“No, son, that’s all taken care of now.”
“Are you friends?”
“I suppose so.”
“How come you don’t ask Cadi on a date?”
“Maybe I will, Dustin. What do you think about that?” Frank chuckled at his son’s surprised expression. But in the next moment, he saw this as an opportune time to find out his kids’ opinions on the subject of his possibly dating Cadi. “Maybe I’ll ask her out to dinner or something.”
“Goodie. Can we come, too?” Emmie asked. “I’ve never been on a date before.”
“And you won’t be for another twenty years if I have my way.” Frank laughed and swung the pixie into his arms.
She squealed with delight.
“Hey, Dad, how ’bout if we ask Cadi to our church’s Fourth of July picnic?”
“We?”
“Yeah. She can be on our softball team.”
“Aha, the true motive comes to light.” Frank chuckled and deposited his daughter on her bed. “We’ll see, okay?”
After tucking Emmie under her covers and giving her a kiss good night, Frank walked Dustin into his room.
“Think you’d kiss Cadi good night, Dad? She’s pretty.”
Frank put his hands on his hips and watched his son crawl in between the bedsheets. “How old are you?”
“Eight.” Dustin rolled his eyes. “You know how old I am.”
“Right. And I know you’re too young to think about kissing girls, so keep your mind on sports, got it?”
“Got it.” Dustin grinned.
Frank placed a kiss on his forehead and turned out the light. He rubbed his whiskered jaw as he made his way back downstairs. It encouraged him to hear his kids weren’t averse to his asking Cadi out.
Perhaps it was time to take his relationship with her one step forward.
Twelve
Cadi stared at the note Aunt Lou had left: “Call Deputy Parker at your earliest convenience. No hurry.”
Aunt Lou had also penned his phone number along with the date and time the message had been taken.
“Frank called?” Anticipation plumed inside of her.
“Yes, he did.” Aunt Lou peeked around Cadi’s shoulder. “It didn’t sound like business.”
“Cool.” She pocketed the message. “I’ll call him back.”
“Call him now if you’d like. I have wash to do.”
“I’ll call him later, after I unpack.”
A wry little smile played across Aunt Lou’s face. “Officer Parker said he saw you on television.”
“He did?” Cadi hoped that wasn’t the only reason for his call. She’d been praying about getting to know Frank better, but she wanted the Lord to do the work in his heart. She figured she’d know that was happening if Frank initiated the relationship. The last thing Cadi wanted was to force something that wasn’t God’s will—as she had with Darrell.
“I must say, I’m very proud of you and your organization.”
Cadi hugged her aunt. “Thanks for your prayers and encouragement. What would I ever do without you and your prayer chain?”
Releasing Aunt Lou, she lifted her duffel bag and lugged it upstairs where she began to unpack.
Aunt Lou followed her into her bedroom.
“I heard on the news that no one was killed or injured by the tornado,” the older woman said, smoothing the skirt of her printed housedress. “That’s good news.”
“Actually, there was one injury, but the guy is going to be all right. He broke his arm getting his dog out of the house when the flooding began.” Cadi managed a smile for her aunt, but the truth was floodwaters frightened her to the point of sheer panic.
“I trust the dog is all right, too.”
Cadi nodded.
“Well, thank heaven for that.” She collected Cadi’s dirty clothes.
“Oh, Aunt Lou, don’t pick up after me. I can throw my own clothes into the washing machine.”
“You hush. I’m glad to do it.” Aunt Lou headed for the doorway. “What would you like for supper tonight?”
“Anything’s fine.”
“Then it’s cold chicken and potato salad.”
“Yum.” Cadi’s stomach rumbled with anticipation, and she realized she hadn’t eaten much all day.
“Oh, and. . .” Her aunt paused, and a huge smile spread across her face. “The car is going to be delivered tomorrow morning. I’m so excited.”
“Hooray!” Cadi raised her hands and cheered. “You deserve it, Aunt Lou.”
