Another Chance

by Wayne, Ariadne

  “I wish I could have stopped it, Cassie. All of it. She’s still young as you were at the time. Her body is going to grow for some time to come yet.”

  Cassie wanted to tell him what a good father he was being, but the words stuck. Their eyes locked, and he thought how much he wanted to kiss her right then and there. “Sorry I’m late everyone,” Lauren said as she came in the door.

  The tension broke, and Cassie smiled as Lauren gave Sophie her present before greeting Cassie and Patrick with a kiss. She lingered over Patrick and Cassie couldn’t help feel a little possessive, but bit her tongue.

  It became clear very quickly that Lauren had been drinking. “I was at a party before I came here, might go back afterwards.”

  “How did you get here?” asked Patrick.

  “Taxi. I’m not that stupid.”

  “Lauren, if you need to stay Sophie’s room is available tonight.”

  “I’ll just bunk in with Patrick if I need to.”

  “I think you’ll be passed out by then,” Cassie muttered.

  “Well I’m just going to sit out on the deck to get some fresh air. Does anyone want to join me?”

  “Sure,” said Cassie brightly, “I’ll just grab some drinks, what do you want?”

  “Anything will do,” said Lauren, staggering away.

  “Is she all right?” Asked Patrick.

  Cassie shrugged. “I think it’s how she’s coping without Mark. When she got a bit out of control before he pulled her back into line, but he’s not here to do it.”

  “Maybe I can talk her round.”

  “She’ll think you’re hitting on her. Unless you are hitting on her.”

  Patrick shook his head. “No, I’m not interested in her that way.”

  “Just be careful if you talk to her, she’ll take it the wrong way depending on how you approach it.”

  “Are you warning me off?”

  “Lauren is as close to me as any sister could be. I care about her.”

  “And that’s it?”

  “That’s all it can be for now.”

  He heard water boiling. “Are you having coffee?”

  “I’ve got a headache coming on, sometimes it helps.”

  “That’s a shame, tipsy Cassie was fun on the phone. I would have liked to talk to her face to face.”

  “Tipsy Cassie just gets herself into trouble.”

  He was standing behind her now. “Maybe I want Cassie to get into trouble.”

  Cassie laughed, pouring the coffee for herself and for Lauren. “Want one?”

  Patrick shrugged. “Why not.”

  Lauren was asleep when they got out to the deck and Cassie shook her head, smiling affectionately at her. She sat in the chair beside her, putting the coffee on the table and closed her eyes. “Headache bothering you?”

  “A little. I get them every so often.”

  “Did you ever see a doctor about them?”

  Cassie laughed. “I’ve seen more than enough doctors in my life. Got sick of them.”

  “I hope that doesn’t include me.”

  “Not yet.” She grinned. The dimples again.

  He laughed and sat back, coffee in hand to enjoy just sitting with her. Inside the girls finished their movie and started another one, barely noticing as Cassie and Patrick helped Lauren into Sophie’s room.

  Cassie covered her with the blanket and stood back looking at her. Patrick wrapped his arms around Cassie’s waist. “She’ll be fine, she has to work through all this just like you’re still doing. I do know that Cassie, and I know I tease you. I’m not expecting anything but your friendship at this stage.”

  She leaned into him. “I know, and if you don’t hear from me it’s not that I don’t care, and I don’t want your friendship. It still hits me all the time that Mark’s not here anymore. His things are still everywhere, and I don’t have the strength to sort through them just yet.”

  “If you ever want any help with that, just let me know. It might be good for someone neutral to help you out.”

  “You’re the least neutral person I know short of Lauren or Sophie.”

  “I am always on your side, Cassie. No matter what happens. If you need me to sort through clothing or belongings without any sentimental attachment, I will do it just for you.”

  Kissing her on the nose, he smiled at her.

  “I appreciate it, Patrick, it’s just time that I need.”

  “I know.”

  After sitting back outside for a while longer it became obvious her headache was bothering her. “Did you take anything for it?” he asked.

