The first exhibition game against the San Diego Surfriders was this weekend, and everyone on the squad would get to play. The first string first quarter, second string second quarter, and so on. Every special team member would be rotated in, because the goal was to allow the coaches to determine the starting roster for the fall season, not necessarily to win, although winning was always preferred.
The heat of the sun blazed down on Cade, but he was hitting all his targets left and right, drilling the ball deep and short, whichever play the coach called, he did.
“Looking good.” His buddy Joey bumped his fist. “Todd’s off today. Favoring his right knee. Not good for a right hander when he drops back to pass.”
“Yeah, well, I’m kicking him on points.” Cade glowered at the starter. “If I review better on the videos, I might get to start on Saturday.”
“Cool beans. Let’s get some water.”
“Ice bucket for me.”
“Damn, what happened to Jake?” Joey pointed at the rookie tight end lying on the turf being drenched with ice. His face was flushed and the team medic was hovering over him.
“Kid has diabetes. Has to be extra careful. Real talent, though.”
“Yeah, he’s no wuss,” Joey said. “Hustles like a mad dog.”
Cade smiled with relief when the medic handed Jake Burns an icepack and gave him a thumbs up. He rather liked the kid and was rooting for him, especially since his job was to protect the quarterback during passing plays.
“Way to go, buddy. Ready for Saturday?” He gave Jake a brothers’ handshake.
“Got your back, man.” Jake grinned. “You’re going to kill it this weekend.”
“More like kill the Super Bowl.” Todd Irvin ambled by, his face in a dark scowl. “How much did your sister bet on the game?”
“Shut up.” Cade faced him full on. “It was cleared up by the commissioner. No one even knew I was going to play in the Super Bowl.”
“Except I’m going to prove you got the opposing team to injure me—to pave the way.”
“More lies and slander. What if it was you who was in cahoots to get injured?” Cade retorted, shooting him a full on glare.
“That’s too stupid, even coming from you.” Todd’s lip curled into a sneer. “Got the paternity test results yet?”
“What’s it to you?” Cade grabbed a bottle of ice water and sucked it down. “You’re not the father.”
“I’m an interested party,” he replied between his teeth and walked away.
Cade wasn’t going to entertain any more rumors, although he couldn’t see how being the father of Roxanne’s baby could possibly have anything to do with the starting quarterback position. The allegations on gambling fixing were far more serious, but there was no way the sequence of events could have been predicted. True, there had been a pact by the opposing team to injure Todd, but that was true of every quarterback in every game. They were always the targets.
As for the Super Bowl loss, he’d been cleared of wrongdoing. Too many coincidences. First, Todd had to have been injured sufficiently enough to be taken from the game. It had to be bad to take the starter from the Super Bowl. Secondly, on the play in question, Devon Davis, the running back he was supposed to hand the ball off to had stumbled and twisted his ankle, forcing Cade to drop back and go long into the end zone.
That had resulted in the game losing interception.
No one could have foreseen any of that, except … a chill scratched the back of Cade’s neck.
Had Devon stumbled on purpose? But why would Devon want to lose the Super Bowl ring? He was the owner’s son and Todd’s best buddy, but still … this entire gambling plot seemed ludicrous.
Cade glared in Todd’s direction. Why did he want the job so badly when his knee was about to give out? There was pride, of course, but certainly not at the cost of his health. Whatever. He’d better watch his back, especially with Todd snooping around Roxanne and his baby.
“Hey you.” Coach Settles tapped Cade on the back. “You’re playing first this Saturday. Now go out there and kick some ass.”
“Sure, Coach. I’m ready,” Cade replied, putting on his helmet.
He swatted Cade’s behind and blew the whistle for the practice scrimmage.
Yes! Cade had just snagged the starting position over Todd.
Chapter 16
“You’re back,” Cade’s mother greeted Andie as she stepped into the house. “Ready to see the baby?”
