“Bill, we don’t know for sure that’s the problem.”
“What else is it going to be, Carol? She goes to his house and comes home crying.”
“Stop it.” Cassie said.
“Sorry love.”
“Patrick. Patrick cheated on me.”
“I knew it,” he said, “He was supposed to be different, but he’s just the same as those others who picked on you.” All Cassie could do was cry, and her parents sat and held her until she fell asleep.
Patrick was knocking on the door the next morning. Cassie pulled the duvet over her head and tried to shut the sound out. Her bedroom was right over the front door, and she heard every word that was being said by Patrick and her father. “She doesn’t want to see you.”
“What’s going on?”
“Patrick, she’s not stupid. She doesn’t want to see you anymore. It’s over.”
“Why can’t Cassie tell me?” He sounded hurt, and Cassie almost got up to go and see him, but she gripped the duvet instead, trying not to cry again.
He moved back from the door, looking up at her bedroom window. “Cassie?”
“Mate, it’s best you leave,” her father said.
“I don’t understand,” said Patrick. “Cassie.” He called louder and she felt the tears flowing again.
Footsteps came up the stairs, and her father came into the room. “Cass, the boy’s confused about what’s going on.”
“He was probably drunk, but he still cheated on me.”
“Cassie, what happened? What did he do?”
“He slept with Vicki Chalmers.”
“Oh shit.” He sat on the end of the bed. “How do you know?”
“I caught them in bed together.”
“Aww crap, Cassie, he seemed like such a good boy. He looked upset that you were breaking up with him too.”
“I don’t care, I wish I’d never started seeing him.”
She started crying again, and her dad hugged her. “At least you found out now and not later when you were more involved.”
“I slept with him, Dad, it’s a bit late for that.”
Cassie felt her father tense as he took in his daughter’s words before hugging her tighter. “I can’t tell you off, Cassie, you’re not a little girl anymore, and he fooled me too. What I can do is to keep him away from you.”
“He’ll be moving away in the next few days anyway, the whole family is going to Auckland.”
“I’m so sorry love, sorry that this had to happen to you of all people. You don’t deserve this, Cassie, not at all.”
Later, when she finally stopped crying again, she pulled the curtain over a little to peek at his house. He stood in the front yard, looking up at the house, to her room. Briefly her eyes met his and he kissed the tips of his fingers. Hurt he would use such an intimate gesture, she pulled the curtain back.
He was back the next day and her father stopped him again and still he stood, watching and waiting for her to emerge. It was a relief when the moving truck came, and Cassie knew he would be leaving soon. She had looked a couple more times and he was there, just watching the window.
He appeared as heartbroken as she felt. How was that even possible? “They’re gone love,” her father said the next day, “they left this morning. It’s safe to come out now.”
“I don’t want to.”.
“You have to face the world some day, Cass, might as well make it today.”
The rest of the week dragged as Cassie tried to come to terms with her loss, but it was no use. Saturday morning was chaotic. Cassie was still moping over Patrick, and her parents went in separate directions both trying to find her a distraction. “Come to the library with me. We’ll find some soppy romance books and bury ourselves for the day. Take your mind off boys by finding imaginary ones who are too good to be true.”
“Thanks, Mum, I appreciate it. I’m not in the mood for that though,” said Cassie.
“That better not apply to all the boys,” her father said with a grin.
When they kissed Cassie screwed up her face. “Just because you’re miserable doesn’t mean we have to be. One day you’ll find the right man, just like I did.” Her parents hugged each other, smiling at Cassie.
“I’m going to the hardware store. I’ve got to replace those damn smoke alarms. I had to disable them. Every time we open the oven door they go off. Too sensitive if you ask me. It’s nothing to do with your mother’s cooking.” Cassie’s father grinned, and her mother slapped his arm playfully.
Cassie laughed, and her mother hugged her. “It’s nice to hear that sound again, it’s only been a few days, but you’ll be back on your feet again soon. There’s bound to be a ton of good guys at University.”
“I can’t believe my little girl is growing up. Forget the hardware store, let’s go out and see a movie. Just like we used to do when you were little, Cass. Some popcorn and an ice cream should help distract you. I know how much you like movies.”
“Thanks, Dad that would be really cool actually.”
“You’ll be gone soon enough, and we’ll miss you desperately, I’d only spend too much going shopping anyway.” She grinned.
They saw a movie and then went for lunch before spending the afternoon going for a walk. As far as days went, it was pretty much perfect. Thoughts of Patrick were pushed to the back of her mind, and for the first time in days she looked forward to the future.
Cassie woke to the sound of her mother screaming, and her father shaking her awake. The pungent smell of smoke filled the room, and she coughed. “The house is on fire, Cass, you have to go out the window. It’s the only way out now.”
“But we’re on the second floor, it’s too far.”
“We have to take the risk sweetheart, the other end of the house is no go, there’s no other way out.”
“What about Mum? Where is she?”
“She’s trapped, I couldn’t get to her so I came to get you out and now I’m going back for her.”
“Dad? You’ll get her out won’t you?”
