by Francis Ray
“Ben Holman married my mother when I was eight years old.” Zachary’s face hardened. “I don’t think of A.J. as my father.”
“I understand,” Cade said, and he did. It was difficult to believe you came from a man so totally without morals or values. “I know it’s asking a lot, but do you think I could meet Manda in the near future?”
“No time like the present. My parents came up for the open house so you can meet them as well, and don’t worry, Mama is the best.” Zachary set the alarm and closed the door. “Let’s go meet the rest of your family.”
* * *
Kara got as far as the registration desk of the hotel, then returned to her car. She knew where she wanted to be and it wasn’t crying alone in a hotel room. Getting back in her car, she drove to Tristan’s house and parked behind his truck. Getting out, she left the overnight bag and rang the doorbell.
The door swung open. “Where’ve you been? I’ve call— What did she do—” He broke off, caught Kara’s arm, and didn’t let go until they were in the kitchen. Muttering, he poured her a glass of wine and brought it back. “Drink.”
She did because he wasn’t taking no for an answer.
He surged to his feet, slammed the glass down on the table, paced, then came back to hunker before her. “You are not going back there tonight or ever. Mother was going to tell you tomorrow, but I think you need to hear it now. Zachary gave her permission to take clients by the spec house. You sold seven more paintings. You have more than enough money to find another place.”
He didn’t want her. Tears rolled down her cheeks.
“Don’t you do that.” He picked her up and sat back down with her in his lap. “Stop it. If she wasn’t your mother—” He bit off and rocked her, stroked her hair. “You’re staying here tonight. Tomorrow is going to be the beginning of a fabulous career as an artist and a new life.”
Kara choked back a sob. “I don’t have a dress. Mama maxed out my credit card.” She showed him Patrice’s business card and told him what had happened at the dress shop and at home. “I’ve never been so embarrassed. I can’t go tomorrow, not wearing this, but it’s all I have.”
Tristan cursed silently. “It will be all right. I promise. No one is going to hurt you again. No one.”
He knew she heard him, but she didn’t answer. Rising, he took her upstairs to his bed, removed her jacket, skirt, and heels and tucked her under the covers. “I’ll get your bag and be right back.” He kissed her on the cheek.
Partially closing the door, he went downstairs to get her keys out of her handbag. He reached inside as her phone rang. He picked it up and saw her mother’s name. His anger hit the boiling point. Knowing he shouldn’t didn’t keep him from activating the call. “You won’t hurt her again.”
“I want to speak to Kara,” the woman screeched. “You’re just using her.”
Tristan’s temper went up a notch. “Unlike you, I care about her and want what’s best for her. I don’t degrade and belittle her every chance I get.”
“No, you sweet talk her and use her for a convenient bed partner. Using her stupid dreams against her.”
“She isn’t stupid, and neither are her dreams.”
“What do you call thinking you’re going to marry her. Ha! You’ll use her and move on. I warned her, but she wouldn’t listen. She was a fool to fall in love with a pretty face. You’ll get tired of her, but I want what’s mine when she sells those pictures. You hear me?”
Tristan disconnected the call, then shut it off. He turned and went back upstairs. Curled in a fetal position, Kara had gone to sleep.
She loved him. He waited for the fear, the urge to flee, but all he wanted to do was get closer, fight to make her happy. Zachary and his mother had tried to tell him that for him, Kara was different, but he hadn’t wanted to listen. She’d quietly captured his heart. She gave so much and received so little in return. That was going to change.
He picked up the card that had fallen from her hand off the floor and left the room. He hit speed dial on the kitchen phone.
“Hello.”
“Hello, Vera.” He quickly explained. “I don’t think I can stand to see her crying or feeling less. Can you help me?”
“What kind of woman would do that to her own child?” Vera questioned, anger in her voice.
“And despite it all Kara still loves her. How can anyone toss away that kind of love?”
“Her mother is selfish and greedy, but there are others who are so busy running that they don’t see what’s right in front of them.”
