Drew’s father had built this treehouse several years ago, intending for his younger sons to play in it. However, every time Cadence and the rest of their group came over, they almost always found themselves climbing the rope ladder and lounging around in the top of the oak that spanned most of the width of the back yard. Even today, though it was a bit chilly and beginning to mist, the treehouse was the place they went to automatically.
Taylor and Sydney were leaning against the wall, snuggled up under a blanket they had brought up so long ago, it now smelled of mildew. The girls never s
Cadence and Jack walked off toward the side yard, out of earshot of most anyone who could possibly be attempting to listen. “I’m okay,” he said as he stopped near the fence. He was wearing a dark blue suit, and Cadence remembered how that color had always set his eyes off. Today, however, they didn’t seem quite as bright as what she remembered, and she wondered if he had, indeed, been crying after all.“Good, good,” she said. “I wish I would have been able to spend more time with all of you this week. I just needed some time alone, you know?”
“Hello?” Cadence said, praying that it wasn’t a telemarketer.“Just look him firmly in the eye and say, very calmly, ‘Elliott explained that to you. Don’t you remember? Remember what Elliott said?’” It was Aaron, and while she was a little shocked that he knew exactly what she had been talking about, she was relieved to have some help.Despite
Cadence had taken a nap after she returned from Drew’s house. She had visited with her family and watched some television with her sister. Now, she was sitting on her bed, dressed in comfy pants and a long-sleeved T-shirt, perusing Facebook on her phone and waiting for Aaron to arrive. He had sent her a text earlier that he was still planning on coming over but that his trip to Nevada had been a bit longer than he expected, so it might be a little later than he had hoped. Hopefully, by now, he was at least in the air on his way back to ShenandoahShe knew that it was very unprofessional
“Yes, Jamie was able to get you calmed down long enough for the medication to be administered. Otherwise, we probably wouldn’t have been able to get it in, and then, well, I don’t know what might have happened. But it was crucial that we get that second shot in to your system, and his healing allowed that to happen.”“I can’t believe I didn’t remember Jamie stopping the pain!” she exclaimed. She made a mental note to make sure and thank Jamie the next time she saw him.
Shopping with Eliza was a little bit like watching a cat chase a laser pointer. No matter how many times she seemed to pounce on an item and declare that she “Loved it!” there was always something else within her eyesight begging for her to pounce it, too. By the time they were done, Cadence had spent more money than she could possibly imagine, needed assistance with her bags, and was developing a stress headache from her attempts to rein Eliza in all day.But it had been an amazing experience. Aaron was correct in assuming they would need a plane, and this was not just any plane;
Jamie stopped the SUV in front of one of the two apartment buildings. “This is the building where team members live, and that building over there is for the trainees.”“What? You’re going to make her walk?” Eliza chimed in.Cadence and Jamie exchanged glances before he responded. “No,” he replied, “not any further than you are. Cadence is on ou
Eliza decided not to join them on their jaunt around campus. She said she was worn out from shopping and needed to take a nap. Jamie showed Cadence that there were some food options in the basement of their building, including a smaller grocery store and a couple of restaurants. He also walked her over to the debrief building and let her see the meeting rooms there. She noted they had a lot of technology, which wasn’t surprising considering every single one of them had a computer in his or her eye. He didn’t take her to Aaron’s office because he probably wasn’t actually there, and as Jamie put it, he hoped she’d never have to go there. It was never a pleasant situation when you got called into the office. It was kind of like going to see the principal in school.
“Why is the hill last if it’s the hardest?” Cadence couldn’t help but think this was Aaron’s own special form of torture.“Because you’re tired, probably more than a little angry with me for pushing you so hard, and I want to see what you’ve got when there’s not much left in the reserves.”“Have I been acting like I’m an