She called Lee and mentioned her idea. Lee exclaimed that she was thinking along the same lines. “Last year, Jay made us go to a restaurant. We couldn’t really afford it but he talked me into it. The last thing I want, really. is to see a restaurant for Thanksgiving. That’s what I do for a living. I’d just like to relax at home.”
“Well, Jay isn’t around any longer,” Cassie commented.
Lee sounded sad. “I wish things could have been better. He was fun when I first met him.”
“Don’t take this the wrong way, but a lot of your boyfriends started out like that.”
“And didn’t end that way? I know. What is wrong with me?”
“You’re kind hearted, Lee. You’ll make a great nurse. But maybe you need to toughen up a little.”
“Yes, maybe. Do you really think I’d make a good nurse?”
“A great one,”
Lee said, “I wonder, Cass, what happened to Jay?”
Cassie sighed. “Why borrow trouble, as Mom used to say? If you haven’t heard anything, then there’s nothing to hear. He must have had a life you knew nothing about. And people in that life.”
“Well, he certainly changed character suddenly.”
It was Cassie’s private opinion that Jay had the same character all along but Lee hadn’t picked up on that.
She said, “He was a con man. A charmer. But who knows what he was really like, and what kinds of people he associated with?”
“That kind of scares me, Cass. If he had a plan, how did I fit into it? I had no money to speak of. At least, I didn’t when I met him. I only got the $10,000 very recently. How did he know I would have money?”
Cassie thought Lee wasn’t that dumb after all. Trusting, not dumb. She had made a very good point.
CHAPTER 22
The plans for Thanksgiving were progressing. Cassie had made lists of the things that went into a Thanksgiving meal. She tried to remember what it had been like when Mom cooked. It was one thing to attend a meal or help someone else and another thing altogether to be solely responsible for it. It was only now that she realized that they hadn’t really had a family Thanksgiving since Mom died. She, her Dad and Lee had been invited to friends' houses. She had no idea what Derek did.
Well, Lee would help with the cooking today, that was true. It was all the details that were making Cassie crazy. What kind of stuffing? Should she make a simple one or try to be more sophisticated? How big a turkey? Frozen or not? To buy a pie or make it?
On the Tuesday before Thanksgiving, she turned from the library computer and looked at her co-worker, Mary Ellen. “Did you ever cook a Thanksgiving dinner?”
Mary Ellen was also single and she shook her head. “Don’t have to. My Mom always did it and now that she’s older, my oldest sister took over.”
“You’re lucky. I’m looking forward to the day, but I’m really nervous about getting everything right.”
“Just provide plenty of booze. It works for us.”
“I’ll have that, too,” Cassie replied, smiling. Mary Ellen always lifted her spirits.
Mary Ellen went on, “Just remember it’s all about the family, not the food. Although it would help if it tastes good, too. Do you have any family recipes?”
Cassie thought. “Well, I did want to make creamed onions. We always had them.”
“Good. I don’t think that’s too hard to do. Anything else?”
“I’ve got to have a pumpkin pie with whipped cream.”
“There you are. Wasn’t that easy? Remember, you could always buy everything. You don’t have to make it.”
“Yes, that had crossed my mind.”
Mary Ellen looked at the clock. “It’s almost five. Let’s get going. I’ve got a hot date tonight.”
Cassie looked at her. Mary Ellen was a middle-aged woman with brown hair, and a pleasant face. No one could have described her as a hottie. Yet somehow, she always seemed to have plenty of friends, both men and women. There must be something about her, she thought. I just don’t see it. But she liked Mary Ellen very much. Just about everyone did.
Driving home, she put the thoughts of her Thanksgiving lists aside and considered what Lee had said the other day. The puzzle of Jay. There was still no word from the police. Was that a good sign? She hoped they were looking into Jay’s background and not preparing a case against Lee. There had been no weapon found. Jay had been shot, so there was no chance they would link a gun to Lee, she thought. She’d never had one, and wouldn’t know how to shoot it if she did. However, there was the fact that Jay had become abusive and Lee may have had a motive if he had come after her. But as far as I know, he didn’t, thought Cassie. Except for that one time she told me about. So who had shot him? Since they knew nothing about Jay’s former life, that was a hard question to answer. If he was as bad as he now seemed, there may have been many people who would have liked to.
The troubling question, though, was, did Jay somehow know that Lee was going to receive $10,000? With the promise of more at year’s end or sooner? How could he have found out? The lawyer was in Boston. Her grandfather had been a recluse, apparently. Maybe it was just a guess, after all. Wait a minute! Cassie swerved the car to avoid another that had cut in front. She slowed down, thinking. Their father! Did he know more about the whole situation than they were aware of? She resolved to ask him. She was due to visit him tonight.
Cassie grabbed a quick sandwich at a Subway on the way to Golden Lifestyles. Her Dad would already have had dinner and they could find a quiet corner to talk or even go to his room. She parked and walked in, looking around for him. He was watching a game of Dominoes played by two old men and he recognized her right away.
“Cassie! I was hoping you’d come tonight.”
