Page 62 of Finding Forever

So why was he hovering? Why didn’t he justleave?

“I think it’s a good idea to invite Beth and Gideon over for dinner.”

God, so much had changed in the short amount of time since she’d made that suggestion that she now regretted even considering it. Having the other couple here as witnesses to the debacle that was this marriage, just felt sad and depressing now.

Her heart sank at the prospect of getting closer to Beth andGideon, of befriending them when she knew full well that Cade would be the one to “keep” them in the divorce. It didn’t seem worth the heartache.

Cade was right, it was best to keep things impersonal. And that meant keeping his family at a distance as well. Since she was going to lose them all anyway.

She made a noncommittal noise, not wanting to get into it right now when she was so low on energy.

His piercing eyes narrowed on her face.

“What’s that sound supposed to mean?” he asked and she blinked up at him owlishly.

“It meanswe’ll see.”

He looked set to challenge her on that but she smothered a yawn and his eyes softened.

“You’re tired. Get some sleep, okay?”

“Soon as you leave,” she said pointedly, her words slurring slightly. She could barely keep her eyes open and she even swayed on her feet as she fought back another yawn.

God, she’d never before tired this easily. The pregnancy was certainly doing a number on her energy levels.

“Right. Shout if you need anything.”

She refrained from responding and after another uncharacteristic hesitation, Cade swiveled on his heel and strode from the room. Fern happily indulged her petty side by slamming the door behind him and then—exhaustion weighing her down—eyed her pile of shopping before shaking her head, and tugging her clothes off.

She needed sleep more urgently than anything else and—feeling half comatose already—she tugged on aSilent HillT-shirt before crawling beneath the covers of her still unmade bed. She curled up beneath them with an exhausted sigh and tugged the comforter over her head.

She was asleep in seconds.

Cade watchedin concern as Fern listlessly poked her way through her salad, picking out croutons and pineapple, which she washed down with thirsty gulps of water, while leaving everything else uneaten.

The past three days, since her shopping trip with Beth, had been strained to say the least. He barely saw her around the apartment as she did her best impression of a ghost once again. She didn’t speak to him unless she needed to and though he knew she was merely trying to respecthisdecree that they keep things impersonal, it was becoming harder and harder to rationalize that path of action in the face of her misery and obvious loneliness.

Maybe it wouldn’t be so bad for them to have a more civil relationship. Anything was better than seeing her so… so fuckingsad. They were out to dinner; at a restaurant she’d mentioned in passing that she’d always wanted to visit. In a desperate ploy to get some kind of reaction from her, he’d secured a booking and surprised her with this dinner tonight.

He’d informed the restaurant of Fern’s peanut allergy upfront, telephonically, by email,andby text, but he was still concerned. What if some incompetent arsehole hadn’t gotten the message and they added a peanut based ingredient?

The thought chilled his blood. But he’d deemed it worth the risk if it meant seeing her eyes light up in happy surprise.

Only, she’d barely reacted.

Now they sat in silence, still on the entrees, and Cade awkwardly cast about for something to say, while the rest of their meal stretched endlessly ahead of them.

“What did you do today?” He’d spent most of the day at their Cape Town branch troubleshooting an unforeseen emergency. It had been his first full day away from her.

“Caught an Uber to Camps Bay and walked on the beach abit,” she intoned, in that awful lifeless voice she’d been using since Friday.

He didn’t like the thought of her roaming about in public alone, but decided to let that go for now. Best to pick his battles and he had bigger fish to fry tonight.

“Have you spoken to Beth?”

She shook her head, keeping her eyes on her plate.

“I told Gideon and the rest about your pregnancy,” he said. He’d sent the news in the group text just the day before. His siblings’ reactions had been pretty much on par with what he’d expected. Disbelief then relentless teasing. He’d asked them to keep it from their father for now.

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