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Steven smiled at his partner, “Yes, we received confirmation. We should have the marble by the end of the week.”
“Fat lot of good it’s going to do us without a stonemason to get it set into place. I’ll have to catch up to you at the office Steve. I have a few phone calls to make.”
Steven regained his feet and nodded. “We meet with the Sunset Groves people at ten.”
Cade threw back the last of his coffee and grabbed for a piece of now cold toast before heading back to his bedroom to finish dressing. He racked his brain for names of any stonemasons he might still know from his earlier years. He set down the toast on his desk and pulled open a drawer. He shifted the papers around until he found the little book he was looking for. He sat and looked through the pages flipping back and forth until he found a number and picked up his cell from the charger.
“Ryan? It’s Cade Harden. Good, good and yourself?” he listened, “Wow, well congratulations. Ryan, I was calling because I need a marble guy... No, I understand.” he sighed softly, “Do you have any buddies that are looking for work. It’s three months at least.” Cade scribbled a couple of names and phone numbers down. “No, no need to apologize, honeymoon and all. Thanks for the references. And again congratulations.”
Cade put his head in his hands and frowned. He didn’t know either of the two men Ryan had named, but beggars couldn’t be choosers. The longer the job took the less money he’d make. He tapped the first number into his phone.
***
Noelle stretched in her bed feeling lazy. She had a couple of hours until her sister would arrive and there really wasn’t much to do so she was enjoying a quiet Saturday morning. She really couldn’t remember the last time she had gotten to sleep in. It certainly felt like it had been years. Precious jumped up onto the bed and walked up the length of her body.
“Good morning pretty girl,” Noelle cooed at the cat. In response, the creamy longhaired Siamese rubbed her face against Noelle’s chin. “That tickles,” she laughed, nuzzling her cat back. “Shall we have some breakfast?” She moved Precious and pushed the covers down, setting her feet on the hardwood floor. “Brrr!” She shrugged on her heavy bathrobe and slippers. That was better. It was February in upstate Utah and definitely still winter. She maneuvered her way around boxes and bags into the kitchen. She filled the teakettle full of water and set it on the stove to heat then went to the refrigerator to pull out some eggs.
Precious mewed at her feet, reaching up to bat at the robe tie that dangled in front of her nose. “I’ve not forgotten you sweetheart. Just a minute.”
Noelle pulled a can of soft cat food from the cupboard along with a special dish. Once the food bowl touched the floor, Precious began to purr loudly in appreciation. Noelle smiled and stroked her back before setting about making her own breakfast.
She retrieved the newspaper from the front porch and sat down to read it with her tea and French toast. For the first time in a great while, she felt content. If only this could continue, but the real world would intrude soon enough. She needed a job and a new place to live. She had a little savings left but very little. She turned to the classified ads in the paper and started looking for work.
Noelle had worked many office jobs since she was a teen so clerical work would be a piece of cake. There were several different places looking and a couple of temp agencies in the city looking for people as well. She thought about the degree in English that she had been working on and sighed. School seemed a distant memory and she wasn’t even sure how many of the credits she had already taken would still apply. Certainly the programs had been updated a couple of times in the last six years.
She folded the paper up neatly with the classifieds still open and set the paper aside to finish her breakfast. She glanced at the clock and realized her sister could be arriving any time and she was still in her pajamas. She rinsed the dishes and headed in to shower and dress. She was just pulling an old t-shirt over her head when the doorbell rang.
“Come on in, it’s open,” she hollered as she ran a brush through her dark brown locks and pulled them up into a tail high on her head. “Mom had several boxes of pictures that never made it into albums, so I’m not really sure what to do with them,” she began as she walked out into the living room and stopped short.
“You did say to come in,” Cade grinned at her. She continued to look at him with confusion on her face. “You said that you had some furniture to donate for the church rec room, last time we spoke, remember?”
“Oh geez Cade, of course, I’m sorry. My head must be screwed around backwards. I had completely forgotten you said you’d come by. Any of the furniture you see is up from grabs.” Noelle felt flustered and started moving boxes out of the way. Not so much because of the state of the house but because being in his presence was so intoxicating that it made her uncomfortable. He had a way of making her feel like she was that same freshman girl with a crush all over again.
Cade watched the woman in front of him. He had known her since they were kids. Since she had moved back to Ogden to take care of her mother, Cade had only run into a handful of times including the night of his ten year high school reunion two years ago. He hadn’t ever been able to put that night out of his mind. She had been so different, confident, and beautiful. He’d tried to forget about her but it seemed impossible. He’d even asked her out a couple of times but she had turned him down citing that her mother needed her to be close and she didn’t have time. Cade often wondered if she was trying to let him down easy, though he couldn’t understand why. Well, no time like the present to find out, he supposed. This time he intended on asking her out until she gave in and said yes.
