by D. Kelly
Wow, I can’t believe all of this goes back so far and my parents knew so much more than I ever gave them credit for.
“After your college graduation, your father paid Priscilla a visit. I’m not sure if you’re aware of this, but it probably doesn’t come as a surprise that he had dwindled away your inheritance by then. He proposed a deal of sorts. He said he wouldn’t ever come to any functions should the two of you get married and have kids and he’d stay completely out of your life. And he also said he wouldn’t go to the media and tell his side of the story about how you and Zack attacked him that night.”
“What?! That’s a bold-faced lie! He threw me on the ground and broke my wrist and when Zack tried to help me he… he… oh, god!” Cassidy’s body is wracked with sobs and as I try to calm her down, I explain to my dad what really happened that night and how we have video evidence to back it up.
“Son, it doesn’t matter now, anyway. He wanted a payoff and he got one. Priscilla had non-disclosure agreements drawn up and John signed the document stating he would stay away from Cassidy and our family, as well as never talk to anyone about that night.
“What did he get?” The venomous tone in Cassidy’s voice kills me. Money doesn’t matter to us but it’s going to be an issue for her.
“Ten million dollars,” my dad states calmly and comes around behind us, placing a kiss on Cassidy’s head.
“I’d pay it ten times over to keep him out of your life, Cassidy. It was a small price to pay. You’re upset and you have every right to be, but I’ve considered you a daughter for a very long time and I’d pay anything to protect my children.
“That son of a bitch!” she screams, jumping up and pacing like a mad woman. “All my life he treated me as though I was unworthy of love, spent my money on his destruction, and then extorted the only people who loved me for his personal gain. I get that he had a horrible childhood and his demons were too big to fight. If anyone understands that, it’s me.”
She falls to the grass, holding her head in her hands, and just cries. My heart aches for her but this time, I think she needs to cry it out on her own. I’m shocked my mom would pay him off but I’m not surprised he asked. Not in the least.
Once Cassidy has had some time to cry it all out, I carefully approach her and reach out my hand to help her up. As she stands, she wipes away her tears and trudges back over to the table.
“I’m sorry I lost my temper,” she says sadly.
My dad flashes her a smile. “No apologies needed. I understand how frustrating this must be for you. It’s getting late, let me finish filling you both in and I’ll be on my way. I’m sure you’ll have a lot of talking to do.”
I think that is a severe understatement.
“After Priscilla paid off John, she got it into her head that this wouldn’t be the last we’d hear from him no matter what he had signed. Now, not only was she worried about your past rearing its ugly head, but she paid him off and she was sure it would all come out eventually. She’s probably not wrong. Secrets don’t usually stay secret but families deal with secrets all the time. She used her knowledge of your past and fear of being exposed herself to justify all the nasty things she said and did to you. I don’t condone it and I can’t for the life of me understand it. She was so convinced everything she did and said to you was justified. When it was all out in the open, I just couldn’t stay any longer… I had to get out of the church. I’ve loved Priscilla with my whole heart almost from the moment I set eyes on her, but what she did to you is an unforgivable sin. Especially after we brought you into our lives and treated you as one of our own for the last twenty years.”
I’ve never seen my dad this choked up, not ever.
“Cassidy, the fact that she put you through all this makes me wonder how easily she would throw our own children under the bus. In any case, this is the reason I’m here. Not only did I need time away, but I needed to make sure you understood Priscilla was wrong. You are a part of our family, Cassidy, and I’d be honored if you’d make it official by keeping your promise and marrying Zack. I’d also be honored if you’d let me walk you down the aisle when the time comes.”
“I… I don’t know what to say. Thank you for telling us your story. I know it wasn’t easy. And thank you for accepting me into your family, it means the world to me. If Zack and I have another ceremony I’d love for you to walk me down the aisle.”
“If?” we both question her in unison.
“How about when?” I ask, prompting her gently.
“When,” she replies softly with a smile.
“Dad, does this mean you and Mom are getting a divorce?” My dad has always been my inspiration for true love. I don’t want to think about them not making it.
“Honestly, Zack, I just don’t know. She’d have to make a lot of changes and a lot of apologies in order to keep me around. I’m not sure if your mother has it in her to admit she’s been wrong.”
“She does,” Cassidy remarks confidently and we both turn to her. “It sounds to me like Priscilla got lost and fell into your mother’s way of thinking more than she ever thought she could. But if she’s still the adoring woman with you at night that she was all those years ago, she just needs a little bit of help finding her way back to us all.”
“Us?” we both ask again in unison and Cassidy laughs at us.
“Yes, us. Zack, you know I don’t hold grudges. If I can forgive my dad for all he’s done to me, I can forgive Priscilla for doing what she thought was right. But both of you listen to me good. If my dad comes back and asks anyone for a dime of money and someone gives it to him, heads are gonna roll.”
There’s my girl—rough and tough and yet forgiving as all hell.
“Sounds like a deal to me. I’ll just show myself out. Thank you for listening to an old man ramble. Zack, I’ll be in touch.”
