Jack didn't say anything for a long while and they simply stood in the middle of the park. Cassie wasn't sure if he was angry or sad and he gave nothing away. He looked back at her after a few minutes, the muscles in his jaw flexing, and in a tight voice asked, "How could you keep this from me all this time? Especially after how close we've become."
"I was scared," she whispered. "And in denial. I didn't want to go back on my word to my mother."
"So you protected your sister?"
"Yes, and no. I was doing it for Mom. And for Sarah. But I never agreed with Amanda's decisions. If nothing else came from it, though, I am so glad that I chose to adopt her. Sarah's my world, and I can't imagine her being given to an anonymous couple and never knowing her."
"But that's just what you've done to me, Cassie. Don't you see that? If this hadn't come out, I might have never known her as my daughter either."
Cassie shook her head. "I meant it when I said I was planning on telling you. I've struggled with this for weeks. But deep down I knew all along that you should know. And I'm sorry that it took me so long to acknowledge that. I was misguided I guess."
"I'll say." He turned away, walking a few steps away from her. Whirling on her suddenly, his eyes held a contrasting mixture of sadness and anger. "I don't know how I can get past this. I thought we had a future together. Hell, I even renovated the guest house in preparation for it. But this is just more than I know how to fix."
Cassie nodded wordlessly, tears pooling in her eyes. She blinked them back. She knew this, of course. It was what she'd been afraid of all along, and now she knew she had deluded herself into thinking that Jack would still love her after she had told him the truth. It was over between them.
He searched her face, looking for something. He must not have found it because he threw his arms up in exasperation.
"I'm sorry." It was a pathetic apology, and would never be enough. She turned and hurried back to her car, not looking back.
* * *
Jack leaned back in the rocking chair, watching Sarah play with dolls on the floor. He'd gone out and purchased countless toys, a toddler bed, and a chair to fill one of the empty rooms in the main house in preparation for the day when Sarah would be ready to spend more time with him. That day had come sooner than he'd expected. After their talk on Friday, Cassie had called later in the evening asking if he wanted to keep her on his own the next afternoon while she worked. He jumped at the chance, even though he'd been a little nervous.
Things had been going well all day so far, though, and Sarah was content with him. It amazed him how naturally he'd been able to step into the role of a father and it reaffirmed for him that he was indeed ready to settle down and start a family.
However, nothing had panned out the way he'd thought. He had Sarah, but no wife to share the joys of parenting with. Not just any wife, he admitted. He didn't have Cassie. And as angry as he'd been with her, she still held his heart.
He was pretty sure she always would.
His father hadn't said much on the matter, but Jack could tell that Tom thought he should try to work things out. A couple weeks ago the idea of it was beyond comprehension to him. But as the days had gone by, an emptiness and longing had replaced the anger in his heart. Things just weren't the same without Cassie in his life. And every time he saw her, the distance between them felt wider and more painful.
He'd been unable to get her out of his mind since their discussion in the park the previous day. It had taken him by surprise that she had volunteered to adopt Sarah when Amanda had been planning on giving her to a stranger. The thought had passed through his mind countless times that he could have never been given the opportunity to know his daughter had that come to fruition. While he had still been deprived of her first two years, he was lucky to be sitting where he was, watching his daughter play at his feet.
At just that moment, she looked up at him and gave him that precious dimpled grin. "Where's Mommy?"
Jack glanced at his watch. "She'll be here very soon, princess."
Accepting his answer, she happily returned to her dolls.
Talking with Cassie had also revealed some things to Jack that he'd been uncertain of. Cassie was genuinely regretful of her decisions, but she had also been motivated by honorable intentions, misguided as they were. That had to count for something, in his opinion.
The fact that he was trying to understand her actions wasn't lost on Jack. He still loved her, and as much as he felt the sting of betrayal, he knew that she was still the same woman he'd fallen for. Difficult as it was to reconcile his feelings for her with the hurt she'd caused him, he knew she was also still the woman he wanted to spend the rest of his life with.
He'd planned on becoming a father to Sarah at some point anyway, so wasn't it just icing on the cake that she was truly his in every sense of the word? Now that his anger was dissipating, he had to wonder if happiness was still within their grasp.
A knock on the door tore his attention from his thoughts. Cassie was leaning against the door frame, watching them. How long had she been there?
"We were slow this afternoon, so I closed up the shop a little early. I wanted to see how you two were doing." She gave him a tentative smile.
Before he realized it, he was smiling back. Just seeing her smile at him brought all his feelings rushing back. He knew then that he wanted to be the one to keep that smile on her face. She had hurt him, to be sure, but his coldness toward her was causing her pain as well.
The only thing keeping them apart was him.
* * *
"Cassie," Jack said, standing and taking a couple of steps in her direction. The softness in his voice had her heart skipping a beat. She had been sure he would never speak to her with any degree of tenderness again. But there he was, watching her carefully, a small smile on his face. She shook her head to clear it, to make sure she wasn't imagining things.
"This," she said, gesturing to the new furnishings in the room, "is amazing. When did you do this?"
He shrugged. "I've been getting it together this week. I wanted her to have a place of her own here."
Cassie's heart swelled. Even if she couldn't be fully a part of it, at least Sarah would have a second home here. She looked so content with her new toys. She gave Cassie a brief smile before directing her attention back to her play.
Looking back up at Jack, she saw that he was still staring at her with intensity. What was he thinking? She couldn't be sure.
He closed the distance between them then, and Cassie's palms became damp. Just being near him had her body responding irrationally. Her eyes fluttered shut as he lifted a hand to her cheek. She blinked up at him as he pulled it away, uncertainty suddenly flooding his face.
