Aunt Lou neither admitted nor denied it, much to Cadi’s amusement. Instead, her aunt stood from the couch and stretched.
“Time for bed. Church in the morning.”
“I’m just going to finish my water. Then I’ll turn off the lights and lock up before I go upstairs.”
“Very good.” She bent to kiss Cadi’s cheek. “Sweet dreams.”
She hadn’t a doubt about that. She smiled at her great-aunt. “G’night, Aunt Lou.”
❧
“Did you kiss her, Dad?”
Frank’s jaw tensed as he sat at the breakfast table with his kids. He was tempted to tell Dustin it was none of his business whether he kissed Cadi or not. But then he figured he might as well be honest about it.
“Did you, Dad?” Emily asked. Her spoon hung in midair, halfway between her cereal bowl and her mouth. “Did you kiss her?”
He looked from one to the other. “You two are really something.” He couldn’t help a grin. “Yeah, I kissed her, all right? And I liked it, too. What do you think about that?”
Dustin grinned, and Emmie giggled and wrinkled her nose. “Ewwww.”
Frank shook his head at them.
“Did Cadi like kissing you?” Dustin asked eagerly.
Frank recalled her starry-eyed expression. “Yeah, I think she liked it just fine.” He shook off the pleasant memory and narrowed his gaze at his son. Frank didn’t know whether to be concerned over Dustin’s recent preoccupation with kissing or not. Was it merely a boyhood curiosity? Should he address the issue, or would it pass on its own?
“Did you ask her to the picnic, Dad?”
“No. To tell you the truth, I kind of forgot about the picnic. I might have to work that day, anyhow.”
The boy’s expression fell. “But I thought we were all going—like a family.”
The comment cut Frank. “Let me see what I can work out.” He sensed the picnic carried more importance to his son than he’d first thought. “And I’ll call Cadi and invite her. But let’s get one thing straight: The three of us are a family. If someday I remarry, that lady will just be added to the family that we already have.”
“But we’re not a real family,” Dustin muttered into his cereal bowl.
Frank leaned closer to his son. “Excuse me?”
Dustin lifted his chin and looked Frank in the eye. “We’re not a real family. My Sunday school teacher said so. She said a real family has a father and a mother.”
Frank clenched his jaw. He knew Dustin’s Sunday school teacher. Paige Dunner. She enjoyed barging into Frank’s life whenever she could drum up an excuse. To this point, he’d politely tolerated the meals she brought over to the house and the goodies she baked up for the kids on their birthdays or Valentine’s Day and at Christmastime. But Frank wasn’t about to allow Paige to manipulate his son so she could get to him.
“You’re done with that Sunday school class. Hear me?”
Dustin’s eyes grew wide. “But, Dad—”
“No exceptions.”
Frank glanced across the table and, glimpsing the startled expression on Emily’s face, softened his tone.
“I’m not punishing you, Dustin. I’m trying to protect you. That’s my duty as your father. So we’ll stop Sunday school for a while and I’ll speak with Miss Paige, but you can still go to church.”
“Will you come with us, Daddy?” Emmie asked, a pleading light in her amber eyes.
Frank paused, thinking it over, then expelled an audible sigh. “Oh, I don’t know.” He felt a sort of dread when he thought of attending the small church.
“Does Cadi go to church?” Dustin asked, his mouth stuffed with toast.
“Don’t talk with your mouth full, son; and, yes, she goes to church.”
“We could go to Cadi’s church today,” Emmie suggested on the sweetest note Frank ever heard, “and then you can come with us.”
“Yeah, Dad, you came with us the time when Cadi was at our church.”
“What is this? A conspiracy?” Frank stood and took his dishes to the sink. His entire body felt tense. His children were working his last nerve. He felt close to losing his patience.
But as he rinsed out his coffee mug, it occurred to him that perhaps his kids were starving for his attention. He tried to spend quality time with them on his days off, but perhaps it hadn’t been enough.
