Chapter 23
Chapter
Twenty-Three
October 13 th
12:34 P.M.
Gabriella was hiding something from him.
Cade had been certain of it for days, but so far, all his attempts to encourage her to open up had failed.
Whatever it was, she was holding onto it tightly and he wasn't sure how he was supposed to proceed.
Given that he’d already messed up once before and was lucky Gabriella was even giving him the time of day let alone had forgiven him and agreed to date him, he didn't want to push her too hard. So far, she wasn't pulling away from him, if anything they continued to grow closer with each passing day. She reached out to him for comfort during the day and curled into his side in bed each night. She was affectionate and loving, they made love after tucking Essie in, kissed during the day, talked and laughed, and shared beautiful moments with his daughter.
Nothing had changed, well it had but only for the better, but he couldn’t shake this feeling there was something she was afraid to tell him.
For the life of him Cade couldn’t figure out what it could be.
The longer this went on the bigger the knot in his stomach grew. It didn't feel like she was having second thoughts, but what if she was? Although he was confident she loved him and his daughter it was a lot to ask of her to remain in a dangerous situation because of them.
Maybe giving her space was the wrong thing to do. After all, he’d spent years avoiding his feelings, which hadn't done either of them any good.
Mind made up, Cade captured Gabriella’s wrist as she walked past him in the kitchen, packing up after lunch. Her gaze shifted to meet his and her eyes went from curious to concerned in a heartbreaking second.
“Can we talk, sweetheart?” he asked, his tone low and soothing, attempting to show her that this didn't have to be a big deal. Whatever she was worrying about, she could just tell him and he would move heaven and earth to make it better for her.
“Yes,” she whispered, allowing her gaze to drop and he felt helplessness flowing off her in waves. Whatever this was about, she’d no doubt worked it up in her head to be bigger than it actually was.
“Essie, Mom and I are just going into the other room to talk for a bit, you okay in here?” he asked his daughter who had Lego spread out all over the family room floor.
“’Kay,” Essie answered vaguely, too engrossed in her game to worry about what the grownups were doing.
Keeping hold of Gabriella’s hand, because he felt she might flee the second he let go, Cade guided her into the living room and onto the couch. Sitting beside her, Cade maintained his hold on her hands and brushed his thumbs across the inside of her wrists, hoping to soothe her.
“Talk to me, baby,” he urged. “Something is wrong.”
Her gaze met his, then skittered away, only to return again. He could sense her gathering her courage and wondered what could be so upsetting to her that she felt she needed courage to tell him about it.
After dragging in a long breath, Gabriella tugged her hands free and stood up. “Wait here for a moment, please?”
“Of course.”
With a nod, she turned and hurried up the stairs. His anxiety grew, but when she returned less than a minute later, she looked like she had composed herself a little.
“I was going to give this to you tonight, but since you brought it up, here.” She crossed to him and held out a small rectangle of paper.
As soon as he took it in his hand, he knew what it was. His mouth dropped open in shock and his gaze landed on her flat stomach where her hands were absently stroking.
“You’re …”
“I am. For now at least,” Gabriella said in a small voice.
Right then it all clicked.
She’d told him about the miscarriages she’d had, how angry her ex would get, that she had to grieve those losses alone, and how her inability to carry to term was why her ex had divorced her.
Surely, she had to know that he would never do that to her.
Already he’d told her that he didn't care if they never had more kids, if they had biological kids, or adopted or fostered. He already had Gabriella and Essie, and they would always be enough for him.
“Come here.” Grabbing hold of her wrist, he tugged her down into his lap, then placed his hands over hers, wondering at the tiny life growing inside her. He’d missed a lot of Gretel’s pregnancy because of his job but he would try to be there for as much of this pregnancy as he could. “I’m guessing it was that first night before I messed up.”
“Yeah. I don’t know how this little one survived me being so sick, but somehow the little peanut managed it.”
“Strong like his or her momma.”
“I wasn't trying to keep it from you, Cade. I swear. I found out in the hospital, but I didn't think there was any future for us. If I didn't wind up losing the baby, I would have told you. Even if we weren't together, we would have figured something out. I swear I wouldn't keep your child from you because I was hurt and angry.”
“Never entered my mind that you would,” he assured her, dropping a kiss to her forehead.
“I didn't expect it to last, that’s why I didn't say anything,” she explained. “But today it’s five weeks, that’s as far along as I've ever gotten. I know it’s not really very far, all things considered, but it felt important. Like a milestone. So I was going to give you the sonogram picture tonight after we put Essie to bed, then after we talked I thought tomorrow we could have given her the locket.”
Cade froze.
Was she saying what he thought she was saying?
When they’d finally talked in the hospital, Gabriella had said they could give Essie the locket when she was ready to make things official and allow him to propose.
A slow smile slid over his face. “You sure?”
“If you are.”
“Why the hell wouldn't I be? I think I've wasted enough time as it is.”
“Because, Cade … you know there's a good chance I’ll miscarry … right?”
Anxiety rolled off her again, and he pulled her against him and locked his arms around her. “Then we’ll grieve together but it doesn’t mean I won't want you. We’re already a family, sweetheart. This.” He brushed his fingertips over her stomach. “Is an addition to our family, not the glue that will hold us together. I want to be with you, I love you. This is just a little something extra that is going to turn all our lives upside down in the best way possible.”
Finally, she relaxed and snuggled into him. “I really hope that winds up happening.”
“Me too, sweetheart, but if it doesn’t, we’ll be there for one another, it won't be something you have to go through alone.”
“Thank you, that means a lot to me.”
Shifting his hand to trace it over the curve of her bottom, he stroked it for a moment. “I thought you already learned your lesson about not having to say thank you for the most basic things.”
She giggled and nuzzled her face against his neck. “Maybe I need another lesson.”
“Maybe you do, sassy girl.” The enormity of the coming changes in his life filled him with an uncharacteristic excitement. “I can't believe I get to start planning the perfect proposal.”
“Cade,” she said seriously, taking his face between her hands. “There’s no such thing. My ex flew me to Paris and proposed at the top of the Eiffel Tower. At the time, I thought it was so romantic but it was only for show. He didn't love me. It’s not about trying to do it perfectly, it’s about us loving each other and wanting to be together forever.”
Gabriella was right. It was a gorgeous fall day, and the backyard was already a riot of autumnal color. They could go build a fire in the fire pit, make S’mores, and he could propose to Gabriella, and they could both give Essie the locket.
What could be more perfect than being with his girls, in their home, doing something they loved?
“You're right, sweetheart. Go grab your coat, and get Essie to put hers on too, then meet me outside in fifteen minutes.” That should be plenty of time to get prepared.
“You don’t mean you're going to?—”
“I most certainly do,” he assured her. Her face was so soft as she looked at him, and there was so much love, tenderness, and affection in her eyes, that his heart squeezed in his chest. He was one lucky guy.
“I love you, Cade.”
“Love you back, sweetheart.”
After sharing a kiss, Gabriella headed off for the family room, and he headed upstairs to retrieve the ring he’d ordered while Gabriella was in the hospital. Just as he retrieved it from where he’d hidden it in his nightstand drawer, his phone rang. Almost absently he answered it when he saw Jake’s number.
“What’s up?” he asked.
“My gym just got set on fire, and my best friend and I are trapped inside.”
A threat to his best friend changes everything for Jake Holloway in the fifth book in the action packed and emotionally charged Prey Security: Charlie Team series!
Corrupted Lies (Prey Security: Charlie Team #5)