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“Your father was very handsome. And this is definitely our mother,” Maddie mused, staring at the photo Asha had handed her. “She looks happy.”
“I like to think they were very happy,” Asha told Maddie.
Maddie leaned back on the bed, stretching her back. “She had a difficult life. I hope she was happy in the end.”
“You’re not bitter about her giving you and Max up?” Asha questioned, wondering how Maddie could sound so sincere about wishing her mother happiness.
“No. Not anymore. I have Sam, and I’m happier than I could ever have dreamed I would be. Whatever happened, I like to think she did it to give Max and me a better life. Maybe she had no choice.” Her hand went protectively to her belly, rubbing it absently. “How my life is now makes up for any unhappiness I had in my earlier life. We’re having babies, and I have a brother and sister now. I don’t have any regrets. I have a wonderful future to look forward to. Everything that happened has led me to this wonderful life and Sam.”
Maddie was glowing, and Asha knew it wasn’t just from the pregnancy.Thatwas the look of supreme happiness, and Mia had the same glow. Did loving a good man really make a woman this happy? Sadly, Asha was fairly certain she’d never know.
“These are really fantastic,” Mia squealed, flipping through the photos of Asha’s work.
Maddie leaned over to look at the photos with Mia, their heads close together while they perused the pictures. “No wonder Kade wants you to put some life into this house. Your designs will add a lot of warmth to this place.”
Asha smiled as the two women eagerly tried to wheedle an appointment for themselves. Maddie wanted her nursery done, and Mia wanted her workshop wall decorated, saying she’d love the inspiration. She wondered if they really meant it, or if they were just being polite. Still, she was happily flustered that they seemed to like her work.
“Food’s done,” Kade yelled impatiently from the bottom of the stairs.
The women rose to their feet. Mia went ahead, as though she were already eager to see her husband’s face again. Maddie lingered, handing Asha back her picture of her parents. She gathered the pictures of her work that Mia had left on the dresser and put them all back in her bag.
“Asha…are you really okay staying with Kade?” Maddie asked, concerned. “I want you with me and my home is always open if you want to stay with Sam and me. You need some time to get on your feet after your divorce.”
“Do you think it’s inappropriate for me to stay with him?” Asha asked hesitantly. She was a single woman. Kade was a single man. Maybe it wasn’t such a good idea. But the thought of leaving Kade right now wasn’t a comfortable one. He’d taken care of her while she was sick, and although he unsettled her at times, she liked being near him. And she trusted him.
“Of course it’s not inappropriate. You’re both single adults. I just want to make sure you’re comfortable. I saw the way Kade was looking at you. I think he’s already getting…uh…attached.” Maddie looked like she wanted to say something else, but she looked at Asha solemnly.
“I’m fine here,” she answered, relieved that she wouldn’t have to leave Kade so soon. “And he’s just being…nice.”
“Bullshit. Kade’s protective of you, possessive. I think he’s been bitten by the caveman bug,” Maddie said emphatically.
“Caveman bug?” Asha answered in a confused tone.
Maddie grimaced. “The alpha-male-pounding-on-his-chest syndrome. He’s starting to care about you, Asha.”
Lowering her head, she replied weakly, “Don’t worry. I won’t get attached to him. I know he’s way out of my league.”
Maddie grasped her shoulders and shook her lightly. “Nobody is out of your league. I’m just warning you that he’s not just being nice. Believe me, I know the Tarzan look starting to emerge. I have to admit that it surprised me. I’ve never seen this side of Kade.”
Asha looked into Maddie’s hazel eyes, and saw that they were warm with affection. She swallowed hard and answered honestly, “Maddie…I’m homeless, I’m poor, and I never even went to college. What use would Kade Harrison have for me other than to paint his walls?” Okay, maybe he wanted to have sex with her, but Asha didn’t think there was anything more to his attention than that. Not really.
“I was poor when I met Sam again. I was deep into student loans, and I didn’t have a penny to spare because I wanted to run a free clinic. None of that matters if you’re supposed to be together. You’re talented and brave; you’re a survivor. Don’t ever think you’re not good enough.” Maddie let her hands drop to her side and raised a brow at Asha. “You like him.”
“Who wouldn’t?” Asha said, giving Maddie a small smile. “He’s handsome, smart, sweet, and he wears gorgeous shirts.”
“Oh, God. You like his shirts? That’s not good,” Maddie mumbled.
“What was his girlfriend like? I think she hurt him,” Asha asked, unable to stop herself.
“She was a grade A bitch,” Maddie answered angrily. “When Kade was a star quarterback, he was larger than life. Sam says he was one of the best quarterbacks of our generation. He could have had any woman that he wanted, but he stayed faithful for years to a woman who didn’t want anything except his celebrity status to enhance her modeling career. She dumped him in a hurry when he couldn’t help her visibility in fashionable circles anymore. He’s a good man. I don’t think any of us ever understood why he stayed with her. Maybe it was habit, or maybe he didn’t know anything else. Losing his career and getting dumped because he wasn’t perfect anymore probably did a number on his self-esteem. He already came from the same screwed-up background that Mia did. He didn’t deserve what happened to him.”
“Was his childhood bad?” Asha asked tentatively, knowing it was none of her business, but still wanting to know. Kade didn’t talk about his childhood. He spoke about his family, but most of the events he shared were recent.
Maddie snorted. “Bad? His childhood makes ours look like paradise. His father was a mental case who drank. Kade, Mia, and Travis were all pretty badly abused. Then one day, his father killed their mother and then shot himself. It was a major scandal and a stigma that still comes up now and then. It’s been a hard incident to shake for all of them.”
Asha’s chest ached, almost as if she were able to feel the pain of Kade’s past. There was silence as a speaking glance passed between her and Maddie, a moment of silent communication where each knew what the other was thinking: Life wasn’t fair, and sometimes really bad things happened to good people.
Finally, Asha said timidly, “Maddie?”