by Sam Crescent
Cassie Walker. He thought about her often. What was she doing? Was she happy? He knew that Chris kept in touch with her regularly. Blaze never asked, and he couldn’t bear to go and see her. She tore his world apart with wishing and wanting. Some days it was all he did. Sat around and wondered what life would’ve been like if he’d gotten Cassie pregnant instead of Francesca. His relationship had been doomed from the start. While he’d been with Francesca, he’d fantasised about being with Cassie, and once during sex he’d screamed out Cassie’s name. The argument and the feud that succeeded had been horrendous. He stood on the patio, watching his son giggle as his young nanny tickled him.
“You little monster.” He listened to them both. They were more like brother and sister than nanny and charge.
“Daddy.” Blaze felt his heart lift as his little boy ran to him, beaming in happiness.
“Hey, little guy. You ready to go to Grandpa’s?” Blaze picked him up, holding him close.
“Yep, yep. Nanny Tracy, back when you need her.” His voice was so sweet and cute. His son melted his frozen heart. His words were all over the place for his age, but Blaze knew what his son meant.
“That’s right.” Blaze turned his attention to the nanny. “I’ll keep in touch. You’ve been a big help, Tracy.”
“Hey, what are neighbours for? And anyway I made some extra cash, so my dad won’t be driving me crazy when I ask.” She leaned up and kissed Blaze Jr. on the cheek. “Right, little monster, I will see you soon. Take care.”
“Bye, Nanny Tracy,” Blaze Jr. and Blaze said, following her to the door. They waved good bye. Blaze got his son’s attention with a little shake.
“Wanna go to Grandpa’s?”
“Yes. I wanna see Grandma Molly. She makes cookies.” Blaze Jr. smacked his lips.
Blaze chuckled. “Yep. Molly’s cookies are the best.”
Blaze strapped him into the car while his butler loaded the trunk with their suitcases. He waved off his butler and was on the road to his dad’s. It was a good three hour drive. Blaze spent his time singing kiddies songs and playing Simon Says.
No matter how often he sang, his mind would drift to one Christmas party where he had given his heart to the one woman who mattered.
****
Cassie was rushing around her apartment. Whiskers, who was now a lot fatter, just sat purring watching her.
“You know you could help me.” Cassie huffed at her incredibly fat cat. She would need to put him on a diet soon if he kept getting heavier.
Going away for three weeks shouldn’t be this stressful. Starting her first agency hadn’t been this stressful. She owned her own agency where high end companies paid for her and her staff to find, hire, and train staff. Much had happened in the three years since the disaster with Blaze Sinclair. She had managed to build up her own business, which she had thought she’d never be able to do. Due to all of her success, she had managed to buy her house. What she loved most about having her own business was the amount of time she had to spend attending to it. She didn’t have a lot of time to dwell on the past. There were times Blaze entered her mind, but the moment she began working his memory went right to the back. Owning her own home, a full-time working business, and having a substantial enough income for her to not worry about the future had been goals she never thought achievable. She had managed to conquer her own doubts. Her friendship with Chris Sinclair was the biggest shock of all. He was the best friend she’d ever had. She couldn’t regret a moment of it. Cassie Walker wasn’t the shy receptionist whom people saw walking into a building and forgot within five minutes. Now, she owned an office giving her the independence she needed. Her small company had a sound reputation.
“Where have I put those bloody keys?” She turned around and around in circles, hoping they would jump out at her. She looked at her fluffy chair that Whiskers was seated on. “You little sneak. I know you hate riding in the car, but we, Mister, are going on vacation. We deserve it.” She picked the bulk of her cat up, and there, shining up at her, were her car keys.
Cassie packed the last suitcase into the car. She went back up one final time to collect Whiskers. The phone rang as she passed, and without thinking she picked it up.
“Hi, Cassie Walker speaking,” she said, her voice happy and chirpy.
