by JoAnn Durgin
“I didn’t know her well, but I lost a friend, yes. I used to work with her at my marketing firm in Philly. The worst part of it was that she had an appointment in the North Tower that morning. Didn’t even work there.”
“I’m sorry for the loss of your friend. As bad as you feel for your friend—and not to downplay the sadness—I imagine it was multiplied even more for Mitch.”
“He turned against God Himself, Cassie. Did you know that?”
“He told me about it, but I don’t know that I’d call it turning away from God.” Cassie knew she had to defend Mitch, but to his own sister? She had no doubt Amy would have a word with Celeste later in private. “Yes, he lost his way for a while and acted out of pain and grief from the deep loss of Brad, but he never completely lost his faith because. . .well, that’s not possible. Once you place your trust in Him, He’s always there, living inside of us.”
“Our dad was a pastor, so we know all that and don’t need a refresher course.” Celeste checked her watch and crossed her arms.
“Celeste. . .” A note of warning surfaced in Amy’s voice.
“Mitch is a quitter,” Celeste snapped. “He ran away from his medical career when he should have stuck it out. Doctors make mistakes all the time and they’re either covered up or people are paid off to keep them quiet.”
Lord, please help me. Give me Your words. “I might be simple and uncomplicated, but I appreciate Mitch for his strong character and honorable qualities. He has so many, Celeste. As far as his medical career, he almost lost a patient. I can’t begin to imagine what that would be like, can you? Maybe God used that situation to show him he’s not the right man for the job, so to speak. That he’s not destined to be a doctor. But he has the right amount of compassion to help others in whatever he chooses to do. If that’s as a stockbroker, then so be it. I think Mitch knows there’s something better for his talents and abilities. He trusts the Lord to lead him, and I have no doubt He will.”
“You haven’t known our brother as long as we have,” Celeste shot back. “Whether or not Mitch pays attention to the Lord’s will or decides to do things his own way is the key. Next thing we know, he’ll change his mind again and go off on some other career path.”
“Nothing wrong with that,” Landon said from the front, and Amy echoed her agreement.
Cassie settled back in her seat, content to remain silent for the remainder of the hopefully short trip. Sounded like Mitch wasn’t the only one in the family to do things his—or her—own way.
~~**~~
Cassie sat on the bed, dressed in her sleep pants and a T-shirt, trying to read her Bible. Hard to do when her thoughts kept wandering to a handsome man in a townhouse not that far away. After hearing Celeste’s harsh words, she felt protective of Mitch. Celeste’s breakup with Ashton notwithstanding, it was no excuse for her bad behavior and critical comments. Bowing her head, Cassie began to pray.
She startled when a light knock sounded on the door not long into her prayer. “Come in.” She glanced at the clock. Almost eleven. The door swung open and instead of Amy, as she’d expected, Celeste stood in the doorway. She’d changed from her business suit into jeans and a red Phillies T-shirt. That was a shock, but it made her more real, more approachable. Without her high heels, she seemed a few inches shorter and closer to her own height. Her face was devoid of the heavier makeup she’d worn earlier, revealing her pretty complexion and lovely features.
“I’d like you to come with me, if you’re not too tired.”
“Um, okay. Where are we going?”
Celeste frowned. “Trust me.”
The woman had been condescending, arrogant and borderline rude, and now she asked her to trust her? No judgments. Trust her. Since Celeste was leaving early in the morning, maybe she’d come to make amends for her earlier behavior. And now Cassie needed to swallow her misgivings and treat her with Christian kindness.
“Let me change and I’ll be right out.”
“No, you’re fine like that.”
Some girls might go outside in their pajamas, but she wasn’t about to do such a thing. “Celeste, these—”
“No one else will see you but me. What size are you? Four? Six?”
“Eight, actually. Why?”
“That’ll do fine. Wait for me in the living room and I’ll meet you there in five minutes.” Celeste paused in the doorway. “You don’t need your purse.” With that, she did an about face and headed back down the hall.