"I've been so confused here lately, Cass. It's a lot to take in, a lot to sort through. I've been angry, and hurt, and sad all at the same time." She breathed in deeply, realizing she'd been holding her breath. Yes, she knew this.
"But one thing has become clear to me. As difficult as this has been to understand and accept, not having you by my side has been even harder to come to terms with."
Cassie wasn't sure what was coming next, and she didn't dare to hope.
"I told you I wouldn't leave you. That I'd be here for you no matter what came our way. And I haven't held true to that."
"Jack, you have every right--" He placed his finger on her lips and she became very still.
"Maybe. But the fact of the matter is that despite everything, I love you, Cassie Powell. I love you more than anything in this world. So much, that I want to hold true to my promise that I'll never leave you. I'm willing to work through whatever comes our way, as long as I have you by my side."
Cassie bit back a sob. He still loved her. Somehow, some way, he wasn't pushing her away.
Jack pulled her against his chest and tilted her chin up so they were only inches apart, and repeated the words she'd longed to hear. "I love you."
"I love you, too," she breathed.
>
He brought his lips to hers and sealed the words with a kiss.
Cassie was startled by a giggle and a little clap. She'd nearly forgotten they weren't alone.
"Jack kiss Mommy," Sarah said, delighted, grabbing onto their legs.
Jack hauled her up between them, enclosing them both in his arms, and Cassie thought she'd never been happier.
EPILOGUE
"Happy Birthday!"
Cassie led Sarah in through the family room of their ranch house to the kitchen where the group of friends and family were gathered for Sarah's third birthday party. Sarah squealed in surprise when she saw the balloons and streamers.
For the hundredth time, Cassie thought about how lucky she was to be surrounded by so many people she loved. Emily and Lissa were sitting at the table, discussing Emily's new crush. Cassie looked heavenward and shook her head. Lissa was ever the matchmaker. To their right were Tom and Caroline, both looking well. Tom had been taking excellent care of himself, under Cassie and Jack's watchful eyes, and seemed to be in great health according to his doctor. Caroline had not progressed any further in her disease since earlier in the year, and though Cassie knew the day would come, she was taking comfort in the knowledge that that day was not today. Several more friends were scattered around the room, all ready to celebrate her baby girl. Even Mrs. Pettigrew, who said Sarah was like her own grandchild, was there. She had missed seeing her as much since they'd moved to the ranch, but she still kept Sarah a day or two here and there.
Cassie smiled as Jack picked up Sarah and tossed her in the air. "How's Daddy's big girl today?" He wrapped her up in a giant bear hug as she laughed. Her acceptance of him had been as natural and quick as if they'd been together her entire life.
He placed her on back on her feet then leaned down and planted a kiss on Cassie's lips. "And how is Mommy feeling?" he whispered, his voice full of love and concern.
"Perfect. But maybe a little tired," she admitted, sharing a secret smile with him.
"I think we should tell everyone today since they're all gathered in one place," he said.
Cassie nodded excitedly, then went to carry the birthday cake from the counter to the kitchen table. It was pink with a black pony on top. Sarah had become obsessed with horses, and Cassie knew they had a little cowgirl in the making.
They sang the birthday song and Cassie couldn't help admiring the way her diamond ring glinted in the light as she cut pieces of cake for the guests. She still hadn't gotten used to it, even after all these months.
"Let me have a slice of that," Lissa demanded, sticking her hand out.
Cassie gave her a piece, laughing. "There's plenty to go around. Here, help me hand them out." She shoved another plate in Lissa's direction, then watched in amusement as she turned and smacked right into Jesse's chest, nearly smashing the cake all over his shirt. Jesse grinned down at her, but Lissa huffed in irritation and moved away from him as quickly as possible. Cassie thought the interaction was strange since they were always flirting, but she didn't have time to dwell on it.
She glanced down at Sarah, who was pulling frantically on the hem of her dress. "Presents, Mommy, please?"
Cassie couldn't resist her sweet face. "Okay, we can open presents now."
Jack came up behind Cassie and wrapped his arms around her waist as Sarah began opening her gifts. She leaned back into him, feeling perfectly content. She'd thought life couldn't get any better after she and Jack had gotten married, but she'd been wrong, as everyone was about to find out.
Sarah finished opening her gifts and was happily looking them over, when Cassie said, "Oh, wait, what's this?" Sarah looked over as Cassie pulled a small box from under the counter.
"What could it be?" Jack winked at her.
"I don't know," Cassie said mysteriously.
Sarah ripped the wrapping paper and lifted the lid of the white cardboard box. Inside was a bright pink shirt with purple words written across the front.
Big Sister.
Lissa screamed and the other guests shouted out their congratulations, and Cassie was sure she saw Tom wiping a tear from the corner of his eye.
Sarah beamed as Cassie dropped a kiss on her blond hair. "Good job keeping the secret, big sister."
Then Jack turned her in his arms, resting his hand on her still-small stomach, and whispered softly in her ear. "I love you, Cassie Martin, now and forever."
THE END
If you enjoyed Return to Love, check out Christine’s other books:
Sunset Kisses
Rescue Me
Meant for Love, the second books in the Willow Valley series, will be available soon!
Join Christine’s newsletter at www.christinekingsley.com/newsletter to receive updates on new releases, sales, and freebies!
About the Author
Christine Kingsley is a contemporary romance author who loves writing books from the heart. Fall in love over and over again with each new book.
Christine can be found online at www.christinekingsley.com and on Facebook.
Return to Love (Willow Valley Book 1) Page 15
