by Meg Farrell
I sigh and shake my head. “It is not like Ryan at all. I’m much older and wiser. I know what I’m doing. I really can’t explain what’s going on with us. When we ran into each other in New Orleans…” I attempt to cover for Cade’s stalker mission to find me. “I just knew.”
“Knew what? You aren’t getting married, are you?”
“God, no! I have no desire to get married again. We are going to live together. What I knew was that he didn’t intend to hurt me. We had a long talk and I understand what was going on in his head a little better, that’s all.”
“You already jumped into bed with him!” she exclaims.
“Shhh! Keep it down. They are probably at the door listening to us. Jumped is a bit ambitious since we’re both recovering from that bullshit with his ex.”
“Still won’t talk about sex,” she mocks.
“Actually, you’re right. It was amazing. My hotel room, the shower, his house, a field in the middle of nowhere, all amazing.”
“Now you’re talkin’, sister. Tell me more about the shower. God, that man is delicious, and that smile… Tell me! Tell me!”
I grin. “Oh, so do you want me to tell you about this thing he did with his tongue while we were in the shower?”
“I’m going to die! Yes! Tell me!”
“Sorry, can’t. No kiss and tell for me. Just suffice to say, we have closed that gap, and we work well together on that level.”
She swats at me, “Bitch! I’m calling Liz. I can’t believe you won’t tell me. I can live vicariously through you, and you won’t share.”
“Uh, hello, Connor?” I ask.
“I wouldn’t trade him for the world, but you are having a brand-new romance. I want to share the details. Maybe get a thrill by proxy.”
We both laugh, and it feels good to relax with her in a way I haven’t in a long time.
“Call Liz. Red too. They can help us with all this packing and planning.”
She looks surprised, “Okay, will do.” She goes in the house and starts making phone calls. I head down the porch steps and play with Jillian, who is inspecting an ant hill at the base of the old oak tree. I squat beside her quietly and watch her poke the hill with a stick.
After a few minutes, she looks up at me and says, “I love Mr. Cade. Him is handsome. Him loves you, Aunt Rhae. Can I call him uncle?”
I smile and tuck a stray piece of hair behind her ear. “You can call him whatever you want to call him, honey. He’s not really an uncle, but if you feel better calling him that, you can. He is pretty handsome, isn’t he?”
Her cheeks stain red and she starts giggling. “What is it, baby?” I ask, laughing with her. She doesn’t answer me, she just points, and I have to turn around to see what she’s pointing at. When I do, I see Cade standing behind me, a bright smile on his face.
“Handsome, huh?”
“She has a crush on you,” I say dismissively and gesture to Jilly.
He nods. “Ah ha. What about you? Do you have a crush on me?”
I shake my head. “Nah. You’re too pretty for my tastes.”
We both laugh, and he scoops up a waiting Jillian into his arms and carries her in the house. Jess has been busy making more coffee and pulling my calendar off the wall, so we can write on it as we discuss the moving plan.
That evening we spend approximately twenty minutes discussing the necessary moving items. Mostly we drink, dance, sing, and engage in general foolishness. Liz and Red get in a fuss over something. Jess and Connor put Jilly to bed in my room and slow dance in my living room. I sit back with Cade and take in all the people I love being here with me.
Moving Day
Moving day is upon us. I still haven’t really told the girls what I plan to do with my house. They assume I’ve sold it. I’m not afraid to tell them. It’s more that I want to leave Melody with a support structure. I need to find the right way to tell them. Cade has been a complete saint through the whole process. Crazy. They’ll all think I’m insane for giving my late husband’s mistress my house. Fact is, barring the death of Ryan, I’ve been blessed beyond anything I could ever deserve. She screwed up, but I need to pass my blessings on to someone I think could appreciate it, and I’m certain she comes from good people. They will help her take care of the place.
