The drive to the nursing home took thirty minutes. We parked outside a resort-like facility with its circular driveway and Bellboys that ushered a couple of ladies in wheelchairs through the doors.

"This place looks nice."

"Yeah, we upgraded Mom as soon as we found out she checked herself into a nursing home," Wyatt said, from the shotgun of the car. "You should have seen that first place she checked herself into. Talk about a dump."

"This new place has its own built-in gym, pool, and spa." Jordan chimed in.

When we pulled to the front of the palatial nursing home, the valet held my door open, before my heels hit the cream marble floors.

Jordan threw his keys to the bellboy, and he caught them on the fly. "Danny, my man." He slapped the teenager on the back. "Take care of her, will ya?"

"Sure thing. Hey, can I get another picture?" Danny asked, already taking out his phone.

"Yeah, no prob." Jordan threw his arm over Danny and smiled his signature smile that I'd seen many times before on the big screen.

Cade intertwined our fingers, tipping his chin toward Jordan. "That guy. Always the center of attention."

I laughed. "How long has your mom been at a nursing home?"

"Two years or so. At first, it was just me taking care of her. I wanted it to be all me because Jordan and Wyatt, they have lives."

"How old is your mom?" I asked, curious to why she needed 24-hour care.

"Sixty. She's young, but ..." He averted his gaze, where I couldn't read his eyes. "I guess you should know before we walk in there.” He pulled me to the side, right before the doors. “When my parents jumped in the car with Candice that night, my father lost his life. But my mother ..." He swallowed. "Her legs are amputated."

"Oh, Cade."

"It happened so long ago, but the repercussions of that night ... how it changed our family, how it affects us every day ..."

I kissed his lips because I didn't want him to say it out loud, regurgitate his thoughts in his head. I knew that the pain would never go away, but I didn't want him to relive it in this moment.

"She called the nursing home to pick her up when we flat out told her 'no' and we weren't putting her in a home. I know she doesn't want to be a burden, and she's not. I mean, it was a lot on me at first, but when we split the responsibilities amongst the three of us, and we had a caretaker here, it was fine."

"You're such a strong man, so loving, so kind. You know she just doesn't want to put it all on you."

He spoke in an odd, yet gentle tone. "Yeah, I know. It's just hard to have her there. I mean we visit often. It's just ... for someone that lived her life taking care of others, it feels like we just stuck her in a home."

"Don't think of it that way," I reassured him. I loved this man. My man. From the outside he was big and buff and hella intimidating, but from the inside, his love for his family was limitless.

“Serious conversation can continue later.” Jordan tugged at my arm and pulled me through the doors.

“Let go of my girl, Jordan.”

Gleaming, newly-polished floors welcomed us at the lobby, and we passed a sign-in desk that was adorned with two beautiful vases of green and pink orchids, reminding me of a hotel. The scent of bleach that permeated the air, the multiple sanitizer stations and wheelchairs scattered in front, reminded me that this was a swanky nursing home.

A woman with a cute blonde bob with a clipboard greeted us in the front.

"Hi, Cade. Preparations that Jordan called in are all ready. Hey, Wyatt." She raised a hand to Wyatt walking in and spoke super fast, not getting a breath in.

"Oh, I'm so sorry. I'm Bella," she said, finally noticing the stranger amongst the men and extending a hand and friendly smile my way. "I'm kind of the party planner here."

"The best party planner there is," Jordan said. His eyes ate Bella up like she was his favorite candy at the candy store. But she seemed immune to his big, starry Hollywood stare.

Cade cleared his throat and eyed Jordan with a slight shake of his head.

I wasn’t sure if Cade was the eldest brother, but one thing that was certain was that Cade led this family. He took responsibility, and he instructed the other brothers, and they listened. That was blatantly clear since the moment I walked into their house.

Jordan swept his hand in front of him. "By all means, Bella, why don't you lead us toward the party."

The boys were the life of the nursing home, and my smile could not be dimmed as they hugged practically every old woman they passed and high-fived every old man that were in our path. All of the boys knew everyone by first name, and Cade introduced me to each and every person.

Balloons were placed outside the party room, and music played from the inside of the room that was outlined with mirrors. If I were a betting girl, I'd guess this was where they took dance or aerobic classes.

Every inch of the space was decorated in pink and purple. From the balloons strung to each chair to the streamers hanging from the ceiling to the pink and purple décor on the long table against the far wall. A cake that spanned half the table and appetizers and dip were placed in glass dishes were neatly lain around a cake that could feed a hundred people.

The whole area rattled with rowdy cheers. Cade's mom was seated in a wheelchair in the center of the room.

