Page 23 of Faking Forever
“Why not?” Fern asked, her eyes and voice devoid of judgment. All Kenny saw in the other woman’s gaze was gentle understanding.
“You have enough going on with the baby and Cade. And your stepfather. My problems are of my own making and I can take care of them myself.”
“Of course you can. But you don’t have to. I don’t know Nox very well, but Gideon and Cade adore you. They’d want the opportunity to support you through this.”
“I know that. But not now. Not today. It’s Christmas.” She felt a surge of guilt as she said those words. “I know howexcited you’ve been about today. I’m so sorry to drag you into my drama like this.”
“I’m glad you did,” Fern reassured, reaching over to give Kenny’s hand a supportive squeeze where it was curled into a tight fist on her lap. “You don’t have to say anything more about it right now if it makes you uncomfortable, and I promise not to breathe a word of it to anyone else.”
“I don’t mean to place you into any kind of awkward position with Cade,” Kenny whispered, the guilt worsening as she considered the ramifications of Fern keeping secrets from Cade. Her notoriously wary brother didn’t give his trust easily, and Kenny would hate to be the reason for creating tension between the couple.
“I wouldn’t worry about that,” Fern said, her eyes drifting over to where Cade was still talking to their father. He seemed to sense his wife’s regard and lifted his gaze to meet Fern’s. Kenny watched in amazement as Cade’s expression softened, and a slight smile tilted his lips. Fern returned it with one of her own, and the exchange became more…charged,for want of a better word. The sexual tension that suddenly sizzled between them made Kenny uncomfortable—he was her brother, after all—and she cleared her throat awkwardly. The choked sound snared Fern’s attention and she wrested her eyes from Cade’s face to meet Kenny’s fascinated gaze. Her pale complexion went a delicate shade of pink.
“Uh…Cade and I are in a-agoodplace right now. I’m not sure what the future holds, but I try to take each day as it comes. And right now, most days are pretty good.”
“I’m happy to hear that,” Kenny said, meaning it. Cade and Fern deserved happiness and Kenny sincerely hoped they could find it with each other. Especially since they had a baby on the way.
Fern smiled and looked like she was about to add something more when Gideon appeared in the patio doorway.
“Hey, guys we’re about to eat. Just grab a plate in the kitchen and pile high. We have plenty so don’t be shy. We’re eating out here at the patio table. Try to be back in under ten minutes so Dad can say a blessing before we eat.”
Their father spluttered at Gideon’s words—he was definitelynotthe “give a blessing” type—and his confounded expression startled a laugh from Kenny. Both Gideon and Cade howled at their father’s consternation.
“Don’t worry, Dad,” Gideon threw the words over his shoulder as he turned back indoors. “We all know you’d lose your place in hell if you did that. I’ll take care of the blessing. My soul is less tarnished than yours.”
“Onlybarely, Gideon. We’ve all seen those sketches you like to do of Beth,” one of Beth’s friends retorted and the group seated on the patio furniture all guffawed as they pushed to their feet and started toward the patio doors.
“And something tells me those are tame in comparison to the NSFW ones of her in hisprivatecollection,” another voice—Kenny really didn’t know their names, Smith usually helped her keep them straight—piped up.
More teasing laughter. Their voices faded as they headed deeper into the house.
Their father followed the crowd, while Cade was coming toward Kenny and Fern.
Fern closed a hand around Kenny’s forearm as she pushed to her feet. Alarmed, Kenny looked down, concerned that Fern might be in distress. But the woman looked fine.
“McKenna, if you ever need to talk, please, call me, okay? I may not always know what to say to make you feel better. But I’m a good listener.”
Kenny’s eyes misted again at the sincere, heartwarming offer.
“Thank you, I?—”
“Everything okay here?” Cade asked as he joined them, his concernedeyes sweeping over both of their faces before coming to rest on Fern. “You look tired, Fern.”
“I’m fine,” Fern said with a reassuring smile, but his eyes continued to linger on her face. “Honestly, Cade. I’m okay.”
There was a small indent between his brows as he continued to stare at his wife, as if he was trying to figure out if she was being honest. But he finally nodded and held out his hand.
Only after he had her firmly tucked into his side did he spare a moment for Kenny.
“You’ve been dodging my calls.” The words were mildly censorious, which meant he was seriously pissed off.
“I haven’t. I’ve just been really busy with work.”
He quirked a brow, clearly not believing her.
Like Smith, Cade was a corporate attorney. Hawthorne Construction and Engineering’s—HC&E—VP of Legal Operations, as well as VP of Corporate Development. From what Kenny had heard, her brother was feared and revered in equal measure within the industry. Their father often referred to Cade as his not-so-secret weapon.
That meant Cade was very good at making someone sweat without saying a word. While their father was all brute force, bluster, and bullying, Cade could intimidate with just a stare and a prolonged, pointed silence.
