Cade’s father sat in the formal living room in a wing-backed chair in front of the fireplace, which had a gentle fire flickering. He was reading the newspaper. He looked up when Cade and Hope entered the room and lowered the paper.

  “Cade,” he said with a curt nod.

  “John.” Cade’s returning one was equally brusque.

  John frowned. “I’m your father, son, and that’s what you should call me.”

  Silence filled the room before Cade said, “Dad.” His voice cracked and he cleared his throat.

  Coming out of his chair, his father stood. There appeared to be a thin sheen of moisture in the older man’s eyes as he gripped Cade by the shoulders and hugged him close. “Good to have you home, son.” He blinked a few times before he turned his attention to Hope. “Seeing that my son hasn’t seen fit to introduce you, I’m John Cade Senior.”

  “I’m Hope Goodwin,” she said, as the tension eased from between her shoulder blades.

  “Your mother has been fretting over this meal for a week.” He directed the comment to Cade, as he shook Hope’s hand. He led them into the dining room. “She wanted to be sure she remembered all your favorites.”

  “Tacos and fried chicken?” Cade asked, smiling.

  “It seems both are on the menu. I insisted on mashed potatoes and gravy to go with the chicken.” As he spoke, he pulled out a chair for Hope, silently inviting her to take a seat.

  “I’d like to help in the kitchen, if I may,” she said.

  “We appreciate the offer, but Sara’s got everything under control.”

  Hope took the seat and Cade sat down beside her. He reached for her hand and released a sigh as his father made an excuse to go into the kitchen. He returned in quick fashion to deliver the serving dishes.

  “That’s new,” Cade whispered, as his father headed back into the other room.

  “What is?”

  “My father lifting a hand to help Mom with dinner. It appears things have changed in the last six years.”

  * * *

  —

  The meal was delicious, and as it progressed the tension left the room. Conversation flowed freely with a lot of discussion revolving around the recent events in Oceanside. Neither man spoke of the past. What amazed Hope was how Cade and his father pretended this split in their relationship had never happened. Perhaps it was easier that way. The closest it came to being the least bit uncomfortable was when the subject of Cade’s job arose.

  “I understand from your mother you work at a tire store as a mechanic. Is that right?” his father commented, and although it sounded casual, Hope knew it wasn’t an idle question.

  “I do,” Cade said, without elaboration.

  “And you enjoy that work?”

  “Very much.”

  It seemed everyone at the table held their breath for his father’s reaction. They didn’t need to wait long.

  “You always were good with your hands. Even as a kid you enjoyed taking things apart. Cars these days are complicated machines. It takes someone who knows what they’re doing to figure out their inner workings.”

  * * *

  —

  After dessert was served and enjoyed—lemon meringue pie, another of Cade’s favorites—he made their excuses. They had a two-hour drive to Oceanside ahead of them. After words of appreciation from Cade and Hope, both parents walked them to the front door.

  “It was good to see you, son,” John said.

  “You too, Dad.”

  His mother hugged them both. With the rain coming down hard, Cade placed his hand at the small of Hope’s back as they raced toward his truck.

  Once out of the weather, Cade reached for Hope. He placed his hand around the back of her neck and dragged her mouth to his for a lengthy kiss. She was breathless when he released her, blinking several times at the passion behind the unexpected kiss.

  “What was that about?” she asked, her hand over the rapid beat of her heart.

  “A thank-you for coming with me today. For sharing your heart with me. For helping me to bridge the gap between my parents and me. In case you haven’t figured it out, I’m in love with you, Hope.”

  Smiling, she leaned her head against his shoulder. “I sorta figured. Guess you know I feel the same way about you.”

  “Yup,” he said, and started the engine. He put the car in reverse, ready to back out of the long driveway when Hope placed her hand on his forearm, stopping him.

  Cade reverted his attention to her. “Treasure your family, Cade.”

  Her words deeply touched him, seeing Hope had none of her own. “I do,” he assured her.

  Her smile was wide as she gave his arm a gentle squeeze.

  “Ready?” he asked.

  “Ready,” she told him.

  They were headed home.

  Chapter 26

  As much as he’d first hated the thought of counseling and group therapy, Cade had come to look forward to his weekly sessions with Harry. The man was wise beyond his years.

  Cade had come a long way from the angry, bitter man who’d stood before Judge Walters. He never would have believed serving his community with the court-ordered hours would have such a profound effect upon his life. Meeting Hope had changed everything for him. She was his light. His hope. Watching her patience and care for Shadow changed him. When he’d left the courtroom to do the community service hours required by the judge, his head had been messed up. He found it hard to believe that anyone really cared. Not for returning veterans, or for discarded animals. From the moment he’d met Hope, he’d been drawn to her. The attraction had gotten stronger, week by week, until she was all he thought about. Meeting with Harry and the others had helped him see he had the will and the power to move beyond the pain and loss of Jeremy and Luke, and the war in general. Hope gave him the incentive to be more, to work hard, to let go of the mental and physical agonies of war—to be the man she deserved. As was his practice, Harry waited for Cade to start the conversation. Eager to talk, Cade leaned forward. “The dinner with my parents went far better than I hoped.”

