by J. D. Faver
“Hey! Don’t tell her that!” Darla frowned at Chloe. “Now you’ve gone and scared her.”
Cassie tried to calm the nerves gnawing her from the inside. “No, I’m alright. It’s just...Seven years?”
Chloe shook her head. “Entirely my fault. There were... circumstances. I ran away and left him. He was just a kid too. He joined the Navy when he figured that I wasn’t coming back and I settled in Tucson and had Lacy.”
Cassie frowned, tilting her head to one side. “So, Lacy isn’t Rafael’s daughter?”
Chloe shook her head. “He says she was my gift to him. My dowry.”
Darla grinned, emitting a little chuckle. “He treats her as though she’s his.”
Cassie swallowed. She hadn’t imagined that complications like these could arise between two people. “How did the two of you get back together?”
Chloe shrugged, massaging the back of her neck as though some bad memory haunted her. “My father’s funeral. I came back for that and, when we saw each other, it all fell into place.”
Cassie nodded slowly, confused by the tale and trying to find some comfort in it.
“This fight you had with Javier,” Darla said. “Is it something that can be fixed with an apology?”
Cassie drew a deep breath. “I don’t think so. But, it goes to prove what I’ve always known. Hot guys don’t like brainy girls.”
~*~
CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR
Revocation
Zach seemed oddly preoccupied when he picked her up. Not exactly upset, but more than a little edgy.
Sky felt the tension gathering in her own stomach. She didn't need any more bad news. She'd already had her share. There was a storm out in the Gulf and a stalker trying to kill her, but now she had a brand new hunky fiancé who wanted to marry her, so things hadn't been quite so bad on that particular day.
He parked in front of his house and led her up the steps. She managed to take a few steps like a normal person, using the handrail to pull herself up. When she reached the top, Zack held out his hands to her and she placed both hands in his. His brow cleared and a grin split his face, like a rainbow after a storm cloud.
"Is everything all right?" She hoped his mood swing meant that he had good news. "Please tell me something good."
"How about this?" Zach’s eyes were shining when he reached in to his pants pocket and drew out a small velvet box. "I was going to wait for a more romantic moment, but I just can't stand the suspense." He opened the top of the box and offered the ring to Sky. “Do you like it? If you don’t, we can take it back and you can pick out another one.”
Her eyes teared as she wrenched her gaze from his anxious face to the ring he extended to her. A single brilliant stone sparkled in the center of a pristine platinum setting. She felt as if a swarm of butterflies had been released in her chest. “No, Zach. I love this one. It’s beautiful.”
He looked pleased. “When I saw it, I thought it would look pretty on your finger.”
She eagerly stuck out her hand, fingers splayed to accept the ring. When Zach slipped it on her finger, she couldn’t speak. She grabbed him and hugged him so tight her arms hurt. “This is the most beautiful ring I’ve ever seen, but you didn’t have to buy this. I would have been happy with a plain little wedding band.”
He embraced her, swinging her around several times. “You deserve so much more. This is for keeps, you know?”
“I know,” she said softly.
He set her on her feet and kissed her. “Are you happy?”
“No,” she said. “I’m ecstatic.”
He grinned at her. “I made arrangements for us to be married aboard the Island Princess. It sails out of Galveston. The Captain can perform the ceremony at sea. The cruise lasts two weeks, but if Rafael hasn’t caught the stalker by that time, we can stay in some exotic port and fly home later.”
She gazed up at him, surprised by his resourcefulness. “You seem to have it all planned out.”
“That’s the idea. Are you okay with all of this?”
She nodded. “Yes, it sounds wonderful. It’s just that...I’d always thought that Cassie would be my Maid of Honor and that my father would walk me down the aisle.”
He stroked his hand over the side of her face. “You can still have that later. Do you imagine that a Bailey can get married without a priest and all the trimmings?”
She shook her head, grinning through a pang of regret. She felt almost guilty for being so happy when Cassie was so miserable.
He pulled her toward him, pressing his cheek against her temple. “We’re going on our honeymoon, and we’ll get married. The most important thing is that you’ll be safe. When we come home you can plan a big wedding with all the family and friends you can fit inside the church.”
Sky nodded and slipped her arms around his neck. “That sounds perfect, Zach. I can’t wait.”
“Did you get your time off from the hospital?”
“Yes. They weren’t too happy about it, but after tomorrow, I’m officially on leave.”
~*~
When Cassie got home, she was thrilled to see the ring Zach had purchased for Sky. He was the perfect man for her sister. He was steady and true. She knew their union would last forever.
And she loved the Bailey family. Sky would be taken to their heart and enfolded in a safe, warm bubble. At least, Cassie hoped they could keep her safe.
Today, Darla had entertained her and Chloe, keeping them in stitches, telling them about the bully who had dogged Zach when he was in the seventh grade and Darla had been in eighth.
