Under the Open Sky

Chapter Twenty-Seven

Amanda was relieved when her father came home. Their work load increased but at least they were no longer running to and from town daily. Her dad was making progress, his speech still slurred but much more intelligible now. He was sitting up, though the left side of his body didn’t fully co-operate. Amanda took the day shift and stayed close to her dad to help him. Her aunt took the night shift and Trent took the evening. By taking shifts they were able to stay with him around the clock.

“Here, we go, Daddy,” Amanda spooned soup into his mouth.

“Yo’re a good momma,” her father managed between bites.

“Thank you, Daddy,” Amanda gave him a sad smile.

“Bootiful, gran’daugh’er,” he told her.

“She is beautiful, now you need to eat,” Amanda informed him.

“Not a chil’” he protested.

“Well that makes two of us, you going to eat or aren’t you?” Amanda demanded.

“Sassy,” he accused.

“Always have been,” she smiled; he attempted to smile back.

Amanda finished feeding her father; then paused to eat before Cadey-Lynn woke ready for her own meal. The days were flying past, her daughter already more alert and aware of the world around her. She laid her daughter on the bed beside Sterling and watched him smile as his granddaughter looked up at him with huge sapphire eyes, her little body perpetually wiggling as she made sweet baby noises; her little fists often coming to rest in her mouth to be sucked on before she stopped to stare and grin up at her grandfather again.

That evening after returning to her own small home, Amanda sank onto the couch; she felt weary. Cadey-Lynn napped in her nearby bassinet and Amanda found herself drifting off as well.

“Mandy!” Jenny called as she entered the house. “I’m sorry if I had known you were resting I wouldn’t have bothered you; you need the sleep,” Jenny apologized.

“Nonsense, sit down and tell me why you sounded so shocked as you were coming in.

“Trent asked me out!” Jenny’s hazel eyes were wide with shock.

“Good,” Amanda smiled at her friend.

“I’m not sure it is.”

“You aren’t still ticked off?”

“Maybe a little,” Jenny admitted.

“Jenny, you’ve loved him for years, don’t miss this chance; trust me on this one, okay?”

“What if he breaks my heart?”

“What if he doesn’t?” Amanda countered.

“I’m scared to go for it,” Jenny voiced her frustration. “I don’t want to learn to be with him and then have to learn to be without him.”

“Jenny, you will regret it the rest of your life if you don’t give this a shot,” Amanda predicted.

“You’re right which is why I did agree; now I’m just working on talking myself out of it,” Jenny admitted.

“Go. I’m going to hold you to this. Would you mind watching Cadey-Lynn so I can shower?” Amanda requested.

“You know I don’t mind; go on and take your time. If Princess Cadey-Lynn wakes we’ll just hang out,” Jenny grinned at her friend.

“Thanks, Jenny,” Amanda stood. She gathered her things, started the shower, and let the hot water wash away the day’s tension. She was so happy for Jenny but she couldn’t stop her own tears from falling. She’d only just experienced what it was to live with Cade a part of her life and now he was gone and she was having to learn to live without him. That night she wrote in journal:

Cade,

Trent finally asked Jenny out! She is so scared and yet I know she’s excited too. I am so happy for them but I am so sad for us. I feel as though our chance was stolen. I so wish you were here, Cade. You would love your daughter. She is so sweet and special. She has learned to smile and make the cutest little noises; she’s such a happy baby. Well, unless you make her angry. She has learned to throw a tantrum too. Today I was trying to help Dad into a sitting position when she woke and decided she wanted to be picked up. By the time I made it to her side she was red faced, her cry sputtering like a dying plane engine. She clearly has the Jennings temper. I love you; miss you.

Amanda worked seemingly nonstop the next day, trying to help her father, keeping up with Cadey-Lynn and various household chores that were too easily neglected when more pressing matters arose. She washed up the laundry, cleaned out the fridge, and swept and mopped all the floors, all before lunch. When her brother came in at lunch he glanced around and frowned.

“Slow down, Mandy; you’re going to make yourself sick.”

“I’m fine,” Amanda insisted. “So you asked Jenny out,” Amanda smiled at her brother.

“I figured she’d tell you. Yeah, I asked her out, now I just have to find time to go.”

“I’ve got it covered tomorrow night. Go, have fun, and me and Cadey-Lynn will entertain Dad.”

“Mandy, you’re already doing too much.”

“Nonsense, now call Jenny and tell her you’ll pick her up tomorrow night.”

“Thanks, Mandy,” Trent kissed his sister’s cheek.

“You’re welcome.”

“Guess you haven’t been able to go out with Kevin anymore,” Trent’s question ruined Amanda’s good mood.

“Kevin and I are not dating,” Amanda bit out.

“Why not?” Trent demanded.

“Because I love Cade!” Amanda felt her ire rising.

“Look around, Mandy. Do you see him trying to see you? Has he called? Has he written? He did the guy thing, Mandy. He told you what you wanted to hear, got what he wanted, and when the going got tough, he bailed.”

Amanda flinched and tears stung her eyes.

“Is that what you plan to do to Jenny?” Amanda demanded.

“I’m looking to settle down, Mandy. Cade isn’t exactly the staying kind, now is he?” Trent turned and walked away, leaving Amanda to try to piece her heart back together yet again.

Amanda threw herself back into her work and checked on her father frequently. The physical therapist had been that morning and her dad always slept a lot after he left. Late that afternoon she looked in find her dad awake.

“Hi, Daddy; need anything?”

