Chapter 26
NOELLE
A third round of laughter rippled around the table, starting with Cora, zipping to Hawk, Cody, Wyatt, and through Cade, who smiled so wide that I thought his cheeks might burst. I’d never seen this bubbly, blushing side of him.
Cora brought chagrin, embarrassment, and delight in vibrant shades out of her brother. I couldn’t help wishing she lived with us; I had a feeling I’d get to meet a whole side of Cade that only showed around Cora.
Hawk set down his fork, leaning against his chair as the hilarity of Cody’s bull-wrangling story subsided. I basked in the comfortable and familiar quiet that swamped the room, something that I hadn’t experienced anywhere but this house.
Naomi and I had been close enough, but we didn’t enjoy a lot of family activities, and most of our dinners were quiet, stilted affairs, if we ate together at all.
Naomi resented having a twin; she always wanted to be known as her own person.
Dad was often in a business meeting, eating in his office, or Mom busy with friends.
By the time we became teenagers, we fended for ourselves out of the fridge, or ate out with others.
But this gathering of family? This was something altogether .
. . lovely. Unexpected, with Cody and Hawk ganging up on Wyatt, Cora teasing Cade, and Cade’s arm resting across the back of my chair.
I could do this every day, and it would never be enough.
Lily gurgled happily from her bassinet between Cora and Cade, and Cora spent over half the dinner cuddling with her.
Brother and sister argued over who got to hold her while I ate.
Occasionally, Cade’s fingertips brushed the back of my neck, sending fiery shivers through my spine.
It seemed accidental. He was often defending himself against his sister and moving around whenever it happened, but I couldn’t help wondering if it was.
He had no reservations about showing affection in front of the boys, nor did I sense any in front of Cora.
Earlier, he laughingly murmured against my lips, “It’s good for the knuckleheads to see what real affection looks like,” while I burned through a blush and he dipped me into a kiss in the middle of the kitchen. Wyatt whistled; Cody disappeared.
Cade was Cade, no matter who stood nearby.
Cora blew out a breath, her eyes still alight from a joke, and set her chin on her folded hands. Her elbows propped on the table, and she set me a determined stare.
“Noelle, welcome to the family. I’m happy that you’re here, even if I think you’re crazy living with these hoodlums. Once this renovation business dies down, I’ll invite you to our place for a game night!”
“Hoodlums?” Cody cried. “Did we fall back in time to 1940?”
“Hoodlums,” Cora insisted with a wink. “Don’t know what else to call you.”
“Knucklehead 1 and 2,” Wyatt supplied. “Though a lot of women in town call me charming.”
Cody guffawed.
I said, “Thank you, Cora,” and meant it.
Meeting Cora had been a big hurdle looming in the near future, particularly after Cade kissed me and we fell into this relationship so suddenly.
Cora was the next step; the part of Cade, outside of his mother, to whom I had little access.
I couldn’t have been happier with Cora, who was warm, friendly, and starry-eyed for Hawk.
There was only once I caught him not smiling at her.
Cade leaned back in his chair, snapped two fingers once, and gestured to the table with a sweeping hand.
“Let’s go, Knucklehead 1 and 2. Clean up is on you, tonight.”
Aggravated sighs and grunts accompanied their otherwise willing hands. Hawk stood to help them, but before I could join, Cade had a hand on my shoulder, keeping me down.
“Remember: in this house, when you cook, we clean.”
“Cowboy Code?” asked Cora.
“Cade Code.”
Cora laughed as she stood up. “It’s amazing how often Cade Code becomes important when it serves Cade’s interests,” and earned a reproving glare from her older brother. She cackled as she carried the dishes to the sink.
I forestalled, stunned by the reminder that this world wasn’t, in fact, mine. Didn’t matter that I cooked with Grandma’s cast-iron pans, scraped them with her favorite spatula, or stirred gravy roux with a wooden spoon passed down through several generations of my family.
Sighing, I quickly checked my phone as Cade returned to the sink with a new load of dirty dishes. A new text message flashed across my screen, as well as an email notification. I tapped the text first, frowning when I saw Sarah’s name.
Sarah: Seeing Lily confirmed how much she needs stability right now, so we’ve spoken with our attorney.
We WILL be pursuing full custody (this can hardly surprise you—we’ve mentioned this extensively on social media).
This isn’t personal, Noel. You’re doing the best you can. See our email for further instructions.
