From This Moment

chapter 4
~~ Rona ~~
After breakfast Jake was waiting earnestly to start our trip. So after wrapping up warm and saying goodbye to Cade, who didn’t seem at all happy about me going out, we head into Jackson.“So Rona, how do you feel about cable cars?”
Hearing Jake mention cable cars has my stomach rolling. Although the views are usually worth it, I actually hate the thought of dangling above ground in a compartment being held up by a piece of cable.“Err. You serious?”
Glancing at me then back to the road, “Yes, they have one in Jackson called ‘Big Red’. It’s actually an aerial tram and you’ll love it. It holds a lot of people and takes about fifteen minutes to get to the top of Rendezvous Mountain and then you can experience the best waffles you will ever taste at Corbet’s Cabin. Not to mention, you can see all the way down to Jackson Hole, Snake Valley River and Grand Teton National Park. Absolutely amazing.”
I can’t help but laugh, “You sound like an advertisement!”
He grins at me, “Sorry, a friend of mine used to work in the office and he was always using the tourist spiel trying to get the girls to go up with him.”
I smile at him, “Did you?”“Maybe,” he laughs.“I think I need to warn you that the last time I went up in a cable car I was terrified. It was really windy and the car was swaying a lot. Horrid experience.” I shudder.“Not to worry, I’ll take care of you.”“I guess I can give it a try,” I say, with trepidation.
Arriving at the base of ‘Big Red’, Jake leaves me to purchase the tickets while I use the restroom.
On approach, I have butterflies in my stomach thinking this is a really bad idea. Jake not realizing just how nervous I am, grabs my hand pulling me inside.
There are already about ten people on board. As the doors shut, I start taking deep breaths to try and calm down.
All of a sudden, Jake is there, pulling me into his arms, “Hey, it’s okay, everything will be alright. Just keep taking deep breaths and I promise I won’t let go until we get to the top.”
Burrowing into his coat, I hang on for dear life as we start up the mountain.
After the longest fifteen minutes of my life, Jake leads me out of the tram on wobbly legs.“Can we go and sit down for a minute?”“Yeah, sure, come on, we’ll go to the waffle place. You can have a coffee to bring some life back into you. You look a bit pale.”
Once inside Corbin’s I feel much better, so sitting down with Jake, I have some waffles with syrup and a coffee.“You are right these waffles are great! I just hope they stay in my stomach on the way back down!”
Seeing the panic on Jake’s face, I start laughing, “Just kidding.”“So tell me, why don’t you have a girlfriend?”
He throws a hot look in my direction, which no doubt usually gets him what or who he wants, “I’m trying to remedy that.”
I try not to laugh, “No seriously, is there no one around here? You’re a nice, friendly, good looking guy; I can’t believe you don’t have a girlfriend.”
Looking away from me for a short while, “Yes, I did have a girlfriend. Elise. I went to Texas for six months to help a friend out with some horses. She didn’t want me to go, so broke up with me. When I got back she was engaged to someone else.”“And you’re still in love with her?”
He looks so sad, “It doesn’t matter; she’s getting married in a couple of months.”“How long were you together?”
He starts to stand, “Close to two years.”“Wow.”“Come on, I want to show you the view from here so you can take some pictures then we can head back.”
The views are breathtaking and maybe worth the experience of the tram ride.
I take lots of pictures and can’t wait to get back to load them on to my iPad via my macbook air, which I treated myself to just before leaving Ireland.~~ Cade ~~
Sitting in the lounge area waiting for Rona and Jake to arrive home is playing hell with my concentration. I must have read the same paragraph over and over again for the past hour. I managed to get what paper work was waiting for me out of the way earlier and instead of heading down to the stables, as I would normally have done – I wait.
About thirty minutes later, I hear Jake’s SUV come to a stop outside. Placing my book to the side, I stand up and head towards the front door just as Rona enters. She looks really happy. Obviously, her day with Jake has gone well.“Hi, I guess by your smile that you had a good day with Jake?”
She has a slight blush, “I did have a good day, but my smile was actually for you. I’m glad you’re here. I missed you.”“I missed you too.” She looks lovely with color in her cheeks and her windswept hair, “Can I get you a coffee?”“Yes please, can you give me five minutes though? I want to upload the photographs I took today to my iPad so I can show them to you.”“That will be good; I’ll get us both some coffee and wait for you in the lounge.”
Just as she turns to go upstairs, I ask, “Is Jake coming in?”
She turns back to me, “No, he said he’s going to call down to the stables, saying something about the feed which has just been delivered.”“I’ll see you in a few minutes then.”
Having made the coffee, I sit on the sofa this time, hoping to have Rona in my arms, at least for a short while.
