by Perrin Briar
“No, no,” Bryan said. “Nothing like that.”
“You nearly gave me a heart attack!” Cassie said. “All I can say is, it’s about time.”
“You’re not angry?” Bryan said.
“No,” Cassie said. “Why would I be angry? I think it’s good you’re meeting someone. It’s been a long time since Mom left and you deserve to be happy.”
“I must say, you’ve taken me by surprise,” Bryan said.
“Why?” Cassie said. “Don’t you think I’d want you to see someone else?”
“Actually, no,” Bryan said. “I didn’t.”
“Then I’m pleased to disappoint you,” Cassie said. “You only live once. You should be out there, living it up.”
“Thank you,” Bryan said with a chuckle. “So, we’re cool?”
“We’re super cool,” Cassie said.
Bryan got up and hugged Cassie.
“Careful of my dress,” Cassie said.
“You know, I’ve been stressing out about telling you this all day,” Bryan said.
“Well, you shouldn’t have,” Cassie said.
“I thought we could meet up some time soon,” Bryan said. “We’ll go to a restaurant, chat over a meal so you get to know each other a bit.”
“Sounds great,” Cassie said.
“How about tomorrow evening?” Bryan said.
“Fine,” Cassie said. “Can I go now?”
“You most certainly can,” Bryan said, scratching his head. “Uh, be back by ten.”
“Will do,” Cassie said, heading out the door.
Bryan smiled to himself and stretched his arms out wide in victory. He fell back onto the sofa.
“Yes!” he said.
He felt like an innocent man who had been vindicated with unexpected new evidence. He wondered how Zoe was getting on.
8
AARON’S MOUTH hung open, his eyes wide with shock one moment, and then slitted and downcast the next. He was processing the information, but none of it was making sense to him. Finally, he looked up at his mother.
“Are you serious?” he said. “But you’re still married.”
“Your father’s been gone for seven years,” Zoe said. “The authorities assured us he was swallowed by a sinkhole.”
“His camp was,” Aaron said, “but he might still be around. He might have escaped.”
“It was minus five outside and the sun was beginning to set,” Zoe said. “It could only have gotten colder. And there were no snow mobile marks heading away from the camp.”
“It might have snowed, covering his tracks,” Aaron said.
“There were no weather reports about snow in the area that day,” Zoe said.
“That doesn’t mean there weren’t any,” Aaron said. “Forecasters have been wrong before. And it snowed the day before. Maybe Dad left the camp then, and it snowed and covered his tracks and then he never went back.”
“The investigators interviewed the surrounding villages and towns,” Zoe said. “No one had seen him, and there’s no chance of him not being recognized – your father had introduced himself to all the locals the moment he had arrived.”
Aaron jutted out his jaw.
“I know he’s still alive,” he said. “I just know it.”
“Believing something is true doesn’t make it true,” Zoe said. “Believe me, I wish your father was still alive too, but after all this time don’t you think he would have come and found us by now? He was a strong, brave man, full of life and adventure. There’s nothing in this world that could have stopped him from coming back to us. Nothing.”
Aaron looked at his hands in his lap.
“How long have you been seeing this new guy?” he said.
“Nine months,” Zoe said.
“Nine months?” Aaron said. “Why didn’t you tell me this before?”
“I didn’t want to bring anyone into your life who might disappear soon afterwards,” Zoe said.
“There have been others?” Aaron said.
Zoe hesitated.
“No one serious,” she said. “Only a few dates.”
Aaron shook his head. He couldn’t believe this was happening. His face contorted with anger.
“I want you to know that your opinion is very important to me,” Zoe said, reaching across the table and squeezing Aaron’s hand.
Aaron pulled his hand away.
“If that were true, you would have told me sooner,” he said.
He calmly got to his feet, tucked in his chair, and headed upstairs.
9
“HEY,” BRYAN SAID. “I was just thinking of you.”
“Did you do it?” Zoe said.
“You know, it’s customary to have a pleasantry or two when speaking on the phone,” Bryan said with a smile in his voice.
“Did you?” Zoe said.
“I did,” Bryan said.
“How’d it go?” Zoe said.
“Well, the house is still standing, and I don’t have a knife in my ribs,” Bryan said.
“That well, huh?” Zoe said.
“It actually went better than I could have hoped,” Bryan said. “She said she’s glad I’m seeing someone new.”
“That’s very mature of her,” Zoe said.
“How did Aaron take it?” Bryan said.
“Not well,” Zoe said. “I think he’s hurt, like I’ve forgotten his father or something.”
“What are you going to do?” Bryan said.
“I’ll talk to him about it,” Zoe said. “He’ll come around.”
“And if he doesn’t?” Bryan said.
“He will,” Zoe said.
“I said we might have dinner together tomorrow night,” Bryan said. “What do you think?”
“Good idea,” Zoe said. “The sooner we can all meet, the better. But first I have to make sure he doesn’t disown me.”
“Keep me informed,” Bryan said.
10
HOW COULD his mother betray his father like this? He had only been gone for seven years! And she was already shopping for someone else! As if his father had never existed!
