Cade hugged his children with his good arm, as he lay helpless in his hospital bed.  The children crowded around him where they could find room.  The nurse eventually shooed the children out so that she could take Cade’s vital signs.  They didn’t want to leave, but the nurse insisted.  Cade needed his rest.   

Callie was relieved now that Cade was awake, and all she could do was weep.  Cade weakly pulled her to him after the children and the nurse were gone, and she laid her head on his chest.  “Shhhh,” he said softly.  “It’s alright.”

“I’m so glad you are alive,” she sobbed.  

“It’s going to be OK,” Cade assured her as he lightly rubbed her back.  He felt terrible, but he managed a slight smile before closing his eyes and drifting back to sleep.        

Callie eventually left his side and she began thinking about going home.  She was anxious to sleep in her own bed and hated the motel room, but the more she thought about the empty house without Cade, the more she realized she wasn’t ready to go back yet.  She didn’t want to return home without Cade, so she resolved to stay until he was well enough to leave the hospital.     

Angie and Lonnie continued to bring fresh clothes for Callie and the children, but they still hadn’t found a way to tell them the news about the construction on their home.    

“Thank God you’re OK,” Lonnie grinned when he finally visited Cade.  “Lord knows I’ve had a hard time keeping apprentices as it is.”  

Angie elbowed him, “This is not about just losing an apprentice you big oaf, you know you would be up shit creek without Cade.”  Then she smiled at Cade, “I’m so glad you’re OK Cade.”   

Cade coughed and managed a weak grin.  “I knew Lonnie could never find anyone else dumb enough to agree to be his apprentice, so that thought is what kept me going,” he grimaced.  Cade was in a regular hospital room now, and no longer in the intensive care unit.  Lonnie and Angie’s kids were running around the hospital corridors, and Angie continually left the room to scold them.

Cade’s children were running around with Lonnie and Angie’s children.  It had been a long haul for Cade’s family, and the children were tired of being at the hospital.  The hospital staff shared their sentiment.  Everyone was grateful that it wouldn’t be long before Cade would be going home.     

***

Two days after he woke up, Cade left the hospital with his arm in a sling so that the stitches in his shoulder wouldn’t tear.  Callie drove, and her driving got on Cade’s nerves.  When they finally reached the house, Callie screeched on the brakes.  A crowd was there waiting to greet them, and after the car stopped, it was time to get out of the car.  Callie felt light headed as she looked at the crowd and her renovated house.  She felt as if she were going to faint when she saw the newly built garage.   

“Look daddy,” Jessica rushed to get out of the car to go look at the new garage.  Harley and Ashley quickly followed.  Callie blinked several times until she was finally convinced that she wasn’t seeing things.

Cade had been the center of attention the last few months, but he had never grown used to the spotlight.  All of their neighbors who were there to greet them seemed happy that Cade was alive and well.  Cade slowly got out of the car with Callie’s help.  He didn’t have the energy to walk around much.  Several people helped him inside the house so he could sit down on the brand new living room couch.  He made small talk with everyone who had come to see him, thanking them for everything they had done to help.  Finally, he spotted Lonnie.  “What happened to my house?”  He asked.  He somehow thought Lonnie and Angie were responsible.    

Lonnie shrugged, “I’m not sure how to explain it to you,” he sighed.  

“I feel like I left the slums and came back to The Ritz-Carlton,” Cade said.

Angie laughed, “Trust me Cade, this is not The Ritz.”  

Lonnie rolled his eyes, “As if you would know Anj.”

“Well if you would take me on a vacation once in awhile, I just might know.” Angie quipped.

“I’m just a poor plumber for God’s sake.  Tell her Cade,” Lonnie pleaded.   

Cade smiled and then glanced around at the interior of the living room, noticing the refinished wood floors and all of the new furniture.  He realized he had never lived in a house this nice before.    

Callie continued to thank everyone who had come, and she made sure everyone got some of the refreshments that Angie had furnished.  Everyone who was there seemed happy about Cade’s recovery.  The hours of time they had donated, seemed worth it to them, especially when they saw how grateful Callie and Cade were.  

