When Cade's mother was still alive, she had shared memories of her younger self and the friends she had. Irene and Mila were as thick as thieves, as her mother would say. Nothing had hindered their friendship, even after their marriages, until Cade's father had changed his attitude toward everyone around him. Although her mother would never admit it, she was lonely.
The older woman brushed a hair off Cade's face. "You look just like your mother. She was so beautiful. All the guys would go ga-ga over her. But she was shy and kind. Her mother hated it when we were together. She said I was a bad influence on her daughter." Cade listened to Irene's hearty laugh. When the laughter died down, Irene reached for the glass of water on the table. "Would you like something to eat? Their sandwiches are good."
Cade shook her head. "No, thank you. Irene, if you don't mind, I'd like to know why you're here with me today."
Irene rubbed her wrinkled and pale fingers together. She produced photographs and laid them out on the table. Cade's hands shook while her fingers hovered over the pictures with colours faded through the years. She picked one up of a girl in her late teens whose hair was a similar length and colour to hers. The girl looked right at her, with blue eyes that rivalled the clearest ocean. It was her mother. If she couldn't tell by her features, Cade could certainly tell from the way she smiled.
"Did you know that your mother was supposed to join the convent?" Once again, Irene laughed at a memory that Cade waited for her to share. "Then she met your father. She was done for. I knew it right away." She looked over the photos and handed one to Cadence. "He was very handsome too. All the girls thought so, not me, of course. I got my eye on one man. Noah and your father were inseparable too. They were best friends, like me and your mother. We would go on dates together." Irene gave her another photograph.
She was looking at her parents, possibly in their twenties, both with shy smiles on their faces. Her mother wore a yellow and white floral dress, while her father had his uniform on. He was dashing, and she could see why someone like her mother would be attracted to him. He carried himself a certain way, with a mixture of quiet confidence and charm. But most of all, he seemed happy. What had happened to this man?
"We were all so carefree."
Cade continued to peruse the photos, asking Irene for information or waiting for the older woman to talk about the event when the picture was captured. Why had she never seen these photographs before? She assumed that her grandmother would have copies of them. They showed wonderful times. Happier times. Times when her father wasn't such a hateful man. Could it be true? Could the birth of his only daughter have caused his despair?
She regarded Irene, unsure of how she could formulate the questions she had been waiting to ask. Was this the right time? Was she the right person to ask? Cade's heart thundered in her chest. She readied herself for the answers.
Chapter Seventeen
Harley glanced at the digital clock on the bedside table. She had one chance to get away with her plans. What she needed was a distraction.
Flicking the TV on, she searched for something intriguing. What would someone like Penny want to watch? Harley looked to her right to find her new bodyguard browsing a destination magazine she'd found on the hotel desk. She wasn't a bad bodyguard. In fact, Harley thought her pleasant and enjoyed her quiet company. But she was nothing like Cade, and Harley missed Cade so much.
She bit down on her bottom lip so she didn't pout, or sigh, or give Penny any clue of what she was feeling, Harley found what she was looking for. International news. Yes, Penny might be the type to watch it with interest. What's going on with the world?
Harley left it on and turned up the volume. The newscaster's voice filled the room. Sure enough, Penny looked up, eyes glued on the screen. She adjusted her position in the grey club chair to get a better view of the TV.
The mental clock in Harley's head was ticking along with the tapping of a finger on her arm. With another surreptitious glance to where Penny was seated, Harley decided to go for phase two.
Off the bed and heading to the door, Harley paused as Penny asked, "Where are you going, kiddo?"
Harley turned to her and offered a polite smile. "I'm gonna get a snack from my father's suite. Do you want anything?" In her mind, she was hoping her plan would work. She had never given Penny doubts that she would pull something like this.