Aaron paced up and down the narrow space between his bed and wardrobe in his bedroom. He kicked a pile of dirty clothes on the floor.
There was a knock on the door.
“Aaron?” his mother’s voice said.
Aaron said nothing.
“Aaron,” Zoe said. “Can I come in?”
“Go away!” Aaron said.
“We need to talk,” Zoe said.
“I don’t have anything to say!” Aaron said.
“Then just listen,” Zoe said.
“No!” Aaron said.
“Aaron…” Zoe said, her voice sad. “Please, let me come in.”
“There’s no lock on the door,” Aaron said. “It’s your house. You can do whatever you want.”
“I won’t come in without your permission,” Zoe said. “I’ll just sit out here. I’ll talk, and any time you want me to come in just let me know, okay? I understand how you must be feeling. Really, I do. But you have to understand how I feel too. This hasn’t been easy for me. I would never have mentioned this if it wasn’t serious. Your father’s been gone seven years. You didn’t think we were going to carry on living like this forever, did you?
“Seven years is a long time to be on your own. I was lonely. I still am. Bryan doesn’t want to replace your father – he knows he could never do that. But he would like to be your friend. I need you to do this for me. I need you to try.”
Tears spilled down Aaron’s cheeks. He wiped them away with his sleeve. He heard his mother get to her feet and begin to walk away. Before he knew what he was doing, he reached over and pushed the door open.
“Aaron?” Zoe said, peeking in through the gap. “Aaron, can I come in? Aaron?”
“Yes,” Aaron said, his voice small and scared.
Zoe pushed the door open. Aaron sat on the edge of his bed. He couldn’t bring himself to look at his mother.
“I never saw you cry,” Aaron said. “When Dad…”
“Have you ever seen the wind blow?” Zoe said.
“No,” Aaron said.
“That doesn’t mean it’s not there,” Zoe said. “I cried more times for your father than I can count. But I had to be strong – for you. I want to stop crying. I want both of us to move on.”
She wrapped her arms around Aaron.
“Oh, Aaron,” she said. “I’m sorry. I didn’t want to hurt you. I didn’t think you would be this upset. Just meet him, that’s all I ask. If you don’t like him, we’ll talk about it and try to figure something else out. Okay? There’s no pressure on you at all. All right?”
Aaron wiped his nose and nodded.
“Good boy,” Zoe said. “I love you. You know that, right? Nothing means more to me than you. You’re everything to me.”
She hugged him again, and this time he responded, wrapping his own arms around his mother. They stayed like that for ten minutes before they broke apart, having dampened one another’s clothes.
“I think I’m going to need that homework note after all,” Aaron said.
Zoe smiled, her eyes shimmering pools.
“We’ll never forget your father,” she said. “He was my husband, the man who gave me you. He’s in you, and will be a part of you your whole life. There’s no way of getting away from that – even if you wanted to.”
Aaron smiled, and a snotty chuckle escaped his lips.
“How about we go downstairs and finish off our meal?” Zoe said. “I bought some ice cream especially for you. Come on.”
She stood up and held out her hand. Aaron took it and together, as mother and son, they descended the stairs.
“Who is he, anyway?” Aaron said.
“He’s a businessman,” Zoe said.
“The enemy, Dad used to say,” Aaron said.
“This one isn’t so bad,” Zoe said. “But you’ll get to see that for yourself. Oh, I almost forgot. You won’t be the only one going through this. There will be two of you.”
“What do you mean?” Aaron said.
“Bryan has a daughter,” Zoe said. “She’s your age. You used to say you wanted a sister. This could be your chance.”
“What’s her name?” Aaron said.
“Cassandra,” Zoe said. “Cassandra Angelo.”
11
WHY HER OWN FATHER, the CEO of a large and growing company, would be nervous about telling his own daughter about his decision to start seeing someone was a surprise to Cassie. She never expected a man like her father to be afraid of anything. But it turned out he was afraid of something: of losing Cassie, or at least her favor. Her mind turned to ways she might be able to exploit the situation. There was a nice pair of heels she had her eye on. Maybe if she spun her father the right way…
Mrs. Rae entered the classroom and addressed the students.
“Okay class,” she said. “Get into the same pairs you were in yesterday.”
“Aw,” Clint said. “Do we have to?”
“Yes,” Mrs. Rae said. “I’ve found this is the best way to encourage students to make friends outside their usual narrow groups. Take your seats please.”
Take your seats, not take a seat. Cassie made a face at Clint as she sat down at the front of the class. Aaron was already hunched over his microscope, peering at a slide. What a nerd.
“Morning, Poindexter,” she said to him.
“Morning,” Aaron said. “Have a nice evening?”
“Not bad,” Cassie said. “Nothing to write home about.”
“Looks like we’ll be seeing a lot more of each other from now on, huh?” Aaron said.
“Yeah well, what can you do?” Cassie said, glancing at Mrs. Rae. “They’re in charge.”
“I never thought I’d hear you say that,” Aaron said.
“They’re in senior positions,” Cassie said. “What can I do but complain during PTA meetings?”
“So, you’re okay with this?” Aaron said.