  “Earlier. I should top it up and go to bed.”

  “Let me go.”

  She told him where to find the painkillers, and he brought them to her with some water. “How bad is it.”

  “Migraine territory. I need to try to get some sleep.”

  “Come on then.”

  “What are you talking about?”

  “I’ll sit with you while you go to sleep. That way I get to keep an eye on you. If you’re not sick of this doctor, he would like to try to take care of you.”

  “Patrick, I’ll be fine once I get rid of this stabbing pain behind my eyes.”

  “It’s worse than you’ve been letting on, isn’t it?”

  She nodded. “Come on then.”

  He took her hand in his, pulling her up off the chair and walking her to her room. Cassie readied herself for bed while he locked up the house and made sure the girls knew that he would take any rule breaking seriously. Sophie assured him they would keep watching movies until they fell asleep.

  Patrick loaded them up with snacks that Cassie had prepared, and they were whispering away as he went up the hallway and back to Cassie’s room.

  She was in bed when he got there and he stripped down to his boxers before sliding between the sheets beside her. Patrick pushed the hair out of her face and stroked her forehead while she closed her eyes.

  “No funny business Mister,” she murmured.

  “I’m not up to anything other than making sure you’re all right.”

  “That is nice.”

  “I’ll keep doing it until you go to sleep.”

  When she woke in the morning, the headache had lifted. Patrick was wrapped around her, tucked behind in a spooning position with his arm draped over her. Cassie didn’t want to move and disturb him, giggling when she realised he was sporting some morning wood.

  “Hey,” he said.

  “Good morning. Patrick, I think you have to move.”

  “What for?” he asked, still half asleep. “This is comfortable.”

  “You have a thing going on down here.”

  “Going on down where? Oh.” He laughed and let go of her so she could move onto her back. “Sorry Cass.”

  “It’s all right, I know it happens quite involuntarily.”

  “Happens a lot around you.”

  “Well I’m going to go and make some coffee. Come out when you’re ready.” He grumbled something about coming and rolled over, still half asleep. Cassie shook her head still laughing and climbed out of bed, slipping her bathrobe on and looking down at the man in her bed. “Still the hottest boy in school,” she murmured before leaving the room.

  The girls in the living room were almost all asleep still and she crept through to the kitchen, enjoying the quiet while she could. Lauren staggered out, seating herself at the table before collapsing face first into it.

  “Want a coffee?” Cassie asked Lauren brightly.

  “Yes please,” she said into the table.

  “Lauren you really need to sort that out. Drinking doesn’t help anything.”

  “It helps me feel better about everything.”

  “Yeah well it’s not making you better now. Drink some coffee.” Cassie put it on the table.

  “Thanks.”

  “You know Mark hated this.”

  “He’s not here to tell me not to anymore.”

  “That might be, but I’m stil
l here, and I give a crap even if you don’t think anyone else does.”

  Patrick emerged from the bedroom, and Cassie got up to get him some coffee. “How are you?” he asked Lauren.

  “I’ll be fine when I’ve had some coffee.”

  “Cassie’s worried about you and I am too.”

  Lauren laughed. “I’m fine, I’m a grown up. I just need to get this out of my system.”

  “I can understand that Lauren but don’t make a habit of it. It’s easy for that to get out of hand.” Cassie rubbed his back as she put the coffee down in front of him and he looked up to see her smiling her thanks at him.

  “We’re all here for you Lauren if you need us,” Cassie said.

  “Cassie has more to be upset about. Mark was her partner. I’ll be fine.”

  “It’s not a competition Lauren. I might have been his partner, but Mark practically raised you, you’re his sister. It’s all right to be upset and want to scream and throw things. We should take up boxing.”

  “That’s not such a bad idea,” said Lauren laughing. “I’ll lay off the partying, and we can spend more time together.”

  “I like the sound of that. Sophie would love to see more of you too.”

