However, it wasn't Joy's culinary skills that were her primary concernnow but the silence her entrance had brought. It was deafening--theworst kind.
Cassie forced herself not to take offense.
After all, when she had arrived yesterday, her parents' structured lifehad been turned topsy turvy They would all have adjustments to make, despite the fact that she hopedto find a place of her own and a job, though not necessarily in Jasmine.
"Good morning, hon," James said, recovering first, then getting up andpulling out the chair that faced the garden.
"Thanks, Daddy." Once she was seated, Cassie feasted her eyes on thebeauty of the plants and flowers on the other side of the huge expanseof glass.
The sight was breathtaking.
"I'd forgotten just how lovely this place was."
"It's your mother's doing." James's tone was proud.
"I can't take the credit," Wilma said.
"I just tell Albert to do what has to be done."
Cassie didn't believe that for a second. Her mother was a control freak
who oversaw everything concerning the estate, especially since it was
her family's money that had built and maintained it.
Still, Cassie smiled, relieved to see that her mother seemed better and that for the moment the awkwardness had passed.
"So Albert's still doing his thing right along with Joy. I'm glad."
"I don't know what we'll do when they retire," Wilma said after taking a
sip of coffee at the same time that James filled Cassie's cup from the silver pot that graced the center of the table.
"Don't you worry, my dear," James said.
"They're not going anywhere for a long time."
Cassie sensed that her parents were just making idle conversation until
they were ready to hammer her with the next round of questions.
It was too bad that Tyler's timing had been so poor. Right after she had
told them Lester was in prison, her son had returned from the kitchen with a mouth full of cookies.
She wished she could have been a fly on the wall in their room that
evening and heard what they said about her.
Switching her gaze to her daddy, she wondered what was going through his mind now.
Was he holding on to his optimism concerning her and Lester? If only he
knew just how stacked the odds were against that, he would give it up.But then, she knew that the flow of eternal optimism was what kept Jamesbehind the pulpit.
Cassie took a gulp of her coffee, then said, "Mmm, that's the way coffeeought to taste." Nothing could take the place of Louisiana chicory.Stronger than a bear's breath, as the old-timers in her daddy's churchused to tell her.
"So when and how did you learn Lester had gone to prison?" Wilma asked. Cassie sighed, wishing this discussion could be postponed, hating to ruin this lovely morning, but she might as well get it over with, thoughthere would be a lot of holes in her past that she couldn't fill. "Two days before I returned home," she said with care, "my contact from the shelter called and told me I was free at last." "So they've kept up with Lester and his whereabouts?" Cassie nodded.
"That's part of the service they provide." "I see," Wilma said, placing
her cup back in its saucer.
Of course, she didn't see and never would. Cassie saw Wilma's hands were unsteady, and while that grieved her, there wasn't anything she could do about it. This entire scenario was painful. But old wounds apparently had to be cleansed before they could become a real family again. If ever.
"Mother, there are so many things I want to say." Cassie paused, praying for the right words.
"For starters, I'm so very sorry about Aunt Alicia."
"It's something I'll never get over," Wilma responded, sadness creeping into her voice and eyes.
It had been during one of their phone conversations that Cassie had
learned of her aunt's untimely death shortly after it had happened.
Alicia had been married for five years to Austin and was pregnant with his child when a teenager ran a stop sign and smashed into her car. Both mother and unborn child had been killed instantly.
The news had been a devastating blow for Cassie. Although she and Alicia had never been close, the tragedy was still heartbreaking. It had saddened her even more that she'd been unable to attend the funeral.
She voiced her thoughts.
"I wanted to come back, but I was afraid to take the chance."
Wilma pursed her lips.
"I still find it hard to believe that Lester was such a monster that you
couldn't at least have returned for the service."
"I happen to agree with your mother," James said.
Cassie wanted to vent her anger on them for judging her so unfairly.
But it wouldn't do any good. It would only make things worse.
The only thing that concerned them was the bottom line, which was the
breakup of a family. She had committed an unpardonable sin; she had gotten a divorce. Their piety sickened her.
"But first things first," Wilma was saying.
"Why was Lester incarcerated?"
"On a weapons charge," Cassie responded.
"He and some of his buddies in that right-wing militia group got caught buying and selling illegal weapons. But it was Lester who was nailed. He won't be seeing the outside for a long time."
"Oh my goodness," James said, shaking his head. "I hate that for Tyler.
And for you, too, of course."
Right, Cassie thought bitterly, knowing that her parents hated it forthemselves even more. The news about Lester was another kick in the teeth, especially as it would have a definite effect on their socialstanding in the community.
"We never saw that side of Lester." Wilma faced the garden.
"He seemed like such a devoted husband and father. He never missed work.
He"--" Mother, please," Cassie interrupted, her suppressed anger risingto the surface.
"Just trust me that Lester was a monster--in disguise, I'll admit, but amonster nonetheless." "Did he ever strike you or the boy?" James asked.
"No, Daddy, but he was absolutely obsessed with guns. He was also acontrol freak, even though he never spent quality time with either ofus. Lester worked all day and played with his extremist friends allnight."
"What a mess."
"I'd say it was more than that. Mother, but ..." Cas- she's voice fadedinto nothing. She knew she was fighting a losing battle by continuing toplead her case.
"We're not suggesting that the mess is all your fault, honey," Jamessaid.
"It's just that we hate to see a family broken apart, especially sinceyou were so determined to marry him."
Holding back the tears, Cassie rose and walked to the window, where sheswung back around.
"I know that, but believe me, I've been sorry ever since. The past,however, is a done deal, and right now I only want to build a new lifefor Tyler and me." "That's what we want, too," James said on a brightnote.
"For the first time in nine years, I feel free. It's like I've been inprison. Now it's Lester's turn, and I hope he rots there." "My, my, butyou're bitter," Wilma said, shaking her head.
Cassie stiffened.
"And that won't change. I'll never forgive Lester for what he put usthrough."
"Never is a long time," James said.
"Hopefully time and the Lord will change your mind."
"Yes, Daddy," Cassie murmured, knowing that was not going to happen butthat she would just be wasting her breath telling him that.
Obviously, James would never give up hope for a reconciliation betweenher and Lester. If only he knew the dark, painful secrets that layburied deep inside her.
"So what are your plans?" Wilma asked, smoothly switching the subject.
"Like I said last night, I plan to hang out here for a while." "I have a better idea," Wilma said forcefully.
"Oh?"