Tomorrow, everyone will be here to load the truck to send Cade and I off back to New Orleans. I didn’t even have to go rent the truck. Cade is taking care of that, too. Back to the comfort of making lists, I sit down at the table with a cup of coffee. I think through the storage places on the property. I’m going to leave the mower and yard stuff for Melody. I just need to get the rest of Ryan’s stuff out of the attic and pack my bedroom. Then I think a dinner tonight with everyone will be the perfect send off and time to drop the bomb on them.
“Morning,” Cade says as he enters the kitchen. I watch him pour a cup of coffee. He walks over to where I’m sitting, kissing me on the forehead as he takes the seat beside me. “List making?”
“Yeah. It gives me a sense of control. Although, I’m pretty sure this is going to be rather chaotic.”
“We’ll get through it. Did you call her?” he asks.
“No. I need to do that,” I say, standing to leave the room. Cade grabs my hand and tugs me back to him. I stumble and fall into his lap. He wraps me in his arms and cradles me against his chest.
“It’ll work out the way it’s supposed to,” he whispers in my ear.
“I know.”
He holds me for a few more minutes and then releases me so I can go make the phone calls to get tonight rolling. I call my family, Alana, Lucy, and Jules. Everyone agrees to meet at my house for dinner at seven. I am beyond excited to have everyone in the same room. My next phone call is to Melody. I ask her to come at seven-thirty. This should give me some time to explain to everyone what the plan is. Nerves make me sick to my stomach thinking about it. They won’t understand, but I need them to hear why I’m doing this. The house is hers no matter what they say. I just need to convince them to accept her and support her the way they would me. That’s the most important part.
When I finish calling everyone, I start working on packing the bedroom and bathroom. Everything I pick up is a trigger. Before I know it, I have three boxes packed, but I’m crying with every step. I am such a baby. Ugly crying for what? I sit on the edge of the bed and hold a glass frog Ryan gave me when we first started dating. I stare at it and rub my hands over it. It is smooth and cold. The memory of the night he gave it to me is a fond one. As I sniffle, I think my memories are a curse. Lifting my arm, I prepare to throw it and smash it against the wall when a hand catches my arm. Cade.
“Woah, baby. Don’t do that!”
“Why not? It’s mine to smash if I want.” I’m a little surlier than expected. Crying makes me angry.
“You’ll regret it. Leave it here for Melody, but don’t smash it,” he says gently. I know he’s right, and that pisses me off more.
“Whatever. Fine.” I stand and wrap the frog in a piece of newspaper. Placing it in the box, I notice Cade is sitting still, staring at me. “What?”
“Nothing. C’mere,” he holds his arms open for me. I roll my eyes because, even though I’m pissed, hurt, and have more to do than I think I can finish today, I go to him. Standing between his legs, he wraps his arms around my waist and rests his head on my belly. I try to resist his attempts to soothe me, but before I can put up much of a fight, my hands are running through his hair. He squeezes me closer to him. Falling back on the bed, he pulls hard around my waist, so I land on top of him, letting out an uncharacteristic squeak.
Balancing myself, I pull my knees up to the bed, straddling him and staring into his beautiful eyes. He’s grinning from ear-to-ear. “How about a little tension breaker?” he asks innocently. Actually, not so innocently. The smile that follows the statement clues me into his intentions.
“What did you have in mind?” I ask, attempting to be flirty. I’m such a failure at these ki
nds of nuances.
Cade reaches up to grab the back of my neck and pull me in for a kiss. I can feel him stir beneath me, and his intentions are blatantly clear. I hesitate for a moment when I think I hear a knock on the front door. Pulling back, I mumble, “Was that the door?”
“Who cares?” he’s grabbing for me again. There it is again. That was definitely a knock on the door.
“Someone’s here.” I push off him and run my fingers through my hair as I run to answer the door. Before I can get to it, the door opens.
“Rhae, baby!” Irma greets me.
“Irma, how are you?” I hug her and motion for her to come in. Cade stumbles out of the bedroom with a couple boxes in his arms.
“Grandma. What are you doing here?” he asks.
“I came to see if there’s anything I can do to help you pack up the house. Looks like you two got tangled up while you were packing.”
