by Cindy Kirk
“Thank you. I’m sure I won’t need it, but it’s good to have.”
For a second, Cassie wondered if she should go over and tell Axl good-bye.
Before she could give in to the impulse, Jackie made a shooing gesture with one hand and shot her a wink.
When she stepped out into the hall with Krew, he took her arm.
Cassie cast Krew a worried glance. “You think he’ll be okay?”
“I hope so.”
“I thought you might say I was babying him, but you’re as concerned as I am.”
“You’re leaving the kid with a group of strangers. Of course you should be concerned.”
She planted her feet and glanced back down the hall. “I should go back.”
“No.” He gave her hand a tug. “He’s fine. In fact, I predict that when we pick him up, he won’t want to leave.”
Cassie exhaled a breath, knowing that was exactly how it would go down. “You’re right.”
On the drive to the café, they talked about Axl—mostly—and a little bit about the sermon, which had centered around forgiveness. No mention of last night’s kisses.
“I know I should probably forgive my parents, but my dad was such a mean SOB.” Krew’s jaw tightened. “Especially when he was drinking.”
The finality in his tone told Cassie he’d already made his decision, and it would take an act of God—ha-ha—to change it.
“I thought you admired your mom for how hard she worked to provide for you.”
“I do, it’s just, well, honestly, it’s complicated for me. I know my mom didn’t have it easy, but how could she stand by and let him hit and scream at us?” A muscle in his clenched jaw jumped. “Why didn’t she leave him and get us out of there? It’s not like it would have been any harder to provide for us. He certainly wasn’t helping. It’s like she chose him over her own kids.”
Cassie felt as if water had filled her lungs, making breathing impossible. Panic had her heart skittering like a trapped bird.
“I admire you so much for your decision to focus on your family over men and dating.” Krew shot her a wink. “Though I hope you’re willing to make an exception for me.”
Cassie could barely summon a smile at his teasing.
Each time she thought Krew might find out about the situation with Clint, she told herself he’d understand and forgive her.
She was only kidding herself. He wouldn’t forgive her any more than she would ever forgive herself.
“What about you?” Krew asked. “Is there someone you have a hard time forgiving?”
Myself.
For a second, Cassie worried she’d spoken aloud, but Krew just continued to look at her with that curious gaze.
“I try not to dwell too much on the past.” Cassie pointed to a truck backing out at the café. “Look there’s a spot right in front.”
Krew wheeled the car into the stall the truck had just vacated and cut the engine.
Neither of them made any move to get out of the car.
“What’s wrong?” Krew’s voice, so filled with concern, had an ache of yearning welling up inside her.
She was oh-so-tempted to come clean. Though it would be what she deserved, she wasn’t prepared to have him take a big step out of her life.
Besides, now wasn’t the time or place. Everyone was inside. Her sister was saving seats for them.
There would be time for confessing later. Maybe.
Cassie opened her car door. “I’m worried about Axl.”
“We can go back and check on him.”
Dakota had hit the jackpot in having this man for her father. And perhaps, if things had been different, Cassie and Krew might have been more than friends.
But that train had left the station long ago. Wishing, she’d learned, didn’t change reality.
“I’ve got my phone.” Cassie lifted it to show him. “Jackie will call if he needs me.”
“Let me know if you change your mind.”
Krew opened the door for an elderly couple, then motioned Cassie into Muddy Boots.
“Where are they?” Krew glanced around the crowded café. Laughter, conversation and the enticing scents of freshly brewed coffee and cinnamon filled the air.
“There’s a large table toward the back.” Cassie didn’t even finish speaking before she started weaving her way through the tables.
Krew fell into step behind her.
His progress was slowed, because every couple of feet, he was stopped by someone wanting to comment on last week’s game or ask him about his recovery.
When Cassie reached the table, she was alone.
Lindsay glanced around. Frowned. “I thought Krew was coming with you.”
“He’s here.” Cassie gestured vaguely with one hand. “He has a thousand and one admirers in the restaurant. I think it’s going to take a while for him to get free.”
“But he’s taking you back to pick up Axl, right?” Ami slanted a glance at her husband.
“I’ll do what I can to extricate Mr. Football from his fans.” Beck gave his wife’s hand a squeeze and stood.
Cassie assumed that the two seats between Lindsay and Max Brody were for her and Krew. She took the one next to Lindsay.
“How did Axl do when you dropped him off at Little Fishes?” Prim asked.
Cassie glanced at Ami. “He was coloring beside Sarah Rose when I left.”
“Jackie does such a great job with the little ones.” Ami shook her head. “I don’t know how she does everything.”
“I saw she’s using a cane now.” Cassie nodded and pointed to her cup and Krew’s when the waitress asked if she wanted coffee. “That’s new since I last saw her.”
“Yes. She’s moving more slowly, but she’s determined not to let her disability define her.” Ami put her hand over her own cup. “None for me today, Helen.”
“How are things going at the Daily Grind, Cassie?” Max, Prim’s husband, asked. “You need to get Ryder to join us for breakfast. Every time I ask, he has some excuse.”
