One Summer Evening - One Summer Evening Part 46
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One Summer Evening Part 46

"Tyler honey," she said, "Mommy's home."

Both Tyler and Lester had faced her. Tyler smiled. Lester frowned.

"Give that gun to Daddy and come here." "He's fine just where he is,"

Lester said, clamping a hand around Tyler's waist.

Tyler grinned as he held the weapon out to her. "Looky, Mommy, gun."

"Is that loaded?" she asked, her voice quavering.

"You betcha. I'm teaching my son how to be a good soldier." Lester

mussed up Tyler's hair and smiled at him.

Cassie almost choked on the mounting terror.

"Lester you should be committed!"

"Back off, Cassie," he warned.

"This is my party, and you're not invited."

"I swear if something happens to" -- Suddenly Tyler started wiggling,

still holding the gun. Before she thought, Cassie dashed across theroom, took the weapon out of the child's hand, laid it down carefully,then snatched him up.

Only after she reached the door did she turn back around. Lester was sprawled against the sofa, a grin on his face.

"So, you won a battle?

Just remember, the war's far from over."

"You bastard!"

Taking Tyler she left and spent the night in a motel, fearful of goingto any friend's home and endangering them. After a sleepless night shereached a decision. The following day she made Lester an offer sheprayed he would take.

She marched into his office and, after shutting the door said, "I want a divorce, and I want you to give up all rights to Tyler."

He laughed.

"And just why would I do something crazy like that?"

"Money, to further your group's cause."

"What if I don't want your money?"

Cassie didn't blink.

"Oh, but I think you do."

"But even if you say no, I'll get a divorce."

"I could fight you in court."

"You could, and you might win, but then again, you might not, especially

if I tell some of the things I know about you and your group."

Lester's face turned ugly.

"You'd best watch what you say. You're in way over your head."

"So are you. Now, are we dealing or not?"

"How much money are we talking about?"

"Fifty thousand."

He scoffed.

"You don't have that kind of money, and your parents won't give it to

you.

They think I'm a great guy and won't believe a word you tell them."

Cassie ignored that last taunt.

"I do have the money, left to me by my maternal grandmother. It's in a

savings account. I had planned to use it for Tyler's education."

Lester straightened.

"You can get your hands on it?"

"Tomorrow."

"I'll let you know tomorrow, then."

"No, you'll let me know right now or the deal's off."

"Okay, I'll take it."

"Good. When I get home this evening, you be gone, bags and all. Our onlycommunication will be through my lawyer."

She sensed he'd wanted to argue, but he hadn't. And he had kept hisword, having signed the appropriate papers at the appointed time.

Several months later, she'd had her life back on track, having graduatedfrom the university and landed a great job, when the unthinkable hadhappened.

"Mom, we're home!"

Cassie wilted with relief, her torturous stroll down memory lane broughtto an end by the arrival of her family. She lunged out of the now-coldwater, dried off, slipped into her robe and strode into the bedroom justas Tyler walked in.

"Hiya, Mom."

Without saying anything, Cassie grabbed him and squeezed him close toher heart.

Twenty-Two i (TV Lfo you have to go?"

Austin smiled at Sherry as he pecked her on the cheek. "" Fraid so.

The lunch was delicious."

"Thanks."

Sherry was in the habit of inviting him to lunch when she took avacation day from work. She loved to cook, and he loved to eat. In thepast, Austin had looked forward to those occasions. Today had beendifferent. He had enjoyed her company, but it wasn't the same.

He knew why.

That episode at the farm hung between them, though they both had triedto ignore it. He had worked extra hard not to make Sherry feel any worsethan she already did, especially as he felt responsible. He wassurprised she had called after putting the burden on him.

"If you didn't have such a good job," he said, switching his mind offthat unsettling thought, "I'd hire you at the hotel. That peach cobbleryou whipped up is the best I've ever put in my mouth."

"If you don't watch out, I'm going to get a big head."

Although Sherry smiled, Austin noticed that the smile never reached her eyes.

They were sad, and he knew he was to blame for that. She wanted morefrom him than he could give her. Yet he didn't have the guts to tellher.

"Nah, you're too nice a person," he said in a light tone.

"I'm beginning to think you're right. Maybe I should develop a mean

streak."

Austin walked to the door, not about to touch that subject. Although her tone had been coated in silk, she'd taken a shot at him and his neglect of her.

"I'll call you, okay?"

She cocked her head.

"Are you sure?"

"I'm sure."

"So what's going on at the hotel today?"

"I'm after someone."

"Mmm, from the tone of your voice and the look on your face, that

someone's in big trouble."

"That's a real possibility."

"Uh-oh."

Austin cleared the scowl, caused by thoughts of Randall, off his face.

"It's no big deal, or at least I hope it isn't."

"When are you coming for dinner?"

Austin didn't like being pressured, and that was what Sherry was doing.

Apparently she wasn't giving up on him.

"Soon, I promise."

"I'm going to hold you to that."

Austin suppressed a sigh, then made himself smile. "See ya."

Although he would call her, he had to make a firm decision regarding