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“Did he ask for anything in exchange for Logan?” Parker asked, his dark brows furrowed.
“No,” Cadence answered without skipping a beat. “He wants us to meet him at Stillwater Cover Park at noon by the covered bridge. Considering everything he could have asked for, I’m very grateful.”
“You know better than to trust a word he says,” Parker cautioned. “This could be some sort of trap. We’re going to have to proceed very carefully.”
Jason frowned. “Are we sure about not contacting the police?” he asked. “There are laws against kidnapping.”
“Mason isn’t kidnapping since he’s acknowledged as being Logan’s father. We were married at the time Logan was born. And even though I’m the custodial parent he does have visitation rights.” Cadence saw Parker wince and she instantly regretting pouring salt on his wounds. “And I don’t want to go that route if I don’t have to.” She bit her lip as fear rushed through her. “I don’t want to see what Mason might do if he feels desperate.”
Parker nodded. “You know him better than we do. We don’t want to trigger him.”
“It’s a chance to get Logan back,” Jason said. “We have to cross all our t’s so the hand off will be precise.”
As Parker and Jason began to hash out the details, Cadence withdrew into her own thoughts. Cadence couldn’t tell Parker and Jason that Mason wanted her in exchange for Logan. If she did, they would insist that she stay behind when they went to meet up with Mason and Logan at Stillwater Cove Park. And there was no way Cadence could let that happen. She’d messed everything up in her life up till this point. The decisions she’d made had been well-meaning but poorly thought out and foolish. In her own humble way, she’d tried to save everyone but herself. In the end, she’d fed the monster instead of vanquishing him. And now, she would do the one thing she knew in her heart God would want her to do. Save her child. God had given her a purpose when He had chosen her to be Logan’s mother.
Dear Lord. Continue to watch over Logan. And please keep Parker and Jason safe from harm tomorrow. From the day Logan came into this world I vowed to protect and watch over him. This is my penance for the past. For not telling Parker the truth about Logan. I’m at peace with my decision, Lord, to exchange myself for my baby. No matter what happens.
“Love comes with a lot of sacrifice. It’s the most unselfish way to show love.”
Jude Donahue
Chapter Six
The following morning, Parker was up by dawn. After taking a hot shower he made his way down to the kitchen and put on a pot of coffee to start the day off right. While the coffee brewed, Parker stepped outside to the patio and stared at the gorgeous orange sun bursting over the horizon. Despite the horrible circumstances that had brought them to Sonoma, Parker could still appreciate the beautiful California landscape.
He turned around at the sound of light footsteps behind him. Cadence—looking radiant in a simple white shift dress—stood in the entryway, her striking face creased with worry.
Last night he’d taken her to a local clothing store so she could pick up some basic clothing items. Leave it to Cadence to look like a million bucks despite the fact that he knew she was a nervous wreck.
“Morning,” she said. “The smell of coffee led me downstairs.”
“Good morning,” he said, somehow managing to drag his eyes away from her. “You’re up early. I was hoping you would sleep in, Cadence. You need the rest.”
“I slept a little bit last night, but I kept thinking about Logan.” She drew in a deep breath. “I can’t help but feel scared for him.”
Parker stepped toward her, easily swallowing up the distance between them. “Instead of being scared, I’m asking you to continue to be strong.”
She let out a hollow sounding laugh. “I’m not sure I’ve been very strong.”
“Are you kidding me?” Parker asked, letting out a disbelieving sound. “You’ve been amazing. After everything you’ve been through—you drove all the way to Pelican Bay to ask for my help. After the way things were left between us, that was an incredibly brave move. I know what it cost you to come to me. Give yourself some credit, Cadence. You’re a fighter.”
A look of surprise crossed her face. “I can’t believe it. I am a little bit of a warrior, aren’t I?”
He sent her a smile of encouragement. “Yes, you are. And one of these days I’m going to tell our son all about it. He needs to know how you fought for him.”
“Oh, Parker. I should have fought sooner. I should have pushed past the fear and taken action. For so long I was sleepwalking through my life.” Her jaw hardened. “I’ll never be in that position again. Not ever.”
“No you won’t. I can see the conviction etched on your face. I can hear it in your voice.”
“I have to admit, I’m scared about today,” Cadence confessed. Her blue eyes flickered with emotion. Suddenly, all Parker wanted to do was to reassure her, to let Cadence know it was going to be all right. His mind flashed back to all the times he’d managed to soothe her worries after she’d stepped out on a limb of faith and found employment after her father lost a huge chunk of his income. Cadence had grown as a woman due to that situation. She’d transformed from a spoiled young lady dependent on her family to one who worked for a living and understood the value of a dollar. She had bloomed like a rose.
“There’s no shame in being frightened. It shows you’re human. You care about Logan more than your own life. It’s obvious.” The thought of his son made Parker’s heart constrict. He didn’t even know him—just the idea of him—yet he loved him still. He couldn’t compare the love he felt for his son to what Cadence felt for Logan. She’d carried him in her womb and nurtured him ever since the day she’d discovered she was pregnant. As a mother she’d fed and clothed him, rocked him to sleep at night, soothed him after bad dreams and prayed for his safety and health. He had just discovered the existence of his son. As soon as they could develop a relationship, Parker felt certain that love for his son would grow by leaps and bounds. Being a father was already shaping up to be an epic experience.
“Our son makes it very easy to love him. He’s smart and kind and his giggle is just about the best sound in the world.” She looked down for a moment, as if catching her breath. “He really is the only thing that has kept me going for the past three years.”
He reached out and swept his palm across her cheek. “It kills me to know you were so miserable.” He let out a hollow-sounding laugh. “All this time I thought you were happy and married to the man of your dreams.”
Cadence locked gazes with him. For a moment he thought he saw something lurking in the depths of her eyes that startled him. Seconds later it had disappeared, replaced by a sadness that threatened to break him. “No, Parker. Not even close.”