“I have zero control over my boss,” Cassie said as Krew dropped into the chair beside her.
“Who’s the boss?” Krew asked, taking a gulp of the coffee Helen had just poured.
“I was telling Cassie she should try to get her boss to join us.” Max, a good-natured accountant with a mop of blond hair, grinned. “He doesn’t listen to any of us. We’ve been trying to get him here for months.”
Krew cast Cassie a look she couldn’t quite decipher. “He’ll listen to you?”
“Yeah, right. The answer to that question is a big fat no.” Cassie rolled her eyes. “I’m the employee. He’s the boss.”
“Not for long.” Lindsay singsonged the words.
All of a sudden, Cassie found herself the focus of everyone.
Across the table, Eliza lifted a brow. “You’re quitting the Grind?”
“I, ah—”
“She’s taking her real estate licensing exam.” Pride wove through Lindsay’s words. “We’re almost positive Tim Vandercoy will let her join his team.”
“We don’t know that for sure, Lin,” Cassie protested.
Max glanced at his wife and received a nod. “If you decide to go out on your own, there’s space in our office.”
Cassie didn’t know what to say to the generous offer. The building housing their accounting office was in a prime location.
Max lifted his cup and flashed that easy smile. “Just another option.”
“Thank you.” Cassie stumbled over the words. “That’s so generous.”
“Wait until you see what he plans to charge you in rent,” Eliza warned. But her tone was joking, and once again, the laughter flowed freely.
Cassie felt tears sting the backs of her eyes. This suddenly felt real. It was as if she stood on the brink of a new life.
All she had to do was take the next step and be willing to risk failing…again.
Chapter Twenty
The next afternoon, Krew read the
text from Cassie telling him she’d scheduled the exam in Green Bay. Pride rushed through him. He knew, maybe better than most, what courage this had taken. Regardless of the outcome, taking this step was a huge accomplishment for her.
He texted back that he’d like to bring dinner by to celebrate. After telling him that wasn’t necessary, she agreed.
Knowing the family’s schedule—and how had that happened?—he timed his arrival so everyone was home before he pulled up with bags of food. Dakota pulled in behind him in a battered car that made Cassie’s car look like a floor model.
“Hey, Dad.”
Bent over the passenger seat, bags in hand, Krew froze.
He glanced up. Dakota might be smiling, but he saw the question in her eyes.
“I like the sound of that,” he told her.
The tense set to her shoulders immediately relaxed. “I felt weird calling you Krew when you’re my dad. But I didn’t know if you’d mind…”
“I’m honored.” His heart swelled with emotion, but he gestured with his head. “Thanks for picking up the cake.”
“When you ordered it, I told Grandma I wanted to be the one to bake it.” Dakota glanced down at the white box. “She insisted on doing her part. I did the baking, and she frosted and decorated it. I need to make sure to tell Mom that Grandma did part of it. I know that will mean something to her.”
Krew cocked his head. “Red velvet?”
“With butter cream frosting.” Dakota grinned. “Her favorite.”
“What did she put on it?” Krew had left the wording up to Anita.
“You’ll see,” Dakota said mysteriously.
The boys, all three of them, were seated on the couch watching television.
Braxton shifted his gaze. “Mom said you’re bringing dinner. What’s the occasion?”
“Your mother scheduled her real estate licensing exam.” Krew set the bags with the Muddy Boots logo on the card table. “I thought that was a cause for celebration.”
Cassie appeared in the doorway. “I’m getting the plates and silverware out.”
“Mom.” K.T. turned to look over the back of the sofa at Cassie. “That’s so cool. You’ll ace the test.”
“Absolutely,” Braxton echoed.
“Your mouth, God’s ear.” Cassie smiled. “Dakota, I’m happy you’re here. I thought you were working for your grandma tonight.”
“I ran into this guy,” Dakota jerked a thumb in Krew’s direction, “at the Y when we were both working out. He told me what he had planned for tonight. When I mentioned it to Grandma, she gave me the time off. I didn’t want to miss the celebration.”
“It’s not really a celebrat—”
“It is, Mom. Scheduling the test is huge.” Dakota slanted a glance at Krew. “When Dad mentioned he was bringing dinner for a celebration, I wanted to be here. And I’ll have you know I baked the cake he ordered, and Grandma did the frosting and decorating.”
Dad. Krew saw that Cassie caught the change, but she didn’t say a word. She had too many other questions. “Cake?”
Dakota glanced down to the box in her hands. “Red velvet with butter cream frosting.”
“My favorite.” Cassie’s gaze sought Krew’s, and he saw the question.
“Your mother told me.” He gestured to the sacks. “We better eat before the burgers get cold.”
“Burgers?” K.T. jumped up from the sofa.
“And broccoli,” Krew added and watched the boy’s smile fade. “It’s good for you.”
At his mother’s warning glance, K.T. swallowed whatever he’d been about to say.
“Thanks, Krew.” Braxton stood. “It’s better than nothing.”
“Braxton, manners,” Cassie hissed.
“Oh, did I forget to mention the fries?” Krew dodged a punch in his good side from K.T. and watched the boys give each other a high five.
