Grease Two filled the screen, the musical numbers blaring on the TV. I painfully watched, spending two hours pretending to be in complete agony. The truth was I enjoyed the motorcycles in the film, but I would never admit that to anyone in the world. We cuddled on the couch, blanket draped over both of us and Hamlet perched on top of Francesca. The movie night was a success, but for me, anything that involved spending time with Francesca in my arms was considered a success.
###
We must’ve fallen asleep somewhere between the bikers chasing the masked one and the end of the movie, because we woke the next morning to a pounding on the front door. Francesca groaned as she stood, rubbing her neck and stretching her limbs. I could hear her bones cracking, and it really freaked me out, but it shouldn’t have because mine did the same thing. She trudged to the door, rubbing her eyes.
“Hey, Mom,” she said with a yawn. “What are you doing here?”
“I came to check on you,” she said, breezing past her as she came in. She stopped when she saw me and smiled. “Cade, I’m surprised to see you here.”
I stood, praying my breath wasn’t too awful, and returned her greeting. “Hello, Mrs. Taymon. It’s nice to see you again.” Francesca’s parents made me nervous. I had spent a long time thinking I wasn’t good enough for her, but I could almost see how much they hated that we were together. I tried to imagine myself as a father and knew I would be just as protective.
Francesca apparently didn’t see the disdain from her parents when they looked at me. “I’m going to take a shower. Mom, make yourself at home. I’ll be back down to just a few minutes.”
Mrs. Taymon sat on the couch, patting the spot beside her. “I would like to talk to you, Cade, if that’s all right.”
“Of course,” I gulped. I had a sinking feeling this wouldn’t be good.
“It’s about my daughter, as I’m sure you could guess. I know about your past, Cade, and also know that my daughter believes in you. I forgive you for hurting her, because I know you didn’t mean to. But this is the only chance you get with me. If you hurt her again, you will be sorry. Francesca is the only daughter I have left and I don’t want anything to happen to her.”
I nodded. “I understand your concern. To be honest, I’ve never felt that I was good enough for her. Your daughter is amazing, and she’s made me see that I can be a better person. I’ll never intentionally hurt her again. Hurting her hurts me,” I confessed. It felt weird laying everything out for her mother, but I didn’t want a relationship to go on without their approval. Family was everything to Francesca and it was time I made it a bigger priority for myself.
“She’s been through a lot for such a young age. I see in your eyes that you do love her, I pray it’s enough.”
“I love her more than anything. Going to rehab is torturous, but I would do it every single day of my life if it meant I could keep her,” I stated.
She placed a cool hand on mine, patting it and nodded. “Keep that in mind. Remember it every single day, and I think you’ll be just fine. Marriage isn’t easy, but after everything you and my daughter have been through, I think you two can handle it.”
Francesca came in the room, a towel wrapped around her head, and looked at us strangely. “What are you two talking about?”
Her mother stood, giving her a big hug and said, “You, of course. I wanted to make sure you are okay after…yesterday, but I can see Cade is doing a good job of that himself. I’ll be on my way to let you two love birds enjoy each other. Call me later. Okay?”
“Okay, Mom,” she said, grasping her in her arms. She looked at me with a raised brow over her mom’s shoulder and I only shrugged.
Her mom left, and she pelted me with questions to find out our conversation. I refused to answer, claiming I desperately needed a shower and disappeared before she could interrogate me further.
We spent the day enjoying each other, talking about our future, and wondering if Reid and that girl were still in his apartment. It was a simple, relaxing day that I hoped would happen a lot more in days to come.
One
Month
Later
Chapter Eight-Francesca
Time passed quickly and before we realized it, Cade only had six weeks left of outpatient rehab. He wouldn’t be finished by any means, but he no longer would have to go every single day. He wouldn’t have to stay with Reid, and he could get his job back, assuming they would have him. We spent as much time as we could together, enjoying each moment with every fiber of our beings.
