Page 112 of Second Chance at Sunshine Inn

She nodded, and an awkward silence stretched between them.

Then he took a deep breath.Here goes nothing.

“I’d like to invite Declan and Stephanie to join us for supper Thursday. I’m going to tell them they can stay at the inn for a few days, so we can get to know them.”

She shook her head with emphasis. “No, Cade.”

“Mom—”

“No,” she said, more forcefully this time. “I’m-I’m still not ready.”

He worked to hold back his anger. “When will you be ready?”

“I don’t know.” She picked up a pen and rolled it between her fingers. “Maybe Christmas, but not now. Not yet.”

He studied her. Frustration and confusion rained down on him.

She threw her hands up. “It’s too soon, Cade.” Her words faltered. “I can’t do it.”

He leaned forward. “Mom, can you explain to me why you’ve chosen to cut your firstborn out of your life like this? Because I just can’t understand it.”

Her desk phone rang, and she jumped with a start. “I need to get this.” She picked up the phone. “Crafty Creations, this is Trisha.” As she listened, she covered the receiver with her hand and addressed Cade. “I’ll see you Thursday at the inn. Text your dad the details.”

Cade watched her, but she focused on the edge of her desk, avoiding his eyes. After a few moments of listening to her discuss providing arts and crafts kits for a day care, he gave up and retreated to his truck.

He sat in the driver’s seat and stared down at his phone. His plan of inviting his brother and sister-in-law to join him for Thanksgiving had gone up in smoke, just like his plan to buy out the inn. But he couldn’t give up the dream of having his brother, sister-in-law, and future niece or nephew in his life.

After unlocking his phone, he dialed Declan’s number and hoped his brother would answer.

“Cade,” Declan said. “Hi.”

Cade moved his free hand over the cool dashboard. “Hey, Declan. I was going to invite you and Stephanie to come for Thanksgiving, but when I mentioned it to Mom...”

“Let me guess,” Declan began. “She said no.”

Cade slumped back on the worn bench seat. “I’m sorry, man.”

“It’s not your fault, Cade. She’s just not ready to talk to me.”

“I’ll keep working on her.” Cade rubbed his forehead as an idea gripped his mind. “Give me a couple of days, and I’ll get back to you. Just promise me you won’t give up hope yet.”

Declan chuckled. “Hope is all I have at this point.”

After he hung up, Cade started his truck. He had an idea that might finally bring his family together, and he couldn’t wait to put his plan into action.

Chapter 27

Everleigh stood in front of the full-length mirror in her suite and examined her reflection. She almost didn’t recognize herself. Since Mom always insisted they dress up for holidays, she’d pulled on her little black dress and heels. Her hair fell in curls past her shoulders, and minimal makeup highlighted her eyes. She was much more comfortable in jeans, a hoodie, and a pair of Converse sneakers, but she couldn’t let her mother down.

After swiping gloss over her lips, she shouldered her purse and headed out into the hallway. As her shoes clicked along the hardwoods, the delicious aroma of roasting turkey permeated her senses and made her stomach gurgle. When she reached the kitchen she stopped in the doorway, and her eyes roved over Cade standing at the counter with his back to her.

Hello, snug-fitting jeans. And oh, how that black T-shirt stretches over that muscular back and those arms...

He turned toward her, and heat crawled up her neck to her cheeks.Did I say any of that out loud?

His eyes widened, then returned to their normal size. “Hi,” he said.

“Happy Thanksgiving,” she managed to say.

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