by Ivy Jordan
I return to the kitchen where Ashley is taking dinner out of the oven. “How did that go?”
“He thinks I went to the daddy store and bought Cade.”
Ashley tries to cover a laugh, but it comes out as a snort before she bursts out laughing. “The daddy store? Get me something for my birthday from there, will ya?”
I laugh along with her at the absurdity. “I guess I have a few things to teach him, huh?”
“Maybe in a few more years you can teach him about the birds and the bees, and it’ll make a little bit more sense to him.”
“Maybe. But hopefully, Cade will forgive me before then and he can have that talk with him.”
“Hey,” she says, coming around to hug me. “I think he really cares about you and Alan; if it’s meant to be, he will come back. Just think positive.”
“At least the truth is out,” I add.
“Yep. It can only go up form here.”
“I’m going to call him again. Not that the ball isn’t already in his court.”
She nods. “I’ll finish getting dinner ready.”
I walk out the backdoor into the yard and dial Cade. I hold my breath as it rings, hoping he’ll pick up, but when his voicemail picks up, I’m not surprised. I try to let out the breath as I listen to his voice, instead, my heart seizes and I stutter as it beeps on my ear.
“Oh, um, hi, Cade, it’s me, Serena. I guess you know that already by now. I just needed to call and say again that I’m sorry for not being upfront with you. It was wrong of me, and I should have trusted that you wouldn’t have freaked out over the news. I just let myself get into my own head. I never thought a guy like you could ever feel anything for a girl like me.
“Anyway, I’d really like to see you and talk in person. If you don’t want to, I understand, but maybe you still want to see Alan? I told him, by the way, that you’re his dad. Of course, he thinks I went to the store and picked you out, so he doesn't really understand it yet. I’d like it if you were a part of his life, even if you choose not to be a part of mine. But, I hope that maybe you still want to be a part of it. That’s all I wanted to say. I won’t bother you again. The next move is up to you. I…I miss you, Cade. Please call me. I’m sorry.”
I hang up and stare at my phone, lost in my thoughts until Ashley comes out and taps me on the shoulder. I throw my arms around her and just hug her as I cry. She doesn’t say a word, just lets me cry in silence before we go inside to call Alan to dinner. I have to be positive, I remind myself. Whatever will be, will be.
I just hope it’s an outcome I’ll like.
Chapter Thirty-Five
Cade
It’s been four days since I walked out of Serena’s house a crushed man. I haven’t slept well since. Truth is, I miss her. I miss her like hell, but I’m still hung up on the fact that she lied to me. I can't wrap my head around how the person I’ve gotten to know could also be the person who chose to keep the truth about Alan from me.
She left me another voicemail last night, and I’ve listened to it twice today. I’m sitting in my living room, lost in my thoughts as I re-read her apologetic text messages when the phone rings.
It’s Tyler. He’s been checking in on me every day. He even came by yesterday to hang out for a few hours to try to help me get my mind off it all. Thing is, no matter what we talked about, my thoughts always seemed to go immediately back to Serena. I appreciate that he tried, though. I answer the phone, expecting more of the same diverting conversation.
“Hey, man,” I answer.
“You call her yet?” he asks immediately.
“What? No small talk, we're just cutting straight to the point today?” I say with amusement.
“No use beating around the bush. So, have you called her yet?” he repeats.
“No. I haven't called her yet.”
“It’s been four days, Cade. What are you waiting on, man?”
“I don’t know,” I admit – because I really don’t.
“Call her and put both of you out of your misery already. Damn, man. You’re miserable and you know it. I bet she is, too. Just call her already.”
“She lied to me, Ty. I’m struggling with it,” I admit.
“I know, and I get that you’re angry and hurt, but she’s been raising that kid on her own for three years. Dude, she’s just been trying to protect him. You can’t blame her for that.”
“She told him,” I chime.
“She told who what?” he asks, clearly confused by my statement.