Our dynamic was different, stronger. After Cade saw me at my weakest on Josie’s anniversary, we’d been inseparable. We’d reached a new level of understanding where we both told the other all of our thoughts, from my insecurities to his cravings. Sometimes it was difficult, but we both knew this wouldn’t be easy. Nothing had ever been simple for us, why would it start now? Since deciding to be truthful and not hide things, our relationship was healthier than I could’ve ever imagined.
Reid often spent time with the woman he cared about, but refuse to call his girlfriend, Pam. They were cute together, but it was odd seeing Reid with her. He’d always been an over joyous person, but something inside him lit up when she was around. It was mesmerizing.
Girls night out was canceled indefinitely. Daphne and I still hadn’t spoken, and while it killed me inside, I somehow knew we needed this. I had no doubts, I would get my best friend back, one way or another.
Cade and his father were working on their relationship, though I wasn’t sure how productive that really was. Cade was stubborn, difficult to get through to. I should know better than anyone. I’d worked on him and his emotions ever since the day his father showed up and begged me for help.
It was an early Saturday morning, a week or so after the dinner we had together. I was in the kitchen feeding Hammy when a knock sounded at my door. I was surprised to see Mr. Kelling standing there, hands deep in his pockets, his eyes nervous. I ushered him in, as fall was quickly turning to winter, and the nippy air bit at one’s skin. After all the pleasantries, he got down to business.
“I want to fix things with my son, and I don’t know how to do it. I know he hates me,” he said with a broken, worn out voice.
I sat facing him and shook my head. “He doesn’t hate you. He’s just as lost as you are about fixing things.”
“I hate to put you in the middle of things, but I don’t know what else to do. He won’t talk to me. I see him all the time, but he won’t have a deep conversation with me. He closes up, shuts me out. I just… Do you think…you could get through to him?” The face I looked at was full of desperation, and it pained my heart.
I agreed, of course. I hated seeing others in pain, especially when I knew it hurt Cade, too. We talked for about an hour, and I could tell he really was sorry for everything he’d done, for everything he hadn’t done. I agreed to talk to Cade, not realizing how difficult the task truly was.
When I informed him of his father’s visit, he didn’t flip out like I expected. He did worse. He slowly let the anger stew inside him, until it bubbled to the surface. He had yelled, claiming Pops had no right to come to me, then in the next instance calmly wondered if there was any hope for their relationship.
I always heard men talk about women and their moods, but I couldn’t figure out why no one spoke of men and their moods. Cade could go from one thing to another, and not even bat an eyelash. His bad moods were often when it came to his father. I couldn’t help but wonder what exactly happened. I knew his father had been demanding and Cade had been rebellious, but there was no one determining factor that hurt their relationship.
Deep down, I thought they were too much alike. I would never tell Cade this. Ever.
After a week or so of arguing, he finally agreed to let the past go and try harder with his father. We went to his parents’ house for dinner at least one night a week, and I could see how delighted his mother was that the two were attempting to get along. Cason came for ba
ckup at first but soon was able to just be a member of the family. The fights were almost nonexistent nowadays, though things weren’t perfect. My heart was happy and had a lot of hope for the two of them.
My therapy sessions were more consistent and Dr. Cradit had a lot of good ideas to help me. I worked with her instead of against her these days, and I was much happier for it. I even implemented Cade’s assistance with my self-esteem issues.
“Why do you always feel so badly about yourself?” he asked one day.
I shrugged, then remembered we were supposed to be honest with each other, and explained. I quoted the therapist, explained my feelings and reasoning, and told him how utterly ridiculous it was on most days.
He hadn’t laughed like I expected, but had been completely understanding. Going through the rehabilitation experience had changed Cade for the better. He took my hand in his, his warmth flowing through me and soothing me to my core. “Francesca, you’ve always been this way, and I’ve always really not liked it. I want to help you. You’ve helped me with everything, been a rock for me, a constant support system. Tell me what I can do to help.”
