Chapter Nine
Chapter One
It’d been a mild winter so far in Palo Pinto County, Texas, and this February afternoon the sun was once again shining, and the sky over the small ranch house was a cloudless swathe of pale blue.
The weatherman had said the unseasonably mild temperatures and dry conditions were supposed to hold through the weekend, which was a good thing as Rachel James’s childhood friend Mia Jenkins was getting married tomorrow, and while the party tent might be heated and fully protected from the elements, no one liked slogging through muddy or slushy gardens in formal wear. Not the bride or the guests or the cake baker.
And Rachel was both a guest and the cake baker.
“What do you think?” Rachel asked as Mia swirled a finger across the frosting-covered spatula before popping her finger in her mouth.
Mia sighed, rolling her eyes with pleasure. “Yum. Heavenly. Melt-in-your-mouth buttercream with just the right amount of vanilla. How come my frosting never tastes this good?”
“Because you probably worry about the amount of sugar and butter in your icing. I don’t.” Rachel crossed her arms over her chest, creasing her white apron, feeling ridiculously pleased with herself as she studied the tiered wedding cake, all four layers swagged with delicate swells and scallops of icing that resembled Belgium lace. “You like the cake?”
“I love my cake. It’s beyond gorgeous, and you know it, so stop fishing for compliments.”
Rachel grinned and gathered the stainless-steel bowls, carrying them to the kitchen sink. As she turned the faucet on, her gaze lifted to the window and the view beyond. The kitchen window overlooked the small, fenced backyard, which seemed even smaller right now with the mountain of cardboard boxes stacked next to the detached garage. Her smile faded as she looked at the boxes. She’d been packing for weeks, was nearly done. Just had bedrooms and the kitchen stuff left to pack, and now that Mia’s wedding cake was finished, Rachel could box up all of her baking things.
“Can’t believe you’re moving,” Mia said, joining her at the sink and getting a glimpse of the U-Haul moving boxes outside.
Rachel made a soft, inarticulate sound as she turned the tap off. “Can’t believe I lost Grandma’s house. She’d die if she knew.”
“Maybe it’s a good thing she’s already dead, then,” Mia said drily.
“That’s horrible!” Rachel spluttered, reaching for a dish towel, uncertain if she should laugh or cry or both.
“It is, but it’s the truth.”
For a moment Rachel struggled to speak and then she blurted, “Today would have been her birthday. I’ve been thinking about her all day.”
“Oh, Rachel! I know you still miss her so much.”
“I do. I really do.”
Mia wrapped an arm around Rachel’s shoulder and gave it a squeeze. “But knowing your grandmother, she would have been beside herself if she realized what she did to you, deferring her property taxes all those years.”
For a moment Rachel let herself relax into the hug. It was so rare that she revealed weakness, so rare that she took comfort from anyone, but she needed the hug right now. It was brutal losing her home, but she wasn’t the only one this had happened to, and she wasn’t going to cry over spilled milk. What happened had happened, and there was nothing she could do about it but move forward and have a good attitude.
Gently, Rachel disengaged from the hug. “It’s not Grandma’s fault. I knew money was tight and yet I let her help us...she was always giving to us, trying to help me with bills. I should have asked her where the money was coming from.”
“She probably wouldn’t have told you, though. She loved Tommy so much. Loved having the two of you with her.”
Mia was right about that, Rachel thought. Grandma loved having family around. She always said family gave life meaning.
Mia looked anxious. “You’re really okay moving while we’re gone?”
“Have a moving company and everything. I’m good. And you shouldn’t be worrying about us. You’re getting married tomorrow. This is about you right now.”
“But I hate your new apartment complex. It’s awful—”
“It’s fine. And it’s cheap, as well as close to Tommy’s sitter.”
“I wish I’d had the money to help you.”
“Mia, stop.”
Mia nibbled on her thumb. “I can name a half-dozen folks right now who would have helped you if you’d asked—”
“Not going to impose on people. This is my problem. Not theirs.”
“But they’re your friends—”
“And I appreciate them, but I’m not going to ask for handouts.”
“It’d be a loan, Rachel.”
“A loan I can’t pay back.” Rachel shot her a dark look. “Cakes pay basic bills, but they won’t make me rich.” Peeling off her apron, she glanced at the clock on the old kitchen stove. “Isn’t your rehearsal starting at four?”
Mia checked her watch and shrieked. “It’s almost four already, and I haven’t picked up the bridesmaids’ dresses or the shoes, and I still have a twenty-five minute drive—”
“Don’t panic,” Rachel answered, rushing with her to the front door, “and don’t drive crazy. You’ll get there, and you’re the bride. No one’s going anywhere,” she added, swinging open the front door.
“You’re the best, Rache.” Mia took a step and then froze on the doorstep. “Cade?” Mia squeaked, eyes widening with surprise.
Rachel glanced past Mia to the tall cowboy on the porch, and the air caught in her throat.
Cade.
Cade.
Her heart stuttered, staggered, and she blinked, certain he’d disappear, certain he was an apparition. But even after blinking twice, he was still there, one hand hooked on his massive silver belt buckle, and a bouquet of yellow roses in the other, six-two without his boots and cowboy hat, and even taller wearing both. He was wearing both.
“Hello, darlin’,” he said. “Mia,” he added, giving Rachel’s friend a nod.
Mia blushed. “Long time no see.”
“It’s been a while,” he agreed, his tone grave.
Rachel could only stare at him as she dragged air into her lungs, hating the bittersweet pain that
