First Kiss

by Bernadette Marie

  The smile was gone and Olivia moved to him. “I screamed in my sleep?”

  “Yeah. You had nightmares or something.”

  She let out a breath. “I didn’t know that. But that explains a lot.” She looked up at him and his eyes were narrowed. “Gage does that.”

  “I’ve never heard him scream.”

  “When you’re around, he doesn’t. He’s comfortable with you.”

  That was a truth that hurt her.

  She gripped her car keys in her hand tightly. “I think we should talk.”

  He stood there in front of her with his hands on his hips. He looked at his watch. “Where is Gage?”

  “He’s with my mom.”

  He shifted his eyes and shook his head disapprovingly. “Let’s go get him.”

  Cade had a lot to sort out in his mind. He’d come back to Aspen Creek to close up his father’s life,; he’d never in his wildest dreams imagined he’d fall in love.

  He’d tried to work it out in his head. It was just coming home and she was a familiar face. No, that wasn’t the truth and he knew it.

  Olivia had been a stranger for years. Meeting her now had proved that.

  He’d not only fallen in love with her, but then there was Gage. His heart ached at the thought that he might never see him again.

  Love had been everywhere in that stupid, little town and Cade wanted to ignore it. He loved the feel of the mountain air during the summer nights. It wasn’t too hot, and it was just cool enough to keep you comfortable while you slept. He loved the sound of Aspen Creek as it flowed under the Rose Bridge and the slow mornings in town.

  Before school would start in the fall, the echo of the marching band filled the valley and the grunts from the football players practicing on the field did the same.

  He’d been on the phone with Ashley about sixty times since he’d left his aunt’s house in Vegas. Nothing and no one in Green Bay needed him or had even noticed he’d been gone. But the woman and boy in Aspen Creek seemed to be keeping his time, mind, and heart occupied.

  Ashley said the house was fine and beer was plentiful. The view of Lake Michigan was beautiful and his ugly mug would only ruin it. That had made him laugh.

  Olivia parked the car in front of the motel and turned off the engine. “I’ll be right back.”

  He reached for her and touched her arm. “I want to go in with you.”

  She agreed with a nod.

  By the look on Celeste Baker’s face, the day had been a hard one. Cade wasn’t sure what Olivia had been thinking, leaving her son with her mother all day. It didn’t sound like a good idea to him.

  Gage was balanced on her hip. His face and hands were sticky and dirty, and his cheeks were tear stained.

  The moment he saw his mother, he leapt for her.

  “Gage, it’s okay. Mom, what happened to him?”

  Celeste lifted her hands in the air. “He’s a handful, this one.” She looked past Olivia and her stare bore right into Cade. “Nice to see you, Cade.”

  The words were courteous, but the tone was much different.

  “Ms. Baker.” Gage looked over his mother’s shoulder and saw him. He reached out and Cade took him from Olivia. “Hey, big guy, you look like you had a busy day.”

  Gage rested his head on Cade’s shoulder and the ache he’d felt in his chest for the past week eased.

  “Mom, let’s go inside and get his things.” Olivia started for the door.

  “Actually, why don’t you take Gage, get him cleaned up, and let me talk to Cade.”

  Olivia shot him a look, and he nodded as he handed Gage back to her.

  Celeste watched her daughter go back into the room and then turned her eyes to him. “Let’s walk down to the end there and get me some ice.”

  Cade walked with her. He didn’t remember her looking so old, but such a hateful life would cause anyone to look years older.

  “I met up with your aunt in Las Vegas. She’s doing well,” she said.

  What a pair of interesting women, he thought. Nothing good would, or did, ever come from the two of them together. “I’ve seen her recently.”

  “I’m curious. What was my daughter doing with your father? Seems odd to me that he left her everything and cut you out completely.”

  Cade clenched his jaw. “I don’t see where that is anyone’s business but my father’s and Olivia’s.”