I didn’t know what to tell him, so I suggested the only idea that came to mind. “I’m not sure, but my therapist can probably tell you what I need. Honestly, she knows me better than I know myself sometimes. Do you think you can go with me next week?”
He’d agreed instantly though I knew he had to clear things with Reid. He’d spent the rest of that day informing me of everything he loved about me. He told me how beautiful I was at least a dozen times, probably more, and constantly watched me with a thoughtful look on his face.
He was mesmerizing; he was incredibly sexy one minute and incredibly thoughtful the next. Cade was more complex than I knew, and I adored him for it. I never imagined life would end up here after meeting him at the bus stop all those years ago. If someone had told me that Cade Kelling, the boy who offered me crackers, would someday be the man that my heart belonged to, the one I was going to marry, and the only person who could bring up every emotion in my body within seconds of one another, I wouldn’t have believed them. But here we were, and I couldn’t be more grateful.
###
I made my appointments late in the afternoon, since I tended to set aside that time for paperwork anyway. Reid dropped off Cade at my office, then went to do whatever it is he does with Pam. Cade and Zander chatted about sports and music while I cleared my desk. It made me happy to know Cade got along with Zander. Zander was quickly becoming one of my best friends, a close confidant when I had no other. He understood when I needed space, and never pushed me too far. He was also a really awesome worker.
I walked out of the office, giving Cade a hug and a kiss on the cheek and turned to tell Zander by. “I’ll see you tomorrow,” I said, waving but he stopped me before I could go any further.
“Did you see the paper?” he asked a grin playing his lips.
I shook my head, so he handed over.
There was an article about my old law firm, the ones I sued for sexual harassment and won against. It was a very long article. “What’s this?”
“You can take that with you for some reading later, but let me tell you what my family has been doing all these years. And just so you know they aren’t my immediate family, so I don’t claim them anymore. It seems that those jokers there don’t really have law degrees. Someone in the old CEO group did, so he passed on his knowledge and figured that would be enough. Mr. Phillips was the second CEO to be a fake. After some fraudulent documents were made, voila, he was in the firm. Ever wonder why they hired so many underneath them? So many younger ones and not once did he end up representing someone in court?”
I just stared at him, my mouth hanging completely open and Cade pretty much mirrored my expression.
Zander started to pace, getting worked up over the article. “I always thought it was a little strange, okay, a lot strange, that they said those things to you being lawyers. I mean, I’m not even in law school yet and I know better. The whole place is getting shut down.”
I stared dumbfounded. The revelation explained a lot, but it was almost unbelievable. I thought of all the clients they had, all the people affected by this. It made me angry, furious. The more I thought back, the more signs I realized there were. The nervousness when the IRS showed up for audits, or not taking on high profile clients. J & B Law Firm never quite fit the normal “lawyer” mode, and now I knew why. I didn’t think anything could shock me more, until Zander spoke again.
“There’s more,” he said nervously.
“How can there possibly be more?” Cade questioned. He wasn’t in shock anymore and had moved closer, placing his arm around my shoulders.
“I got a call that led me to the paper. Great Uncle Asshole apparently transferred some dough…”
The gears turned and I stepped forward. “To who, Z?”
“Me,” he stated. He looked uneasy, embarrassed. “There was a safe deposit box in my name, I got a letter regarding it yesterday, and I went to open it. Great Uncle Ass had made a bunch of accounts in my name, depositing money in every so often. I was with him when some opened, but he assured me it was for the business…I never thought…. Anyway, apparently, when he figured out the FBI was coming after him, he instructed them to notify me about the ten million dollars,” he rambled. “I don’t know what to do. I’ve researched the laws and stuff. I don’t want to get in trouble, guys.”
Ten million dollars?! “What?” I stammered.