“You should be on the road.” Chris Sinclair scolded her.
“Listen, Mister. I’m on my way out the door. I just got Whiskers.” The cat was killing her arm.
“Leave him. He’ll survive without food for well over a month,” Chris said.
“You miss him. I know you love little Whiskers,” she said.
“Yeah, yeah, yeah. Just get on the road.”
“All right, all right. Going, going.” She slammed the phone down, leaving her apartment and locking the door. “Gone.” She smiled. She packed Whiskers into his box and made her way for the beach and relaxation.
****
At the house near the beach, Chris put the phone back into the cradle. “Cassie is on her way, and so is Blaze.”
“I hope you know what you’re doing, son.” His father, David, did not like his son’s meddling schemes.
“Trust me, Dad. This will work. It’ll hurt, and there’ll be a few explosions, but in the end it will be happiness.” Chris could feel it.
“I hope you’re right.” Trent, the youngest brother, spoke from the doorway.
“Have a little faith, you two,” Chris said.
“I don’t want Molly upset anymore, Chris. This is supposed to be for us as well,” his father said.
Chris knew about the troubles in his father’s marriage. Molly had faced his father with divorce papers two months ago, saying she could no longer cope. His father had refused to sign them, being his usual bull self. This time was supposed to be for them to realise that marriage was good. It was part of the reason that his dad had asked his sons to come home, so Molly wouldn’t leave him. The rascal knew how much she loved his boys.
“I know, and this will help. Cassie and Blaze are supposed to be together. You didn’t see them three years ago. Francesca destroyed what they could have had. They can have it now. They just need a little persuading.”
It was time for Cassie to have some happiness. Chris had stayed in touch, and they’d become good friends. Chris wanted to see his friend happy.
“I forgot to mention that Cassie is bringing her fat cat, Whiskers. Molly’s heart will melt.” Chris soothed his father.
“Luke and John will be arriving in a few days, so you boys be nice,” David said. Luke and John were the boys his dad had with Molly, his second and final wife.
“We’ve never had a problem with them before, Dad. What makes you think we’ll have one now?” Trent asked. Trent was the quiet one of all the children.
“Because it was Luke and John who told Molly to demand a divorce,” David growled.
Chris watched his father. He loved the old man, but he was stupid. He knew Molly suffered daily knowing that her husband would never love her. At least David thought he could never love another woman. Chris had loved his mother, but he knew the value of moving on. He hoped in time his father saw the same.
“Stop your scheming, young men. It’s time for lunch.” Molly came into his father’s study wearing a stained apron. Chris watched as she smiled at Trent and himself, but nodded at their father, her eyes filled with pain and another emotion he had never seen there, hopelessness. Molly had finally given up hope. He watched as his father went to kiss Molly, but she turned away so he only grazed her cheek.
Seeing his dad and Molly struggling tugged at Chris.
It looked like his next mission would be to help his parents. That is what Molly was to him now, his parent.
Chapter Five
“Look, Daddy. There is Grandpa and Grandma.” Blaze Jr. squealed in delight.
Blaze parked the car his eyes on his Dad and Step-mum. There was something different about them, but he could not put his finger on it.
Th
e car safely parked, Blaze Jr. jumped out of his seat and the car and ran over to his grandparents. In that instant, Blaze noticed the difference. They were on either side of his two brothers. They usually stood side by side, but they were separated by a huge gap. This gap startled the boy, who would usually just run to the centre and be shown attention by the two. Blaze Jr. stopped, hesitant.
“Uncle Trent and Uncle Chris,” he squealed moments later, running to the middle between them.
“Hiya, little guy,” they both said, roughing his hair.
Blaze Junior shook their hands, smiling at his uncles.
Blaze watched Molly take his son, leading him into the house, her face open and smiling.
“You guys going to help me get my cases?” Blaze asked, watching his father follow behind his wife, shoulders defeated.
