Chapter 16 #3
The next two months flew by and Cade and I unofficially became a couple.
Cade would be genuinely present for me and River, and with each passing day, I’d realize that I was falling for him.
All over again. Three weeks before Christmas, Cade called me, his voice tense.
“Maple, I have to go for an urgent business meeting in the Philippines. A new project Dad and I have been working on is a bit stuck with our Asian investors.”
“How long will you need to go for?” I asked.
“Maybe ten days. Two weeks at max.” he said. “I will be back as soon as I wrap up the difficult bits. Theo will take care of the rest there.” He paused for a moment. “Maple. I will miss you so much.”
“I’ll miss you too, Cade.” I said. “But it’s just a matter of two weeks.”
“Two weeks without you will go excruciatingly slow, Maple. I know. It’s happened to me before.”
I laughed. “But this time, I won’t ghost you. We’d talk everyday. I promise.”
“I love you so much, Maple.” he said.
I swallowed a knot in my throat. That was the first time he’d told me he loved me.
“I love you too, Cade.”
The next few days before his flight breezed by, and Cade made sure to see us as much as he could.
As the day to his departure drew nearer, I realized I was falling for him more and more.
“Listen, Cade.” I said the night before his flight.
“Remember, you told me your parents had invited me for Christmas?”
“Of course, Maple. Mom brought it up again last week.” he said.
“And what did you say?” I asked, surprised, because he hadn’t asked me again after the first time he mentioned it.
“I told her you’re not ready to meet them yet.
She knows where we stand, she knows we’re taking it slow after the way I messed up things last time, and she respects that.
” He squeezed my hand gently. “I’d never ask you to do something you’re not ready for, Maple.
I thought I’d ask you again after I came back from the Philippines, although I’m completely fine taking things at this pace.
You and River are with me. That’s all that truly matters. ”
“I think I’m ready.” I said. “To meet your parents.”
“Really?” He squeezed my hand tighter, and his eyes glittering with happiness.
“Yes, really Cade.”
The next morning, after getting ready for the airport, Cade sat on the edge of the bed with me.
He stroked my hair and tucked a stay strand behind my ear.
“Maple, I want you to know that I’ll miss you every moment of every day.
” He pulled out a notebook and a pen from his bag.
“I’ll call you everyday, but we will be without a network on a remote island on some of the days, scoping the location for our next project.
Can you write something for me so I can read it on those days?
I smiled softly, and took the notebook and pen. I opened up a fresh page. I thought about what I’d write for just a split second. I already knew what I wanted to say.
Cade, I love you so much. Finish your work, and when you come home, I’ll be waiting right here for you. When you read this, know that River and I are counting down the days until you come back and join us again at the dinner table.
Cade called everyday. He even played River’s favorite game online with him on the weekends.
One afternoon, River said he wanted to talk to Cade alone.
As I crossed the hallway across from his room to go to the laundry room (definitely not trying to eavesdrop), I heard the words junior prom.
River was taking advice from Cade on girls!
I smiled and turned around, deciding to give him the privacy he needed.
My little brother was growing up, and he had decided to seek Cade separately for help with a girl he liked!
After an hour, River came out of his room, smiling from ear to ear, handing me the phone.
It was early morning in the Philippines when we had started talking to Cade more than an hour ago, but it must already be time for him to start work.
“Sorry we held you for so long today. You must be getting late for work” I said.
“That discussion with River, that was important, Maple. Can you believe your brother asked me for advice on his personal life?” Cade sounded ecstatic.
“I had been waiting for that forever,” he said.
“I can’t wait to get back to you both.” he added.
Three weeks later, Cade came to pick us up for Christmas dinner at his parents’.
I was wearing the forest green cocktail dress he gifted me from the Philippines.
I was the most nervous I had even been when I saw their mansion up close for the first time.
But I didn’t need to be. His parents were the warmest and kindest people I had ever met, and they made River and I feel a part of their family from the moment we stepped foot into their sprawling living room.
The rest of the evening flowed easily, with effortless conversations and lots of laughter. I felt like I had truly found a family.
It was the most magical evening of my life.
Especially because it ended with Cade kneeling in front of me on one knee with a diamond ring in his hand.
***