Love Goes On Read online

  “Mom, I’ve wondering why Kaden and I have been so distant.”

  “Well, I don’t see it.”

  “I do, and I’m worried because I’m afraid that he wants to leave me or has something he needs to tell me.”

  “I’m positive he doesn’t want to leave you, but maybe he just has something he needs to tell you. Just ask him tonight, so you don’t have to worry about it.”

  “Yeah, I’ll do that.”

  “Good. Now let’s decorate those cupcakes because Kaden and your Dad will be back in an hour.”

  As soon as we set the last cupcake into the pan the guys came inside the house.

  “Did you two have a nice time?” I questioned my dad and Kaden.

  “We did,” Dad answered.

  “Yeah, we’ll have to do that again sometime,” Kaden said gloomily.

  “What’s the matter, Kaden?” I inquired.

  “I’ll tell you later.”

  Kaden and I said good-bye to my parents and Riley. Then Kaden and I stepped into the truck and drove home.

  When we arrived at our house, Kaden went to shower while I let the pugs outside. When they finished doing their business, I allowed them back in the house and, they went into the living room and started playing.

  I went to our bedroom and Kaden was lying in bed waiting for me. I climbed into bed with Kaden.

  He rolled over to face me, and I did the same. “Sara?” Kaden asked.

  “Yeah, Kaden?” I said with worrisomely.

  “Have you noticed we’ve been distant?”

  I sat up in bed. “I have.”

  “Well,” Kaden sat up too, “I have something to tell you.” I stared at him with worry and fear of what he had to say. “We might have to move to Rome at the end of the month.”

  I hopped out of bed and stepped out on the patio feeling angry and hurt. Kaden followed me.

  He turned me to face him. “I’m sorry to inform you of this news, but I hope you won’t be too upset if we have to leave Coopersville.”

  I felt tears streaming down my cheeks. “That’s just it, Kaden. I don’t want you to leave, but do I have a say?”

  “No you don’t have a say.”

  “Why can’t I have a say? Why?”

  “These are Roman laws. I have to follow them.”

  “Well, their laws are stupid!” I yelled at him, and he stepped back shockingly.

  “Sara, I know this is hard to take. But this is what I have to do. This is what I have to follow.”

  “Well, its still stupid!”

  Kaden took my hand and led me to the bed where we sat down.

  “You are over-reacting. I didn’t say we have to move; its a maybe.”

  “Well, the maybe is good enough for a positive move.”

  Kaden chuckled. “Please calm down, My Beauty. Lets just see what we have to do, and we’ll go from there.”

  “Why would we have to move there before we’re married?”

  “For you to become more aware of what your duties are as princess.”

  “Won’t I learn what I need to learn when we move there when we’re married?”

  He chuckled. “My parents feel you should begin your training while we’re engaged.”

  “Can’t you change their minds?”

  “I’ll try. But it’s what they want, so no matter how much arguing I do in the end it’s their decision.”

  “Well, I don’t like this one bit.”

  Kaden chuckled. “We’ll figure it out.” We kissed; then we crawled back into bed. “I love you, Sara. We’ll get through this.”

  “I love you too, Kaden.”

  “I almost forgot to tell you I purchased a bedroom set for one of the spare rooms upstairs.”

  “That’s a good idea. When will it arrive?”

  “It should be here in the next couple of days.”

  Kaden kissed my forehead then he fell asleep almost right away; I was lying there for what seemed like an eternity hoping Kaden could reason with his parents. But soon my brain couldn’t keep up with my thoughts, and I drifted off to sleep.

  16

  A Surprise Visitor

  It’s the end of April. Today is the day that Kaden should hear whether or not we have to move to Rome. I’m going be really upset if we have to leave my hometown.

  “Sara, I’ll be back. I have to take this call,” Kaden stated

  “Okay.” He walked away. We’re at home just lounging around I’m sitting in the living room, and I have yet to ask Kaden if he wanted to do the date night. The telephone call he took is probably his parents telling him whether or not we have to move to Rome.

  Summer is getting closer and closer. I can’t wait to watch Riley! It will be so much fun babysitting her. My mom and dad are well. My mom is still holding onto that bet. Either way I’ll still take her to the spa. Kaden strolled back into the room and sat next to me. He glanced at me without any expression.

  “Well?” I asked impatiently.

  He chuckled. “We don’t have to go!”

  I jumped on him with a big smile across my face. He hugged me back but softly pushed me away.

  “What’s wrong?”

  “I know you know we have to move to Rome, technically before we’re married because we have to get married in Rome. I hope by the time we’re ready to move to Rome you’ll be excited to go instead of upset.”

  “I don’t think so. This situation sucks.”

  “Sara, when I told you I’m a prince, did you not think of what that means?”

  “Not really.”

  “Well, it means making sacrifices and doing things you don’t want to do. I have done both many times and I’m not even king yet.” He stood up. “When I met you, I was supposed to move right back to Rome and marry you and become king. But I told my mother and father you are in school and would finish out here. They were very angry and started to re-think their decision on letting me take over the throne, but I pleaded with them. They finally listened and gave in, but not without a price.”

