Dade’s mother grinned. “Efteling,” she said. “That was so much fun. We all rode in the cannibal pots.”
“Yeah. And went on the coasters, and Maria wanted to ride the swans. It was amazing. The three of us had a blast. But where was Father? He was supposed to come with us.”
Cliff tried to look like he wasn’t paying attention, but he listened intently.
“Your father had….”
Dade growled.
“Okay. Your father went to the post that morning.”
“Did he have to?” Dade asked. It was clear he knew the answer. “He didn’t. He could have spent the day with us, but they were doing some sort of artillery training, and he just had to be there to watch. Because he would rather shoot stuff and blow it up than spend time with us.” Dade sighed loudly. “I’m sorry, Mom. But I think that’s pathetic.”
ChapterNine
Cliff suppresseda gasp, and it took all his willpower to keep his expression as neutral as possible. He was proud as hell of Dade. It took someone strong to say what he had.
It was Dade’s mother who gasped. “How can you say that about your father? He’s served his country well. His men all love him, and….” She opened her purse and pulled out a tissue to dab her eyes.
“I know. But none of that gives him the right to run my life. Why can’t he understand that?” Dade got up and coughed to clear his throat. Cliff was worried that all of this was making Dade feel worse and using up what energy he had. “Why can’t he just leave me alone?”
She dabbed her eyes. “Is that what you really want?”
“Yes. I just want a relationship with him, one where we are on equal footing. See, he’s my father—he’s not my general, and I’m not one of his men that he can boss around.”
“He doesn’t think that,” she said, and Cliff shook his head, which drew her attention. “You seem to have an opinion, major.”
“I’m Cliff, ma’am, because that’s how Dade thinks of me.”
She nodded slowly. “Gretchen,” she said softly.
“Gretchen,” he began gently. “I’ve known Dade for a few weeks. And yes, we met when I saw smoke pouring from his building, and someone told me he was still in his apartment. I was just doing my duty then. But seeing Dade and talking to him, it’s so much more than that now.” He leaned forward, still holding Dade’s hand. “He didn’t want to go out to dinner with me because he didn’t want to get involved with someone in the army.” He smiled. “I had to wear him down with my charm.”
Dade scoffed and rolled his eyes but didn’t say anything more.
“I’ve seen your husband try to bully him and force him to take a job he didn’t want. I don’t know why he thought that Dade would want to move, or teach there, but he was convinced he knew best. And Dade held his ground. He knows what he wants, and he loves what he does.” Her eyes widened, and she seemed truly surprised. “Ask him about his students.”
“What?” she said, as though the thought never occurred to her.
“Tell your mom about your day yesterday and what the kids did,” Cliff said to Dade, who, as he expected, lit up when he talked about his class and the kids’ art projects and Halloween stories. He got his bag, and Dade read of few of them with a smile bright enough to light up the dreary day.
“I love my kids, Mom. They’re wonderful,” Dade told her. “And I love the fact that I get to watch them learn and grow. It’s the most amazing thing. And it’s true, I put up a bunch of roadblocks before I’d go out with Cliff after I took him to dinner as a thank-you.” Dade chuckled. “And Cliff is charming, but he’s warm, and he listens to me too.”
For the first time, Gretchen smiled. “Wow. I never knew.” She sniffed and then put away her tissue. “All I ever wanted was for both of my kids to be happy. And I know your father feels the same way.”
“But he’s the one making me unhappy.” Dade sat back on the sofa and pulled up the blanket. “So, how are you, otherwise?”
A slight smile graced her lips. “I’m working with the arts organization downtown. They have asked me to be on their board, and I’m thrilled. I painted for years when you were kids—whenever I had some time. But I haven’t done anything like that in a long time. So, I’m getting back into it.”
“I think that’s wonderful.” Dade half closed his eyes. “I remember when I was a kid and we were living in the south somewhere….”
“Outside Fort Bragg?”
“Yeah. That was it. I remember all kind of birds and stuff painted on my bedroom walls.” He sighed.
“I painted them.”
“And I cried when I had to leave them behind. They were my birds….”