“Well, I don’t know about that.” An apple-red hue filled her cheeks. “But I’m very grateful for your generosity.”
Cadi didn’t feel she was particularly giving. Her aunt had, after all, taken her in as a child and brought her up to the best of her abilities. She’d nurtured Cadi’s walk with the Lord and sacrificed through the years, showing true Christlike love. Now Aunt Lou’s old clunker could barely chug its way to the grocery store and back. Cadi figured buying her a new car with the settlement she’d been awarded by Ross’s car insurance company was only due reward.
“I never had a new car before. Never.” Aunt Lou shifted the clothes in her arms. “And, of course, you can borrow it any time.”
Cadi chuckled. “Thanks, but so far God has kept my van running, and now that it’s paid off, thanks to the insurance money I received, I have one less financial burden.”
Aunt Lou clucked her tongue and wagged her head. “Imagine Ross Hinshaw hiring an attorney because he thought you’d sue him. You’re not that kind of a person—even though there was pain and suffering on your part and the accident was due to Ross’s negligence.”
“Yes, I suppose it is fair that I received some recompense.” Ross’s attorney had contacted her with the offer, hoping to stem future claims and possible losses, and a lawyer at church who specializes in family law helped seal the deal. “I’m just glad my medical bills were paid for.”
“And then some! But Lonnie Mae said you could have gotten a lot more had you pressed the issue.”
“Aunt Lou, we’ve discussed this before, and—”
“I know. I know. You’re too good-hearted.” Her aunt grinned affectionately. “To think you’d spend your money on an old goat like me. Lonnie Mae and the entire prayer chain couldn’t believe it. A new car! For me!”
Cadi arched a brow. “I thought you were supposed to be praying on that prayer chain.”
“We do pray, you sassy thing. But every so often we have to update each other on all the miracles that God has done.”
Cadi replied with a grin. She didn’t have anything against the prayer chain, but she certainly enjoyed teasing her great-aunt.
“Well, I’m off to the laundry room,” Aunt Lou announced. “Come down to the kitchen when you’re ready to eat. Every-thing is already prepared.”
When her aunt left for the lower level, Cadi extracted Frank’s message from her pocket then dug through her purse until she found her cell phone. She said a quick prayer for wisdom and calm for her sudden nerves then pressed his number into her keypad. She half expected to get a recorded message.
“Yep, Frank Parker here.”
“Frank? It’s Cadi. I’m returning your call.”
“Well, hi—hang on a second.”
She heard muffled voices before he returned.
“I sent my kids outside to play.”
“You’re home? I thought maybe I called your office.”
“Cell phone.”
“Ah.” She sat down on the edge of her bed and folded one leg beneath her. “How’ve you been?”
“Good. What about you? How are you feeling?”
“Just great, actually.”
“Glad to hear it. You were pretty banged up.”
“I’
ll say.”
That night was still pretty much a blur for Cadi; however, she and Frank had discussed it a couple of days later when she called to thank him for the beautiful bouquet of sunflowers, mums, daisies, and phlox. Two huge balloons and a box of chocolates had accompanied the arrangement. Aunt Lou took one look at the gifts and remarked that Frank certainly knew how to get a woman’s attention.
“Cadi, do you have plans on Saturday night?”
The question shook her. “Saturday?”
“If you’re available, I’d like to take you to dinner.”
She couldn’t contain her smile. “Why, Officer Parker, are you asking me on a date?”
“Oh, man. . .you’re going to make me squirm, aren’t you?”
Cadi laughed.
“Are you free or not?”
She decided he was rather fun to tease, but she chose not to push it. A date with Frank was what she’d been hoping and praying for!
“Dinner sounds nice. Thanks for the invite.”
“I’ll pick you up about six.”
“I’ll be ready.”
When their call ended, Cadi stared at her cell phone, replaying their conversation in her mind. She couldn’t wait to call Meg and tell her.