Lonnie began herding the crowd outside and away from the house, thanking them for coming.  The weather had turned cold and a feeling of snow was in the air, so the crowd didn’t linger.     

“How did this happen?”  Callie asked Angie when the last guest was finally gone.  

Angie glanced at Lonnie and realized there was simply no other way around it other than to tell them straight out.  She began explaining to Callie and Cade that Gary Holmes had shown up and decided to fund the project.  Angie explained how Gary had insisted that the work was to be completed in a week and how he had hired half-a-dozen contractors, along with at least a hundred workers, not to mention the volunteers.  With everyone pitching in, the work was miraculously completed on time.  Cade was weak, but hearing Gary’s name got a reaction from him.  He stood up, “I don’t want any charity from that asshole.”  

Callie swallowed, “Why would Gary Holmes want to do something like this for us?  I thought he hated us?”

The children were racing from room to room, looking at the new furnishings, and trying everything out.  “I think Gary Holmes felt he owed it to you because his Aunt Martha was denied her inheritance.”  Angie said.   

“So this was all about easing his conscience,” Cade grumbled.  “I’ve a good mind to burn it to the ground.”

Callie looked down.  She understood how Cade felt, but the way the house looked was wonderful.

Angie rushed to Cade’s side and took his arm, “You need to take it easy Cade, so you can heal.  Let’s get you upstairs.”  

Lonnie grabbed Cade’s other arm and he and Angie helped Cade up the stairs to his room.  Sandra Holmes had insisted that all of the antique furniture in the house was preserved.  Everything else was repainted and polished.  The new throw rugs that covered the floors were no longer threadbare.  Cade was exhausted and as he looked at his bed, all he wanted to do was crawl into it.  Lonnie and Angie eased him down onto the bed, and made him comfortable.  As they got him a glass of water, and the other things he needed to be comfortable, he closed his eyes and drifted off to sleep.  

Callie sent the children away from where Cade was sleeping and closed the door, and then she looked at the children’s bedrooms.  They pointed out all of their new furnishings.  Their clothes were washed.  There were new clothes among the old ones.  Harley could hardly believe his eyes when he realized the old closet next to Callie and Cade’s room had been expanded and made into a second bathroom.  It was large with a door leading into Callie and Cade’s room on one side, and an entry from the hallway on the other.  

Callie looked at the tile floor and antique style fixtures and tub in the bathroom.  It was heavenly, and it wasn’t like the downstairs bathroom, which was small and cramped.  New towels hung on the towel racks, and Callie could not believe the work that had gone into the decorating and renovating of the house.  It was miraculous.  

The downstairs back porch was expanded and a brand new washer and dryer were there.  Tears filled Callie’s eyes.  She had never been the recipient of this type of charity before.  She knew it was because of the respect everyone had for Cade and that it had nothing to do with her, but she was grateful.  She wept for joy, and her heart could not stop racing.  

“It’s beautiful,” Jessica said as she entered each room.  

Callie walked out to see the new garage.  It was similar to the design of the old garage, with a high ceiling and rafters.  It had two automatic doors and a new workbench for Cade.  All of the tools they could salvage from the fire, along with some new ones, were organized on a pegboard above the work bench.  

Callie got a lump in her throat.  In a million years, she knew they would never have been able to afford these things.  The kitchen was her favorite part of the house.  The antique cabinets were refinished and brand new cooking appliances and utensils filled the drawers and shelves.  A new dinette set was in the kitchen, and the pantry was fully stocked.  Callie walked into the pantry and slowly removed the sugar to verify that the old razor strop was still there.  She wondered briefly what people thought when they saw the strop.  Part of her wished they had thrown it away, but another part of her felt secure in knowing that it was still there.   

***

Gary Holmes waited a week after Cade returned home, before paying a visit.  When he arrived at Cade’s home, Cade was much stronger.  The children were at school when Gary and his wife arrived.  Cade was sitting on the couch and Callie was doing some housework.  Callie and Cade heard the car drive up outside, but it was more difficult to hear through their new windows.  Callie wasn’t surprised to see Gary and his wife because she knew it was just a matter a time before they showed up.      