“Of course I will sweetheart, now jump out the window. The grass is below, it should soften your fall.” She was crying now and he hugged her tightly before pushing her towards the window and turning towards the door. The heat and smoke from the fire was fierce, and she backed towards the wall. “Do it, Cassie, I need to make sure you’re safe.”
Climbing on the dresser, she stood for a moment before stepping onto the window ledge. One last look before she climbed out caused her to sniff as she cried. Her father stood at the door. “I love you,” he mouthed before disappearing back into the smoke. It would be the last time she ever saw him. She clung to the window frame trying to get the courage to drop and finally she closed her eyes and let go.
CHAPTER SEVEN
“Does she know yet?”
“We’ve talked about it in front of her, but she’s drifted in and out of consciousness, and I can’t say how much she would have retained.”
“Just keep an eye on her, we’ve done everything we can, and now she has to heal.”
“Yes doctor.”
Cassie groaned, waves of pain washing over her as she woke. What was the doctor talking about? How badly injured was she? Mum and Dad, what happened to them? Where were they? A million questions but it was far too hard to ask them all out loud. All she really knew was that she ached.
Slowly she opened her eyes, expecting to see the night and smell the smoke. The lights were bright and she squinted, letting in a small amount of light before gradually opening them again.
“Cassie?” came a voice, and she turned her head in the direction of the sound. A young woman in a nurse’s uniform was by the side of the bed, the concern obvious on her face.
“What happened?” she asked. Her throat was dry and scratchy; the words came out as a croak.
The nurse handed her a glass of water and sat down. “Your grandmother is coming to take you home when you’re ready…”
Cassie struggled to sit
up, quickly realising that she was not in any position to. Both legs were elevated, and she was trapped in the position.
“What do you mean my grandmother? Where are my parents? What happened to me?”
Panic was rising in the young woman, and the nurse moved closer taking her hand and holding it tightly.
“I’ve been assigned to take care of you. We’ll give you the best of care in the meantime, Cassie. You have a broken back and two broken legs. As I understand it, you hit some concrete when you jumped out that window.”
She paused. “Unfortunately, Cassie, your parents were both lost in the fire which is why we’ve contacted your grandmother.”
A distraught cry came from Cassie’s throat that brought tears to the eyes of the nurse. “I’m so sorry, Cassie. I wish there was an easier way to tell you or that I could give you some good news. We’re all pulling for you love. You’ll get the very best of care.”
“Cassandra?” came a voice from the door. Cassie hadn’t seen her grandmother since she was a little girl. Her father fell out with his mother over something, and they’d stopped travelling up to Hamilton to see her. “Oh sweetheart.” She moved straight to the bed, putting her arms around her granddaughter while Cassie cried.
“Thank you,” she whispered to the nurse, “I’ll take it from here.”
“I’m sorry I couldn’t have waited until you got here. Cassie woke up and asked about what was going on.”
“It’s fine. She had to find out sooner or later.”
“I’ll get the doctor to come in and talk to you. There’s a lot to explain,” the nurse said.
“That would be great,” said Cassie’s grandmother. “I’ll be here through everything, Cassie, and when you’re well enough to travel, I’ll take you home to live with me.”
“What happened to the house?” Cassie asked.
“It’s gone sweetheart, everything is gone. You are all I have now,” she kissed Cassie on the forehead, “I wished I’d made amends with your dad before he died. I would have liked to say goodbye.”
“Mrs Warren?”
The doctor stood in the doorway.
“Please tell me my granddaughter can come home soon.”
“There will be a couple more surgeries, and we’ll see. I’m afraid I can’t tell you when she’ll be able to be released, and she’ll have some recovery time. Her injuries were quite extensive, we can fix the bones, but there will be skin grafts as well.”
“It’s my fault,” Cassie whispered.
“Nonsense. It would appear to be an electrical fault Cassie, nothing you could have done.”
“Gran, I broke up with my boyfriend and Dad decided to take us out for a family day to cheer me up rather than replace the smoke detectors.” The words were broken up with sobs.
“Sweetheart, whatever happened before that doesn’t matter. It was an accident, not your fault in any way. I’m glad to hear you got one last good day with them. You need to think about that now to move on.”
Weeks of lying in a hospital bed, and multiple surgeries followed. She would be left with scarring down her lower back and thighs, but Cassie was alive. And pregnant.
“There’s no way I can go to university this year.”
“Maybe not. You could go next year. “Whatever you choose to do love, I’ll support you,” her grandmother replied.
“For the baby to have survived all I’ve been through. I can’t do anything but have it.”
“Then we’ll do this together. Is there any chance you can tell the father? I think it would be a good idea.”
She pulled a face. “I will think about it, I just don’t know if I can face him again.”
“I won’t push you into anything, Cassandra, I think you’ve been through more than enough. We will be fine whatever you choose to do.”
Cassie teared up at how nice the old woman had been, she helped Cassie through the past weeks. She regretted her father’s falling out with his mother. She’d given her nothing but support and love since the first day at the hospital.
As Cassie recovered, she bloomed in pregnancy. There were concerns that the baby would be hurt or somehow damaged by the surgeries that Cassie endured, but soon enough Sophie was born. She was perfect.