“I really just came by to see what you had, so I’d know how many of the guys to bring by tomorrow afternoon,” he said as he leaned against the door jam. He was enjoying the way the Pilates pants she was wearing hugged her hips and thighs as she bent to pick up another box. “I was also wondering if you’d be interested in having dinner with me tonight.”
Noelle’s heart slammed suddenly into her chest. She liked Cade. She always had. In fact, the schoolgirl crush she had on him in high school had never fully gone away. If anything, it had only turned more adult since she had seen him at the reunion. He was a good-looking jock type in high school having played football. He still had the physique. Strong rugged good looks and a well-toned gracefully athletic frame made him look like a model out of Cosmopolitan magazine. He’d asked her out before and she’d turned him down because she was embarrassed that he had such an effect on her. Sure, she was attracted to him but he made her feel like a gawky teenager. He was way out of her league, but here he was again leaning against her doorframe making the living room look small in comparison and asking her to dinner. She’d dreamt about the Cade for months after the reunion, so part of her brain screamed, ‘YES, FOR THE LOVE OF GOD, YES!’ She didn’t have time for a relationship right now. She had to get her life in order and back on track.
“Well, hello there stranger!” Del called through the screen door as she spotted Cade.
Noelle spun and looked guiltily at her sister. Somehow feeling like she was betraying Del, by even talking to Cade. She shook off the feeling, realizing it was ridiculous. Her sister was a happily married woman with kids.
“It’s good to see you as well Delphinia. You look more beautiful than ever. Motherhood suits you.” Cade smiled and gave her a gentle hug.
“I see your charm has not diminished over time,” Del teased. “What brings you to this side of town?”
“Cade came by to see what furniture of Mom’s the church might be able to use,” Noelle interjected.
“Oh, lovely. It will be nice to know some of her things will have some good use,” Del answered sounding uncomfortable.
There was an awkward pause in the conversation while Noelle did anything but look at Cade. She knew he was waiting for an answer.
Del picked up on the awkwardness and gave her sister a quizzical look. She turned
back to Cade. “Has my sister offered you anything to drink?”
Cade looked from one sister to the other. Three years separated them in age. While Del had the figure of a mother with full flared hips and breasts, her sister was slim and almost boyish in her t-shirt and pants. They were both beautiful women in very different ways. Had he only just met them, he would not suspect that they were sisters at all. He looked to Noelle again, raising his eyebrows with expectancy. She ducked his gaze. “No, but I can’t stay. I have a new mason coming in this morning that I need to show around the site. Shall I pick you up around seven Noelle?” he asked pointedly.
Noelle wanted to groan. She’d seen Del’s eyebrows shoot up in surprise and Cade was making it impossible to turn him down. Not that she really wanted to but overall she just didn’t think it was a good time. “Sure, why not. I suppose a night out could be fun,” she heard herself saying as her heart tried to pound out of her chest.
“Alright,” he smiled taking her breath away. “I’ll be back then. It was good to see you Del.”
“You too Cade,” Del replied not taking her eyes from Noelle’s face. She waited until she heard Cade’s truck pull out of the driveway. “Okay spill!”
“What?” Noelle asked feeling frantic. She had a date with Cade Harden, and her heart wouldn’t settle down as she repeated that to herself a dozen times.
“Don’t what me Elle. You are dating Cade Harden? When did this happen?”
“I’m not dating him. He just asked me out. Does it bother you? Cause if it does I’ll call him and cancel.” Noelle dropped onto the couch with a sigh. “It’s weird right? Me going out with your old high school boyfriend?”
“Good Heavens, why would it bother me? We dated eons ago and I’m married remember?” Del laughed.
“Still...”
“Noelle, you are a grown woman with needs. Something, dear sister, you have ignored for far too long. Go out and have fun tonight. He is an intelligent, financially independent man and sexy as hell, go for it!” Dell gave her a playful shove. “Oh! Wait... What are you going to wear?”
“Wear? Geez.” This was getting to be overwhelming.
Del looked thoughtful, “How much stuff do we need to go through today? I have an idea.”
Noelle led the way into what had been their mother’s bedroom. All it held now was a couple of kitchen chairs, a half dozen boxes and a hope chest. Her sister seemed to physically relax once she entered the room. “I couldn’t handle seeing her bed empty in here. It was the first thing to go.”
Del sat with a sigh and sifted through the loose pictures. Most of them were Polaroids. She laughed aloud and pointed to the picture. “Do you remember this one? You and I were what… maybe six and nine? You wanted to be Belle from Beauty and the Beast for Halloween and I went as the Beast. We got so much candy that year. Mom made both our costumes…” Del paused tears springing to her eyes. “I’m sorry Elle. I haven’t been a good sister.”
Noelle smiled kindly at Del. “Do you hear me complaining? I know it was hard for you with Mom. The important thing is that you came to say goodbye. I know that meant more to her than anything. She loved you Del and forgave you a long time ago. It may have taken a while but I have too.”
