Somewhere Along the Way (20 page)
Read Somewhere Along the Way Online
Authors: Ruth Cardello
A month later Cassie was seated in the enormoous kitchen of Uncle Alessando’s house with several women from the family. Although the women were wearing expensive dresses, they were cuddling young babies and bouncing toddlers on their laps. When Luke had first explained how he wanted both of them to return to New York once a month for a family dinner, Cassie hadn’t known what to expect. She was beginning to understand that Andrade gatherings were never small, a fact that made her love them even more.
Growing up, Cassie had often dreamed of one day having a large family. With the Andrades, she felt like she’d won the relative jackpot. Looking around at the women who had welcomed her so warmly into their group, Cassie smiled. When she’d been invited to arrive early to help, she’d readily agreed, but she should have guessed it wouldn’t involve any actual cooking. It appeared that the only one allowed to cook on Sundays in the Andrade home was Maddy’s husband, Richard, and his kitchen staff.
With her youngest son on her hip, Maddy stood and said, “I would like to call this meeting to order.
“Meeting?” Tara, Max’s fiancée asked quickly. She turned to look at Cassie for confirmation that she wasn’t alone in being lost.
I’ve got nothing,
Cassie mouthed silently.
“First,” Maddy continued, “there is the matter of the bet.”
“The bet?” It was Cassie’s turn to parrot in confusion.
A beautiful, blonde woman Cassie had met once before, who was, if Cassie remembered correctly, married to Luke’s cousin, Stephan, said, “Maddy, you do realize that when you talk like this in front of new people we always sound a little crazy.”
Maddy smiled. “Nicole, we are a little crazy.”
Rena, Nick’s fiancée, laughed out loud and leaned toward Tara and Cassie. “They are. They really are.”
Maddy waved a hand in the air as she returned to her agenda. “Abby couldn’t be here today because she and Dominic are traveling, but she gave me permission to speak for her and the other two teams are respresented. We need to either pick a winner, void the bet, or double down.”
Julia turned to Cassie. “We should explain better. It took me a little while to understand, and I’m on a team. Tara. Cassie. Your soon-to-be family and some of their best friends were worried that Gio, Nick, Luke, and Max were disconnected from the family. The ladies decided the best way to mend the rift was to play matchmaker. They broke into teams and each tried to find the perfect woman for their cousins. The first team to successfully orchestrate the most engagements would win the title of best matchmaker in the family.”
Surprised, but somehow not, Cassie asked slowly, “So, who chose you, Julia?”
Julia chuckled. “I was working as a security officer at Gio’s company. I don’t count.”
Rena tapped a hand on the table. “I’ve known Nick most of my life. I don’t count, either.”
Tara folded her arms over her chest as she absorbed the story. “Hang on. Maddy, did you hire me as part of a matchmaking bet?”
Maddy shook her head quickly. “Oh, no. I never pictured you and Max together.” She blushed. “I didn’t mean that the way it sounded. I meant, because you’re so . . .”
Nicole laid a hand on Maddy’s arm. “Stop. You’re digging yourself deeper.”
Maddy sighed. “I adore Tara. She’s perfect for Max. I just didn’t realize he had good taste in women.”
Rena chuckled. “Good save, Maddy.”
“Can I count her as my team’s win? I mean, I did find her.”
“No,” the group said in unison.
“So that leaves only Cassie.” Maddy turned a critical eye on her. “I did fly out to Ohio to meet her.”
Rena countered, “But she and Luke were already together by then.”
“I also planned their engagement party,” Maddy added and turned to Cassie for support. “Cassie, all you have to do is say the beautiful event I put so much time into planning was the reason you agreed to marry Luke.”
Rena leaned over the table and put a hand on Cassie’s. “Don’t let her pressure you, Cassie. You can tell her you would have said yes even without the party.”
Cassie looked around the table and noted the expectant expressions. “If I say the engagement party was the clincher, the bet is over?”
“Yes,” Maddy said quickly.
“What happens if I say it wasn’t?”
Rena raised a hand. “We could double down. There is still Gigi. From what I hear, she’s single.”
Maddy’s eyebrows shot up and she asked in surprise, “You want our bet to continue?”
Rena shrugged with humor. “I hate to lose as much as the next person.”
Tara sat up straighter. “Gigi, Max’s sister, right? The one they’ve all been trying to get in touch with? How would you play matchmaker with her?”
Julia smiled. “Every team has their secrets. You want in?”
Tara nodded.
Julia turned to Cassie. “How about you?”
Cassie hedged. “I’m not sure how Luke would feel about me being involved in this.”
Rena rolled her eyes. “Are you kidding? If Luke were a woman he’d be on Maddy’s team. All he’ll care about is if we succeed.”
Maddy waved her hands in excitement. “I already have an idea, too. But I’m not saying anything.”
“Okay, I’m in,” Cassie said. “Which team will I be on?”
“To be fair, we should put Tara in Abby’s group. That way there is one person with security background on each team.”
Rena said, “Then I claim Cassie. You’re with me. Have you met Abby’s sister, Lil?”
Cassie blushed. She’d met so many people recently. “I think so.”
“How about Alethea? Tall gorgeous woman with red hair?”