By the time Sophie came along, Cassie was up and about but not without difficulty. Cassie fell in love at first sight. Sophie had a rash of dark hair and the biggest blue eyes she had ever seen. They were a constant reminder of Patrick and Cassie’s heart ached at the thought that Sophie may never meet her father.
“I’m going to Auckland,” she announced one day.
“Are you going to do what I think you are?”
Cassie shrugged. “I think Patrick needs to know, but we’ll see what happens when I get there.”
The old lady nodded. “I think I can understand that, Cassie. I’m behind you either way.”
“I love you to bits for that.”
It was a quiet drive in the middle of the day. It took around an hour and a half to get to Auckland. Along the way, Cassie had a lot of time to prepare mentally.
Sophie slept in a baby capsule in the passenger seat, gently rocked by the cars motions. “Let’s go find your daddy, Sophie,” Cassie whispered. She was two months old now, a happy little thing and Cassie adored her.
She pulled up outside the university medical buildings. It was the only way she might find him, and she hoped that he would come walking down the road. Cassie knew there was a big chance she wouldn’t see him, but she hoped the odds were in her and Sophie’s favour.
Cassie strained to look as a familiar man walked down the footpath towards the car. Her heart was thumping watching Patrick walk. His head was down, and there was no way he could see her. She reached for the door handle only to hear someone calling his name. A good looking blonde girl appeared out of nowhere, running towards Patrick. Toned and tanned, it was like watching Vicki again.
Patrick grinned, pausing as the blonde ran into his arms. Cassie froze, watching as he kissed the girl tenderly, linking arms with her to keep walking.
She barely saw through the tears as she put her seatbelt back on and started the car. Patrick was fast approaching, and Cassie checked to make sure the way was clear before turning around to go home. In the rear view mirror, she could see he stopped to watch the car. He had seen it a million times before, probably recognising it. She kept going, not stopping until she was a safe distance away so she could sit and cry before the drive home.
“Stupid, stupid, stupid.” She hit the steering wheel in frustration.
He had moved on with his life. It had been nearly a year since they had seen each other. Hell, he had moved on with his life before they broke up. She took a peek at the sleeping baby beside her. “It’s just you and me kiddo.”
CHAPTER EIGHT
Patrick had run after the car, sure it was Cassie’s, but to no avail. Was it her? Had she come looking for him? He had been seeing his flatmate’s sister, Melissa, but there was nothing in it. She would have seen Mel running to him and the kiss they had shared. Could that be why the car turned around? His heart still ached for Cassie.
One minute they were in love and the next she had dumped him without warning and never spoke to him again. His mother had despaired over her son, sitting in the front yard and watching the house across the road for some sign of Cassie. Whatever had split them up had hurt Cassie too as she stayed inside and he hadn’t managed to catch even a glimpse of her.
The first year at university was hard as he battled the melancholy which threatened his results. He had found it difficult to concentrate, and what usually came easily to him, he struggled with. Now, he was coming around but seeing the car had brought up so many emotions again.
Patrick hadn’t been back home to Napier, his mother had convinced him to stay in the present and not the past. All he wanted was to see her again, find out what went wrong and how to fix it.
“Patrick?” Melissa’s voice came from behind, she had run after him. He ha
d taken off at a speed she couldn’t keep up with.
“I’m going home.”
“Aren’t we going to go and grab some dinner?”
“Not tonight, I’ve changed my mind.”
The pretty blonde looked downcast, and Patrick felt sorry for her, but he was not in the mood to flirt. “Sorry, Mel, I just have some stuff going on, and I wouldn’t be very good company. You should find another friend to take.”
She pouted. “I thought we were more than just friends.”
“Yeah well I don’t think that’s going anywhere so maybe the best thing would is not to see each other again."
Melissa stared at him. “You’re dumping me, just like that?”
“Not dumping, it’s not as if we’re serious or anything. I just have my own shit to deal with before I can be with anyone else.”
“Screw you, Patrick Cross.”
“I do, it’s not you, Mel, it’s me.”
At that, she rolled her eyes and turning on her heel, walked away from him. He shrugged and went back to staring into the distance. “Cassie,” he murmured, “was it you?”
When he told his mother, she was furious. “If it is that girl, how dare she come and disrupt your life.”
“Mum, if it were Cassie, she hardly disrupted my life. I just caught a glimpse of the car, and I’m sure it was hers.”
Her nostrils flared. “That girl put you through enough, Patrick. Don’t you dare tell me you’re going to look for her.”
“I have no idea where to start. Their old number dials disconnected. The only thing I can do is go there and talk to her parents, find out where she is.”
“Patrick, you can’t do that, you have to study. Exams are coming up. That’s what you need to concentrate on.”
Inside, Jane was still upset. She would take care of her boy, come what may but she wondered what had happened to the quiet, smart girl across the road. Patrick and Cassie’s relationship had burned fiercely for just a few weeks, and she had been sure that Patrick had found himself the right one to settle down with.
She’d always been fond of Cassie. It had been a bitter disappointment when they had drifted apart at high school age. When they were younger they’d been inseparable, and being only children, formed a solid friendship to the point that she considered Cassie to be like a daughter to her.
Another Chance Page 5