Page 54 of Promise Me a Forever Texas Love

Later that night, after homework and dinner were finished, she and Mama retired to the rocking chairs on the front porch while Cooper, Callum, and Camden did the dishes.

Since it was late October, the evenings were starting to cool down. The strong breeze helped. She and Mama were usually too tired from the day’s work to do more than rock and look out at the setting sun. But since the Harvest Festival was only a week away, Cadee figured they should go over the list of things they needed to do before Saturday.

“I called all the cake-baking volunteers today to remind them to have their cakes for the cakewalk at the church by noon on Saturday. I checked in with the church custodian to make sure he cleans the gymnasium floor after the youth’s basketball game on Friday afternoon so we can start putting up the booths on Friday night. Did you ever get ahold of Dale Winslet to make sure he will have the booths all ready to put together?”

Mama nodded. “I didn’t get ahold of Dale, but I did get a call from his wife. I guess Dale had to have emergency gallbladder surgery this morning.”

“Oh, no. Is he okay?”

“He’s right as rain now, but he can’t lift anything heavy for weeks.” Mama hesitated. “So I had to recruit someone else to take over the job of putting the booths together.”

“Cooper and Callum?”

“No. They’ll be busy setting up the hayrides out to Birdie’s.”

“Then who did you get?”

Mama continued to rock for a few seconds before she answered. “Huck Hennessy?”

Cadee turned and stared at her. “You talked Huck into doing it?”

“I didn’t have to do much talking. He seemed happy to help. I figured it’s a good chance for him to get in the townsfolk’s good graces. Although his new business seems to be doing that. All I hear when I go into town is raves about his carpentry skill. I’m thinking about buying one of those pretty whiskey barrel porch swings he makes for here.”

“We don’t need a porch swing. And you should have asked me first before you talked to Huck.”

Mama stopped rocking and turned to her. “And why is that? I thought you and Huck were friends again. Did something change?”

She thought about lying, but she really needed to talk to someone about what had happened. And her mama had always been a good listener. “He told me he loves me.” Mama’s snorted laugh had Cadee turning on her. “It’s not funny!”

Mama bit back her smile. “I’m sorry, but I’ve known Huck loved you ever since you were kids.” She paused. “And I’ve known you love him.”

Cadee couldn’t deny it. She did love him. Which probably explained why she couldn’t stop thinking about him.

“It doesn’t matter if I love him and he loves me. It still wouldn’t work. Too much has happened. A relationship doesn’t just need love. It needs trust and I lost all of that when Huck ran off without a word.”

Mama nodded. “I can see where that would make you lose trust. But the nice thing about trust is it can be rebuilt. That’s where the love comes in.”

“What do you mean?”

“When your daddy and I were first dating, I found out he was still fooling around with his ex-girlfriend, Janie Horton. I broke things off with him immediately and had no intentions of ever giving him the time of day again.” Mama smiled and continued rocking. “But you know how that went.”

“But how did you trust him again?”

“Everyone deserves a second chance, Cadee. That’s why second chance romance novels are so popular. Huck screwed up. He screwed up badly. But I think he’s paid for that mistake by missing out on eight years of his son’s life . . . and yours. It looks like he’s trying his best to prove to you and this entire town that he’s changed. That he can be trusted.” Mama reached out and squeezed Cadee’s hand resting on the arm of the rocker. “That’s where the love comes in. Do you love him enough to give him a second chance?”

She wasn’t sure. “If he leaves, he won’t just be breaking my trust. He’ll be breaking Camden’s too.”

“It’s too late for that. Camden already trusts and loves him. So you staying away from Huck isn’t going to lessen Cam’s hurt if Huck does leave. But I don’t think Huck is going to. I’ve seen the way he looks at Camden. And I’ve also seen the way he looks at you. Like y’all are his world.”

Cadee’s heart tightened. “But what if we’re not enough to hold him?”

Mama smiled softly. “But what if you are?” She patted her hand before she rose to her feet. “Now I better go in and see if the boys are doing dishes or having a water fight. From Cam’s shriek I just heard, my bet is on the water fight.”

After she was gone, Cadee sat there and stared at the darkening horizon.

A star appeared. The first star. The wishing star.

As a teenager, she’d wished for only one thing. Huck to love her like she loved him. She’d been granted that wish. And now the only question was . . . what was she going to do about it?