Another Chance

by Wayne, Ariadne

  For now she’d take Sophie home and try to adjust to life without Mark. Her heart ached at the thought of it. He left a huge gap in her life, in her heart, in her bed. The thought that he would never touch her again made her want to scream, but she held it in for the moment. When she got home and went for her nap she would have another cry and snuggle into his side of the bed, hoping for some sign of him.

  Lauren stayed with them for a couple more days, she had her own memories to face returning to her childhood home where Mark had practically raised her. She swore off men for a while, but Cassie teased her that wouldn’t last for long.

  Cassie knew she was in for a long slow recovery and as the first three months passed she relaxed about Patrick finding out about Sophie’s birthday. He didn’t make any move regarding custody, and she realised things might not be so bad after all. It had been hard having him around at first, but as soon as he and Mark became good friends she was happy to have him around. Mark became friends with everyone though. He had been that type of person.

  “Have you heard from Patrick?” Lauren asked. Lauren had a crush on Patrick and Cassie and couldn’t blame him. After all these years, Patrick was still as hot as he had ever been. Tanned and toned from the sports he still played, he didn’t look much different from the time they were together. Cassie felt frumpy in comparison.

  “I haven’t, but he told me he was going to let us get on with things for a while, adjust to life.”

  “He is so sexy, Cassie. I can see why you were attracted to him all those years ago. To be honest, I was hoping he’d call me.”

  “If you’re asking me why he hasn’t called you. I don’t know. He hasn’t called me either, and we’re old friends so I wouldn’t take it personally. You have had a lot to deal with too.”

  “I’m lonely, Cassie. I miss my brother, and I don’t want to hook up with guys anymore. I want a good man who will be my partner like you and Mark were together. He loved you so much, and he would have done anything for you. That’s what I want. I’m thirty-five years old, Cassie, and I still want a baby of my own.” She looked so miserable, Cassie opened her arms, and Lauren went to her.

  “You can’t rest your hopes on Patrick, he could even have a girlfriend.”

  “I’m not. I thought he was nice. Do you know if he has any friends?”

  Cassie almost laughed out loud, remembering Dave Pratt. “None that I know anymore. Even Patrick’s childhood friends wouldn’t be worthy of you Lauren. You deserve someone special, and I’m sure if there’s someone out there for you, you’ll find him. In the meantime, we can be alone together.”

  Lauren laughed. “I can’t think of anyone I’d rather be alone with.”

  “That’s better. Now lets neither of us rush into anything just for a companion.”

  “Deal,” said Lauren, grinning.

  “Deal. Want to open a bottle of wine?”

  In her bedroom, Sophie had finished her latest email to Patrick. The emails had been flowing back and forwards since the funeral. She’d promised to tell Cassie they were talking to each other, but Sophie kept it to herself to avoid upsetting her mother. The emails had been regular, every day like clockwork, and he would ask how her day was, how school was going, tell her off if she was online too late and occasionally ask about Cassie.

  Sophie told him how they were coping and how late at night when Cassie thought Sophie was asleep she would often hear her crying herself to sleep. It was something else she wouldn’t tell Cassie about though sometimes she would make an excuse and crawl into bed with her. Patrick had told her she was taking good care of her mother, and to contact him if she needed anything. Sophie had thought about asking him if he was her father but decided against it.

  She was sure she could see the similarities between them, but her mother wasn’t talking, never had, and Mark had loved her as his own. The thought of him not being there to see her grow up tore into her whenever she thought about it like a new flesh wound, never entirely healing. It was also the reason she didn’t ask Cassie.

  Her mother was still very much mourning the loss of the man she considered her soul mate and sometimes she would lose her temper for seemingly no reason. She would cry and hold Sophie tight, promising it would get better so Sophie kept to herself a lot of the time rather than upset Cassie further. Sophie could tell Patrick missed Cassie too.

  Sighing, she stood up and prepared to go out to the kitchen where her mother was cooking dinner. It would be another silent night where they ate and, after watching television for a while would go to bed. Life was getting predictable. She could hear the laughter coming from the kitchen before she saw what was going on.

