I treated you when I got back to the house. I love you and really don’t want you to leave.... please don’t leave me.”
“Cade, nobody ever hurt me as much as you did downstairs. I trusted you and gave you my heart. Right now I feel as though it’s been torn to shreds. I know we’ve not told Anna and Beth yet, so I didn’t expect you to tell them about us, but you couldn’t even look at me and when we were in the kitchen you made coffee for everyone, but me. That made me feel like I wasn’t welcome.” Openly crying now, I look at Cade, who still has tears on his face.
“Cade, why were you ashamed of me?” I manage to ask.
“I’m not ashamed of you.” He takes a breath, “Let me try and explain. I love you so much it scares the crap out of me.” Sighing, “Janice was Susan and Bill’s only child. Not long after she died a couple of the local girls tried helping me out with the kids, hoping for more. Susan was rather vicious with her tongue. I didn’t want her to have any idea about us, because I didn’t want her turning on you like she did them; she really can be a viper.”
“Go on,” I say, as I start drying my face.
Coming over to where I’m sitting on the bed, he crouches down and takes hold of my hands. “I’m sorrier than you will ever know for this morning and how I behaved. I love you with all my heart and I was terrified if she started on you, you would leave me, but hell, you’re leaving anyway.” He puts his head in my lap and his arms around my waist.
Stroking his hair, I feel him shudder. Keeping my hand in his hair, I think about what he has said and because I love him so much I try to accept what he’s told me.
“Cade, I love you and I’m not going anywhere this time.” He lifts his head from my lap looking at me, “But if you treat me like that ever again, I really will leave and as soon as Anna and Beth know, I have no intentions of hiding our relationship, because I’m not ashamed of you.”
Joining Cade on my knees, facing him, I place a kiss on his lips.
“I promise that won’t happen again. I just panicked and my plan to protect you backfired.”
“Yes, it did.”
“Come on let’s clean up and head downstairs. I’m kind of hungry now.”
Standing up Cade holds his arms out to me and I move into them for a hug, “I love you.”
“I love you too.” I reply.
~~ Cade ~~
Entering my room to clean up, my knees practically give out on me. Just making it to my bed, I sit down with my head in my hands.
With shaking hands I try to wipe my tears away, but they just keep coming. I feel empty inside, I’d just nearly lost the only woman I’ve ever loved, because I was stupid and scared.
Not sure how long I’ve been sitting here, but the next thing I know, Rona is stood in the doorway.
“Cade, can I come in?”
“Yes, Rona you don’t need to ask.” I hold my hand out to her.
As she takes my hand, she just stands there not knowing what to do. I’ve done this to her, to our relationship which was only just starting.
Looking up at her, I say the only thing I can, “I’m so sorry love.”
Moving closer she sits on my lap, putting one arm around my shoulders and her other hand to my face, “Cade, I love you.” She places small kisses all over my face. “Come on let’s go eat then get some fresh air on the horses, so I can take some winter pictures. Have I told you how much I love the snow?”
Smiling now, she’s infectious with her fun for the snow, “Alright, give me a few minutes to clean up.”
“No chance, I’m not letting you out of my sight again.” Standing up from my lap she takes my hand and leads me into the bathroom. Finding a wash cloth she wipes my face, following it with kisses.
“I don’t deserve you,” I say, to her when she’s finished.
“Yes, you do.”
Going downstairs to eat, we arrive in the kitchen to Jake making us both some sandwiches. He looks up at us, “Is everything cool?”
“Yes, it is now. Thanks Jake.” Rona grins at him, “At least now I