Carolina Moon

him.” Rising to her toes, Faith kissed his cheek. “Looks like she didn’t ruin both of us after all.”
    He took her hand, held it. “Thank you.”
    “Oh, darling, it was my pleasure.” Holding her glass aloft, she dropped into a chair, grinning when Bee leaped into her lap. “I, for one, plan to celebrate.”
    “What? Cade’s announcement that he intends to marry me, or your mother’s unhappiness?”
    Faith tilted her head as she studied Tory. “I can do both, but apparently you can’t. You have too much sensibility. And kindness. Oh, she’d hate that. One more thing to celebrate,” she decided, and sipped her wine.
    “That’s unattractive, Faith,” Cade murmured.
    “Oh, let me crow for a minute, will you? Not everyone’s as high-minded as the two of you. Good Lord, you really suit each other. Who’d have thought it? I’m happy for you. Imagine that. I’m sincerely happy for you. I believe I feel a little mushy inside.”
    “Try to control this embarrassing display of sentiment.” Impatient with her, Cade turned to Tory, ran his hands up her arms, down again to her wrists. “I need to get something out of my office, then we’ll go. Will you be all right?”
    “Cade, talk to your mother.”
    “No.” He kissed her lightly. “I won’t be long.”
    “Drink your wine,” Faith suggested, when they were alone. “It’ll put some color back in your cheeks.”
    “I don’t want any wine.” Tory set the glass aside, then walked to the window. She wanted to be outside again, where she could breathe.
    “If you insist on looking unhappy, you’ll only spoil this for Cade. He did this because he loves you.”
    “And why did you?”
    “Interesting question. A year ago, oh hell, likely a month ago, I might have taken her up on it. That’s a powerful chunk of money, and I do like what money can buy.”
    “No, you wouldn’t have done it, not ever, and I’ll tell you why.” Tory glanced back. “First, it would have been to throw it back in her face, but second and more than the first, it would have been for Cade. Because you love him.”
    “Yes, I do, and love doesn’t come easy to either of us. My mother saw to that.”
    “Will you blame her for everything?”
    “No, just what she’s entitled to. I screwed up my life plenty all on my own. But he didn’t. He never did damage to himself, or anyone else. I love him tremendously.”
    Surprised, Tory glanced over. Faith’s eyes were still bright, but there were tears in them.
    “He didn’t say what he did to her to hurt her, but because it was truth. I would have said it to hurt her. Feel sorry for her if you must, but don’t expect it of me. He has a chance with you, and I want to see him take it.”
    “Why didn’t you tell him that?”
    “I’m telling you. I see what he feels for you, and I wish I could feel it for someone. Not to make myself a better person. I like myself the way I am. Still if someone matters that much …” Contemplatively she studied the wine in her glass, the light that shined through it from the window. “If someone matters that much it’s bound to take something out of you.” She shifted her gaze to Tory. “Isn’t it?”
    “Yes. But I’m beginning to think it’s something you don’t need anymore. Not if someone loves you back.”
    “Interesting. That’s a nut to chew on.” She looked over as Cade came in. “I suppose you want to be alone now.”
    “Yes.”
    “Then Bee and I will just take ourselves off, won’t we?” She nuzzled the dog, then nudged her onto the floor. “In fact, I think we’ll go out and stay out until the air clears.” She touched Cade’s cheek as she walked by. “I’d suggest you do the same.”
    “Not quite yet.” He waited until he heard the door close behind his sister, then held out a hand for Tory. “I want to do this here. We can consider it closing a circle.”
    “Cade, that was difficult for you, for all of you. I—”
    “No, it wasn’t. And it’s done. You and I, we’re just beginning.” He took a box from his pocket, opened it. The diamond caught the sunlight, exploded with it. “This was my grandmother’s, and it came to me.”
    Panic choked her. “Don’t.” She tugged at her hand, but he held her fingers firm in his.
    “It came to me,” he repeated, “with the hope that one day I’d give it to the woman I wanted to marry. I didn’t give it to Deborah. It never occurred to me to give it to her. I suppose I knew I was keeping it