  Lauren had arrived while Sophie had been in her room and Cassie was more animated than she had seen for a long time. In the twelve weeks since Mark's death, Cassie had barely smiled, but now the two women were crying with laughter over some shared joke. “What’s going on?” Sophie asked, “you two are acting weird.”

  “We’ve decided that we don’t need men in our lives. Lauren and I are going to be single forever.”

  “Have you two been drinking?” That was the only logical explanation to Sophie.

  “We might have had a couple of drinks.” Lauren giggled when Cassie said the words straight faced, causing Cassie to lose her composure and spit wine all over the floor as she laughed. “Oh, Mum that’s gross.”

  “It’s all right sweetheart, I’ll get a cloth.” Cassie grabbed a sponge from the bench and wiped the floor tiles. “All sorted.” She threw it in the bin when she was finished. “Happy?” She asked Sophie.

  Sophie rolled her eyes. “Is dinner ready?”

  “It sure is, come and help yourself.”

  “You need something to eat, Mum.”

  “I’m sure you’re right, Sophie. Let’s all sit down and have dinner together and then we’ll find a good old soppy movie to watch.”

  Sophie hugged her mother. “That sounds good Mum.”

  Lauren fell asleep on the couch and after the movie Cassie covered her with a blanket before going to bed. She lay there for a while, thinking about the last few months until her thoughts fell to Patrick. She wondered what he was doing, how he had been, and she dialled him before hanging up the phone. After taking a deep breath, she dialled again. “Are you going to talk to me this time?” he asked.

  “I thought I dialled the wrong number.”

  “Sure you did.”

  She laughed. “I just thought I would say hello.”

  “It’s pretty late.”

  “I don’t even know what the time is. We watched a movie and Lauren fell asleep, and I’m all by myself.”

  “Something tells me you’ve been drinking, Cassie.”

  “I had some wines with Lauren. Why?”

  “You’re calling me for starters. We haven’t spoken for three months. Then there’s the slurring of words.”

  “I’m not slurring my words.”

  “I will bet anything you can’t hear it, but I can. Anyway, what did I do to deserve this phone call? Are you horny, Cassie?” Her skin burned with embarrassment, all of a sudden unsure whether that was why she had called him or not. “Cassie?”

  “I wondered how you were because you were round here all the time and now you’re not.” She managed to get the words out, but they all ran together, and for a moment she wondered if she’d really said them at all or if they had stayed inside her head.

  “I’m fine. Miss you like crazy though.”

  “You do?”

  “Cassie, I’m keeping my distance because your loss is still so new and I need to have a conversation with you that you’re not ready for yet.”

  She lay back on the bed and closed her eyes. “What do you want to say to me?”

  “I told you, Cassie, you’re not ready for what I have to say. You’re never far from my thoughts.” Cassie sighed.

  “Are you all right, Cassie?”

  “I will be. I need to get some sleep.”

  “T
his is your doctor telling you that’s a very good idea. Get your beauty sleep sweetheart, I’ll wait for your next call.”

  “Patrick, thank you for everything. I appreciate you listening to me, even if I call you randomly like this.”

  “I’m here whenever you need me to listen, even if you just want to call and not talk. I’ll sit and listen to you breathe anytime.” She laughed. “That’s better. You need more laughter in your life, Cassie. You’ll get there, hang in there. There are people out there who love you. A lot.”

  “I know,” she whispered, “I miss him, that’s all.”

  “Of course you do, it’s early days yet. Now, Cassandra, go to sleep and no bad dreams. You got it?”

  “I got it. Thank you.”

  “You already said that and you don’t need to. Talk to you again next time.”

  He was grinning when he hung up the phone. She would be his again, and he’d make it work this time. Giving her space was hard, every part of him was itching to go to her and tell her how he felt, but it was too soon and if he did that he’d risk her pushing him away. He’d bide his time. She was worth the wait.

