Cade walked over, grabbed them and headed to the garden. He pushed open the wrought iron gate with Molly by his heels, and walked into his mother’s favourite outdoor space. Roses, right, but which one was the favourite? This should be easier than it is. He looked around the wild collection of vegetables, herbs and flowers his mother planted in a fashion only she could understand.
"You look a little bit lost, brother." Rooney walked up the driveway flanked by Stevie and Tam.
"Yeah, you could say that. Hey, which are Mum’s favourite roses?"
She walked to the gate and wandered in, a serene smile on her face. "You don't know? I'm ashamed of you. Those," she pointed to the same pink flower planted by their parents graves. "What's going on, Cade."
"I need some for Kate." He looked up at the knowing smile on her face. "Don't even start, Rooney. It's dinner."
"Sure, you say that now but I happen to know it's more than that for both of you." She watched him hack at the rose bush a couple of times before taking the cutters from him. "Let me." Rooney cut a bunch of roses and pruned the stems leaving them clear from thorns and leaves. "Now let's add some light green foliage to really make them stand out."
Cade watched her step over, cut a few fern fronds and place them around the roses. He glanced over at Stevie who was staring at her with a besotted look on his face.
She came back and held them out for him. "Here you go. Just so you know, if you hurt her, you'll have me to deal with." Rooney gave him her death stare and Cade sighed.
"I have no plan to hurt her. If anything, I’ll be the one coming home wounded."
Her eyes opened in surprise. "Oh, wow, so little Kate has got to you at last. I'm pleased, Cade. She is a lovely girl." She held her hand over her eyes, shading her face from the setting sun.
Cade reached out and grabbed her hand. "What is this?" He glanced over at Stevie, standing with a satisfied smile on his face.
"This beautiful thing? It's an engagement ring. Stevie popped the question again and I said yes." She threw her arms around Cade's neck, a squeal piercing the air and he managed to hold the flowers out of her way.
With one hand, he grasped her tight. "I'm really pleased for you guys. Congratulations, Stevie. Hoped you would become one of us sooner or later."
Tam ran through the gate and held out her hand, proudly showing off her ring. "Look what Daddy gave me, Uncle Cade."
He crouched down and took her hand inspecting it seriously. "You are one lucky girl, Squirt. Congratulations, all of you."
"Now we just have to work on you and Russ." Rooney tilted her head and smiled.
"Whoa, not so fast girl. It's dinner, okay. Nobody mention the 'm' word for a bit." He gave a fake shudder and grinned at his sister. The thought of being tied to Kate wasn't as scary as he would have her believe. It had a nice gentle feel to it and the more he thought about it, the cosier it became. Almost like coming home.
"Somehow I don't think you will have much luck with Russ. He’s too damned conservative for his own good." Cade shook his head, sad for his brother. He couldn’t understand someone so set in their ways they’d refuse to fight for what they wanted.
"Don't worry about Russ." Stevie crossed his arms and nodded his head. "He’s on the right track."
Cade and Rooney looked at him waiting for more, but he wasn't forthcoming.
"Well, well. That will be interesting—getting information from Big Brother." Rooney winked and laughed, taking her daughter’s hand. "Let's go and get you bathed ready for dinner, young lady. Daddy and I need an early night. I'm feeling just a little bit shattered with all this excitement."
Cade watched the blush rush up his sister’s cheeks and smiled at Stevie. It looked like they had a few things to catch up on. He hoped against hope that he would get lucky tonight too and thought about slipping a couple of condoms into his pocket. Worth a go, but he wasn't going to push her and risk blowing the whole relationship thing if she thought he was treating her like a groupie.
"Thanks for the help." They all walked inside and Cade hung up the secateurs and placed the roses in the sink while he ran upstairs. Slipping a couple of condoms in his back pocket, he wiped his hands on a towel.
Normally, his palms wouldn't sweat but the closer he got to going over to Kate's cottage, the more nervous he got. He splashed on his favourite cologne and ran downstairs.
Essie had tied his roses with twine and brown paper, and held them out as he came into the kitchen. "Thanks, Essie, they look great."
"Welcome. Don't forget the wine in the fridge. Have a good night, Cade." She winked at him and he stared at her.
"Yeah, sure. Thanks." That felt weird.
Cade got the bottle of champagne, walked out the door and bent down to talk to Molly. "I need you to stay here, girl. Stupid cat is scared of you." He patted her on the back and walked over the lawn to Kate's, the nerves in his gut churning.
* * *
The knock on the door made Kate jump and she dropped the spoon, letting it fall into the gravy. "Shit." She had never been this affected by nerves before. She didn't know if it was because she was worried about doing the right thing or how she was going to stop herself jumping his bones as soon as he walked in the door. Grabbing a fork, she lifted it