  She nodded. “Looks like my grandson has already taken to you. I suppose that’s good since he looks just like you.”

  Cade looked back toward the room. Olivia was carrying Gage to the car. “Do you think so?”

  She gave a small groan. “I’m sure it didn’t escape you.” She narrowed her eyes on him. “Is he your kid?”

  Cade contemplated his answer. Gage certainly could be his son, and the thought sparked something in him. But he assumed she’d also seen the birth certificate if she knew about the contents of the will. “You don’t know who his father is?”

  Celeste shrugged her shoulder and stopped as they approached the ice machine. She took a plastic bucket from atop the machine and held it under the dispenser.

  “Your aunt had some papers that told us who his daddy was.”

  “And you think that’s how it is?”

  She shifted a glance to him. “I think that’s how it’s been for years. Even my ex-husband had words with him over it.”

  The mention of her ex-husband had the heat rising under his collar. The man was a horrible man who had nearly violated Olivia on more than one occasion, and Celeste had blamed her for it. “If I remember correctly, the words were had by my father about your ex-husband laying hands on her, not my father.”

  “You didn’t bother to come around for the past decade, but you’ll defend him?”

  He looked back at Olivia as she strapped Gage in. “Yes, I’d defend my father and I hope Gage will too, someday.”

  “I know that look in your eye. You’re thinking of snatching him up as if he were your own. Give him a name. Step in as the heroic daddy.”

  Of course he’d thought that. That’s what happened when you fell in love with a mother and her child. “He is mine.” And, in his heart, he felt that.

  Celeste’s eyes narrowed as though he’d completely confused her, but he found humor in that. As far as he was concerned now, no one else was left for Gage. And no matter what happened between him and Olivia, if Gage was in fact his father’s son, he’d take care of him forever.

  “My aunt told me you’d stopped by. Just so you know, Olivia is protesting the will. She doesn’t want what was left to her, and she plans to pay me back the money my father lent her.”

  “That sounds like her. Always too reasonable for her own good.”

  “You’re right. That sounds like her.”

  Celeste let out a sigh and looked out over the parking lot. “This town hasn’t gotten any better, has it? It’s still a dump.”

  “I think that is the charm of it.”

  She started back toward her room, and he walked with her. “You know, I think I’m having second thoughts about settling down here. She’s doing fine without me. Maybe I’ll come back around Christmas.”

  “I think she’d like that.”

  Celeste stopped before they’d reached her room. “I don’t know why you’d want to take on your father’s mess, but she’s always had a soft spot for you.”

  “I’m counting on that.”

  “You’ll be reconsidering it, I’m sure.”

  Celeste gave a wave to Olivia, who was already sitting behind the wheel of the car, and then closed herself back into her motel room. Cade was sure that was the last they’d see of her for a while.

  He opened the passenger door and climbed into the car.

  He looked at Olivia who sat there gripping the steering wheel, her eyes wide open and full of fear.

  “She’s here to see what she can get her hands on, isn’t she?”

  “I think she’d considered it,” Cade said as he turned a
nd looked at the sleepy boy in the back seat. “I told her you planned to contest the will. She’s not interested in staying if you’re not profiting.”

  A tear slid down her cheek. “How is it possible I was born to that woman?”

  “We don’t get to choose who we are born to, but we can choose the families we keep.” She turned her head and looked at him. He might have said too much.

  Olivia pulled up in front of his house. The painters were cleaning up, and he was glad to know they’d be gone.

  “I’m going to pay these guys and get some things together. I’ll be over in a bit.”

  He watched her face tense. “Are you sure?”

  He shook his head. “I’m so confused right now that I can’t even wrap my head around what I’m feeling. But I know I want to spend the night with both of you. I need that.” He reached over and touched her cheek. “Besides, you and I still need to talk.”

  Olivia nodded and looked at Gage, who rubbed his eyes. “I’ll get him settled then.”

  “I’ll bring something for dinner.” He climbed out of the car and headed into the house.

