by Dylann Crush
The lamp flickered as giant raindrops plopped against the windows.
Dad rubbed his hand over his whiskers. “I made a mistake. I know that now. Didn’t want you to have your heart broke like I did. I sent Cassie a letter, too. Made it out like it was from you. Said you didn’t want to see her again and to not bother coming back.” His voice rose, anger seeping in. “Don’t you get it, Rob? I loved that woman. I’d have done anything for her. She picked him.”
The letter Cassie mentioned. I’d suspected he had something to do with that but had no idea he’d jacked with my scholarship too. My dad had royally fucked me over. Me and everybody else.
“You didn’t give her much of a choice, did you? Cassie told me. Said you and her mom were engaged. But you fucked around on her, didn’t you?”
“I screwed up. Angeline and I got in a fight, a bad one. Your mama was there and one thing led to another. I spent one night with your mama, and I’ve been paying for it for my whole life.”
“You’re sick. Did you screw around on mom, too?”
He looked at his hands, clasped around the soda can in his lap. “I’m dyin’, Rob. I can feel it. Not gonna be around much longer, and I want to come clean with you. There’s somethin’ else you should know.”
I grunted and stood. The paperwork slid off my lap and scattered over the floor. Thunder boomed, shaking the walls of the house. The rain began to fall in sheets. I walked over to close the windows and turned to face him.
“You want me to stick around here so you can clear your conscience? Screw that. You thought you could keep me away from Cassie, didn’t you?” My hands clenched as I stepped around the table and moved toward the door. I wrestled with the urge to feel my fist slam into something, preferably his skull.
He spoke, so quiet I almost didn’t hear him. “Wasn’t your fault Jeffy died.”
I spun around to face him. “What did you say?”
“You heard me.” He glanced up at me then returned his gaze to his hands. “That afternoon. I saw your call come through on my cell.”
My heart stuttered. “Why didn’t you answer?”
“I’m not proud of what I did. Your mama was a good woman. She deserved better.” He seemed to shrink even smaller against the cushion of the chair.
“You were fucking around on her, weren’t you?” Dad didn’t move. “You were with someone else that afternoon. That’s why you didn’t pick up the phone.”
Silent tears ran down his cheeks. He made no move to wipe them away.
I leaned down and grabbed him by the front of his pajama top, pulling him toward me. He didn’t resist.
“You’re a sick old bastard. All this time. You let me think it was all my fault.”
He wouldn’t meet my eyes. I let go of his shirt and he fell back against the seat. The walls closed in on me. I needed air. I needed Cassie. My feet carried me toward the door.
“I’m sorry, son.”
His words stopped me in my tracks, and I slowly turned. Sheriff Jefferson Clinton Jordan, iron-fisted ruler of Nestor County, couldn’t have looked more pathetic if he’d tried. For a split second I almost felt sorry for him. But I was too keyed up to forgive and forget. “I’m not your son.”
The screen door slammed shut behind me as I launched myself through the pelting rain toward the truck. This would change everything. Cassie had always blamed me for being the reason we couldn’t be together. I had to tell her what happened. She needed to know the truth. I yanked the door open and climbed into the driver’s seat. Water poured down from the sky, making it impossible to see through the windshield, even with the wipers going full speed. Hell, I could probably make the drive next door with a blindfold on, I’d done it so many times. I just hoped this time it wasn’t too late.
A few minutes later I stood on her front porch, soaked through to the skin, crushing the note she left me into a wad in my fist. Dammit. She was gone. I needed to talk to her. Tell her what my dad admitted. It could change everything. It had to.
34
Cassie
My tongue slid over my gums. A layer of fuzzy grime coated my teeth and a sheen of oil covered my face. Maybe I should have showered before I tore out of Swallow Springs. Or at least brushed my teeth. I’d been on the road for six hours and still had another two to go. Exhaustion had yet to set in; frustration fueled my movements. The peanut butter M&Ms and extra-large coffee I’d grabbed when I stopped to fill up the gas tank helped.