Tears were flowing freely down both the sister’s cheeks. Noelle got up and found a box of tissue for them both. She leaned over and hugged her sister as the wall of grief between them crumbled. They cried together for a while sorting through various pictures. “Do you recognize any of these people?” Del asked turning them over. The backs were blank.
“I already sorted them into the ones where I knew people and the ones I didn’t. Mom wasn’t very good about labeling. I left those for you to look through; I thought that maybe you might recognize a few. We should have updated her to the digital age years ago.”
Del laughed dabbing the last of the tears from her eyes. She shuffled through them, chuckling at some of the contents. “I say throw the lot of them, who’s going to miss them?”
Noelle shrugged, thinking about her mother. She didn’t like the idea of throwing out any pictures of her mother regardless of who was in them, there were just so many. “Set them is the box in the corner, then.”
The women spent the next couple of hours marking boxes with relatives’ names and sorting through knick knacks and memorabilia sometimes stopping to relive a happy memory sometimes to cry a bit more. Finally, everything was sorted down into a keep and a discard box.
“I’m ready for a break, how about you?” Del asked, getting up and heading to the kitchen.
Noelle nodded and followed. She poured both of them a fresh mug of coffee. “So, tell me sister dear, what’s this idea you have for my date?”
CHAPTER THREE
Noelle stood in front of the mirror in her bedroom.
“See, what did I tell you?” Del commented with a grin. “Beautiful. I wish I had your legs little sister.”
Noelle laughed, “Yours are nothing to scoff at either Del.” She turned slightly making the flared skirt of the dress Del had insisted she needed to buy, swirl softly just above her knees. It was rich burgundy chiffon with a vee neckline and faux ties on each shoulder strap. The color brought out the color in her cheeks. It wrapped snuggly around her waist giving her slim frame a more curvy appearance. Del had taken her to have her nails and hair done as well. She felt amazing. It’d had been a long time since she had dressed up for anything.
“Are you going to be all right on your own until he gets here?” Del asked.
“Of course, it’s just a date. I used to go on them all the time.” She waved her sister off. “Kiss the boys for me when you get home.” She followed her sister out to the door. “Thank you for your help today.” Noelle leaned in and gave her sister a warm hug.
“I’m glad I could do something to help Elle. Call me tomorrow?”
Noelle nodded as she closed the door. Alone in the house amid half-packed boxes and her mother’s things, she began to have doubts about going out with Cade tonight. What did she expect to come of any of this? She didn’t have anything to offer anyone right now. No income, no place to call her own and not in the position to say she would have either problem fixed in the immediate future. Today was supposed to be about getting organized and moving forward toward her own life and instead she spent the majority of it getting gussied up for a date with a man she’s lusted after in high school. She was sorely tempted to give Cade a call and cancel. Precious rubbed up against her bare ankles.
“What do you think love? Should I call him?” She asked the cat. Precious meowed at her and walked off toward the bedroom. “Well, that was helpful,” she muttered and then laughed softly at herself. “I’m already dressed up, I guess, no use putting it to waste.” Besides Del wouldn’t let me live it down if I don’t go.
***
Cade was excited. There was no other word for it. He had made reservations for one of his favorite places and had bought flowers. He ran a comb through his loose waving dark brown hair. He looked at his watch for the third time in as many minutes and decided it was time to head out. He locked up the house and chose against his truck in the garage opting for the SUV instead. He shrugged into his coat and climbed into the vehicle. It was an hour and twenty-minute drive to her house and then an hour back into the city for dinner. He plugged in his playlist for the evening and backed out of the garage. Being later in the evening, it was already dark and traffic was light. The moon was out shimmering off the snow and making the evening seem like something out of a movie.
As he pulled up to her house, he felt a tremor of anticipation run through his body. He hoped that she would be impressed by his choice of restaurant. He killed the engine and grabbed the pale yellow roses from the passenger seat. The porch light flickered to life, as he climbed out of the SUV and onto the sidewalk. The evening was crisp and cold against the skin, but he felt comfortably warm already. He couldn’t keep his mind from thoughts of Noelle. They had been tormenting him all day.
“You look beautiful,” he commented softly as he looked at her from head to toe. “These are for you.” He handed her the roses.
“Thank you, they are gorgeous.” She looked toward the kitchen trying to remember if she had a vase to put them in. “I’ll just put these in water and then we can go.”
“I talked to some of the boys, would three work tomorrow to pick up the furniture?” Cade called into the kitchen.
Noelle walked out with a vase and the flowers and set them on the crowded coffee table. She pulled the roses from their bundle and slid them into the water. “I don’t see why not. I’ll make sure to have a good sized path cleared,” she smiled up at him.
“Ready?” he asked feeling his heart leap into his throat when she smiled at him. In a t-shirt and exercise pants he had found her beautiful, in this dress with her chestnut brown hair falling in waves around her face, she was devastating. He helped her into her coat and held the door open for her making sure it was locked behind them. He opened the door to the SUV and helped her up into the seat admiring her legs briefly, as she climbed in, before shutting the door.