They knocked, and Callie rushed to the front door and nervously opened it.  “Hello, I’m Sandy,” Sandy said warmly when Callie opened the door.  Sandy extended her hand, “and this is my husband Gary,” she pointed to Gary.  Callie wasn’t used to a woman being as bold as Sandy, introducing herself and then her husband.  It was usually the other way around.

“I’m Callie,” Callie responded.

“Hello Callie,” Gary said softly.

Callie nervously shook Gary Holmes hand, “Come in,” she motioned.

Cade looked up when they entered and said nothing.  

Sandy immediately noticed Cade’s rugged appearance.  The sight of him aroused her a little because he had such a strong male presence.  She seldom encountered men like that anymore, especially in the social circles she traveled in.  “So what do you think about the new furnishings?”  Sandy asked.

Cade frowned and stood up to face them.  “I never gave you permission to do this.”  Cade addressed his words to Gary, since that was the male thing to do.  

“I know that Cade,” Gary said in a strong voice.  “I thought it was time for a new start, for all of us, and I felt this was one way to do that.”  

“You must have thought I could never afford to fix up this house like this.”  Cade’s jaw was tense.  

Gary looked down, “I never thought about that one way or the other.  I just knew that you were cheated out of your inheritance Cade, and because of your circumstances, I felt now was the time to try making it right.”  

“So you thought you could make it right,” Cade rolled his eyes.  “This is my inheritance?”   

“Compared to the inheritance you should have gotten,” Gary explained, “This house is nothing.”  

“Are you talking about my grandmother’s inheritance because she was a Holmes?”  Cade asked.

“Yes,” Gary said firmly.  “She was disinherited for marrying your grandfather.”  

“It was her choice,” Cade spat.  “She didn’t care about her inheritance and neither do I.”  

“Indeed,” Gary nodded.  This was even more difficult than he thought it might be.  “I knew if I offered you money, that you would refuse it.”

“You got that right,” Cade said.

“So, I decided that you and your family deserved a nice house for all of the shit you’ve all had to put up with since arrived in town.  You were right Cade, that none of us had anything to do with what happened years ago between James Harrison, Milton Pennington, and my grandfather Garrison Holmes II.”  Gary paused.  “Your great-grandfather James was a good man, and he put a stop to Milton buying up the entire town.  I know James originally bought this land as a joke, and then changed his mind about selling it to Milt because of the way Milt acted.  That’s when the war began.  I can see that your Great-grandfather James made it possible for men like old Mr. Jameson, who didn’t have any means to buy any land, to purchase some.  If James hadn’t done that, I’m afraid of what this town would be like today.”

Cade was still weak, and he sat back down on the couch.  “I know about the history between our grandfathers,” Cade said in a tired voice.  

“All I’m saying Cade is that over the years my admiration for your Great-grandfather has grown,” Gary said.  “Without his courage, this town would have been a much different place.  I watched Drake struggle to get this land back, and prior to that, I watched his father struggle.  They attempted to get this land back for a long time, without success.  Your great-grandfather James was smart to keep this land safe from them by making every landowner sign a contract that they would not sell their land for at least twenty years, and that their land could only be willed to a relative, or it would go back to James.”  

Cade snickered, “I can’t decide if James was smart, or mean.”

Gary chuckled, “Probably a little of both, because every man has both sides in him.”  

Cade looked up at Callie, “Go into the kitchen for a few minutes, and take Sandy with you,” he said.   

Callie’s face turned red because she didn’t like being ordered around, but she quickly complied with Cade’s words.  Sandy followed.  Cade then insisted they close the door to the living room so they couldn’t hear the conversation he was about to have with Gary.  Callie complied.

“I want to know what happened to my father,” Cade said when the kitchen door was closed.  “I know Drake shot him.”  