What would I find when I got to Dallas? Parker usually woke up early on Sunday mornings. He’d head to the gym for a workout and then pick up coffee and bagels on his way back to the apartment. I’d be rolling out of bed by the time he got back and we’d chat over breakfast, then he’d shower and head into the office for a couple of hours while I read the paper. I’d be ready to head to work in the late afternoon when he got home. Working together on the new place would have put us on a more synchronized schedule. Not that any of that mattered now.
I passed the exit that would take me to my apartment and drove on toward the site of the new restaurant. Looked like they were repaving the parking lot. A car pulled out in front of me, freeing up a coveted spot on the street. I eased my little Honda into the space and gave a silent thanks to Robbie for spending hour after hour helping me master the fine art of parallel parking when I first got my license. The sun had just started peeking out over the Dallas skyline when I’d entered the metro area. Robbie usually got an early start to his day, but I’d told him not to come over today. How long would it take before he saw the note I’d left on the door?
I twisted the key from the ignition and took a long look at myself in the rearview mirror. The lack of sleep showed in the dark circles under my eyes. A dab of powder across my nose didn’t do much to sop up the shine. I popped a piece of spearmint gum in my mouth and grabbed my purse. The rest of my things could stay in the car. I probably wouldn’t be here long. But I had to see the culmination of my years of hard work in person before I could go home. I had to know that what I’d walked away from in Swallow Springs was worth the sacrifice.
I fit the key into the lock and pushed the door open, before stepping into the dim interior of the space. My fingers grazed the wall as I searched for a light switch. Finding none, I fired up the flashlight app on my phone. Dark gray slate covered the foyer floor. As I lifted the phone so the light could skim over the walls, my gaze ran over the bright red lacquer of the hostess stand. Hmm, not exactly what we’d talked about, but I assumed Parker’s consultant knew what she was doing.
The light continued to shine over the space, finally illuminating a panel of switches in the hall by the restrooms. I flipped them all on and the buzz of neon made me turn my head. A huge red and green neon chili pepper hung over the entrance to the dining area. Stalks of bamboo created a screen between the waiting area and the tables. Parker and his designer had taken the Tex-Mex Asian fusion theme quite literally.
I walked past shiny lacquered black tables and wound my way through bright red booths to the kitchen. Prepared for stainless steel, my gaze stopped on the black appliances. What kind of commercial kitchen went with black? How could I be expected to keep things clean when I couldn’t even tell if they were dirty?
I swallowed the first signs of panic bubbling up from my chest. I should have been here, working on the space this summer, not hundreds of miles away, worrying about a claw foot tub. What had happened to the design I’d turned in?
Forcing myself to take a deep breath, I let my gaze drift around the room. We’d work it out. Somehow or another, it would be fine. I tried to imagine myself in the space—directing my sous chef, barking out orders to a team of line cooks, and putting the finishing touches on trays full of plates before they were delivered to diners.
But all I could think about was how shiny and dark everything seemed to be. It was nothing like the vision I’d conjured up while standing in the old Lovebird Café with Robbie. I ran my hand over a black steel countertop. This would just take
some getting used to, that’s all. Nodding, I turned to go. It was time to tell Parker I was back for good. It was time to get started on making my dreams come true.
Robbie
I poured another cup of coffee and slumped into a chair at the kitchen table. I’d been so excited to get to Cassie last night after my dad came clean. But now it was too late. She’d gone back to Texas. Back to him. My gut felt like someone had sucked everything out, kind of like how we used to scoop out the insides of pumpkins before we carved them when we were kids. Hollow and empty.
I’d tried calling, tried texting. She didn’t respond. For half a heartbeat I even thought about jumping into my truck and chasing her down. But if she didn’t want to stay, I didn’t want to force her. In fact, after a crappy night’s sleep, I’d decided that I’d make things easier on her so I called Hattie Hayes to set up a meeting in town in an hour. I figured if the only thing holding Cassie back from being able to make her dreams come true was the sale of the house, then that was the last gift I could give her.
