Page 96 of Heartstrings & Horizons
I nod, doing my best to keep the niggling doubts at bay. As we walk to the truck, I can't seem to shake my nervous energy. The past few weeks have been more difficult than I anticipated. Settling back into Oak Ridge wasn’t the problem.
I fit in with Cade and his friends like a puzzle piece. The problem is that none of this ismine. It feels like taking hand me downs and trying to adjust your entire life to fit into them. I couldn’t work yet, since I wasn’t officially a permanent resident, so I didn’t have a job to go to every day. I spent most of my days meandering around town, taking photographs. When I wasn’t doing that, I was holed up in the library with Goose at my side. Don’t get me wrong, I love it here and I love Cade, but I’m struggling to carve out a place for myself.
The wedding is being held in a beautiful barn with an old weathered wood facade. String lights hang between the beams, with an altar at one end, and a reception area arranged at the other.
The ceremony is beautiful, though not as breathtaking as ours — but I’m a little biased. Jemma looks stunning in her chiffon gown. I only met Derek briefly at our wedding, but he looks at her like she hung the moon, and I’m so happy for my new friend, I could burst. Weddings make me emotional, so it’s no surprise when I need Cade to pass me a tissue mid-vows.
After the ceremony, we spend some time mingling with Cade’s family.
“Uncle Cade!” A tiny blonde haired munchkin runs in our direction, causing Cade to drop his arm from around my waist to crouch down and catch the little chipmunk before tossing her into the air. She smiles a smile that isn’t so different from Cade’s, and I can’t help but wonder what our kids will look like someday.Reel it in Paige. Way too soon.
“Hey Maddie girl! I have someone who wants to meet you!” he says, and my knees go weak. Seeing Cade with his niece might be my kryptonite. “This is my wife, Paige.”
“Hi miss Maddie!” I say, infusing as much enthusiasm as I can into my voice. “It’s so nice to meet you,” I say, with a soft smile for the little girl.
“She’s pretty, Uncle Cade.”
“That she is, and I’m the luckiest guy here to be standing with the two prettiest girls in the room.” He tickles her as she squirms around in his arms, his devastatingly charming smile landing on me as he gives me a subtle wink. The sound of her giggles mingle with the soft music playing in the background and the smile on Cade’s face could bring me to my knees if they weren’t restrained by my tight hemline. I think my ovaries have exploded.
“Maddie, what did I tell you about running off?” A woman who looks a lot like an older version of Cade strolls in our direction and Maddie rolls her eyes in an adorably dramatic way.
“Mommy, I found Uncle Cade and his Paige.”His Paige.I just know there are hearts in my eyes right now.
“Oh! Hi! I’m Julie, the favorite sister,” she jokes, holding out a hand in my direction. “It’s so nice to finally meet the woman who tamed my little brother!” she says, a warm smile and genuine happiness on her face — it soothes the small part of me that was still nervous about meeting everyone.
“It’s nice to meet you. I’m sorry it took so long.”
“Oh, don’t worry about it. Ya’ll have been busy,” she says with a suggestive gleam in her eyes. “Heads up. Kim is heading this way.” She elbows Cade in the stomach and he moves to my side, wrapping a protective arm around my waist, still holdingonto Maddie in the other.
“Cade, good to see you,” Kim says, almost curtly before turning her assessing gaze on me. “And you must be the infamous Paige.”
“Kim...” Cade says with an ominous warning in his voice. I should let him handle his sisters, but I’m nothing if not a people pleaser, so I reluctantly step in, attempting to ease the tension.
“I am. It’s great to finally meet you,” I say with a saccharine smile. “I’ve heard so much about all of you.” I’ve changed a lot over the last few months, but I might always be the one to jump through hoops to avoid an ugly confrontation.
“And we’ve heard so very little about you,” she all but sneers at me and I can feel Cade stiffening at my side.
“Maddie girl, let Mommy take you to see Grandad, ok?” Julie says, reaching out to take Maddie from Cade’s arms.
“Kim, this is not the time or the place,” Cade chastises. “And you’d do well to remember that Paige is my fucking wife.” He’s getting defensive and there’s a pang in my chest at the thought that I might be the cause of a rift between Cade and his sister.
I’m becoming more and more overwhelmed, so I smile politely and excuse myself to the bathroom. Entering the stall on the far right, I put down the lid and perch myself on top, taking a few deep breaths to soothe my anxiety.
The bathroom door opens, and I hear murmured voices.
“Did ya’ll see Cade Brooks’ new wife?”
“Yeah, I'll give it another month before he’s filing the divorce papers.”
The unknown women snicker, and my heart sinks hearing the hurtful words. Listening intently, I hear the sound of running water closely followed by the hand dryer and the door closing. I wait a beat, making sure I’m alone before checking my makeup inthe mirror. I lean on the countertop with both hands, hanging my head between my shoulders while I take several deep breaths.
I won’t let them get to me.
I return to the reception, finding Cade standing on the perimeter of the dance floor, just in time to watch Jemma and Derek’s first dance, their love radiating throughout the venue. My heart aches with a mixture of joy for them, and a pang of sadness for the doubts and questions that are swirling in my mind. When the song ends, all the other couples in the audience are invited to join them on the dance floor.
Cade smiles sweetly at me, taking my hand in his and leading me out into the crowd. He places my hand over his heart and encircles my waist with his other arm. It gives me peace, a moment of solace as I’m cocooned in his embrace. I lay my head on his chest, closing my eyes and letting the lyrics to the Ruby Lynn Hayes ballad take over my thoughts. Time slows, and I get lost in the swaying of our bodies. I’m snapped out of my reverie when the song ends and Jemma’s voice comes over the speakers.
“Hey ya’ll! I want to thank everybody for celebrating with us tonight,” she says, a round of applause quickly following. She waits for the crowd to quiet again before continuing. “I also have a special favor to ask. My uncle, Cade, recently married the love of his life.” Hushed whispers fill the room until Jemma speaks again. “In a small town like ours, things like that don’t stay a secret for long. Unfortunately, many of our family and friends weren’t able to attend due to the last minute nature of the event so I’d like to give the floor over to Cade and his new wife Paige for their 1st dance do-over.” The entire room goes still, waiting on bated breath for us to make our way to the middle of the floor. My heart rate picks up as I realize I’m about to be on display for all of Oak Ridge.
