McCade's Wish (The McCade Family Series Book 2) (16 page)

She rubbed the back of her neck, wishing her head would stop throbbing. Was it what he wanted? She froze at that thought. Was it possible that Cole regretted asking her to marry him and now secretly hoped she’d reject him so the decision wasn’t his? She bit her lip as she mulled over the idea. There was no doubt Genevieve wanted them together. Had Cole caved into his sister-in-law’s pressure and then regretted it? Was this show of insecurity, pushing her towards Clark and city life, just his way of escaping?

She didn’t believe that. Her head slid forward so her forehead rested against the cold glass. Closing her eyes, Adrienne prayed. She freely admitted that she had a lot to learn to be a farm wife, but with a little understanding from Cole, and Gen on her side, she thought she could do it. If this relationship was right, then she needed a way to convince Cole that they were worthy of one another. She opened her eyes just in time to watch a shooting star blaze across the horizon. She caught her breath at the beauty and, clenching her eyes shut again, she made her wish.

Spearing his fingers through his hair, Cole leaned his shoulder into the wall next to the window. He loved the woman. He really did, but at the moment he wanted to strangle her. Fists tightened in his hair for a moment, and then he let them fall to his sides with a sigh. How could he love her and want to throttle her at the same time? Her words had threatened to rip his heart out.
I didn’t want to say anything until I knew for sure.
So while he was scrapping a piece of his mama’s jewelry to make her a ring she’d be proud of, Adrienne had been trying to choose between him and the man who hadn’t thought her an
advantageous
enough wife. Where was the justice in that?

His shoulders lifted in another sigh. He could hear his daddy’s voice in his head clear as day,
Life ain’t fair, boy
. It was the truth, but so was his oft quoted,
anything worth having is worth working for.
Adrienne fell in that category for sure. She was everything he’d ever dreamed of. Maybe God was testing him. The good Lord knew she was. What did he need to do to convince her that he was the man for her? He’d offered her marriage, a solid roof over her head, the right and means to make that house into the home she wanted, and promised her his heart. What else was there to say?

Cole rubbed the back of his neck. Would the emerald ring he was going to put on her finger make any difference?  What had she said in the truck to Nate? He frowned, trying to remember the wording. It had been something about women not wearing pretty things to impress men, but rather doing it to show off to other women. They wanted their friends and women in general, to be envious, to covet what they had. That was what she’d said. He didn’t know about that. Though there were several local mamas that had tried to push their pretty offspring his way, he wasn’t sure anyone was going to be covetous.

A bright light in the sky caught his attention as he started to turn away from the window. The falling star streaked across the night sky, leaving a silvery trail in its wake. He smiled in the dark, remembering his mama holding his hand on the porch and telling him to make a wish. It couldn’t hurt. He’d gotten the horse he’d wanted all those years ago. Closing his eyes, he tried again. She was all he’d wished for the last couple of years, maybe the star would help him out.

Adrienne winced when the organist hit a sour note. Between the Christmas carols and the incessant roar of conversation in the church fellowship hall, her head pounded. It wasn’t turning out to be a very merry day for her. After tossing and turning for hours, she’d finally fallen into a fitful slumber only to over sleep and have to scramble to get ready for church. Josie and her brother had stopped over to offer Nate a ride and extended the invitation to her and Cole as well. The ride into town had been awkward. Then they’d sat next to one another like strangers during service and still hadn’t had the opportunity to talk.

She forced a polite smile, nodding as the young women around her tittered about how incredibly handsome a man across the room was. Adrienne had stolen a look with the rest of them when one of the girls had pointed out her dream beau, but she failed to see the attraction. Scanning the room, her gaze unerringly landing on Cole. Now there was a fine specimen of man. He looked tired, but even the dark smudges under his baby blues couldn’t detract from his masculine beauty. A nudge from Trey about knocked him over and drew laughter from the circle of men. Cole’s grin was sheepish and, as she watched, he excused himself.

“You should talk to him.”

Turning to look into Genevieve’s worried grey eyes, Adri offered an apologetic smile.

“I will. I really am sorry about last night. I’m sure Trey can’t wait to get us out of his house.”

“Trey was fine. We’re more worried about you and Cole. Is there anything I can do?”

“No. We’ll work it out. It’s all a misunderstanding and, once we talk, I think we’ll be fine.”

Genevieve’s expression was far from convinced but she nodded.

“You know as well as anyone that couples fight. With the holidays and the wedding coming up, Cole and I are both just a bit on edge. Everything will be fine. I don’t intend to let your handsome brother-in-law off the hook that easy,” Adrienne said, squeezing her friend’s hand and praying her words of comfort would hold true. “I’ll be right back.”

Skirting through the crowd, Adrienne pushed up on tiptoe a couple of times, trying to spot Cole in the crush. Where had he disappeared to? Peeking down the hall, the door to the men’s room opened just then to admit an elderly gentleman. She nodded politely and continued her search. The vestibule only turned up a couple of energetic boys playing a forbidden game of tag. She’d heard mamas yelling at them earlier for running in the church. Adrienne smiled and hugged the wall to avoid their rambunctious play.

