Under the Open Sky

Chapter Thirty-Four

Jenny had grilled Amanda about her afternoon and evening with Reece and readily agreed to watch Cadey-Lynn and made Amanda go shopping for her date. Amanda had chosen a pretty green sundress and bought herself a nice jacket to go over it. Her heart had been about to pound from her chest as she waited for Reece and continued to behave erratically over dinner at a nice restaurant in Haddon. After eating, they strolled through town as they talked and shared details about themselves they hadn’t yet covered. When Reece walked her to her door at the end of the night, Amanda knew she would be seeing him again. He had kissed her lightly on the lips, hesitated a moment, and then kissed her more thoroughly before he bid her good night and left. His kiss hadn’t set off the same intense response in her as Cade’s had, but it had definitely set off some fireworks.

As Jenny’s due date approached, Amanda waited for the call to come that they were off to the hospital. The call came in the dead of the night; Amanda hurried to dress. Her father had suggested ahead of time that Amanda bring Cadey-Lynn and leave her with him. He said he would see the baby first thing the next morning and Amanda and Naomi wore definitely more equipped to help Jenny deal with child birth, he reasoned. Jenny’s parents reached the hospital right behind them and hurried into the waiting area. Once Jenny was settled, they took turns visiting her where she and Trent waited impatiently for their child to arrive.

It was well into the next afternoon before Angela Naomi Jennings arrived already screaming her displeasure with the world. Amanda had taken one look at her niece and fallen head over heels in love. Sterling arrived and playfully demanded to know when someone was going to give him a grandson.

“We’ll be waiting a while. Talk to Mandy; she has a new suitor,” Trent teased his sister.

“I am a long way from knowing whether I would want that with Reece,” Amanda protested.

“He’s a nice man, Mandy,” her father encouraged her.

“I need time to know that,” she insisted.

“You know you want another one,” Jenny teased.

“I would, if and when it’s the right time, right man,” Amanda acknowledged. Cadey-Lynn sat perched in her mother’s arms and frowned at the baby as though she was an unwelcome invasion.

“Baby,” she finally pointed at the little one.

“That’s Angie,” Amanda carried her daughter closer to Trent, who held his daughter.

“Angie?” Cadey-Lynn leaned in. “Angie play wif Cay-Lynn.”

“She’s not big enough yet, give her a little time and she’ll love playing with you,” Amanda promised. Cadey-Lynn seemed to lose interest at that point and started squirming to get down.

“You do not need down in here,” Amanda informed her daughter. “I’m going to take her home, congrats you two; she’s beautiful, but then you know already know that.” Amanda kissed her new niece, her brother, and Jenny before leaving. Jenny had been right, Amanda wanted another child, but she wasn’t about to rush into a relationship just to get one.

Amanda found herself visiting Jenny and little Angie frequently and drinking in the sight and smell of the sweet little one. The only child she had ever loved more was her own daughter. Her relationship with Reece was going well, though she was insisting on taking things slow. They had been on several more dates, just the two of them as well as with Cadey-Lynn in tow. Cadey-Lynn had decided that Reece was her favorite new play thing. He would push her on the swing for seemingly forever, give her rides on his shoulders, and even let her ride on his back and play horsey. Amanda liked him; she liked him a lot but when he asked her to meet his family while they were visiting she had almost run the other way. He had finally convinced her to come, insisting that Cadey-Lynn be included. It was on shaking legs she entered his house the night of the gathering.

“Reece is back,” a petite brunette announced as she hurried toward them. Amanda could see the resemblance immediately; this had to be his sister.

“Rachel, this Amanda and Cadey-Lynn. Amanda my favorite little sister in the world, Rachel,” Reece made the introductions.

“It is so nice to meet you,” Rachel hugged Amanda. “I have been hearing about you since Reece moved here. First how he couldn’t figure out how in the world he was ever going to get you to go out with him,” Rachel’s eyes gray were twinkling as she shared this.

Amanda felt heat climb into her cheeks.

“Come on Rache, really,” Reece chastised his sister. An older couple had joined them as they spoke and stood smiling as they waited for their introductions.

“Amanda, this is my mother, Stella, and my father Oliver,” he introduced the couple. Mom, Dad, may I introduce Amanda and this little cutie is Cadey-Lynn.”

