Chapter Twenty-Eight – Caden
Caden
I didn’t have words for how I felt, lying with Lilibeth in my arms. Her naked body against mine was like a calming balm to my soul.
My hand on the swell of her stomach, a healing balm to my heart.
I felt my body relax more and more as my breathing evened out and slowed.
I closed my eyes and listened to her breathing.
Smiling, I thought about how happy she’d been to see my drawings, and I knew she loved them. Nothing about Lilibeth Asher was fake. I truly believed she didn’t know how not to be genuine in everything she did or said.
I was just starting to doze off when she spoke. More like whispered. Had it not been so quiet, I wouldn’t have heard her at all.
“I love you, Caden.”
My eyes snapped open, and it took everything in me to keep my breathing relaxed.
She clearly thought I was asleep. I knew she’d almost said the words when she straddled my lap, but caught herself. I hadn’t realized how much I wanted to hear those three words from her until she said them.
I wanted to tell her I loved her, too, but the first time I told her, I wanted it to be perfect.
A soft snore came from next to me, and I smiled. I’d never felt so at peace before. I knew deep within my soul that this was it. Lilibeth was the one I’d been waiting for. The woman I was going to give my body, soul, and heart.
My smile widened. Tomorrow. Tomorrow morning, I’d tell Lilibeth I loved her.
Closing my eyes, I drifted off to sleep.
When I woke up an hour later, Lilibeth was still sleeping. I kissed her on the shoulder and slipped out of bed.
After getting dressed, I headed to my office.
Sitting at my desk, I pulled out the top right drawer all the way, until I could see into the very back.
Sitting in a black velvet jewelry box was my grandmother’s engagement ring.
I pulled out the box and opened it. The ring was beautiful in its uniqueness.
A hexagonal salt-and-pepper diamond set in platinum.
Four white baguette diamonds—one on each side, one on the top, and one on the bottom—along with round white diamonds, all surrounded the main diamond.
My grandfather had called it a compass ring, and he’d designed it himself for my grandma Nellie. She’d given it to me six years ago.
But it wasn’t the ring I’d asked Rachel to marry me with. I hadn’t wanted to give her this ring, and at the time, I told myself it was because I knew she wouldn’t like the design. She wouldn’t see the salt-and-pepper diamond as unique; she’d see it as a trash diamond.
In reality, the warning signs were all there. I didn’t give it to her because I somehow knew, deep down inside, that Rachel wasn’t the one.
Now, I smiled as I closed the box and set it back in the drawer. My grandfather would kill me if he knew it wasn’t in a safe. I’d taken it out right after I found out Lilibeth was pregnant.
A soft knock on the door caused me to look up. I grinned. “Hello there, sleeping beauty.”
She yawned and made her way into my office. I turned my desk chair and held my hands out for her. She walked over, and I drew her onto my lap.
“Sleep well?”
“I did. Working?”
“Yeah. I’m going to have to head over to the main barn. I’ve got a meeting with my uncles, Gatlin, and my father.”
“What kind of meeting?”
“Talk about calving, herd health, water systems, pastures…all the fun stuff that goes with a cattle ranch.”
Her eyes lit up. “Baby cows? I can’t wait!”
I laughed. “Maybe you can even see one being born.”
She drew back and looked at me. “Wait, are you serious?”
My brows went up in surprise. “Would you like to see that?”
“Um, yes! I’d love to see a horse being born, too.”
I tapped her nose with my finger. “I think I can arrange both.”
Her answering smile was brilliant.
“What are your plans for the rest of the day?”
“Well, I’m currently craving chicken and dumplings. I was going to head into town to the store to get everything to make them. Want me to pick up anything?”
I shook my head. “I can’t think of anything. I can run into town for you, after the meeting.”
She stood, leaned down, and kissed me. “I need to swing by the store and check on a few things, but thank you. What time should I have dinner ready?”
“I don’t think this meeting will take long. It should be wrapped up by four.”
“Perfect. Tell everyone I said hi.”
She turned to leave, and I reached for her hand. Standing, I cupped her cheek. “Be careful, okay?”
Another brilliant smile lit her face. “I will. See you soon.”
“See you soon.”
I watched as she walked out of my office, my hand going to my chest. There was no doubt about it. I was head over heels in love with Lilibeth.
After the meeting, my father made his way over to sit beside me. “How was the appointment?”
“It was great.”
“Do we know if it’s a boy or a girl?”
“We sure do.”
He leaned closer, a smile on his face. “You can tell me, I won’t tell a soul.”
A bark of laughter came out of my mouth as I tossed my head back. “You’re not serious, are you?”
He looked offended. “Of course I’m serious. You don’t trust me?”