Trent and Chris helped him with his stuff. “Jesus, Blaze. Is Francesca joining us with how much stuff you packed?” Trent mocked.
“Stop being a pussy. I’m a single father now,” Blaze said. “Anyway, what was with Molly and Dad? They’ve never been apart like that.”
Chris and Trent looked at each other. “You’re the match-maker. You tell him,” Trent said.
“Molly demanded a divorce a couple of months ago, and Dad refused,” Chris told Blaze while glaring at Trent.
“Dad must know the way she feels about him,” Blaze said, baffled.
“Luke and John were the bright ones who told Molly to do it,” Chris said.
“Those two bastards need to learn to keep their mouth shut.” Blaze was fuming.
“I think they were right to tell her to get a divorce,” Trent said behind them.
Chris and Blaze rounded on him.
“Do you really blame her? Twenty-five years in a marriage where her husband continues to mourn the death of his first wife. To you guys she is just Molly. To me, she’s my mum. I was ten when Dad married her. She’s my mum. Dad spends most of his time saying how we don’t forget our first love, that we never love after that first one. Molly would always be second best. I don’t know about you guys, but I’d never live being second best. I hope she gets a divorce because then she could find a man who loves her rather than a dead wife.” Trent walked past his brothers and into the house.
Chris and Blaze watched him go.
“Did you know he felt like that?” Blaze asked.
“I think that’s the first time I’ve heard him speak for longer than one sentence. It looks like this summer could be quite interesting,” Chris said.
Blaze admitted that he had never heard Trent speak like that before. He usually gave a one word answer. He barely spoke or gave his opinion. He was quiet and withdrawn from everyone. Everyone, that is, except Molly. He excelled at school, staying at home and studying instead of going out partying. He never joined Blaze or Chris on nights on the town. Blaze didn’t even know if Trent had any lady friends. In fact, with regards to his youngest brother he had no idea what he liked or who he was as a person. He was never interested in Blaze or his business. What he had to say, though, made sense. Francesca had said she felt the same way. Had Molly finally given up on the love she had for his father? Blaze didn’t know how he felt about that. Molly had become a permanent feature in his life as well as his son’s. Blaze Jr. adored his Grandma, and he would be devastated if anything was to change.
“So, Matchmaker, how do you intend to help Molly and Dad?” The rumour that had started in the offices of Sinclair Industry had stuck and become Chris’s nickname at home as well.
“I’m starting to wonder if I should help. Dad is stuck in his ways, and Molly deserves more.” Chris’s voice had a hint of defeat.
“Don’t, Chris. Dad loves Molly. You know it. I know it. It’s just the two adults who don’t know it.” Blaze felt desperate.
“We know this, but is the love deep enough for Molly? I don’t want to add to that hurt.”
Blaze had no idea what Chris was talking about. Love, any love, was worth fighting for. If Molly truly loved his father then anything from him would be the world. Blaze had felt the love of a woman. A sexy, voluptuous receptionist for a very short hour had shown him love. His heart had opened that day, only to die in a phone call, a phone call that had led him to use that woman in the most despicable way.
Blaze starred up at the sky, relishing the brightness of the sun. Looking into that sun made him wonder about Cassie.
He wondered about how she was and what she was doing.
The sun shone on his face, warming him.
The sound of an approaching car had him turning.
No, it couldn’t be.
****
Molly watched her husband. He made her heart ache. For years now he’d made her heart ache. After the death of his first wife, watching his pain and suffering had hurt her deeply. She would come around to his house and babysit for his three boys. She was ten years younger than he, so when he was thirty-five, she had been twenty-five and spreading her wings. After helping him with his sons, and nurturing Trent, he’d asked her to become the boys’ nanny. He’d paid her to stay at the house, working with the boys, creating a homely lifestyle. Trent had attached himself to her, following her whenever he was allowed and waiting patiently for her return. Blaze and Chris had not seemed at all bothered by her presence. In some aspects they were indifferent to her.
