by Sable Hunter
She had worked the room on automatic, speaking to everyone, doing her duty as one of the hostesses. The cake was all set, she’d seen to that. All of the flowers and ribbons were straight. The organist was in place. The soloist was prepared. Everyone had their corsages and knew their cues. The only one missing was Cade and she hadn’t had the heart to ask anyone if they knew what had happened or if he was returning. All she could think was that he had reconsidered. He couldn’t face being with her…not after…
“Abby!” Mother. Crap. “Abby, I need your help! We can’t find Harold!”
* * *
Houston traffic had been crazy, but now they were making good time. Cade checked his watch. God, why hadn’t he brought his phone? He’d been so worried about getting on the road that he’d walked off and left his cell somewhere in Abby’s house. When he’d stopped for gas, Cade had called El Camino on a pay phone. Some caterer had answered and promised to give someone in the family a message, but he had no idea who had received the word that he was running a little late or if Abby had been told. God, he hoped so.
Glancing at the clock, he saw they were going to be cutting it mighty close. Pressing a bit harder on the gas pedal, Cade sped up. He couldn’t stand the thought of Abby worrying or thinking the worst.
“Cade, Son? Are you sure it is okay for me to attend this wedding? My clothes are very plain.”
Cade looked at his mother, his heart so full of love and contentment, he could barely contain the happiness. “You look beautiful, Mom. Don’t worry a second. The King’s will love you. Especially Abby, I can’t wait for you to meet her.”
He spent the time on the road, pouring his heart out to Tia Tallbull. Cade explained about his father and how Sam King and Amelia had taken him in. The years they’d spent apart seemed to disappear as he shared his dreams for the future. “We’ll be happy. We’ll be a family again – me, you and Abby Grace.”
Last night he had won the heart of the love of his life and today he had been reunited with his mother. Cade had received the call from Vance a little before four. The only thing he’d taken time to do was kiss Abby, whisper he loved her, and write a note for her to find on the dresser. The note explained that he was heading to the airport, but he’d be back in plenty of time for the wedding. With his mother.
He still couldn’t believe it. Could life get any better? He was leaving a career he loved, but he was leaving on top. He’d been granted the highest honor he could receive from the work he’d enjoyed. And after years of searching, the PI firm had finally located Tia Tallbull in a little village south of Monterrey. She’d been working at a resort, cleaning rooms. When Vance had found her, she’d cried when he’d showed her Cade’s photo and told her it was her son’s wish for her to come home. What a Christmas this was going to turn out to be! Best of all was the little box he had in his pocket. Last night, he’d neglected to give Abby her biggest Christmas gift or ask her the question he’d been dying to ask.
Would she marry him? Would she make him the happiest man in the world? God, he prayed so.
* * *
Everyone was in their place. There were at least a thousand people at the wedding. The lake house had never been lovelier. No expense had been spared. Abby sat by Mrs. Horne at the back of the crowd, near the door. She’d listened to her piano teacher regale her with a story about everybody in the room. But Abby was only hearing part of it. She was hurting, yet she was watching the door and praying. Her family hadn’t been much help. She’d asked the twins if they’d seen Cade, but they hadn’t. Her father said he didn’t know anything, but he trusted Cade would come back. Cade’s word was his bond. If he said he’d be here, Sam King would stake his life on it.
Abby wasn’t so sure. Not that she didn’t trust Cade, but she’d asked so much of him. A man like Cade deserved the very best and she didn’t even come close to being what he needed. As she sat and waited, Abby folded and refolded the pleats on her dress. She didn’t regret a moment she’d spent with Cade, but having known what it was like to be in his arms was going to make losing him a thousand times worse.
Abby watched the clock. It was time. The organ music began. Cade was nowhere in sight. She tensed and sat up straighter. After the first few bars of music, the pastor came in and took his place followed by Jase and his groomsmen. Trace, who was supposed to serve as just an usher, was standing in for Cade. Abby’s heart plummeted. Next came the flower girls, then the bridesmaids, followed by Pam’s sister, the matron of honor. Abby watched her brother. He didn’t look as happy as she would have wished. The whole family was going to have to get on board with this marriage. They couldn’t afford to hurt Jase. His marriage was going to be challenging enough without having to deal with a judgmental family.