  “Wonderful, Cade. I felt that it would.” These weren’t words of platitude. Harry had never been one to speak anything but truth, whether Cade wanted to hear it or not. What Cade found amazing was how little Harry talked during their sessions. He let Cade find the truth with a few leading questions that subtly pointed him to the answers he needed.

  “Dad didn’t bring up our fight all those years ago, and I didn’t, either.” Cade had been prepared if his father had been determined to dig up the past. The bitterness between them could explode with only a few misspoken words. Cade had decided he would politely listen, more for Hope’s sake than for his own, apologize if that was what was needed, and ask if they could find a way to forgive each other. He had everything he’d planned to say prepared in his mind.

  Yet neither of them said a word about that horrible day when Cade had walked away from his family. Not a single word.

  A smile teased the edges of Harry’s mouth.

  “You find that humorous?”

  “Not exactly. I find it refreshing. You referred to him as Dad now instead of John.”

  It had been the most telling moment of the evening. As soon as his father spoke, Cade knew they were both ready to move forward and leave that final scene buried. He never would have thought it possible until then.

  They both had regrets. Both had misgivings. And it seemed neither one was willing to review their mistakes. There was no need when they were willing to let bygones be bygones. His dad preferred it that way, and frankly so did Cade. Right away the atmosphere had relaxed, and they were able to enjoy the dinner. Some awkwardness had remained, but only in the beginning. As the meal progressed it was almost as if no time had passed.

  Cade had been grateful for Hope’s presence. She was exactly the buffer they had all needed. He could tell that his mother was fond of her, and it wouldn’t surprise him if he learned the two had talked a couple times before this dinner. It was important to Cade that Hope feel comfortable with his parents. His desire was that one day she would be his wife and they would become her family.

  “This is our final session,” Harry reminded him.

  “The time went fast.”

  “It always does. I’m proud of you, Cade, and the work you’ve done.”

  “Thank you.” Harry wasn’t one to hand out easy compliments. His words of praise warmed him from the inside out.

  “What are your plans for the future?” Harry asked.

  “I’m a good mechanic,” Cade said. The grease under his fingernails proved it. “I’ve always enjoyed solving puzzles and using my brain. When I first went to college, I squandered my time with parties, giving my studies the bare minimum of effort. I’d like to go back, and this time apply myself.”

  “Don’t you already have one degree?”

  “I do, in political science. It was a degree my father thought would be an advantage before I entered law school.”

  “And what would your studies be now?” Harry asked.

  “Engineering. I believe I can make a success of it. It won’t take nearly as long this time, as I’ve fulfilled all my prerequisites. I’ve talked it over with Hope, and she’s all for it. We both know it won’t be easy to manage both school and work, plus our relationship. She’s my encouragement. I thank God every single day for sending her into my life.”

  “An attitude of gratitude,” Harry said. “That, young man, will take you far.”

  “The VA will help me with tuition costs, and hopefully I’ll be able to work enough hours to pay for my basic living expenses.” His budget would be tight, leaving little room for entertainment and unexpected costs. Sacrifices would need to be made. He was willing, and with Hope at his side, he felt confident of success.

  “Have you talked to your parents about this?”

  Cade hadn’t. Their relationship was fragile, and he didn’t want to risk upsetting it until they were on firmer ground. “Not yet.”

  “Why not?”

  Leave it to Harry to ask.

  “Guess I’m afraid they’ll be disappointed. Not my mother so much as my father.” There, he’d said it out loud. He couldn’t bear to destroy the delicate relationship they had started to rebuild.

  Harry nodded, as though he understood.

  “I’ll tell them in time.”

  “I can’t speak for your parents, Cade, but I believe they’ve learned their lesson and are willing to give you the support and encouragement you need to follow your own path.”

  “From your lips to God’s ear.” Cade sincerely hoped his counselor was right.

  “Will I see you Wednesday night?” Harry asked at the end of their session.

  “I wouldn’t miss it,” he said.

  They both stood and exchanged handshakes. Cade owed this man a great deal. He’d never forget Harry and the work he had done for him and countless other returning veterans. The counselor had been on the battlefield himself. He, too, had struggled with demons and found his way back, and in doing so helped to lead others on the same path to wholeness, despite their experiences and losses.

  * * *

  —

  The Wednesday before Thanksgiving, Harry and his wife, Penny, had invited the group session attendees to a potluck dinner at their home. They were to have their own celebration together.

  Over the weeks since they’d first started meeting, these men and Shelley had become his closest friends. They had shared a piece of themselves with one another, the deepest, darkest moments of loss. Together, they had held one another up with understanding, compassion, and encouragement. Cade knew that although the group wouldn’t meet again formally, they would all remain in touch as friends. Good friends. The kind of friends one could call in the middle of the night and not worry about being a bother.

