One Summer Evening - One Summer Evening Part 14
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One Summer Evening Part 14

tell her the truth concerning your heart?"

V^assie surveyed her surroundings. She had opted to have her coffee on

the veranda, seated at a table accented by two bistro chairs refinished to match the whitewashed chandelier above.

Lifting her bangs, she wiped the perspiration off her forehead.

Already it was too sultry to breathe. Perhaps she should have let Joy

fix her some iced coffee instead of her strong, hot variety. Oh well, the climate was the least of her worries. In time she would adjust to that.

Suddenly Cassie's heart lurched. Unfortunately, she wouldn't have the

luxury of waiting on time. Hers had run out. Again.

Cassie thought she heard footsteps, thankful for the intrusion into her morbid thoughts. Twisting around, she could see the sweeping turn of the stairway that gave a simple but elegant flair to the dining room.

Her daddy was on the last step. She watched as he paused and seemed to glance her way. If he saw her, however, he chose to ignore her, which further bruised her heart. She was the once perfect daughter who had fallen from grace and was now tainted.

Cassie fought back the tears as she turned and forced herself to take another sip of coffee. Moments later, she heard more noise, followed by a voice.

She smiled.

"Hiya, Mom."

She faced her son and gave him a hug, all her problems seeming to

dissolve.

"Good morning, darling. I figured you'd sleep in."

"Papa woke me up."

Cassie raised her eyebrows.

"Oh?"

"He wants me to go to work with him again."

"How 'bout something to eat?"

Tyler patted his knapsack.

"Joy packed me some stuff."

"Figures," Cassie said ruefully.

"Why don't you come with us this time?"

"Nah, you need to be alone with your papa."

Tyler's eyes glowed.

"Papa said we might go to the zoo."

"That gets my vote. Meanwhile, I hope his flock doesn't get short

shrifted." "What does that mean?" Tyler asked, shoving his baseball cap back on his head.

Cassie flicked him on the chin.

"Papa's not supposed to cater to you.

He has his weekly sermon to work on, in addition to visiting the sick and afflicted."

When Tyler gave her another one of "those" looks, Cassie righted his baseball cap, then gave him a soft tap on the rear.

"Never mind, kiddo. Just go and have a good time. I'll see you later."

"Okay."

"You've done a fine job with that boy, Ms. Cassie." "Thank you. Joy,"

Cassie said, watching as Joy refilled her cup. Her eyes misted.

"He's the joy of my life." "Are you ready for some breakfast?" Joy asked. "You look like you could use some of my cooking, for sure."

"Don't start, please. I'll stick to coffee."

"If you ask me, you need something to stick to those scrawny ribs," Joy mumbled to herself as she turned and shuffled back to the kitchen.

"I heard that," Cassie said, a hint of laughter in her voice.

Once she was alone again, that laughter ceased, and a sadness took its place.

Everything inside her rebelled at the thought of leaving.

She wasn't referring just to this house, either. She hated to leave

Jasmine, period.

But what choice did she have? None. Although she hadn't seen Austin again, she knew she would. It was only a matter of time until he arrived unexpectedly, catching her unaware. Just the thought gave her the trembles.

And the thought of working with him in the hotel on a day-to-day

basis--well, that was not even an option.

A fresh sense of bitterness filled her. If it hadn't been for him, she and Tyler could find a house or an apartment and begin their new life here, giving Tyler the opportunity to enjoy his grandparents.

More important, he would have a sense of roots, something he hadn't had and something she desperately wanted for him. And for herself.

She was tired of running.

Damn Austin.

"My, but you look almost green."

Cassie swung around at the sound of Wilma's voice and forcibly blanketed her features. Her mother didn't have bragging rights. She didn't look well herself. Instead of green, her skin was yellow.

"Morning, Mamma."

She hadn't called Wilma that in a long time, not since she'd married Lester.

Wilma didn't seem to take offense. Maybe that was because Joy chose that

moment to appear once again, this time with her mother's breakfast, which Wilma proceeded to shove aside, opting for coffee.

"You should eat," Cassie said with a frown.

"So should you."

Cassie shrugged.

"Okay, I'll be quiet."

Wilma didn't say anything for a long moment, then she asked, "Are you enjoying being home?"

"Of course, Mamma. You shouldn't have to ask."

"I was hoping you'd say that."

Another moment of silence ensued, this time an awkward one. Something

was wrong with Wilma other than not feeling up to par. Cassie couldn'tpinpoint what it was, nor would her mother be likely to enlighten her.But she had seen Wilma in this pensive mood before.

Only after she'd married herself did it dawn on her that her motherdidn't seem happy, that maybe she regretted her life. Regretted marryingJames, to be more specific.

Still, her parents had remained together, through the good and the bad.