Heat floods my face, and I look down to see that my clothes are in place. She has a sixth sense for busting Cade. It has nothing to do with anyone looking guilty. I shake my head as Irma lets out a laugh as boisterous as Cade’s.
“Grandma. Please. Don’t make Rhae blush.”
Irma turns to look at me. “Too late!”
We all have a good laugh. I slip away to make some fresh coffee. Irma joins me as I’m scooping the coffee grounds into the filter. “So, who bought the house?” Irma asks.
“I suspect you’ve already seen what I’m doing with the house,” I say.
“You’re right. I wanted to see if you would tell me.” She smiles and offers me a hug. I take it. She squeezes me and then looks up at me. “You sure you good with doing this?”
I consider her question. “It feels like closure. I’m feeling, I don’t know, peaceful about it, I guess. Like, for the first time, I’m doing something right.”
She stares intently into my eyes, and then looks past me. I look behind me and there’s no one there. She nods, smiles, and then turns back to me. “You are doing the right thing. It doesn’t matter if no one understands the reasons. It is the right thing.”
“Who were you looking at?” the idea that I’m asking about ghosts or spirits hanging out in my kitchen, eavesdropping on our conversation, is mind-boggling. Irma doesn’t answer me. She shakes her head and tsks me. I knew better than to ask. I haven’t had Ryan or Mama in my dreams for a while now. I thought they had moved on. I guess they did move on from hanging out in my subconscious, but not from watching over me. The thought is strangely comforting.
“Can I ask a favor, Irma?”
“Sure thing, sweet-pea.”
“Will you watch over Melody? She’s going to have a new baby, and she’s trying to finish school. Poor girl still works two jobs on top of all that. She’ll need you.”
Irma looks like she is mulling over my request. “Of course I will. I’m gonna be a grandma to that baby. You watch.” She smiles, and I see a twinkle in her eyes. She means it. She really will insert herself in the life of the new baby and Melody.
a
The three of us spend the afternoon packing the last of the stuff in my house. Cade drags everything out of the attic. I decide to leave every box labeled “Ryan” for Melody to go through and do with as she chooses. About the time we wrap up packing, people start arriving. I’m regretful because I didn’t get to shower before they got here. Cade hugs everyone as they come through the door, and I introduce them all to Irma. I leave out the part about her ability to read them. It’s pretty clear when she takes to loving on Jess and admonishing Liz. Lord only knows what she saw of Liz to make her fuss. But in true Liz fashion, she pays attention and takes everything Irma says to heart.
The best part of introducing everyone was when I got to introduce my friends from work to my sisters. Alana, Lucy, and Jules are such a perfect complement to my family. Ryan’s mom pulls into the driveway right before my Dad, who has brought a bottle of champagne with him.
“It’s a celebration, right?” he says with bright eyes and a broad smile.
“Yes, it is,” I answer. “Did you bring bourbon for yourself?”
“Yes, I did.” He winks and pulls another bottle from inside his jacket.
I laugh and hug him. Hard. I love him so much. We have gotten over our communication issues. Really, there were never any issues. Our communication patterns don’t fit the pattern Jess has with him, but it doesn’t make ours wrong. We give each other what we need when we need it.
Cade helps me herd everyone into the living room. He stands by my side with his arm around my waist.
“First, I wanted to thank you all for coming tonight. I can’t imagine a better send off. Well, maybe better if I could get you all to come to New Orleans with us. But I know that moving down there with Cade is a new life for me. A life that I need.”
The group gives me a round of applause and “woo hoos.” Cade squeezes me when he notices I’m blushing and nerves are making me shake a little bit.
“As you know, when Ryan died, I got the worst surprise I could imagine. Hell, I couldn’t have even imagined what I found out. I shared with you all that he had been having an affair. His pregnant mistress showed up at the house to meet me after he died. I won’t lie or candy-coat it: I was a straight-up bitch to her. While most of you will agree that I have every right to treat her that way for what she did with my husband, the guilt of doing that has been eating at me. Coming to see me had to be one of the hardest things to do. I gave her judgement. I yelled at her and kicked her out of my house.