  Cade picked up Hope and had to wait for her corn casserole to finish cooking before they could leave. The recipe was one she got from her grandmother, and a Thanksgiving tradition. They gave Shadow lots of love and attention before heading out.

  Because Hope had gotten delayed at school and hadn’t been able to get the casserole into the oven when she’d originally planned to, they were the last to arrive.

  Penny invited them into the house, and Hope disappeared into the kitchen with her, carting the casserole with thick oven mitts.

  Silas greeted Cade with a slap across his back. “About time you got here.”

  “Glad to hear I was missed.” Silas had brought Jada, who was chatting with Dean’s wife on the sofa.

  Shelley and Ricardo were on the other side of the room, sitting next to each other, holding hands. Romance was brewing between those two. Cade hadn’t noticed what was right under his nose until the day the group had gone to the high school to speak to Hope’s U.S. History class and they arrived together. It was the first time he’d seen them outside of their sessions. The way they looked at each other that day spoke volumes.

  As they gathered at the table, Cade noticed it was a crisscross of cultural delights, each person sharing their family favorites. Silas brought sweet potato pie, but he was quick to credit Jada for baking it. Ricardo contributed homemade tamales and Dean and his wife added potato casserole. Harry and Penny provided a ham.

  Before they dished up, Harry paused and offered a simple prayer.

  As he looked around at those seated at the table, Cade felt good. Bowing his head, he silently thanked God for His many blessings.

  When Harry finished the prayer, Cade looked up and knew this was only the beginning. The very best was yet to come.

  Epilogue

  After politely knocking, Cade waited for permission to enter Judge Walters’s chamber.

  “Come in.” Her voice came from the other side of the door.

  The judge sat at her desk, her glasses perched on the tip of her nose as she reviewed the papers in front of her.

  “Thank you for agreeing to see me,” Cade said, as he came into the room.

  When she looked up, Cade could tell by her expression that she didn’t remember him. With literally hundreds of defendants parading through her courtroom week after week, it was little wonder.

  “I’m John Cade Lincoln Junior. I stood before you a little over a year ago with a list of charges as long as your arm.” He reminded her of the circumstances and the orders he’d been given.

  Recognition lit up her face when he mentioned the physical therapy. “Soldier boy.”

  “Yes, Your Honor.”

  “What can I do for you, young man?”

  “I wanted to thank you. By all that was right and fair, I should have spent the last year behind bars. But you gave me a second chance, and I wanted to tell you how much I appreciate your faith in me.”

  Leaning back, the judge removed her glasses and set them on her desktop. “As I recall, you needed to make restitution.”

  It’d taken longer than Cade had hoped to pay off the cost of those damages. As it happened, Silas was working in an upholstery shop. Together they had reupholstered all the booths. Cade had paid for the fabric. The bar owner had deducted the cost of the booth against what he owed in damages, and that had helped considerably. Silas had refused to accept any compensation for his time.

  “You aren’t paying me, man. This is what friends do,” Silas had grumbled, as if Cade’s offer had insulted him.

  “Need another favor,” Cade told him. He had no intention of abusing the other man’s friendship.

  “You name it.”

  That was the kind of friend Silas was. “I’m going to need a best man, and I can’t think of anyone who has been a better friend than you.”

  Silas had laughed. “You want this ugly face standing next to you while you wait for your bride?”

  “No one I’d rather have.”

  “You got it, with the stipulation that if Jada decides she’ll be my wife, you’ll stand up for me.”

  “Soldier,” the judge said, bringing Cade back to the present.

  “Paid in full, Your Honor.”

  She nodded approvingly.

  “All my community service hours are completed, as are the counseling sessions,” he told her, and then, because he thought he should tell her, he added, “I didn’t go into it with a good attitude. I’m here to tell you it was the best thing I could have done. It would never have happened if it hadn’t been ordered by you.”

  Her smile told him she appreciated his truth.

  “I can see by the way you waltzed in here that the physical therapy helped, too.”

  The pain in his leg came and went. It would always be part of him, just as the loss of his two friends would. The pain was a constant reminder that he had been left alive for a reason.

  “Your limp is barely noticeable,” she commented.

  “I’ll admit there were days when I was cursing your name while doing those exercises. In the end they helped. I still limp, especially at the end of a long day, but not nearly as much as before.”

  The judge reached for her glasses. “So, what’s next for you, Soldier?”

  “I’m returning to college for an engineering degree. I was prepared to become a starving student, take on the loans, and do whatever was necessary to get my degree.”

  “You can manage working and school?”

  “I can now, thanks to my parents. They had money set aside for me to attend law school and offered to pay my school expenses for this next degree. I wasn’t going to let them, thinking they’d already paid for one, but I changed my mind.”

  Hope had helped him to see he was being stubborn. This offer was his father’s way of apologizing for pressuring Cade to enter law school. It didn’t take much of an argument to convince Cade to accept, especially since it meant he’d be able to marry Hope much sooner than he would if he had to pay all his expenses himself.