She hugged him and they found a couple of chairs away from the others. After some catching up, she thought he seemed clear headed that evening and asked, “Dad, you remember the man you went away with?”
She hated bringing this up but felt she must ask. He looked blank for a moment and then frowned. “Yes, I do remember. That guy offered me a lift and then we ended up somewhere like a warehouse. I don’t remember much about it, though.” He looked at her hopefully as though she could provide the details.
She went on, “Do you remember anything he said?”
Her Dad tried to recall. “Not much. He told me to shut up when I asked for food or something to drink. I know I was in a place with a locked door because I tried to get out. I didn’t have time to work on it.”
“Think, Dad, did he say anything about any of us?”
Her Dad pursed his lips. “Hmm. I seem to remember he said some odd things, like, you better make sure your kids know their place. Tell them not to get involved in things they know nothing about.”
“What do you think he meant?”
Her Dad shook his head. “I don’t know. I told him I didn’t know the answer to all his questions. That’s when I got this.” He pointed to a healing scar on his scalp.
Cassie tried to ask more but her Dad was getting tired and restless. His look was getting vacant. She thought that the kidnapper didn’t know about the Alzheimers but soon realized they would get nowhere with their prisoner. That’s why they probably sent him back, she thought. Lucky for us.
She thought it would be too much for him to ask if he knew anything about their grandfather, their Mother’s father.
“Well, Dad, we’re going to pick you up on Thanksgiving and go to my apartment. We’ll have a nice dinner.”
Her father nodded listlessly. He was barely taking in what she said. She escorted him to his room where he sat on the edge of the bed.
“I’ll turn in early, read a good book,” he said, almost like his old self. But Cassie knew he would never be that person again. They had to accept the new Dad.
Driving home again, she thought about what he had said. The kidnapper did have some interest in us. But what? Was he the person who had killed Jay? And why? It made no sense at all.
In the next few days, Cassie went on with her preparations. She bought a frozen turkey and fixings and read her cookbook for instructions on cooking it along with the vegetables such as mashed potatoes, onions, sweet potatoes, cranberry sauce and so on.
On the big day, she spread a tablecloth over the table which was sporting all its leaves, brought all the chairs they had to the table including a few stools and set it. She’d placed a flower arrangement in the middle. It looked nice. The turkey had gone into the oven early and was filling the small place with a delectable smell. Everything seemed to be proceeding according to plan. She’d bought pies and a few extras, giving up on the idea of tackling everything from scratch.
Around 2 PM, the guests started arriving. Lee was first, with Stevie. She had to supervise his activities but made time to help Cassie set out dips and snacks and offer drinks to Rob, who came next with their Dad and took over the bar functions. He had volunteered to pick up their Dad and bring him back. Dad seemed rested and happy. He played a simple board game with Stevie. Cassie sipped a Cosmopolitan that Rob had made for her and looked around. She felt a thrill of accomplishment.
“So, Rob, I told you you could bring someone if you wanted,” she said.
“That’s OK. I’m fine with this. And I wanted to help you with your Dad.”
“You’re the best, Rob. What about the rest of your family, though?”
“They’re all going to my brother George’s in Pennsylvania and staying over. I really wanted to avoid that madhouse. They’ve got six kids, as you know.”
“Won’t they miss you?”
“I doubt it. Anyway, over the weekend, I’ll go out there for the day.”
The doorbell rang. Cassie looked around, puzzled. “Who could that be? “
She opened the door and gasped. Derek stood there with an attractive dark haired girl.
He smiled. “Are you going to ask me in?”
Cassie found her voice again.” Come in, come in!”
Lee came up to them. “Cass, I wanted to surprise you. I invited Derek. I wasn’t sure he’d come, though.”
Derek turned to the girl. “This is Colleen, my friend. She drove me down here because I still don’t have a car. I’m just about to get one.”
Cassie recovered from her surprise. She thought there would be enough food to go around. They seemed to have cooked enough for an army.
“Well, come in and sit down.” She introduced Colleen to the rest of the family. All except Rob knew Derek.
After Cassie had found extra plates and set two more places, the dinner began and went without any major problems. Everybody said they enjoyed it. If they were just being polite, Cassie didn’t want to know. It was enough that they were here. She looked around as she served pieces of pie. Her Dad was talking to Derek, Colleen was playing with Stevie and Rob and Lee were handing around coffee. It was an odd but good feeling to see them all here.
As they sat around drinking their coffee, Cassie said, “I’m glad this challenge thing came about, if only to put us in touch with you again, Derek.”
He grinned. “Yeah, I feel the same way. I don’t have many relatives and the other thing is that I went to Boston and met Colleen.” He threw an arm over her shoulders.
Lee watched them, wondering what the relationship was. Just friends, or something more? She wondered also if Derek knew himself. He still had that boyish air with the long hair and casual clothes. At least the hair and clothes were neat. She thought that being a mother seemed to have turned on a critical sense and she was more aware of how young men dressed and acted, visualizing Stevie growing up and some day becoming a man. But not too soon. She became aware of Cassie speaking and listened.
