Rooney gave him a wobbly smile before answering. "I promise. We have a lot to talk about. What we all want to do about moving here. I can't let the property go to anyone else, Russ. I want to be responsible for keeping the folks’ legacy alive, even if everything Father did wasn't my idea of how things should be. Mother worked hard to keep this a family home. I want it to stay that way. At least for now."
Russ kept hold of her hand and walked with her over to the gate where Tory stood patiently, watching the two of them like a hawk.
Tory reached for her and Rooney fell into his arms with a soft sigh. He ran his hand over her pale blonde hair before kissing her cheek. "Okay now?"
"Yeah, I think so. I needed to do that." She turned to Russ. "Thanks. You still have the knack of rescuing me."
"Well, what can I say? You've always brought out the maternal side in me. How about we go down to the house and have a quiet drink, see how Cade is going?"
Rooney laughed and Russ smiled. "Cade will be making love to his bottle of whiskey for the rest of the night, I should think. But I need to speak to Essie anyway and see if she needs some help with clearing up or dealing with all the food the neighbours have so kindly brought over."
"When are you going to tell her, Rooney?" They both knew the housekeeper would take the news hard. She considered herself their second mother and would take it personally that she wasn't told of the pregnancy.
"I guess now is as good a time as any. May as well get it over and done with and tell everyone, since I have to go back tomorrow anyway."
They strolled back to the house together.
Kate walked from her cottage as they came through the gate. "Rooney, I've been dying to catch up with you." She held her arms out and they hugged. "Sorry about your father."
"Yeah, thanks." Rooney let her gaze travel over her childhood friend. Kate had grown into a beautiful young woman and she told her so, watching the blush race over her freckle-dusted cheeks.
"I have some news to share with the family. I think you should be in on this conversation too. You and I were always so close." She sighed with relief when Kate nodded.
"Of course, if you think I should be there, I will. Want me to get Cade for you?" Did Kate still have a case of hero worship for Cade? She had it pretty bad when we were kids. I wonder if this is an excuse to go looking for him? No, Kate was only being helpful. Surely, she'd outgrown the childhood crush?
"Thanks. If we could all meet in the front room, I think that would be best." Tory laid his hand on Rooney’s shoulder and smiled encouragingly at her. He knew how hard this was for her, and she was grateful for his unconditional support.
They walked into the kitchen together.
"Essie, can we have you in the front room for a meeting please? I have some things I need to say to the family, and that includes you," Rooney said.
The housekeeper looked up with a worried look on her face. She wiped her hands on her apron and reached back to undo the ties, letting it fall undone. Lifting it over her head, she walked towards the hallway, the apron still clutched in her hands.
Tory, Rooney and Russ followed her. Rooney could hear Cade's voice before they got to the front of the house. "Come on Katie, don't be such a snob. Have a drink with me later."
Kate walked from the front veranda inside the house, meeting them in the hallway. She grinned, giving Rooney a wink before she walked into the front room, her arm across Essie's shoulders.
Chapter 11
Cade tried to lift himself from the low cane chair and struggled. The amount of alcohol he had drunk to numb his brain was playing havoc on his legs. He laughed at himself and counted under his breath before pushing himself up with his hands on the arm of the chair. "Fucking yeah, I'm the man." He lumbered on heavy feet to the front door and leaned on the frame to watch the procession into the formal sitting room. He cursed, and with his bottle of whiskey in his hand, followed them.
He stumbled over the edge of the Persian carpet, laughing as he hobbled to the nearest chair without his crutches.
"You shouldn't be trying to walk like that," Russ hurried to grab his arm.
Cade brushed him away and stood tall. "Leave me alone, Doctor. I know what I'm doing." He grinned and turned around, before letting himself fall backwards into the large comfy armchair. "See, I didn't spill a drop." He raised the bottle to his lips and took a deep drink of the honey gold liquid, ignoring the looks he got from his siblings.
Kate took a chair opposite, her gaze blank as she watched him. Man, she's hot and damned if I won't have her in my bed before I go back to the city. She wants me, I know it. He figured by now she knew how to play the game. She'd make him sweat first but she'd give in eventually and he couldn't wait to have her body underneath him naked and panting.
Cade toasted her silently, grinning when she turned away.
"I have something to tell you all, actually a couple of things." Rooney stood in front of the fire and twisted her hands. She glanced around them all before locking gazes with Tory. He smiled and nodded his head.
Cade dipped his finger in the
