The Forgotten Night

by Becky Andrews

  Chapter Twelve

  Cassidy walked down the main stairs at her house a few days later, hearing distant voices coming from her father’s study. She ignored them and walked into the kitchen and poured herself a bowl of cereal. She was sitting on one of the barstools eating her Lucky Charms when she heard her father’s study door open.

  “Thank you again, sir,” she heard a familiar voice say.

  “Please, call me Edward. You’ve made me a very happy man, Andrew.”

  “Honey,” she heard her mother interrupt. “Let him go. I’m sure he’s very busy, things he has to do, places he has to go.”

  “You’re right. See you soon, Andrew. Thank you for coming to me first.”

  Cassidy slipped off the stool and walked toward the main entrance just as her parents closed the door.

  “Was that Andy?”

  Cassidy’s parents traded looks. “Yes, princess. Andrew just had some business he wanted to discuss with me.”

  “What kind of business?”

  “I would tell you if I could, princess, but I can’t, client confidentiality.”

  “Dad, he’s my boyfriend. I’m sure it’s okay if you tell me. I’m sure he’ll tell me anyway.”

  “Then you don’t need your father to disclose the information. You will find out soon enough, I’m sure.”

  “Fine, Andy loves me. We tell each other everything, he’ll tell me when he’s ready,” she said, still curious.

  “Princess, it’s nothing bad. That’s all we’re going to say. Just leave it alone for now, okay?”

  “All right,” she said, hugging her father. “Do you need any help with the party stuff, Mom?”

  “That would be lovely, dear,” her mother said.

  “Oh, before I forget, princess, this came for you in the mail today,” her father said, handing her a small white envelope with her name and address written neatly on the front.

  “Who is it from?” she asked, confused, her heart rate increasing slightly.

  “You’ll have to open it and find out,” he said and walked back to his office.

  “I’ll help you soon, Mom, okay? I’m going to go upstairs and change,” she said and made her way up the stairs to her room. She closed the door and sat down on the bed and tore open the envelope, pulling out the letter. Her hands shook as she pulled out the small note card. She had thought she recognized the writing on the front of the envelope and that scared her even more than what was written on the card itself.

  One day, when you least expect it.

  Cassidy crumpled the paper immediately and threw it across the room with the envelope. Her hands were shaking as she sat on the bed. Why would Robert be writing to her? How could he write to her? He was in prison. He was locked away and was never going to hurt her again, at least that’s what she had to keep telling herself to calm her nerves. This was just some sick joke of his, trying to scare her. It wasn’t going to work. She wouldn’t give him the satisfaction. She wouldn’t let Robert get to her.

  * * *

  New Year’s Eve…

  “So what do you think it could be?” Cassidy asked Rachel as they waited upstairs in her bedroom. “It’s been nearly a week and he still hasn’t told me what he was talking about with my father.”

  “He’ll tell you when the time is right, Cass. Stop worrying. All I’ve heard since Wednesday is ‘Andy this’ and ‘Andy that’. No more, Cass. Guests are arriving for your parent’s party as we speak and all you can think about is what my brother was doing with your father. Maybe he was planning some elaborate surprise. Maybe that’s why he hasn’t told you about it yet, he wants to surprise you.”

  “You’re probably right. And I have not been talking about Andy non-stop.”

  “Fine, it has been Andy and the stupid errands your mother made you do for the party.”

  “Well, you do have to admit making me drive all the way to our apartment, four hours both ways without traffic, mind you, just to get my green dress is a little absurd. Then making this big fuss that I work exclusively with the decorators in the living room is a little bit strange.”

  “She just wants her party to go off without a problem. Besides you look great in your green dress. What would you have worn?”

  “I don’t know, the black Valentino?”

  “The green one is so much better. Besides, you said yourself that Drew loves that one.”

  Cassidy smiled at the thought. It had been the same dress she had worn the first night they had admitted their love for each other. “Oh my God!”

