by E. Ayers
“Years ago.”
“It’s very tiny and very old fashioned. I think it would be perfect. We'll invite just a handful of close friends.”
Together, they greeted Berto and Amy, and were introduced to Berto's family, who had flown up for the wedding. Then Amy introduced Cassie to her parents. Trent knew the Schulsters from the time he was old enough to traipse the neighborhood yards.
“Bathroom?” Shawn asked as he ran up to his father.
“Oh, you are a mess.” He looked at his son’s shirttail hanging loose and then at the grass stains in his shirt and pants. “What were you doing?”
“Having fun.”
Cassie reached in her purse and handed Trent a small hairbrush. “Here, go clean him up.”
“Am I supposed to use that to scrub his face? He’s got enough dirt and sweat on him for ten boys.”
Cassie giggled as Trent took his son’s hand.
“Dr. Cassandra Jones, what are you doing here?” Brad Shoemaker asked.
“I could ask you the same question,” Cassie replied.
“I grew up in the house behind the Schulster’s. Our parents are close friends. And you?”
“Amy is a friend, and Trent knows Amy and Berto. If you grew up in that neighborhood, then guess you really do know Trent Callahan.”
“Of course. I thought I saw you with him. How’s Shawn doing?”
“Great.”
“That’s good to hear.”
“Hey, Brad. Good to see you.” Trent gave Cassie back the hairbrush and extended his hand to Brad.
Cassie put her arm around Trent and leaned into him.
“So are you two next?” Brad asked.
“I think so,” Trent answered with a grin. “And you? I don’t see a date on your arm.”
Dallas joined them and rolled her eyes. "I never see Brad with a date."
"That's not true, Dallas. I date. I've just never found anyone who has captured my heart."
Dallas raised her eyebrows. "What exactly do you want in a female?"
“Well, since Amy is taken…” Brad laughed. “Find me one just like her, and I’ll marry her.”
"Has anyone heard where they are going on their honeymoon?" Cassie asked.
"Colonial Williamsburg," Dallas said with a grin. "Berto arranged everything. I heard he booked a special room at the historic Williamsburg Inn. They're driving down tomorrow afternoon, and after spending several days there, they are going to the Outer Banks."
"That sounds lovely," Cassie replied.
"Amy is thrilled." Dallas smiled. "Everyone figured they'd spend tonight in Mac's condo, but apparently not. Berto won't say where they are going."
***
It was early in the evening when Trent and Cassie returned home with Shawn. Cassie slipped out of her dress and into something more comfortable, while Trent chased Shawn into the tub.
“Are you going to have a big wedding like we went to today?” Shawn asked.
Trent splashed his son. “No. We’re going to do something much smaller, but it will still be a wedding.”
“Are you going to have a wedding cake and everything?”
“Better ask Cas. I think she’ll be the one planning it.”
“Is Cassie pregnant?”
“Why would you ask something like that?”
“Because you said you and my mother got married because she was pregnant.”
“That was different. Here, wash your hair.” He squeezed a glob of shampoo into Shawn’s hand. “Scrub.”
Trent turned on the hand-held sprayer and then helped his son rinse the shampoo.
“You never answered me,” Shawn said when he was finished rubbing his eyes dry with a clean washcloth.
“About what?”
“Did you and Cassie make a baby?” Shawn grabbed his sponge shaped like a dinosaur and squirted the liquid soap on it.
“No. This time I’m getting married because I love Cas. I don’t need another reason to marry her.”
“Did you love my mother?”
“Yes. And I think I’ll always love her. She was very special to me, and she gave me the most wonderful son.”
“Do you love Cassie more?”
“It’s not a matter of loving someone more. I had your mother, and now I have Cas.”
“Are you going to make babies?”
“Babies are expensive, and with this house, I’m not sure we can afford any right now.”
“I want a little brother.”
“We can wish for whatever we want, but we get whichever one happens. Time to get out.”
Trent helped Shawn out of the tub and into his pajamas.
“I don’t want to go to bed yet.”
“It’s still early, but I wanted you clean.”
“Will Cassie read one of her big stories to me?”
“Go ask Cas.”
Trent chased his son out of the bathroom and then cleaned up behind the child. By the time he made his way to the living room, Shawn was curled up in Cassie’s lap, while she read a classic to him. It didn’t take long for the boy to fall asleep. Cassie carried him to his bed and tucked him in.
When she returned, Trent was waiting for her with two small gifts. He handed her the first one and she opened it to find a small pendent of tiny diamonds.
She tilted her head and gazed at him through slightly squinted eyes. He handed her the other box.
Inside was a tiny gold chain. The grin that spread across her face was worth the cost.
“It’s not an engagement ring.”
“Oh, I think I like this much better.”
“I promise I can handle this clasp with one hand.”
“I think we need to get naked.”
“So do I.”
~~34~~
Cassie turned off the shop vac and looked carefully at the freshly sanded hardwood floors to make sure she had not missed a spot. Then she put a tack cloth over a mop and began to remove all traces of dust.
“Cas?”
“Don’t come in. I’ll come to you.”