Tara interjected, “Do not let her near your phone.”
“My phone?” Cassie asked. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
Tara scanned the room. “I’ll explain later. She may be listening.”
Maddy laughed. “Tara, you are so dramatic. The things you say. Alethea is one of Dominic Corisi’s security, and she is sometimes over the top when it comes to surveillance, but she wouldn’t have any of us bugged.” Maddy paused, seemed to think about it more, then asked, “Would she? Hey, Alethea, if you’re listening, Cassie’s on your team.”
Julia waved a hand. “We also need to discuss our weddings. Are we moving forward with a quadruple ceremony?”
Tara’s eyes rounded. “That’s a big wedding.”
Rena nodded. “An Andrade wedding is huge regardless. I’m okay with it. I like the idea of Nick and his brothers sharing that special day.”
Julia took Rena’s hand in hers. “Gio gets all choked up about it every time I mention it. And I’ll be happy to have a set date. You already feel like my family; let’s do it.”
They all turned to Cassie.
“I’m in,” Cassie said without hesitation. “Are we still planning on using Slater Island?”
Tara wiped a tear from the corner of her eye. “Do you know how much it will mean to Max if we do that?”
Rena added, “Nick, too. Those homes were the best gifts Max could have given his brothers. They have something concrete that binds them together.”
“Gio feels the same way,” Julia added.
“Luke, too,” Cassie said, loving these women more each time they spoke. She had told Luke she wanted to wait before making any announcements, but she was so moved by the emotion in the room, she blurted, “As we talk about dates, you all need to know I’m pregant and due next winter. Can we choose a summer or early fall date?”
With a huge smile, Julia said, “Congratulations. And, of course, we’ll work the date around that. I’m so happy for you.”
Maddy leaned forward, hugged her with her free arm, and asked in excitement, “And it’s Luke’s?”
A hush fell over the room.
Nicole admonished her softly, “Maddy.”
Maddy went three shades of red and started to say something, but Cassie cut her off. Maddy had kept her secret while it mattered. That’s what mattered. “It’s Luke’s.”
A tear ran down Maddy’s face. “I’m so happy.”
Cassie’s smile grew, and she wiped an emotional tear from her own cheek. “We’re pretty damn happy ourselves.”
“Just promise me one thing,” Maddy said earnestly.
Cassie answered easily, “Anything.”
“Let me plan the baby shower. I’ll keep it simple.”
Rena sat back in her chair and said dryly, “Which means at least two hundred people.”
Two hundred people?
Cassie gulped.
Maddy defended herself with humor. “We can’t invite the American cousins without inviting our Italian ones. You don’t do that to family.”
“Family,” Cassie said softly and laid her hand on her still flat stomach.
Emma, I found my family. Here and back in Defiance.
I don’t know how much of this you did or if you can even hear me, but—thank you.
THE END
I am so grateful to everyone who was part of the process of creating
Somewhere Along the Way
.
Thank you to:
Nicole Sanders at Trevino Creative Graphic Design for my cover. You are amazing!
My very patient beta readers. You know who you are. Thank you for kicking my butt when I need it.
My editors: Karen Lawson, Janet Hitchcock, and Marion Archer.
Melanie Hanna and her amazing husband, for helping me organize the business side of publishing.
My Roadies for both their friendship and their feedback.
Dr. Carol Dubois and her husband, Dr. David Dubois, for help with medical terminology and the logistics of what Luke could do for an accident victim.
Kathleen Dubois being a promotion wonder!
My husband, Tony. Couldn't do this without you.
My children for laughing with me instead of getting upset when I burn dinner while answering emails.
My niece, Danielle Stewart, and my sister, Jeannette Winters, for joining me in self-publishing and brainstorming with me along the way.
Always better together.
The Legacy Collection:
*
Also available in audiobook format
Book 1: Maid for the Billionaire
(available at all major eBook stores for FREE!)
Book 2: For Love or Legacy
Book 3: Bedding the Billionaire
Book 4: Saving the Sheikh
Book 5: Rise of the Billionaire
Book 6: Breaching the Billionaire: Alethea’s Redemption
Recipe For Love, An Andrade Christmas Novella
The Andrades
*
Also available in audiobook format
Book 1: Come Away With Me
(available at all major eBook stores for FREE!)
Book 4: Somewhere Along the Way
The Temptations
Book 1: Twelve Days of Temptation
Book 2: Be My Temptation
Ruth Cardello was born the youngest of 11 children in a small city in northern Rhode Island. She spent her young adult years moving as far away as she could from her large extended family. She lived in Boston, Paris, Orlando, New York—then came full circle and moved back to Rhode Island. She now happily lives one town over from the one she was born in. For her, family trumped the warmer weather and international scene.
She was an educator for 20 years, the last 11 as a kindergarten teacher. When her school district began cutting jobs, Ruth turned a serious eye toward her second love– writing and has never been happier. When she’s not writing, you can find her chasing her children around her small farm, riding her horses, or connecting with her readers online.
Contact Ruth:
Website:
RuthCardello.com
Email:
[email protected]
FaceBook:
Author Ruth Cardello
Twitter:
@RuthieCardello
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