Chapter Twenty Seven
CADE
I looked for Meredith everywhere, but as the event ended, I still couldn't find her. I'd kept an eye on Sonya's table, but Meredith had left a while ago and hadn't returned.
"I'll take you all out to dinner next week," I promised my team. I didn’t schedule anything for the evening because I didn't want to jinx the odds. They deserved the best for all the effort they put in this, but tonight I wanted to celebrate with my family, and with Meredith.
"Give your grandparents all our best," Rupert said.
"I will."
Instead of heading to the exit, though, I went to Sonya. She put her bag on her shoulder, smiling at me.
"Cade, congratulations. I’m so happy for you. Don't tell Alfred that.”
“Don't worry, he and I are done talking. Where is Meredith?"
“She left a while ago. Alfred cornered us again. I have to put up with him because I still want his money, but Meredith doesn't, so I told her she could go if she wanted to."
"She left?" I was shell-shocked. I wanted her next to me, to share this moment with her.
"Yes, a while ago. I thought she might have told you."
I’d checked and didn't have any messages from her.
"Anyway, congratulations again, Cade. I need to go. Alfred wants us to continue chatting."
I wasn't paying attention to Sonya anymore; I was fixated on what had happened to Meredith. She wouldn't have left without notifying me.
"Thank you," I said, stepping away. I took out my phone and called her a couple times, but she didn't answer. I wasn't going to wait around to find out what happened to her.
Outside the building, it was madness trying to get an Uber or a cab. Everyone else was trying to do the same. I walked a couple blocks before I could finally find a car. I gave the driver Meredith's address.
I didn't try calling her again on the way; in my experience, when people didn't answer their phone twice, they were unlikely to do so if you persisted.
I practically jumped out of the car when I reached Meredith's building and went to the intercom, pressing it a couple times. There was no answer. Where is she?
I was worrying in earnest now. Maybe she was sick?
I took out my phone, intending to call her this time despite my previous conviction that it was of no use. I was surprised to see a message from her.
Meredith: Hey, sorry I left without telling you. Alfred told me about the conversation you had with him, and I didn't want to overshadow your win with any talk about that.
I stared at the phone. Talk about what? Overshadow what? I replied immediately.
Cade: Where are you? I'm at your place.
Meredith: I came to my parents' for the evening. Our conversation can happen another day. I don’t want to spoil anyone’s day.
Cade: You wouldn’t spoil anything. What do we need to talk about?
Meredith: Alfred implied that you’re not serious about us.
The bubbles on the screen indicated she was still typing, but I replied right away.
Cade: I absolutely didn’t. HE implied that.
Meredith: I thought that might be the case… but you and I never defined our relationship, did we?
Meredith: And SEE? Here I go, overshadowing your win.
I cut in before she could jump to any further conclusions.
Cade: I’m coming to your parents’ house.
Meredith: Please don’t. Just enjoy this, okay? I know for a fact that your grandparents are waiting for you at the house to celebrate. Don't make them wait much longer. We’ll talk tomorrow. I mean it.
This woman was amazing. She was probably reeling from the shit Alfred spewed, but she cared about my grandparents more.
I had two choices: I could go up to her parents’ home right now, or I could go to my grandparents.
But if I'd learned anything about Meredith since reconnecting with her, it was that she didn't say things she didn't mean.
If she wanted us to talk tomorrow, it meant she couldn't do it today.
It didn't mean she wanted me to go running after her. She was a strong woman. My instincts told me to go to her parents’ house, but I wanted to do what was right for her, not for me.
"Welcome, brother," Spencer said half an hour later, opening the door to my grandparents’ house.
"What are you doing here?"
“We were all on standby, waiting to see if you'd win, and then Grandmother asked us all to come over."
"Wait, who else is here?"
"Everyone."
We went straight to the living room. He was right. The whole gang was here, including my half brothers. Good. This was a moment of victory for all of us.
My grandmother came to me first. "Oh, our darling boy, congratulations." She hugged me tightly, and I hugged her right back.
Grandfather, stoic as usual, shook my hand.
"I can’t believe you organized this," I said.