For five months she’d been on cloud nine, having a family to call her own, even if it was silently. Then one night her life would change.
That night David had come home, drunk and mean. He blamed Trent for the death of his first wife. Molly had sent Trent and the boys to bed. Taking charge she’d stormed out to the shed outside, taking David as far away as she could from the children.
They had yelled and cursed each other, and then on the hard rough floor they’d had sex. At the time she had called it making love, but now to her it was just sex. David never made love. He saved that for his first wife. The one he loved the most. The worst aspect about that night had been that they had unprotected sex.
Three months later, three months of absolute silence between them, Molly had discovered she was pregnant.
His words to this day she would never forget. “I’ll marry you. No child of mine will be born outside of the Sinclair name. But, Molly, I’ll care for you, but I’ll never love you.”
His words had hurt then, and they still hurt now. They had married, and six months later Luke had been born. Three years after that John followed. She loved her children. They were the reason for living in limbo, always being second best. She could no longer do this, though, live without love. Her boys were older and had left home. They had even encouraged her to leave their father. Trent had told her he loved her, and no matter what he respected her decision.
Two months ago, she had been shocked to the very core of her being when David had raged and screamed at her.
No divorce. He wouldn’t allow it.
Coming to a compromise, she would wait it out and see if they could work through their problems.
****
David watched Molly helping his grandson. The woman he’d been married to for twenty-five years. Who’d born two of his children and who’d helped love and cherish all five of his boys. Molly was a fantastic woman, full of love and life.
He had killed that love. She no longer wanted to be with him. She didn’t want a marriage, a relationship, or to make love. Two months ago after the shock of her demands he’d gone to their bed and tried to seduce her, to win her over by loving her body, but she had turned from him whispering the words that would scar him forever if he didn’t win her back.
“I cannot bear your touch,” she’d whispered, her eyes red and blood-shot. She now slept in the spare bedroom.
He missed her at night, her heat, her body, the way she used to welcome him. He missed her smile, her touch, even her nearness.
For twenty-five years he’d become accustomed to certain actions and ways of living, and now they were being completely blown out of
the water.
He wouldn’t be able to live without her. She was his world.
He loved and adored her with all of his heart.
She could not leave him.
Molly was his woman.
His woman.
Chapter Six
“Do you think we’re here, Whiskers?” Cassie asked her cat, glancing quickly down at the printed map.
She eased the car down the driveway. It looked abandoned and beautiful. Private and secluded, Chris had told her. A footpath would lead directly to the beach. The sun beat down, the air-conditioning doing nothing to stop the heat. The sun blinded her, and she brought the car to a slow stop.
Cassie unbuckled her seatbelt, gathered her purse and exited the car. She moved round to the back where she pulled Whiskers out. Cassie made her way out of the glaring sunshine, smiling at the male figure. Chris must be waiting for her. She smiled, waving her hand. When she stepped out of the glare of the sun, Cassie came to an abrupt stop.
No, it couldn’t be. It wasn’t possible.
There in all his male glory stood the one man Cassie had never gotten over, the one man she’d been mourning for the past three years.
Blaze Sinclair, the man who owned her heart and soul.
They stood – a small distance between them – staring at each other.
Cassie felt tears gathering in her eyes. She couldn’t take her gaze off him. She was eating him up, devouring him. Whiskers became impatient and pulled out of her arms, charging into the house.
“Cassie, you made it.” Chris came down the steps, walking towards her. She saw his amusement, and in that moment, Cassie hated him. How could he do this to her?
She stood frozen as he pulled her into a bear hug. She couldn’t find the will to move her muscles. She felt frozen inside.
“You have a good trip?” Chris pulled away, turning her face to stare at him.
“How could you do this to me?” she asked, her voice hoarse with the tears only just staying at bay.
“It’s time, Cassie,” Chris told her, gathering her close and walking with her towards Blaze, his brother.