“She told Alan that I’m his dad.”
“I thought you said you didn’t call her?”
“I didn’t, but she left me a message last night, apologizing again, and she told me that she told him, but that he didn’t quite understand. He’s three, though, so I guess that isn’t all that surprising, right?”
“Umm, no. It’s not. But you are not three. So, when are you going to man up and call her?” Tyler asks me again.
I sigh. “You are such a girl sometimes, you know that?”
“Just because I’m in touch with my feelings doesn't make me a girl. That’s misogynistic; do you really want to teach that to your son?”
“No,” I say.
“You know I’m right. I’m always right,” he says matter-of-factly.
“And smug. Don’t forget smug.”
“Just call her.”
“I will.”
“When?” he asks.
Before I can answer, the sound of my front door swinging open and then closing warrants my attention. That’s when I hear Josephine's voice call out. “Hello! Cade, honey, where are you?”
“Is that-” Tyler starts in my ear.
“What the hell? I’ll call you later,” I say hastily as I hang up on him. I drop my phone on the couch and jump up, meeting Josephine in the hall. Her face lights up with a smile.
“Baby,” she coos as she approaches me. She flings herself at me and tries to kiss me, but I avert my face quickly, and her lips graze my cheek. She pouts as she pulls back. “Is that any way to say hello? Kiss me, Cade.”
“What the hell are you doing here?” I demand as I pry Josephine off me and push her away from me.
“I still have my key, and you didn’t change the alarm code,” she chimes like she knows I didn’t change it just so she could come over. She couldn’t be more wrong. I make a mental note to change both as soon as possible.
“You need to leave. Now,” I command.
“Cade, I came to check on you and make sure you’re okay.”
“Okay? Why wouldn’t I be okay?”
“Oh, you must be in denial. Poor baby,” she says, running her hand along my arm. I yank away from her touch. “I saw on XYZ about that lying bitch. Those commoners are never good enough for people like us, Cade.”
“People like us?” I question, studying her face, wondering what she’s really here for.
“Yes, you know. Famous. A-list. The elite. She was never like us, Cade. Never will be. She’s a lying whore, and you deserve so much better.”
“What, like you?” I laugh loudly, and Josephine frowns.
“Yes, like me. No one gets you better than I do.”
“You know that you liked having an attractive man take you out all over town, but you don’t know anything about me. You never cared about me, only yourself.”
“What, you think that slut cares about out? In your dreams. She cares about your money, parading that kid around and going after your fortune,” she spits.
“You don’t have a damn clue, Josephine. She’s not a whore,” I bite out.
“Maybe, maybe not,” she shrugs. “But she’s not in your league, Cade. She’s not even that pretty. And, she’s just some nerd scientist who teaches in a public school. What are you supposed to do with a woman like that? You certainly can't take her out in public. You’ll be a laughing stock, showing up places with someone that looks like her.”
“You know what, Jo? There’s only one laughing stock and
it’s you. You’re so ugly inside that it’s starting to show on your outside.”
“Oh, Cade,” she laughs. “You silly, silly man. You don’t know what you need. That’s why I hired that private investigator. How else would you have ever known about your son if not for me? I’m prepared to take you back and forget all about this little episode. We can start fresh, me and you. Doesn’t that sound perfect? Just the two of us. We’ll never have to see that awful woman again.”
“Josephine?”
“Yes, baby?” she purrs as she sidles up to me.
“Give me back my fucking key,” I say from gritted teeth. She steps back flustered. “Give it to me!” I raise my voice, losing patience with her. She reaches into her purse and pulls it out, throwing it at me. It bounces off my chest and skitters across the floor.
“Now get the hell out of my house and my life,” I continue. “Don’t ever come back. I mean it. We are done. Over. Through. We are never getting back together. Not now, not in two weeks, not in five years. Not if you were the absolute last woman on Earth. Never. You are a bitch and hiring a private investigator to follow me around and dig into Serena’s life is the lowest you could stoop.
