Fiona and Henry Stone had fallen in love when they’d been ten. Or so his mother had always claimed. Shortly after graduating from school, his father had entered the Marines. It had been rough on his childhood, always traveling and living different places. Not to mention having his father gone most of the time. When the man returned, they never knew which version they’d get—the loving, caring husband and father, or the soldier who jumped and lashed out at any little transgression. Then shortly after Cade’s tenth birthday, he’d been killed, and his mother had returned to Cannon Falls with her two young boys.
His mother hadn’t changed at all over the years, or so he felt. Her once-long dark hair was now cut in a shorter style. She still worked out twice a week at the local gym and did yoga with his gran three times a week in Gran’s garden.
Where Reggie had taken after their mother in the looks department, Cade was all their father’s side of the family.
Growing up, he’d never really thought about the fact that he looked like his dad and uncle. But since returning home, it was sort of strange to see just how he’d look in twenty years. All he had to do was look at his uncle, Sean.
Some people in town confused them for one another. Of course, Sean had more grey hair and was usually in his police cruiser and uniform.
“This is a surprise,” his mother said, setting down a book she’d been reading when he stepped into the house.
Louie and Bentley, his mother’s French bulldogs, rustled over to greet him.
“Sorry, guys, Blue’s at Gran’s place,” he told the two brothers as he petted them. “Sorry to drop in on you like this.”
His mother waved him away and stood up to hug him. “It’s no problem. How about some tea? I was just sitting down, trying to recover from my yoga class. I swear my mother is trying to kill me.”
He chuckled. “You’ve been saying that for years and yet you still do yoga with her three times a week,” he pointed out as he sat down on one of the barstools to watch her put together some tea and the cookies that he knew she always had after yoga.
“I’ve got a date tonight,” he blurted out.
“Oh?” His mother stopped mid-stride. “With whom?”
“Raven Brooks,” he answered, hoping to rip the bandage off quickly so it wouldn’t sting his mother so much.
“That’s nice,” his mother surprised him by saying before returning to her task.
“That’s all you have to say?” he asked after a moment.
“Mom mentioned that you’d invited her to dinner last night,” his mother said over her shoulder. “I haven’t seen her around town yet and was thinking I would stop by the resort to say hello.”
“She kicked her uncle out today.” He looked down at his hands as they fisted. “I walked in on the man grabbing and threatening her this morning.”
“Was she okay?” His mother looked worried.
“Yeah,” he sighed. “It appears that the man has spent the last ten years stealing from the resort. Him and Morgan Roche.”
His mother moved over to stand directly across from him. “I never did like that woman. When she moved into town, I just knew there was something about her.” She shook her head. “Has Raven talked to your uncle about this yet?”
“No.” He shook his head. “I was hoping to talk to him about it myself. Raven claims that since most likely the money is all gone, it’s not worth it.”
“That’s bull.” His mother set the plate of cookies in front of him.
Since he was still hungry, he grabbed one and bit into it.
“It’s not my decision,” he added with a shrug.
“Does she have proof?” his mother asked, walking over and taking the kettle off the stove.
“I’m not sure. It sounds like her parents’ old accountant found some discrepancies. I don’t know if it’s proof.” He shrugged as she set a mug in front of him. Dipping another cookie into the tea, he finished, “She left a message for the man.”
“And kicked her uncle out. What about Roslyn? Liza and Cal?”
“She’s told them they can stay. For now,” he answered.
His mother’s eyes ran over him. “So, you asked her out?”
He nodded. “Does it bother you?”
“What?” His mother looked a little surprised. “Why would it?” When he shrugged and took another bite of cookie, she continued. “Do you think I pay any attention to the gossip that’s been going around town all these years?”
He nodded. “If the rumors are true, Raven is the reason Reggie and so many others are gone. The reason you lost your home, the reason so many others lost everything.”
“Son, if I paid attention to rumors, I would have never married your father.” She smiled. “If all rumors going around Cannon Falls were true, Sean is your father, not Henry.”
“What?” He set his teacup down a little hard and some of the amber liquid splashed out. “Who says that?”
His mother laughed. “See, we shouldn’t put any stock in rumors.” She motioned with her cookie. “Oh, and there’s one that your gran is a lesbian.” She laughed. “Gran loves that one. She claims that if she’d found anyone to put up with her after grandpa Burt died, she wouldn’t have cared what gender they were.”
He smiled. “I see what you mean.” He sighed. “So, you don’t think that Raven had anything to do with the fire?”
His mother grew silent and tilted her head slightly. “Whatever that girl and Reggie were doing out in the woods that night, I doubt it was their plan to start a fire that would wipe out Cannon Falls. Sometimes young people do stupid things. If I blame her, then I have to put some of that blame on Reggie. You have to ask yourself what kind of person Raven is now. Gran mentioned that Raven has spent the last ten years in counseling. That for the first five years after, she was on antidepressants. Now, I don’t know much about her since she’s returned, but I know that she’s hired a lot of good people. Put them back to work again. Not to mention that when the resort opens back up this winter, she’s going to bring a lot of tourists back into town. That’s a good thing. It means that Cannon Falls finally has a chance to recover. Ten years later. And it’s all because of her.”
“Yeah,” he agreed. He’d known all of that. Had thought the same thing. But somehow hearing it from his mother made it resonate. “I guess that’s why I asked her out.”
His mother smiled again and laid a hand over his. “You are an excellent judge of character. You deserve to be happy. Don’t let rumors stop you from finding happiness. I didn’t.” She sighed. “Now, where are you going to take her for dinner?”
Chapter Nine
Better a small fire that warms you than a big one that burns you. ~ French Proverb
Why in the hell had she agreed to go to dinner with Cade again? She’d had dinner with him last night, and lunch earlier. Okay, technically, she’d had lunch with him and her cousins, but still. That counted. Right?
The only reason she was standing in front of the bathroom mirror, trying on yet another outfit, was because she’d had a moment of weakness looking into his sexy brown eyes.