Her hair was the darkest shade of brown to match Cade's. She was beautiful and seemed like the youngest woman in the nursing home, with not a gray hair in sight.

Wyatt and Jordan practically jumped their mother, lifting her chair with her in it and getting in her face.

It was endearing and outright adorable seeing them interact like five-year olds with all their boyish charm at the vicinity of their mom.

A mile-wide smile popped on Cade’s face right before he grabbed my hand, and, in the next second, I was in front of Mrs. Ryder.

He must have sensed my unease or maybe it was the feel of my sweaty palm against his because he gave me one reassuring squeeze.

I tried not to focus at her lack of legs or the fact that her knees were stubs. And it didn't take long because her smile was contagious when she motioned me forward. I walked toward her, and when I leaned down, she embraced me in a full-on cherry-topping hug. “Angelica, it's so great to finally meet you. I'm Stacy."

Her words and the way her voice eased out made me realize that Cade had told her a lot about me.

"It's so nice to finally meet you, too," I said, pulling back, reaching for her hand and squeezing it. She was stunning with her cute chin-length bob. She couldn't have weighed more than a hundred and ten pounds. She seemed fragile, but I knew that couldn't have been further than the truth because there was strength behind her gray steel eyes that matched Cade's.

"There was a while there that I thought Cade was into men." There was a chuckle from his brothers behind him. "Not like there’s anything wrong with that, but just the fact that he hadn't brought anyone home."

Cade threw one arm over my shoulder. "Just waiting for the perfect girl, to introduce her to the infamous head of the Ryder family."

I shifted with unease as everyone's eyes were on me—Cade’s brothers, the whole room.

"Don't let the Ryder family or this little ole woman in the wheelchair intimidate you."

"Ryder or die." Jordan yelled behind me. "Hm, yeah that sounded bad."

When Wyatt nudged his brother on the shoulder, the room erupted in laughter.

More people began to trickle in. The chatter heightened, and a line formed behind me, waiting to greet the birthday girl.

"So, Angelica, are you in town long? I'd love if we could have breakfast tomorrow, just the family. It's a family after-birthday tradition. Today is going to be a little crazy. Old people like to party."

I didn't know how long I was staying, through the weekend for sure, until I had to face reality. "Yes. I'd love that. Wyatt can cook a killer meal.” I’d experienced it first hand back at the house.

She peered lovingly over my shoulder at her son. "Cade's ability to cook is taught, but Wyatt, my sweet boy, has a natural ability and a great taste for food."

"What?" Jordan asked, his tone feigning offense. "I'm not your sweet boy?"

She rolled her eyes and chuckles around us answered Jordan's question.

"Mom, you can grill Angel later. Plus, we have breakfast tomorrow. " Cade motioned to the people behind me. "There is a line waiting to give you your gifts."

Cade pulled us to the side, making room for everyone else to wish Stacy a happy birthday.

"I think I need to get you a sweat bucket for your palm."

I tore my hand from his grasp. "You're horrible."

"You're beautiful." A smile ruffled his mouth. "I don't even know why you're nervous because there was no doubt in my mind that she'd love you just like I do."

Is it possible to turn into a puddle of mush every single time he mentioned the “L” word? The butterflies in my stomach took flight. Again. Yep, very possible.

Bella approached us, walking in her cheery, happy pace. There was a natural bounce to her step. "Let's blow out the candles. Some of these people are going to leave early to take their naps." She chuckled, her eyes filling with an inner glow.

"Sure thing." He leaned in to whisper in my ear. "I want you to blow one candle tonight, but it's not on top of the cake."

I threw him a dubious look, and his gray eyes smoldered with promises of tonight in response. My cheeks flushed a dark shade of pink at his words. "You better behave, or you're not going to have your cake and eat it, too."

His gaze was as soft as a caress, and he pinched my side playfully while ushering me to the front of the room by his mother and his brothers, right by his side.

The two-tiered cake was beautiful in all purples and pinks and yellows with elaborate flowers etched on the edges. When it came to their mother, these boys knew no limits.

A giddiness stirred within me when they lit her two candles, the six and the zero. After all, birthdays would forever be my thing, and my birthday was what brought Cade and me together. Silver lining and all.

"Make a wish!" Jordan said, shaking Stacy's shoulders lightly.

Stacy beamed at her son, her eyes crinkling with pride. "I wish for what I wish every year. For my boys' happiness." She pointed to Jordan with a gleam in her eye. "And for Jordan Ryder to finally settle down with a nice girl."

His smile faltered, his mood dampening, and I knew what had triggered the change—Candice.

"Mom, you're wasting your wishes," he said, his voice whisper soft, his joyful demeanor flipping off like a switch.

