One Summer Evening - One Summer Evening Part 49
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One Summer Evening Part 49

except Tyler who was unaffected by the hostility that tainted the air.

"Boy, Mom, we had a great time."

"I'm ... I'm glad you did, darling. Why don't you go see what Joy has

for you?" Cassie tried to keep the desperation out of her tone as hereyes collided with Austin. His face looked like a brewing thunder cloud,his eyes stuck on Lester.

"Not so fast, Tyler" James said.

"Daddy, don't," Cassie warned again, this time in a louder, harsher tone.

Lester stepped forward.

"Tyler do you know who I am?"

"Damn you, Lester!" Cassie spat just short of clawing his eyes out.

"Cassie!" James said.

"Mind your manners and your mouth."

"Mom?" Tyler inched closer to her, his confusion evident.

"It's all right, son."

"You bet it's all right," Lester said with a smiling cockiness.

"I'm your Dad, Tyler. Don't you remember me?"

Tyler stared up at Cassie, disbelief registering on his features.

"Is he my dad. Mom?"

"Hey, Tyler" Austin said, stepping forward, then placing an arm across

the boy's shoulders.

"I thought we were going to play a computer game? Why don't you go fire it up?"

Before Tyler could respond, Cassie said, "That's a good idea. We'll be

there in a second."

Cassie pursed her lips and glared at both Lester and her daddy, daringthem to dispute her order. Lester merely shrugged. James pinched hisbrows into a frown.

Once Tyler was out of hearing distance, Cassie turned to James and said,"If Lester doesn't leave, Daddy, I will. And if I do, I won't come back.

Ever." "All right, Cassie," James said in a tired voice. "We'll play ityour way."

Cassie jerked her gaze back to Lester, her expression fierce.

"Get out! Now!"

"Come on, Lester," James said in a clearly irritated voice, "I'll walkyou to the door."

Although Cassie braced herself for a parting shot from Lester, none wasforthcoming. Instead, he simply stared at her, then at Austin, withthose cold eyes and self-righteous smirk.

Without warning, Austin moved toward Lester, his fists doubled. For asecond Cassie's breath went into overdrive as the two men tried to stare each other down. Cassie sensed Lester wanted to see if Austin was bluffing, but he didn't. Most likely the menacing look on Austin's facewas the deterrent that made Lester rethink his plan and follow her daddyout the door.

Once she and Austin were alone a silence fell over the room while Cassie took deep gulping breaths. Without looking at him, she eased into thenearest chair, her legs unwilling to carry her weight any longer.

"You're right," Austin said into the silence.

"He's a sorry sack of shit."

"Why can't Daddy see that?" she wailed, beginning to feel sorry forherself and hating it.

"Simple. He doesn't want to."

"But why would he take Lester's side against mine? I just don'tunderstand.

You'd think Daddy could see the evil that lurks behind Lester's eyes."

"It's the divorce. That sticks in James's craw for more reasons than one."

"One reason is that he's a preacher whose daughter has fallen fromgrace."

"I'll buy that, and another is that he truly believes divorce is wrong."

"Well, he'll have to get over that or disown me." Cassie gritted herteeth.

"I'll never go back to that bastard."

"I could put a stop to all this, you know."

"How?"

"There are ways."

"Beat Lester up, for instance?" She almost laughed.

"That's occurred to me, among others."

Cassie shuddered.

"Even though he backed down a moment ago, it wouldn't happen again.

Besides, he's got his militia buddies to back him up. You'd end up getting hurt."

"Don't count on that."

"It's not your fight, Austin."

"What if I want to make it mine?"

"I don't want your help."

"Cassie-"

"I mean it," she interrupted, her voice and resolve strengthening.

"I'm capable of handling my own affairs."

"Sure you are."

His sarcasm wasn't lost on her.

"Don't try to be my knight in shining armor. I told you, I don't want you in my life any more than I do Lester." "You're lying again," he said.

"And we both know it."

Her face went white.

"I don't lie."

"You might not want me in your life, you damn sure want me in your bed."

"Damn you," she whispered, her eyes filling with tears.

"You're playing dirty, and we both know that, too."

He leaned close to her, and she could smell his cologne; it made her

lightheaded.

"Fair or not," he said in a low, husky tone, "that's the way it is."

"Please leave," she said, swallowing.

"This is the second time you've kicked me out."

Then, totally without warning, he clutched her chin and gave her a quick

but solid kiss on the lips, which took her breath away.

"There won't be a third," he said on another husky note.

"I'm leaving you now only because your son's waiting."

With that, Austin walked out, leaving her alone with her tormented

thoughts.

"I've left him, Austin, for good." ?

"I can't say I blame you."

"I meant to call and let you know that before now," , Mary Jane said,

"but to put it mildly, my life's been turned upside down. Having to go back to work hasn't been easy."

"So where are you living?"

"In an apartment."

"Is he still in the house?" Austin asked.

"As far as I know."