Tristan shifted. He was sure the conversation had become personal. “Can you help me find the shop’s owner?”
“Be stubborn,” Vera said. “I’ve heard of her shop. Let me make some phone calls. If all else fails, we’ll be there in the morning when the shop opens.”
“You’ll be late,” he reminded her.
“So, we’re late. This is more important.”
“I love you, Mother.”
“I love you too. Bye.”
Tristan hung up the phone. If it were possible, Vera would come through for him. Grabbing the keys, he went to get Kara’s bag from her car.
Twenty-four
“I want you to meet Sabrina Thomas, and Dr. Cade Mathis, my younger brother.”
With those words, Zachary introduced Cade to his family. Since there had been no hesitation, no strange looks, Cade was sure Zachary had called ahead. Still, it was surreal sitting there talking to them over a delicious strawberry pound cake and coffee.
Manda was a charmer. Cade had become Uncle Cade to her almost immediately. She’d tried to use his presence as an excuse not to go to bed. She’d explained she and her brother, Zach Jr., deserved to stay up. The little boy had a winning smile and quick laughter. The family was obviously happy, as was Zachary’s mother. Cade didn’t try to figure out why she’d kept Zachary while Cade’s mother had chosen to give him up. It no longer mattered. Life had taken, but it had given him so much more. It had made him the man he was today.
Cade whispered in Manda’s ear and put something in her hand. She giggled, then walked directly to Sabrina.
“Uncle Cade said this belongs to you.” She opened her hand. In the center of her palm was a glistening princess-cut eight-karat diamond solitaire.
Sabrina gasped and her eyes teared.
Cade plucked the ring from his niece’s hand, got down on one knee. Neither seemed to notice the phone camera Zachary aimed at them. Taking her trembling hand, he slipped the ring on her finger. “You are everything I ever wanted before I knew what it was. I wasn’t really living until you pushed your way into my life and made me like it. I love you with all of my heart. Once I had no one. Because of you I’ll never be alone again. Will you to marry me?”
“Yes! Yes!” She launched herself at him, propelling him backward, kissing him. Thinking it a game, Manda and her brother joined them on the floor, giggling.
Cade came up with one arm around Sabrina, the other around Manda. Zach Jr. was in his lap. “Tomorrow after the open house we have reservations to fly to Houston. I’ll ask your father’s permission to marry you, and we can check on Stephen.”
“I wanna go,” Manda said.
“Me too,” Zach Jr. joined in.
Everyone laughed. Zachary plucked up one child, then the other, sending them into peals of laughter. “Not this time.”
“But soon,” Cade promised, holding Sabrina tighter as he handed her his phone to call and speak with her parents.
Neither he nor Zachary had discussed how or if they’d let friends and coworkers know they were related, or the possibility of their mothers meeting. For Cade, he was content to let Zachary make the decision. Cade had what he’d always wanted and dared not let himself believe, family.
But he couldn’t help but think about the “others” A.J. had mentioned. What kind of life had they had? Were they looking for a family just as Cade had been? Were they as lucky as Zachary had been? Cade didn’t want to u
pset Zachary’s mother or his—he didn’t choke as he thought of her—but Cade knew that before long, he’d seek out the answers to his questions and hoped Zachary would help.
* * *
Tristan hadn’t thought it possible, but Vera hadn’t been able to come up with a private phone number for Patrice. He would have laughed at Vera’s annoyance if the situation hadn’t been so important. He stared at Kara still asleep, then her phone.
Sabrina might know Patrice’s number. He’d already crossed the line once by answering Kara’s phone. He’d invade her privacy if he scrolled though her phone numbers. It couldn’t be helped. He turned back to her phone to call Sabrina, looking down at Kara.
She loved him. She’d forgive him. He looked at her again as the phone powered up. He’d shout like a kid with a new toy, strut like a rooster if she were happy. If tearstains weren’t on her cheeks.
He stepped out of the room, prepared to do whatever necessary. He found recent calls, Sabrina’s number, and hit CALL BACK.