“Definitely.” She kissed the woman’s leathery cheeks on both sides. Who knew where they’d picked this custom up? Maybe it was the LA way, taking bits and pieces from the multitudes of cultures in the city. “Let me get dressed in something more comfortable. By the way, I got the divorce!”
Barbara grabbed her around the elbows and together they swung around in circles, squealing and bouncing.
“How’d you manage it?”
“Wheeling and dealing.” She waved the envelope. “Filing it tomorrow. As soon as they approve it, I’m a free woman.”
“You told Cade yet?”
“No, I thought it was too important to text. Why don’t you keep it quiet? I want to plan a romantic evening and surprise him.”
“Sure.” Cade’s mother hugged her tightly. “Maybe he’ll surprise you. Who knows?”
“Uh, you have to promise not to say anything.”
“I ain’t no girl scout.” Barbara chuckled. “Now, go, get ready. Rox says they’re checking out of the hospital tomorrow. Tonight’s the new parents’ dinner.”
“Wait, are we invited?” Andie didn’t want to assume.
“Of course. Cade paid for that fancy schmancy hospital.”
“Oh, yeah, Celebrity Highland Hospital.” Andie tilted her head up and waved her hand, limp wristed. “How much snootier can you get?”
“Exactamundo. But don’t bother dressing up. Rox has to go in her hospital gown.”
“Seriously? Poor thing.” Andie held nothing against the baby’s mother. After all, other than her initial hysteria at tracking Cade down in Itasca, she hadn’t tried to trap him into marriage or extract anything other than child support.
“Okie, doke. Get ready, and I’ll show you the outfits I bought the little guy.”
“They’re letting him out of the hospital too? Isn’t he premature?”
“Apparently. He’s as strong as an ox. Takes after my side of the family.” Barbara puffed her chest and swaggered to her side of the house.
Okay … everything was going great, so something bad had to happen soon, right?
Andie said a small prayer and ascended the spiral staircase. She wasn’t quite sure what to think about Cade’s baby. Like he said, this son was his first born, but not hers. She and Cade could never share the joy and anticipation of a baby for the first time together—first ultrasound, cutting the cord, taking their baby home from the hospital.
Except she loved Cade and she’d love his baby, too. Now that Declan had finally signed the papers, she was free to plan a glorious future with her true love, Cade Prescott.
Andie tugged the ruby red slippers pendant from between her breasts. She placed it on the original, shorter gold chain and clasped it around her neck. He loved her—that was all that was important.
Andie flipped through her dresser trying to find clothes that were hipper than her upstate New York jeans and t-shirts. Women in LA wore yoga pants almost everywhere, coupled with sandals or sneakers and skimpy tank tops. Sylvia had promised to take her to the LA Fashion District to shop one of these days.
She finally settled on a flimsy sunburst tie-dyed tank top she’d grabbed in the bargain bin at the consignment store and a pair of ripped bell-bottom jeans. Maybe she was out of style, or looked more like a hippie than a hipster, but since she signed the movie deal, she was flush with cash, and having Sylvia as a shopping buddy would fast track her into the kingdom of LA cool.
She beamed at herself in the mirror as she tied a knot on the right side of her tank, brin
ging it up so her midriff was exposed. She was still pale, but Sylvia had assured her that these were not the old days when being tan was the be all and end all for Hollywood stars.
She slipped her feet into a pair of platform espadrilles and touched up her makeup. She always wore her hair down, perhaps it was time for a change. Taking a hair clip with claws, she twirled her hair and clamped it into an up-do, leaving two swirls down both sides of her ears. Okay, she wasn’t going to be perfect, but as of today, she, Antoinette Marie Wales, was a budding movie star.
Pushing up her boobs in front of the mirror, she twirled around and smiled. She didn’t look half bad. As soon as she returned from the hospital, she’d call her parents and tell them the golden news. She was going to be in the movies.
She’d already instructed Ronaldo to direct deposit her sign-on bonus into her parents’ checking account, and the deal was done. She’d be on the series as long as it ran. After all, her character knew David since childhood.
Things were looking up, up, up for her.