  When it came time to leave, Cassie walked Patrick out to his car. “Thank you for everything.”

  “Any time you want anything, call me.”

  “I like this. I’m nowhere near ready for anything other than friendship, but I like this right now.”

  “So do I.”

  “You’ll have to excuse me if I don’t call you for a while, I still have a lot of stuff to sort through mentally.”

  Patrick took Cassie’s hands in his. “I understand that. Cassie, I’ll wait for however long it takes.” He kissed her on the forehead and got into the car. “Just remember I’m only on the other end of the phone.”

  She watched as he drove away. Every time she saw him, it stirred up emotions she wasn’t ready to deal with.

  Cassie resolved to keep her distance until she was.

  CHAPTER TWENTY ONE

  The unveiling of Mark’s headstone was almost exactly a year to the day that he died. It had been months since they had seen each other, but Cassie called Patrick to invite him down for the weekend and he grinned at the thought of being with her again.

  “Sophie really wants you to come down and stay with us for the weekend.”

  “Sophie does huh?”

  Cassie laughed. “Okay I’ll admit it, I’m looking forward to seeing you too. I really like this friendship thing we have going on.”

  “We still have unfinished business, Cassandra.”

  “Maybe but this weekend is about Mark.”

  “It’s about you too, Cassie, and Sophie. You loved him, and he loved you. I would be pleased to spend the weekend with you.”

  “Great, see you then.”

  “Is he coming?” Sophie asked as Cassie put down the phone.

  “He is,” said Cassie, “he’s looking forward to seeing you again.”

  Sophie rolled her eyes. “No, Mum, it’s you he wants to see. Just get over it and screw him.”

  “Sophie Warren. Where on earth did that come from?”

  “He loves you, Mum, and I know you used to love him. I told Jessica about him, and she said that. I wasn’t sure what she meant.”

  “Oh Sophie,” her mother laughed. “We need to have another talk, and I’ll tell you what Jessica meant. I might also talk to her mother about it.”

  “Do you have to?” Sophie looked terrified.

  “It’ll be fine Sophie. It’s not your fault, and I’m pretty sure that Jessica’s mother will explain to her why it’s not the best thing to say.”

  The day turned out to be sunny, and Patrick arrived in the morning, ready to go to the cemetery with Cassie and Sophie. He grinned when Sophie opened the door. “Patrick,” she cried, launching herself into his arms and he spun her around before kissing the top of her head.

  “Hey sweetheart,” he said.

  “It’s so good to see you, I’m really glad you’re here.”

  He walked into the living room. “Where’s your mum?”

  “She’s just getting ready. We’re meeting Lauren there. Can we go in your car?”

  “What’s wrong with your mum’s car?”

  “It’s not as new as yours. It looks flash.”

  He laughed. “If you want to go in my car and your mum says it’s fine then we’ll go in my car.”

  “Patrick shouldn’t be too much longer Sophie, and then we’ll get going.” Cassie said as she came out of the bathroom. She looked so good to him, the urge to take her in his arms and kiss her was overwhelming.

  “Hey Cass.” He said instead.

  “Patrick. It’s good to see you.”

  Cassie moved towards him, kissing him on the cheek, and he caught her scent, that familiar vanilla smell that brought back so many memories. “You’re looking good. Are you ready to go? Sophie wants to go in my car.”

  “That’s fine with me. Have you put your things in the spare room?”

  “Not yet but that can wait. I’ve just got an overnight bag.”

  Making small talk drove him crazy, but this wasn’t the time to push her.

  Lauren was at the cemetery with other friends and Cassie hugged her when they got there. “How are you doing?” she asked.

  “It’s a little weird to think he’s not even going to be buried here,” she replied.

  “What do you mean?” asked Patrick.

  “Cassie and I have the ashes, we split them between us. This is just symbolic, putting the headstone where our parents are buried so they can be together.”

  He nodded. “I can understand that.”