“Kara, I’ve been trying to call you. You’ll never guess or maybe you will.”
“Sabrina, this is Tristan. Kara is all right, but I need your help. Do you know how to reach Patrice?” he asked.
“Why do you have Kara’s cell?”
He wasn’t sure how much to tell her. “She’s upstairs. She wasn’t able to get her clothes at Patrice’s shop. I’d like to get them for her.”
“I’ll take care of it. Was her mother the reason?”
“I’d rather not say,” he said.
Sabrina muttered something unladylike. “Listen, Tristan, my grandmother has a saying, make your move or move along. You get my meaning?”
“Perfectly.”
“Good-bye.”
For a man who thought he was pretty smart, he certainly hadn’t acted like it. He stepped back into the bedroom. He might be slow, but he was a fast learner. Now that he’d stopped denying his feelings for Kara, he was going to do everything in his power to keep her love and make her happy.
* * *
Kara woke up slowly. She felt the warmth pressed against her back, her legs, and she knew Tristan was in bed with her. “How long have I been asleep?”
He snuggled closer and kissed her ear. “A bit. You hungry?”
“No.”
“You should eat something. I can order takeout.”
She angled her head to look at him. “You hungry?”
He shrugged.
Patting his leg, she sat up. “What do you want?”
“Whatever I can get.”
Kara glanced at him and stood. He was looking at her so intently that she wondered if she might have said she loved him in her sleep. “You all right?”
“Getting there.”
“Tristan—” The doorbell interrupted her.
He rolled from the bed and took her hand. “That’s for you.”
Frowning, she allowed him to pull her downstairs to the front door. Shock widened her eyes when she saw Sabrina and Cade. Then they were hugging, and Kara wasn’t sure when the tears started. She accepted the handkerchief Tristan handed her. “I’m sorry.”
“You have nothing to be sorry for,” Sabrina said. “Do you want to talk about it?”
“No.” Kara emphatically shook her head. “Since you’re here it means Stephen is still improving.”
“Yes,” Sabrina told her. “We’re flying back to Houston tomorrow after the open house.”
Kara teared up again.
“No, you don’t,” Tristan said in a panic. “Please, honey, stop crying.”
“You don’t understand,” she said.
“You might be wrong about that.” Sabrina handed her a garment and a shopping bag. “Patrice said these belonged to you.”
Kara gasped, reached for the dresses, then jerked her hands back. “How—” She shook her head. “I can’t afford them.”
Tristan took the dresses and held them out to Kara. “Yes, you can. There’ll be lots of media there tomorrow. You’ll look great in anything, but you wanted these.”
“Thank you,” Kara said, taking the dresses and the shopping bag, but she still didn’t sound happy. She placed everything on a nearby chair.
At a total loss, Tristan stared at Sabrina for a clue and she stared back. Cade picked up her left hand.
“You’re engaged,” Tristan burst out, and earned a look of annoyance from both.
Kara grabbed Sabrina’s hand and hugged her, then Cade. “I’m so happy for both of you.” She picked up Sabrina’s hand again, stared at the ring, then looked at Cade. “She never wavered. She always knew you were the one. You two have something very precious. I can’t even begin to imagine how happy you both must be.”
For some reason, Kara’s statement annoyed Tristan. “You aren’t happy with me?”
Kara turned, her smile tremulous. “Of course, but it’s not the same.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
Kara threw an embarrassed glance at Cade and Sabrina. “We’ll talk about it later.”
“No. I want to know why I don’t make you happy,” he said, then only had to look at her tear-ravaged face for his answer. He muttered a curse, shoved both hands over his head. He recalled Kara saying that Sabrina never wavered and always knew. He’d made no secret that he’d wanted to get her into bed. He’d offered her nothing but good times between the sheets and she had given him so much more.
“This isn’t your fault,” Kara said.
“It still tears me up inside to see you with tears on your face. I should be able to make things better for you, and I can’t.”
“Yes, you can,” Kara said, taking his shoulders. “You gave me hope. No one, not even my father, was able to do that.”