“Are you serious?” Cassie muttered under her breath, swinging her legs over the edge of the bed. “Lord, help me with this one. Life is never dull around the Jacobsen family, that’s for sure.” Walking across the room to the dresser, she picked up her brush, scooped her hair into a long ponytail and then secured it with an elastic band. She caught a glimpse of her purse sitting by the bed. Where on earth was Celeste taking her that she wouldn’t need her ID? If, God forbid, something happened, shouldn’t she have it with her? After pulling out her driver’s license—for peace of mind—and tucking it in the pocket of her sleep pants, Cassie closed the door behind her.
“Let’s go,” Celeste said, meeting her in the living room and heading to the front door. She swung it open and waited for her to pass into the corridor of the high rise residence.
“Now can you please tell me where we’re going?” Cassie asked when Celeste clicked the doors of Landon’s Range Rover. “And does Landon know you’re taking his car?”
“Yes, he knows. Amy knows. They’re fine with it. Happy about it, as a matter of fact.”
Cassie settled back into the leather seat, wishing either one or both of the Warnicks were along for this little midnight joy ride. Apparently all three Jacobsen siblings had an unpredictable nature. At least Amy and Mitch demonstrated a good amount of humor and made everything more of an adventure. Maybe she should try and make conversation, but she was tired and wasn’t up to it tonight.
“It’s not far,” Celeste said. Thankfully, less than three minutes later, she pulled into the parking garage of a hotel a few blocks away.
Climbing out of the Range Rover, Cassie glanced at their surroundings and resisted the urge to plant her hands on her hips. “Are you kidnapping me, Celeste? You have to admit, this is more than a little strange, hauling me away so late at night, not telling me where you’re taking me and—”
“Here,” Celeste said, tossing something at her she’d retrieved from the backseat. She closed the car door and clicked the lock on the key fob.
Cassie stared at the slinky blue fabric in her hands. A one-piece swimsuit with the tags still attached? She raised a skeptical brow. “We’re going swimming? At this hour of the night?”
“Yes.” The way she nodded, her face composed and serious, Celeste must not believe doing such a thing was in any way out of the ordinary.
“But I can’t—” Cassie hesitated, not sure how much she should admit to the other woman.
“I know, and that’s why we’re here.”
“Because you’re trying to drown me?” No wonder Celeste hadn’t wanted her to bring ID. It would take longer to identify an out-of-town Jane Doe.
Celeste cracked a smile. “Look, I know we got off on the wrong foot, but you mean a lot to Mitch and you’ve been friends with Amy a long time. And. . .I hope eventually we can be friends.”
“So,” Cassie said slowly, trying to formulate her next question.
“Mitch is worried about you because you can’t swim.” Celeste brushed a loose strand of dark hair behind one ear. “I keep a few swimsuits on hand at Amy’s and figured no time like the present.”
“You’re going to teach me to swim? Tonight? I don’t think there’s a Learn to Swim in an Hour class, is there?” Cassie hadn’t meant to sound so sarcastic and she bit her lower lip.
“No, but I can teach you a few basics that will help. Can you at least tread water?”
“I think so, but I haven’t done it in a long time.”
“It’s easy,” Cel
este gestured for her to come alongside her as she started to walk through the garage. “Like riding a bike or whatever. Basic survival skills.”
“Did Mitch ask you to do this?” Cassie followed as Celeste opened another glass door leading to a service elevator in the middle of the building.
“No. It’s totally my idea, so you can blame me for this one.”
Cassie remained silent on the ride to the top floor of the hotel. “Please tell me we’re not breaking any rules or won’t get arrested and hauled off to jail or something. I’ve already entered a Manhattan townhouse, probably illegally. For the record, I’m not proud of it.”
Celeste laughed then, and it softened her features, making her even prettier. “Mitch isn’t complaining. Bringing you here in the first place was Amy’s brilliant idea for his birthday, and this is my gift to him. Rest easy. I know the manager of the hotel and I’m welcome to use the pool anytime I’m in town.”
Headed out of the elevator, Celeste led the way to another glass door. Pool Area. Swim At Your Own Risk. No kidding.