Calvin had graduated the previous year, leaving the less beefy of the Baileys at the mercy of this antagonist. True, the aggressor was a ninth grader, but Zach had been as tall, though not as heavy as his assailant.
One day, after school, Darla had searched for Zach, who hadn’t shown up in the bus line. Returning to the halls, she’d heard a scuffle in the boy’s rest room. Darla had thrown down her books and kicked open the door, finding Zach on the floor and the older boy on top of him.
She had beaten up the tormentor and kicked him into a toilet stall. The Bailey kids weren’t bothered by bullies after that. She’d told him, “The only one who beats my brothers up is me.”
There was a new sheriff in town and her name was Darla.
While Cassie had laughed at the story, one part of her was concerned that Zach, the gentle giant, might not be able to defend Sky, if the need arose.
Cassie glanced at them, curled up together in Zach’s ancient papa-san chair, looking like a couple of love-struck teenagers. He kissed her temple and stroked her hair. Sky rested against his chest, talking in low tones.
Cassie was considering making a peanut butter and jelly sandwich and retiring to her room to allow the newly-engaged couple some space, when the alarm was triggered, setting off the deck lights and a warning beep inside. The hair on the back of her neck stood at right angles to her body and she could hardly breathe.
Zach stepped to the entry and after checking on the cause of the uproar, opened the door to Woodrow and Warren.
“Come on with us, Cassie,” Warren called out. “It’s party time and your presence has been requested.”
She grinned as the boys hooted and hollered. “What are you talking about?”
Woodrow motioned her toward the door. “Calvin is throwing a bash at the Bait Camp. He sent us to get you.”
“Me?” She grinned and cast a glance at Sky. Something in her smile let Cassie know that this impromptu invitation had been planned. Of course, the betrothed couple would like to spend some time alone. She swallowed the lump forming in the back of her throat. “Let me change.”
“Come as you are,” Warren said. “Shorts are the uniform of the day.”
“Are you sure?” She glanced down at the rumpled cotton shorts and sandals.
“You look perfect. Do you like Reggae music?” Woodrow held the door open for her.
“I guess.” She gave Sky a last gla
nce and stepped through the door.
The twins were driving Calvin’s bright yellow four-wheel-drive truck. Cassie sat between the grinning duo. A momentary sadness overcame her as she realized that they were trying to help her recover from the loss of Javi. Sweet.
As they pulled up to the Bait Camp, she heard music blaring from inside the bar. The place had been built on concrete pilings and had wide wooden planks for steps that lead up to an open air deck. She heard voices and laughter and the clink of glassware.
A churning in her gut reminded her that this was not her milieu, never having been the party girl in college.
She took a deep breath. But, that doesn’t mean that I can’t become the party girl here on the island.
She grinned at the boys and took the arms they offered, striding up the wide steps to enter the din.
Inside the bar, a strange amalgam of the local population was jammed into coexistence. Crowded tables hosted shrimpers and business owners, surfers and shop girls.
Cassie recognized the tall, African-American deputy named Germaine wearing a splashy floral Hawaiian shirt and faded cut offs. He grinned and nodded at her from his table in the back corner of the room. Warren told her that Calvin hired Germaine off-duty to provide extra security for bashes like the one he was hosting that night.
Woodrow led her by the hand to the bar, behind which, a stern-faced Calvin surveyed the goings on. Spotting her, he broke into a broad smile. “Cassie, welcome to my establishment. Family drinks free.”
She gave him a grin in return. “Am I family?”
Calvin picked up a beer mug and beat on the side with a spoon. The patrons turned as he asked for their attention. “Ladies and gentlemen, and you know which one you are. This is my future sister-in-law, Cassidy Danforth. Treat her as you would any princess of the realm or face the wrath of Calvin.”
Cassie felt her color rising as the crowd stomped and cheered, but she couldn’t help laughing.
Calvin seemed amused by her embarrassment. “What can I get for you, Cassie?” He leaned his beefy, tattooed arms on the bar. An overhead light picked up the glint of two small gold hoop earrings in one ear and the warm glow of his golden-red hair that he wore pulled back into a pony tail at the nape of his neck. His green eyes, so like Zach’s, regarded her warmly.
She grinned at him, suddenly shy. “Um, I’m not old enough to drink, but I don’t want to look like a complete dork. What do you suggest?”
“Ah, let me fix you up.” Calvin turned and prepared something, setting an ice-filled glass of dark fizzy liquid on the bar. He squeezed a twist of lime into it with a flourish.
She took a sip. “It’s a cola with lime.”
“No, it’s a virgin Cuba Libre.”
“What’s the difference?”
Calvin raised one finger. “Perception.”
“It’s perfect. Thank you.” She leaned against the bar and sipped her drink.