  Cassie lay in bed, staring at the ceiling. She didn’t know why she’d had an impulse to call Patrick, but she did miss his companionship. He had been her rock when Mark had died, and all of a sudden he wasn’t there. The alcohol made her warm and giggly before her mood turned melancholy and she thought about how much she missed Mark’s touch. She clung to his pillow, though all scent of him was long gone and fell asleep, hoping to dream of him.

  CHAPTER TWENTY

  Sophie wanted a party for her twelfth birthday and Cassie reluctantly gave in to a sleepover with a few of the girls from her school. “Can we invite Patrick?”

  “If that’s what you want,” Cassie said.

  It was six months since Mark’s death and Cassie hadn’t spoken to Patrick since the night she had called him. It had been easier to keep her distance than face him. “Can I call him to invite him?”

  “Sure sweetie, do you want to invite Lauren too? We’ll do pizza for dinner, and then you lot can watch a movie. I can get some popcorn and snacks and you can camp out in the living room.”

  “That sounds great, Mum. Where’s your phone?”

  Sophie was already getting Cassie’s mobile out of her handbag before Cassie had a chance to answer. “It’s in my bag, Soph.” She laughed.

  Patrick grinned when he saw Cassie’s number come up. “Hey pretty lady,” he said as he answered. Sophie giggled. “Sophie? Is everything all right?”

  “I’m calling to invite you to my birthday party next weekend. We’re having a sleepover.”

  “Who’s having a sleepover?”

  “I am, with some of my friends in the living room. You can come and stay in the spare room if you want. Lauren and Mum will be here.”

  “How can I turn that lovely invitation down? Although I don’t know about being in a houseful of pre-teen girls.”

  “You can hang out with us. Jessica wants to meet you.”

  “Who’s Jessica?” Patrick pulled a face at the phone. He would have made an excuse not to go if he didn't miss Cassie desperately.

  “She’s my best friend. I told her all about you.”

  “Right. Well that will be nice won’t it?”

  “So you’ll be there?”

  “Wouldn’t miss it for the world. Now, can I speak to your mother?”

  Cassie grinned as Sophie handed her the phone. “Hello?”

  “Hi stranger.”

  “I’m sorry I haven’t called you. I’ve just had a lot on my plate, adjusting to everything.”

  “It’s all right, Cassie, I understand. I’ll be there for Sophie’s birthday though. Her twelfth birthday.” If what he said bothered her, she didn’t let on.

  Cassie closed her eyes when he said it, the time was soon approaching that the subject would come to a head, but she couldn’t face that now. “Good, it’ll be nice to have some adult company for the evening. We can sit on the deck and drink wine while the kids watch a movie.”

  “Sounds great, Cass. I’m really looking forward to seeing you.”

  “You too.”

  “He knows,” she muttered to herself as she hung up. “He has to have worked it out.”

  “What was that, Mum?”

  “Patrick’s excited about your party.”

  “He’s looking forward to seeing you, Mum.”

  Sophie flew out the door towards Patrick’s car when he pulled into the driveway and called out to Cassie. “Mum, Patrick’s here.” Excitedly, she flung her arms around his neck while he bent to hug her.

  “Happy Birthday, Sophie.”

  “Thanks. It’s so awesome you’re here. Come in and meet my friends.” Sophie grabbed hold of Patrick’s hand, pulling him towards the house.

  “Not so fast sweetheart. I’ve got to get your present.”

  “You brought me a present?” She was genuinely surprised, and Patrick grinned at the thought of her reaction when she saw what it was.

  “I did. You go inside, and I’ll be there in a minute.”

  She ran back inside as he opened the boot of the car to retrieve his bags and her present. “She is going to scream when she sees this,” he said to himself before taking it inside.

  When he walked in the front door, Sophie announced his presence again, and he laughed as he handed her the gift. “I hope you like it.” Sophie returned to the group of girls in the living room who were all chattering, and he wondered what he had got himself into.