Coming back down the stairs she has changed into sweats and a long sleeved t-shirt, which we both seem to favor, with thick socks on her feet.“I managed to get them all on and they look pretty good.” She doesn’t even hesitate to join me on the sofa. Sitting down she snuggles into my side and looks up at me, “Hi.” she moves her hands to my chest, and reaching up, places a kiss on my lips.
I caress her face, “Hi, not that I’m complaining, but what was that for?”“I just had to touch you.”
She really tugs at my heart, “You can touch me anytime you want.” I place a kiss on her forehead.“Before I lie you down on this sofa and strip you naked, I think you’d better show me your photographs.”“Spoil sport!” God, she really is trying my patience. Even if Jake, Anna and Beth accept her as my woman there’s still the age difference.
Looking at her photographs, I can see that she had a good time. There were some pictures of her which Jake had obviously taken, one of which I wouldn’t mind having a copy.“Didn’t you take any pictures from the tram?”“Err, no. I was too terrified to think about anything except putting my feet on the ground. I kind of buried my face in Jake’s coat and didn’t look up until he dragged me off at the top and into the restaurant.”
I tighten my arms around her, “Is it the first time you’ve been on an aerial tram?”“I’ve been in a cable car before and that was a hair raising experience. I swore that I’d never go in one again.”“So why did you?”“Big Red was a lot bigger and in the end just as terrifying. But the waffles were worth the fright, I guess, not to mention the view.”
As we come to the end of her photographs, I notice she’s drifted off to sleep on me. Rona feels so good and so right against me that I don’t want to move.
Wrapping my arm around her, I sink further down into the sofa and pull her more onto my chest, falling asleep with her.~~ Rona ~~
Starting to wake up slowly I realize I’m not in bed. Opening my eyes, I meet Jake’s eyes from across the sofa. He’s sat in one of the chairs with a look on his face that I can’t decipher. I’ve been asleep wrapped in Cade’s arms.
Cade is still asleep at this point.
Managing to extract myself without waking Cade up, I motion to Jake to follow me to the kitchen where I grab a cup of coffee. Turning to face Jake, “I didn’t realize I was so tired. I was sitting next to your father showing him the photographs and the next thing I know, well, I woke up to you looking at us.”“Is that all it was?”
Blushing, “That’s how we ended up like that on the sofa.”“You are attracted to him though aren’t you? I know he’s attracted to you. I’m not blind, I’ve seen the way you look at each other when you think I’m not watching, plus you both looked a bit disheveled at the airport.”
I open my mouth to speak but Jake continues, “I’m a guy and it’s kind of obvious when two people have been making out.... although I could be wrong, I’ve been wrong before.”
He looks at me; my blush is obviously showing, “No, I didn’t think so.”
Not touching the ‘making out’ comment, “Yes, I’m attracted to your father. I’m more than attracted to him. But having this attraction between us doesn’t change the fact that I’m only a year younger than you. This makes your father very uncomfortable.” On a sigh, “I’m sorry if this upsets you, but I can’t help how I feel.”“I’m not even sure upset is how I feel right now. He’s been alone for a very long time, he deserves some happiness.” He turns away from me and starts to head over to the stairs, then he turns back, “Please don’t break his heart, I know what that feels like.”“I won’t,” I whisper.
After Jake disappears upstairs, I take two coffees into the lounge and place them on the coffee table. Taking a seat opposite Cade, I see him watching me.“How long have you been awake?”“Long enough, I was about to come to your rescue when Jake left.”“How would you feel about ‘us’ if Jake, Anna and Beth accepted me?”“How I feel about you will never change and will probably only get stronger the longer we’re together. But my family isn’t the only problem.” He looks away, “I have twenty-one years on you, so when you’re forty I’ll be sixty one. I don’t want to leave you a widow when you’re so young.”
Looking back at me he notices the tears running down my face. Moving over, he crouches down in front of me, at the same time I move forward. He wraps his arms around my waist. I wrap my arms around his shoulders. The embrace ends quickly as we hear Jake moving around upstairs.“Will you be okay?” he asks me as he moves away. I just nod my head, not really believing I will be.“We’ve been invited to Anna’s for dinner this evening. I hope you don’t mind?”
I wipe my face, “No, that’s fine.” Taking a deep breath, “I love you Cade and I’d rather use what time we both have left together than apart. No one knows what the future holds or how long or short it will be. I just know I want my future to include you.” I head up to my bedroom to shower and change for dinner.~~ Cade ~~
Arriving at Anna’s house, I glance over to Rona who seems to be nervous. Jake isn’t doing much better. Helping Rona out of the car, I whisper, “Are you okay?”“Yes, I’m fine, just a bit nervous.”
Moving away from her, we follow Jake to the front door which has just been opened by Gabby, who doesn’t take her eyes from Rona.“Are you Uncle Jake’s girlfriend?” This brings both me and Jake up short.“No, they were kind enough to invite me to stay with them for awhile. Are you Gabby?”“Yes.”“I’m pleased to meet you Gabby. I met ‘Honey Bee’ yesterday and I love that name, I also love the cereal.”