“I called to let my manager friend know I was bringing you here,” Celeste continued. “Hotel Security’s been informed, and no one should bother us since the pool’s closed to the guests as of eleven o’clock.”
“I see.” She didn’t really, but Cassie was tired and her brain was muddled. And now she was supposed to have a swim lesson and be happy about it. At least it’d been a couple of hours since dinner. Wasn’t that the rule—wait a couple of hours after eating so you don’t cramp, thereby decreasing the chances of drowning? She shook her head. No reason to think of the “d” word.
“I was a champion swimmer in high school. Went to nationals and briefly entertained going for the Olympic trials, but I didn’t. I also swam for Bryn Mawr.”
“I’m impressed. Congratulations.” Hopefully that came across as enthusiasm, not sarcasm.
Celeste stopped in front of the women’s locker room. “We can change in here.” She flipped on a light switch and fluorescent lights systematically illuminated the area.
An hour later—after a rigorous swim-by-numbers lesson in the indoor, heated pool—Cassie rested a moment, arms crossed at the edge of the pool. She panted a bit, not having worked out so strenuously at anything in a long time. Celeste offered her hand, and grabbing hold of it, Cassie lifted out of the pool.
“Thanks, Celeste. That was energizing. You’re a good swim coach.” She squeezed the water out of her ponytail and rotated her shoulders. She’d definitely feel this workout tomorrow.
“You’re welcome. Remember the rules about what to do and not do and you should be fine if the occasion ever arises.”
“You didn’t have to do this.”
Celeste gave her a small smile. “I’m not such a bad person, but I don’t know when to quit sometimes, as you witnessed earlier.”
“I don’t think you’re a bad person at all,” Cassie said. A couple of hours ago, she might not have been able to make that statement with complete honesty. If nothing else, Celeste’s caring gesture in bringing her here showed she genuinely cared about Mitch, and that’s what mattered most.
“I’m glad you feel that way. Like I said, I hope we can be friends.”
Cassie smiled. “I’d like that, too.” She could rest easier knowing they’d formed some type of bond, however odd, on that hotel rooftop. And when he found out, Mitch could rest easy that she’d learned a few things about staying afloat in the water.
“Tell me about growing up with Mitch,” Cassie said after she’d changed and they were headed back to Amy and Landon’s residence. Leaning her head back on the seat, she listened and laughed once or twice at Celeste’s retelling of pranks Mitch had played on her.
“Mitch was a great big brother. He always watched out for Amy and me and even slugged a guy once when he got too fresh with me.”
“Really? My brother did that once for me, too, but I was only six at the time. Chase Rollins tried to kiss me on the playground.” They shared a grin. When Celeste asked about her family, she gave her the basics.
“I’m sorry you lost your brother, Cassie. That helps you understand the kind of tragic, sudden loss Mitch suffered, though, doesn’t it? Sometimes people can express sympathy and regret, but unless they’ve gone through the same thing—or almost the same thing—they can’t truly understand at a ground zero level, so to speak. Maybe that’s a bad analogy, and I don’t say it to be cruel or disrespectful to those who died on 9/11, but it’s true all the same.”
When they parted ways, Cassie thanked her again. “Have a safe trip back to Philly.”
“Will do. I’m glad we were able to spend some time together. You’re good for my brother,” Celeste said. “Our mom’s going to love you.”
Cassie didn’t expect Celeste’s approval to mean so much, but it did. And she hoped she was right in terms of their mother. The thought struck her as she climbed back into bed that Mitch would eventually ask to meet her father. What then? She only prayed Daddy wouldn’t be sitting in jail at the time.
“Lord, I’m too tired to worry about that one tonight,” she mumbled, closing her eyes as soon as her head hit the pillow. “Giving this one to You, my friend.”
Chapter 31
Friday, April 23, 2004
Cassie and Amy poked in and out of a few shops on Friday morning in an elusive search for the perfect gift for Mitch’s birthday. She’d waited until coming to New York to find something, believing it would be easier on his home turf. Not so. More like an impossible task. Everything was either too expensive, too trite, too silly. . .or not right for one reason or another. Not that she thought Mitch would be picky, but she couldn’t be pleased. “Call me Goldilocks,” she said under her breath as they left yet another store empty-handed. Never one to shy away from a challenge, she held out hope she’d find something before returning to the townhouse.
