Page 92 of A Jilted Bride for the Cowboy

“The very same.”

Cadence bit her lip and looked up at Graham. “Is it absolutely terrible of me to be happy for them? At least, no one will expect me to get back with Paul now. Even my parents will have to give it up for a lost cause.”

“I thought they’d stopped harassing you about him.” Graham frowned.

“Kind of? But only because I could stop responding to texts or abruptly end a phone call if his name came up. I’ll be their captive audience for the next ten days, so I’ve been bracing myself.”

Graham toyed with her fingers and watched the city flow by as they drove south. He wouldn’t let the circumstances change his timeline, but it sure was a temptation.

No. He had a plan, and he was sticking to it.

* * *

One of the few remnants of Mom’s Icelandic upbringing was celebrating Christmas on the 24th with Jolabokaflod, loosely translatable into English as joyous book flood. Cadence had dragged Graham into more bookstores than she could count trying to find the right titles to gift her parents. Dad was always up for the newest political thriller, while Mom pretended not be a reader.

After much deliberation, Cadence picked a devotional for her mother. She’d taken her time decision-making mostly to keep an eye on where Graham seemed to be most interested. Could she complain about the fact that her adorable boyfriend focused on helping her buy gifts for her parents without leaving her side?

But on their long evenings reading in his duplex over the past few months, she’d noted his preferred genres and even series. And now she could sneak off and pick up the newest one for him, hoping against hope he hadn’t already snagged it, and she hadn’t been observant enough to notice.

He’d be arriving any minute for their family evening. Even though he’d come and gone over the past few days, she’d never see him at the door without remembering him with water dripping off his body that June evening. Thank the Lord Graham had come and saved her from a nasty fate. Also, she should pray for Dahlia, though it seemed like maybe she and Paul were two of a kind and deserved each other.

“You don’t need to watch the door.” Mom stood across the foyer, arms crossed. “He’ll get here when he gets here.”

“I know, but I can’t wait to see him again.” And kiss him.

“You were out with him this morning.”

“I love him so much, I can hardly stand it.” Cadence studied her mother. Should she go for it? “Like you love Daddy. I know you miss each other when you’re apart.”

They’d been separated for three months while Mom was in rehab this fall. Cadence could only hope and pray the therapy had been successful, because she’d read the relapse rate was high.

Mom sighed. “Well, I can’t stop you from it, I suppose. At least he’s rich.”

“That’s the least of the reasons I love him.” Although it didn’t hurt. “He’s funny. He’s kind. He’s smart.”

“That’s nice. I just wish…” Mom pursed her lips.

Not this again. “I think you know that Paul and I were never right for each other. And I know that whole debacle forced you to face your gambling addiction—”

“We don’t talk about it.”

Cadence straightened her back. “But we should, because hiding problems isn’t healthy.”

“Now you think you’re smarter than your parents.”

“I didn’t say that.” But it did make her worry about how long her mom could hold out. At least they wouldn’t lose the house next time her mom bet big. Cadence had thought about signing it over to her dad, but not if they were keeping secrets together. Then neither could be trusted. Her gut twisted.

The chime sounded, and she pivoted back to open the door. Oh, man, her beloved looked good even in his urban duds. They couldn’t cover the dark curls or his sparkling blue eyes or his lean physique. “Graham!”

“Happy Jolabokaflod, sweetheart.” He kissed her lightly, caressing her with his gaze, before turning to her mother. “Happy Jolabokaflod, Mrs. Foster.”

“Same to you, Graham. Please come in.”

Bless Mom. She was trying to accept Cadence’s choice. Possibly only because Paul was marrying Dahlia in a few days.

Graham entered the foyer before setting down two enormous shopping bags.

Cadence took his coat as he toed off his boots. Those bags looked mighty large — to say nothing of light — for a few books. And what she wanted for Christmas this year was smaller even than a hardback.

---