Hometown Star - By Joleen James Page 0,68
She carefully set the stick on the counter before fastening her pants.
Cade had already turned around. “How long does it take?”
“It’s supposed to be pretty fast.”
Cade looked at his watch.
Star was afraid to look at the test.
For a full minute they stood there, three feet apart, not moving, the tension between them as thick as spring mud.
“I can’t stand it.” Cade peered at the stick. “There’s a line.”
Star leaned in. “A line means not pregnant.”
Cade straightened. “That should make you a very happy woman.”
Star smiled, sweet relief filling her. “If it’s true. Let’s give it ten minutes.”
“Okay.”
For ten minutes they barely spoke. When Cade said, “Time,” Star picked up the stick. Not pregnant. She held the stick out to Cade.
“Whew, that’s a relief,” Cade said.
“You seem more relieved than I do,” Star said, melancholy settling inside her. She should be rejoicing. They should be celebrating. After all, it was their last night together.
“Maybe I am,” Cade said. “I wasn’t looking forward to raising a baby on my own.”
“Oh,” Star said, oddly bereft. “That makes sense.”
“Are you okay?” Cade touched her face, rubbing his thumb against her cheek. “This is what you wanted, right?”
“Right,” she said a bit too quickly.
“You can leave here free and clear,” Cade reminded her. “Unless of course, you want to change your mind. I’m willing to do whatever it takes to have you in my life.”
Star’s heart melted. She didn’t deserve him. “I wish I could be the woman you want,” she said, his kindness torturing her. “But I can’t.”
“I love you,” Cade said, the words hanging in the air between them.
“Love isn’t enough,” Star replied sadly. “Not for me.”
“So this is it? We’re going to end things now?” Cade asked, a hitch in his voice. “Is that what you really want, Star?”
Star turned away from him. She couldn’t look at him, couldn’t bear to see the pain in his eyes. “I think it’s best.”
He didn’t reply. When she gathered the courage to turn and face him, he was gone. A few seconds later, his truck roared to life.
An unbearable ache formed in Star’s chest. She had nothing to apologize for or feel guilty about. Nothing. She’d always been honest with Cade.
So why did it hurt to breathe, to think?
She knew the answer. She’d never be the same because Cade had managed to touch her heart in a way she’d never thought possible.
The problem was she was too scared to love him back.
* * *
The following afternoon, Cade found himself in the kitchen, a kitchen that would forever remind him of Star. His gut ached when he thought of the way he’d left things between them, but their breakup was for the best. They’d never see eye to eye when it came to family. Star was too messed up inside.
Yet, she’d left her stamp both in his kitchen and on his heart. The crew was gone. There were no cameras. No chatty talk show host to deal with. Most importantly, Star was gone, and as much as he hated to admit it, she’d left a hole in his life. Damn. He regretted walking away last night. If he’d gone back to her, could he have persuaded her to stay, to give their relationship another try? Probably not. The only one who could make things work between them was Star. She had to accept him for what he was, both a lover and a father. He was scared of making the wrong choices, too, but he knew with certainty that Star was worth the risk. Until Star was willing to take a risk of her own, they had no future.
Trudy and Ron came into the room. His sister–in–law’s face lit up as she looked around.
“I love it, I love it, I love it,” Trudy gushed. She twirled in a circle. “I can’t get enough of this room. It smells new. And look at the granite.” Trudy ran her hand over the smooth black counter top.
Trudy was right. The new kitchen gleamed. The black and white floor was so clean you could eat off of it. The white walls made the room seem twice as bright, and Cade had to admit the red accent wall really did pull the whole room together.
“It really is beautiful,” Ron said, exchanging grins with his wife. “What do you think, Cade?”
“I’m glad it’s over.”
Trudy’s face fell. “Do you want to talk about Star?”
“No.” Cade made his way to the back door and let himself out.
“Cade, wait,” Trudy called.
The screen door banged shut