From This Moment

chapter 8
~~ Rona ~~
Jake’s house is going to be amazing when it’s finished. It’s a huge wooden structure with a wraparound porch and large windows facing out towards the mountain range. He doesn’t take me inside, because it isn’t safe, but there will be a large open plan room to include a kitchen, lounge, and dining section with four bedrooms towards the back of the house. My heart goes out to him; I’m guessing he’s building this with Elise in mind.
Leaving Jake’s house we head over to Anna’s. I’m nervous about seeing Anna and Beth, but I’m looking forward to meeting Elise. I actually think about whether or not to pretend its Jake that I’m interested in to see how she reacts. One way of finding out if she still has feelings for Jake!
Climbing out of the car, I look at Jake, “Aren’t you coming in?”
Shaking his head, “Elise is already here, that’s her car over there. I think I’ll pass. I’ll see you later for dinner though, I think we’re eating here, hope that’s okay?”“Yes, that’s fine.” Turning to head towards the house, I see a woman I haven’t met before looking through the window, so guessing it’s Elise, I turn back to Jake and plant a kiss on his lips, “Thanks again, for earlier.” I don’t think it’s wise to mention Elise at the window!
Arriving on the porch, Beth opens the door for me. “Hi Rona, glad you could make it, come in and I’ll introduce you to a friend of ours.”
Walking into Anna’s house I notice Elise straightaway. She’s a slim blonde and really beautiful.“Elise, this is Jake’s friend Rona. Rona, this is Elise,” Beth introduces us.
I walk closer to Elise so I can shake her hand, “Nice to meet you. I hear you’re getting married soon, so congratulations.”
Still looking or glaring at me, I’m not sure which, she finally takes my hand, “You’re the girl I heard about whose fiancé left her an hour before the wedding.” Her claws are out, very interesting.
I smile. “Yes, he did and I realize I don’t love him, so it would have been a big mistake. In the end he did me a favor. I just hope I don’t see him again.”
She seemed at a loss with my reply, I continue, “Meeting the sexy Mr Matthews sure as hell opened my eyes, he’s yummy, don’t you think?” By saying Mr Matthews I’m not actually lying, I just want them to believe I’m referring to Jake.
I’m sure I can hear someone choking in the background, turning I see Anna turn, heading for the kitchen. Hope she doesn’t realize I’m talking about her father. I don’t want to lie too much.
With a frown and ignoring my yummy comment, Elise asks, “So I hear Jake has been taking you around town?”
Grinning. “Yes, we went up on the ‘Big Red’ the other day. It was pretty terrifying really, but I stayed burrowed in Jake’s chest the whole time.”“Will you excuse me?” Elise says, on her way out of the room.“Hi Rona, how are you? Join us in the kitchen?” Beth says, on her way through the lounge.“Hi Beth.” She has already gone.
Just then my phone starts to ring, answering, because I know it’ll be Cade, “Hi handsome, you still missing me?”
He laughs, “I sure am. What are you up to?”“I’ve just arrived at Anna’s house, a girls’ get together. Beth and Elise are here as well.”“At least you’re not on your own. I’ll be back sometime tomorrow evening, earlier if I can swing it.”“I’ll be waiting. How’s everything there?” I ask, closing my eyes, listening intently to his voice.“Everything is going as planned up to now; I have another meeting in about five minutes. What did you do this morning?”
Heck, I certainly wasn’t going to tell him now, while at Anna’s house. “I just hung around and made lunch, nothing interesting.”“I need to go love. I’m thinking about you and will call you later tonight.”
With a husky voice, “Okay.” Then in a whisper, “I love you Cade.”“I love you too, stay safe.” Then he was gone.
I hope Cade won’t be too upset later when I tell him about Nick. Bringing my mind back to the present, I head towards the kitchen where I can hear the others chattering away.“Rona, come join us, the coffee is to your right. I came to get you but you were on the phone, so I thought it best to wait.”“Thanks Anna.” Pouring coffee into a cup, I take a seat at the table. “So when does the snow usually start? I love the snow and didn’t get enough while living in Ireland.”
Anna grins, “Snow is actually forecast for tomorrow afternoon.”
Oh no, I hope Cade makes it home.“So realistically, I’ll be able to make a snowman the day after tomorrow?” I ask with glee, realizing Cade will be fine.“That’s a given.” Elise replies. “Jake likes sledging. Perhaps you can get him to take you.”
Not quite sure how to take that response, “Perhaps I will after I’ve made a snowman.”
Anna and Beth were laughing, but Elise was just staring at me.
The afternoon was pleasant enough, but by the time Elise was leaving I had a headache; all I want is to go home and to have Cade there to hold me. I actually feel rather tearful. I’m guessing the stress from this morning is starting to catch up on me.
Not wanting Elise to carry on with the wrong assumption about me and Jake, as I have my answer, I follow her outside to her car, “Elise, wait up.”