In a matter of minutes, they were seated at the table, or on the sofa, big, juicy burgers, broccoli and fries on the plates before them.
Krew hoped the kids truly understood what a big deal this was for their mother. Just in case they didn’t, he’d help them out with a reminder. He thought about what Cassie had told him of the process. “I assume you’ve taken the sample test?”
Cassie lowered the burger in her hands. A smile tugged at the corners of her lips. She nodded.
“How did you do?” he pressed.
“Ninety-eight percent.”
“Wow, Mom. You’re a superstar,” K.T. said.
At the word superstar, Axl clapped.
“What do you need to get on the licensing exam to pass?” Krew asked.
Her smile blossomed. “Seventy-five percent.”
“You’ve nothing to worry about,” Dakota said. “You’re going to rock that test.”
Braxton gave her two thumbs-up.
“Realtor Cassie Lohmeier for the sale.” Krew spoke as if he were a sports announcer.
She brushed away the words with one hand, but her eyes were shining.
Their gazes locked, and a current flowed between them.
When had this happened? he wondered. When had she started to be so important to him?
By the time the cake was brought out, not a scrap of food remained. Dakota unpacked the cake, and Krew carried it to the card table.
Anita had outdone herself on the decorating. Her semicircle of cake sprinkles and pieces of rich dark chocolate left space for the words We love and believe in you. A smattering of red hearts surrounded the words.
Cassie stared at the cake for a long moment. Tears filled her eyes. She glanced at Krew, and the emotion shimmering in her gaze had his chest tightening.
“This is incredibly special.” She cleared her throat. “Dakota, would you do the honors of cutting the cake?”
Dakota squeezed her mother’s arm. “Of course.”
“Give me an extra big piece,” Braxton ordered.
“If he gets a big piece, I get one, too,” K.T. said.
Cassie grabbed some dishes. “I’m going to put these in the sink.”
Krew waited a second, then followed her into the kitchen. He found her with her hands on the counter, tears slipping down her cheeks.
“Hey.” He spoke in a low tone. When she didn’t respond, he gently turned her to face him, wrapping his arms around her and pulling her close. “What’s wrong?”
“I don’t want to dis-disappoint you. Or the kids.” She sniffled.
“You won’t disappoint—”
“What if I fail?” Her voice was thick. “What if—”
“We’ve talked about this.” He kept his voice stern, though he wanted nothing more than to soothe and comfort. “Half of winning is having a winning mentality. You’ve done the work. You’re prepared. You will succeed.”
“I hope so.”
“I know so.” He brushed a kiss across her hair and would have said more, but he saw Dakota standing in the doorway, watching them with an inscrutable expression. “Let’s go and have some cake.”
When Cassie stepped back from his arms, swiping at her cheeks with the pads of her fingers, Dakota was already back in the living room.
“This cake is amazing,” Krew told his daughter fifteen minutes later when he finished off the last of his piece.
“Thanks.” Her smile was quick and perfunctory, not reaching her eyes.
If something was bothering her, now wasn’t the time to bring it up. Krew shifted his gaze to Cassie, who was letting Axl eat the last bite of cake on her plate.
“You’re going to Green Bay on Thursday to take the test?” Krew kept his tone offhand.
She nodded.
“I happen to be going to Green Bay then myself.” Until this moment, Krew had been content to let his agent handle the front-office negotiations. Now, it seemed prudent to be there in person. “What time is the test?”
“I can take it anytime between eight and five. The test itself can take up to four hours, so I want to start no later than one.”
“Do it, Mom,” Dakota urged. “Make this day special.”
Cassie brushed back a strand of hair from her face and gave a little laugh. “You’re all awfully confident I’m going to pass.”
“You’re prepared. You’ve done the work.” Krew shot her a wink. “It’s time to reap the rewards.”
Cassie’s text told Krew only two things. The test was over, and she was ready to be picked up.
As he drove the familiar streets of Green Bay, he realized she had been at the forefront of his mind since he’d dropped her off.
Though the test would be done on a computer, rather than face-to-face with professionals, she’d dressed as if she were headed for a business meeting, in dark pants, heeled short boots and a shirt that managed to look dressy but casual. She’d pulled her hair back into some kind of twist, as if worried it would get in her face and distract her.
It had taken every ounce of his self-control not to give her a kiss for luck. The last thing he wanted was to disrupt her concentration. On the drive from Good Hope, they’d talked about the exam, and over lunch he’d asked her questions from the sample test.
She was ready. He hoped she’d taken it to the goal posts.
Instead of waiting inside the building as he’d expected, she stood on the sidewalk, wearing that flimsy tan coat, her arms wrapped around herself to ward off the wind.
The second she saw his car pull up, she hurried to the curb and slid into the seat he had warming for her.
“How’d it go?” He kept the vehicle in park, making no move to pull away from the curb. Krew didn’t want to be in rush-hour traffic if she was upset.
He’d promised her this morning that he would be here for her, regardless of the outcome. Krew had meant every word.
“I passed.” She squealed the words and surprised them both by flinging her arms around his neck.