Andie stepped from the room with a jaunty step and jogged down the spiral staircase.
# # #
Cade couldn’t keep his eyes from Andie the entire time they drove to the hospital. Something was different about her, and it wasn’t just the Berkeley hippie clothes. Seriously, tie-dye and bell-bottoms?
Whatever. She was cute and probably still trying hard to make an impression on Roxanne, the fashion designer. Not that Andie had anything to worry about.
He pinched her knee where the denim had laddered and tickled her, knowing how ticklish and responsive she was.
She giggled and swatted his hand. “You sure Roxanne will let me hold him?”
“Definitely. She’s not looking forward to being a single mother. She’s always talking about having a support network, and guess what? We’re it.” Cade bragged, puffing up his chest. “Bret’s pretty strong anyway, and you won’t break him.”
“Do we have to worry about germs?”
“Sure, but he’s gotta get used to all the germs floating around.”
“I’ve never held a newborn before, especially a premature one.” Andie worried her lips and shrugged.
“You’ll do great.” He found a parking spot for his SUV and pulled into it.
His mother was in the backseat with balloons and gift bags. She’d even bought a gift for Andie to give the baby, an “I-heart-NY” shirt and a baby jersey for the New York Warthogs football team with a big black warthog complete with tusks, since it was the football team closest to Andie’s hometown.
Cade held Andie’s hand as they made their way to the maternity ward. He planted a kiss on the side of her head and knocked on Roxanne’s door.
A thin voice invited them in. Cade opened the door and allowed Andie and his mother to enter first.
Andie’s heart pounded with break dancing butterflies as Cade’s mother streamed into the room and gave Roxanne a big hug. She certainly seemed to have ingratiated herself with everyone important to Cade.
After Barbara stepped aside, Roxanne looked up at Andie and held out her hand. “I’m glad you came. The nurse is bringing Bret in a minute.”
“It’s nice to meet you, too,” Andie said “I’m so glad everything turned out okay, and everyone’s healthy.”
“It sure is a blessing.” Roxanne nodded at Cade who set a bouquet of flowers on the tray table for her. “Why, thank you!”
Andie couldn’t help the twitch of jealousy digging into her heart. She stifled a breath and stood to the side behind Barbara who was arranging the baby gifts on the bed.
“Look who’s here,” the nurse exclaimed, wheeling a bassinet into the room. “Visitors, for you.”
The nurse picked up a sleeping Bret wrapped in a striped blanket. “He’s really getting big. Putting on weight like his daddy.”
Cade practically expanded at that comment. He reached out. “May I?”
“Most certainly, but aren’t you going to let Grandma get her turn?” The nurse flashed everyone a smile. “Ring me if you need anything. Also, we’ve got the tables set up in the multi-purpose room for the banquet. Whenever you’re ready.”
The nurse left and shut the door.
“Will you just look at him?” Barbara exclaimed. “All dimply just like you, Cade.”
“He’s handsomer than me,” Cade muttered, rocking the baby. He sat down in a chair next to Roxanne when she reached out for her son.
“I can’t get over how perfect he is,” she said, kissing his knit cap.
Barbara gathered on her other side, hovering and fluttering around, talking baby talk until Roxanne handed Bret to her. She twirled around and squeezed him tightly.
“Nana and you are going to be a team—a special team.”
Andie chewed on the insides of her cheeks at the sweet family scene. Cade laughed and joked with Roxanne, seemingly having forgotten her while Barbara cooed at the little baby.
Why’d they ask her to come along if they didn’t need her? She was happy for Cade, but this baby would always be something she couldn’t fully share. This had to have been how Queen Michal felt while King David was surrounded by wives and concubines bearing children, and she alone died childless. She, who the Bible had said loved David, was the only one unloved at the end—desolate with no children of her own.
“Hey, Andie’s turn,” Cade said with a proud grin. He practically swiped his son from his dancing mother and came toward her, cradling the baby who was wide awake by now.