I’d barely had a chance to take a sip of the steaming hot brew when Jake pulled into the driveway in my dad’s old truck. Hell, I’d heard him coming since he’d turned off the blacktop. Damn truck needed a new muffler.
He cut the engine then clomped across the porch. After a quick knock he headed inside, probably following his nose into the kitchen. “Hey, brought the truck back.”
“Yeah, I heard.” I raised my mug his direction. “Help yourself to coffee. I can run you back home in a few.”
“Thanks.” He made himself at home in the kitchen, fetching a mug and finishing off the first pot of coffee. “You and Cassie have a good night last night?”
I let out a sigh and slid the note she’d left across the table.
He skimmed it, his brow furrowed as he read over her last words to me. “So she’s gone? What are you gonna do now?”
I shook my head. “Not much I can do. There’s nothing to hold her here.”
“Are you in shock or something? Why aren’t you going after her?” Jake wadded up the note and tossed it at me.
“What good would it do? She’s made up her mind.” I leaned back in my chair, forcing myself to make eye contact with my best friend. “I might not be a genius, but even I’m not stupid enough to keep forcing myself on someone who doesn’t want anything to do with me. I’ll just focus on work.”
“I’m sorry.” Jake clamped a hand on my shoulder. “That sucks.”
“Yeah, well Caroline’s dad still wants me to finish the renovation on the courthouse. I undercut the lowest bid by fifteen percent.” I shifted in my seat. “Guess the tightwad couldn’t resist. That oughta keep me busy enough that I won’t have time to think about her, right?”
Jake cradled his mug between his hands. “So Caroline didn’t cry to her daddy that you broke her heart?”
“Becca sent me a text. Said the group Caroline worked for this summer wants her to come back for the whole year. She’s telling everyone she dumped me for some Brazilian soccer player named Miguel. I don’t care. If it means she’ll leave me alone, let her have it her way.”
“So what exactly happened with Cassie last night?”
I took a huge gulp of coffee while I thought about how to answer. “I ran her off. Dammit. Pressed her too far too fast.” My hand went to the back of my neck, and I kneaded the knotted up muscles across my shoulders.
“Give her some space. Cassie’s a smart one. She’ll figure things out.”
“No. It’s really over this time. I don’t think she’s coming back.”
Jake stood up next to me and fake punched me on the shoulder. “Maybe not, but that doesn’t mean you can’t go to her. Dude, drive down there. Talk some sense into her.”
“No. I’ve done all I can. It’s time to move on. For both of us.” Jake’s idea wasn’t new. I’d thought about jumping in the truck last night and chasing her down. But I could only take so much rejection. If I followed her to Texas and she still sent me packing…that would finish me off for good. It was better this way. I drained my coffee and set the mug in the sink. “Let me check on Dad, and I’ll run you home. I’m headed into town anyway.”
“Oh yeah? What for?”
“Gotta see a woman about a property for sale.”
35
Cassie
I chewed on my lip as the last page of my email slowly emerged from the printer. Mrs. Hayes said it was a strong offer. At full asking price and a quick close, I couldn’t agree more. The buyer had even waived the right to an inspection. Not that I anticipated any problems since Robbie’s repairs had been so thorough, but still, one less thing to worry about. I dashed my signature across the bottom line and stacked the papers in the scanner so I could send the paperwork back before I lost my nerve. With an offer on the house, and a grand opening for the new restaurant coming up, everything was working out just as I’d hoped.
Then why didn’t I feel a sense of achievement I’d assumed would wash over me when everything fell into place? When Mrs. Hayes called to discuss the preliminary offer, I’d had second thoughts. Did I really want to let go of my grandparents’ house? And to a business, not even a family? But Mrs. Hayes said having the LLC on the paperwork was just a formality. And then Parker showed me the write-up in Dallas Monthly featuring an article about our restaurant being one of the most anticipated openings of the year, and I brushed any doubts away.