A small woof of greeting had every head turning. It was time for the ring bearer. Everyone smiled and applauded. Scout, old faithful Scout, was walking down the aisle toward Jase. Jase smiled and knelt down to wait on him. When Abby had gone back with her mother to help locate the little rapscallion, it was to find Harold had stopped up two commodes with toilet paper and one of them had run over. His tux had been ruined. So, Jase was getting his wish. Scout was in the wedding party.
Now, it was time for the bride. The music swelled and everyone stood. And stood. And stood. Finally, a door opened. There were murmurs. But it wasn’t the bride. Abby looked and her heart clutched in her chest. It was Cade! And he wasn’t alone. A beautiful woman was with him. But the more she looked at the woman, the more she realized she looked like Cade. Was this his mother? She’d known he was looking for her, the whole family did, but it had been so long. His eyes roved the crowd. Was he looking for her? Finally, their eyes locked and he smiled. She smiled back. Honestly, Abby didn’t know what to think.
The organist kept playing…and playing…people were beginning to get restless. Jase looked at his watch and then he looked at Pam’s sister who shrugged her shoulders. Finally, the bride’s mother rose and exited toward the changing rooms. Whispers floated through the crowd. Everyone at the front was moving around, except Scout. He was on guard. Shiloh whispered to Cade who whispered to Justice. Something was going on.
To give the organist and preacher credit, they held it together, but when the bride’s mother came out with a handkerchief to her eyes, Abby knew it was over. “I’m sorry, Pam has eloped! With another man!” For a few moments, pandemonium reigned supreme. All Abby could think about was the mysterious phone call Pam had received the day Cade had kissed her in the office and her brother’s fiancé had walked in on them.
“Eloped?” Mrs. Horne yelled. “I bought new Vanity Fair underwear for this shindig! We need a wedding!”
All eyes were on Jase. He stood there, surrounded by his brothers and his best friend—and he smiled a sad smile. Stepping out into the aisle, he cleared his throat. “Ladies and Gentleman, it’s okay. Please. All I ever wanted was for Pam to be happy and if she feels someone else is better for the job to make her happy, then I will gracefully step aside.” Some of Pam’s family and friends began to get up from their chairs and file out.
Abby’s father stood up next. “Listen, everyone, we don’t want anyone to leave. We have food on top of food and dancing and liquor. We’re not going to let any of that go to waste. We’ll party at El Camino!” He pumped his fist in the air and Abby secretly wondered if he was as relieved as she was. The only thing marring this day was where she stood with Cade. Abby was so afraid to face him. Sometimes what you dream in the dark looks totally different in the light of day, especially after you’ve had time to think about things. She started to rise and slip out the back when a hush fell over the crowd…
“Abilene, don’t you dare leave.”
Abby froze in her tracks.
Cade.
“Turn around, Abby. Look at me.”
Abby swallowed, and turned. Lord, if this had been a week ago, she’d be ready for him to pull some practical joke on her. Now, she didn’t know what to think…she looked at him and
the expression on his face was tender. He was holding something up in the air, offering it to her. A ring? “Cade, what’s going on?”
“Come here, Abby, my beautiful, perfect Abby. We’re gathered here with all of our family and friends. Your father has given me permission to ask you this question and Jase doesn’t mind us picking up where he left off. I have a license, I’ve had it for days. Now, don’t break my heart.”
Abby thought she would die—right there. Was this…could it be? She didn’t know whether to move or not. “What’s the question?”
A few titters were heard through the crowd. They all knew Cade and Abby’s history. They were probably expecting a verbal exchange, a prank or at the very least – a water balloon fight.
“I’ve won a few awards here and there, all of which I laid at your feet in my heart. Compared to you, none of those accolades mean a damn thing to me. You’re my everything, Abby Grace King. I have loved you with all my soul since I was sixteen years old.”
“Cade, get on with it before Abby elopes with somebody else!” Someone yelled.
