Page 125 of Second Chance at Sunshine Inn

She walked over to him and pointed to the planter he’d finished over the weekend when he couldn’t sleep. “That’s really nice.”

“Thanks.” He nodded at the second stool. “Have a seat.”

They sat in awkward silence for several moments, and he waited for her to share the reason for her visit.

She finally took a deep breath and said, “I’m sorry for keeping your brother’s existence a secret.” Her eyes glistened with tears. “The truth is, that time of my life was too painful for me to revisit.”

The anguish in his mother’s face sent grief spiraling through Cade.

“When I met Declan’s father, I was young. Very young. I thought I was in love, and when I found out I was pregnant, I believed he’d marry me. A happily ever after.” She sniffed. “As soon as I told himthe news, he took off, and I never heard from him again. I tried to find him, but I couldn’t.”

Cade reached over and touched her hand, hoping to offer her comfort.

“My parents were very disappointed in me.” She paused and then shook her head. “Actually, that’s an incredible understatement. They were more than disappointed. They were furious, and so... they disowned me.”

“What?” He stared at her. “I thought they died when you were young. Is that why your grandmother raised you? Because your parents gave you up?”

“That was another lie. My parents didn’t die until you were about two years old.”

His thoughts spun. “I-I don’t understand, Mom.”

She paused and licked her lips. “They threw me out, and I had no choice but to move in with my grandmother. She lived on a fixed income and had very little money, which meant the only choice I had was to give my baby—Declan—up for adoption.”

Cade tried to comprehend this. “So your folks threw you out, you gave him up for adoption, and you stayed with your grandmother?”

She nodded.

“And what did your parents do?”

“I told you, Cade. They disowned me. We never spoke again.” She moved her hands down the thighs of her jeans. “I lost everything when I got pregnant. My parents, my boyfriend, and my friends since I had to move from Charlotte to Wilmington to be with my grandmother. I’m so grateful that she took me in. She was all I had. Then she passed away shortly after I married your father.”

Cade once again felt as if his world had tilted. “I am so sorry you went through that.” He hesitated and tried to take it all in.

Then guilt raised its ugly head and tangled up his insides. He’dassumed the worst about her when she had endured something too painful to comprehend. “Mom, I... I completely misjudged you.”

She gave him a sad smile. “It’s not your fault, honey. You only knew what I’d told you. I’m sorry I never shared the truth with you.”

She dipped her chin and moved her thumb through a small pile of sawdust on his workbench. “I was so devastated that I promised myself that I would just pretend my past didn’t happen. That was how I dealt with it—I stuffed it down deep inside myself. When I met your father, I was cautious. I was scared, really, that he’d leave me too.” Regret seemed to crease her face. “Your poor dad had to prove himself over and over before I finally agreed to marry him.” She patted Cade’s arm. “He’s one patient man.”

Cade sniffed.

“I never told your father about my ex or my baby or the truth about my parents either. That wasn’t fair to him or you, but I didn’t have the tools to deal with it. I still don’t think I do, actually. I closed myself off, thinking that would protect me from more hurt, but I know now that was a mistake.”

Cade nodded. “That had to be so difficult for you, Mom.” He touched her hand again. “And I’m sorry for everything I’ve said. I can’t imagine going through life without you and Dad.”

The grief etched on her face squeezed his heart. “Seeing Declan brought back all the pain and grief I thought I’d buried.” She wiped the back of her hand over her eyes. “I was too much of a coward to face it all, so I pushed him away.”

He swallowed as his throat began to close up.

“That was the wrong response.” She frowned. “Cade, I see that now. But it took losing you before I could see how wrong I was.” She pulled in a shuddering breath.

Cade dabbed at his own tears with the hem of his T-shirt.

“You’ve opened my eyes, son.” Her words sounded thick. “You’veforced me to come to terms with my past, and you’ve helped me see the truth. By rejecting Declan, I was being just as cruel, heartless, and callous as my own parents, and I never,everwant to be like them. I don’t want to inflict that pain on my sons.” Her expression became fierce despite the tears streaming down her cheeks. “They wounded me so badly, and I could never forgive myself if I did that to you or your brother.”

Cade wiped his face with a clean shop rag and handed one to his mom.

“I reached out to Declan,” she continued. “He’s agreed to give me a second chance, and I couldn’t be more thankful. I want to know him and his wife.” Her lip trembled. “And I want to know my first grandchild.”

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