Fair Catch (30 page)

“I’m not going to be single much longer if I can help it,” Nick said, obediently following her into the kitchen. A delicious aroma filled his nostrils and he looked at her incredulously. “You really cooked for me?”

She laughed. “I did. I’m roasting a chicken and I did it all by myself.”

He wrapped his arms around her. “Wow, you must really love me.”

“I find that I sort of like the idea of cooking for you.”

It meant so much to him that she had done something for him she didn’t enjoy. It was an act of love, and he knew it. “I don’t think anyone has ever done something so nice for me.”

Her hands grasped the collar of his shirt and she held on. “Yeah, well you are an extremely nice guy.”

“No.” He dipped his head. “I’m an extremely lucky guy.” His lips met hers in a slow, long kiss. The kind of kiss he’d wanted to give her since stepping inside her door. He deepened the kiss as Ellie’s hands moved from his collar up around his neck.

Someone tapped on the sliding glass door, cutting the kiss short.

Reluctantly, Nick released Ellie and looked over to see Betsy and Owen grinning at them through the glass. Heat crept up Nick’s neck at being caught in another passionate kiss by their pastor.

Ellie twisted her hands nervously when the Stewarts walked into the kitchen. “Nick was just thanking me for cooking him dinner.”

Betsy swatted her husband on the arm. “I make dinner for you every night and I never get kissed like that.”

Owen put his arm around his wife. “Honey, if I kissed you like that we’d both have a heart-attack.”

Ellie and Nick exchanged a sheepish look. Then Ellie moved to the oven and opened the door. “Do you want to stay for dinner?” She pulled out the covered stoneware and set it on the stove.

The preacher patted Nick on the arm. “I think we will. Thank you.”

Betsy grinned. “Do you need any help?”

Ellie waved her off. “No thanks. Go in and sit down. It won’t take me very long.”

When they were alone again, Nick whispered in Ellie’s ear. “I don’t think Owen trusts me.”

Ellie bit her lip, hiding a smile. “I don’t think it’s you.”

Nick quirked a brow and pointed a finger at her. “It’s
you
he doesn’t trust?”

She started to giggle. “No. He’s just being a pastor and a dad.”

Nick looked at her intently. “Marry me so I don’t have to feel guilty.”

“I am marrying you, so why do you feel guilty?”

He leaned in close to her ear again. “I don’t think that’s something I can discuss with you until you’re my wife.”

He winked and left her in the kitchen with her mouth hanging open.

* * *

After spending nearly a week in California with Nick and his family, Ellie pulled Nick’s Denali into her driveway. There had been an emergency at one of the camps. Nick had stayed in California to take care of business but was flying out early the next morning. She missed him already. Especially since Thomas was coming to get Cade later on in the afternoon.

“We’re home,” she said, cutting the engine.

“Finally,” Cade said, unbuckling his seatbelt and opening the car door. “I need to go to the bathroom.”

While Cade did a little bathroom dance, Ellie jogged over to the front door and opened it. “I need your help, so come right back out.”

“Okay,” Cade said, racing inside the house.

Ellie returned to the car and unloaded their bags, including the additional bag containing all the gifts from Carolyn and Frank. Cade had been completely spoiled the entire week, and not just with material things. Both of Nick’s parents showered Cade with love. The cutest thing was Frank reading to Cade every night before bed.

Having the extra help allowed Nick and Ellie to spend a lot of time together. It made the separation at night almost unbearable. As a result, they had set a wedding date for three weeks from Friday. Nick’s assistant had coordinated everything, and both of their families would be flying to England for the wedding. The Stewarts were also part of the wedding parry. Owen was going to marry them, and had applied for a special license to officiate at a wedding in the UK.

Ellie hauled what she could carry into the house and then she and Cade both returned to the car to get the last few things. When he dropped his backpack by the front door, he rushed off to play with his toys. Ellie started to call him back to unpack his things but then remembered that Cade would need it when he left with Thomas the next day.

Since the fourth fell on a Thursday this year, at least Cade would only be spending the weekend with his dad and then Thomas had to return to work. Although he still threatened Ellie with his imminent move to Denver, according to the attorney, Thomas wouldn’t be relocating to Colorado anytime soon. Both she and Nick hoped he would follow his past behavior and not follow through with his flagrant promises. They decided to keep having faith that things would work out and vowed to enjoy their lives to the fullest.