  “What?” Rachel asked, alarmed at her frantic gasp.

  “What if all of this was some elaborate plan concocted by my parents and Andy? What if…no, never mind.”

  “What? What were you going to say?”

  “Well, why would she want me to go get the dress, unless Andy asked her to get me to wear it tonight?”

  “Or she just wanted you out of her hair while she set up for the party. Did you ever think of that?”

  “Yeah, I suppose you’re right,” she said just as her cell phone ring.

  She froze at the tone, it was the ringer she set for general numbers, for private calls. It was the same number that had been calling all week.

  She picked up her phone and opened it. “Hello?” she asked cautiously. Nothing. “Hello?” It was the same routine. Cassidy would answer the phone, but no one would answer. All she would hear would be deep breathing coming from the other line then the line would go dead. It had to be Robert. He was trying to scare her, mess up her perfect life. She had received a new letter every day since the first one and everyone had a similar message, all trying to scare her, to make her panic.

  The line went dead. “Wrong number,” she said calmly, closing her phone.

  “You’ve been having a lot of missed calls lately. Every time I’m with you, you get at least one. Do you know who it is?”

  “No, it’s a private number. It could be anyone.” It’s Robert.

  “Did you tell your dad? I’m sure there are ways to get around that, and I’m sure they could figure out who is making the calls to you.”

  “No it’s fine, really, Rach. Let’s go downstairs, I’m sure there are plenty of guests who have arrived already.”

  * * *

  Andrew handed his jacket over and walked inside the Ames’ house. Rachel had gone over earlier to help Cassidy, which worked out perfectly for Andrew and his elaborate plan. He smiled to himself as he thought about all the effort he had put into it, with the help of Susan Ames, of course. He wanted everything to be perfect.

  Andrew pushed his way through the large crowds of people and spotted Cassidy, laughing with Rachel and Ian. He smiled instinctively. He wanted nothing more than to join them in the other room, but first things first, business. He walked into one of the back rooms and found Susan talking with a few women.

  “Excuse me,” he said, clearing his throat.

  “Oh, Andrew! Girls, this is my daughter’s boyfriend, soon to be something else, we hope,” she said giddily. “But we are keeping that a secret.”

  The women smiled and nodded in understanding.

  “Is everything set up?” he asked.

  “Yes, after midnight, everything will be set in place,” she assured him. “I’m just so excited. She’s going to be so happy. Do you have the ring?”

  Andrew laughed a little, as her exuberance calmed his nerves slightly. “Yes,” he said, pulling the small black velvet box out of his pocket. He opened it up and revealed a platinum band with a Sapphire and two smaller diamonds on either side of it.

  “It’s lovely—she’s going to love it—not that you need a ring to help your cause.” She smiled as he put the box back into his pocket, storing it safely.

  “I’m going to go find your daughter,” he said and excused himself from the other women. He walked back down the hall and into the living room where he had first seen Cassidy. She was still standing with Rachel and Ian.

  Cassidy looked up just
in time to see Andrew walk into the room. A smile crept onto her face and even after their time together she couldn’t help but feel butterflies in her stomach and her heart beat a little bit faster. Her smile broadened when he wrapped his arms around her waist and nuzzled her neck. “I’ve missed you,” he said softly, his breath tickling her sensitive skin.

  “I’ve missed you too,” she said when he looked down at her.

  He kissed her softly on the lips but pulled away before she could respond.

  “So what were you three talking about?” he asked, turning to the others, but keeping his arm wrapped securely around her waist.

  The hours flew by quickly while the four talked and laughed about old times. They opted to stay on the main floor instead of heading upstairs as they usually had done. “We wouldn’t want to come down,” Andrew had said.

  Cassidy sensed there was something more, but didn’t push Andrew for answers.

  They all stood around with the crowd, champagne in their hands, counting down to midnight. Cassidy and Rachel were goofing around, and they grinned at each other before turning back to Andrew and Ian.

