She gave him another quick glance. He hadn't moved. He hadn't thawed out any. He hadn't stopped staring at her, either.
"Yes, Daddy, I meant every word," she said, shivering visibly.
James shook his head before making his way to the front of the sofa, which he fell onto beside Wilma, whose eyes were wide and troubled, but who didn't say anything.
Mercifully, Cassie felt as though she were having an out-of-body
experience.
She was in this room with those she loved most, with the exception of her son, yet she didn't feel connected to them or anything else.
Shock.
She was in shock, her downfall as well as her salvation.
"But how, I mean" -- James stammered, falling short of finishing his
sentence, his features now on the green side.
Cassie took pity on him.
"If Tyler is not Lester's child, then whose is he? Was that what you
were trying to ask?"
Although she was speaking to her daddy, her gaze was set on Austin, who
had yet to utter a word, but who looked like he'd been clobbered with a baseball bat. He knew.
"Yes" James muttered.
Before Cassie could respond, Austin spoke up and said, "Mine."
That short, simple word had almost the same far- reaching effect as her
earlier bombshell. It landed in the room with a thud, like a ton ofbricks hitting the floor.
Mine. Mine. Mine.
Cassie wanted to plug her ears, but she knew the effort would be futile.
The damage had been done. Pan- dora's box had been opened.
"Yours!" James clutched at his throat and struggled to his feet, hisface no longer green but a vivid purple- red as he vented his rage onAustin.
"How could you do such a thing? My God, she was a child. My child!"
Cassie watched Austin turn his gaze to his lifelong friend, open his
mouth as if to defend himself, then snap it shut.
"No, that can't be," Wilma whispered in a tiny voice, seemingly more to herself than to the others.
Austin cut his eyes back to Cassie, stabbing her with their intensity.
However, she couldn't read what lay behind them, which increased her torment.
"Yes, it can be, Mother," Cassie admitted in a fragile tone.
Wilma clutched at her husband's hand.
"How?"
Cassie swallowed and looked at Austin.
The ice seemed to have suddenly melted. He bowed, then gestured with a
sweeping hand.
"It's show time Cass, and you're on center stage."
Terror seized her, and for a second Cassie was paralyzed, feeling as if
she'd been tossed into shark infested waters. Austin wasn't about to come to her rescue. But why should he? He was the victim here, probably feeling like a shark had taken a bite out of his heart and soul. After all, he had just learned that he had a son, a son who might never know his real father.
Cassie forced back a scream and stood straight instead. She had kicked the dirt in their faces. Now it was up to her to try to clean it off, if she could. Only problem was, some stains lasted a lifetime.
"Austin is Tyler's father."
"Oh, Lord, please no," James moaned, lifting his head as if seeking heavenly guidance.
Wilma didn't say a word. She just sank back into the sofa and closed her
eyes.
"James," Austin said in a tortured voice.
"I".
"Don't!" James glared at him.
"I don't want to hear another word."
The phone rang.
Everyone flinched silently, except Austin. A litany of curses flew out
of his mouth. For once James seemed oblivious to the foul language, staring at the phone.
"I'll get it," Cassie said thickly, the interruption a godsend.
Racing across the room, she grabbed the cordless receiver.
She listened for a second, then cried, "Damn you, Lester!"
Her parents gasped, while Austin's head jerked up. Then, placing a
finger across his lips, he moved to the extension and very gingerly lifted that receiver.
"You can damn me all you want to," Lester was saying in a calm but
deadly tone.
"Only it isn't going to do any good."
"If you've hurt Tyier" -- Cassie couldn't go on; a sob choked off her
words.
"What happens to the little creep depends on you, darling'. If you cooperate, then he'll be just fine. If not ..."
Cassie knew Lester had deliberately let his words trail off, knowing his
unspoken threat would cripple her. He was right. For a moment she wasincapable of a coherent response. That was when her eyes went to Hewasn't faring much better. His face was pale, and his lips werestretched into a taut line. His expression told her it was all he coulddo to keep silent, but he had no choice.
"What do you want?" Cassie finally managed to ask.
"Now, that's better," Lester said in a stroking tone.
"Lester!"
Austin shook his head and mouthed, Don't antagonize him.
"I'm listening," she said, covering the receiver with a hand and taking
a deep breath.
"Go on."
"I want money, of course. Lots of it."
"Let me talk to Tyler."
"Not so fast, darling'. You're not calling the shots, remember."