  “It’s too late to escape now, if I have to go through this, you do too,” said Cassie from the kitchen doorway.

  Patrick laughed and walked over to give her a kiss on the cheek. “It’s good to see you, Cassie, I brought some wine so I’ll give you this and I’ll throw my bag in the spare room.”

  “Thanks, Patrick.”

  She looked happier than she had in a long time he thought as she watched her daughter rip open the present. There was a squeal as Sophie realised what she had. “Mum, it’s an iPad.”

  “Oh, Patrick, you didn’t.”

  “It means you don’t have to fight over the laptop, and she’s going to be using these at school sooner or later Cassie. Might as well get her using one.”

  “We’ve got them at school. This is awesome. Thank you so much.” Sophie hugged Patrick again and kissed him on the cheek.

  Cassie shook her head. “What am I going to do with you? Spoiling her like that without talking to me first.” She tried to sound irritated, but she had a smile that he hadn’t seen for a long time. Her dimples still got him after all this time.

  He moved towards her. “You can do whatever you want with me sweetheart,” he said quietly before winking and going to get a drink. She shook her head again and laughed.

  Cassie watched Sophie showing her friends the present, the girls were all talking about Patrick as well, and she couldn’t help but roll her eyes at Jessica declaring him hot. “I hope you know you have a bunch of preteen fans out there.”

  Patrick shrugged. “Only one girl I want to impress.”

  “Are you sure? That was a very expensive present for Sophie.”

  “Yeah well, there’s a reason why I want to spoil her.”

  His eyes told Cassie that he knew, but she couldn’t bring herself to say the words and confirm it. This was enough for now.

  “I wish Mark could see her. He doted on her, he really did.”

  “He did a great job with you to raise her. She’s a good girl.”

  “She is, isn’t she?”

  They stood for a moment looking at each other. “Mum, what time is the pizza coming?”

  “At six. Not too much longer, Sophie.”

  “That is some gaggle of girls out there.”

  “It’s only one night, thankfully.”

  When the pizza arrived, Cassie put it on the dining table and opened the boxes. “Help yourself girls. I’ll get some drinks.”

  Jess
ica sneered as Sophie took a piece of pizza. “Don’t eat too much, Sophie, you don’t want to end up like your mum.”

  Patrick rounded on her. “What is that supposed to mean?”

  She paled. “I just meant…” she looked down at the table.

  “She means that Mum is fat.”

  “Sophie, your mother isn’t fat. She has curves, but she’s not fat. I see women all the time with screwed up body issues because they have had something like that said to them. Don’t you dare let anyone say things like that about you or your mother. It simply isn’t true. That’s called bullying.”

  Sophie gazed up at him as if some great words of wisdom had spilled from his mouth. “I like the way Mum looks, Dad thought she was beautiful.”

  “Your mum is beautiful, and so are you, Sophie, whatever anyone tries to tell you. I should know.”

  “Patrick is a cosmetic surgeon,” said Sophie proudly.

  Jessica’s eyes widened. “So you do boob jobs?”

  He laughed. “Sometimes and I help people who have had accidents feel better about their bodies. Don’t be mean to other people, it makes for an ugly person inside.”

  He looked up. Cassie had been listening the whole time, gazing at him as Sophie did. “Let’s get those drinks shall we? I don't know about anyone else, but pizza makes me thirsty.” He bent down, whispering to Sophie. “You eat as much pizza as you like, it’s not like you eat it all the time. Your mum was the prettiest girl in school I’ll have you know too.”

  “So why did you two break up?”

  “That’s a good question. Cassie, why did we break up?”

  Cassie frowned. “It’s complicated.”

  She carried the drinks to the table, setting them down. “Now girls if you want to, you can take your plates and drinks into the living room.” Moving to Patrick’s side, she squeezed his hand. “Thank you for what you just did.”.

  “I meant it. You’re a beautiful woman, Cassie, no one should call you anything else.”

  “I meant Sophie. The last thing I want is her being bullied, I don’t want her going through what I did.”