Gary looked down.  “I don’t think I’m at liberty to say anything about that Cade.  I’m not innocent in that situation because I didn’t turn Drake over to the authorities the way I should have done.  I’m an old man now, and I don’t really want to spend the rest of my life locked up in prison for aiding and abetting or obstruction of justice.”  

“My God,” Cade said with irritation.  “Do you really think I care about pressing charges against you?  I just want answers, and then I want to go on with my life in peace.  I’ve been in prison before Gary, and I wouldn’t send my worst enemy there.”  He looked around the house, “Especially when they rebuild my house for me.”

Gary smiled.  “It’s true Cade.  Drake got a gun and went after Dusty.  He found him in the bar in the city and he got very drunk and shot him.”  Gary said.  “It happened after a bad argument with his father.   Drake’s father William was even unhappier than Drake was I think, and he was always putting him down.  Drake was irrational and out of his mind with rage, and the target of his rage was always Dusty.  Drake called me after he realized what he had done, and I helped him avoid the law.”  

Cade wondered briefly if Drake’s father was anything like Seth.  “I heard Dusty was a good man,” Cade said quietly.

“Dusty was one of those people that only come along once in a lifetime,” Gary said.  “He had the best of the Holmes and Harrison’s in his blood.  He shone like a big bright star, and everything he touched seemed to turn to gold.  There was a reason Drake was jealous of him.”

“Dusty sounds too good to be true,” Cade scoffed.

“He had his flaws,” Gary explained.  “Like anyone else, he was only human, but there was something special about him, a sort of charisma and charm that someone like Drake lacked.”  

“How did Drake know where to find my dad the night he killed him?”  Cade asked.

“It was simple back then, he asked around and someone knew where Drake could find him.”  Gary said.  “I was hot and heavy with Sandy at that time, and I just got back from Princeton, where I was deciding if I wanted to attend college.  Drake’s dad wasn’t planning to let his son go away to college at that time.  I guess William thought that was punishment for Drake’s failure as a son or something, but when William realized his son was the one who had probably killed Dusty, William shipped him off to a university right away.  I think those years away from here were some of the happiest years of Drake’s life.  That’s when he met Janet, and married her.”   

Cade was suddenly tired of talking about Drake.  “I owe you money for this,” Cade said, raising his arm and motioning around the room.

Gary shook his head.  “If you ever try to send me any money, I’ll refuse it.”  He shook his head.  “The few hundred thousand I spent doing this project was nothing.  I also paid your hospital bills.  I want you to have a fresh start Cade, without all of the smudges and garbage that have plagued your family for so long.  Drake’s widow is leaving town, and going back to New York City.  Sandy and I are moving to Florida.  It’s time to set this town free and for everyone to go on with life the way it was meant to be.”

“I don’t like owing you,” Cade said.

“It’s me that owes you Cade.  You have no idea how much inheritance I ended up getting because Martha didn’t get her share.”  Gary had always felt guilty about that.  “Don’t worry, because I’m only generous up to a point.  I feel like I’ve given you enough compensation, and it’s time for me to move on.”

“I never wanted your charity,” Cade spat.

“I know,” Gary smirked.  “It’s one of the things I like about you.”

“I hope this doesn’t mean we are going to pretend to be relatives,” Cade said sarcastically.    

Gary laughed.  “I think we both know that’s not possible.  I did what I did as much for me as for you, and maybe more for me than for you.  Now it’s time for both of us to move on.”

Cade thought about Gary’s words and then he shook hands with Gary.  “Thank you.”

Gary smiled.  “You’re welcome Cade.”  

In the kitchen, Callie and Sandy were becoming friends as Sandy showed Callie around her new kitchen.  Sandy also described the process of transforming the house, and Callie hung on every word.    

“I put $50,000 in a bank account in your name Cade,” Gary said as he stood up from the couch and handed Cade the account information.  “I knew you wouldn’t take the cash, so I got some help from a friend at the bank to open an account for you, in your name.  It’s for those kids’ of yours, for a college fund.  It’s a start for them, but the rest of the money is up to you to get.”

Cade nodded.  “I guess there isn’t any arguing with you about this money thing.”  