“You say Serena isn't in my league, but the truth is, you aren’t in her league. She’s better than you, and you can’t stand it because you’ll never be as good as her while she doesn't even have to try. She just is.”
“She kept your son from you. Who does that?”
“She had her reasons.” For the first time, I can see why Serena didn’t necessarily want to be part of my world back then.
“You're just going to justify her lies?” Josephine asks in complete shock.
“It’s really none of your damned business. Get out.” I point to the door.
“She’ll never understand you the way I do. She’s just an ugly ass scientist whore.”
“Do not ever speak about the mother of my child like that again,” I roar. Josephine’s eyes widen, and she steps back from me. I take several breaths to calm myself. “Get out of my house, and don't ever fucking come back. Do not speak to me. And don’t you even think about Serena. I do not love you, and I never did. I am in love with Serena, not you. Do I make myself clear?”
Her mouth falls open. “You can’t mean that, Cade. What we had was good.”
“What we had was toxic, Josephine. You never loved me.”
“I did,” she insists.
“You didn’t. You loved parading me around to prove something I’ll never understand. Serena doesn't need that. She doesn't need the world to think she’s perfect, like you do. She has character and layers to who she is, and I love getting to know each and every one of them.”
“She’s still ugly,” Josephine mutters.
“See, now I know that’s just your jealousy talking because Serena is sexy as hell. Every time I see her, I want to make her mine, I want to hear her cry out my name. I just want her. It’s exciting and passionate every time. It’s not lackluster, and I’m never just going through the motions like I did with you. Furthermore, she looks that good all on her own. No makeup, no tens of thousands of dollars spent on plastic surgery. She’s gorgeous without even trying – something you will never be.”
“I’m going to give you one last chance to reconsider, Cade,” Josephine says, stepping toward me again. “One last chance to tell me that you love me and don’t mean anything you just said.”
“How completely moronic can you be? I meant every word of it, Josephine. Now, you have exactly two minutes to get out of my house and off my property, or I call the cops, and you’re the next scandal splashed across XYZ.”
She inhales dramatically, and tears begin to form in her eyes as we stand there staring each other down. Thing is, as much as she’s a cold-hearted bitch, she’s a good actress, so I know it’s bullshit. “Thirty seconds,” I tell her, walking to the couch and grabbing my phone.
“Cade...” she tries one last time.
“I’m not messing around, Jo. Stop your fake tears and get the hell out. It’s over between us. It’s been over for months. Accept it and move on, because I have.”
“Fine, I’m leaving. Goodbye, Cade,” she huffs and stomps toward the door.
“Goodbye, Josephine,” I say gruffly as she swings the front door open with more dramatic flair than is necessary. I watch until her car pulls out of my driveway. Back inside, I close the door and pick up the phone to call my alarm company.
“Yes, hello, this is Cade Thomas. I need to change all the codes on my system, and do you maybe have the number to a good locksmith that you recommend?”
Chapter Thirty-Six
Serena
Yet another day has slipped by. I have been trying to focus all day while reading over my stack of term papers, but my thoughts always seem to stray to Cade. He still hasn’t called, and at this point, I’ve given up hope that I’ll hear from him, despite Ashley’s continued faith that things will work out. It was my turn to cook dinner, but Ashley took pity on me and ordered pizza. She said she was simply craving a deep dish, but I’m certain she’s just afraid I might get distracted and catch the kitchen on fire. She might not be wrong.
I turn and glance down the hall to check on Alan who’s playing in the sun room by the back deck, then try to focus so I can at least finish grading the term paper I’m only a couple of pages from completing before the pizza arrives. When there’s a knock at the door, I know that might not happen. Ashley goes to answer it.
I am deep into reading the term paper, and I don’t look up until Ashley clears her throat. When I do, a lump forms in my throat. Cade is standing behind her.
