From This Moment - By Alison Chaffin Higson Page 0,52
am sorry; no one has ever reacted to me like you do.”
“That’s because no one has or will, love you as much as I do”.
“I love you too honey, you’re my heart.”
Hearing the door bell ring, Cade once again in control of his emotions, goes to answer the door.
Chapter 16
~~ Rona ~~
“Hi Dad, how’s Rona?” Beth asks hugging Cade, followed by Anna and Elise.
Still not being able to move too well, I stay put on the sofa.
Seeing Elise holding back, as Anna and Beth take a seat, I hold out my hand to her. “Elise, come here.” I pat the seat to the side of me. As she approaches I can see tears in her eyes. Swallowing my own back, “Elise, under no circumstances do I want you to blame yourself for what happened. The only people responsible are Tom and Nick, not you.” I pull her into my arms. She cries and I cry with her.
Moving slightly away. “What about you, Elise? Are you doing okay? None of this must be easy for you.”
She takes a few deep breaths, “I’m doing okay. Jake is helping, but I’m not sure how I’m supposed to feel. By the time I got away from him, I hated him for what he said about me and Jake and for what he did to me.” She dabs at her eyes with a tissue.
Cade moves over to Elise. Taking her by the hand he pulls her in for a hug. “You’ll be fine.” He places a kiss on her forehead. Then he grins, “Welcome to the family.”
She smiles through her tears, “Thanks Cade.”
“Am I missing something here?” I ask looking at everyone.
Cade takes hold of Elise’s hand, “She’s wearing the ring Jake bought for her a while back.”
“Oh my god, you’re engaged.... I’ll kill him, he never said anything.... just wait until I see him.” Everyone laughs.
“Congratulations Elise, I’m so happy it all finally worked out for you both.”
“Thanks Rona. Really thank you.”
I try to get in to a more comfortable position. Cade sees me, releases Elise and moves towards me, “Here love, wait, let me help.”
Putting his arms around my waist, he lifts me further up on the sofa. Turning around he freezes and as I look, there are three pairs of eyes looking at us – all smiling. I’m just so happy that, Jake, Anna and now, I hope Beth, are okay with my relationship with their father.
“Guys, please stop embarrassing your father.”
Sitting down, Cade moves in close to me on the sofa. He places my legs in his lap and takes my hand, lacing our fingers together, before placing a kiss to my knuckles.
“Rona, I didn’t see you yesterday. How are you really?” Beth asks, looking concerned.
“I’m in pain with mainly my left hip, but my thigh hurts occasionally, otherwise I’m fine.” After a pause, “Does anyone know how Grace is doing, I feel partly responsible for what happened to her?”
“Love, what happened to Grace isn’t your fault. Nick was already friends with Tom before you even met so for all we know Grace already knew him. Please don’t blame yourself for what happened to Grace,” Cade says to me.
“Grace is doing well, I called in to see her first thing this morning and I found her sat up in bed, blushing away, while that hot DEA guy, Josh, asked her questions.” Taking a much needed breath, Anna continues, “Actually, when he was leaving he actually gave her one hell of a hot look, and if she’d been standing up, she would have ended up a melted puddle at his feet.”
“Anna. Does Justin know you look at other guys like that?”
“Of course not, it’s a girl thing.”
“He was giving Rona the eye yesterday. Did you look at him like that?” he asks me.
“Are you asking me if I found him hot?” I try not to laugh, hearing the others snickering in the background.
“Yes!”
“He’s hot, but you’re a lot hotter than him.” Seeing the look on Cades face. “If it helps, when I first saw you, I undressed you with my eyes, but I didn’t with him. Does that answer your question, honey?”
Smiling now, “Yes.”
He leans over to kiss me, “Idiot. I will only ever love you,” I whisper.
After a minute of sitting quietly, I sense Cade is uncomfortable. I figure it’s because no one has mentioned us being together. I don’t like my guy being uncomfortable, so taking the bull by the horns, so to speak, “I love your father with all