Hometown Star - By Joleen James Page 0,36

was up, life was great. When she was down, she was suicidal and needed constant supervision.”

“Wow, she sounds a lot like my mom,” Star said. “I’ve always thought my mom was bipolar, but when I suggested as much to her, she read me the riot act. I can’t imagine what you and the kids went through.”

Cade reached over and squeezed her hand. “I didn’t realize about Destiny.”

Star shrugged. “We survived her. Tell me more about Marissa.”

“Because of her illness, we’d agreed not to have any more children after Brad, but Marissa became pregnant with the twins.” Cade looked up at the sky, and Star knew the memories played in his head. “I always wanted a big family, lots of kids.

“Her illness was rough on all of us,” he said. “She hated it here. She wanted to live in the city, in Seattle or L.A. She begged me to take her out of this town, but my life was here and will always be here.”

“She died in a car accident, is that right?” Star prompted.

He nodded. “I’d finally talked her into getting some help. She was due to leave the following Monday for Seattle, but I don’t believe she ever had any intention of going. That day, she’d wanted to keep Brad home from school, but he wasn’t sick, so I made him go. The second I was gone, she loaded up the twins. The police said she didn’t even brake when she drove into the lake. She wanted to take the kids with her.” Remembered pain creased his forehead. “How can a mother do that, Star? I mean, her own kids?”

Star didn’t have an answer for him, but the agony in his voice twisted her own heart. “How did Finn and Emma get out of the car?”

“There was a witness to the accident. He dove in and pulled the kids out. Finn had a broken arm. Emma, some bruises. When he went back for Marissa, he couldn’t find her. They recovered her body later that afternoon. I’ve spent a lot of time beating myself up. I should have watched her better, but she seemed fine that day. In the end, I couldn’t have stopped her. She’d have found a way to take her own life.”

“And Brad?” Star asked. “How has the accident affected him?”

“He’s angry. He blames me for making him go to school. He thinks he could have stopped her if he’d been with her that day. And maybe he could have, I don’t know. I’ve tried to explain to Brad about Marissa’s mental condition, and I think he understands now, but she broke his heart.”

“That’s awful. Her story is so tragic.”

“The kids suffered the most,” Cade said. “They’ve had extensive counseling. Finn recently quit having nightmares. Emma handled it better; I’m not sure why. It was a blessing when Ron and Trudy moved in with us. Trudy especially. The kids need a woman in their lives.”

Overcome with compassion, Star placed her hand over Cade’s. His hand shifted and he laced his fingers with hers, holding on, as if she were some kind of lifeline for him, and something inside Star softened.

“I don’t want to talk about Marissa anymore.” His attention focused totally on Star.

“Me either.”

His fingers tightened around hers, and a bond formed between them. He’d trusted her with his past, and that trust honored her, made her want to smooth away all his hurts, all the pain he’d endured.

The movie began. Music filled the air, the happy notes chasing away the melancholy silence between them.

“Popcorn?” Cade asked as he came back to a sitting position on the blanket.

“Yes, please.”

They watched the movie, munched popcorn, drank wine, and most importantly, they laughed, the laughter chasing away the ghosts of their pasts.

When the movie ended, they stayed where they were, mellow and sated, in no hurry to leave. All around them, people packed up their blankets and left.

For the first time in her life, Star didn’t want the day to end. She knew she’d stay up all night with Cade if he wanted her to. She didn’t want to break this new connection between them.

Cade moved to his back, his hands cradled under his head.

Star copied him. The sky was not quite blue and not quite white, but more lavender. A twilight sky.

Cade turned his head to look at her. Star did the same. Their faces only inches apart.

“I had a good time tonight,” Star said.

“I don’t want to take you home yet.”

“Okay.”

Cade stroked her cheek. “You’ve always been