“I’m going to take Alan outside,” she says softly. I can only nod, and she squeezes my hand as she passes. When I hear the door close behind her and Alan, I make eye contact with Cade.
“Hi,” I say quietly as I stand from my chair.
“Hey,” he replies flatly. I start towards him, but my steps halt and tears begin to trickle down my face. I can’t help but think he probably doesn’t want me near him. In seconds, Cade is in front of me and pulling me into his arms. The moment he does, I lose it. My tears fall freely, wetting the front of his shirt. He just holds me.
“I’m so sorry, Cade. If I could do it over, I would take it all back and do it so much differently. I’d tell you when you showed up in my office and noticed the picture.”
“I know you’re sorry, Serena. It’s okay,” he says soothingly as he rubs my back.
“It’s not okay. It was awful of me.”
“Don’t beat yourself up over it. I know now, and all we can do is go forward from here.”
“Forward? As in together?” I look up at him, tear-stained face and all.
“If you’ll have me,” he responds softly, wiping a tear from my cheek with his thumb.
“Shouldn’t I be the one saying that?” I admit.
“Let’s sit down,” he says, leading me to the couch. For a few moments, we just sit silently beside each other. I revel in the feel of Cade’s arm around me. I wasn’t sure I would ever be here again.
“Why did you keep it from me?” he finally asks, breaking the silence.
“I was afraid,” I admit.
“Afraid of what?”
“Everything. At first, I was afraid you might not want a child changing your life. Then I was afraid of how you’d react when I told you. What it would mean for Alan…and for me. I couldn't wrap my head around the idea that someone like you would ever want to be with someone like me.”
His brow furrows and he looks down at me like he doesn’t understand. “You’re so confident, though.”
“Maybe in most areas of my life, but not when it comes to relationships. I guess I do pretty well at hiding my fears. You know there have only been a few men in my life. Most men find my career and — this sounds a little arrogant to even say — but my intelligence off putting, even some of my colleagues. After I had Alan, it was even harder.
“I’ve never really connect
ed with someone like I did with you. From that first meeting I felt it. And, I ran away that night because I just couldn't fathom how we would ever work out, so I thought it better to save myself the heartache.”
“Anyone intimidated by how intelligent you are doesn’t deserve to be around you. I love that you know about things I don’t, and I love that you can teach me about how stars are born or how you discover new parts of our solar system. And, I love that you listen to me when I tell you about something you don’t know anything about, so you can understand it. You’re involved, and that’s rare. And not only are you intelligent, but you’re witty and beautiful, and the best mother I have ever met.”
My heart flutters in my chest. I want nothing more than to kiss him just for being there. “You’re pretty special, too, Cade. The fact that you listen to my ramblings about anything scientific, and that I truly feel as though you hear me when I talk to you, that’s hard to come by. Even when two people have similar things in common.”
“Yeah? Well, you know what I like the best about you?”
“What?” I ask.
“Your love for fried chicken,” he says with a grin.
I laugh, and Cade laughs along with me as he tugs me closer.
“I had a hard time seeing what was in front of me and accepting the obvious truth,” I tell him.
He smiles. “What truth is that?”
I sit up a little and turn toward him. “That I love you. I love you, Cade.”
He leans in and captures my lips under his in a soft, sweet kiss. “I love you, too, Serena,” he whispers against my lips. He pulls me into his embrace, and we kiss. My heart is immediately full and truly happy. When we break apart, Cade touches his forehead to mine.
“What do you think about you and Alan moving in with me?”
“Cade...it’s too soon.”
“Says who?” he chides.
“Won’t we confuse Alan?”
“We’re a family, so let’s be a family.” Tears well in my eyes when he says it. “Let’s talk to Alan,” he suggests. I nod, and we get up, walking outside to find Ashley and Alan. Ashley looks up first and smiles knowingly as Cade and I walk out hand in hand.