Cade looked equally astounded. He glanced at his phone, telling me we were going to be late, and that pulled me out of my daze. We congratulated Zander and headed out the door.
The drive to Dr. Cradit’s office was quiet for the most part. So many thoughts and questions swirled in my brain. “What if he quits? I can’t imagine the office without Zander,” I thought aloud.
“He won’t quit. Didn’t you see him? He’s not sure about this new development. I mean, hell, I’d be freaked out, too. That’s a lot of damn money.”
I nodded, staring out the window. “I can’t believe it.”
“Me neither. Glad he got it though, instead of those asses you worked with.”
I shook my head in agreement.
###
Having Cade at my therapy session was odd. I wasn’t used to it, but trying new things seemed to be my new norm. Dr. Cradit was thrilled he wanted to help, giving him advice on how to deal when I didn’t take compliments to heart, or telling him how to pull me out of one of the many funks I allowed myself to be swallowed in. We left with renewed hope, excessive energy.
We used it to do what we did best. Love each other.
The rest of the afternoon was spent in each other’s arms, delighting in these cherished moments. We came together again and again, each time special and unique. Our love was a magnificent thing, growing and shining through in our lives each day. Our bodies melted together, perfectly synced to the other. There was nothing awkward about it, only sensual, insatiable need for each other. Our hungry bodies begged for release, the other obliging happily.
I felt perfect, beautiful, and complete in Cade’s arms.
We spent the rest of our evening cooking and watching movies. Cade did so well in rehab that Reid let him stay with me often. The craving for alcohol no longer controlled him. He was stronger than the addiction.
I was so proud of him.
Five
Weeks
Later
Chapter Nine-Cade
Less than a week remained between me and the end of my outpatient rehabilitation. After this, it would be weekly meetings. I could work again. I could see Francesca whenever the hell I wanted. The thought was exciting and terrifying. I knew I would be ok, how could I not be, but knowing I would be all on my own with my cravings and desires was enough to make me sweat.
The rehab center planned a ceremony for the “graduates” this week. I didn’t want to go. I refused to tell anyone, but Reid, being the awesome pe
rson that he was, told my family and Francesca. I had no choice now. There would be a party, a cake. It would be excruciating.
Reid was down in the dumps. His “non-girlfriend,” Pam, left yesterday. I didn’t think I’d ever seen anyone mope the way he was. He didn’t smile, only stared into space at every waking moment. It had barely been twenty-four hours, so I dreaded the next few days. He was doing better than I would in the situation, though, so I had to commend him for that.
Francesca no longer argued with me whenever I gave her a compliment. Instead, she rolled her eyes. It was progress. I attended at least one of her therapy sessions each month. She asked me to, and who was I to refuse? She also began making plans for us to fix up her house, so it would be “wedding friendly” she said. It would probably be a ton of work, but if my love wanted it, then I would do it. It might be fun seeing her with paint on her nose, anyway.
Pops and I were trying. There wasn’t much else we could do. After he enlisted Francesca’s help, I decided to lay it all out, every feeling I had regarding our relationship, and we spent hours mulling over it. It, too, had been excruciating.
It was one of the days he followed me around, spending the day with me. We went for barbecue, both of us loving it. It was in the car after that I started the dreaded conversation.
“So, Pops, you went to Francesca?” I asked.
He tensed, his fingers gripping the wheel. “I did,” he admitted.
“Why?” I questioned, though I knew the answer.
“Because I want to know what I did wrong. I want to fix this relationship, Cade. You’re my son and I hate that things are like this,” he sighed, turning into a shopping center. He parked in a spot near the entrance. “I know you’ve had problems with drinking, and I never took those seriously. I blame myself for you getting this far. I shouldn’t have enabled you. The doctors at that center were 100% right about me doing that. I feel so guilty. I could have ruined your life, or worse, helped you end it.”
Entangled Souls: Cade and Francesca (Scarred Hearts #1.5) Page 7