  “Three…Two…One…Happy New Year!” everyone shouted.

  Cassidy leaned into Andrew, smiling. “Happy New Year, Andy.”

  “Happy New Year, Cassie,” he said and kissed her. They pulled apart and smiled after realizing they were the last couple still kissing. Cassidy blushed and buried her head in Andrew’s chest while Andrew laughed heartily while rubbing Cassidy’s back. When Cassidy looked up, Andrew cleared his throat and she sensed his change in attitude.

  “What’s wrong? You got serious all of a sudden.”

  “Nothing,” he said a little quickly. “I’ll be right back, do you want anything else to drink?”

  “No, but your glass is still full,” she said, motioning to his champagne.

  Andrew looked at his glass and downed the contents. “Now it’s not.” He kissed her cheek.

  “You’re up to something, Andrew Winbright, and I’m going to find out what it is.”

  “Oh, I’m sure you will, but for now just stay put.” He smiled and left her side, walking out into the crowded hallway out of sight.

  “What was that all about?” Rachel asked.

  “Your brother is definitely up to something,” she said but couldn’t help her smile.

  “I told you it had to be something like that.” Rachel smiled knowingly and hooked arms with Ian.

  Cassidy narrowed her eyes. “You know something, don’t you?”

  “What? I don’t know a thing. I don’t even know what you’re talking about,” Rachel feigned ignorance.

  “This must be one hell of a surprise if you’re not even going to give me a hint.”

  “Do you mind if Ian and I take off?” Rachel said, still ignoring Cassidy’s comment.

  “Yeah sure. Andy said he’d be back. I can be alone for a little bit.” She smiled and hugged her friend then Ian. “I’ll see you two later.”

  Cassidy watched as Rachel and Ian left the room. She smiled as she thought about what Andrew was up to. As her mind wandered, Rose walked up to her with a letter in her hand. Cassidy’s jaw almost dropped. Not here, not now.

  Cassidy took the letter from Rose and turned it over, but relief soon washed over her as she saw her name scrawled in Andrew’s writing. It’s not from Robert.

  She opened the envelope and pulled out a small piece of paper and smiled as she read it.

  Cassie, Come out to the backyard. I have a surprise for you. Love, Andrew.

  She laughed at the simplicity but loved him even more for his thoughtfulness. She placed the letter back into the envelope and walked out into the hallway and made her way toward the kitchen and backdoor. As the crowd began to thin, she noticed rose petals littering the floor in a pathway leading straight to the backdoor.

  Cassidy smiled and wondered what Andrew had planned. She opened the door and her smile broadened when she noticed candles lit everywhere. She followed the rose petal path with her eyes and saw it ended where Andrew was standing.

  Andrew’s hands shook as he nervously waited for Cassidy to walk outside. Susan had set up everything perfectly. The candles glowing everywhere, the rose petals littering the ground, the archway covered in flowers where he stood. He smiled at Cassidy’s glowing face. She was even more beautiful to him every time he saw her. Her hair was down and her eyes matched the color of her dress. She was perfect and he knew he wanted to spend every day of the rest of his life with her.

  “What is all this?” she asked as she slowly made her way toward him. She stepped down off the porch and walked down the path to Andrew. He took her hands in his and he smiled at what he was about to do.

  “Cassie.”

  “What’s going on?”

  “I love you so much. You mean so much to me.”

  Cassidy smiled but allowed him to finish.

  “I have loved you since the first moment I saw you, and I know that sounds so cliché, but it’s true. Deep down, I think it may have been destiny. I know now that I could never live without you in my life. You are everything to me and without you I would be nothing. I love everything about you. The way you smile at me and from that I can tell what you’re thinking, the way your eyes light up when I tell you how much I love you. I love the way you laugh at my stupid jokes and actually think they are funny. I love the way I can’t stop thinking about you and the fact that in ten years I see us still together, raising our own family. I love you, Cassie,” he said as he got down on one knee and pulled out the black velvet box. “Will you marry me?”