She stops and looks at me, “I’m not sure what’s going on, but there’s no need to be jealous about me and Jake, because there isn’t a ‘me and Jake’. Jake really is only a friend, more like a brother really.”
With tears in her eyes, “I saw you kiss him when you arrived.”
I sigh, “I saw you in the window and I guess I wanted to see whether you still have any feelings for him, and you do.” As she wipes her eyes, I continue, “If you are still in love with Jake, which I think you are, you can’t marry Tom, it isn’t fair to him and it isn’t fair to Jake either.”
Leaning against her car, “Jake doesn’t care about me anymore. He doesn’t even talk to me,” she tells me, crying now.“I think if you tell Jake how you feel you will be very surprised.... that is of course, if he doesn’t put his foot in his mouth, I mean he is a guy and you make him nervous.”
Moving the tissue from her face, “I do?”
Laughing now, “You have no idea. I’ve never met Tom, but you can’t marry him when you’re still in love with Jake. Think about it.” I then turn away, heading back towards the house.
Walking back inside, “Anna, would you mind if I ask Jake to drop me off at the house when he gets here? I really don’t feel too good.” I rub my temples.“No that’s fine. What’s wrong? Do you want any painkillers?” Anna asks looking concerned.
Going to my purse I retrieve a painkiller, “I have a tablet, a glass of water would be good, please.”
I must have only been resting on the sofa for about fifteen minutes when Jake appears. I’m sure he’s early.
Jake comes in and crouches down in front of me, “Hey, what’s wrong? Anna rang and said you were unwell and want to go home.”“Oh Jake, I just have a headache, probably everything from this morning catching up on me.”“Come on, I’m going to take you home.” Jake helps me up. I love it when Cade and Jake call it home to me.“I think I’d better stay home with Rona,” Jake tells Anna.“Jake, you don’t need to stay with me, I’m going to go to bed and I’ll probably be there all night. You might as well come back and eat.”
Arriving back to the house Jake insists on accompanying me to my room. Once inside he starts fussing over me. Pulling the bedspread down, so I can get into bed, going to the bathroom for a glass of water and setting it down on the table beside the bed. “Do you need anything else?”“No, that’s fine. I really will be okay after I’ve had a sleep, please don’t worry.” Picking my pajamas up, I head towards the bathroom, stopping to hug Jake, “Thank you, now go eat with your sister and her family.”“If you’re sure you’ll be okay, then I will.” Jake hesitates by the door.
I wake up a few hours later to my phone ringing. Knowing its Cade, I try to compose myself, “Hi Cade, are you okay?”“I’m fine, but what about you, did I wake you, you sound sleepy?”“I was asleep. I had a headache earlier so Jake brought me home and after him fussing over me, I climbed into bed to sleep it off. It’s gone now so don’t worry.”
Sighing down the phone, and probably running his fingers through his hair, which he does when he’s worried, “Are you sure you’re okay love? I wish I was there with you.”“I’m fine, please don’t worry. I get stress headaches now and again.” I snuggle into the duvet.
After a pause, “Why are you stressed?”
On a nervous sigh, I realize I need to tell Cade about this morning, “Nick paid me a visit this morning, at the house. He had a friend follow us from the hotel yesterday.”
Cade is really quiet now on the phone, so I continue, wanting to get it all out. “He forced his way in and I guess he really frightened me. Luckily, I had my phone in my pocket. I managed to speed dial Jake so he came to the rescue, and punched Nick in the face just as the Sheriff arrived.”
I wasn’t going to tell him over the phone what was said.
Cade is still quiet. “Please say something!”“I’m not sure what to say, I’m so angry and upset right now.” Cade sounds all choked up.
I feel tears come to my eyes, “At me?” I ask softly, crying now.“God, love, I could never be angry with you. Please don’t cry. I’m angry that happened to you and that I wasn’t there to hold you, but never at you. I love you and I’m really worried about you. I wish I was there with you.”
Managing to control my tears, “I love you too, and I can’t wait to see you tomorrow, but please don’t worry about me. I’m just going to sleep until morning and then you’ll be home later.”“Where’s Jake?”“I insisted he went back to Anna’s for dinner, because I was going to sleep. He may be back by now.”“Rona, you shouldn’t be alone.”“It’s okay. Nick was arrested, he’s not around and Jake deserves a good meal at his sisters.”“All right,” sighing heavily. “Hell, I want to be there with you, just to hold you all night and keep you safe.”
At this, tears well up again. Knowing I’m about to have a very big cry, “Oh Cade, I want that as well, but you’re in Denver. Please don’t worry. I’ll be fine until tomorrow. I really need to go back to sleep now.”“Alright love, I’ll see you tomorrow night.”“Love you, goodnight.”
Hanging up the phone, I can’t hold my tears back, I know Cade is upset. I could hear it in his voice. I hadn’t wanted to hang up, but I don’t want him to know how upset I am.