Then she flopped back on her bed and smiled. And just wait until Aunt Lou and her prayer chain hear about this!
Thirteen
Cadi heard car doors slam and rushed to peek out her bed-room window. She glimpsed Frank emerging from his SUV followed by his two children.
He brought his kids? Frank never mentioned bringing his kids!
Cadi wondered if maybe he planned to drop them off at a babysitter’s house. In the next moment, she noticed Frank’s casual attire and knew at once that she’d overdressed for the occasion.
She hastened into the hallway and called downstairs to her aunt. “I’ll be down in a minute!” Then she flung off the black dress and kicked off the heels. She grabbed a flattering khaki skirt out of the closet and pulled a teal sleeveless shirt over her head. Next she slipped her feet into brown sandals and grabbed her trim leather purse.
Finally she began to make her way down the steps, trying not to sound winded as her guests came into view.
Frank’s daughter met her at the foot of the wide stairwell. “We came to take you on a date.”
Cadi veiled her disappointment. She had envisioned a quiet, romantic evening alone with Frank.
“I never been on a date before,” the girl added.
As she stared into the upturned, cherubic face, Cadi’s regret vanished. The girl was baby-doll adorable. How could she resist?
Very simply, she couldn’t.
“And I brung you these.” Enthusiasm shone from her golden-brown eyes as she held out a bouquet of colorful but wilting flowers. “I picked ’em in my gramma’s garden. My daddy said it was okay.”
“How sweet. Thank you.”
Making her way down the rest of the steps, Cadi accepted the flowers and gave the little tyke a hug. Aunt Lou was ready with a small vase and quickly placed the blooms in water.
“Thank you for asking me on your. . .date.”
Cadi glanced at Frank and noticed his obvious chagrin.
“You remember my daughter, Emily, don’t you?”
“Of course.”
“And my son, Dustin.”
Cadi smiled at the boy. “Hi, Dustin.”
“I’ve never been on a date, either,” he said, appearing embarrassed. “We’re taking you out for pizza and then renting some movies. We can watch them together at our house.”
“Sounds like—like a fun time.” Cadi forced the upbeat inflection into her voice, unsure if the evening would be as eventful as she imagined.
She glanced at her aunt. “You’ve all met my aunt, Lou.”
Everyone nodded, and her aunt sent her a curious look before seeing them to the door and walking them outside.
The humidity hung in the air like a thick drape, and Cadi felt beads of perspiration forming on her brow. As they ambled down the cement walkway, graced by multicolored petunias on either side, Frank nodded to the slate, four-door sedan parked in the driveway. The sticker was still on the rear window.
“New car?”
“Yes. Cadi purchased it for me,” Aunt Lou replied. “Isn’t she a beauty?” The excitement in her voice was unmistakable. “And she drives like a dream.”
Cadi couldn’t help smiling at the gleaming sedan. She felt pleased that she’d been able to purchase the car for her aunt. “She deserves it after all she’s done for me.”
“Nonsense.” Aunt Lou bent over and plucked a weed from the flower bed. “You all have a good time now.”
“We will,” Dustin replied.
He and Emily raced to the curb.
Reaching his SUV, Frank opened the door for Cadi then helped his children into the backseat and saw to it that they were buckled in.
“Why are cars always referred to as ‘she’?” Cadi asked when Frank climbed behind the wheel. She fastened her seat belt and then gave her aunt one last wave.
“Motor vehicles, like women, are unpredictable,” he retorted, “especially in bad weather.”
Cadi glanced over her shoulder at Emily. “Did you hear what your dad said? He said we women are ‘unpredictable.’ ”
A little frown creased Emily’s brow. “What does that mean?”
Frank chuckled and started the engine.
“It means wishy-washy, like you never know what they’re going to do next,” Cadi said and aimed a look at Frank. “But I can think of a few men who are unpredictable, too.”
“Me, too,” Emily said with a weary-sounding sigh. “My grampa is unaddictable. First he wants to play checkers with Dustin, but he really promised to take me to the park.”
