“Listen,” I start because Cade would sit here silent forever if I let him. “I’m sorry about the radio thing. I know it puts you in a shitty position with your friends and the kids at school.”
I get nothing in return. He stares out to the back of the house.
“And it was irresponsible for me to get caught on the high school grounds. I should’ve been more discreet. I apologize for those two things—although one is out of my control, you can blame your gr—” I stop, not wanting to make this about her.
Still he says nothing.
“I also understand your issues with Jed, but you’re a good quarterback too. And whether or not you play quarterback doesn’t matter in the whole scheme of your life.”
His head whips in my direction. That got his attention. “How can you say that? You played, your cousin Jeff played, Grandpa played. And now I’ll be the one who doesn’t.”
“You are playing, Cade, and what did me playing quarterback in high school get me? I took over my dad’s business.”
He sits up straighter and looks me in the eye for the first time in weeks. “Imagine another contractor came into this town and stole your clients and everyone bragged about how great he is compared to you.”
My shoulders fall. I nod, understanding his point. “Gotcha. But all of that has nothing to do with Marla and me.”
“Except that Jed is her son. And the kids are already saying shit about you two after you did the concession stand and went for pizza a couple of times after the games.”
“And how does Jed handle it?”
“He makes jokes like he doesn’t care. He calls me “cuz” in the hall.”
I had a feeling Jed’s personality was similar to his dad’s, but I’m not sure if it’s an act or whether it really doesn’t bother him.
I look toward the kitchen and back at Cade. “After your mom died, I didn’t think I would ever find another woman I could be happy with. Hell, I didn’t even think I’d date. I was so concerned with you guys and getting you through the loss of your mom that it was the farthest thing from my mind. Marla and I never dated in high school, but we did become good friends and I did have feelings for her then. When she came back to town, it felt like there might be something there. I wanted to explore if that feeling was still there.”
“And?”
“It is. I probably went about this the wrong way. But at the same time, I’m not apologizing for falling in love with an amazing woman. At some point, a parent has to live their own life, and if I thought she would be any kind of detriment to you guys, we wouldn’t be together. Have you thought about Chevelle or Adam or even Xavier? They’re young. Maybe having a woman in their lives would be good for them. Especially Chevelle.”
“Are you going to marry her?”
I would never admit to him that I can see Marla and me married at some point. Not yet anyway. That would make me seem crazy. “We’re not there yet. But I am in love with her.”
He rolls his eyes and sighs, allowing his body to sink into the couch.
“You don’t have to be okay with this, but you will treat Marla with respect when you’re around her. You have a choice, Cade, to accept it or not, but I will not allow you to be cruel to her or her kids. Do you understand?”
He nods.
I stand to allow him to think about what he wants to do. I’m just about to leave the room when he calls out to me. I turn to face him.
“Can you at least just not kiss her and stuff in public?”
I chuckle. “I’ll try not to.”
He stands and breaks the distance with his head down. “I just miss Mom.”
I put my arm around my oldest son. “Me too.”
We walk into the kitchen. Just like when Laurie died, step by step we’ll get to where we need to be. If I learned anything from losing my wife, it was that you can come back from almost anything.
Things are normalish in both Greene households since Chip decided to listen to two senior citizens about spreading gossip on the local radio station. Of course, a few jerks like to call us “kissing cousins” as a joke, but for the most part, people seem fine with Hank and me dating. We’re out as a couple in public, holding hands, being affectionate, and having dates. It’s a great feeling not to be hiding anymore. The younger Greenes are enjoying having other kids their own age to play with—with the exception of our two oldest boys.
I’m in the kitchen on a Friday afternoon, getting together some salad dressings. Two Brothers and an Egg offered to add them to the lunch menu. It’s a small start, but a start all the same.
My phone rings and I press the speaker button, not bothering to look at who’s calling. “Hello?”
“What the hell, Mar? You’re dating our cousin?”
Jeff. I’m kind of surprised it’s taken him this long to hear about it. Then again, he doesn’t know anyone in Sunrise Bay. At least no one he keeps in touch with.
“Clarification. I’m dating your cousin.”
“I always knew you had a thing for him.” He disregards my comment because that’s what he does. “I think I’m gonna come take Jed and bring him down here. His high school coach came to me the other night and said they need him for the finals. You know that team is going to state.”
I try to rein in my temper. The last thing I want to do is make him angry. Through all our years of marriage, I learned to walk the tightrope. “And