“But it’s not enough to replace the tears on your face,” he said, his voice ragged.
“Tristan, it’s not your fault.”
“Whose then? A man who loves a woman as much as I love you should be able to keep her happy!”
Kara went still. Her mouth opened but nothing came out. She trembled all over. “You love me?”
Gently he took her into his arms. “I’m not sure when it happened, but you mean everything to me.” His hand brushed the hair from her face. “As much as I hate to admit it, I probably would have kept on denying the truth if your mother hadn’t said you love me.”
“What!” Kara pushed out of his arms. “So you feel sorry for me?”
“That’s so stupid I won’t even answer.”
“Are you calling me stupid?”
“I’m calling you my heart, the air I breathe, the reason I wake up with a smile in the morning, the woman I want to grow old with. The woman I’d fight the world for.” He took her face in his. “Will you marry me?”
Tears crested in her eyes. Panic filled Tristan. “Please don’t say no. I don’t know what I’ll do if you’re not in my life.”
“I feel the same way about you. I didn’t know what living and being loved truly felt like until you came into my life.” Her lips curved upward. “Yes, I’ll marry you.”
“Kara,” he whispered, kissing her with a tenderness that caused tears to well up in her eyes again.
“Congratulations,” Cade said, extending his hand to Tristan. “You’re going to have a lot to celebrate tomorrow.”
Kara smiled. “With the dresses, I won’t embarrass you or your mother.”
He glared at her. “That could never happen. We’re both proud of you. She’ll be showing you off tomorrow as much as I will. What you wear doesn’t matter.”
“Spoken like a man,” Sabrina said. “Patrice picked your shoes and accessories out in less than five minutes. She’s awesome.”
“Not as awesome as you are,” Cade and Tristan said, staring at the women they loved. Sabrina and Kara melted in their fiancées’ arms.
“We’re lucky men, Cade,” Tristan said.
“I know,” Cade replied with a grin. “I’m sure they won’t let us forget it.”
S
abrina laughed. “You’re so right.”
“I still can’t believe it,” Kara said, leaning against Tristan.
“I’ll remind you of this on our silver wedding anniversary.” Tristan pulled her closer.
“Give me a hug so we can leave you two alone to talk,” Sabrina said. “We’ll have a long talk when I get back. Tomorrow you’ll be too busy. Maybe we’ll lock ourselves in my office Monday once news gets out we’re both engaged and about your success.”
“The hospital grapevine will be jumping,” Kara agreed, grinning back. “I don’t know how you did it, but thanks for the dresses. I’ll pay—”
Sabrina held up her hand to silence Kara and Tristan. “No to both of you. I helped my best friend and got to see her become engaged to a wonderful man on the same night I became engaged. That’s a priceless memory.” Sabrina blinked back tears. “We’re outta here. See you tomorrow.”
To cries of good night, Cade and Sabrina drove away. His arm around her waist, Tristan and Kara went back inside. “Let’s call Vera and tell her the good news, then we’ll go celebrate.”
“In bed,” Kara said, leaning into him.
“Why break a great tradition?” he said, his mouth finding hers.
* * *
“You sure you want to do this?” Tristan asked as he stopped in Kara’s driveway a little after nine the next morning.
Kara grabbed his hand. “She’s my mother. She might not feel the connection, but I do. No matter what, I can’t turn my back on her.”
“I’m going with you.”
She squeezed his hand. “She can’t hurt me anymore. I have you and a future.”
“You amaze me.” Tristan kissed her hand.
“It’s because of your faith and love that I can do this.” She looked at the house she had grown up in, recalled the good memories, the bad. “Last night I was a miserable wreck.”
“I didn’t realize until later that Cade held up Sabrina’s hand to demonstrate the power of love,” Tristan said thoughtfully. “I get that now.”
“We both do.” Kara opened the car door and got out. At the hood of the car, Tristan reached for her hand again. They went up the steps. On the porch, she rang the doorbell and waited.
