Page 64 of Cade

“Hush. You need food. Preferably something with a lot of sugar,” I said, easing up on the last word. I hadn’t meant to sound so tense or bossy, but that was becoming more of a thing the longer I was around Weston. It was like I’d finally found my voice.

“Yes, sir,” he said with a light smile. The words warmed my very soul.

I took my time ordering us both some fruit filled croissants and coffee, and in no time we were both diving into the sweet confectionary delights and caffeine like they would heal all wounds.

“Is he going to be okay, your dad?” I asked, setting down my coffee.

Weston turned his dark eyes at me, nodding, his lips pressed in a thin line.

“Yeah. Doc thinks he’ll probably make a full recovery, but he needs to stay away from stressful situations.”

I nodded in response. “So, I guess that means he’s not visiting the old family business any time soon.”

Weston nodded. “I’m sure they’re all running around like chickens today. He only announced his retirement yesterday, it was hardly any time to get anything in order,” Weston said as he took a sip of his coffee.

“What will they do? Without a current CEO? Is there someone they’ll appoint interim, or...”

Weston shrugged. “I’m not sure, actually. But I should probably stop by at least to see if there’s something I can do to make the transition easier. You know, for everyone involved...”

I realized at that moment, maybe before Weston ever did, that despite what he said, he did care.

He didn’t think he was fit for the job, because in his eyes he wasn’t perfect. He wasn’t his father. But maybe he didn’t have to be.

Maybe all he had to be was honest, caring, and compassionate.

I reached across the table, taking his hand. He didn’t jump or shift. Instead, he squeezed my fingers as he interlaced his with mine.

“We’re going to get through this, you know. You’re going to get through this,” I said, forcing him to meet my gaze. Weston’s eyes looked a little glassy, as if he was on the verge of tears.

I would have wiped every one away if he needed me to.

“I don’t know if I can do this,” he said, breaking my gaze.

Though my own insecurities threatened to rise up at his words, I knew he wasn’t talking about us.

Weston was feeling overwhelmed, anxious, and lost. And I knew a thing or two about feeling like that.

“You can. I know you can. And you don’t have to do it alone,” I promised him. He seemed to process my words, nodding slowly as he chewed on them.

“Okay,” he said shakily.

I squeezed his hand for good measure. “Okay,” I said, letting go.

CHAPTER 36

Weston

I stood In the front foyer of Rhodes Enterprises, feeling more nervous than I’d ever been before.

Not because I knew the employees inside were probably scrambling and trying to get things smoothed out between all that had happened—the announcement, the fundraiser stuff, the hiring process and postings, the day to day operations of Rhodes.

My father had plenty of people underneath him who he trusted to man the fort while he was gone on vacation or off in another state or something on business, but this was like every employee’s nightmare. The boss drops a bombshell, then disappears and there’s no instructions or nothing in place to keep things running smoothly.

But still, I just felt like it was the right thing to do.

I’d never seen my dad look so... unlike himself. Pale, a little frail, and like he was exhausted. Not just from his job, but from life.

My mother assured me everything would be fine, to her best ability. Though her puffy, red eyes told me she was just as worried and concerned as I was.

---