“Hi, it’s nice to meet you,” Amanda returned nervously. This felt serious despite Reece’s assurance that his parents knew they were still getting to know each other.

“It’s our pleasure, as Rachel said, we’ve heard a lot about you.”

“Why don’t we all get out of the doorway and settle in to visit shall we,” Reece placed his hand on Amanda’s back to lead her into the room. Cadey-Lynn seemed to feel none of Amanda’s trepidation and had soon charmed the entire room with her smiles and wide eyes as she climbed into laps to investigate each one of them. She seemed quite amazed at the mustache above Oliver’s lip and kept touching it and studying it.

“None of the men in my family wear a mustache,” Amanda explained her daughter’s fascination. As the night wore on Amanda felt her tension drain away and found herself laughing with these friendly people. It was easy to see where Reece got his charm and good manners. His family was great. By the time she left she was the one offering hugs.

“Thank you for coming, Amanda,” Reece took her hand as he drove.

“Thanks for talking me into it. Your family is awesome, Reece.”

“I like them. They like you, I can tell and well, Cadey-Lynn is hard not to love.”

“Cadey-Lynn could charm the horns off a Billy goat,” Amanda laughed.

“Yes, she could. She charmed me the first time I met her, but then so did her mother,” Reece teased.

“Oh, you like women who crawl around on the floor?”

“One, anyway.”

His answer made her laugh. Back at her cabin, he helped her carry a sleeping Cadey-Lynn and her bag and seat inside before Amanda walked him to the door.

“Thanks again for coming,” Reece slid his arms around her and pulled her close. He leaned down to kiss her and Amanda kissed him back and wound her arms around him. Reece pulled back a moment later and cleared his throat.

“I should go,” he told her. Amanda followed him onto the porch and waved as he left. She returned inside and sank onto the couch to contemplate the evening. It had been fun and not as awkward or frightening as she had feared it would be. Amanda remembered Reece’s kiss and smiled. He was a patient man, she’d give him that. She knew without being told that he didn’t push her for more out of respect for her need to go slow. She was still smiling as she stood and moved upstairs to dress for the night.

Amanda stood beside Reece and smiled at her high school friends as they milled around under a pavilion in the park. Chloe had called all of the old group she could find and invited them and their significant others or family to all meet at the park. Cadey-Lynn was perched in Reece’s arms and surveying the distant play equipment. A few feet away, Jenny was showing off her own daughter to Dede and her fiancé.

“How’ve you been,” Lisa asked of her.

“Good; have you met, Reece?” Amanda asked.

“I think he saved one of my dad’s horses a few weeks ago, but no; I don’t think we have officially met,” Lisa admitted and Amanda introduced them.

“Mandy!” Chloe rushed up to hug her. “Well, who’s this?” Chloe studied Reece curiously. Amanda made introductions again and watched Chloe glance between them speculatively.

“I hope things go well for you two,” she finally offered on a smile.

“Thanks, Chloe,” Amanda returned her smile.

Amanda circled through the crowd, introduced Reece when necessary and met several friend’s new love interest and in a couple of cases; new spouses. Reece ran into one man he knew from being on his ranch recently and struck up a conversation. Amanda smiled to let him know she didn’t mind his lingering and he smiled back as she moved on and greeted more of her friends. Today’s gathering was bigger than the party Jason had held a few years earlier. Wow; had it really been a few years? Where was time going?

“Mandy!” Samantha called.

“Sam!” Amanda grinned as she approached her friend and hugged her with her free arm; Cadey-Lynn was perched on one hip. Amanda hadn’t seen or spoken to Samantha since the night of Jason’s party, she realized in surprise.

“Oh, wow; I don’t even have to ask who her daddy is. She looks just like Cade!” Samantha exclaimed.

“She does,” Amanda agreed.

“How are you and Cade anyway?” Samantha queried.

“I haven’t seen Cade in a few years now,” Amanda admitted.

“Amanda!” Samantha’s eyes grew dark with concern.

“Hey, Mandy,” Troy interrupted and hugged her before dropping an arm around Samantha. “Did Sam tell you the good news?”

“No; what good news?” Amanda smiled at him.

“We’re getting married this fall.”