  “What price?”

  “I’ll become King no matter what, but I’m being offered to take over the throne earlier and I don’t want to let that slip through my hands over not moving back to Rome with you.”

  “It’s not like you can’t move there, become king and then move back to Coopersville to live with me.”

  “My parents prefer I be married before I become king.”

  “Well, now I understand why you keep saying you can’t wait to marry me. But is that the only reason?”

  He sat next to me and took my hands in his. “Not at all, My Beauty. I love you with everything I have in me, and nothing like this has anything to do with marrying you. I love you.”

  We embraced, “That’s great to know!”

  “You shouldn’t think like that.”

  “Well, a girl can only think about it.” He laughed. “Well what happens if I don’t marry you when school is out?”

  “I guess I’ll have to do some more pleading, but I’m sure they won’t have a problem with that because you’ll be going to college.” Kaden stood up and went to shower.

  I don’t want to cost Kaden his throne, but his parents are being extremely forceful on him. But I love him, so I’ll do what I have to do not to cause him to lose his place as king.

  After I got out of the shower and put on my pajamas, I saw Kaden lying in bed waiting for me. I climbed into bed and cuddled up to him face to face.

  “I want to know if you will go out tomorrow with me on a date?” Kaden asked.

  “I was thinking the same thing!” I replied.

  “I was thinking we could do something different like go ice-skating.”

  “I would love to do that! I wo
nder how my mom and I are going to work out this bet.”

  “What bet?”

  “I’ll tell you tomorrow.”

  The next morning Kaden and I sat down to enjoy a scrumptious breakfast.

  “This is really delicious, Sara,” Kaden praised.

  “Thank you.” I accepted his complement.

  We were having blueberry pancakes, eggs and sausage.

  “These blueberries are delectable. Are they fresh from the grocery store?” Kaden questioned.

  I chuckled. “Of course they are.” I replied.

  “So what was this bet thing with your Mom?”

  “I bet her that Riley will be running, not walking, in a few days. I haven’t talked to her since then, so I have no clue if Riley is walking yet or not. I’m calling her after breakfast.”

  “So what was the prize for whoever wins?”

  “Spa days, but I added an extra to mine if I lose.”

  “What’s that?”

  “A day at the spa and a haircut or whatever she wants to do,”

  “That’s nice!”

  “She deserves it!”

  “She certainly does.”

  When we finished eating I telephoned my mom.

  “Hello?” Mom answered.

  “Mom, its Sara!” I replied.

  “Hello! How have you been?”

  “I’ve been good and you?”

  “Great! I have something to tell you.”

  “What?”

  “You lost your bet!”

  “I did?”

  “Yes, you did. Riley started walking just a day or two ago.”

  “Well, that stinks! So when do you want your day?”

  Mom giggled. “We could do it tomorrow, unless you’re busy?”

  “No. Tomorrow’s fine.”

  “Okay, good. Well, I have to go. Riley’s awake, and I’m taking her to the park.”

  “Alone?”

  “I’m going with a friend of mine.”

  “Okay, have fun!”

  “I will. Good-bye.”

  “Bye.” We hung up.

  That’s super! My mom and Riley are getting out of the house. They need some fresh air.

  Kaden carne back inside. He stepped over to me and placed his hands on my waist and started kissing my neck working his way to my lips. When he reached my lips, he kissed me ever so sweetly.

  “How was that?” Kaden asked.

  “It made me tingle!” I responded.

  “So what did your Mom say?”

  “I’ll be taking her tomorrow for her spa day.”

  “I have plans for us tonight.”

  I grinned with happiness as I turned and walked into the bedroom. I showered and then selected a colorful dress shirt and jeans, with tennis shoes. I stepped out of the bedroom and almost knocked Susie over.

  “SUSIE!” I screamed and hugged her.

  “Hey, Sara!” Susie responded.

  “How have you been, and how’d you get here?”

  “I’ve been great! Kaden called and told me to board an airplane to come here!”

  We chuckled. I hugged Kaden. “Thank you!”

  “Told you I’d get her here sooner or later,” he stated.

  I smiled at Kaden. Then I gestured for Susie to come into the living room.

  We sat down. “What has been happening here lately? I see you have your own home!”

  Susie commented excitedly.

  I grinned. “Yes, and you’ve missed out on some wonderful events!” I commented.

  “What did I miss?” She questioned encouragingly.

  “Well, Rick gave Anna a ring to ask her to only love him and be committed to him. Speaking of guys, how are you and Josh doing?” I inquired desirably. She sighed but didn’t speak for a few minutes. I could hear her holding back tears. “Are you alright, Susie?” I queried.

  She coughed and pulled herself together. “Yeah, I’m fine,” she answered hesitatingly.

  I didn’t speak. I just sat there and stared at her with worry and hesitation. “Susie, did I say something to hurt you?”

