His heart took another hit. He’d thought their marriage was based on trust and honesty. In her grief Jessie must have forgotten that. Why couldn’t she have trusted him to understand about her part in the marriage arrangement? Why couldn’t she trust him?
It took everything in him not to find the number of the orphanage and call. Since Jessie didn’t want to talk to him or see him, he’d respect her wishes. But he had to show her how much he loved her and there was only one way.
He reached for paper and a pen. Placing it in front of him, he began to write.
THE DAYS PASSED QUICKLY for Jessie. She had ironing down to a fine art. The children’s clothes were cotton and she went after wrinkles with a vengeance. Her time was getting better than the older girls. While she worked she didn’t have an opportunity to brood. She was busy.
Her favorite thing was taking long walks. There were no towering trees like in Texas but the maritime pines and cypresses were lovely. All the people she met on her strolls were friendly yelling, “Ciao,” or “Buonasera.” She’d nod and keep walking. In the distance she could see rows and rows of vineyards. The area was very hilly and rocky. Sitting on a rock, she gazed at the blue water of the Tiber River and soaked up the ambience of this ancient place.
As always, her thoughts turned to Cadde and she wondered if they were still married. Had he signed the divorce papers? She stared at her platinum wedding band and couldn’t bring herself to remove it. She’d tried to force him to love her but she’d found that love couldn’t be forced. It had to be there from the start. And Cadde had never loved her. He loved Shilah—not her. The loss of their child had made her realize the truth.
Maybe she had to come to this place for her penance, like Margaret and Teresa. She’d learned that Margaret had been raped by a gang member and he’d attempted to stab her to death. Bleeding severely she’d made it to a church and a priest had taken her to a hospital. From there the priest had found her a place to live, with an elderly Catholic couple. Margaret had attended church every day and when she graduated high school, she’d joined a convent.
Teresa’s life had been riddled with turmoil, too. She had been a stripper like Angela, got into prostitution and drugs. While she was on drugs she had an abortion. When she’d sobered up in a jail cell and realized the horror of what she’d done, she’d called Margaret for help. Now her life was devoted to the children no one wanted.
Everyone made mistakes and her parents had made huge ones. Jessie found the strength to forgive because she was no better. Manipulation was not a part of love.
IN MID-JANUARY, KID WALKED into the living room and threw his hat across the room. “Hot damn, Cadde, I have great news. The well came in big, better than we ever dreamed, oil and gas. You were right. Roscoe held on to those leases for a reason. Cadde, do you hear me?”
Cadde rubbed his hands together. “That’s good.”
“What? Why aren’t you jumping up and down? Oh, crap, you still have that damn tree up. Cadde, come on, snap out of it.”
“I have something to tell you.”
“Cadde, are you listening to me? The Louisiana well came in big.”
“I heard you the first time. Now listen to me.
“What?”
“I resigned as CEO of Shilah.”
“What the hell?”
“I’ve appointed you and Chance as interim CEOs until the board meets the first week in February.”
“I’m not working for anybody else, Cadde. I’ll tell you that right now.”
“You’d be the boss.”
“I’m not working for myself, either. There’s only one person to lead Shilah and that’s you.”
Cadde stood. “Please try to understand I have to do this. I have to prove to Jessie she means more to me than that oil company.”
“Dammit, Cadde.”
“I know you and Chance can run the company. You’ve been doing it for weeks. Don’t let Hooter and the board hire some yahoo who’ll run Shilah into the ground. Fight to remain CEOs, but it’s up to you.”
“Have you told Chance?”
“I’ll call him as soon as you leave.”
Kid picked up his hat from the floor. “I don’t understand this. The oil business has always been your dream.”
“Not anymore.”
Kid placed his hat on his head. “Okay, you want us to fight. We’ll fight. Hell, the Hardin boys do that better than anyone.”
“Barbara will hand in my resignation at the board meeting. It will be the first order of business. If you want control, be there. If not…it’s up to you and Chance.”