On the way to her room to unpack, Ellie passed by one of the pictures of her and Nick that had been used in the magazine to announce their engagement. She paused to study the photograph that had beautifully captured the love they shared reflected in their eyes.

Warmth suffused every part of Ellie, and she couldn’t wait to be Nick’s wife.

Her cell phone buzzed inside her purse. Her stomach fluttered with anticipation as she looked at the screen. “Nick,” she said breathlessly, “I was just thinking about you.”

“Really?” he said in a low voice. “What about?”

She sighed and sat on the edge of the couch. “How much I miss you and can’t wait to be your wife.”

He groaned. “You’re killing me. I just called to tell you I won’t be home until tomorrow night.”

Disappointment shot down the fluttering feeling. “Oh.” She tried to tamp down her frustration at the amount of time he devoted to his charity. He’d promised to hire someone to take over his duties. “Just let me know your flight schedule so I can pick you up at the airport.”

“I’m sorry, Ellie. But things will get better. Part of the reason I’m staying is to interview a woman for the director position, and tomorrow morning is her only free time.”

Instantly her grumpy mood dissipated. “She has my vote.”

He laughed. “You don’t even know her qualifications.”

“Nick,” she whispered into the phone, “unless she has a criminal record or makes a play for you, hire her.”

“Then I think it’s a done deal. She attends the same church as my parents and just sent her last child off to college, Now she is just looking for something to do with her time. Both her law and finance degrees from Harvard make her overqualified, but she loves children more than money.”

“She sounds lovely. I can’t wait to thank her.”

Nick’s soft laughter made her miss him even more. “I love you, Ellie. I’m sorry I won’t be there when Cade leaves. Betsy said she’ll come over while Thomas is there.”

Ellie let her duffle bag drop to the floor, and swallowed back a sob. Nick was doing what he could; she was capable of handling her ex-husband on her own. “Betsy doesn’t need to leave her family. I’ll be fine.”

“Try telling her that.”

Cade came running in and grabbed Ellie by one hand. “My tummy is hungry, Mom.”

Nick must have heard. “Go feed Cade. I’ll call you later on tonight, okay?”

“Okay.”

Nick told her he loved her before they reluctantly ended the call. Three weeks couldn’t come fast enough.

“How about I make us a pizza?” Ellie asked. It was the frozen kind, but at least it was better than a peanut butter sandwich.

Cade wasn’t picky and didn’t protest. While the oven pre-heated, Ellie started a load of wash. A few minutes later, Cade came into the kitchen, wearing the new Optimus Prime helmet Grandpa Frank had purchased. It had a microphone in it and when he pushed the button and talked, it altered the sound of his little voice.

Using the robotic voice, he asked, “Can I go show Betsy my new helmet?”

Ellie smiled at her little boy. “Let me call her to see if that’s all right.”

“Hi, Ellie,” Betsy said in her usual cheerful voice. “So how was California?”

Sliding the frozen pizza in the oven, Ellie told her all about their trip.

“You found a wedding dress?”

Ellie thought about the gorgeous dress she and Carolyn had found and Nick had insisted she buy despite the exorbitant price tag. “Yes. I can’t wait to show you. It’s breathtaking.”

“I can’t wait to see you in it. You’ll look just like a princess marrying her prince charming, and in England, no less!”

Ellie set the timer on the oven for fifteen minutes and sighed dreamily. “I know. I can’t wait. My parents are ecstatic. My sister-in-laws can’t wait to travel, and my brothers can’t wait to claim Nick as their own.”

Cade tugged on her hand. “Mom, ask her if I can come show her my surprise.”

She patted the plastic helmet on Cade’s head. “Betsy, Cade has a surprise and wants to know if he can run over and show you?”

Betsy laughed. “Sure, send him right over.”

Holding open the back door for Cade, Ellie watched him almost trip over the patio step. “Hey, you better take that off. Once you get to Betsy’s, you can put it back on.”

He obeyed her and started for the Stewarts’ back yard. “The pizza’s almost done, so don’t stay very long,” Ellie hollered as he disappeared through the fence.

