“What was that about?” she asked, her hand over the rapid beat of her heart.
“A thank-you for coming with me today. For sharing your heart with me. For helping me to bridge the gap between my parents and me. In case you haven’t figured it out, I’m in love with you, Hope.”
Smiling, she leaned her head against his shoulder. “I sorta figured. Guess you know I feel the same way about you.”
“Yup,” he said, and started the engine. He put the car in reverse, ready to back out of the long driveway when Hope placed her hand on his forearm, stopping him.
Cade reverted his attention to her. “Treasure your family, Cade.”
Her words deeply touched him, seeing Hope had none of her own. “I do,” he assured her.
Her smile was wide as she gave his arm a gentle squeeze.
“Ready?” he asked.
“Ready,” she told him.
They were headed home.
Chapter 26
As much as he’d first hated the thought of counseling and group therapy, Cade had come to look forward to his weekly sessions with Harry. The man was wise beyond his years.
Cade had come a long way from the angry, bitter man who’d stood before Judge Walters. He never would have believed serving his community with the court-ordered hours would have such a profound effect upon his life. Meeting Hope had changed everything for him. She was his light. His hope. Watching her patience and care for Shadow changed him. When he’d left the courtroom to do the community service hours required by the judge, his head had been messed up. He found it hard to believe that anyone really cared. Not for returning veterans, or for discarded animals. From the moment he’d met Hope, he’d been drawn to her. The attraction had gotten stronger, week by week, until she was all he thought about. Meeting with Harry and the others had helped him see he had the will and the power to move beyond the pain and loss of Jeremy and Luke, and the war in general. Hope gave him the incentive to be more, to work hard, to let go of the mental and physical agonies of war—to be the man she deserved. As was his practice, Harry waited for Cade to start the conversation. Eager to talk, Cade leaned forward. “The dinner with my parents went far better than I hoped.”
“Wonderful, Cade. I felt that it would.” These weren’t words of platitude. Harry had never been one to speak anything but truth, whether Cade wanted to hear it or not. What Cade found amazing was how little Harry talked during their sessions. He let Cade find the truth with a few leading questions that subtly pointed him to the answers he needed.
“Dad didn’t bring up our fight all those years ago, and I didn’t, either.” Cade had been prepared if his father had been determined to dig up the past. The bitterness between them could explode with only a few misspoken words. Cade had decided he would politely listen, more for Hope’s sake than for his own, apologize if that was what was needed, and ask if they could find a way to forgive each other. He had everything he’d planned to say prepared in his mind.
Yet neither of them said a word about that horrible day when Cade had walked away from his family. Not a single word.
A smile teased the edges of Harry’s mouth.
“You find that humorous?”
“Not exactly. I find it refreshing. You referred to him as Dad now instead of John.”
It had been the most telling moment of the evening. As soon as his father spoke, Cade knew they were both ready to move forward and leave that final scene buried. He never would have thought it possible until then.
They both had regrets. Both had misgivings. And it seemed neither one was willing to review their mistakes. There was no need when they were willing to let bygones be bygones. His dad preferred it that way, and frankly so did Cade. Right away the atmosphere had relaxed, and they were able to enjoy the dinner. Some awkwardness had remained, but only in the beginning. As the meal progressed it was almost as if no time had passed.
Cade had been grateful for Hope’s presence. She was exactly the buffer they had all needed. He could tell that his mother was fond of her, and it wouldn’t surprise him if he learned the two had talked a couple times before this dinner. It was important to Cade that Hope feel comfortable with his parents. His desire was that one day she would be his wife and they would become her family.
“This is our final session,” Harry reminded him.
“The time went fast.”
“It always does. I’m proud of you, Cade, and the work you’ve done.”
“Thank you.” Harry wasn’t one to hand out easy compliments. His words of praise warmed him from the inside out.