Plans for opening night were buzzing along, and I didn’t have time to waste on rethinking my decision.
“You ready for today?” Parker stuck his head into the small office we shared, just off the kitchen.
“Yep. Just wrapping up the paperwork on the house.” I pulled the papers off the scanner feed and stapled them together.
“When’s closing day?” he asked.
“Two weeks.”
“You did it, Cassie.” His grin made me find a smile of my own.
He held his hand up for a high-five. Since he’d finally quit his job two weeks ago, he’d been more fun to be around. Not that I was rethinking the decision to keep things professional between us. We definitely were better suited to a work-only relationship.
I slapped my palm against his. “We did it.”
“How much will you clear on the house?”
“When all’s said and done, probably about a hundred-and-eighty-five thousand.”
“Perfect. That gives us enough to pay off the bridge loan plus the interest.”
“Yep. It will be nice to not have that hanging over our heads. I still don’t know how you got the timing to work out.” Parker might not be my Mr. Right, but I’d discovered he was the right man to have in my corner when trying to figure out some fancy financing.
He wiggled his fingers. “I’ve got the magic touch, I guess.”
Magic touch…Parker might have a magic touch when it came to numbers, but the only magic touch I’d been missing lately belonged to Robbie. I still had a gaping hole in my heart since I tore out of Swallow Springs. He’d called a few times, but I hadn’t let myself listen to the messages. It would hurt too much. I’d made my decision. Now I needed to shut out everything else and concentrate on my goals.
“Doing some more interviews today?” Parker asked.
“Yeah. I have a couple of guys I used to work with coming in to take a look at the kitchen. I think they’ll be a good fit.”
“Great. I’ll see you later.” Parker tapped his hand on the door frame and turned to go. He’d left me in total control of the kitchen, which meant he’d left me excited and also completely terrified. If something went wrong or blew up in my face, there wouldn’t be anyone else to blame.
Robbie
I clicked my phone off and shoved it in my back pocket. Jake had forwarded me some article featuring Cassie and her new restaurant. Her big grand opening was just a couple of weeks away. He was still trying to get me to back out of buying the Macon house, but that was one decision, maybe the only decision, I’d ever been one-hundred
percent sure of.
Cassie’s grandparents’ place was more of a home to me than the house I grew up in. I couldn’t see it fall into some strangers’ hands. Even if Cass had turned her back on Swallow Springs, at least I’d be surrounded by memories. It was too bad I’d had to deplete the funds I’d been saving to build the baseball field, but I had a feeling Jeffy would understand. I hadn’t given up on the dream, just put it on hold.
With nothing else jockeying for my attention, I’d be able to focus all my efforts on expanding my business and hopefully rebuilding the baseball fund. I just needed a little more time—the one thing I’d have plenty of in my foreseeable future.
I looked up as Mrs. Hayes and the gal from the title office sat down at the long conference table.
“You ready, Mr. Jordan?” Mrs. Hayes handed me one of her signature teal real estate pens.
“Cassie still doesn’t know it’s me, right?” I’d worried about her finding out I was the buyer until Mrs. Hayes suggested I make the offer in the name of a newly created limited liability corporation.
“Absolutely not. Discretion is one of my greatest assets.” She tapped her bright red nails on the table. “She did ask about the LLC, but I told her it wasn’t all that uncommon, especially on acreage.”
I nodded. “Thanks.” Knowing I was the one making an offer might have affected her decision to sell. I didn’t want whatever had happened between us to sway her decision either way. Based on how she left, I figured she wouldn’t be coming back, so it probably wouldn’t matter.
An hour later I pushed back from the table, a huge stack of signed papers in front of me. It was official—I was a homeowner. Cassie had filled out her paperwork electronically so the deal was done.