He forced himself to take a deep breath, relax, and think things over.
Church? Attend services at Cadi’s church this morning? No one there would regard him as the unfortunate widower struggling to raise two very precocious kids. What’s more, he wouldn’t have to withstand piteous stares from folks who knew and loved Yolanda. And, if he visited Cadi’s church today, he wouldn’t have to put up with overzealous unattached females like Paige Dunner. Of course, being with Cadi again would be a boon. Then again, she might have other plans.
He swung around and looked at his children. They stared back at him with expectancy glimmering in their eyes.
“Okay, I’ll call Cadi and find out some things about her church—like the name of it and where it’s located.”
He glanced at his watch and decided they could very possibly make a later service.
Regarding his kids once more, he added, “This is a last-minute thing, but maybe it’ll work out.”
They let out a happy whoop.
“But I’m not promising anything.” Frank had to raise his voice above their victorious cheers to add, “So don’t get your hopes up.”
In reply Dustin and Emily peered into their cereal bowls and grinned.
Fifteen
The wind shifted, bringing in a cooler breeze and a reprieve from the hot humid air. Cadi decided it was perfect weather for the first of July.
She drew in a deep breath as she stood outside the church’s front entrance waiting for Frank and his children to arrive. She’d been surprised by his phone call at eight thirty this morning, during which he asked to visit her church. He didn’t give a lengthy explanation, and Cadi felt puzzled. Was he just checking her out further, making sure she belonged to a church whose pastors preached the same biblical beliefs as Adam Dremond? Cadi had no worries there, although Riverview Bible Church was about ten times larger than Pastor Dremond’s quaint little church in Wind Lake. Regardless of the reason, Cadi felt a swell of anticipation at seeing him again.
“Are you waiting for me?”
Hearing the familiar voice, Cadi suppressed a groan and glanced to her left. Darrell Barclay stood on the sidewalk, a few feet away, wearing an expensive suit and a lopsided grin. He’d never called to see if she was all right after the car accident, and even though she saw him here and there at church, they hadn’t spoken to each other. Now Cadi wondered how he could have the nerve to approach her and be so arrogant—and so wrong.
“No, I’m not waiting for you, Darrell.” She looked away.
He stepped forward. “I thought perhaps you wanted to apologize.”
She arched a brow and regarded him again. “Apologize for what?”
“For humiliating me at my brother’s birthday party, of course.” Another step closer and Cadi got a whiff of his temple-throbbing cologne. “What kind of girl are you to leave my parents’ house with some lowlife like Ross Hinshaw?”
“I’m a girl who makes mistakes like everyone else,” Cadi replied in her own defense.
In the next moment, she caught sight of Frank and his kids walking across the parking lot, heading for the entrance. She realized she already possessed stronger feelings for Frank—and amazingly felt closer to him—than Darrell.
“Our dating relationship was one of my biggest mistakes,” she added with a quick glance in his direction. “Now if you’ll excuse me, my visitors have arrived.”
She marched off to meet the Par
kers, slowing her strides as she neared. When the children saw her, they raced to meet her.
“Hi, you guys.” She noted Dustin’s striped, short-sleeved dress shirt and navy slacks and Emily’s frilly yellow dress. “You both look so nice.”
“So do you.” Emily hugged her around the waist.
“Thanks.” Cadi tousled Dustin’s sandy-colored hair then turned to Frank, who was dressed in tan slacks and a blue Oxford shirt with a coordinating necktie. She was about to remark on his dapper appearance when she noticed the dark glance he flicked toward the entrance doors.
A quick peek over her shoulder, and Cadi saw Darrell disappear into the building.
“Everything all right?”
Cadi looked back at Frank and smiled. “It is now.” She took Emily’s hand and slipped her other arm around Dustin’s shoulders. “Come on. Let’s go inside. We don’t want to be late.”
They reached the glass-paned doors and entered, then strode through the bustling foyer and into the expansive sanctuary. People milled about as the pianist played a medley of up-tempo hymns.