Gary smirked.  “That’s true.  You realize I’m sure that get your stubbornness from somewhere.”  Gary then turned to the closed kitchen door, “Sandy,” he called, “It’s time to go.”

Sandy emerged from the kitchen with a smile.  “I hope you feel better soon Cade,” she said and Cade smiled at her this time.  “Thank you Sandy.”  

“You’re welcome Cade,” she said and they shook hands.  He could tell she was a good woman.  

After they were gone, Cade held Callie as they stood and looked out the living room window.  “I love you so much,” he said to her after awhile.

“I never thought you would love me again,” She said quietly.  “You didn’t want me very much after you got out of prison.”

Cade nodded.  “Prison was a very miserable place,” he said.  “You and the kids helped me heal from that.”  

“Those kids adore you,” She said, wiping her tears away.

Cade nodded, “Well the feeling is mutual.”  

Callie sighed, “When I was growing up, I dreamed of a life like this, in a nice house with a handsome husband and kids, but I thought it was only a dream.”

“I dreamed about it too,” Cade said, “I guess you got everything but the handsome husband.”

“Are you kidding?”  Callie laughed and he took her in his arms and kissed her.

The school bus pulled up outside and the children rushed up to the house.  “Daddy,” Jessica called and nearly knocked Cade over when she rushed over to embrace him, “Look what we did in school today,” and she pulled out her art project.  

Harley looked at her work, “We did a better art project than that one,” he scoffed.

Jessica gave Harley a frown.  

Ashley paused just long enough to remove her nose from the book she was reading.  She could tell her dad’s mood had changed for the better.  He seemed happier than usual.  “Are you feeling better dad?”  She asked timidly.

Cade nodded, “I think so,” he gave all of the kids a hug, “In fact I feel great, for the first time in a very long time.”  

“Does this mean we get to keep the house and all the new stuff?”  Harley asked eagerly.

“Yes it does,” Cade smiled.  He had been threatening to send it all back for days now, and it was unsettling.  

“I forgot to make dinner,” Callie sighed.  “I guess I better get started on it.”

“No,” Cade said.  “Let’s go have dinner at Beatrice’s Diner, and invite the Jameson’s to go along with us.  Tell that cheapskate Lonnie I’m paying.”  

Callie grinned and then looked at the kids, “That means you kids need to get your homework done so we can go out.”  She then rushed to the telephone to call Angie.  

The children put their school things away and began working on their homework.  Jessica snuggled next to Cade on the couch.  “Can I read to you now Daddy?”

“You bet,” Cade said and he rested his head on the back of the couch as his youngest child began reading to him.  Suddenly it no longer mattered that someone else had furnished the house.  All that mattered was that this was where he belonged, and not only that, he was lucky to be alive.  He had a beautiful family, a nice house, and good friends.  This Christmas was going to be one of the best ever.  He looked out the window as the snowflakes slowly drifted down from the sky.  

Jessica stopped reading and looked up at him.  “Are you listening daddy?”  

“Of course I am sweetheart,” Cade said quietly.  “Keep going.”   

Jessica snuggled up next to him, “It’s nice and warm in here,” she said before continuing, and although she was tempted, she knew better than to put her thumb in her mouth, so she didn’t.  She continued reading.    

Callie was in the kitchen chatting on the phone with Angie, sharing the latest gossip about the visit they had from Gary and Sandy.  Harley was trying to figure out how he could complete his homework the quickest way possibly without cheating.  Ashley was struggling to leave her book alone long enough to do her homework.  Her homework wasn’t nearly as interesting as her book.   

Cade no longer smoked cigarettes.  His injuries had prevented him from smoking, and he refused to take up the habit again now that he was home.  He was now nagging Callie about quitting, which she hated.  As Cade relaxed and listened to Jessica read, he craved a cigarette, but instead he sipped his glass of cola.     

The snow continued to fall and the lights from the house shone brightly as the sky began to darken.  All was calm and bright for them, as it should be.

 

The End

 

~*~

 

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 Cade