On a giggle she takes hold of Rona’s hand and pulls her inside the house leaving me and Jake standing at the door.“I guess Rona passed inspection,” Jake grins.
Entering the house I can see Rona in the kitchen with Gabby who’s introducing her to her mother and father as well as Beth’s husband Mack. I’m not sure where Beth is though.“If you’re looking for Beth, she’s feeding Edith in the bedroom,” says Mack, coming over to shake hands with me while passing Nathan their two year old son to Jake.“Make yourselves comfortable. Dinner won’t be long, unless they don’t stop yakking in there, then it might be midnight!” says Justin, Gabby’s father, as he hands me a beer.
Not long after, Beth appears and walks straight over to me putting Edith into my arms, my youngest grandchild. I wasn’t sure how Beth managed to have an angel for a daughter as she was more like the Devil when she was born.~~ Rona ~~
My nerves having disappeared, I find myself in the kitchen helping out Cade’s two daughters. They’re both slim built with light brown hair and it’s like being in the middle of a whirlwind, they’re so organized and dashing here and there doing a million different things at once.
Glancing into the front room to try and catch a glimpse of Cade, I spot him on the sofa with Edith. He looks gorgeous and I really wish we were home, just the two of us, with our own sleeping baby, so I’d have the right to go and cuddle up to them.
Seeing me looking over, Beth obviously thinks I’m looking at her daughter.“Come on, you haven’t met the newest addition to the family.” Beth leads me by the arm into the front room.
Looking up Cade takes my breath away. I don’t think there’s anything sexier than seeing the guy you’re in love with holding a baby.
Conscious that Jake is watching, I sit down next to Cade on Beth’s urging. Cade passes Edith to me.“She’s a gorgeous little thing.” I tell Beth, while I make silly cooing noises to Edith.“She is that. You stay put and relax while I go and help Anna with the food.”
Edith is wide awake in my arms and making small gurgling noises while holding my little finger. All the time I’m conscious of Cade sitting so close. We are touching thigh to thigh; Cade’s arm is resting along the back of the chair behind me. I’m so tempted to snuggle more into his arms.
Jake across the room keeps glancing at us while having the fight of his life with his nephews Gabe and Nathan. I think he’s supposed to be Darth Vader while Gabe and Nathan are Luke Skywalker and Han Solo!“Dinner’s ready folks.” After Anna’s announcement, Beth comes over to take Edith from me. My arms feel empty.
Cade offers me a hand to help me up from the sofa. Seemingly reluctant to let me go, he strokes my hand as we part.
At the table, Cade is on my right with Gabby on my left.“Did Uncle Jake take you riding on Honey Bee?” Gabby asks me with a mouth full of food.
Holding back a laugh, “No your grandpa did. It was my first time on a horse and Honey Bee was amazing, she made me feel like her friend.” After a minute, “It was okay for me to ride her wasn’t it?”“Yes, she needs lots of exercise. Where did grandpa take you?”“We went to a river and saw some deer. This was totally cool; I’ve never seen deer out in the open before.”
Looking up I notice everyone has gone quiet and I’m not sure why. Meeting Jake’s eyes across the table, he starts telling everyone about our trip on ‘Big Red’, which seems to break the silence. I’m still unsure why everyone had gone quiet though.
After the conversation with Gabby, I feel like Anna and Beth are looking at me differently. They didn’t treat me differently, just kept glancing at me in an odd sort of way.~~ Cade ~~
When we arrive back home Jake excuses himself and disappears to his room.“Would you like a hot chocolate?” I ask.“That would be great, do you mind if I go and get changed first?”“No that’s fine. I think I’ll do the same and meet you back here.”
Changing into sweats and a t-shirt, I go downstairs to make some hot chocolate. Rona appears not long after.
Settling down in the lounge with our drinks, I start to wonder whether Rona will ask me about the silence at the meal.“Why did everyone go quiet when I was talking to Gabby? I had the feeling it was something I said, but I’m not sure what.”
Guess I didn’t have long to wait!“It was the fact that I took you to the river. They all know that it’s the one place that’s sacred to me. In all the years I’ve lived here, I’ve only ever allowed them to accompany me there once. That was to point out to them, that it was the one place in the world which was mine and mine alone. So it was pretty significant to them that I took you there.”“I don’t know what to say to that. I didn’t know, I never would have said something in front of your family if I’d known.”“Don’t worry.”
Lifting her eyes to look at me, she looks haunted.
Yawning, “I think I need to go to bed.” Standing, Rona starts to walk to the stairs, she turns back towards me, “Cade, I want you to know that in the short time I’ve known you, you’ve come to mean more to me than Nick ever did.”
Turning back she carries on up the stairs.