“There’s nothing to be okay with,” Cassie said. “But the world is the way the world is.”
“That’s very philosophical,” Aaron said.
Cassie shrugged.
“At least now maybe you won’t think of me as such an idiot,” she said. “Let’s just make the best of a bad situation.”
“I don’t think you’re an idiot,” Aaron said. “I think you’re very smart.”
“You do?” Cassie said. She couldn’t hide her surprise.
“Sure,” Aaron said. “You’re in the top set for everything. Your grades are high enough to stop you from going down a set, low enough to make sure you don’t look like someone like me to your friends.”
“You noticed, huh?” Cassie said.
“I don’t understand why you think their opinions are important enough to hold yourself back though,” Aaron said.
“That’s something that will forever prevent you from entering my group of friends,” Cassie said.
“Thankfully,” Aaron said. “I’m surprised you’re taking this so calmly. I would have thought you’d go crazy at the damage it might do to your reputation.”
Cassie snorted.
“You’re not that important,” she said.
Aaron smiled at the gentle rebuke.
“I have some cool stuff you might like in my room,” he said. “Maybe I can show you sometime.”
“If this is your way of coming on to me, it’s not working,” Cassie said.
“I’m not coming on to you,” Aaron said. “If things go as my mom hopes, we’ll practically be family.”
“Wait,” Cassie said. “What?”
“Our parents are dating,” Aaron said. “Mom seems happy about it, and your dad too, by the sound of it.”
“What do you mean they’re dating?” Cassie said, panic rising in her chest.
“They’re going out,” Aaron said. He frowned. “Mom said your dad told you. They’re an item. Which means we’re probably going to end up being stepbrother and sister.”
“No!” Cassie said. “You’re wrong!”
Her voice had risen, getting the attention of other pairs close to them.
“Wrong about what?” Aaron said, lowering his voice. “It’s nice to have someone to talk to about all this. I can sense us getting closer already. By the way, if you think I’m going to be letting Clint come over and use my stuff, think again.”
Cassie rocked back in her chair like she’d been dealt a knockout blow. She stood up and walked toward the door.
“Cassie, where are you going?” Mrs. Rae said.
“To the toilet,” Cassie said.
“Have you finished your work?” Mrs. Rae said.
“We’re almost done, Miss,” Aaron said. “Cassie did most of the work. I’m just finishing up now.”
Aaron winked conspiratorially at Cassie.
Mrs. Rae pursed her lips.
“All right then,” she said. “Be quick about it.”
Cassie left the classroom, the world seeming to spin underneath her. The moment she was through the door, she hit speed dial and called her father’s cell. She was redirected.
“Angelo Industries, Bryan Angelo’s office. Rosetta speaking, how can I help?”
“Rosetta, this is Cassie. I need to speak to Dad right now.”
“I’m afraid he’s in an important meeting at the moment,” Rosetta said. “Would you like to leave a message?”
“This is far more important,” Cassie said. “Get him on the phone!”
“If you leave a message I’ll get him to call you as soon as possible,” Rosetta said calmly. Duty first, as always.
Cassie ground her teeth.
“I’ve been involved in an accident,” she said.
“An accident?” Rosetta said. “Are you okay?”
“I’m fine,” Cassie said. “Just a few bumps and bruises. But it might turn critical. I’m heading to the hospital now. I need Dad’s insurance number so I can pay for treatment.”
&n
bsp; “I can give it to you if you want,” Rosetta said.
“No,” Cassie said. “I’d like Dad to know I’m okay, to hear my voice. I know he’ll worry to death about me otherwise.”
Please, please, please.
“All right,” Rosetta said. “Give me a minute and I’ll get him for you.”
Cassie heard the phone being put down, and then movement in her office. A door opened, followed by muffled voices. Finally someone picked up the phone.
“Hello?” Bryan said.
“Dad, it’s me,” Cassie said.
“Are you all right?” Bryan said. “Rosetta told me you were in an accident.”
“I’m fine,” Cassie said. “There was no accident.”
“No accident?” Bryan said.
“I needed to get you out of your meeting,” Cassie said.
“I’ll see you at home,” Bryan said, his tone gruff.
“It’ll be too late by then,” Cassie said. “I need to talk to you about your new girlfriend.”
“What’s happened?” Bryan said.
“Nothing,” Cassie said. “I just have a question. This woman you’re seeing, you said she doesn’t mind about you having kids. Is there a reason for that?”
“A reason?” Bryan said. “Like what?”
“Like maybe she doesn’t mind because she has one herself?” Cassie said.
There was a pause on the end of the line. Cassie found herself hoping it was a problem with the line, not that her father was thinking.
“Hello?” Cassie said.
“Yeah, I’m here,” Bryan said.
“Well?” Cassie said.
“I thought I mentioned it last night,” Bryan said.
Cassie gripped the phone tight to her ear.
“Mentioned what?” she gasped.
“That Zoe-” Zoe! The wench has a name! “-has a son,” Bryan said.
“How old is he?” Cassie said. “What’s his name?”
“I’ll talk to you about this at home tonight,” Bryan said. “I really don’t have time to-”