  Cassidy let the tears that were welling up in her eyes fall as she smiled down at Andrew. Her mouth hurt she was smiling so much. She nodded. “Yes…yes, Andy, I will marry you,” she said as Andrew put the ring on her finger.

  He stood up and kissed Cassidy with all the love he felt. “I love you so much. You’ve made me the happiest man, right now,” he said, picking her up and swinging her around.

  Cassidy laughed and kissed Andrew again after he set her down. “I love you, Andy, and could you have possibly done this anymore romantically?”

  “Only for you, baby. Je t’aime.”

  “Je t’aime,” she said before kissing him.

  “I have another surprise, though,” he said, pulling away from her.

  “How could it get any better than this?” She smiled.

  “It’s about school. Cassie, last year when I went back to school, I met with my advisor and asked if there was any way I could graduate early.”

  “What are you saying?” she asked, knowing what was coming.

  “Cassie, I graduated early. I’m finished.”

  “Finished as in no more law school?” she asked with a smile and he nodded. “Do you have any job offers?”

  “Several, some up in Connecticut, but there are a few here in the city as well.”

  “That’s wonderful, Andy. I’m so proud of you.” She laughed and hugged him tightly. “I also have a secret for you.”

  “What?”

  Cassidy looked up at him. “I’m also done with school. I finished my last couple of courses this last semester. I’m done with clinical and applied for a few job positions—”

  Andrew bent down and captured her lips, silencing her. She wrapped her arms around his neck as she always did and opened her mouth slightly, letting him deepen the kiss.

  Andrew pulled away first and grinned goofily, “I think we better go inside. Your parents are probably wondering what’s going on out here.”

  “My parents?”

  “Yeah, that day I was over at your house, I was asking your dad for permission. Your mother offered to help set everything up according to my ideas.”

  “You are one sneaky man, Andrew Winbright. I’m going to enjoy every moment with you.” She kissed him softly. “Come on, let’s go give them the happy news. I can’t believe Rachel knew. Did you tell her?”

  “No, she walked in on me when I was putting the ring
away. I made her swear not to tell you anything, not even give you a hint.”

  “She did a pretty good job, we were talking just earlier about you and she gave me no inclination of what you were planning,” she said as they walked back toward the back door.

  They opened the door only to find six smiling faces staring at them. Cassidy and Andrew looked at each other then back at the crowd and laughed. She held up her hand with the ring on it and everyone burst into cheers. Cassidy’s and Andrew’s parents along with Rachel and Ian spent the next hour or so congratulating the couple and spilling embarrassing stories about both.

  “Goodnight,” Andrew whispered against her lips before he left. They were left alone in the kitchen while everyone else walked toward the front entrance. It was way past late and all the guests had already left.

  “Night,” she said, before kissing him softly. “I’ll see you tomorrow. Rach already wants to start talking about the wedding.”

  “And you don’t?” He smiled.

  “Well…yes…maybe…perhaps a little,” she stammered.

  Andrew laughed and kissed her lovingly on the lips, “Cassie, I want to start talking about it too, I’m excited about spending the rest of my life with you.”

  Cassidy smiled and leaned her head against his chest as he wrapped his arms around her. “I love you, Andy.”

  “I love you too, Cassie.”

  Chapter Thirteen

  “I was about to call you,” Andrew said the next morning, getting up from the swimming pool lounge chair.

  Cassidy set her things on the table and kissed Andrew chastely. “Sorry, my dad wanted to have a big family breakfast. He’s in a really happy mood, thanks to you.”

  “I always aim to please.” He smiled and wrapped his arm around her waist.

  “Hey, Cass,” Ian called out from inside the pool.

  “Hey, swimming laps?” she asked.

  “Rach didn’t want to join me, so I have no other choice.”