"I was certain you were going to win," Grandmother said. "Honestly, if you didn't, I was thinking you could use some cheering up anyway. I baked a cake, and we've got plenty of champagne."
"She's even allowing me to drink for the occasion. Go figure," Grandfather said.
"But where's Meredith? I thought she’d come with you," Grandmother asked.
"She couldn't."
She narrowed her eyes. "I'm going to bring the cake."
"Congrats, dude." Maddox shook my hand. “Maybe you’ll get back in a winning streak at tennis too.”
"No. I was quite enjoying beating you two," Leo added.
"Congrats for winning," Nick said.
Colton came to me next and clapped my shoulder.
"You honor us with your presence," I mocked him. "I didn’t think anything could get you out of the lab."
"Some things are worth coming out for," he said.
Jake and Natalie congratulated me next.
Gabe was last. "This is a fantastic evening, brother. I'm very glad for you. Word of warning: Grandmother was all about Meredith tonight. She might circle back to why she’s not here.”
“I’m not expecting anything less.”
It felt good to be here surrounded by my family. Making them proud was everything I’d wanted, but Meredith was still missing. It had been a mistake not to go talk to her tonight. She might not need it, but I did.
"Is anyone helping Grandmother?" I asked no one in particular. Since everyone was in the living room, the answer was no, so I headed to the kitchen. Spencer came with me.
"Grandmother, do you need any help?" I asked once inside. She was putting frosting on the cake.
"No. I know what I'm doing. I didn't want to put the frosting on before. I don't like the taste of it after it's been in the fridge for too long. But since you're here…"
Spencer cleared his throat. I barely bit down the urge to do the same. She was using her stern voice.
"Why don't you tell me where Meredith is? She was very excited about tonight. I told her about my plan, and she assured me she was going to be here."
"There's been a misunderstanding," I said.
Grandmother put down the frosting and straightened up, turning to look at me. She put her hand on her hip.
Spencer groaned. "What happened?" he asked.
"A competitor told her I might not be serious about her.”
"What the fuck?" he exclaimed. "Sorry, Grandmother."
She didn't even blink. "I taught you better than that, young man."
"As I said, it was a misunderstanding. Honestly, it's ridiculous."
"Not if she believes it," Grandmother said. Her voice chilled me because she didn't sound annoyed anymore; she sounded concerned. "If it's all a misunderstanding, why isn't she here?"
Spencer shook his head. "Yeah, dude. I'm sorry to say you might have won this prize, and you're a smart-as-a-weapon businessman, but you don't act very smart when it comes to Meredith. Remember the last time we had a conversation about this in this kitchen?"
"Spencer," I warned.
"I'm just saying."
Grandmother looked at my brother. "Spencer, darling, I love you, but you're not helping. Do you mind taking the cake out? I want to have a few words alone with Cade."
"Yeah, I'm out of here," Spencer said, immediately grabbing the cake and heading to the living room.
My grandfather came in at that moment. "Jeannie, leave the man alone. He's had a big win."
"So?" Grandmother asked.
I almost laughed; she sounded unimpressed.
"You can do this later," he continued. "Don't spoil his evening."
"Let her talk, Grandfather."
To my astonishment, Grandmother shook her head, pursing her lips. "No, he's right. Let's all go to the living room. This can wait." She didn't sound as if it could wait, but she walked toward the living room faster than I thought she was capable of.
Grandfather cleared his throat. "I couldn't help but overhear your conversation."
I wasn't surprised about that. Neither of us had kept our voices down. “Did everyone hear?"
"No, they were in the living room, too far off. But I was coming to get all of you. Listen, you know I'm not a man of many words. Your grandmother usually does all the talking."
"I know. That's how you are."
"Yes, but sometimes I think that if your father had had another example growing up, he might have turned out differently."
I stared at him. "I really doubt that."
"He never expressed his emotions, and I know he got that from me. So, I only have one bit of advice to give you: make sure you do. Does Meredith know she's important to you?"
"Of course." And yet, as I said the words, I realized Grandfather was right. She didn't. I'd never told her I loved her.