  “Oh, no! Not at all!” She wiped her tears away. “Josh Mountjoy; the guy I was seeing and totally in love with was my better half, my partner in crime,” she chuckled as she continued, “my one and only. We were inseparable! He loved me just the same if not more. That all changed the night we went to the club.” She stopped talking to hold back her tears, but they seeped out down her cheeks.

  “It’s alright, Susie, take your time,” I responded ever so softly as I took her hands in mine.

  “We wanted to do something fun together because he had just proposed to me that night.

  We went and had a blast. We danced, and he had a few drinks. I decided we should go home before he got too drunk, but he insisted he was okay. We kept dancing, and he kept drinking. I soon had enough of him drinking so I demanded that we leave right then and there, and we did.

  He wasn’t stable to drive so I took over driving. When we were almost home, another car swerved and hit us on the passenger side.”

  She stopped speaking as the tears cascaded like a waterfall down her cheeks. She began talking again but this time through tears. “We didn’t have our seat belts on so when the car hit on Josh’s side, he went through the windshield across the road about ten feet.” She started crying even more. She buried her face into my shoulder.

  I only hugged her. I felt a tear trickle down my cheek. I didn’t know how to comfort her. I didn’t know the right thing to say.

  She then pulled away from me wiping some of her tears away. “I should have made Josh put on his seat belt whether he wanted to or not! I should have made him!” she half yelled.

  “Susie, it’s not your fault that this happened. He made his choice to not wear his seatbelt so you couldn’t have made him,” I responded softly.

  “Why didn’t I try though? I didn’t even think of it!”

  “It’s not your fault! You were more worried about getting him home. You didn’t know that this car was going to hit you!” I answered softly.

  “No one in the other car got hurt. I didn’t get but a few bruises and scratches. Why did Josh die? Why!” She screamed.

  I took her hand in mine. “Susie, there is never an explanation as to why a loved one is taken away. It’s the way of life. No one can change that. No one!”

  She smiled at me. “I should have called you when this happened; but you live so far away.”

  “Susie, you know I’m here for you for anything. That’s what friends are for, whether we are having a fight and on bad terms. I am here, no matter what!”

  She grinned. “Thank you, Sara. I’m lucky to have you as my friend!”

  “I’m lucky to have you as mine!” We hugged.

  “I wear the ring he gave me on my right hand and whoever I meet better like it because that’s where it’s staying.”

  We laughed, “Oh, Susie, you crack me up! But I’m sure whoever you meet will like it if they want to be with you.”

  She chuckled. “Yeah, but I don’t think I will.”

  “You will. Just don’t rush it!”

  “Oh, I’m not!” We giggled. “It’s amazing how you and Kaden have moved on and how good you two are doing living on your own.”

  “Yeah, it’s pretty amazing because I never thought I’d be in this situation!”

  “It’s amazing alright!” We laughed heartily.

  “Well, I’m going to cook a big bowl of pasta while you unpack.”

  “I’m only going to be here for a few more days, why unpack?”

  “You can leave your clothes in the suitcase, but I don’t have an iron.”

  Her eyes grew big. “In
that case I’ll unpack!”

  “Good idea!” She went upstairs to unpack while I started cooking the pasta.

  “Hello there, sexy!” I turned around to see Kaden standing at the doorway of the kitchen.

  “Did you complete those major tasks?” I questioned.

  “Sure did!” He came over behind me and wrapped his arms around me. He pulled my hair back from my left shoulder and started kissing my neck. Then he turned me toward him and kissed me on the lips.

  “WOW! Dinner and a show!” Susie exclaimed.

  We stopped kissing. I could feel my face blushing.

  “Hey, no intruders!” Kaden joked.

  “Sorry, I couldn’t help it. It was making me hot!” She joked in return.

  “Hey, now!” I continued to joke around with Kaden.

  Kaden sat down at the table, along with Susie.

  I fixed each of us a bowl of pasta and a glass of soda. Then I sat down with them to eat.

  “Wow! You’re an amazing cook, Sara!” Susie complimented.

  “It’s just pasta. I’m sure you can cook pasta!”

  “No, I burn anything I cook!” We all chuckled.

  “I know I didn’t ask you guys first, but I convinced my parents to let me come to Heather’s house, for the summer, but now I have to say your house,” she gestured to Kaden and me.

  “Are you serious? This will be great!” I said excitedly.

  “When will you be coming? Sara, don’t forget you will have Riley this summer!” Kaden reminded his fiancé.

  “If I made a mistake by inviting myself into your home, I’m sorry I just thought it be fun to spend the summer with you guys,” She stated.

  “We have no problem with you spending the summer here, right Kaden?” I looked towards Kaden waiting for his answer.

  “No. We have no problem at all with you sating here,” Kaden grinned.

  “If something comes up where you won’t be able to stay here then we’ll let you know,” I told Susie.

  “Okay, then I’ll be here a week after school is finished,” she said finality.

  “Has Sara told you about our new addition to the family?” Kaden questioned.

  “Oh-my-gosh! YOU’RE PREGNANT!” Susie yelled.

  I held my ears because it was like someone talking through a megaphone. “No way,