going well.

  Except the birthday girl had teared up twice already, looking for her dad.

  “Is he here yet?” she asked the second she spotted Cassidy again. “When will he be here?”

  Cassidy crouched in front of her. “Your dad isn’t able to make it, sweetheart.”

  Piper’s lip quivered. “But he said he would. He told me he would.” A fat tear skated down her cheek.

  Cassidy framed her daughter’s face so she could wipe away the tears. “I know he did. Sometimes things come up.”

  “He said nothing would keep him away.”

  Cassidy pulled Piper into a hug and held her like that for a few minutes. She kissed the top of her head. “Look at all these people who are here to celebrate your special day.” She fanned her hand to indicate the party. “They all love you and want to spend time with you.”

  Piper kicked at the ground. “I wanted to celebrate as a family.”

  Cassidy pointed out Rhett in the crowd. “Your uncle is looking for you. Go say hi to him for me, will you? Hang out with him until I come get you.”

  Piper’s bottom lip was still trembling but she nodded and took off toward Rhett.

  Rising, Cassidy balled her hands at her side.

  She blamed herself. She had trusted Wade. Let down her guard. She had let him back into their lives. And she had let Piper get her hopes up about Wade coming to the party. Piper had gotten attached to Wade and Cassidy should have known better than to allow such a thing to happen.

  Had she missed warning flags?

  For the last three weeks, Wade had been the model example of dependability and hard work. He had gone out of his way to take care of her and Piper. Why couldn’t he come through when it mattered most?

  Was he actually sick? Even if he had a fever, he could have stopped by. Doubt gnawed at her. A normal person would have texted back their symptoms when she had told him to come anyway.

  If he had been in a car accident or was stranded somewhere, he would have told her. He could have called. Instead he had given her radio silence for four days and when she had reached out, he hadn’t explained himself. What had he been doing in Houston?

  Ice ran through Cassidy’s veins.

  What if Wade was gone again?

  Gone for good.

  What if this whole time—

  She spun away from the party and swiped at her tears. Cassidy charged away from the crowd, so no one would be able to hear the pitiful sob that ripped from her chest. Her shoulders shook as she blindly stumbled forward.

  She had kissed him. Her fingers went to her lips. Kissed him a lot.

  I love you. I never stopped.

  Wade was a liar.

  Wade was gone.

  The two thoughts chased themselves around in Cassidy’s head. Louder and louder. Cassidy had her hands on her thighs and her eyes pinched shut when a warm hand on her back made her jump.

  Rhett’s lips formed a tight line. “What’s wrong?”

  “Where’s Piper?” Cassidy glanced around frantically.

  “With Macy.” Rhett gently guided Cassidy farther away from the party. Then he repeated, “What’s wrong?”

  Just her heart, falling to the ground with no one to catch it. Again.

  Just her dreams crushed another time.

  Just making a fool of herself like usual.

  “Wade didn’t come. I haven’t talked to him in four days and now he didn’t show up to this.” Cassidy moved her hands wildly as she talked. “Who doesn’t show up to their five-year-old’s birthday party? I texted him and he was very vague. He says he’s sick but I don’t know.” She seized Rhett’s wrist. “Rhett, what if he’s gone? What if he took off on us again?”

  “Let’s try to get some answers before reacting.” Rhett waved a hand in the air. “Shannon,” he yelled. “Over here.”

  Shannon cut her way across the field from the staff housing area at a jog. When she was close enough she took Cassidy’s hands. “Hey, it’s okay. Believe me. Everything is going to be okay.”

  Cassidy jerked her hands from Shannon’s grasp. “You know where he is. Don’t you?”

  Growing up as twins, Shannon and Wade had always been close. And Cassidy had noticed them spending more and more time together in the last ten days or so. She knew for a fact that Shannon had gone with him twice on his excursions to Houston, so she couldn’t play dumb.

  Shannon’s gaze went right to Rhett. She bit her lip.

  “Shannon,” Rhett’s voice rumbled. “If you know what’s going on, you need to start talking.”

  “Now, don’t freak out, okay?” Shannon spoke slowly
, calmly, as if she was talking to a spooked horse. “I just saw him and he has a completely legitimate reason for not being here. He’s so upset that he can’t make it. It’s killing him.” She looked to Cassidy, her eyes pleading. “If he could be here, he would. You know he would. He loves you guys.”

  “You just... Wait... You saw him?” Cassidy blinked and looked back at the staff houses. “He’s here. He’s here—right here at the ranch—and he’s choosing not to come?”

  Shannon put her hands up in a stop motion. “Listen. It’s not like that at all. He really isn’t well enough right now.”

  “If he’s really sick I want to see him. I want to help,” Cassidy said.

  Rhett placed a steady hand on Cassidy’s shoulder. “Which house?”

  “Seven,” Shannon whispered. “But he doesn’t want—”

  Cassidy took off at a sprint across the yard with Rhett close at her heels. Shannon joined a second later. If any of the partygoers had glanced their way, they might have thought they were playing one of the designated games.

  Cassidy burst through the front door to the seventh staff house with so much force the door hit the stopper and flung itself back behind her. Rhett caught the edge of it before it hit the frame. Both of them crowded into the small, enclosed entryway.

  “You’re back soon.” Wade’s voice came from the other room but it sounded strained.

  Cassidy hurried into the living room and froze when her gaze landed on him. Wade was in a reclining chair and his skin was paler than snow. His hair was mushed in all directions as if he hadn’t showered in a few days and a large white bandage covered the front side of his neck.

  “Cassidy.” His voice cracked. “You’re not supposed to be here.”

  She fumbled to grab onto something nearby and finally ended up grasping Rhett’s arm when he came up beside her.