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.Scrap wood and tar paper."This is such an interesting coincidence.I was thinking two children, with an option for three.""Okay." She blew out a breath."All right.I should've known you'd already figured it out.""I am a farmer.We plan.Then we hope fate cooperates." He bent to pluck a sprig of rosemary from the kitchen garden."For remembrance," he said, as he gave it to her."While you're waiting for me, remember we have a life to plan, as messy and noisy as we like."She went inside with him, and there was Lilah, as she was so often, working at the sink.The air smelled of coffee and biscuits and the sweet rose scent Lilah sprayed on every morning."You come in late for breakfast," she said."Lucky for you I'm in a good mood." She'd been watching them the last few minutes with a lightness of heart.They looked right together.She'd been waiting to see her boy look right with someone."Well, sit down, coffee's fresh enough.I made up some flapjack batter nobody's bothered to eat.""Is my mother upstairs?""She is, and the judge is cooling his heels in the front parlor." Lilah was already getting down mugs."Don't have much to say to me today.Been on the phone considerable, and got her door shut.That sister of yours, she don't even bother coming home last night." Cade's stomach clutched."Faith's not home?""Nothing to worry on.She's with Doc Wade.Breezed out of here yesterday saying that's where she'd be and I'd see her when I see her.Seems nobody sleeps in their own bed around here these days but me.Too damn hot for all these carryings-on.Sit down and eat.""I need to speak to my mother.Feed her," he ordered, pointing at Tory."I'm not a puppy," Tory muttered as he strode away."Don't go to any trouble, Lilah.""Sit down, and take that martyr look off your face.It's his place to settle things with his mama, and not yours to fuss your head over it." She got out the griddle to heat."And you'll eat what I put in front of you.""I'm beginning to think he takes after you.""Why shouldn't he? I did most of the raising of him.I'm not speaking against Miss Margaret.Some women aren't built to be mothers, is all.Don't make them less, just makes them what they are." She got a bowl out of the refrigerator, peeled back the cover."I was sorry to hear about your mother.""Thank you."Lilah stood a moment, bowl in the crook of her arm, her eyes dark and warm on Tory's face."Some women," she said again, "aren't built for mothering.That's why, just like the song says, God blesses the child who's got his own.You got your own, honey.You always did."For the first time since she'd heard the news of her mother's death, Tory wept.Cade stopped at the parlor first.Manners would never have permitted him to walk by an old family friend."Judge."Gerald turned, and the stern, contemplative lines of his face relaxed fractionally when he saw Cade."I was hoping I'd have a chance to speak with you this morning.I hope you can spare me a minute.""Of course." Cade stepped in, gestured to a chair."I hope you're well.""A little arthritis, acts up now and again.Old age." Gerald gestured it aside as he sat."Never think it's going to happen to you, then you wake up one day and wonder who the hell that old man is in your shaving mirror.Well." Gerald laid his palms on the knees of his trousers."I've known you since you were born.""So there's no need to pick your words," Cade finished."I'm aware my mother has spoken to you about some legalities and changes in her will." "She's a proud woman, and she's concerned for you.""Is she?" Cade lifted his eyebrows as if fascinated by that information."She needn't be.I'm fine.More than fine.If her concern is for Beaux Reves," he continued, "it's also misplaced.We're having a very good year.Better, I think, even than last."Gerald cleared his throat."Cade, I knew your father most of my life, was his friend.I hope you'll take what I have to say in that spirit.If you would postpone your personal plans, take a bit more time to consider.I'm fully aware of a man's needs and desires, but when those desires are put ahead of duty, of practicality, and most of all ahead of family, it can never come to good.""I've asked Tory to marry me.I don't need my mother's blessing, or yours, for that matter.I can only regret those blessings aren't forthcoming.""Cade, you're a young man, with your life in front of you.I'm only asking, as a friend of both your parents, for you to take time to consider, time you can well spare at your age.To look at the entire picture.Particularly now that this tragedy has come into Tory Bodeen's life.A tragedy," Gerald added,"that speaks volumes of who and what she comes from.You were just a boy yourself when she lived here, and were sheltered from the harder facts of life.""What facts would they be!"Gerald sighed."Hannibal Bodeen is a dangerous man, undoubtedly ill in his mind.Such things come down in the blood.Now, I have every sympathy for the child, make no mistake, but there's no changing what is.""Is this 'The apple doesn't fall far from the tree'? Or is it 'As a twig is bent so it grows'?" Irritation flickered over Gerald's face."Either is apt.Victoria Bodeen lived in that house, under his hand, too long not to be bent by it.""Under his hand," Cade said carefully."Figuratively, and I'm afraid, literally.Many years ago, Iris Mooney, Victoria's maternal grandmother, came to see me.She wanted to sue the Bodeens for custody of the girl.She said Bodeen beat the child.""She wanted to hire you?""She did.However, she had no proof of this abuse, no substantiation.I have no doubt, had none then, that she was telling the truth, but—""You knew," Cade said very quietly
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