“I saved some seats for us,” she told Frank. “And I have a big surprise for you,” she said to the kids. “You’re invited to attend children’s church today as two very special guests. You’ll even get to pick a prize out of the guest box if you attend. But you don’t have to go. It’s up to you and your dad.”
They found their places. Cadi picked up her Bible and notebook from one of the padded, dark green chairs and explained Riverview’s children’s program to Frank and the kids.
“What do you think, Dustin and Emily? Would you like to go to children’s church today?”
Both kids turned to their dad for permission.
“You can go if you want,” he said.
“We’ll come and get you right after our service up here is over,” Cadi promised. She looked at Frank, sitting to her right. “Afterward, my aunt insists you all come over for lunch.”
“Can we, Dad?” Dustin’s eyes sparked with eagerness.
“Yeah, can we?” Emily maneuvered her way onto Cadi’s lap.
“We’re sort of intruding on your day,” Frank said with a note of contrition in his voice.
“Yes, you are—and I’m rather happy about it.” She noticed his whole demeanor seemed to relax.
Next she watched him take in his surroundings. Cadi sensed that not much escaped his scrutiny. She felt suddenly very safe, even protected, in Frank’s presence.
The service began with the choir singing a soul-stirring number. Then, while an appointed member of the congregation stood and read from the book of Luke, Meg and Aunt Lou filed into the row. Cadi, Frank, and the children moved down to accommodate them. After the choir sang again, Pastor Bryant dismissed the children. Moments later, Meg’s younger sister, Beth, showed up to escort Dustin and Emily downstairs.
The kids appeared tentative at first, but Beth soon won them over, and they followed her out of the sanctuary.
The aisles filled up with children from ages four to twelve and, during the din of the exodus, Cadi leaned over to Frank and explained, “Meg’s sister is one of the volunteers who helps with children’s church.”
He nodded in understanding, although Cadi sensed he had already figured out that much.
“Tell me something else,” he said.
“Okay.”
With another incline of his head, he indicated down the row of seats. “Do I have competition?”
A little frown tugged at her brows as Cadi peered around Frank’s muscular frame. She spotted Darrell sitting at the end of the aisle, and annoyance filled her being.
She straightened. “No competition there. Believe me.” While she didn’t dare hope they’d be friends someday, she did wish that she and Darrell would eventually develop a mutual respect for each other. They were, after all, both Christians. But until Darrell got over himself, a platonic friendship seemed impossible.
At this point, Cadi merely wanted to put some distance between them. In fact, she had assumed that distance already existed. She couldn’t imagine why Darrell decided to approach her this morning, unless it was to goad her. Except she didn’t think he was speaking to her. He never called once to check on her recovery from the car accident and, with regard to that fateful night, she supposed she did owe Darrell some sort of apology. She’d made some wrong choices and paid the consequences. What’s more, Cadi regretted her harsh words to Darrell earlier.
She opened her mouth to relay all this to Frank, but before she could utter another word, Pastor Conner began his sermon.
Cadi sat back and made a mental note to explain things to Frank later. In the meantime, she opened her Bible and tuned in to the preaching of God’s Word.
❧
“I love you, Cadi.”
The words hit Frank like a sock in the jaw. Next he watched his little daughter throw her arms around Cadi’s waist and hug her good-bye. Dustin was quick to get in on the action, and Frank heard his son repeat Emily’s phrase. “I love you.”
Cadi laughed. “I love you guys, too.” She helped them climb into the SUV while Frank stood by feeling dazed.
Kids don’t know what they’re saying, he rationalized. They just met Cadi. They can’t possibly love her.
Except the same words had been on the tip of his tongue all afternoon.
He gave himself a firm mental shake. This relationship was moving way too fast.
“I’m glad you could come today.” Cadi stood in front of him, her slender chin tipped upward, and she searched Frank’s face. “I had fun.”
