Finding Home Ch. 01

I've been away for awhile, for that, I apologize, but things have been really hectic and I haven't had the time or inspiration to write. Until now. I apologize in advance, but there isn't any sex in this first chapter. I hope you enjoy, as always, comments and emails are always welcome.

Ashira

*

She stood in front of the mirror and studied her reflection; she wore a floor length white silk gown, lace in all the right places and her hair was made up beautifully, a mound of curls placed strategically on her head, a lace veil held up by a diamond tiara. Her blue eyes sparkled with excitement as she thought about the man waiting for her at the end of the aisle. She took a deep breath and prayed that the queasiness she'd been feeling would leave her alone long enough for her to get through the ceremony and reception and would be gone before the honeymoon started. A knock at the door startled her out of her thoughts and she turned, her smile faded when she saw her future father in law standing in the doorway, a grim expression on his face. "Addie," he began.

Addie's heart began to pound. "What's wrong Victor?" she asked.

"Cade isn't here Addie," Victor said.

"What? Why?" Addie asked, not wanting to hear the answer.

"I don't know why. He just left a note saying that he had to leave and that he would explain it all to you later," Victor told her. He watched her emotions change as they crossed her face and gave Addie a tight hug. "I'll go let the Rabbi know," he murmured before walking out of the bridal room. Addie turned back towards the mirror and ripped the tiara from her hair, not carrying that the veil tore with a loud ripping sound; it matched the feeling that her heart was breaking.

CHAPTER ONE

"Addie!" a loud voice shouted from behind her. Addie stopped, turned and sighed when she saw her long time friend Cara hurrying towards her.

"What's up Car?" Addie asked, rubbing her eyes tiredly. She'd had a long day at work and she just wanted to get home.

"Cade's back," Cara said. Addie gasped, her eyes went wide and she stared at her friend in surprise.

"What?" Addie asked, throat suddenly so dry that it made her hoarse.

"I saw him outside Starbucks an hour ago," Cara told her friend.

"Why now?" Addie asked. "After all these years," she whispered.

"I don't know," Cara answered.

"Addie!" both girls looked up and Addie groaned when she saw Cade Lincoln taking long strides towards them.

"What the fuck do you want Cade?" Cara asked for her friend; Addie cast her friend a grateful glance, relieved that her friend was going to stick up to Cade.

"Nice to see you too cousin," Cade said dryly.

"You left Addie high and dry on your wedding day! She's my best friend!" Cara reminded her cousin.

"I know, I'm sorry." Cade turned to Addie, an unreadable expression on his face. "I'm sorry Addie, please forgive me," he murmured.

"Maybe if you'd been in the hospital or something, I could have forgiven you, but not four years later," Addie whispered.

"I didn't want to leave you there. Please, let me take you out to dinner tonight and I'll explain everything," Cade said.

"I can't. I'm exhausted and I have plans," Addie said. Cade opened his mouth to say something but Addie had turned back to Cara. "Car, I'll call you later, okay?" Addie asked. Cara smiled and gave her friend a hug. "You need to hear him out, at least for Asher," Cara whispered.

"I know," Addie murmured, glanced one last time at Cade before hurrying away.

"What the hell was that about, and who the hell is Asher?" Cade asked. Cara looked up sharply, surprised that her cousin had heard that.

"That's for Addie to tell you," Cara said, her voice equally as sharp. "So, why did you leave?" Cara asked.

Cade sighed and gave his cousin a hug. "Let's go get some dinner and we'll talk," Cade said finally.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Addie walked into the small lake side cottage and sighed in relief as she shut the door in relief. "Mommy!" a small voice cried from somewhere in the cottage. Addie smiled as a small body came flying towards her. Addie laughed as the small child threw himself at her and hugged him close.

"Hey Ash, were you good for grandma?" Addie asked.

"Yes mommy," Asher said seriously.

"He was an angel as always," Addie's mother said as she walked into the foyer.

"You always say that," Addie laughed.

"He's a good boy Addie. Too bad he looks like his father," her mother retorted with a soft smile as her gaze fell fondly on her grandson.

"Cade's back," Addie blurted out.

"Oh Addie," her mother murmured.

"I don't know what I'm going to do," Addie whispered.

"Talk to the boy. Maybe he had a good reason for staying away as long as he did," her mother suggested, laughed as Asher slid down his mother's body, dropped to the floor and ran to play.

"If I do, will you keep Ash? I don't want Cade to know about him until I'm ready," Addie asked.

"Of course I will, but Addie sweetie, this is a small town. He'll find out sooner than you want," her mother reminded her daughter. Addie groaned and dropped her face into her hands.

"What am I going to do?" she groaned.

"Sleep on it. Focus on Asher tonight, then sleep on it. Cade has the right to know," her mother murmured before giving her daughter a hug and leaving the cottage.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Addie, you have to stop avoiding me at some point!" Cade exclaimed from outside the door of Addie's office.

"Leave me alone Cade," Addie pleaded, dropped her head to her desk when Cade opened the door and walked inside. "Cade, I'm busy!" she snapped.

"Tough. We were engaged once, I think you owe me an hour," Cade reminded her.

"Yeah, we were engaged once and you left me at the fucking alter looking and feeling like an idiot!" Addie shot back.

"I didn't have a choice!" Cade shouted.

"Why not? What happened to make you leave us without so much as a word?" Addie wanted to know.

"Us?" Cade asked, his eyes narrowed.

"Me," Addie corrected, her heart pounding as she silently cursed herself.

Cade studied her carefully and ran his hands through his hair. "Do you remember Dean Chapman?" Cade asked.

"You served together in Iraq," she murmured.

"Right. I got a call right before the ceremony. He was captured and being held hostage; the captain wanted me to help with the rescue operation," Cade said.

"Why couldn't you wait to leave until after the ceremony? I didn't care about the reception, but why did you just take off?" Addie asked.

"I couldn't tell you Addie. I wanted to, God knows I wanted to be there and see you in that beautiful wedding gown and marry you, but I had to leave, I couldn't tell anyone. God Addie, as it was, it took three and a half years to get him out of that hell hole! And it took three more months after that to convince the President not to arrest us all for war crimes!" Cade shouted. Addie sighed and wiped away the tears that threatened to fall. "I love you Addie, I always have," Cade's voice lowered and he gave her a sad smile. "Please tell me it isn't too late," he added.

Addie opened her mouth to speak when her office door opened, revealing her mother, a miserable looking Asher in her arms.

"Addie, I'm sorry, but ... oh!" Her mother paused when she saw Cade sitting in the chair across from Addie.

Addie stood up and walked around her desk quickly, reached for Asher who went quickly into his mother's arms. "What's wrong baby?" Addie asked.

"Hello Maxine," Cade said, his mind spinning at the sight of Asher in Addie's arms.

"Cade," Maxine's reply was curt.

"Who's this?" Cade asked.

"Mom, what's wrong with Asher?" Addie asked, ignoring Cade.

"Asher has strep throat. He'll be alright Addie. He's had his first dose of antibiotics and the rest is in the fridge," Maxine answered.

Addie glanced once at her mother before she turned to Cade. "This is my son, our son Asher," Addie answered.