Cassie was saying to Rob, Colleen and Derek, “I registered online and I’m taking the courses for the MLA. I’m going ahead with this thing. I just couldn’t turn down the chance to get a free education. If nothing else comes out of this, this is the greatest thing that’s happened to me for a long time. It opens up all kinds of doors.”
Lee added, “Yes, for me, too. The course to eventually become a registered nurse is really hard, but I think I’m making it so far.”
Derek said, “Well, I’m not taking any more courses. I could hardly wait to get out of school. I’ll write that song and make my name.”
Rob looked at him curiously. “Have you written any songs yet, Derek?”
Derek looked a little annoyed. “”In my own good time, Rob. Creative genius has to find a spark.”
Rob said, “Well, I just remembered that you all have no more than a year to demonstrate that you are achieving your heart’s desire.”
Derek said, “I don’t know, Rob, do you think this thing is a little wacko?”
Rob nodded. “It sure seems that way. I don’t remember even hearing about your grandfather from anybody when we were all growing up. So I don’t know what kind of person he was. I do know, though that old people sometimes do odd things with their wills. So maybe that’s what happened in this case.”
Derek snorted. “I’m sure that’s what happened. The old guy thought he’d have some fun with the grandkids. Never mind that he never thought about any of us until then. He threw my Mom out so I’ll always hate him for that.”
Rob asked, “I didn’t know that. How did that happen?”
Derek said, “My Mom ended up in Tennessee trying to be a country and western singer. It was her dream. She was good, too. When I came along, she started teaching me to sing and play by ear. She would never talk about my grandfather. My Dad was back in New England, too, and we stopping hearing from him, too. My Mom said he put some money in an account for my college but as far as having any interest in me, I guess he felt that took care of it. The only time we came back East was when we went to see Uncle Finbar one summer. That was great and that’s when I met Cassie and Lee. But as for the rest of our lives, my Mom and me, it was pretty much just the two of us until she died. She never achieved her dream. That’s the only reason I’m in this thing. I want to do it for her. Not for that old goat, wherever he is.”
Colleen said, “I still think you should try to look up your Dad, Derek.”
“Why? He’s moved on. I don’t need him in my life.”
“We all need a Dad. It might help you to understand.”
Derek turned to her. “Don’t you get it? I DON’T CARE! I have my life and it’s just fine.”
Cassie and Lee looked at him. Cassie said, “Well, you know, I think that might be a good idea, Derek.”
Lee added, “I agree.”
Derek glared at them and said nothing. Lee and Cassie’s father looked over at them and said, clearly, “Oh, you’re talking about George. Haven’t seen him for a while. I must look him up.”
Derek stared at him, clearly stunned. Lee went over to her Dad. “Dad, when did you talk to George last?”
Her father shook his head. “I just can’t recall. I get a Christmas card every year, though. Maybe you don’t remember.” He went back to playing with Stevie. Lee looked at Cassie and shook her head. She didn’t press her father for information.
Cassie said, “We’ll talk about this later, Derek.”
Derek shook his head and shrugged his shoulders. “Don’t bother. It’s not worth it.”
The rest of the holiday passed pleasantly enough and soon the guests were ready to go home. Lee left first, saying she had to take Stevie to Andrea’s and settle him down. Rob got Finn Connor ready to leave. Derek and Colleen thanked Cassie and she hugged them.
“I didn’t mean to upset you,” she said to Derek.
He smiled. “Don’t worry, it’s old business. Don’t you remember, I’m going to be famous!”
Colleen rolled her eyes and the two left for their trip back. They would alternate driving and arrive later that night. It had been a good Thanksgiving, Cassie thought as she put the last dishes away and sat down to rest. There were still unanswered questions but she put them aside until tomorrow.
CHAPTER 23
Derek was surprised. “You know, I didn’t think about it. It’s something I had in the back of my mind. Guess I’d better write it down one of these days.”
“Yes, you should. Maybe work on it more and see what you can do with it. I really like it so far.”
“Yeah, well, I’m not so good at writing music. My Mom just played. She could read music and she taught me a little bit about that also. But writing it down? Not sure.
“How did you read and write music then?”
“Just played from memory, mostly. It’s not that I can’t read and write music. I just never did it much. Oh, I made a couple of notes but not like you’re talking about.”
“You didn’t learn that in school?”
“I went to school but I majored in music history. I had one course in writing music. My mom, as much as she loved it, wanted me to take business courses, get a real job. She learned her lesson, I guess and knew how hard it was and she didn’t want me to have the troubles she had. So I took a business minor. I joined a music group and played to keep up with my music. I realized that’s where my real interest lies.”
“So, you ended up in the musical field anyway. If you want, I could give you some hints and advice.”
Derek looked over at her. “Yeah, that would be good. Got time, though?”
Colleen laughed. “When did that ever stop me? Sure, I’ll make the time.”
“That’s great. Oh, look, there’s a big green sign for Cape Cod.”
They were turning off the highway in Providence onto another highway. Colleen said, “Yes, not too much farther now. We’re almost in Massachusetts.”
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