“When I decided to move to New Orleans, I was faced with another decision. What to do with the house? As you know Ryan and I refurbished this house. It was as much his as it is mine. With the money I got from Ryan’s life insurance, I was able to pay it off. So, I did something you all may not understand or agree with. I signed the house over to Melody as a gift.”
I stop and let the news sink in. Liz and Red look astounded. Alana, Jules, and Lucy have watery eyes. Jess nods and holds Dad’s hand. Irma is the first to speak, “That’s our girl.”
The corners of my mouth turn up into a small smile as I survey the faces of the others in the room. Ryan’s mother smiles and says, “That’s what Ryan and your mama would have wanted you to do. I’m proud of you.”
Everyone takes turns weighing in their support of my decision. The pride that fills my chest squeezes as each one speaks. “There’s more,” I interrupt, and look over at Cade for support. He nods. “I need you to be a support structure for her. Babysit, drop in, mow the grass, invite her to dinner... just... include her. She comes from good people. I think that’s a bigger gift than the house.”
“Do you know us at all?” Liz asks. “Of course we’ll include her. She is one of us now.”
I beam. “Great. I’m glad to hear it.” I look over at the clock on the mantle. “She’ll be here any minute.”
Everyone looks a little surprised, but the buzz of discussion goes on as if it really isn’t a big deal that I’ve invited her over. I shrug and shake my head. This could not be going better if I dreamed it. Honestly, I thought they might be okay with the house, but not being a part of her life. Goes to show you that people can surprise you. In a good way.
Melody arrives right on time. Cade answers the door and leads her to the living room where she is hugged by each member of my family and friends. The ladies rub her belly and talk about due dates. At first, she looks shocked but then settles in. Jess, Liz and Alana take the lead talking about giving her a shower and helping her move. Red brings her a glass of tea and offers to help babysit when little-bit arrives. Ryan’s mom is timid and a little shy with Melody, but they are talking like old friends before long.
Dad moves over by me to get out of the way.
“Hey, kid.”
“Hey, Daddy.”
“You done good. You know that?”
“I think I do.”
“I’m proud of you. I know your mama always was, and I think she is even more today.”
/>
Tears threaten, as I lean into his side. “Thanks, Dad. You sure you like Cade enough to let me move off with him?”
He looks over me to smile at Cade who is busying the food to grill. “Yep. That’s a good one right there.”
I squeeze him in a hug and take in all the activity in my house.
Dinner is uneventful. In fact, I don’t have to do much talking at all. The girls take over cooking, serving, conversations, and eventually cleaning. I walk Melody out at the end of the night. I feel like I need to talk to her one-on-one for minute.
“Sorry about ambushing you with my family,” I start.
“Nonsense. They are all amazing. I can’t believe they accepted me like that. Thank you for including me.”
“Would you do something for me?”
“Anything.”
“Look after Irma for us. We are going to be about six hours away. We may not be able to get to her quickly if something happens. It would sure help to know that someone is here.”
“I’m honored you would ask. It’s funny because she asked if the baby could call her Grandma. She wants to babysit for me when I have to go to school or work.”
“I think you two will be good for each other. Thank you.”
I hug her and help her into the car. I don’t know if we’ll ever be friends, but the closure on this chapter of my life is complete.
a
The next day, everyone comes to the house to help load the truck. We are all standing around waiting for Cade to bring the truck. Red is frustrated because there’s been a cold snap, and we are freezing.
I’m just about to go in the house and start fresh coffee when I hear a honk and see a truck pulling in the driveway. The truck is white with a blue logo on the side. I step off the porch to get a good look at the logo because it doesn’t seem like any rental truck logo I’ve seen before.
The logo reads: MILES CONSTRUCTON, NEW ORLEANS, LA. I stop and stare for a few minutes. Cade hops out of the driver’s seat and walks over to me. “Got the truck!”
“I see that. Mind explaining where you got the truck?” I’m stunned.
