Maybe We Shouldn't

Recovery

Behind them Nate was swinging Ali around in his arms as they laughed and screamed their happiness to the congratulating audience, but Cade had to do something. He stood with Toni in his arms and left the big top. He had to get her away from them. He placed her in the passenger seat of his car and strapped her in.

Once he started the engine she seemed to snap out of it. The blank look disappeared and was replaced by one of sadness, loss and depression as if grieving for her lost love. She stared out the window at the passing scenery quietly for a while before the reached the fringes of town then Sam pulled over to the side of the road. She still hadn't said a word so he removed his seatbelt and turned to face her. His plan was to not rush her, let her take her time, let her talk when she was ready.

"I don't want to talk about it. Not yet anyway." And Cade was happy because at least she had said something. He was going to take her mind off it, she needed to let go.

"Let's go in that little restaurant, I've heard the food is amazing." In truth he had never heard of 'Petite Amour', but food was supposed to be good for shock so hopefully it would help.

***

It was a little more upmarket than he had expected from the outside and their dusty clothes did nothing to help them fit in. The Maitre'D looked them over when they entered and a look of disgust crossed his face. Cade attempted to brush of most of the dirt and he saw Toni do the same beside him.

"Sorry," Cade apologised to the man before them."A table for two in a quiet corner please?"

When they took their seats across from each other Cade took Toni's hand wanting her to know that he was there foor her and he saw the look of relief in her eyes when she saw their table was away from the rest of the dining crowd.

She had sat in silence on the way here and had already told him that she didn't walk to talk, but Cade made her feel safe so she quickly found herself wanting to talk to him, wanting to hear his voice, wanting him to tell her everything would be ok.

She spoke the first thing he never expected to hear, "they looked good toether. I'm glad they're happy." and like that his respect for her grew because even as her world fell down around her, she could still put a brave face on... For all of about 10 seconds before her face crumpled and the tears came faster and louder.

Cade waved away the server as she approached motioning for 5 minutes, then he got out of his seat and sat down in the one closer to her and pulled her into his arms, but she pushed him away. "It was a long time ago I made a promise to myself, I decided it was Nate or nobody." She said as she sobbed and wrapped her arms around herself. "I still don't intend on breaking that promise."

He didn't give up that easily. "I'm not here to replace him, it's called comfort. That's what friends do." He grabbed her again and pulled her and she turned around until she was crying into his shoulder and hanging on to him as if her life depended on it. He could feel her small form shaking as she streched towards him and finally it was in that moment that thoughts of Ali slipped out of his mind for good. He was temporarily at a loss for words as his focus shifted from the girl sat awkwardly beside him.

"Toni is that you?"