Page 94 of Porter's Angel

“Hey,” Liv said, once she’d gotten herself wedged in the chair. “He’s right. Sometimes ice cream hits the spot. Just say the word, and we’ll pick some up.”

Cadence laughed. Yeah, Liv knew how to get to her funny bone. As if Cadence would send out the super pregnant lady to fetch her ice cream. Liv smiled at her.

“Can I have one too?” Pip asked.

He was too much. Cadence giggled again. “I see your angle, little guy. Real smooth.”

He shrugged and went back to the toys in the corner. Liv turned to Cadence. “Too smooth. I can’t imagine how he’ll be when he gets older.”

Hopefully, he’d be nothing like his father.

Cadence felt immediate remorse at the ungenerous thought. No, no, both of Liv’s boys were sweethearts. Pip was more like Porter than Nash anyway. And of anyone, Cadence was the one dragging Porter down. He’d never wanted to be anything like his brothers in Nashville. And yet, she’d overheard him talking to Funches about somehow enlisting West’s help.

He’d better not! West would try everything in his power to corrupt Porter if he could.

She sank back against her chair. “I’m pregnant,” Cadence blurted.

Liv’s forehead wrinkled. “Oh?”

That was a vague response. It could mean anything. Maybe Cadence shouldn’t have admitted that? Cadence was dating her former brother-in-law. Would Liv think that this baby was his? “It’s not Porter’s,” she said quickly, then squirmed. Liv would most definitely disapprove of her now. Why couldn’t mortals unwind their stupid faux pas?

Liv’s hand went to hers. “You don’t have to talk about it if you don’t want to, but I think you’re very brave.”

That wasnotthe reaction that Cadence was expecting. “You do?”

“Definitely! I know how hard it is to have a baby under difficult circumstances.” Her eyes went to Pip, but he was busy playing with the music box in the corner. Her voice lowered. “My first husband? He didn’t want me to have Charlie.”

Cadence’s jaw dropped. “But–but you were married at the time?”

“Yes, but West thought Charlie would cramp his style.”

West? Cadence thought that Liv had been married to Nash. It was West! Suddenly everything came together. Of course, that snake wouldn’t want a child.

“I’m so sorry.”

Liv let out a breath of disdain. “I thought that I knew what kind of man he was, but at that moment… I realized that I’d just imagined him to be the man that I wanted.” She shrugged. “I don’t know. Maybe I was lonely. He was really good at making me believe that I was his ‘one and only.’ Obviously, I wasn’t. He’d cheated on me multiple times.”

Liv might be talking about West, but it was like she was describing Lacy. Cadence straightened. She never would’ve imagined that Liv, of all people, could relate to her more than anyone else could. Liv seemed to be so happy now, with a husband who loved her. West’s sons called their stepfather “Dad.”

Being human was a messy process, wasn’t it? No matter how perfect someone might look on the outside, everyone had a past of grief and joy that made them who they were.

“I felt more alone with the wrong man than when I wasactuallyalone,” Liv said.

Cadence moistened her dry lips. “I understand that more than you know.” Her voice came out a whisper, but she wasn’t ashamed of sounding so fragile. Liv didn’t seem like the kind of person who looked down on anybody for their weaknesses.

“After everything that had happened to me,” Liv said, “if I could give out onepiece of advice, it would be that when you’re faced with love, make sure you find a man with the same values and goals—dare I say, a man of God?” She smiled. “It makes life so much easier.”

Cadence’s mind veered to Porter. Of course it did. He was a good guy, and yet… what had she done to be the kind of woman that he needed? If Liv was giving this same speech to him, would his thoughts go to Cadence? Her breath caught. “I don’t think I’ll get that man,” she admitted.

Liv studied her face. “Don’t settle until you do. I’d never tell you who to love, but… well, love is coming for you, and you are worthy of it.”

Worthy? Her emotions tried to escape through her eyes again. She nodded to stop herself from embarrassing herself again with her tears. “I’m not feeling that right now,” she finally managed to say through a tight throat, “but thank you for telling me that.”

“Is it okay if I hug you, too?”

Cadence wasn’t sure if she could handle another living soul showing her mercy that she’d in no way earned—she might just lose it again—but she nodded anyway. Liv squeezed her close… as much as she could. Her swollen belly got in the way. Cadence felt her love radiate to her. It warmed her to the very center.

Maybe she’d just needed a good hug from a friend all along.

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