Page 113 of Wilde Flame

Nodding, I replied, “I do, indeed.”

“I’ll call him right now.”

After telling my father what I wanted, he called Mitch, who told me I didn’t have to pay for the theater; I could use it for free.

“Do you have to rush off?” my mother asked, as she walked into the living room with three bowls of popcorn.

As much as I wanted to get back to the house and talk to Lilibeth, I settled on the sofa next to my mother, letting her curl up next to me, and we watched a movie.

It was moments like this that I longed to be that little boy who used to crawl onto her lap and let her hold me while she watched her favorite films. The feel of her head resting on my shoulder was just as beautiful though.

The smell of bacon caused me to open my eyes and sit up quickly. I looked around, confused by where I was for a moment, then realized I’d fallen asleep on my parents’ sofa.

I stood and looked for my phone. When I couldn’t find it, I made my way to the kitchen.

My mother smiled when she saw me. “Good morning. You must have been exhausted. You fell asleep last night about ten minutes into the movie. Your father tried to wake you up, but you were out.”

“I guess I was tired. Do you know where my phone is?”

She motioned with her head. “Charging. I called Lilibeth to let her know you fell asleep watching a movie with us last night.”

I stopped and looked back at my mother. She was placing the bacon on a plate. “You called Lilibeth?”

Without looking at me, she replied, “Yes, this morning. I didn’t want her to worry if she realized you hadn’t come home last night.”

I felt the corner of my mouth twitch. Mom called so that Lilibeth would know I’d been here all night, not with someone else.

Making my way over to my mother, I drew her to me and hugged her. “I love you, Mom.”

Her arms wound around me, and she held me tight. “I love you more, Caden.”

Kissing the top of her head, I said, “Thank you.”

She took a step back and winked. “I’ve got your back. Always have, always will.”

“I hope you didn’t do all of this for me?” I asked, as I took in the bacon and pancakes.

“I wish I could say I had, but Emeline, Levi, and the kids are coming over. It’s for them.”

I was suddenly filled with so much joy, I could hardly contain myself. I laughed, kissed her on the cheek, and said, “I’ve got to go, Mom.”

“I figured as much. Kiss Lilibeth for me.”

Winking, I said, “I will.”

Rushing out of the house, I jumped in my truck and started for my place. It was strange; the moment I’d decided I wasn’t going to hide any longer, I couldn’t wait to get to Lilibeth. I pulled up and parked next to her car. I got out and jogged to the front door, unlocking it and rushing in. I threw my jacket on the floor and made my way toward the kitchen.

When she wasn’t there, I headed upstairs but was stopped when I saw Misty. I reached down and picked her up. Staring into her blue eyes I said, “We are not going to let her go little one. Not if I can help it!”

Setting the cat down, I headed up the steps. As I reached the top, I heard music coming from the room that would be the baby’s. I crept down the hall and stopped at the doorway. Then nearly laughed at the sight before me.

Lilibeth was dressed in pink overalls, her hair pulled up in a ponytail with a blue ribbon tied into a bow. She danced to “Boogie Shoes” while using a paintbrush to dab different colors of paint on the walls. I leaned against the doorjamb and watched. If I’d thought I was falling in love before, seeing her in this moment only confirmed I was in love already.

She still hadn’t seen me. She lifted the brush to her mouth as she sang loudly, “I want to put on…my, my, my, my, my boogie shoes!”

I couldn’t wipe the smile off my face if I tried. The song ended and another began. It was Janet Jackson’s “Escapade,” and the only reason I knew that was because it was one of my mother’s favorite songs.

Lilibeth danced in a little circle before using her paintbrush again. I’d backed out of the doorway so she couldn’t see me. I peeked in, and she was back to painting samples on the wall, all the while, singing her lungs out.