She smiled broadly at Trent and asked, “Need help?”
“Yes. I need three hands, not one to load them onto the hand truck.”
She went out to the big delivery vehicle Trent had borrowed from River City Manufacturing. She fingered a cabinet door and looked at it carefully. “Are you sure it will match?”
“Yes. I took a sample over to Mom’s and double checked.”
“These cabinets are beautiful. She’s going to be shocked.”
“Speaking of samples, I’d like your opinion on the countertop.”
“I wish she’d say yes.”
“She will. We’ve got to give her time.”
***
Cassie watched the team that came to pack up the dinosaur exhibit. She almost hated to see it go, but she had paintings and mummies to display. A small smile crossed her face as she turned and headed for her office. Time was too precious to spend it watching other people work. She flipped through her phone messages, then spent a few more minutes answering emails. Seemed she was always one exhibit ahead of what was happening, but at least now she had what she needed from Brad Shoemaker, a real budget.
The ringing of her phone pulled her away from the seafaring navigational tools. “Dr. Jones, how may I help you?”
“Well, I certainly don’t need any help. I called to tell you I have several pieces of mail for Trent.” Trent’s mom’s voice was rather curt. “I thought I’d drop them off with you before I went to work.”
“Are you working three to eleven?”
“That’s the shift I always work. No reason to change it.”
Cassie’s mind flew with ideas, but quickly settled on one. “Robin, I’m not going to be in the office this afternoon. Would it be too much trouble for you to stop by the house?” Cassie knew that would be easier for Trent’s mom, but she sat quietly and waited for the woman’s answer.
“I can do that.”
“Wonderful. But if it�
��s too much trouble, I’m sure Trent could stop over to your house this evening.”
“Well, several envelopes appear to be important. I wouldn’t want them to get lost.”
Cassie furrowed her brow, wondering what would make the woman say such a thing. Certainly Trent was capable of retrieving his mail from his mom's kitchen table. “Um, I have an idea. I’ll be leaving here in another thirty minutes and it will take me ten or fifteen minutes to get home. Why don’t you meet me then and we’ll have lunch. Besides, Shawn goes to therapy at two and it’s my turn to take him.”
“Just the two if us?”
“Yes.” She couldn’t help but smile as she doodled on a scrap of paper. “I don’t have anything special for lunch, just salad and sandwiches.”
As soon as she ended the call, she packed up her things and took a quick walk through the museum before leaving for home. Robin Callahan had been a thorn from the very beginning, but Cassie knew the woman was being overly protective of Trent and Shawn.
Cassie opened her front door and inhaled. She quickly scurried around the living room, picking up Shawn’s toys and making the place look as neat as possible. Then she went into the kitchen, started wiping the counters, and loading the dishwasher with the morning’s bowls and cups. She wished she were more domestic, but it just wasn’t important in her life. When the doorbell rang, she wiped her hands and almost ran to the front door.
“Hi. Come in. Your timing is perfect. I just got here.”
“No you didn’t. You’ve been home for at least twenty minutes.”
Cassie looked at her watch, then at Robin, and shrugged. “I guess so. It feels as if it’s been less than five.” What the heck was she doing sitting down the road watching me? Making sure I had enough time to clean up?
“Here’s his mail.”
“Thanks.” She took the packet of envelopes and put them on the small table by the front door. “Let’s go into the kitchen.”
“Aren’t you going to look at it?”
“What? His mail?” She gazed at Robin. “It’s his, not mine.”
“Not even curious?” Robin raised her eyebrows.
“Why? We have no secrets from each other.” She didn’t like where this conversation was heading, and she didn’t want this to be an unpleasant lunch. “Please, let’s go into the kitchen. Trent can deal with his personal matters when he comes home tonight.”
She had an inkling that Robin was referring to the envelope from Riverside University. That logo was unmistakable, even though she only saw a tiny piece of it when she put the letters down. She wanted to rip it open and read it, or at least hold it up to the light to see if she could decipher if it was an acceptance or rejection. She knew there were only a few openings left, but she saw no reason for Trent to be rejected. His high school grades were excellent.
Trying to stay sociable and chatty, she asked, “Iced tea, water, juice, or coffee?”
“Iced tea will be fine, if it’s not laden in sugar.”
“Oh, I make it plain.” She put the sugar bowl and another small container of artificial sweeteners on the table. “Seems we don’t exactly drink our tea the same way. I like a little less sugar than Trent does.”
She filled two glasses with ice and put the pitcher on the table, along with some spoons. “Help yourself.”
Her insides were churning with molten lava. She wanted this lunch to go well, and so far, Robin wasn’t giving an inch.
“Your grandson misses you.” She peeked over her shoulder as she mixed several types of lettuce into a large bowl.
Robin added sugar to her tea and stirred it. “Well, I would suspect that, after all, I’ve raised him.”
Cassie bit her lip as she cut up a tomato. “Robin, please. I want us to have a nice lunch, but mine won’t sit very well if you are going to constantly snipe at me. I’m not sure why you seem to hate me--”
“I don’t hate you.”
