Cade had managed to convince Valerie to be standing in front of the Vale mansion at that moment. Her palms were sweating, and no matter the number of times she rubbed them against her skirt and handkerchief, the sweat flowed so freely that it made her think that maybe she was sick.
“Cade, let me just go back,” she said suddenly as she thought that maybe he did not really need to get his apology. She was fine with whatever happened; she definitely could not show up in front of the almighty Charles Vale.
“Ms. Valerie, I really do want to forgive you and begin to figure out a way that we can have a relationship,” Cade said, turning to him. “If you do not want that, you can walk away again,” he said harshly before adding in a low tone but still trying his best to make it heard by her. “Just like you did before.”
The words were enough to get Valerie riled up; she had to do what it took to restore the relationship with her son, and that was the reason she came here after all. She returned the check that Ophelia had given her before. She had enough money to sustain herself. With the pay she had gotten from Charles so she did not have to show up again, she changed her faith. It turns out that living frugally for twenty years while investing in stocks and shares for all of that time might turn you into a mini-millionaire.
“Let us do this,” Valerie said, trying to push the gate.
As she walked down the hallway, she had a flashback of the two times he walked this hall. It was when she was pregnant with Cade at about seven months old that was the first time that Charles had asked her to come over. He made an offer to take the child off her hand. At first, she was so angry that he would never think to tell her that. After she spoke to a few people who advised her to give him up since she was not financially able to take care of him. She was baking again, but this time clutching the baby in hand.
“Ms Valerie?” Cade said, snapping his fingers in her face. He did not know how to address her, but he needed her to. “This way,” he said when she raised her eyes at him and walked behind him in the same direction she walked to drop off her son. Each step she took reminded her of the pain she had going back and forth.
“Cade!” Cade rolled his eyes, thinking of why Abihail would call him with so much joy. She walked briskly to him from the other side of the hall. “It’s been so long since you came home. I have been worried.” If anyone heard Abigail, they would think she was a great mother. Valerie was touched to see that Abigail was treating him so well.
“You look unwell,” Abigail said with a smile on her face. “I like that,” she added and then burst into a cackle. “I see you brought a friend,” she said, her eyes going up and down this woman. Her face was oddly familiar, but she could not remember it.
“That is none of your business,” Cade said in a tired voice.
“How can it be none of my business?” She asked, leaning in with her back bent so she could look into his face and mock him more. “I have to make sure that you are not following in the footsteps of your father,” she said, looking the woman up and down. As much as she tried to remember where she saw the woman standing behind Cade, the more she felt farther from the truth.
Cade just walked beside her without a second thought. “Are things that bad?” Valerie asked, catching up with his steps.
“You happened to witness one of the most loving interactions.” Valerie could not tell if he was being sarcastic, but she wrangled her hand when they stopped by the familiar door. She was here twice, but the image stayed implanted in her head, and she could never get out.
Cade gave two slight knocks on the door. “Grandpa!” he called out and turned to her, asking her to wait out there until he called out for her. He had to lay the groundwork before he allowed this woman to go in.
“Cade?” Charles asked, and Cade made a sound of approval. “Coem on in!” he announced. Cade pushed the door open and stood before the man who was in a corner going through a book. He closed the door and walked to him. Charles took off his glasses and rolled himself to meet his grandfather halfway.
“You are back from your trip? I did not think that you were going to come to greet me,” Charles said as if he was ready to pick a fight right then.
“I have something for you,” Cade said, a smile lingering on his face.
“Something I would love?”
“Have I ever presented you with a gift that you hate?” Cade asked, and he shook his head. “You can come in now,” Cade said, and the door opened, and standing in the doorway was Valerie.
Charles’s eyes grew wide as she saw the woman there; he had made sure to tie loose ends, so there was no way that this woman was standing in their house. “What are you doing here?” he stammered, shifting uncomfortably in his seat.
“Grandpa, do you know this woman?” Cade asked, looking from one person to the other as they stared themselves down.
“Well, I do know her but” Charles stammered till he stopped and clutched his face with his hand. “It is a long tale.”
“Which I already know about now” Cade said ready to spare him the trouble of repeating the tale.
“We had an agreement, and you broke off your side?” Charles asked, anger rising in his voice.
“So you intended to keep my mom away from me for life?” Cade asked.
“I just thought that that was what was best for you.” Cade was not angry with his grandfather at this point because, from the way he spoke, he wanted to do the right thing but did not know how to do it.
“I do not want to have this conversation again, so please bring her here so you can know that I have forgiven her, and I now want to have her in my life, and I want her to be a part of the family.”
“No way!” Abigail screamed, opening the door. She had been eavesdropping because she suddenly remembered who that woman was. She wondered how simple-minded she was to easily forget one of the many women her husband slept with that caused her so much pain at that time. She lingered around and listened to the entire conversation; she did not care if they made up and started living together, but she was not going to allow that woman to take her place; her son had taken Cael’s place, and now they were after her.
“NEVER”