  Cade paid the painters and packed a bag for the night. It might have been the dumbest idea in the world, but the need to spend one more night with Olivia was keeping him from thinking straight.

  He dropped his bag on the couch and looked down at the box he’d brought up from the basement. It had Gage’s name on it.

  He hadn’t thought too much about it at first, but when he’d looked at the note that was taped to it, he knew he had to give it to him. But it wasn’t his place to open it. He wasn’t like his aunt or Olivia’s mother. At least he wasn’t going to be, no matter how much he wanted to know what was in the box. After all, he’d already seen the birth certificate.

  As he turned off the lights, his cell phone rang.

  “Ashley, what’s up?”

  “Are you ever coming back? This place is getting lonely.”

  “I’m sure you’re keeping enough company.”

  “You’re right. But seriously, you’ve had a few phone calls I think you should return.”

  Cade picked up his bag and the box, and with his phone balanced on his shoulder, he headed out to his car. “Who needs me now?”

  “The city of Green Bay, that’s who. Seems like there’s a coaching position opening up.”

  Cade stopped on the front porch. “Are you kidding me?”

  “Really, would I kid you about money?”

  “Nope.” He pulled the front door closed and continued down the steps. “So, what’s the deal?”

  “You get your butt home and talk to these people. C’mon, this house needs a housekeeper. I’m tired of cleaning.”

  “I’m sure it’s a wreck.”

  “You know me.”

  And he did, all too well. “Okay, text me the information and I’ll make the call in the morning.”

  “In the morning? Are you serious? I’d get your butt back into that tiny, toy car of yours and get back here.”

  “Listen, my dad seems to have left me a bigger mess than I’d thought.”

  “Hmmm, yeah, you’re getting soft on me. What did they do, give you a sign?”

  Cade chuckled. “Yeah.”

  “Don’t mess this up. Get back here as fast as you can.”

  “I’ll be there tomorrow.”

  “That’s more like it.”

  Cade loaded the box into the passenger seat, climbed into the driver’s seat, and started toward Olivia’s. Now there was more to think about. Since the moment he’d caught that football and ended his career, he had wondered what was next. A coaching position was exactly what he wanted. Would Olivia move to Wisconsin? Did he want her to?

  Chapter Eleven

  It was almost dark when Olivia opened her eyes, and she realized that when she’d sat down to rock with Gage, she too had fallen asleep.

  She carried Gage into his room and set him in his crib. They were both exhausted, and she wished she’d listened to her gut and not taken him to spend the day with her mother.

  But even more upsetting was the fact that Cade hadn’t returned.

  Things hadn’t gone as she’d wanted them to. Why did she think he’d want them in his life? No one else had ever wanted her.

  No one, but… she heard the knocking on the door and she lifted her head.

  Olivia hurried through the house and sucked in a breath when she saw Cade standing on the doorstep with a large box in his arms. He had come back.

  “Sorry, I was laying Gage down.” She opened the door.

  Cade walked in and set the box on the floor. “He didn’t fall asleep right away?”

  “We both did.” She closed the door and looked up at the man who was wreaking havoc with her heart. “I thought you’d be here a long time ago.”

  “Yeah. Needed to drive around—clear my head.” He ran his hand over the back of his neck. “I ran into Coach Cal. Things around here have changed a lot. You don’t have anything to drink, do you? Non kid friendly.”

  Olivia studied him for a moment, taking in all the nonsense he seemed to be talking, and nodded. She walked toward the kitchen with him close behind. She opened the cabinet above the refrigerator and then turned to grab a chair.

  Cade rested his hand on hers. “I’ll get it.”

  He pulled down the bottle of whiskey and blew the dust from it. “Guess you don’t drink this very often.”

  “I have some very hefty responsibilities.” She opened a cupboard door and reached for a glass.

  Cade took it from her and poured in no more than a swallow. He lifted it to his lips and drank it down.