“The voice of experience,” Frank muttered with a grin. “All four, almost five, years of her life.”
Cadi laughed and decided that at least this evening would be entertaining.
❧
Sitting in the armchair with his feet up on the ottoman, Frank couldn’t shake the embarrassment numbing his body. He’d never seen his children behave in such an obnoxious manner, the little show-offs.
At the pizzeria, they shouted over each other, trying to impress Cadi with their many talents and attributes. Then they argued over movies at the rental store, attempting to drag Cadi into the middle of it. Once they’d arrived home, the two fought over who got to sit next to Cadi on the couch, and Dustin actually plopped his pillow in her lap and lay his head down, stretching out on the rest of the piece of furniture. This sent Emmie into a hissy fit until Cadi assured them both that she had plenty of lap for both kids.
So now there they were, Dustin reclined and Emmie curled up on Cadi while Frank sat in the adjacent leather chair. He’d be lucky if she ever spoke to him again.
“Oh, wasn’t that a touching story?” Cadi said when Emmie’s movie ended. “The princess shared her riches with her kingdom.”
Emmie regarded her with wide eyes, looked back at the TV, and then at Cadi once more.
“It’s a blessing to share the things God gives us, isn’t it?” Cadi remarked.
Frank watched his daughter nod, and he had to admit feeling somewhat impressed that Cadi found a way to emphasize a moral in the story that hadn’t been an obvious theme. In fact, Frank had seen this flick about five times, and he hadn’t picked up on the giving aspect.
“Now we watch my movie,” Dustin said, getting up and changing the DVD.
Emmie inched her pillow forward, and Frank could see fireworks coming.
“Emily Marie—”
Before Frank could say more, Dustin returned to the sofa. “Hey, move over!” He shoved his pillow into Emmie’s.
“Tha
t’ll be enough.” Frank stood and clenched his jaw. His beautiful children had morphed into unrecognizable little brats. “Any more bad behavior and you’ll go to bed without a second movie.”
Dustin clamped his mouth shut, and Emmie didn’t make a peep.
Well, maybe it’s good that Cadi finds out right away what my life is like with two kids, Frank thought. Now she won’t have lofty expectations.
He looked back at her and his children. They vied for her attention and, sitting together, they made a cozy sight that sent an odd sense of longing zinging through him. Still, he hoped Cadi didn’t feel too imposed upon.
Standing to his feet, Frank realized he needed to be more of a host. He caught Cadi’s eye and smiled. “Can I get you a soda or something?”
“No, thanks.”
“I’ll take a soda,” Dustin said. “How ’bout some popcorn?”
“Yeah. . .” Emmie perked up.
“No soda or popcorn for you two.” Frank lowered himself back into his chair. “It’s too close to bedtime. Besides, I was asking our guest.”
The kids groaned in disappointment, and Frank shook his head at them.
They continued to watch the movie. Before long, Emmie fell asleep, and Frank took her upstairs to bed. When he returned, he took a seat on the couch on the other side of Cadi. He listened as Dustin talked her ear off about how he could ride his bike faster than the neighbor kid. Frank thought it was gracious of Cadi to act so impressed.
Stretching his arm across the back of the sofa, his gaze met hers, and he offered an apologetic look. Then he glanced at his son once again. “If you’re not interested in this movie—that you picked out, I might add—we can turn it off and you can go to bed.”
“Okay, okay.” The boy took the hint, although his silence didn’t last long. “Hey, Cadi, know what you smell like?”
“Dustin!” Frank could only imagine the forthcoming com-parison, not that his son would intentionally insult Cadi.
She pulled her chin back. “I hope I don’t smell bad.”
“Uh-uh.” Dustin grinned. “You smell real good. Like cake.”
“Thanks.” She smiled.
Relief poured over Frank, and he had to admit his son was right. He had been reveling in the sweet scent Cadi wore from the moment he sat beside her.
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