Maybe it was the thrill of being with Mitch or being in a new, exciting place, but New York wasn’t nearly as scary as she’d expected. Amy warned her which areas to avoid if she ever ventured out of the townhouse on her own. “Call Louie if you ever want to go anywhere while Mitch is at work. He’ll take good care of you.”
Some of the shopkeepers eyed her as though she was a curiosity once they caught wind of her accent. Apparently, some native New Yorkers hadn’t met anyone from Alabama up close and personal before, making her somewhat of an anomaly. As with most people, a smile and a kind word went a long way. Trying to understand some of their accents proved challenging. Same words, but she found it interesting how different they could sound depending on where someone was raised. That point was driven home when a woman with a British accent stopped them to ask how to find a place called Bonnie’s.
“Oh, you must mean Barney’s,” Amy said. “It’s over on Madison.”
As Amy gave the woman directions, Cassie waited, content to observe the world go by—a mix of tourists and locals, business professionals, high society matrons, and families with children whose clothing cost more than her monthly condo rent payment. The skyscrapers were so tall they seemed to touch the sky. Limousines were lined up in front of some of the higher-end stores and uniformed chauffeurs congregated on the sidewalk. How the other half lives indeed. She’d never seen such opulence everywhere she turned. Then again, she was in one of the ritziest sections of Manhattan. She found the energy of the city invigorating. The pace of her life had been slow compared to the hustle bustle of the big city, but experiencing it firsthand, she could understand why Amy, Landon and Mitch liked living here.
“I’m sorry about Celeste,” Amy said as they perused the offerings in an upscale men’s clothing store. “She was worse than usual last night. I think she was tired, and as you witnessed, that’s never a good thing. She puts on fancy airs because she’s always had this misguided attitude that acting haughty and snooty will make people admire her. Sometimes it has the opposite effect and she comes across as being cold. What most people don’t realize is that Cel
este is rather shy. As a general rule, she tends to be quieter, believe it or not.”
“She is? I mean, she does?” Cassie wished she hadn’t blurted that one out although it was her gut reaction.
Amy smiled. “The idea to take you to the pool last night was all Celeste, for the record, a way of giving her approval of your relationship.”
“We had a nice talk on the way back,” Cassie said. “Sometimes those late night or early morning talks can be good. You know, when you’re calm at the end of the day, and more introspective. I think we actually bonded a little.” Her shoulders were a little sore, but no need to bring that up since getting to know Celeste was definitely worth aching muscles.
“I’m glad, and I know Celeste feels the same way. Oh, look. Landon would love that shirt over there.” Amy led the way to a nearby counter and checked the tag. “Don’t think so,” she said, shaking her head. That statement made Cassie love her all the more. Amy didn’t spend extravagant amounts even though she could. One peek at the price tag on a red silk tie was enough to make Cassie want to leave. People really paid that much for a necktie? She knew Mitch loved the color red, but no way could she justify the expense.
“Why don’t we duck into the coffee shop around the corner and grab something to eat and drink?” Amy said as they exited the store.
“I like that suggestion. We could use a little break.”
“This is the scene of the crime, so to speak,” Amy told her as they settled at a back table after picking up their orders at the counter.
Cassie’s eyes grew wide. “You mean this is the place where Mitch decked Landon?”
“Exactly.” Amy’s lips upturned. “He told you about that, huh? Guess you’re the woman to ask if I want to know anything about my brother.”
They sipped their coffee while exchanging more gift ideas for Mitch and sharing a piece of delicious cinnamon pecan coffeecake. “I already picked up a couple of small items for him, but bringing you here is going to be pretty hard to top.” Amy’s eyes met hers over the rim of her cup. “Please don’t feel like you have to get him anything for the sake of giving him a wrapped gift, Cassie. Seriously, all you need to do is put a pretty bow on your head and that’ll do the trick.”