“It was nice. Thanks for inviting us over after church. We didn’t intend to stay so long.”
The remark came out a bit more stilted than he intended. He watched as the smile slipped from Cadi’s face.
“Anything wrong?”
“No.” He wagged his head. “I just need to get the kids home.”
“Oh, sure. I understand.” She glanced into the SUV’s open window and waved.
“Don’t forget the Fourth of July picnic!” Dustin called.
“I won’t.”
Frank cleared his throat. “Cadi, about the picnic. . .”
She turned toward him. Her eyes were as blue as the sky and her smile as brilliant as an evening sunset. She wore an expression of both expectancy and hopefulness, and he hated to disappoint her.
“I might have to work,” he muttered, averting his gaze.
“No big deal. Just let me know. Unless there’s a disaster some-where calling my name, I’ve got no plans yet for the Fourth.”
Frank grinned in spite of himself. He threw a glance over his shoulder at the porch where Cadi’s great-aunt, along with two neighbors who had stopped by, sat on white wicker furniture chatting. He wanted to kiss Cadi before he left, but not in front of an audience.
He settled for a quick hug and figured it was probably for the best anyway. He had a feeling he needed to take a step back and examine this relationship with a cool head filled with common sense before moving full throttle ahead. So much had happened both last night and today that Frank felt like he’d lived an entire month in less than twenty-four hours.
“Thanks again for everything.” He walked around his vehicle and climbed in behind the wheel. The kids shouted good-byes to Cadi as he pulled away from the curb.
As he drove the distance back to Wind Lake, Frank had plenty of time to reflect on everything that occurred from this morning until now. After a stirring but pride-splitting message from the pulpit, he had retrieved Dustin and Emily from children’s church. The first question to leave their lips was, “Can we come back next week?”
Next, Cadi’s great-aunt had served up one of the tastiest luncheons Frank had ever eaten. They watched a little football on television, and he chuckled to himself now,
thinking how both Cadi and her aunt enjoyed the sport. Unconventional women—that they were. Refreshing, actually, as far as Frank was concerned. He found it amazing, too, that Dustin and Emmie took to Aunt Lou almost as fast as they’d taken to Cadi. They had two sets of grandparents who loved them and aunts and uncles and cousins—why did they think Cadi and her aunt were so special?
Frank kneaded his whiskery jaw and went back to his unconventional theory. He couldn’t recollect ever seeing his mother, mother-in-law, or sisters watch sports on television—at least not voluntarily. Making it even more incredible that Cadi and her aunt enjoyed a good ball game was the fact that Iowa laid no claim to any major league teams. Today they cheered on the Green Bay Packers and Milwaukee Brewers. And then the truth emerged: Aunt Lou admitted having grown up in Wisconsin. Her bias had rubbed off on Cadi.
Frank grinned as nighttime fell down around his vehicle. A glance into the rearview mirror revealed that his children were dozing. They’d had an action-packed day.
And they’re enamored with Cadi.
And so am I.
Now what do I do?
Frank had to admit to feeling wary, if not downright petrified. Cadi had captured his heart the day he met her. Was such a thing really possible? Could it be real? The last thing he wanted was to get hurt—and for his kids to get hurt. Things just seemed too perfect. There had to be a catch.
He thought over the conversation he had with Cadi this afternoon when they took the kids for a walk to the park. She said she’d babysat all through high school, almost every weekend, which, Frank concluded, explained her practiced way with children. He heard the story of Cadi’s two years in foster care and how by God’s divine guiding hand of grace, the state had located and contacted Aunt Lou who, of course, stepped up to claim her only heir. Cadi knew the heart-twisting, soul-searing pain of tragically losing a loved one. She related to the guilt that sometimes followed. She understood when he mentioned feeling dead inside for the last few years, and Frank saw the tiny tear that formed in the corner of her eye when he confessed that she made him feel alive again.
“I’m touched, Frank,” she’d said as they sat on the park bench. “Thanks for telling me that.”
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