AllFreeNovel
Share Us
And maybe, if she was very lucky, he might still love her as well.
So, do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous hand.
For so long now, Cadence had been held hostage by fear. No more! Tonight she was going to find out if Parker’s feelings for her were romantic or platonic. In order to move forward with her life—and Logan’s—she needed answers.
**
By the time they left the zoo, Logan was knocked out in his stroller. Parker couldn’t remember the last time he’d had such a good time. Seeing it through his son’s eyes was the main reason Parker had enjoyed himself so thoroughly. Spending time with Cadence in a casual setting had been important to Parker. He needed to know deep down in his soul if he could picture the two of them ending up together. Was he infatuated with an old love? Or were his feelings for her the read deal?
He knew his love for her was real. It hadn’t gone anywhere in all of these years. It had just been hiding out of sight.
Going home was a difference experience these days with Logan and Cadence as his companions. There was nothing like a child to turn a house into a home. Logan’s laughter was now engrained in his walls. Parker wasn’t quite sure what he would do if they moved out. How could he just go back to being on his own?
After Cadence fixed Logan his favorite meal—chicken nuggets and peas—Parker took him upstairs for a bath.
“Are you sure?” Cadence asked. “He can be a slippery seal,” she teased.
“I think I’m up for the challenge,” he said. “I used to give my younger siblings baths when I was a kid.” He winked at her. “Perks of being the oldest.”
The sound of Cadence’s laughter followed him up the stairs. Bath time with Logan was way more fun than Cadence had ever told him. Logan loved playing with bath toys and he didn’t bat an eye when Parker washed his hair with a gentle baby shampoo. As Parker instructed him to do, Logan shut his eyes tightly and didn’t open them until Parker told him he could. When the bath was over, Parker wrapped his son up in a large, fluffy towel. After drying him off, Parker put him in his Superman pajamas and read him a bedtime story. As Logan drifted off, he heard his son call him daddy. Not just once, but a few times. Although he and Cadence had subtly introduced the word to Logan, this was the first time he’d used it with Parker. He wasn’t sure if he would ever experience a more joyful and proud moment as this one.
As Logan’s little eyes crept closed, Parker heard a sound behind him. He swung his gaze up. Cadence was standing by the doorway, tears streaming down her face. Parker placed Logan in his crib and made his way to Cadence’s side.
“You heard?” he asked her, feeling almost breathless. It was a wonder he’d gotten the words out.
She nodded. “Yes. I heard.” Her voice came out raspy and full of emotion.
Without saying another word, they embraced. Cadence looked up at him with tears shimmering in her eyes. Parker leaned his head down and kissed her—a tender, emotional kiss that celebrated this joyous moment. For a few moments it seemed as if they were suspended in time. Nothing existed at this moment but the two of them.
“Come downstairs,” Cadence said, a smile playing around her lips. “I have a surprise for you.”
A surprise? What had Cadence done? He followed her down the stairs. A wonderful smell wafted toward his nostrils. Had Cadence heated something up in the microwave? It smelled delicious. She led him into the dining room where a dinner had been set for two.
“What’s all this?” he asked, smiling at the beautifully set table and the set of candles softly flickering. Food sat in the middle of the table.
“I ordered from Caleb’s bistro. The Blue Bayou. Since Logan is down for the night, I wanted us to have a quiet dinner together. I figured we could talk. I miss talking to you, Parker.” Cadence’s voice had gone soft, with a tenderness Parker couldn’t ignore. This dinner was beginning to feel romantic, but he didn’t want to get his hopes up only to have them dashed.
“This is really nice,” Parker said, sitting down at the table. He surveyed the food laid out—salmon, potatoes, salad and bread. “What’s the occasion?”
“You always made dinner for me back in the day,” she said, flashing him a perfect smile. “I figured it was high time I returned the favor.” She giggled. “Although I didn’t cook. My fingers just did the dialing.”
Parker laughed, feeling relaxed and content.
After praying over the food, they dug in to the sumptuous meal. Parker thoroughly enjoyed the meal, which was comprised of his favorites. For dessert, Cadence had ordered an apple pie. She sliced the pie up, then placed dollops of vanilla ice cream on top.
All of a sudden he flashed back to the night when he’d been prepared to propose to Cadence—the very same night she’d broken up with him. They’d been sitting at this very table and the ring had been burning a hole in his pocket. It was strange that she still had no idea that he’d been about to propose to her. Should he tell her? What good would it do? The past was dead and buried.
“Is something wrong? Don’t you like the pie?” Cadence asked with a frown marring her perfect features.
r />
“It’s fantastic,” he said, placing another forkful in his mouth.
“Isn’t it?” she asked. “You had a strange look on your face just now.”
Parker met her gaze. He was ready to be completely honest. “That night you broke up with me keeps playing in my head.”
Cadence let out a groan and covered her face with her hands. “I’m so sorry, Parker. It haunts me too. I said those things…pretended I didn’t want to be with you, when in reality I wanted to be with you so very much.”
