30. Chapter 30 - Cade
“Hey, Mom.” I lower my voice and move into the bedroom.
I need to get away from Ros anyways. I like sitting next to her too much.
Once she’s on her feet, I’ll find her a place she can call her own.
Guiltily, I don’t want it to happen for a while. She’ll get tired of me sooner than later though. I have no doubts she’ll thrive once she takes control over her life.
“Cade, honey, you should come to the ranch tonight.” Mom’s sigh fills the speaker. “I want all my babies together.”
She certainly didn’t waste any time getting straight to the point. That’s just like her.
Squeezing my eyes shut, I rub the heel of my hand against them and sit on the end of the bed. “I’m not quite sure about that. I have someone—”
“Oh, good.” Her tone rises. “Bring her too. That might make things easier.”
“No, Mom, it won’t.” I know she has no idea who’s with me, but the idea of bringing someone from the family who is actively trying to kill mine won’t sit well with anyone.
“I knew it,” she giggles. “What other reason would you come back than an old flame?”
Fuck. “Mom, stop,” I grunt, taking a deep breath. “I’m here for work.” Squeezing my temples, I stare at the door separating me from Ros.
Did I get more than I bargained for?
If I take her with me to Texas, how will I handle saying goodbye once she’s ready? I’ve had…no one in my life.
It’s wrong that I’m selfishly enjoying the company when it’s built on such a devastating foundation.
Ros is only here because she’s a victim, not because she wants to be. I have to stop pretending she’s enjoying my company. My job is to get her healthy and safe enough to be independent.
Not bribe her to stick around to cure my loneliness. She’s barely in her twenties and I’m almost forty, what the fuck do I expect?
Anything more than friendship won’t happen.
“It’s Christmas, Cade. I haven’t seen you in over a decade.” Mom’s soft words hit like a sledgehammer. “This is the first time I’ve been this close to you. You’ve always been a thousand miles away.”
I take a deep breath and hold it longer than I should. “I know, Ma. I just…It’s complicated.”
“Cade, I love you. If you’re worried about your brother, I’ll make sure he’s polite. His new wife is wonderful, I know you’d like her. I just want everyone together at least once before I die.” She tries to laugh, but I can hear the sadness behind it.
“I’ll see. No promises.” I’d rather stay here where I know I can make Ros happy than go to a place I’m sure will make me miserable.
There’s no way Mason has forgiven me, even if he has a new family. He’ll always blame me for ruining the one he had.
It’s going to take more than a shadowy photo to make him understand.
If I know my brother, his stubborn ass will blow up long before he accepts the truth. I don’t want to fight with him today. Now, if I can pin something final on the Bailey brothers, that would be different. Then I’d at least earn a listen from him.
She’s quiet for a long time. “I won’t tell anyone you’re coming until I know for sure. I hope to see you, son. I love you.”
“You too. I’ll call if I change my mind.” Frowning, I end the call.
I wish I could hit a button and make all of this shit easier. None of it is though.
With a groan, I push to my feet and go back into the living room. “Sorry,” I grunt and scoop up our coffee cups from the low table in front of the couch. “Want more?”
Rosalyn’s big blue eyes are an alluring distraction from the weight of my mother’s request. “No thank you.” With a small grimace, she readjusts herself on the cushions.
Fuck. “Sore?”
Her lips thin as she nods. “I’ll be okay.”
“Rosalyn? Do you know what my favorite thing is?” I scowl down, gripping the back of the wooden chair in frustration. “Not seeing you in pain. Want some more anti-inflammatories?” I pick up the bottle and shake it like a maraca in her general direction.
Shit. It’s nearly empty.
“Yes, please.” She lifts the corner of the blanket and shifts her legs like she’s about to stand.
“Stay,” I bark, reaching for the fridge.
She freezes, rolling backwards into the cushions.
I know I shouldn’t be irritated by her not taking care of herself. She’s never been allowed to.
“I’m sorry, Ros.” I hand her the cold water and the pills. “I shouldn’t snap. This isn’t your fault.”
“I just—” Her chin trembles. “—I don’t want to mess up. Or be a burden.”
Damn it. I’m not doing her any good by making her afraid of me.
I drop my voice to a calmer tone. “You’re not. You’re my guest and I honestly enjoy having you here.” More than she realizes.
“Really?” Her hopeful expression breaks my heart.
I snort and grin to try and lighten the mood. “Yep. I don’t exactly get a lot of company. I’m a crotchety old asshole, so it’s a special treat when I get to take care of someone.”
When I see the corner of her mouth curve upwards, I take that as a win.
“I don’t think you are.” Her lips purse as her shoulders relax.
“What? Crotchety?” I chuckle, reclaiming my spot next to her on the loveseat.
“Old,” she giggles.
My laughter surprises even me.
I catch a glimpse of her bright eyes and glowing cheeks as she joins me, making a ball of heat form in my chest.
I think I am enjoying this more than I should, but I don’t care anymore. It’s only temporary.
Yet for this moment, everything is perfect.
“I’ll be fine,” she lies to me. “I don’t need you to make a special trip.”