“Congratulations!” Amanda hugged them both again.

“She looks like her daddy,” Troy took Cadey-Lynn’s hand and playfully shook it.

Samantha shot him a look of warning.

“How is Cade?” Troy asked obliviously. “What?” he asked when Samantha sighed.

“I haven’t seen Cade in a few years but I am seeing someone. He’s very nice and he’s here with me today,” she let them know they didn’t have to tiptoe around her. Cadey-Lynn wiggled to get down and reached for her Uncle Trent as he passed. He reached for her and Amanda let her go.

“What happened?” Troy was frowning at her in confusion.

“My dad and Trent ran him off and I never heard from him again; he’s never even seen his daughter,” she admitted.

“That doesn’t make sense,” Troy argued.

“What doesn’t make sense?” David joined them.

“David; how are you?” Amanda offered him a hug.

“Good; I moved off to granola country; I live in San Francisco now.”

“Granola country; that’s funny,” Amanda laughed.

“Some nice but strange folks around there.”

“How are you, David?” Troy greeted his old friend.

“Good; you?”

“I’m great. Sam and I are getting married in a couple of months.”

“Hey, congratulations! I’m still waiting to meet the right woman. Now what doesn’t make sense?” David queried.

“Cade leaving Amanda,” Troy offered.

“What?” David frowned at Amanda.

“Her father and brother ran him off and she hasn’t heard from him since,” Samantha explained.

“That doesn’t make sense. I knew the night he beat the hell out of Chris that Cade was in love with you, Amanda,” David looked truly perplexed.

“Obviously we were all wrong,” Amanda shrugged. “I’ve moved on; life happens,” Amanda assured him.

“I’m sorry to hear that, Amanda,” David looked troubled.

“Thanks.”

“I see Jenny finally got her man,” David was smiling now.

“You knew?” Amanda smiled at him quizzically as Troy and Sam excused themselves to say hi to the others.

“Yeah, Jenny and I had fun together but we were both interested in other people.”

“That’s a little odd,” Amanda informed him.

“Nah, it was easier than sitting around alone,” David shrugged.

“I guess I can see that,” she mused as she recalled her own experience with Kevin.

“I know my timing is probably terrible, but I am only in town for a couple of days; could I take you to dinner?” David requested.

Amanda laughed nervously. “Wow, um,” she watched Reece approach, Cadey-Lynn in his arms and felt relief wash over her. “David, I would like you to meet Reece Foster; Reece this is David Lewis. Reece and I are dating,” Amanda explained.

“Right, sorry; I should have realized you would be seeing someone,” David nodded.

“This is my daughter, Cadey-Lynn,” Amanda added.

She watched David survey Cadey-Lynn with a frown.

“Cade left knowing you were carrying his child?” David looked confused now.

“No; he didn’t know about Cadey-Lynn,” Amanda informed him.

David shook his head, his expression confused. He glanced between her and Reece and seemed to reconsider whatever had had been about to say.

“Good luck to you, Mandy. It was nice to meet you, Reece,” David, his expression was still baffled, nodded and hurried off.

“What was that about?” Reece asked her.

“I hadn’t seen David in years; he didn’t know about everything,” Amanda shrugged.

“Did I hear him ask you out?” Reece was watching her closely.

“Yeah,” Amanda reached for her daughter. “I see Cadey-Lynn made it back to her favorite person,” she teased to change the subject. The rest of the afternoon passed pleasantly enough but her encounter with David had left her shaken. That night she wrote:

Cade,

Today several of my old classmates met in the park for an unofficial reunion; Chloe organized it. I hadn’t seen several of them since that night Jason invited us all to his grandparent’s place. I still smile when I think about that night. It was so nice to see everyone today and yet it was difficult too. Many of them met Cadey-Lynn for the first time. Not a single person asked who her father is; not one. Instead they all seemed puzzled that you were gone. It’s reassuring to know I’m not the only one except that it only confuses me more. I’m supposed to be moving on; I’m dating for crying out loud! I don’t need to start this round of questioning again! I have to stop writing in here; I have to quit clinging to dreams. This is reality; what I’m living. You’re gone, I have a daughter to raise, and I can’t stagnate here waiting for nothing. I still miss you, I still miss you.