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Cadence let out a gasp. “What? I don’t believe it!”
Parker sighed. “That was the general reaction when they dropped the bombshell announcement on us. It’s been hard to wrap my head around it. I’m hoping they can fix things before things move toward a divorce. But to be honest, once they announced it, it made me realize things hadn’t been okay in a long time.”
Cadence knew her expression showed her shocked reaction to the news. “Your parents are the last people I would ever expect to end their marriage.”
“Me too. I always thought they were in it for the long haul.” He shrugged. “But I can’t judge them. Marriage seems like a hard gig.”
Cadence didn’t respond. She really didn’t know what it felt like to have a real marriage. Her marriage to Mason hadn’t been genuine. In a perfect world she would never have felt forced into a union with him. And she felt a great deal of shame about sharing something so sacred with a man she’d loathed. She imagined God wasn’t very pleased with her, and it made her feel ashamed. She was going to do whatever possible to see about getting her marriage nullified. After all, Mason had used coercion to get her to the altar.
“So, how do you feel about breaking bread with the Donahue clan on Friday night?”
Cadence felt her palms moisten with anxiety. The Donahue brood could be intimidating, especially when they were all together in one group. And if Jason wasn’t too thrilled with her, she could only imagine how the rest of his siblings would feel. It made her feel incredibly sad and a bit nervous about heading into the lion’s den with Logan.
She bit her lip. “Do you think it’s a good idea?
“Trust me, Cadence. I won’t let anyone mistreat you. You’ll be fine.”
Trust me. So far, Parker had never let her down. His word had always been his bond.
“All right then. Let’s go to dinner on Friday night,” she said, sending him a tight smile. “Logan needs to meet his family.”
**
By the time Friday night rolled around, Cadence was a nervous wreck. She hadn’t seen or spoken to the Donahue family for three years. She had no idea how Jude and Penelope would react to seeing her. Cadence had always loved and adored the couple. They had always treated her like one of the family, which made her feel even guiltier about the past. She’d disappeared from their lives like a ghost. Time had done nothing to assuage her guilt.
Parker had assured her that he’d explained everything to them about her marriage to Mason, his role in Keith’s death
and his threats against Parker and her parents. Even though Cadence knew they had the background, it was a very difficult story to absorb all at once. Cadence wouldn’t blame them if they were skeptical about her. And Parker hadn’t said a word to his siblings about any of it. He’d sworn Jason to secrecy. Cadence had no idea how this was going to play out.
She’d spent almost an hour trying to find the perfect outfit among her measly choices. She had picked up a few pieces at a nearby mall, but of course nothing looked right as she tried the garments on. Finally, she settled on a royal blue top with a denim skirt. She eyed herself critically in the mirror. She looked nice but not as if she was trying too hard to make an impression. Logan sat up in his crib and watched her with a perplexed expression on his face. She moved toward him and scooped him up in her arms. “Yes, Logan. Your mama can act a bit kooky at times.” She nuzzled against him, loving the way he threw back his head and giggled.
At moments like this she wished Logan would stay this little forever. But she knew that wasn’t possible. It was her job—and now Parker’s as well—to steer him through life and make sure he grew up into a happy, healthy and God fearing man. They would give him wings so he could one day soar like an eagle.
When they arrived at the Donahue home, Cadence gripped Logan tightly in her arms. He was getting heavier by the day, but he still wanted to be picked up and held a lot of the time. After the confusion of the last few days, Cadence didn’t think it was the right time to stop giving her son what he needed for comfort.
“Maybe you should put him down now and then,” Parker suggested, jutting his chin toward Logan. “He needs to start using those legs of his.”
Cadence tamped down her feeling of annoyance. “He’s been through a lot, Parker. He likes to be held, so I’m going to do it until things settle down.”
Parker eyed her skeptically, which made her bristle. She hoped he wasn’t going to start dictating the way she raised Logan. She counted to ten in her head. Parker had every right to weigh in on the way his son was being reared. She was being overly sensitive, no doubt because she’d spent the past few years protecting her son from Mason. It had all fallen on her shoulders. Old habits were hard to break.
The door of the Donahue household was suddenly flung wide open, which served as a huge distraction to her annoyance with Parker. Jude and Penelope were standing in the doorway, their eyes glued to Logan. Penelope let out a cry, quickly followed by tears streaming down her face. Jude smiled so wide Cadence feared his face might crack.
“Oh, Cadence. What a gift you’ve given us,” Penelope cried out.
“Let’s not stand here on the front steps,” Jude said, beckoning them inside the house. “Come on in with that grandbaby of ours. Don’t stand on ceremony.”
Cadence felt Parker’s hand at the small of her back. He gently guided her up the stairs and across the threshold. Logan looked all around him with wide eyes.
“We thought he might like a little train set,” Jude said, gesturing toward a toy on the living room carpet. Logan began to squirm in her arms and point toward the train. Parker reached out and plucked Logan from her arms and deposited him on the floor. Once he hit the ground he made tracks toward the train set.
“An excellent choice,” Cadence said, smiling at Jude and Penelope.
Penelope moved toward her and drew her into a hug. “Oh, Cadence. It’s so wonderful to see you after all this time.” Cadence closed her eyes and allowed Penelope’s sweet voice to wash over her like a warm rain. How she loved this wonderful, loving woman. Logan was so fortunate to have Penelope as his grandma. And Jude would be the perfect grandfather. She knew they would dote on him as much as her own parents did.
“Stop hogging all the hugs,” Jude teased as he stood beside Penelope, who stepped aside so he could greet Cadence.
Jude pressed a kiss against Cadence’s cheek, then placed his hands on either side of her face. He studied her face for a moment. “You don’t know how good it is to see you again. I’ve thought about you often over the last few years. We’ve missed you.”
