Page 47 of Cade

“Well, she can get some now. I’m sure I’ll be staying for a bit while you sort out your messes. You know you have your father very upset over your choices. Besides, just because you knock up a whore doesn’t mean you need to marry her.”

“Mother!” Both of them shouted at her.

“My wife is not a whore, or anything else. She is the woman that I am married to and just to stick to your points here, the baby came after.”

“Yes dear. That’s what everyone used to say. I think it’s less taboo now to have a baby out of wedlock.”

He was in the same bad novel as Catherine, and he hated it.

“What is Father planning to do if I don’t leave her?” Cade asked.

“I don’t know his plans. I know he has some. The both of you are really ungrateful considering the upbringing you had that taught you to be much better than this.”

“He wouldn’t hurt any of us, right?” Catherine asked.

She was starting to see the crazy for what it was and while he was happy he was no longer alone, he didn’t want her to have to go through this. That was one of the main reasons he’d kept it from her and his friends.

“I don’t know what his plans are, Catherine. I just told you that. Now, have you changed the bed since that other woman was staying here?” She changed the subject like it didn’t matter if he was willing to hurt anyone.

“No.” Catherine stood up. “I’m afraid that you’ll need to get a hotel or something, because I have plans, as I said. I also have no staff, as you’ve been reminded. And I had no idea that you were coming. Where even have you been?”

She turned to Catherine with a glare. “I can see I’ve been too late in arriving. Your brother has clearly brainwashed you.”

“Mother? Aren’t you excited that Cade is having a baby? A grandchild for you to spoil?” Catherine said.

Cade kept quiet to see where she was going with this. He didn’t really need the baby brought up again, but knew she must have had a plan.

“No. That baby is no grandchild of mine. My grandchildren will come from good stock and impeccable families. This is merely a hiccup.” She waved Catherine off.

“I’m afraid you’re going to have to leave now.” Catherine pointed at the door. “I don’t have time for this today and I’m sure you’d be much happier in a hotel. I will stand with my brother on this one and if you say anything bad about April or the baby, you can just stop reaching out to me as well. I don’t want anything to do with someone who is so stuck up they can’t be happy for their children.”

Catherine pulled the door open wide and pointed out. Their mother looked between them before huffing and walking out the door. Catherine shut it with a firmness that screamed she would have slammed it if she could.

“Okay, let’s say I believe you.” She turned to him.

Chapter Twenty-Three

April

April was back at work and feeling renewed at her job. Not that she loved it again, but she definitely was back at it after feeling like crap for the last couple of weeks. With her stomach finally under control, her focus was amazing.

She had worked from home some yesterday to catch back up so her boss wouldn’t be able to comment on the fact that she had missed time for being sick. Until she had the baby she needed this job to be able to save for what came next.

Yes, Cade said he was all in but she still wasn’t about to just forget that she thought he was once before. That hadn’t ended well for her. This time she was taking it with more caution.

He had confided in his sister what he thought his parents were up to, well his father. She had come by last night to talk about it more and brought baby things by. The kid was the size of a peanut and was already being spoiled.

This morning Cade had tried to get her to go to lunch with him today. Not wanting to rile her boss any more than necessary, she’d packed one instead and turned down his offer. She was going to have a working lunch today.

“Good morning, April,” Tucker greeted her. “Any chance that marriage is over?”

April rolled her eyes at his blatant question. “I’m not ending my marriage and if I did I wouldn’t be ready to date anyone.”

“Well, you let me know if you change your mind. I’ll keep some space open on my calendar,” he offered.

“I promise that’s not necessary. I really would appreciate if you stopped hitting on me.” April sat straighter as she spoke, annoyed with him.

He walked off laughing. April couldn’t quite figure it out. He’d hit on her before but between last week and this one he’d really stepped it up like her marriage was more of a turn-on. She wasn’t interested. If he didn’t quit she just might tell Cade about it and let him deal with the problem for her.

---