From This Moment - By Alison Chaffin Higson Page 0,32
looks so happy.
“Cade, you do know I can afford my own home?” Seeing his face close up, “I don’t mean I want to buy my own home, I’m just pointing out that I can. I love you and never want to leave, I just don’t want you thinking I’m using you for free accommodation.”
He laughs at me now, “I love you too and if I have my way you’ll never leave here.” He kisses me.
“We really need to tell Anna and Beth, I don’t like hiding from them.”
“I don’t either. Give it a couple of days and I’ll talk to them.”
“Okay... and WE will talk to them.”
Chapter 10
~~ Rona ~~
Heading into town with Jake is fun, especially as I can’t stop grinning. Jake keeps passing sly looks towards me, which has me turning away to the window to hide my grin. He knows his dad and I have spent the night together, so I’m not sure what he wants me to say.
“What’s wrong? And don’t say nothing!” I look towards him.
Sighing, “It’s not you and my dad. I’m really pleased for you both.” He quickly glances at me, while he’s driving, “Elise is getting married on Saturday.”
“That’s quick. I didn’t realize it was so soon.”
“It wasn’t supposed to be, I don’t know why they’ve moved it forward a month.” Jake is obviously upset.
“Then you have to kidnap her, so she can’t attend.” He looks shocked. “You will have to take her to a cabin or somewhere and not let her out until you both admit your true feelings. You need to talk first, just blurt everything out and I mean everything Jake.” Pausing, “I read that in a book once.”
“Are you mad?”
Laughing, “Probably.” Then more seriously, “Don’t let her go without a fight Jake, you’ll regret it if you do.”
The rest of the drive passes in silence. I really need to think of a way to help Jake.
On approach to town, I ask, “Would you mind if I do a bit of shopping first? I wouldn’t mind some more clothes. I don’t have that many.” Smiling at him, “I think I need something to knock your dad’s socks off.”
“Did I really need to know that?”
I laugh. “I couldn’t resist.”
Jake drops me at a clothing store; I purchase, a couple of dresses, skirts, t-shirts, blouses, lingerie, two pairs of boots and two pairs of very high stilettos.
Struggling outside with my bags I bump into Elise.
“Elise, hi. Are you okay?” Turning to look at me, Elise looks upset.
I take hold of her arm. “What’s wrong? Come sit with me a minute.”
She seems reluctant to talk, “Why have you brought your wedding forward?” I’m really curious.
“It was Tom’s idea. He said he just wants me as his wife and doesn’t see why we should wait an extra month.” She doesn’t sound at all convincing.
“Have you thought about what I said before?” I place my hand on her arm.
“All the time.... Tom is a good man and he wouldn’t leave me for six months, like Jake did.”
“Elise, you and Jake need your heads banging together and you don’t know what Jake did.”
“What do you mean?” She asks.
“You need to talk to Jake before the wedding. Please Elise, promise me you will.”
“I’ll seriously think about it.”
After a minute, “Where are you planning to live when you’re married?”
“Tom owns a cabin out of town but he’s also put an offer in on a house here in town.”
“I don’t know why, but I thought he already had his own house?”
“He stays with his sister, Grace, when he’s in town; she’s really nice, but kind of shy.”
“Jake is building his own house.... I don’t know if you know that? He’s been building it for about twelve months, I think he said.” I have her attention now. “It has a wraparound porch, and it will have a large open plan to the main rooms with four bedrooms.”
Looking back to Elise, she has tears running down her face. She sniffles into a tissue, “That’s the house he said he would build me.”
Moving closer to her I try to comfort her. “You know what you have to do. Jake loves you, and I now know you love him, don’t you?”
Nodding her head, “Yes.”
Mopping her tears up, she looks at me, “I need to go, thanks for being honest with me.” She glances back at me, “Its Cade who has your attention isn’t it?”
“I.... it’s.... wow, yes. I’m in love with him, he’s everything to me.” Looking at Elise, “How did you