Alcohol never fixedanything anyway and it was time he stopped using it for a crutch. He had toface life and what it dealt out, head on. He slammed his hands on the steeringwheel and cursed his luck as the tears ran unheeded down his face. The outsideworld blurred as his emotions rolled between despair and acceptance.
When he calmed down,Cade opened the window to let some fresh air in and wiped his sleeve across hiseyes. Looking in the mirror, he shook his head. Not a good look, buddy, getyour shit together and move on. You made a promise, now it’s time to keep it.
There was a meeting toattend before he could go home and take control of his destiny, and he wantedit over and done with before he wavered from the path he'd finally accepted.
Cade drove to the homegrounds and made his way to the team manager’s office.
"Cade. Come in.Doc just sent the report through." Dave Dickson shook his hand and guidedhim to a seat in front of his desk. "I'm gutted for you, buddy."
"Yeah, well it'snot that unexpected, is it?" Cade let the crutches drop to the ground.
"I guess not butstill, we were hoping for better news. We need to decide what to do. You stillhave eight months to run on your contract and we will honour that money-wise,of course. I need you to work out how you want to be paid, up front or monthlyas always."
"Leave it how itis for now. I think my party days are over anyway."
"We don't want tolose you entirely, Cade. I was thinking of the mentoring scheme we’re puttingin place for schools. Would you be interested in working with us on that? Itwould only be a couple of days a month but we could sure use someone like youto help draw in the young kids with talent."
Dave looked at himexpectantly and it took Cade bare seconds to make up his mind. "To tellyou the truth, Dave, I don't think so. I'm more interested in getting involvedin the family farm. Now the old man is dead, I'm more than ready to go back tomy roots and help keep the place going for future generations. I appreciate theoffer though."
The crestfallen look onDave's face made Cade smile. He’d surprised himself walking away from the sportbut his mind was made up. Now for the next part of the plan.
***
He drove up thedriveway without the pang of disappointment he usually suffered when returninghome. The past was past and now Cade was ready for the next part of his life. Ikeep my promises, Mother. If nothing else, I've always done that.
He drove around to theold stables and parked in the same spot Kate kicked him out of the day he camehome for the funeral. When he got out of the vehicle, he threw his crutches inthe corner of the woodpile. Take that. Molly came running up to him,excited to see him back. He leaned down and rubbed his fingers around her softears, accepting the quick little licks from her. With her at his heels, healternated between hopping and walking into the kitchen.
"Home already,Cade." Essie took a tray of cookies from the oven.
"Yes, Essie. Allthe city doctors and stuff is over and done with. Now I'm home to stay. I coulduse a coffee if there's one going." He snatched a hot cookie from the trayand broke a piece off for Molly, throwing it to her as he perched on a stool.
"Kate should be insoon, so yes there is."
He looked up as thedoor slammed.
"Whose is thatdamned truck in the shed?" She glanced quickly at Cade and then awayagain, the blush rushing up her cheeks.
"It's mine,actually." He leaned on the counter and watched her take a mug from Essie.
"What happened tothe yellow chick machine?" She stood watching him with a frown on herface.
"I traded it in.Won't be needing it anymore. Doctor gave me a final report today." He tooka deep breath, determined not to let his voice waver. "No more rugby, soI've decided to honour the promise I made my mother. I'm going to be working onthe farm from now on."
Kate looked stunned,her mouth dropped open and Cade resisted the urge to go and lift it closed withhis hand cupping her cheeks while his mouth explored hers.
"About time too.Your mother waited for this day, Cade. I'm only sorry she never got to see youworking where you belong, but better late than never." Essie wiped hereyes with the corner of her apron.
"How come I didn'tknow about this?" Kate shut her mouth and poured herself a coffee.
"It was a promiseI made to her when she gave me her blessing to go and play rugby. She knew howmuch I loved the farm but the game pulled at me more at that stage. I'm home tostay."
"Um…that's…well,great actually." Kate stammered over the words and her cheeks flushed evenmore.
Cade smiled to himself.He loved how flustered she was by the news. It meant she wasn't totally immuneto him. With any luck, he’d be able to prove to her he was serious about arelationship. The Cade she knew was fantasy played out by the media andmanagement for promotional purposes. Not many people knew the real CadeWilliams, and he liked it that way.
Sure, he’d loved thedrinking and girls when he first got into the sport, but that had worn thinpretty quick. You couldn't party that hard and turn up to practice day afterday, and he’d learnt that early on. Cade had been relatively sober until hisinjury. Now he could see the writing on the wall.
"You got rid ofthe Ferrari so you could work here?" Kate approached him and placed hermug on the bench.
"Yeah, figured afour wheel drive would be more practical on the farm. You need help, Kate. Whyemploy someone else when I can do the job for you?"
She glanced pointedlyat the cast on his leg, her eyebrows raised.
"Yeah, well, thatwon't take long to heal. I'll always have a bit of a limp but hell, I doubt thecows will care about that. Did you see the four wheel bike
