Page 43 of Taking A Chance

“Cade, I…”

“I know,” I interrupt her, something I wouldn’t get away with in court. “We’ve hardly spent any time together. We still have a lot to find out about each other, but I want this, Petra. I’ve been an absolute jackass since you put a stop to us. I’ve been drifting, lost even, but I want to be grounded. I want you and Viktoria to be in my life, permanently.”

“Cade…”,

“Look, I’m going to take Viktoria over there,” I point to the small vendor’s cart selling sodas and ice-creams. “Get her an ice-cream, give you a chance to, well think about what I’ve just said. Do you want anything?” She shakes her head in response. “Okay. Come on sweetheart,” I stand, holding Viktoria tightly in my arms and walk over to the vendor, leaving before Petra even gets the chance to reject me again. The thought that she will, well, it damn near kills me.

I wipe the tears from my face with the back of my hand, as I watch Cade carry Viktoria. Her arm wraps around his neck and she looks straight at him, a toothy grin on her face. She’s absolutely fascinated by him.

With his head turns towards her, I can see his mouth moving as he chats to her, a definitive lift to the corners as he smiles. Even at this distance, I can see the light in his eyes that can only be described as adoration. The profound and powerful connection between them does not elude me. In fact, it provokes yet more inarguable feelings towards him.

Viktoria does her usual giggle and wiggle, but this time Cade is ready for it, and keeps a firm hold.

Shit, shit, shit. Looks like I’m not the only one he’s bewitched, with his American cowboy good looks and irresistible charm.

Cade hands over an ice cream cone that’s way too big for Viktoria’s tiny little hands, so he folds his hand around hers to give it support. When she puts her mouth to the creamy topping, she wrinkles her nose as the coldness hits her lips. A white blob now decorates the tip of her nose and Cade uses his thumb to wipe it away. As Viktoria licks one side of the cone, Cade licks at the other. I’m guessing to control the already dripping liquid that’s threatening to hit his shirt, rather than his own need for ice-cream.

While watching, the unprecedented interaction between the two of them pierces me. A knot in my stomach starts off small, only to become bigger and bigger, slowly rising into my chest. A consuming sense of remorse saturates my very being. I hold it in as tight as I can, but the barriers are unstable. The wall begins to crumble.

Cade puts Viktoria back into the pushchair, a large smear of ice-cream across the shoulder of his jacket. Bending, he fiddles about for what seems like a lifetime, strapping Viktoria in securely. I know I should help, but I’m frozen to the spot. I hear the click of the catch before Cade stands upright before me.

“I’m so sorry, Cade,” the words a little mumble between the sobs and uncontrollable tears. “I’m so fucking sorry.”

“Hey, hey,” he comes to me and this time when he touches me, I fall into him. His arms envelope me and instantly I feel his warmth seep into my very soul. “What’s all this?”

“I’ve been such a bitch. I was wrong to keep this from you.” I try to control the body shakes that I’m having, but my emotional defences have come crashing down. “I’m so sorry. I thought it was for the best, truly I did.”

“I can’t believe it didn’t get back to me through Amy.” The way his hand runs across my back is soothing, but my emotions still rage on.

“Amy doesn’t know. Kat has known for a while. She guessed something was up, and eventually, with her persistent and annoying questioning, she eventually got it out of me. I made her swear on the life of Ronald McDonald not to tell anyone.”

“That’s strange,” he utters to himself.

“Why? Because Ronald McDonald’s not even real? Shh! Don’t tell Kat that.” I give him a weak smile.

“No, not that,” he smiles back, both of our moods lightening a little from my weak attempt at humour.

“What is?” I look up at him, my tears subsiding.

“Isaac. He was very adamant that I should get on that plane to come here. Especially after he’d just come off the phone with Amy.” The corner of his mouth turns up at one side. “Your secret might be already out.”

“Oh my God, Cade. What if everyone knows that I’ve had a baby, your baby?”

“Is that such a bad thing?” I don’t miss the hurt look that cloaks his face.

“Sleeping with the boss’s brother? Getting pregnant with him within a matter of hours?” I pull away from his protective embrace. “I know exactly what people will think. They’ll think that I did it to trap you, that I’m a gold-digger.”

“Let them,” he sniggers as he pulls me back against his firm body. “Petra, you kept it a secret, from me, from everyone. If you had been trying to entrap me, then you would have been shouting it loud and proud, not struggling to get through it, all by yourself.”

“I have my mum.”

“And your mum is wonderful. But I almost wish you had been out to trap me because I would have undoubtedly won you over, got you to fall helplessly in love with me.” He gives me one of his cocky smiles.

“You’re so full of yourself.” I slap his chest with my hand, but he catches and holds it there. I’m unable to hide a gentle smile. “Cade, I’m…”

“Shh!” his finger across my lips stops me from finishing what I’m about to say. I tilt my head up towards him, looking into his eyes, I see the heat building within them. When he pulls me even closer, face to face, I can feel and smell his soft, minty breath. We’re so close now that I ache for the feel of his lips on mine. Just as they are about to touch, Viktoria cries out ‘Mami’ which has us both pulling apart, making me realise how quickly Cade has slipped into the role of parent.

Turning my attention to Viktoria, I find her holding a rather soggy cone in one hand and her mouth and cheeks are covered in the melted ice-cream. A trail of the same stickiness runs from her chin to halfway down her coat. Her big blue eyes, the double of Cade’s, look back at me.