Everyone was laughing, except Abby. He had her complete and utter attention. She took a step forward, but just a single step. She wanted to hear the question first.
Cade looked at Abby standing there like a vision in a silk burgundy sheathe with her hair hanging in spiral curls past her waist. She looked like a fairy-tale princess. “Abby, my Abby, will you do me the honor of becoming my wife? Will you marry me? You might as well, I belong to you and you’re never getting rid of me.”
“I don’t want to get rid of you.” There was a collective sigh from the crowd. Abby’s mother began to cry. Her brothers were smiling and Abby… Abby took one step, two—and then she ran. She ran to Cade as hard as she could, launching herself at him. “Yes! I will marry you. Yes!”
He caught her easily. “Thank you, thank you, thank you.” He wrapped her in a strong embrace. “I promise to make you the happiest woman alive.”
“I already am.” She couldn’t believe her dearest wish was coming true.
“Ahemmm.” The preacher got their attention. “Are we doing this?”
He looked at Abby. “It’s up to you. We can wait. I want to marry you, but if you want to wait for a white dress and a better cake, I’ll wait till you’re ready.” He kissed her sweet lips. “Or we can do it now – you’re the boss.”
It didn’t take Abby long to decide. “Now, I want to marry you now.” She had waited long enough to have her dreams come true. “If you think I’m giving you a chance to change your mind, you’re crazy.”
Cade roared with laughter. “Not possible, but I feel the same way. Why wait to be happy. Let’s get married.” He sat her down and they turned to face the altar.
“Dearly Beloved, we are gathered here to unite this man and woman in Holy Matrimony.” Abby held Cade’s hand, staring up into his eyes and realized that sometimes dreams do come true.
* * *
The reception was in full swing. Abby slow-danced with Cade, even when the music was fast. He cradled her close, stealing kisses. Once, he even kissed the ring on her finger. “I meant to give you this last night, but when you gave me your gift I lost my train of thought.” He chuckled and held her even tighter.
“You mean the Cowboy Hall of Fame belt buckle?” Abby teased him.
“No, not the belt buckle—you.” He moved his hips against her. “When you gave yourself to me, it was like you had given me the whole world.”
Abby looked down, needing to tell him, yet knowing he had an answer that would make everything okay. “This morning, when you were gone…I thought you’d changed your mind. I thought you’d left.”
Cade lifted her chin. “You didn’t get my note?”
“What note?” She searched his face, confused. “I didn’t get a note.”
He growled. “Damn ceiling fan. I put it on the dresser, explaining how Vance had found my mother. It must have blown off behind the dresser.” He caressed the nape of her neck. “I should have kissed you awake or taken you with me, but you were sleeping so peacefully. I knew I had worn you out.”
“It’s all right, I should have had more faith,” she murmured, molding her body to his.
“You can have full trust in me, Abby. I’m not perfect, but I’m on your side. I will never let you down.”
She looked up into his dear face, so serious, yet so full of love. “I know that, Cade. I shouldn’t have worried and questioned you. My insecurities and self-doubt almost ruined my life. I need to have more faith in…in me.”
As they moved slowly to the rhythm of the music, Cade cradled her close. “My Abby. You can have faith in us.” He sipped at her lips, inhaling her kiss, the very air that she breathed. “When love is right, like ours’, it never disappears. Through the years, it remains and grows and changes as it goes, but it never goes away.”
“I love you so much, I’ve always loved you.” She stood on tiptoe and fit herself as tightly to him as she could.
Cade rubbed his lips along the soft hair at her temple. “If I’d had any idea what was holding you back, I would have been at your door and on my knees at your feet a long time ago.”
“We’ve wasted so much time.” She sighed, laying her head on his shoulder.
“We have the rest of our lives, Abby. Don’t be sad.” He paused, running his thumb over her lip. “I thought you didn’t want me because I was—”
“What?” Abby asked. She couldn’t imagine what was making him look so…vulnerable.
He rested his forehead against hers. “I thought you changed your mind because of who I was, the color of my skin, who my mom was and my dad. I thought you listened to the gossip and talk and didn’t want me anymore.”
