Total pages in book: 87
Estimated words: 84868 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 424(@200wpm)___ 339(@250wpm)___ 283(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 84868 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 424(@200wpm)___ 339(@250wpm)___ 283(@300wpm)
Caden didn’t speak for a few moments. Then he softly said, “I just don’t understand why he never left anything behind. At least something for his parents, to explain why.”
Sighing, I replied, “I know. Anyway, Colt told me he went into Grady’s room, and it hasn’t been touched since his death. He said it was like a shrine. There was dust on the furniture, and he’s not even sure if his mother or father have been in the room in the last ten years.”
Caden’s eyes widened in shock. “Holy cow.”
“He’s not sure if he should approach them about it. So I thought he could talk to Mom and Dad, try to get advice on what to do. I mean, how can any of them move on if they’re still hanging on so tightly?”
He nodded. “I agree. It was nice of you to invite him over for dinner, especially if you’re going to be there.”
I chewed on my lower lip. “I admit, I wanted an excuse to see him again. I keep going from wanting to punch his lights out to wanting to hold him in my arms. It’s really fucking frustrating.”
Caden chuckled. “I’m sure it is. Let me ask you something, Ensley.”
I was positive I had a worried expression on my face. “Am I going to like this question?”
He winked. “Probably not.”
I rolled my eyes. “Ask away.”
“Can you see yourself forgiving Colt? Possibly even trying to make a go of it again?”
I let Caden’s question sink in for a bit, truly thinking about it. “Can I be friends with him? Yes. I think that’s an easy answer. Would I be able to watch him move on with another woman?” I shook my head. “I honestly don’t think so.”
“Could you move on?”
“I’ve tried, and I haven’t been very successful so far. I was at the point where I was going to look into either adoption or in vitro.”
His brows shot up. “You’d do that alone?”
“All I’ve ever wanted was a baby. Ideally, I’d love to be married and start a family, but I feel like time is slipping through my fingers.”
Caden stared at me like I’d grown horns from my head before he finally said, “You’re only thirty, Ensley. You act like you’re on death’s door.”
“I know, I know. Emeline and Lilibeth have said the same thing to me. But seeing you and Emeline with your babies…it’s only made me want one of my own even more. I love my career and don’t want to give it up, but I also want a family. And ever since seeing Colt again, I realize that I want…” My voice trailed off, and I dropped my forehead to the neck of the mare.
Caden moved around and took me into his arms. I fought to keep my tears at bay.
“You realized you want that family with Colt?”
I sniffled. “Yes.” Drawing back to look up at him, I asked, “Do you think that makes me a fool?”
“What? No! Listen, I get that the guy broke your heart, and I won’t lie and say the moment I saw him, I didn’t want to punch his lights out. But I also see the way he looks at you, Ensley. He still cares about you. Did he mess up by leaving the way he did? Yes. But was he also young, scared, and grieving? Absolutely. I think he made a mistake, and by the time he realized what he’d done, he probably didn’t know how to fix it. If you ask me…I think you guys should try to start over. Because I think you’re both just as much in love with each other now as you were when he left River Falls.”
“Start over?”
“Yeah. Mom and Dad gave me great advice when it came to my relationship with Lilibeth. They told me to date her. At the time, I laughed, because she was already living with me and pregnant. But it turned out to be the best advice they ever gave me. Maybe that’s what you and Colt need to do. Go slow. Date…get to know each other again and see where that takes you. I’m not saying you have to forget what he did. But maybe what you need to do to start healing yourself is to forgive. And Colt needs to forgive himself, as well.”
I stared at him for a long moment. “Jesus, what did you do with my brother Caden?”
He threw his head back and laughed. “Right? It’s like I’m this totally new person lately. Fatherhood changed me, I swear.”
I smiled as I stretched to kiss him on the cheek. “Finding your true love did, as well, I’m sure of it. It all looks good on you, Caden.”
Smiling, he replied, “It feels good.”
“Thank you for the advice.”
“Of course. I’m always here for you, sis. And if you do decide that Colt needs to learn a bit of a lesson, you know Gatlin and I are ready and waiting.”