She let out a breath and inhaled deeply. “Okay, maybe hate is too strong, but you don’t like me very much.” Cassie picked up the bowl and turned to where Robin was sitting.
“That’s not true.” The woman pursed her lips.
Cassie put the salad bowl on the table and grabbed two soft rolls for sandwiches. “Turkey or roast beef?”
“Turkey is fine.”
“Humus?”
“What’s that?”
Cassie smiled. “I’ll put it on the side. You can try it. If you like it, you can add it to your sandwich.”
She put the sandwiches, silverware and napkins on the table, and took a seat. “I’m not trying to steal your son or your grandson.”
“You’re wrecking his life. I’ve worked hard to make him take his responsibilities seriously. He made a major mistake when he got Colleen pregnant.”
Cassie placed a generous amount of salad on her plate, but decided against taking a bite because her stomach continued to churn with pent-up anger. “That was a long time ago, and he was still very young. He loved her and he loves his son. Don’t hold that against him for the rest of his life.”
“I don’t have to. Shawn is the proof of that mistake.”
“No, Shawn is Trent’s son, and the little piece of Colleen that still lives. Right or wrong, Shawn was conceived with love.” She looked directly at Shawn’s grandmother. “Colleen is Trent’s past. Now, he has a future.”
“With you?”
“Yes. I love him.”
“You’re too old for him.”
Her stomach tied in a knot and she pushed her lunch away. “I’m a few years older. Four years isn’t much.”
“But you’ve got your doctorate.”
“Yes. I do. And your son dreams of being an architect. Did you know that about him?”
“He can’t afford to go to the university.”
“With financial aid, we’ll manage.”
“You’re putting ideas into his head.”
“Because I’ve shown him how dreams can become a reality?” She shook her head. “I love him, and I love Shawn. You’ve raised two wonderful boys, and from what Trent has said, you’ve done it alone. I admire that.” She picked up her sandwich and put it back down without taking a bite. “Whether or not you realize it, we’re both on the same side. We want what is best for them.”
She watched Robin spread a little humus on the sandwich and take a bite.
“I know you and Trent have had a few differences lately, and I doubt it’s the first time that has happened.”
"That's none of your business."
"True. But when it affects our lives, it becomes my business." Cassie took a bite of her sandwich and chewed it as she thought about what she would say next. "It's going to be hard for Trent to keep up two houses. If you were here, you'd have your own place, yet you'd be close to your son and grandson. Shawn misses you." She took another bite and waited.
Robin stared at her sandwich.
Cassie was certain she was making some sort of headway. "You really would have your own place and some freedom that you've never had, probably in your entire life. At least here, you are only a few steps away from your family. You can watch Shawn play in the backyard and be a real grandmother, instead of a substitute mother. It'll be much less work on you." She took another bite of her sandwich and washed it down with iced tea. "I know Shawn would love having you this close, and Trent won't worry about you as much if you are here."
"I'm not ready to give up my home."
"Oh, but you wouldn't be. It will be your home, your space, your things. Wait until you see what Trent has done to the kitchen, and he'll probably install the new bathroom this weekend. He wants everything perfect for you. He wants you here with us."
"He does?"
"Yes. Very much. He reminds me a little of my dad. My father hides his feelings, and I see that in Trent all the time. It's some sort of macho thing. Men have to pretend that they can handle anything, but they have all the feelings we as women have."
"But my roses--"
"We'll move them or buy new ones. You'll have your own door. You can come and go as you please. You'll also have Shawn, without the daily responsibility. Maybe you need to look at that living area again with a fresh perspective."
***
After lunch, Cassie took her future mother-in-law for a tour of the little apartment.
"It looks different," Robin said as she walked through the place.
"It is. That terrible green, shag carpet is gone, and the kitchen has been remodeled. Trent measured everything. Your hutch will fit right here." Cassie watched as Robin ran her fingers across the new countertop.
"I love the color and the cabinets match my dining room furniture."
"Thank Trent for that."
"There's not much closet space."
Cassie shrugged. "It's a nice-sized coat closet, and the closet in the bedroom is a fair size. Plus, there's plenty of storage in the garage for things like Christmas decorations, and you know Trent will bring you anything you need."
"What if my sister comes for a visit? Where would she stay?"
Cassie swallowed hard to keep from laughing. Where would she stay in that tiny, three-bedroom house that you have? "Well, you could get a convertible sofa, or she could stay with her nephew in our guest room."
"I can’t afford a new sofa."
Excuses, excuses! "I think you're wrong. Once you rent your old house, you'll have a tidy income from that. We're not charging you rent. You are family, and you belong here."
Robin spun on her heel. "No rent?"
"Of course not. Your heat and air conditioning is our heat and air conditioning, but you have your own thermostat. No more bills for living. It's one address, not two. No property taxes, no water bill, nothing but the security of knowing that we are right on the other side of that wall."
~~35~~
Cassie picked Shawn up from daycare and took him to therapy before heading back to the museum. Trent would pick Shawn up and bring him home. It was different for all three of them, but it was working. And Shawn loved the idea of being able to be with friends five days a week. No longer restricted, he could run and play like everyone else.