“It won’t take me long. There’s a gas station just a few miles down the road.” I drop the empty plastic ibuprofen bottle into the garbage and grab my coat off the rack.
After I slide my arms into the thick sleeves, I point at her with feigned intensity. “You just need to promise me that you’ll keep that pretty little ass firmly planted on the couch while I’m gone. Shouldn’t be more than an hour.”
Pink rushes up her throat into her cheeks as she fights a smile. “I promise.”
A rush of guilt floods through me while I tromp down the snowy stairs. I shouldn’t be joking with her so…inappropriately.
It’s too damn easy though. I mean, I was telling the truth.
She does have a nice ass. And my comment made her smile.
Shit. It’s turning into one of my favorite things.
My truck is still hitched to the horse trailer, so after checking on the animals I hop in the SUV Pete has loaned me to use for all of my running around.
I could go knock on his door to see if he has any of the pain killers.
But I also need a little break from her. I’m liking every brush of our arms, every giggle, every stray glance just a bit too much.
This is as good of a chance to catch a breather as any.
It’s not until I’m at the halfway point heading back that I notice I’m on a familiar path that takes me past the entrance to the Black Gulch.
Why am I doing this to myself? I already told Mom I’m waiting to talk to Mason.
It’s late. Everyone is probably gone.
Maybe now would be a good time?
Pulling into the wide spot on the road near the main gate, I dig out my cell.
“Hello? Just a second.” Her voice sounds…hesitant.
“Mom? I’m close. I was thinking about—”There’s a heavy thunk in the background. “I’m not sure tonight is a good idea, honey,” she says in a hushed tone.
I glance at the screen in confusion. Is this the same woman I spoke to just a few hours ago who was begging me to come by? “What? Why?”
“Honey—” She pauses and exhales heavily into the speaker. “—for some reason they think you might be behind a lot of the things happening here.”
Squeezing my eyes shut, I grip the bridge of my nose and shake my head. “That’s ridiculous. I just got here a couple of weeks ago so I could investigate what’s going on. Pete pulled me in. For fuck’s sake, I’ve been in Texas.”
I can’t believe what I’m hearing.
“I know sweetie. It’s wrong and I’m going to sit down with Mason in the morning and make sure he knows that.
They haven’t heard from you and you made me promise not to tell them anything about what you’ve been doing.
I think they just leapt to their own conclusions.
” Her tone firms up. “I’m tired of these secrets, son.
I hate being the middle man. I want my boys to be together again. ”
“I didn’t do it, Mom,” I whisper into my phone. “I found the proof that I wasn’t driving that night.”
She falls silent, but I can hear her ragged sob.
“Oh, honey. I always knew.” Tears stain her voice. “See? It’s going to be all better. I’ll tell Mason you are going to come and talk to him next week.”
“Ma, I can’t—” I rub my eyes as headlights flash past me. “Okay,” I sigh. “Let’s get it over with.”
“You gave me the best Christmas gift,” she sniffles. “Hope.”
God damn it, now there’s a lump in my throat.
“See you soon, Ma.” I tap the red button then am tempted to chuck my fucking cell into the snowbank.
They think I did this shit?
Absolute bullshit.
I could prove in five seconds I had nothing to do with any of it.
Yet they have the gall to even consider it?
My knuckles crack as my fists tighten around the steering wheel.
Maybe fuck all of them and they can figure this mess out on their own?
Taking a deep breath, I let it out slowly until it fogs up the windshield for a moment before the heater erases it.
Mom will talk to him. She can calm any of us down.
Then I’ll show Mason and Dixon the evidence I’ve gathered and they can help me pinpoint some of the gaps in my information.
Between the three of us, we should be able to figure this all out, right?
With a feeling of defeat, I pull out of the wide spot and head back home.
“You made it.” Rosalyn beams up at me from the couch.
“I did.” Why does seeing her bring me a sense of peace? “I brought you some more Dr. Pepper.” I shift the bag from one hand to the other as I shrug out of my coat. “And, I got a special surprise.”
My cheeks hurt from grinning as I reach into the drawer before plopping down next to her on the couch.
“You didn’t have to. You spent like four hundred dollars on me today already.” She squints with confusion when I offer her a spoon.
“Don’t tell me you didn’t have fun shopping.” I pause with my arm tucked inside the thin package and raise my brows.
Her lower lip works between her teeth carefully. “I did.”
“That’s the idea, Ros. Here. Merry Christmas.” Pulling the pint of pecan caramel ice cream out with a flourish, I set it on her lap then pull out my own container of peanut butter chocolate.
“Oh my gosh,” she whimpers, those big blue eyes brimming. “I didn’t know you could just buy it?”
“Mmhmm.” I peel off my lid and revel in watching her enjoy the unexpected gift.
She doesn’t know it, but I’m hooked on wanting to make her happy.
Rosalyn is the only person in the world who thinks I’m a good man now that I know my own family hates me.
If all it takes is money, I’ll give her every penny to keep her looking at me with that blissful glaze as she moans around her spoon.