“You okay, Mandy Lynn?” his words were surprising clear.

“Trent and I argued; nothing new there,” Amanda shrugged.

“You work too hard. Need to meet a nice man and settle down.”

“I met a nice man,” Amanda turned and left the room.

That evening at home, Amanda still didn’t slow down; she worked until she was sore in her legs and back. By the time she did lay down, she was certain she would fall straight to sleep. She didn’t; she laid awake crying and her chest tight with pain. She finally reached for her journal.

Cade,

Today my brother asked me if you were trying to reach me or see and told me you had used me. I am still so angry I can’t see straight. I am also hurting because you haven’t called or written and a part of me fears he might be right. I don’t want him to be right. Why haven’t you called? Why haven’t you written? Was I a nice distraction? Another in a long line of women? Maybe you’ve moved on, filled your bed with someone else, while I lie awake every night aching for you beside me. I hope my brother’s wrong. I hope that I’m right. That somewhere you are lying awake thinking of me too; wanting to be with me as well. I love you.

Amanda entered the house the next morning to low angry voices coming from her father’s room. Amanda paused to place Cadey-Lynn in her swing and moved toward her father’s room.

“I don’t know, Dad…”

“You will do this,” her father’s voice was surprisingly strong and firm. His speech really was improving she realized.

“Is something wrong?” Amanda entered the room.

“No, Dad asked me to do him a favor is all,” Trent avoided her gaze and rushed from the room.

“Is he okay?” Amanda demanded of her father.

“We disagreed; still my decision,” her father responded, his expression still stormy.

“Can I help any?”

“No.”

“Right. I’ll start breakfast,” Amanda turned and left for the kitchen. She carried her father’s tray to his room and prepared to feed her father.

“Leave it,” he snapped.

Amanda pulled the table close; made sure everything was in her father’s reach and left him as requested. Today her work load was light and Amanda spent her day playing with Cadey-Lynn; Amanda checked on her father every half hour. Trent returned from town, his mood no better than their father’s.

“You okay?” Amanda asked him.

“I’m fine,” Trent shrugged; his expression was still stormy.

“I hope you are in a better mood before tonight,” she teased him.

Trent smiled and seemed to relax. “I will be.”

“Good; that’s my best friend you are taking out. You treat her right, Trent.”

“I will,” he responded defensively.

“You better,” she reiterated.

Later that evening, Amanda watched him leave for his date and returned to the kitchen to finish dinner. A sound at the door pulled Amanda’s attention to the door.

“Dad!” Amanda startled at finding him clinging to the door.

“Tired of that damned bed,” her father growled before he labored to his chair. Amanda could hear Naomi coming down the hall and turned to watch her aunt’s reaction to her father being out of bed.

“Sterling! What are you doing up?” Naomi rushed to his side.

“Reclaiming my manhood,” Sterling leaned on the table but looked determined. After dinner, Amanda stood and cleared the table. Sterling, holding the wall for support, insisted on moving to the living room.

They were going to have to get him a cane or something, Amanda realized.

“Go on home, Amanda; you’ve been here all day,” Naomi ordered after she had made certain Sterling was situated in his recliner.

“I think I will,” Amanda nodded; she felt as though she could go on to bed. Amanda gathered her and Cadey-Lynn’s things and walked the distance between the main house and her own little corner of the ranch. The night was chilly, prompting her to make certain Cadey-Lynn’s blankets were firmly over the child, and to pick up her pace. She soon had Cadey-Lynn in the tub, her little arms splashing as she squealed happily. When water splashed into her eyes, she blinked in shock and Amanda laughed as she reached for a rag to wipe the water from her daughter’s face.

“Oh, Cadey-Lynn, your daddy would love you so much,” she leaned forward to kiss her daughter’s forehead. “Can you believe Mommy will be a whole twenty years old, next week?” Amanda lifted her daughter and wrapped her in a towel. “And I’m already mommy to the best little girl in the whole world.”

Amanda dressed Cadey-Lynn for bed, fed her, and put her down for the night. Amanda took the baby monitor to the couch with her and found an old romantic comedy on one of the movie networks. She laughed as she watched the interplay between Katherine Hepburn and Carey Grant. If only life were as neat and tidy as the movies, she mused wistfully. Sometime later Amanda woke and wiped tears from her eyes. She had been dreaming of Cade. Amanda stood and moved to the kitchen to pour a glass of juice before she returned to the couch. A knock on her door brought her back to her feet.

“Jenny? What are you doing here?”

“I left for your house right after your brother dropped me off,” she admitted.

“Come in,” Amanda smiled. “How was it?” she asked, though her friend’s bright eyes suggested it had gone well.

“Oh, Mandy,” Jenny sighed, her eyes dreamy. “We had a wonderful time.”

“Good, was my brother a gentleman?” Amanda asked, and watched her friend scrunch her face up.

“Yes, though given it was our first date, I’ll forgive him,” she joked. Amanda picked up a pillow from beside her and walloped her friend.

“Didn’t you learn anything from me?” Amanda demanded.

“Yes, grab life while you can.”

“Well, not exactly what I was thinking but I suppose there is a grain of truth in that,” Amanda smiled at her friend. “So tell me all about it,” Amanda invited. She listened for the next hour as best friend poured over the events of the evening and began analyzing and over thinking everything until she was pacing the floor.

“He wanted to marry my sister; do you really think it could work for us?” Jenny stopped to question Amanda.

“I think it could,” Amanda nodded.

“I hope so,” Jenny sank onto the couch.