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Porter groaned and pulled back from his wife, ducking his head sheepishly, though he still sneaked another kiss against Cadence’s cheek.
She felt the skin grow hot under his touch.
Sure, they were newlyweds, but she should be used to his kisses—they came often enough. Of course, it was hard to remember that under that dear woman’s laughing blue eyes—they were a mirror of her sons’.
“Cadence!” Lily turned in a full circle to take in her newly designed garden. “You are a true artist.”
Cadence flushed again out of pure embarrassment, but she was pleased too. She pointed to the plaque and Lily let out an astonished gasp.
Consider the Lilies of the field.
“It’s perfect!” Lily said.
“Do you really think so?” Cadence grabbed Porter’s hand and squeezed, not sure if she’d get through this presentation without bursting into tears. She needed his reassuring presence. Cadence took her mother-in-law’s hand next. “See what we’ve done inside.”
Taking Lily through the entrance, they had to duck to get through the ivies and lilies dripping over the archway. Ballerina trotted after them. Lily let out another surprised breath. “I tried to think of what flowers would bloom year round,” Cadence said, “and I finally decided that… well, all these flowers are too beautiful to be left out in the cold, and… I think that you should enjoy them always. Let them thrive… like you!”
Lily choked on a sudden sob. Cadence’s meaning was not lost on her. No matter how long it took for that donor to come through for that heart transplant, Lily had to hold on until then. They needed her too much.
Cadence hugged her. Lily’s embraces were getting weaker, but they were packed with more sweetness than belonged to any human.
“You’re an absolute gem.” Lily brushed at her watery eyes. Her son put his arms around the both of them. His strength was triple theirs. Lily let out a laugh. “Show me around this place before I become a complete watering can.”
Cadence was grateful to find a distraction from her emotions. Taking her new mother and husband around the greenhouse was a special kind of heaven in paradise. They walked through the snapdragons, peace lilies, African Kalanchoes, marigolds, sunflowers, daisies, morning glories. Each flower had its own kind of rare beauty that stood out amongst the exotic and the very simple. Cadence pointed out the one she’d been most excited to get shipped in the mail. “I found you the ‘beloved’ too.”
Lily cooed over the hybrid tea rose. Her gentle fingers hovered over the soft velvety red petals. “A little birdie told me that the ‘beloved’ is your favorite rose.” Her eyes slanted to her husband, who grinned.
His momma was beside herself with emotion. Lily closed her eyes. “Entreat me not to leave thee, or to return from following after thee,” she whispered. “For whither thou goest, I will go; and where thou lodgest, I will lodge: thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God: Where thou diest, will I die, and there will I be buried.”
Cadence stilled, trying to understand what she was saying. “What is that?”
Lily opened her eyes again, looking tired but content as she smiled over at Cadence. “One of my favorite stories in the Bible is about a woman and her daughter-in-law—Naomi and Ruth. And though I love Mimi very much, and I’m very sure that I will love all the women who my sons choose to marry, I’ve never truly understood that scripture until now.”
Cadence let out a breath. She wasn’t aware of when it had started, but she had tears dripping down her cheeks. Had she finally found the family that she’d always craved?
Giggling, Lily brushed a kiss across her face, accidentally rubbing in a few of those tears. Porter followed that with a kiss of his own.
Yes, this truly was.
She’d never felt more grateful to God.
Lily squeezed her son’s arm. “Now go pick up your brothers at the airport. I think they’ll enjoy the surprise that you have for them. I think Nash is bringing Emily, too.”
Really? Excitement thrilled through her.
Cadence had a few things she’d been dying to tell Emily. First off, her plants were alive and well, though they’d been moved to Lily’s, and secondly, Cadence would like to know when Emily had changed her number. The two weren’t even twins and they’d played a switcheroo with their lives. She still had Emily’s purse!
Lily headed inside to finish up last-minute prepping to her guest rooms while Porter walked Cadence to his truck. She heaved Ballerina up into her arms so that the little puppy could tag along. Cole passed them, a saddle hefted over his broad shoulder.
“We’re picking up Nash and Emily,” Porter said. “West, too. Want to come with?”
Cole brought his eyes to the sky. “You forgot Eva Trout.”
Cadence froze at the possible scandal that Eva’s fashionable presence would bring to the Slade household. “Who says?”
“West.” Cole’s lips pressed together. It was no secret that he disdained everything “West.” He set the saddle heavily down on its rack. “I think I’m going to hide out on the range for a while. He’s already trying to dump her off on me as her new babysitter. Who does that?”
He was right. Eva could do much better than being with a man who kept her at arm’s length. Despite her initial reluctance, Eva had actually grown on Cadence with her quick thinking and surprising bursts of affection.