She reached behind her and grabbed his fingers, placing both of her hands on top of his. "Someday, it'll happen. It happened once. It’ll happen again. You'll see. You'll fall in love again, Jordan. I know."

He nodded, and in that very instant, he seemed so lost, so vulnerable, just like a child. His eyes became distant, a cloudy murky blue, and I knew in the deepest part of me, he could only be thinking about Candice.

Stacy closed her eyes tightly, and I held my breath.

Her new beginning.

And then she blew out her old life and wished.

Everyone in the room cheered and clapped and hollered.

Cade kissed my head again, which made me think about Jordan's wish. "How about Bella?"

"What?'

"For Jordan," I clarified.

My eyes darted between Jordan and Bella, the happy-go-lucky nursing home planner, but Cade slowly shook his head. "Nope. She's off limits. She's too nice of a girl."

My head tilted, weighing out the reasons why they should be together. "You don't want your brother to be with a nice girl?"

"Of course, I do. But Jordan needs someone just like him. He's not ready to settle down, and he'd chew Bella up and leave nothing left. And I like Bella. She's a good girl and that's why I told Jordan to stay away."

"And he'll listen?" I asked staring at the actor extraordinaire.

"It's not like he hasn't before. And he knows better." I peered up into my boyfriend's eyes and made note of the hard lines on his face. I doubted that there was anyone that went against Cade's wishes.

After I assisted Bella in passing around the cake to Stacy and her friends, I sat in the corner with my dessert taking in the scene before me. Jordan occupied the vacant seat beside me. "So, Angelica … when is the date?"

I blinked. "What date?"

"The wedding date."

I laughed, half coughed on the cake I was picking at. His words weren't too far-fetched. I thought of forever, more with Cade in the short time we'd been together than with Roland and the many years we'd spent together.

"There's no date. We haven't been together that long."

He peered over to his brother who was chitchatting with Wyatt, making their mother cry with laughter. "Cade is a serious settling type. Once he's committed, he's committed for life. I've never met anyone so loyal. So, baby girl," he said as he patted my knee, "it's only a matter of time, so you'd better pick that dress now."

"You're nuts," I said, half-laughing, half-crazy myself because it had crossed my mind.

"Yes. I don't doubt that. But in all honesty, I'm just happy he's finally found someone." He leaned back in his chair, staring at his brother. "Cade has been taking care of this family for so long. Taking on the burden of caring for mom. He didn't want any help at first until we didn't give him an option. Thing is ... she's Wyatt and my mom, too. Not by blood, but by everything a mother is." A soft smile touched his face. "He's always worried about everyone else's happiness. I'm just glad he has someone that makes him happy for once. "

In the short time I'd known Cade, there was no doubt he was one with character and strength and felt the pressure of making everything right in the world before tending to himself. He took care of me with such fierceness, and because of that, I loved him beyond what was comprehendible. "I'm glad, too." I placed my palm over Jordan's on his knee and gave it a little shake. "How about I invite you to the wedding?"

He scoffed. "I better be in the wedding. I think I'll be the best man since I called your wedding first."

"Jordan," Wyatt called over. "You getting fresh with Cade's girl?"

Cade's whole body flipped toward our direction, and his eyes narrowed. But Jordan egged his brother on and pulled my chair closer to his and threw an arm over my shoulder. "Play along, little sis. Let's see how pissed we can get him."

When Jordan leaned in closer to whisper something in my ear, Cade stalked toward us, lips pressed together, face serious. He didn't even have a chance to pull Jordan off me because Jordan jumped to a standing position with both hands up. "Just playing, big brother. I know what's off-limits."

Cade huffed. "Not funny." He intertwined our hands and kissed the top of my fist, claiming me for himself.

"Aw, how precious," Jordan cooed.

I could tell Cade was irked by Jordan's teasing, aloof manner.

"Don't you have to fix the sink at the house before you leave?" Cade asked.

Jordan scratched at his eyebrow. "Yeah, shit. I need to get that done before I go back to Cali."

"Not before Mom has her dance." Cade tilted his head toward Wyatt who was holding a remote control.

"Oh, yeah, bro. My favorite part of Mom's birthday. That and the ink."

With one click on Wyatt's remote, the song "Mama” by Boys II Men began to play in the background. "Excuse me, beautiful. Mama needs her dance." Cade planted a chaste kiss on my lips before joining Jordan and Wyatt in the center of the room where their mother sat in her wheelchair. Cade was the first to lift her from her chair. He carried her as though she weighed no more than a feather and they swayed to the music, to the beats and words of the sweet song.