Warren waved her to the other side of the room. Cassie had a sinking feeling he was going to expect her to dance. She sucked her drink through the straw and turned to Calvin.
“I’ll put your drink back here,” he said. He raised his eyebrows. “There are unscrupulous men who might try to put something in your drink. I don’t know all of these people. I won’t let that happen to you.”
Cassie shuddered, recalling what had happened to Sky. “Thanks Calvin. I do like being in the family.” She hoisted herself up to lean over the bar to plant a kiss on his cheek.
When she crossed the room, she was aware that many eyes followed her. She spotted one of Javier’s fellow fire fighters and waved at him. He raised a beer mug to her by way of greeting.
“Let’s dance.” Warren grabbed her hand and pulled her onto the postage-stamp sized dance floor. The reggae beat thrummed through her chest, the amps reverberating through her bones. Warren’s cute face was accessorized with a spray of freckles and big brown eyes like Darla’s. He started dancing and she followed the simple steps he was doing, more like little hopping motions in time to the music. I can do this. Piece of cake. I’m with my family.
The tiny dance floor filled up and she couldn’t tell exactly who she was dancing with. Both Warren and Woodrow bounced around close to her as well as several of the young people she suspected had been surfing earlier. A tanned beauty with a pierced naval danced provocatively with some of the surfing males.
After a couple more songs played, Cassie edged her way off the dance floor and returned to the bar. Calvin set a fresh soda in front of her.
She winked at Calvin. “I must say, the service in this place is outstanding.”
“Special for you, Cassie. Tell me, what kind of music do you like?”
She thought for a moment. “I’m liking this dancing thing, so anything you can dance to.”
He grinned at her. “Tomorrow night a progressive country band from Austin will be here. Get the boys to bring you back then.”
“It sounds like fun.” She sipped the cola and watched as Woodrow danced with the pierced naval girl. Warren pulled Cassie back onto the dance floor and she found herself laughing for the first time since Javier had so unceremoniously dumped her.
The music was lively and the crowd seemed to be celebrating something. She didn’t know what and she didn’t care.
The next time she made it to the bar, Calvin set a basket in front of her with a sandwich on a sesame seed roll and a hearty serving of French fries. “Specialty of the house,” he said.
“You’re taking better care of me than my mother.” She poked a hot French fry into her mouth.
Calvin gave her a sideways glance. “Your mother’s not here. I am.” He pointed to the sandwich. “Eat up. It’s an oyster poor boy.”
Cassie ate standing at the bar and relished the mingled flavors of hot, batter-fried oysters with tartar sauce, thin slices of tomato and crisp shredded lettuce on a fresh seeded bun. She was having a good time, no matter that she should be crying in her room over losing Javier Rios. She could always cry tomorrow.
“I’ll have what she’s having.”
Cassie turned around to find Sean, the blonde surfer she’d met on the beach standing behind her.
Calvin fixed him with a cold stare. “For here or to go?” he asked in his deep baritone.
“I’ll eat it here.” Sean indicated the bar.
“You’ll have to take it to a table. Only family is allowed to eat at the bar.”
Sean seemed to think that Calvin was kidding, but quickly sobered under the unwavering glare and said an appropriate, “Yes, sir.”
Cassie ate her poor boy and chatted with Sean while his food was being prepared. When it was ready, Calvin collected his money and presented his order on a small tray.
“I’ll, uh, see you around, Cassie.” Sean flashed a wide, white-toothed grin at her and made his way through the crowd to sit with some of his fellow surfers.
After she’d eaten, Woodrow and Warren made her dance again. This time, Sean came to dance with her too. She laughed as his infectious grin got to her.
When she was leaving with the twins, Sean pulled her aside and said that he’d see her on the beach the next day.
As the twins drove her home, she reflected on the unexpected evening of revelry. “That was great fun. Thank you for taking me.”
“No probs, Cassie,” Warren said. “Calvin invited us back tomorrow night. Want to go?”
“Sure. One thing I don’t understand is what everyone was celebrating.”
“We’re celebrating the hurricane. The hurricane is headed right for us.”
~*~
Just before six the next morning, Javier stood on the wide concrete driveway in front of the fire station gazing up at the sky. The sun was a thin line of gold splitting the eastern horizon between dark sky and dark water. It reached its long crimson fingers across the purple sky. He observed the wind direction as streaks of high thin clouds scudded by overhead.
The tropical storm was now a full-fledged hurrica
ne. All emergency personnel had been placed on standby.
He thought about Cassie as he’d seen her last, looking miserable and confused as he’d walked away from her.
I am so freakin’ stupid.
He thought about calling her, but no. He’d done the right thing. Let her mate with one of her own kind. Some Nobel Peace Prize winner or at least a world-renowned brain surgeon.
“Javier!”
He turned when he heard his name, but did a mental eye-roll when he recognized Dave, just getting out of his car to begin his seventy-two hour rotation.