Page 25 of Finding Forever

Kenny

I’ll be there. Not sure Smith can make it Will ask.

Thanks, Gid. Fern and I will be there.

Nox

So is there space at the table for one more do you think?

The question must have surprised his siblings as much as it did Cade because for a very long moment the screen remained blank. He blinked back moisture and swallowed down a surge of emotion at the thought of seeing Nox again after such a long absence—as soon as tomorrow. They’d known he was in the province, of course, but Cade hadn’t even considered that he could be just a short drive away, for God’s sake. Cade was about to reply when Gideon beat him to it.

Gideon

Always, brother. Always.

None of them said anything after that—as if they were all as afraid as Cade that the fragile peace would shatter if they dared type another word—and the conversation ended on that note.

Cade pocketed his phone and pressed the heels of his hands into his eyes.

“Cade?” The soft voice coming from behind him, startled him and he jumped a little before jerking his head around to meet his wife’s concerned gaze. She’d changed into another one of those unimaginative skirt and blouse combos, and he recalled her admitting that she hadn’t even been allowed to choose her own clothes.

“Are you okay?” she asked, her lovely eyes soft with concern.

“Uh… yes. I’m fine.”

“You should come in and change into some dry clothes, it’s freezing and damp out here. Breakfast will be done in about ten minutes.”

“Right.” He nodded curtly, impatient with himself for having retreated to the wet patio in the first place. He had a perfectly serviceable—dry and warm—study. It was only day one and it already felt like this damned marriage was starting to strip him of his common-sense.

Chapter

Seven

“You’re not eating,” Cade said.

He’d nearly finished most of his flapjacks and bacon before noticing that Fern was only picking at her breakfast.

Fern lifted her shoulders self-consciously as she tucked a strand of hair that had escaped from her long, sloppy braid behind her ear

“I’m not very hungry,” she confessed, taking a sip of orange juice in the hopes that it would settle her stomach which had started acting up again. That was a mistake and she felt herself battling to retain her composure as her stomach instantly rebelled against the minute amount of liquid she’d swallowed.

Cade lowered his fork in alarm and stiffened.

“Jesus Christ, you look like death warmed over, what’s wrong?”

Fern shook her head and then clamped a hand over her mouth as the movement sent a wave of nausea surging upward from her belly. She groaned helplessly and leaped to her feet, swaying a little before she found her equilibrium and fled to her room. She barely made it in time, slamming the en-suitedoor behind her seconds before she knelt in front of the commode and made her offering to the porcelain god of all things wretched.

The door opened a scant minute later, but by that time Fern had already emptied the measly contents of her stomach and was rinsing the horrid taste from her mouth with some mouthwash.

Cade stood framed in the doorway, looking grim and uncertain.

“I’m sorry,” she whispered, voice absolutely miserable, and his mouth thinned.

“What the hell was that?” He was all growly and a little menacing. Fern didn’t know why that voice gave her such a thrill, but she barely stopped herself from quivering at the sound of it.

“Morning sickness,” she explained, patting her mouth dry with a face towel. “It’s unpredictable but I’m luckier than most.”

“How was thatlucky?” he questioned, somehow sounding even more growly and menacing than before.

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