After he leaves, Cassidy and I sit together under the stars in a comfortable silence, each of us lost in our own thoughts.
I’m not even sure how much time has passed but I’m guessing it’s been hours when Cassidy starts to doze on my shoulder. As carefully as I can, I pull her into my arms and carry her to the guest room I slept in last night. I’m not taking her to the master bedroom until I’m ready to make love to her and that isn’t going to be tonight.
“Why aren’t we going upstairs?” she asks sleepily as I place her gently onto the bed.
“Because the first time we sleep in that bed, I have no intention of sleeping.”
“Oh!” she exclaims with a flush creeping over her cheeks.
“Take your dress off and we’ll sleep in our underwear. I’m not making love to you tonight but I need to feel your skin against mine.”
Her dress drops to the floor next to my clothes and she crawls back into bed with me right behind her. My favorite thing in the world is curling up with her in my arms and waking up the same way. But holy fuck, is it going to be hard just lying here with her when she’s wearing a brand new light pink lacey bra and panties.
“You went shopping,” I whisper in her ear and she flips over immediately.
“I did, do you like?” Guiding her hand to my fully erect cock I decide to let her be the judge of that.
“What do you think?”
She licks her lips and bites her bottom lip just a bit as she squeezes just a little harder. “I think you like it a lot. And I hope you have sex in the plans soon because I’ve got two weeks worth of new lingerie in my suitcase.”
Fuck me.
“Soon, but I want to do this right. Trust me, I don’t like having blue balls now any more than I did in high school, but you’re worth the wait.”
She snuggles in closer to me and releases my cock, which is both a relief and a damn shame. “Are you okay, Zack? I know today had to be a lot for you to take in.” She’s rubbing gentle circles on my back, trying to ease my stress with a light back rub.
“I’m worried about my dad. My mom is his entire world. After what she did to you at the we
dding, I pretty much figured nothing would surprise me again. But I think I was wrong, tonight was a complete shock in a lot of ways. Other than being worried about him and wondering if he’s going to tell Ry all of this, I’m okay. How are you feeling? It was even more for you to take in.”
She places a tender kiss against my lips and releases a soft sigh. “I’m fine. Actually, in an odd way I’m more than fine. Tonight, your dad made me feel like part of a real family. For years I thought your parents just put up with me because I was always needing a place to go. It never once crossed my mind they actually cared for me.”
“Of course they did, Cassidy. I’m just glad you’re finally realizing it. If our kids had a lifelong friend you’d love them, too. How could you not? You fall in love with the kids in your class in less than a year and cry at every Kindergarten graduation.”
The massage stops as she ponders my words, so I return the favor and rub her back while she thinks. “I’ve honestly never thought of it that way. When you grow up feeling unloved and unlovable, it’s hard to think anyone could feel affection toward you. So even though I love you, your family, my students, all with my whole heart, it’s still hard to believe you could possibly love me, too. Tonight was eye opening in a lot of ways, especially after seeing how much love your dad had in his eyes for me.”
Bringing my lips to hers, I kiss her gently, eventually coaxing her mouth open with my tongue. Our kiss is sweet and filled with love and all those tingles she always talks about. As I pull away, she whispers in wonder, “God, Zack, they’re so strong tonight. I’ve never felt them like this before.”
“Felt what?”
“The tingles when we kiss. They’re magical. I wish you could feel them.”
“I do.” My reply is firm. After all the secrets that came out tonight, the least I can do is tell her this. “And I always have.”
“Shut up!” she squeals adorably. “Seriously? All this time and you didn’t tell me? Why?”
“Well, for one thing, there’s not too much manliness in admitting I feel tingly when we kiss. But I also figured if you knew I felt it, too, you’d stop telling me you felt tingly. As long as I know you have tingles, I know you’re just as deeply in love with me as I am with you.”
“Zack… that’s so romantic.”
“Well. I learned from the best and speaking of, back to something you said earlier… my dad has looked at you like that for as long as I can remember. As much as I hate to admit it, maybe you running was a good thing. Because leaving the wedding, coming here, opening up to each other, it’s working, Cassidy. You’re finally seeing what we’ve all felt all along. I’m so proud of you.”
“Thank you. I feel a little different, too. I’m still scared part of this is because we’re here but after knowing what your mom did and why, it almost feels like a weight is lifted off of me. Now, I need to ask you something.”
“Anything,” I reply after her extended pause.
“You talked to your dad about staying here. Is that something you really want to do? Our jobs, Ry, your family, they’re all back in California.”
“Which is only a plane ride away. You can teach anywhere, and I can practice law anywhere. I even bet we could talk Ry into moving out here because she can do party planning anywhere. The wedding was just a contributing factor. I’ve been thinking about leaving the company for a while. Corporate law just isn’t where my heart is.”
Her shocked expression makes me feel like such an ass. I should have told her this a long time ago.
“What does your heart want to do, Zack?”
“Family law, actually. I really think I want to be an adoption attorney.”