He was adorable. His eyes were so blue, one could see forever in them, and the tiny wisps of his hair were like fine sandy silk. He had no eyelashes and wasn’t smiling, but his stare was strong and focused. A real darling.
Carefully, Cade placed his son in Andie’s arms, and when she held the warm lump of flesh close to her heart, she melted like salt water taffy on a hot summer’s night.
“Oh, gosh. Cade, he looks just like you. Remember you were bald when we first met?”
His arms encircled her and the baby. “Yes, but I had a lot more hair on my face.”
The baby’s gaze was fixed on Andie. He was so trusting and so small, yet very much aware—not at all vacant like she imagined he’d be. Andie’s entire being was flooded with tender feelings.
“I love him, Cade. I’ll do anything to help you keep him safe.” She laid a kiss on his knit cap and held him close. “Whatever’s best for you, baby.”
Cade held her tighter, rocking her in his arms. He kissed her behind the ear and whispered, “You mean so much to me, Andie. Thank you.”
Chapter 17
Andie had to wait until lunchtime the next day to call her parents. She couldn’t wait to tell them about her newfound status as an actress in The Love Lives of King David mini-series. They’d be pleased and proud of her. Whoever would have guessed that she, too, would someday be on a movie screen, even if her role were only that of a maid-servant.
Telling Cade would be a bigger issue, since he might not like her working so close to Declan, but then, once he found out she got the divorce signed, he’d be reassured and would support her new role as a budding actress. He was that kind of a guy, sweet and loving, and she really was the luckiest woman in the universe.
She found an empty balcony outside of a conference room. Kicking off her heels, she propped herself on a metal chair to make the call.
The dinner last evening at the hospital had been touching and so sentimental. The guest speaker spoke about parenting and how it took a village to nurture and care for each precious child. Afterward, each family huddled together and made a pledge to support each other and put the baby’s well-being first in every decision made.
Earlier today, Declan was meeting with his agent in the morning and not needed at the studio, so Andie had had an opportunity to go downtown and file for the divorce. Afterwards, she worked with Leroy on Philistine culture and how it impacted the ancient Israelis.
Little did most people know how intimately entwined the ancient
Hebrews were with their neighbors. The places where David and Michal lived were less than twenty miles to the land of the Philistines—they practically shared the same forests with Israel in the highlands and the Philistines toward the coast.
Her mother picked up the phone.
“Hey, Mom, how’re things going?”
There was silence across the line, and for a minute, Andie thought she’d been disconnected.
“Mom? Still there?”
“Yes, still here.” Her mother’s voice was faint. “We saw the pictures of you going wild in LA. The entire town has.”
“What pictures?” Sure, she and Cade had taken pictures with his fans, but certainly, no one had caught her beneath the beach towel. Or had they?
One of the reporter’s words came back to her, public display of perversion. Oh, shit. Did this mean?
“How could you, Andie? Not just public sex, but deviant sex,” her mother hissed. “I don’t know what to say. I thought we raised you right.”
Andie’s heart plummeted and scraped the ground. She’d screwed up and disgraced her family. That wild night with Cade wasn’t without consequences, and to top it off, she hadn’t needed it to get Declan to sign the divorce agreement. All she’d accomplished was to make herself look like a slut to all her friends and family back home. What must her old associates at the library be thinking?
“I’m sorry, Mom. How’s Dad? Does he know?”
“No, he doesn’t.” Her mother sighed loudly. “He’s not doing well.”
“Did he have another stroke? I should come home.” Andie’s hands trembled, and she gasped for air.
“No, he hasn’t had another stroke, but he’s not paying attention to his therapists or trying to learn how to live with his disability.”
“I’m coming home, then. I can sit with him and we can talk. Maybe he misses Gollie.”
“No, don’t bother.” Her mother’s voice was stiff. “His nerves are very sensitive. I try to keep the room quiet without distractions. It allows his brain to rest. Right now, I don’t think you should come home. The media circus, people coming by, the gossip. Wait until that dies down.”
Boxed Set: Intercepted by Love (The Complete Collection): Books One - Book Six Page 30