Pushing open one of the heavy double doors to the sanctuary, she paused. Cole sat in the McCade pew alone, head bowed. Slipping inside, she let the door whisper shut behind her. She wrung her hands as she walked down the aisle. Cole didn’t look up. He didn’t stir when she sat down next to him. Elbows resting on his knees, he seemed to stare at a spot between his feet. Adrienne wet her lips and glanced up at the rough hewn cross on the front wall. How did she make this right?

“Clark doesn’t mean anything to me. I’d starve in the slums before I’d crawl back to him,” she whispered.

“Why did you keep the letter?”

“Gen came upstairs when I was reading it and I shoved it in the drawer, rather than have to explain it to her and, honestly, I forgot the damn thing was even in there. I never even considered his offer. Just the arrogance in his words made me want to scratch his eyes out.”

Cole looked up. “Then why tell me that you wanted to be sure first?” He swallowed hard and looked away again. “You had to know how that would hurt me.”

The pain in his eyes stabbed at her heart. Reaching out, she stroked the top of his hand, sliding her fingers under it to squeeze tight.

“We were talking about two different things,” she admitted, praying she’d read him right. “When you asked why I hadn’t told you, I thought you meant about the baby I think I’m carrying.”

Cole’s head jerked around, his eyes wide. His gaze dropped to her stomach before lifting to meet hers again.

“Are you serious?”

“I don’t know for sure yet, but I’ve been bone tired and nauseous the past several days. If Gen’s half this tired, I don’t know how she’s functioning.” She tightened her grip on his hand. “It’s fast for symptoms to show, but a ballet dancer friend of mine said she noticed changes in her body almost immediately. Maybe it just depends on the person.”

“Are you happy?”

She searched his face, desperately wanting to ask him the same question. Finally, she nodded. “I am. I know we haven’t even talked about babies, but when I realized that I might be pregnant, this joy and longing came over me that I just can’t explain. Of course there was a little fear, but that has to be normal. I don’t know. The thought of getting pregnant has always been more of a nightmare, but with you, I can’t wait to see what our child looks like.”

Cole’s arms went around her, pulling her into a crushing hug.

“Beautiful. Our little one will be beautiful like their mama. I love you,” he whispered into her hair.

His voice sounded hoarse, choked with emotion. Adrienne smiled through a sudden flood of tears.

“I love you too.”

His warm hand rubbed over her spine in a comforting caress. The strength of his arms around her promised to keep her and their child safe.

“Then you’re happy?” she whispered.

He pushed her back from him to smile down. “Ecstatic,” he promised, wiping at her tears. Dropping a kiss on her, he chuckled against her lips. “I’m messing up your makeup.”

“I don’t care. You’re the only one I want to impress.”

“What about all those other women you want to be jealous?” he teased.

“Let them have their gloat. It can’t compare to what I’m feeling right now.”

“Trust me. None of them hold a candle to you, ever.”

“All this and a silver tongue too,” she said smugly, running her hands over his shoulders and down his long arms.

They stared at one another for a moment, and then both broke the silence. “I’m sorry,” they said in unison and then laughed.

“If we were at home, we could make up,” Cole said, pressing his forehead against hers.

“Yeah, I don’t really think this is the place for it,” Adrienne said with a naughty grin.   

He pinched her. “Behave,” he growled, glancing up at the cross. Nuzzling her neck, he drew a deep breath. “I love this perfume on you. I’m sorry for going through your things. I truly was just trying to surprise you, but I shouldn’t have read the letter when I found it.”

“It’s not important now, but I should’ve told you about it when it came in. I was just so infuriated by his gall.”  

“He’s an arrogant bastard,” Cole grumbled and looked back to the cross in apology.

“That he is. I don’t know what I ever saw in him. Money shouldn’t make up for a shallow little man. If I hear from him again, I promise I’ll tell you and we can burn his letter together.”

“It’s a date.”

Adrienne laughed at his words and twisted around to sit normally in the pew again and rest her head on his shoulder.

“I’m glad we talked. I was scared last night.”

“Me too,” he admitted.

“Did you see the shooting star?”

“Mmmhmm. My wish just came true.”

“Mine too.”

“I’d say that was a pretty lucky star then,” Cole murmured, kissing the top of her head.

“Amen.”

Genevieve rested her head against the stair rungs, looking through the ornate spindles at the Christmas tree. The house was quiet. Cole and Adri had disappeared upstairs the moment they’d gotten home from the late Christmas Eve service. Nate had left with Josie and her brother, promising to be home later. Trey was out doing chores, having refused her help and just asked her to put some coffee on. The strong aroma wafted through the house, mingling with the wood fire, cinnamon scented pinecones, and the slight bite of pine in the air to bring the holiday alive.

The towering Christmas tree seemed to glisten in the lights, its decorations catching the eye and making it impossible to look everywhere at once. Almost two dozen gifts wrapped in bright paper and festive bows circled the base of the tree. The entire scene was fairytale perfection. The sense of excitement that had been building threatened to overwhelm her now.

