Page 9 of Cade

CHAPTER FOUR

Cade watched from the window as Cass loaded her things into the car taking her to the airport. She had two suitcases, neither very large. She didn’t carry a laptop, and more importantly, she didn’t carry her paints or easels.

“I’ll call you, Dad,” she said with tears in her eyes. “I love you so much. I could never thank you enough for all that you and Mom did for us.”

“It’s not goodbye, Cass. It’s ‘see you soon,’” he said, frowning at his daughter.

“Honey, maybe it’s too soon,” said Sophia. “Maybe you should stay and speak with Ashley or Bree a few more times.” Cass shook her head.

“No. No, I can’t stay here, Mom. I have to do this. I have to go.” Sophia could feel her insides churning and reached for Ivan’s hand. Cass had said her goodbyes to her siblings the night before. Now, in the early morning light, she was leaving them.

When the car was out of sight, Cade watched as Sophia crumbled into her husband’s arms. He opened the door and walked toward them.

“Sir, I’d like to know what you’re going to do about that,” said Cade. Ivan looked up at the big man, smirking.

“What I’m going to do about it? She’s a grown woman, Cade. I have to let her go.”

“She’s not in a good state of mind, sir. She needs help!”

“What do you suggest?” asked Sophia.

“I-I think she needs someone with her. I think I need to go with her,” he said firmly. Ivan nodded his head, looking at Sophia.

“Do you know where she’s going?” asked Ivan.

“I do, sir.”

“Well then, good luck.” Cade looked down at the couple, moving from face to face. “If you want to beat her there, you’d better get Evie to take you. She’s got the jet warming up.”

“You knew?” asked Cade.

“I prayed. There’s a difference,” said Ivan.

Cass leaned back in the first-class seat, closing her eyes. She’d have to fly into Vancouver and then drive the rest of the way. When she checked in, the desk agent looked at her funny as she weighed her bags.

“Are you sure you don’t want to combine the bags, honey? I mean, they don’t weigh anything,” she said.

“I’m sure,” grinned Cass. “Souvenirs and all.”

“If you say so.”

She’d bought the first-class ticket with her own money, not worried about how much was in her savings any longer. She couldn’t do this any longer. She couldn’t pretend that the world was right and there was only sunshine and roses. It was too much. Too painful. Too hard.

“Hi, there,” said the man seated next to her. Cassidy said nothing, just nodding as she scooted closer to the window. “Headed home or on vacation?”

“Going to my fiancé,” she lied.

“Oh, right. I see,” he said, nodding. “I was just being friendly.” She nodded again, leaning her head back as the plane took off.

Somewhere over Colorado, she fell asleep and didn’t wake again until they landed. She maneuvered her way through customs and security, finally grabbing her two lightweight bags and finding the rental car center. It was a small car, but it would do. She put the address of the cabin into her GPS.

“Three hours and twelve minutes,” she frowned. “That should give me time to gather my courage.”

She thought the whole way about her parents, about Carrie, her twin. She knew that what she was doing was wrong, but she couldn’t do this any longer. She couldn’t pretend that the world was right, that her world was right. Feeling the tears come, she cursed her weakness and cranked up the radio.

The song that she and Cade had danced to at the wedding was blasting in her ears, and she nearly wrecked the car. Deciding it was safer to turn the radio off, she focused on the road ahead. She was hungry but wanted to do this on an empty stomach. She heard that it was better to do it on an empty stomach.

She’d written a long letter explaining everything. Apologizing to her parents and siblings, apologizing to Cade. Sweet, beautiful Cade. None of them would understand. How could they? Her mother had been raped, but it wasn’t the same. She caused this! She egged Phillipe on. If she had just been compliant, he would have left her alone.

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