Unfallen tears trembled beneath my eyelids as I watched their closeness. My mind flickered to their past when tragedy hit. Cade had said she was a dancer and that she taught dance classes for a living. A pain squeezed my heart thinking that fate had not only taken Stacy's daughter and her husband but her legs, too—her livelihood. But as I continued to marvel in the interaction between mother and son and their happiness, I realized she was completely whole.

She pulled back, and they shared some words that made her laugh. The upper body strength that Cade had was amazing that he could hold his mother for half the song and still balance while she pulled away to hold a conversation.

The two other boys stood in a horizontal line, their faces anxious, waiting for their turn, and it took all my strength to stand there and not bawl my eyes out at their love for their mother, their strength through their tragedy and the force of my man, not just his muscle strength but the depth of his heart—their hearts.

After Cade guided Stacy into Jordan's arms, he walked toward me, his eyes misty. He extended a hand, and when I placed my fingers against his, he twirled me around and pulled me toward him, chest to chest.

"Just so you know, I have two left feet," I said.

"Just so you know, I'm a great dancer." The warmth of his smile echoed in his voice.

"Of that, I have no doubt." I noticed the people around us moving toward the dance floor, older couples dancing. Others standing around swaying side to side. My eyes moved to Jordan and Stacy. She was laughing uncontrollably, and you'd think he'd be someone struggling as he carried her weight and held up a conversation, but he glided around the dance floor effortlessly and with ease.

"Cade, that is the sweetest thing. "

"She thought it was ridiculous, at first. Until one day, Jordan just picked her up to dance, and she began to cry. My mother was nicknamed Twinkle Toes because of her ability to dance. She made it look so easy." He smiled as Wyatt took over as lead, dancing with less grace and style. "And now it's a birthday tradition."

Wyatt counted steps while dancing. One-together. Two-Together. Slide-one. Slide-two. He didn't struggle carrying her, but he did struggle with not knowing where to lead them next.

I watched him and Stacy dance with awe and thought of all the heartache they'd all endured.

The music changed to an upbeat tempo, and Cade motioned us to the side to sit. Soon, Bella and Wyatt joined us. Minutes turned into an hour as we all watched and witnessed the senior citizens getting down and dancing their arthritis out.

Soon after the dancing was done, the crowd cleared out, and the only ones left cleaning the room were Bella, Cade, Wyatt, and me. Jordan had left earlier after his slow dance to take care of things at the house.

Stacy sat in her wheelchair rereading cards that people had given her.

Her smile was infectious, and I'd given anything to get a sneak peek at what some of her friends had sent her. The first card she opened was a picture of a guy's ass. Who knew what was on the inside of the card, but his ass was on the outside for everyone to see.

She threw back her head and let out a great peal of laughter that carried throughout the room. I'd bet that there were more raunchy cards in the mix. Cade and Wyatt merely smiled.

"Do you ever wonder why people are put in nursing homes?” Wyatt asked. There was depth to his thoughts, and I read a storm brewing behind his dark brown irises.

Cade rolled his eyes while Bella piped up to answer him.

"Well, for different reasons. Some just can't provide the twenty-four-hour care for their parents anymore. They have kids and work and life."

"So, they just get tossed in here because they don't want to be bothered or burdened," he stated matter-of-factly. There was a hard, cold bitterness in his tone. "Just like kids in a foster home." Although Jordan and Wyatt came from the system, there was no doubt that Wyatt was still battling with some abandonment issues.

"Wyatt, some people come here because they want to, too. It's not a jail. They want to associate and live in a community that's welcoming." Bella placed a consoling hand on his forearm. "It's not a prison sentence being in here, Wyatt. This nursing home is not like others. We're a family here."

His chin dipped to his neck, and his gaze dropped to the floor. "I'm sorry," he said.

"Or you come here like Mom because you don't want to be a burden to anyone else," Cade spoke up.

Wyatt clenched his jaw, his face clouding with unease. "I fucking hate that she thinks that."

"I can hear you," Stacy chimed in with her cheery cherry-on-top voice. She wheeled herself over to where we were seated. "Just so I'm clear for Angelica because I've repeated myself a million times to my boys, I came here because I wanted to. For a multitude of reasons, but at the end of the day, I'm happy. I don't feel like a cripple here. I have friends, and as long as your mom is happy, that's all that matters, right, Wyatt?"

She placed her hand in his, and his whole posture relaxed. In the quietest voice, he said, "Yeah, Mom. All I want is you happy."

“Hello, my family.” Our heads poked at the entrance where Jordan strolled in.

"I thought you were fixing that sink," Cade uttered.

"Well, I brought you all a surprise."

We all peered up, and I blinked, stunned speechless.

A dead weight filled my chest, and a dread filled my veins.

Automatically, I stood.

It was my sister.