Her hand splayed across her belly. Soon they would have a son or daughter to share this with. Gen bit her lip at the rush of emotion the thought inspired. No matter what was in the mystery packages under the lower boughs, it couldn’t compare to the gift Trey had already given her. She’d never wanted to be anything more than a wife and mother, and he’d given her both.

The stomp of boots on the porch yanked her from her happy reverie, and she leapt up to hurry to the kitchen and meet Trey. The crisp chill that followed him in smelled good and, unmindful of the cold, she pressed into a hug.

“Is everything good?” she asked into his coat.

“Everything is perfect, darlin’.”

“That it is,” she agreed, stepping back and smiling up at him.

She slipped past him as he set his heel in the boot jack and flashed an unrepentant grin his way as she opened the door and let Brutus in. The black beast leaned against her legs, pushing his head under her hand for pets. She leaned down to kiss the top of his muzzle and ruffle his ears, cooing praise to the dog. Trey just shook his head at her sentimentality.

“The way you spoil that mutt, I can’t imagine how bad you’re going to be with our little ones.”

“You’re going to have to help me with that,” she admitted with a guilty laugh. “I don’t want them to be spoiled in a bad way.”

“We’ll figure it out together, darlin’,” he promised, stepping into the kitchen to accept a steaming cup of coffee. “The love birds still upstairs?”

“I have a feeling we’re not going to hear anything else from them tonight.”

“They might’ve retired for the evening, but I wouldn’t count on them being quiet,” Trey said with a chuckle.

“You’re probably right,” Gen said, rolling her eyes up at the ceiling. “We’ll just have to find our own distraction.”

“I’m sure we can think of something.”

“I have all the confidence in the world in you,” she said, pressing close to his chest again.

“You know, Mrs. McCade, you cause quite a few tongues to wag when you look at me like that.”

“Like what?”

“As Cole puts it, like I’m ten feet tall and bullet proof.”

“Is that a bad thing for a wife to think of her husband?”

“I’m not complaining. The bastards can eat their hearts out.”

“Good, because I don’t care who knows that I admire and adore you,” she said firmly. “The ladies can eat their hearts out too. They had their shot at you and missed out. You’re mine now, sir.”

Trey threw back his head and laughed, swinging her around the kitchen. “I can’t think of anything I’d rather be. I lucked out when Patrick set us to writing to one another.”

“I owe so much to Father Patrick. I need to write to him again after Christmas and tell him our news.”

Trey’s hand slid between them to palm her belly. “I can’t wait until you start to show. I want to feel it, and see you round with my child.”  

“You’re going to be an amazing father.”

“I hope so, baby. Like I said earlier, we’ll figure it out together.” He looked around at the full countertops. “It looks like everything is ready for tomorrow.”

“As ready as I can make it.”

“Let’s head to bed then, baby. Socializing all day takes a lot out of your man. I’m more than ready for a little alone time.”

“Sounds like heaven,” she agreed, snuggling into his side as he headed for the stairs. She stole a last glance at the tree. “Isn’t it breathtaking?”

Trey paused on the steps. “I’ve always thought there was something magical about Christmas. It was always a big deal in our family. Mama made a huge feast, like the one you’re preparing tomorrow, and my parents went out of their way to make it special for us. Even the years when we didn’t have a lot, they’d pick one special thing us boys wanted and make sure that was under the tree. I know a lot of kids weren’t nearly as lucky as we were. It’s another thing I want to keep in mind with our family. No matter what is going on with the books, in our life, or in the world like right now, I want to try to find a way to make the holidays happy for our kids.”

“That’s so sweet, but keep in mind, it’s not always the monetary things people remember. A walk hand-in-hand with my husband means more to me than the crown jewels, and I’m sure there’ll be things that mean more to the kids.”

Trey cupped her cheek and gave her a slow kiss. “You’re right. I’d give anything to go hunting one more time with my daddy, and that didn’t cost him a thing but time.” His arm tightened around her waist, urging her the rest of the way up the stairs. “Come on, beautiful. Let’s go practice for all those babies you’re going to give me after this one.”

The moonlight spilled in on Adrienne’s face making her beauty almost celestial. Smiling down at her, Cole spread her inky hair out over the pillow, letting the silky curls slide through his fingers as he fanned them out.

“You’re an angel,” he whispered, dropping his head to kiss her. Laughter bubbled against his lips.

“I doubt God would agree,” she said, the amusement still twinkling in her emerald eyes.

“You have no idea how beautiful you really are.”

“Actually, my beauty is something that I’ve counted on my whole life. I love that you find me attractive, but one of the things I love most about you is your ability to see beyond it,” she said, running her finger nail along his jaw line. “I love the fact that you see through the batting eyelashes and pretty smiles and tell me how it is when you really need to.”

“There’s plenty of times I choose to fall for those things,” he said, fighting a smile.

“I love that about you too,” she whispered with a wink.

“Pick your battles seems to be the McCade motto.”

Adrienne pushed on his shoulder, shoving Cole to his back so she could roll on top of him.

“Are you going to fight me, big boy?”

“Nope. I think I’ll just lie back and enjoy it.”