“Oh, God!” Abby stopped them in their tracks. She took his face in her hands and kissed him for all she was worth. The guests all clapped. “Don’t you dare ever think any such thing! You are more important to me than my own life.”
Cade chuckled, loving how she defended him. “I know it now, Baby. You’ve proved it twice beyond a shadow of a doubt.”
“I’d do it again. In a heartbeat.” Her tone brooked no argument. Cade believed her. He belonged to Abby Grace.
“I can’t wait to get to know your mother.” She sighed happily.
“We’re going to have a wonderful life, Abby. My mother, your family – hell, our family. We’ve got it made, babe. Your parents said that Tia, my mom, could stay with them until we could get our house built. I thought, if it was okay, we could build her a small house near ours. Since I found her, I want to keep her close.”
“Of course, I want all of our family close.” Abby ran her fingers through the hair at his nape. “Mostly, I just want to be where you are, then I’ll be happy. So, what’s next?” She asked, with a seductive smile on her face.
The music ended and Cade took her by the hand. “I’ll tell you what comes next – the best part, our honeymoon!”
Abby laughed at his exuberance. “How long of a honeymoon can we have?”
Cade looked up, pretending to ponder, a happy smile on his face. “How about sixty years?”
“I like the sound of that.” She followed him to where their family was gathering to say good-bye and wish them well. “You once told me that for some people the honeymoon never ends.”
“I was thinking about us when I said that, I knew if I could ever get you in my arms, I’d never let you go.” Cade couldn’t help it, his mind was on what awaited them in bed. “Jase has given us the honeymoon, if you want to go. How does Hawaii sound?”
Abby smiled. “Actually, Hawaii seems a long way off. I’d rather just go back to your bed, if that’s okay. I don’t really want to go on Pam’s honeymoon. I just want to be in your arms. I want to be with you.”
“God, you’re sweet.” Cade hugged her tight. He couldn’t wait to get her alone. As he led her off the dance floor, they were met by her brothers and parents, their friends and his mother.
“This cake i
s horrible!” Trace called out, spitting into a napkin.
“Try the groom’s cake.” Jase laughed. “It’s not vegan.”
Abby went to her brother. “I’m sorry about all of this. I don’t know what happened, but I love you. You’re my favorite brother.”
“I know.” He kissed Abby on the cheek and shook Cade’s hand. “Next time I get married, I want to be as happy as you two are.”
“I want that for you too.” Abby hugged him, then went down the line, hugging them all, including Cade’s mother. “It’s so wonderful to meet you.”
“I wish I had a gift for you.” Tia said with tears in her eyes.
“You’ve given me the greatest gift of all.” Abby kissed her. “Your son is the love of my life, thank you for him.”
Cade joined them and hugged his mother. “I’ll see you tomorrow and I’m so glad you’re here.” When he turned his mom loose, he gathered Abby into his arms. “Let’s go start our honeymoon, Wife,” Cade whispered in her ear.
She threw the bridesmaid bouquet she’d carried, and they posed for one more photograph, then slipped away. “We managed to avoid some of the madness like throwing rice and garters and having our car decorated.” Cade said as he escorted her to the front entrance.
Abby didn’t care. She was happy. This was the perfect wedding because she’d married the man she loved. “As long as you carry me across the threshold, we’re good. I like that tradition.”
“No problem. I’ll take any excuse to get you in my arms.” He opened the door and they stepped out onto the porch. The night was clear and silent. The stars were bright as diamonds. “When I came home for the wedding, I had no idea this would turn into the best Christmas of my life. Merry Christmas, Abby.”
“Merry Christmas, Cade.” She turned into his arms and nestled against him. He was the safest place in the world for her.
“Will you go with me to look at the land we’re buying?” he asked as they walked hand in hand to his truck.
“We’re buying, I like that.” She hugged his arm. “Just try to go without me.” Abby dared him, then smiled. “There’s nowhere on earth I’d rather be than with you. You’re stuck with me, you might as well get used to it.”