  Lauren kissed him on the cheek. “It’s good to see you, Patrick.” She fluttered her eyelashes and Cassie prodded him with her elbow.

  “Stop it,” he hissed as Lauren walked away to join her friends.

  Cassie laughed. “She is so flirting with you.”

  “I know, but you know I’m not here for her.”

  “I know that, I just think it’s cute.”

  He shook his head. “You women, I don’t know.”

  Cassie laughed again and took his arm. “Come on, Doctor Cross, escort me to where I’m supposed to go.”

  The ceremony was harder to get through than she thought and he held her while she cried. All eyes were on them, but Patrick didn’t care, he was comforting his friend and the fact he was in love with her didn’t even come into it. Sophie and Lauren clung to each other as the site was blessed and people said a few words.

  Afterwards, they all went back to Lauren’s place for coffee and food. Patrick never left Cassie’s side, helping get her through the day. He ached to hold her, tell her how he felt, but this wasn’t the day for it. Mark’s friend Ian eyed up Patrick the whole time, clearly still suspicious of the other man’s intentions, but Patrick ignored him, and if Cassie noticed she didn’t give any indication.

  “Let’s go home,” she said later in the afternoon. The crowd had thinned out, and she suspected Lauren and the small group left would start drinking soon. She didn’t want Sophie round that.

  “Sounds good,” Patrick said. “We can stop on the way, and I’ll grab something to cook for dinner.”

  “You’re so good to me.”

  “You deserve it sweetheart. You’ve spent enough of your life looking after other people, let me take care you for just a little while.” She was tired and had a headache by the time they got home, so he sent her to bed to rest while he sorted everything out. It was just as good to have some time with Sophie while Cassie had a nap.

  Since her birthday, he was surer than ever that Sophie was his daughter. He had to time confronting Cassie right, too soon, and he would undo all the work he had put into building the relationship with her. Sophie helped him get dinner started, and they sat down to watch some television.

  “You okay kiddo?” he asked.

  “Today was s
ad, but I’m glad we did it. It all helps Mum.”

  “Yeah it does. I’m glad I came for it.”

  “You love Mum don’t you?”

  He grinned. “Is it that obvious?”

  “That Ian guy, Dad’s friend. I don’t like him, he looks at Mum a funny way but with you there he just glares at you.”

  “I noticed that, Sophie. He likes your mum too right?”

  “I think so. He hasn’t said anything I don’t think, but he’s been round a couple of times to see her, and she fobs him off.”

  “If he hassles her too much, you tell me. I don’t want your mother having to deal with extra stress.”

  “Sure will. I would rather you come to live with us anyway, you’re cool.”

  “Is this because of the iPad or because of my car?” He teased.

  “It’s because Mum loves you even though she won’t say it.”

  “I hope so. I know she needs time though so I wouldn’t push her.”

  “That’s why I think you’re the right one too, you know what she needs.”

  “You’re very wise, Miss Warren.”

  Sophie went to wake her mother for dinner, and Cassie hugged her and Patrick to say thank you for the day.

  “Careful lady, I might think you like me or something.”

  Cassie laughed. “Can’t have that. Now let’s eat, I’m starved.”

  “How’s the headache Mum?”

  “Better, today was just a bit stressful. It’s over now though, and I’m looking forward to dinner and a good sleep.”

  After the emotions of the day, Cassie struggled to find sleep. Finally, she gave in and got up to warm some milk to make hot chocolate in the hope it would help. She heard the sound of the microwave and found Patrick in the kitchen, having beaten her to the idea.

  He grinned when he saw her. “Can’t sleep either? I’m sure there’s enough for two.”

  She took a deep breath at the sight of him. He was dressed in pyjama pants and a bathrobe, loosely tied together. He’d kept in good shape all these years, and she struggled to avert her eyes. It made her think of that last day of school.

  “Thanks. Today was just so crazy, and my mind just can’t settle.”

  “I know. Thank you for inviting me, Cassie, I’m so honoured you let me be with you and your family today.”