The fact that she’d misspelled my name added fuel to the burning inferno her text created. My throat turned dry, and the boisterous laughing as Wyatt induced a wet-towel snapping contest faded into the background while I clutched my phone.
This isn’t personal?
Everything about it was personal. Livid, I swiped down on the menu, pulled up my email, and opened up an unread message from Crane, Crane, and Swanson.
Subject: Notice of Representation—Minor Child Lily Morgan
Dear Ms. Morgan,
Please be advised that this office represents Sarah and Thomas Miller in matters concerning the welfare and custody of the minor child, Lily Morgan.
Our clients have requested that we initiate legal proceedings to seek custody, based on concerns regarding the child’s current living environment and overall stability. Specifically, our clients have expressed concern regarding, but not limited to:
· The ongoing structural renovation of the residence in which the child currently resides
· The presence of multiple unrelated adult males within the household
· Questions surrounding consistent income and financial stability
· Observations related to caregiver fatigue and potential impacts on the child’s well-being
At this time, our clients are requesting documentation demonstrating:
· Proof of legal guardianship or adoption status
· Evidence of stable housing conditions
· Financial documentation reflecting the ability to provide ongoing care
· Any relevant medical records pertaining to the child’s health and care
We would prefer to resolve this matter cooperatively if possible. However, should that not be feasible, our clients are prepared to proceed through the appropriate legal channels.
Please direct any further communication regarding this matter through our office.
Sincerely,
Ronald Crane
Crane, Crane, and Swanson
My hand shook, my stomach revolted. I set the phone down on the table, closed my eyes, and tried to breathe through the constricting tunnel in my throat. Fury and confusion and betrayal swirled in a potent force in my chest, preventing me from comprehending anything but panic.
Sheer, unadulterated panic.
They wanted Lily. We brought them here on a mission to build trust, and they promptly found ways to use it against me. What had Thomas said? We have all the information we need.
Vipers.
The thought of Lily enduring Sarah’s squeaky baby talk and martyr's attitude made me want to vomit. I swallowed the rising lump and sought stability. Hope. Something outside this consuming ache.
A hand gripped my shoulder. Cade asked, “Noelle?” and my tight chest unlocked. I could breathe, and I did. Great panting, gasping things. His voice deepened. “What’s wrong?”
I barely managed to unlock my phone and pass it to him. He accepted it with his other hand, kept one on my shoulder. I anchored my eyes on him like a lifeline. Distantly, I comprehended that the happy chatter had stopped. Cora stared at us, wide-eyed, while she clasped Lily to her chest.
Cade didn’t say anything at first. He simply set the phone down and stood there. Then he crouched, gently grabbed my chin, and turned me to face him. His voice was a growly rasp and a solemn promise.
“Over my dead body, Noelle.”
The seriousness in his eyes, backlit by rage and fury, calmed every whirling fear. I lifted my hand, pressed it to his face. My fingers felt like ice when I cradled his cheek, stubbled at the end of the day.
How had I gotten so lucky?
He grabbed the phone. Seeing the screen had gone dark, he held it toward me. Understanding what he wanted, I opened it again, and he passed it to Hawk.
“Read that,” he said, “and give me the name of your best attorney.”
Anger came in waves.
It washed over me, bristling and livid that Sarah and Thomas would strive to cheapen and make tawdry the beautiful world Cade had built here. The family whom I had found, who welcomed us with wide arms. There was love and protection.
Disbelief and frustration followed, setting like a low tide swilling around. How could they? How dare they?
Fear came next, because the Millers had hit at the heart of my insecurities. Was anything on that paper inherently wrong? Not really. Lily did deserve the best, and I was a tired single mother. Did I have a plan to make money?
Kind of. Once we finished these main renovations as we agreed, I planned to find online work. Consulting, maybe?
I sort of threw myself and Lily on top of Cade and he caught us. Marsha would, of course, help out if I asked, but that was a band-aid and not a plan to put in front of a judge. Even the facts about Cade, Cody, and Wyatt weren’t inherently wrong. I lived with three unrelated men.
These anxieties swirled me around for too long, escorting me from one wild fear island to the next. Insecurities about my ability to be enough for Lily, the raw grief over losing my sister and my parents, by some measure.
Finally, resolve hardened my emotions, brought me from the dregs of depression and panic. Sarah and Thomas were selfish rats who sniffed out weakness and worked it to their own advantage. I’d never let Lily be in their influence.