My confession floors her. She’s completely silent for a long time and then a beautiful smile spreads across her face. “I think you’d be an amazing adoption attorney.”
“Would it bother you if I didn’t make any money?” Her laughter cascades around us and her body shakes with the absurdity of my question.
“I’m serious, Cassidy. I know I’m beyond rich but I’m still a man and take pride in earning a living. I just think there are a lot of families out there in desperate need of an adoption attorney who are already struggling because adopting can deplete their entire life savings.”
“So you’d work pro bono?”
“That’s my dream.”
“Follow your dream, Zack, it’s a great idea. You know money has never mattered to me one way or another. Who knows? If you build a good reputation, you could turn it into a foundation and get other attorneys to volunteer their time, as well. Maybe partner with child protective services and some local foster-to-adopt agencies. If you have parents already vetted and ready to take in at risk kids, and you guys are willing to help facilitate that for free, you could do a lot of good.”
That’s my girl. In less than five minutes, she’s dreaming bigger than I have this entire time. I crash my lips against hers in a relentless assault. There’s no way I could love her any more than I do right in this instant. Stroke for stroke, our tongues meet in a game of foreplay that can’t be consummated tonight. Her legs wrap themselves around me, her core seeking my cock pressing harder and harder against it, until finally I pull away, panting and wishing for release.
“God, I love you.”
“And I you. Your plan is brilliant, Zack. If it’s what you want you should do it. Life is too short not to live your dream.”
“My dream is us and one day growing our family, everything else is just a bonus. Until then, sweet dreams, Cassidy.”
“Sweet dreams, Zack.”
As she turns around and snuggles into me, I hold her tight. We’re going to be okay, I know it. Hopefully, my parents will, too.
After Zack’s dad left Sunday night, I think both of us had a lot more to think about than we realized. Yesterday, Zack and I spent the day watching movies and playing board games. We also talked… a lot. He did tell me Rylee is coming out on Friday and we’re having a double date with her and Pete on Saturday. I’m not sure Pete knows it’s a date, yet, but he did agree to come over for dinner.
Today, we spent the day by the pool—flirting, kissing, and talking some more. Zack and I have always had an easy rapport, and for the most part, have been able to talk about anything. It’s one of the perks of being in love with your best friend.
Zack sent me upstairs to relax a bit while he got ready for the next part of his plan. He also needed to call his dad and see how his talk with Rylee went. They both decided it would be best if he told her everything he told us the other night. I know this is going to hit Ry so hard; she’s never been privy to all the negative things her mom has done.
My phone begins to ring and before I even look at the caller ID, I know it’s going to be Rylee.
“Hey, Ry,” I answer, using a very soft tone and I hear her sobs before she even attempts to speak. I’m guessing her conversation with her dad didn’t go well.
“Why didn’t you tell me?” she wails hysterically on the other end of the line.
“Which part?”
“The part where my mother has been torturing you for years and you never said a word to me. I could kill her with my bare hands!”
“Ry, calm down, please. I didn’t tell you because it was my battle to fight and I was doing a good job of it up until the wedding.”
“You’re my best friend you should have told me!” I know I deserve her anger but she needs to understand my point.
“She’s your mother, Ry, and she loves you very much. Her issues with me are just that. They have nothing to do with you. I’d never want your relationship with her tainted over her misguided sense of loyalty to the Stafford legacy. And in her defense, she was only doing what your grandmother engrained in her. She honestly felt she was doing the right thing, so as much as I want to fault her, I just don’t know if I can.” As the words come out of my mouth, I realize I mean them whole-heartedly.
“What the hell, Cassidy? For once in your life can’t you just be fuckin
g pissed off and angry about something? Why do you so easily say ‘let’s forgive and forget?’ How about ‘it’s time to fuck a bitch up?’ Holy shit, what is wrong with you?”
“Nothing is wrong with my, Rylee!” I’m screaming at her now but I don’t care at this point.
“Do you want me to be an angry, resentful person? I spent years being angry because I had the shittiest parents on the planet. Who was stuck with a mother who sat around and watched her daughter get beaten again and again? Not you! You had a perfect fucking life, so you don’t get to question me about why I’m not angry! All being angry does is turn you into a bitter and resentful person. That’s probably why your mother is the way she is. She’s angry she gave up her identity to be what your grandmother wanted. How’s that working out for her now, Ry? You tell me she’s better off for holding on to all that anger.”
Now she’s sobbing into the phone and Zack is standing in the doorway with a concerned look on his face. My heart is beating a million miles a minute and I’m shaking, but god, it felt so good to get that out.
“I’m sorry, Cassidy. What I said wasn’t fair to you. I’m just really angry about the entire situation. You and Zack would be married by now if it weren’t for her.” The sadness in her voice is unmistakable and I feel bad for her.
“It’s okay, I know this is all new information to you. The beatings, your mom, all of it. You’re a good friend for trying to get me to talk about it, but it’s something I’ve been dealing with for a long time. I’ve learned to cope with it in my own way and you need to trust I know what I’m doing, okay?”