A knock sounded at my bedroom door.
“I don’t feel like watching anything, Whit. I’m just going to hang out in here again,” I said through the door. I knew I was being a shit friend, especially since Whit was in her second trimester now and finally feeling well enough to hang out regularly.
Slowly, the door eased open. I scrunched my face up. Had I fallen asleep? Was this some sort of sleep-deprived hallucination? I blinked through my tear-encrusted eyes, staring at the large shape in my doorway.
“Cade?” I said, in bewilderment.
“You really know how to leave a guy hanging.” He smiled warmly.
I stared back blankly.
“You stopped responding to my letters. I got worried, B. Whit’s worried about you too. I’m here. What can I do?”
I’m not even sure what made me say it. “Take me home.”
He looked puzzled. “To Vermont?”
I nodded, tears welling again. My request didn’t even make sense—I didn’t even have a home in Vermont anymore. He wasn’t fazed long, though. Typical Cade, he sprang into action.
“Okay,” he replied. “I need to make a quick call. Let’s get Whit’s help to pack you a bag.”
Within an hour we were driving along in Cade’s rental car. I stared out the window, watching the scenery pass by. After Maple’s initial time with her nose pressed eagerly against the back window, she had circled up contentedly in the back seat, releasing a big dog sigh as she settled into her position. Gray skies faded into darkness, and eventually, we pulled into our old neighborhood.
Finally, I met Cade’s eyes.
“Your parents won’t mind?” I asked, watching him pull into their driveway.
I loved the Adlers, but I wasn’t really up for imitating the expected enthusiasm and etiquette required for being a guest in someone’s home.
He shook his head. “They’re in Florida. They’ve had a cleaning service come by while they’re gone, and their room is freshly made up. I called them and they said to tell you to take their room.”
My eyes filled with tears. Somehow, with only a few words, he’d known exactly what I needed. “Thank you,” I whispered.
Cade unloaded our bags from the car. “Are you hungry?” he asked. “Mom said there would be a few things in the freezer.”
I shook my head, taking a seat on the worn leather sofa while Maple sniffed around curiously, exploring the new environment.After a short sniff-test of the living space, she nudged my hand with her wet nose (I’m here, she seemed to tell me), then curled up at my feet.
Cade walked down the hall towards his childhood bedroom, and I heard his duffel hit the bed.
“What about work? And Echo?” I asked when he reentered the living room and set a glass of water on the table beside me. I attempted a small smile. My throat felt scratchy from disuse.
“The guys will cover my shifts while I’m gone. Val’s watching Echo. It’s all covered.”
Again, I nodded. I couldn’t seem to make myself form enough words for a full conversation. I had a moment’s anxiety over disrupting Cade’s life. I couldn’t believe he’d dropped everything and rearranged his life like this... forme.Cheryl’s voice rang in my head.You have to accept that you are worth other people’s time. When people want to be there for you, let them.
Cade flipped on the TV, seemingly undeterred by my lack of chatter. He pulled my feet into his lap, slipped my shoes and socks off, and began to knead my arches. It was a habit of his that went back to my volleyball days.
I leaned my head back against the back of the couch and closed my eyes.
“Mm.” I made an appreciative noise as he worked the knots out of my feet. He paused for the briefest moment, then continued.
Sometime later, I realized I had fallen asleep, because I could tell I was moving through the air—being carried, I realized.
“Cade,” I mumbled, trying to get out something about being too heavy for him.
“Shhhhhh...” was his only response as he gently situated me on the bed. He tucked me under the covers, and I felt the weightof Maple as she jumped on the bed and settled next to me. I turned on my side, and she curled up in the crook of my legs.
And I slept.