While she waited for Cade to return, Ellie finished unloading their bags. The timer on the oven beeped indicating the pizza was finished. She pulled it out and placed it on the stove. It didn’t look very appetizing. It was definitely time to start cooking for real again.

Ellie let the pizza cool as she put the wet clothes in the dryer and started another load of wash. When she finished, Cade still hadn’t returned. She withdrew her phone from her pocket and called Betsy. “Hey, can you send Cade home now?”

There was a brief pause before Betsy said, “Ellie, he never came over.”

Chapter Twenty-Four

That
sick feeling all mothers get when they aren’t sure where their children are came over Ellie as she rushed to the backyard. Maybe Cade had become sidetracked and was still out back. Panic gripped her when she couldn’t see him. “Betsy, can you check your backyard? He’s not at my house.” Her voice sounded high and stressed.

“I’m looking out back, Ellie. He’s not there. Let me go check out front.”

“Cade!” Ellie yelled. There was no answer. She made her way to the front, all the while continuing to holler for him. A feeling of dread knotted her stomach when neither she nor Betsy could see her son.

“Ellie, check in Nick’s car. I’ll run over and see if the Colemans have seen him.”

She checked the Denali, only to find it empty.

Frantic, Ellie crossed the street, the rocks cutting into her bare feet. She jiggled the doorknob to Nick’s front door. It was locked. Making her way around his property, she continued to shout her son’s name, ignoring the pain as her bare feet trampled over branches and rocks.
Please let him be okay
.

Betsy met her on the other side of Nick’s house and shook her head. “The Colemans haven’t seen Cade.”

Ellie’s stomach rolled. “I’m going to see if he went on the jogging trail.”

She sprinted toward the jogging trail, mentally praying for his safety. Where could he have gone? The late afternoon heat felt stifling, and the hot pavement scorched the bottom of her feet. Perspiration dripped down her back and around her hairline. Her eyes scanned the area frantically. There was absolutely no one on the path.

She raced back home, her heart pounding with fear. Betsy had called to say Owen was going to drive around to see if he could spot him. So, Ellie went back into her parents’ house, shouting and looking for Cade in every possible hiding place. Still nothing. Deep down, she knew something had happened to him.

When Owen returned empty handed, it was time to call the police. She continued shouting his name until her shouts turned to sobs. By the time the police arrived, Ellie was hysterical. Cade had vanished.

Everything seemed to move in slow motion. The police officer’s voice sounded tinny and far away as he asked her to go over everything that had happened. He also wanted a description of Cade’s clothing. That was the easy part—he had on a bright yellow SpongeBob shirt Carolyn had given him yesterday. He also would have the large, blue Optimus Prime helmet with him. It was nowhere to be found.

Rocking back and forth, she held her stomach and answered the questions mechanically. She kept praying over and over for Cade to appear. Her brain seemed foggy, but she heard Betsy tell her that she finally got a hold of Nick. He was taking the next flight he could get on.

The police officer continued to ask her questions and she had to focus on his words. “Ma’am, can you tell me where Cade’s father is?”

“Australia,” she whispered. Thomas would blame her for Cade’s disappearance. But wasn’t it her fault? She should’ve walked him over to Betsy’s instead of letting him go alone.

“Australia?”

“No. No, he’s here in Colorado. I’m not sure where he’s staying yet. Cade is supposed to spend this weekend with him.”

“Ms. Garrett?” the officer said, placing his warm hand on her shoulder. “We need to inform Mr. Garrett. Do you have his number?”

Ellie nodded her head and pulled out her cell phone. Her hands shook so violently, it was difficult to press the right button.

Thomas answered and sounded oddly pleasant. “Hi, El. I was just thinking about you and Cade. Is he excited to see me tomorrow?”

Her voice broke at the sound of her son’s name. “He’s gone, Thomas. Cade is gone.” She couldn’t finish, breaking down and sobbing into her hands.

The police officer took the phone when it became apparent Ellie wasn’t going to be able to talk. She listened to him relay the facts, each word inflicting more pain. Why would someone take her little boy?

The officer returned her phone and crouched down in front of her. “Ms. Garrett, we have officers that are canvassing the neighborhood and surrounding area, asking residents questions and showing them Cade’s picture.”