  “That stuff was always bad.”

  “What has you so worked up that you’re drinking?”

  “You.”

  Olivia pulled the bottle from his hand and set it on the counter. “I will not have another man tell me I cause him so much pain that he has to drink it away.”

  Cade’s eyes opened wide. “I didn’t mean it like that.”

  “You’re no different than…” She felt the anger and the sob that lodged in her throat fight for their escape. “Where have you been? You said you’d be right here? You were having second thoughts, right?”

  “You’re not making any of this easy.”

  “Nothing in this life is easy, Cade.”

  He shook his head and his lips tightened. “Let’s just get this out in the open.” He pulled a piece of paper out of his pocket and handed it to her. “You owe me an explanation.”

  She’d rather have pushed him out the door than to have him speak to her like that, but she took the paper from his hand and opened it. There was no reason for the tears not to fall now.

  Cade took a step closer to her. “Gage is my brother. That is why he’s comfortable around me and why he looks just like me.”

  “No. No, you don’t understand.”

  “What’s to understand, Olivia? Right there,” he pointed to the paper, “it lists my dad as the father of your baby. How can you even deny that? And that box,” he pointed toward the door, “was for Gage. My dad left him a letter telling Gage it was for him so he’d feel closer to his dad.”

  “Cade…”

  “And the picture in the bedroom. He was there when that precious boy took his first breath.”

  Olivia nodded, and the sobs shook her body. “He held my hand the entire time.”

  Cade grabbed her shoulders, and she was forced to look up at him. “Then, damn it, just tell me the truth. I’ll take care of him. No matter what happens to us, I’ll help take care of Gage.” He loosened his grip. “At this point, he’s just as much my responsibility.”

  The sobs stopped, and the anger pushed through. Olivia pushed back from him. “Your responsibility? No one asked you to take care of anyone.”

  “I just want him to be better off than we were.”

  “He has a loving mother and that will take care of everything.”

  Cade stepped back. “I can’t believe he didn’t
even marry you or give your son his name.”

  “You’re not listening to me, are you?” She shoved the paper at him. “Go open the box, Cade. Take your time, but then you’ll know. You’ll know who Gage’s father is, and then you can decide how you feel about it.”

  She walked to the back door and pushed it open. The air was thick and hot, and even the mountain breeze didn’t help to cool her off.

  How had it come to this? How had she gotten so deep with him?

  The back door opened, and she felt Cade’s presence. She lifted her head, but didn’t turn to look at him. Instead she closed her eyes.

  He took her hand and held it palm up. Cade laid something metal in her palm and closed her hand around it.

  He moved in close to her, and she could feel his breath on her cheek. “Conner is Gage’s father?”

  Again, the sobs moved in, and when she opened her eyes, she saw his Marine tags in her hand.

  There were no words. She could only nod.

  She saw his shoulders drop, and he pulled her in close to him. “Why is my father’s name on the birth certificate?”

  “Because he was a stubborn, old man.”

  Cade laughed. “Yes, he was.”

  She pulled back and looked at the pieces of metal in her hand. She ran her thumb over Conner’s name. “When Gage was born, he wanted me to put Conner’s name on the certificate. I disagreed. He didn’t want the baby. He shouldn’t get to have his name on there, dead or alive. So when I asked your dad to mail the forms for me, he took them and when I got the certificate back, his name had been added.”

  “Why would he do that?”

  Olivia looked up at him. “How else could he have given Gage everything in his will?”

  Cade walked across the porch to an old, plastic chair against the wall. “He was setting him up?”

  “That would be my guess. He knew I’d have to struggle for everything. And I’m very sure he knew he wouldn’t be around for much longer. That was why he made me leave his house and lent me the money for this house.”

  “Gave you the money.”

  She gritted her teeth. “I said I’d pay you back.”

  Cade shook his head. “No. I meant that sincerely. I want you to keep it. If Gage meant that much to my dad then he should have a good home to live in.”