“Hell no, I don’t trust you, Dad! I’d trust Gatlin with that information before you.”
“What information?” Gatlin asked, as he joined us.
“Caden knows the sex of the baby and won’t tell me.”
Gatlin nodded. “Smart man.”
My father drew back and stared at my brother. “I’m sorry? What did you just say?”
Rolling his eyes, Gatlin said, “Everyone knows you can’t keep a secret, Dad.”
Folding his arms over his chest, my father said, “I can so keep a secret.”
“What about the time we were throwing Mom a surprise birthday party, and your only job was to get her out of the house and bring her back by a certain time. You broke down and told her about the party.”
“I had to tell her!” our father protested. “She was asking all kinds of questions! I can’t lie to your mother.”
I pointed at him. “And that’s why I’m not telling you.”
“You can tell me, though,” Gatlin stated, waggling his brows.
“Not telling you, either. You’ll all find out when Lilibeth is ready to tell everyone.”
Gatlin groaned. “Please tell me you’re not doing one of those stupid gender reveal parties.”
“We aren’t. We’ll most likely tell everyone at Sunday dinner, though.”
“Sunday dinner!” they both bitched in unison.
“Son, that’s three days away.”
I shrugged. “What was it you always told us when we were younger? Patience is a virtue.”
He huffed. “I knew you kids would throw that back in my face someday.”
“And today is someday,” I said, as I stood and hit him on the side of the arm. “Now, if you’ll excuse me, Lilibeth is making chicken and dumplings, and I’d like to get home to her.”
I gathered my stuff and looked up when neither of them said anything. My father wore a goofy-ass grin on his face, and my brother was nodding his head.
“Why are you staring at me like that? And why are you impersonating a bobble-head, Gatlin?”
Dad cleared his throat. “I take it you discovered the needs.”
I closed my eyes. “Dad, I’m not talking to you about this.”
“You’re totally in love with her,” Gatlin said.
“Just tell me I was right,” Dad added.
“No.”
“Right about what?” Gatlin asked.
“Nothing,” I replied, as I headed toward the door. I stopped, turned back to my father, and winked. “You were right.”
He fist pumped. “I knew it!”
“Wait, knew what? What were you right about?”
As I walked away, I heard my father reply. “You’re too young to know.”
“What the fuck? Dad, I’m twenty-seven years old!”
Laughing, I pulled out my phone and texted Lilibeth.
Me: I’m leaving now. Will be there in a few.
Lilibeth: It smells divine in the house!
As I walked into the house, the little kitten Lilibeth had found—who wasn’t a kitten anymore—came running up to me. I reached down and picked her up.
“Hello there, Misty. Are you being a good kitty and not clawing my sofa?”
She meowed, and I laughed. “I’ll take that as a no.”
When I walked into the kitchen, I drew in a deep breath. “God, that smells so good.”
Lilibeth beamed. “I think it’s the best batch of dumplings I’ve ever made.”
“Is it done?”
“Yep,” she said, handing me a bowl. “Have at it.”
After dishing up a bowl for myself and one for her, we made our way over to the breakfast table. Lilibeth told me about her trip into town and then asked how the meeting went.
“It went well. I’m ready for warmer weather.”
“I take it things will get busier?”
I nodded. “Calving season has always been my favorite time of year on the ranch.”
“I’m excited to experience it.”
We spent the rest of dinner talking about when we wanted to officially start on the baby’s room. We also decided to definitely tell the family this Sunday the baby’s gender. Lilibeth admitted she’d have a hard time keeping it a secret, so the sooner the better, in her opinion.
“This Sunday it’ll be, then.”
She started to clear the table when I stopped her. “You stay there, I’ll clean up.”
As I was loading the last of the dishes into the dishwasher, the doorbell rang.
I looked at Lilibeth, who shrugged.
“If that’s my mother and father coming to try to find out if it’s a boy or a girl, we’re not telling them until Sunday.”
Lilibeth laughed as she made her way out of the kitchen. “Don’t be so hard on them. They’re excited.”
I dried off my hands and chuckled. I put the leftovers in the refrigerator and then headed into the living room. I expected to see my parents—and instead, I came to an abrupt halt.
Standing in the foyer was Rachel, Lilibeth shutting the door behind her.
What in the hell is she doing here?
Before I could ask or say anything else, Rachel ran her eyes over Lilibeth, then turned to me. “Is this the woman you got pregnant? Is she really living with you?”
Lilibeth drew her head back in surprise. “I have a name.”
Rachel lifted her chin and looked down her nose at Lilibeth, not acknowledging her words. I hated the idea that she was breathing the same air as Lilibeth.
“What are you doing here, Rachel?”