Chad shook his head as tears welled in his eyes. He was right … there wasn’t anything for him at home. In two days, everything would be his. Everything that meant nothing to him now. The house and business had been all he wanted six months ago, but now he would trade everything he owned for just the knowledge that Cassandra was alive.
He’d had so much hope when he received the letter, but it’d been two months, and there was nothing to suggest that she was alive. Maybe she’d put the letter in the box and had wrecked her car afterward. Maybe she’d wanted to leave him, but wasn’t sure at first so she’d just hung around the area for a few days? Maybe the other heart was someone she’d met.
The next time the waiter came to the table Chad ordered a shot. What difference did it make? All three sets of eyes turned to him.
“What?” he grunted. “You wanted me to live. Well, here’s to all of you,” he said, lifting the shot glass in a toast. “Watch me live.”
He downed the shot of Cuervo in one gulp, then ordered another round for everyone. Brandy and Michelle passed on theirs, so he drank both of them. After his sixth shot, he finally felt the effects. Even with as long as it’d been since he’d had any alcohol, because of his weight, he had to drink more than he would have when he was younger.
After the alcohol had warmed his insides, and he felt less inhibited, he sprung from the table and found the first woman he saw and pulled her onto the dance floor. She agreed enthusiastically. He never had to try hard; there was always an eager girl.
From her, he danced with every willing girl except Michelle. He wasn’t that drunk. He wouldn’t allow her to win, to remind him how weak he was. He knew how pathetic he was; he didn’t need her gloating.
A tap on his shoulder made him grin with expectancy, hoping it was a pissed off boyfriend or someone trying to cut in on his dance. What he needed now was a good brawl, something to release the pain; the alcohol wasn’t eliciting the desired effect.
He turned his head, only to see Brandy … that worked too. He’d like to see how Tom liked it. “You decided you want to dance after all?” he asked, dropping his arms from the woman he was holding and spinning around and taking Brandy in his arms.
“No, Chad, I don’t want to dance. I’m taking you home.”
He huffed. “I may be drunk, Brandy, but I’m not that easy.”
She rolled her eyes at him while she tried to pull away. She didn’t fight too hard, so he gathered her closer, running his hand down to the small of her back, pulling her hips against him. It didn’t feel right, but at the moment, he didn’t care.
“Chad,” she said.
“Isn’t this what you wanted, Brandy? Didn’t you want me to live again? Are you still not satisfied? What do you want from me?” He held onto her tighter, refusing to let her go. He saw a look in her eyes and attempted to understand what she expected from him. Her eyes opened widely for an instant. Had he scared her?
Finally, Tom approached, and he smiled at him, narrowing his eyes. How does it feel to see your woman in the arms of another man? he wanted to ask.
“Let her go, Chad,” Tom seethed.
“Or what … you gonna take me out, Tom? Come on … give me your best shot,” he taunted, raising his chin to give him something to hit. He didn’t really want to fight Tom; he’d been a good friend. But he’d done this to him, too. “You owe me one, Tom. I’ll let you take your best shot. If you can knock me down, I won’t hit you back.”
“I’m not going to fight you, Chad, but take your hands off my fiancée; she accepted my commitment.”
Chills ran down Chad’s arms. He pulled back to look at Brandy. She suddenly looked embarrassed. “Well, that’s a different story. Congratulations.” His words were slurred, but his mind was suddenly clear. A commitment, he’d made a commitment, and here he was acting a fool. God … what would Cassandra think of him. Grinding against another woman … trying to start a fight. He didn’t deserve her … he’d never deserved her. “Take me home, please.” His blood rushed from his head and he swayed, feeling as though he might pass out.
Tom reached for him. “I’ll drive his truck, Brandy. You can follow us in my car.”
Chad attempted to nod, but his head fell forward, which was good since the room had started to spin around him.
***
It’d been over two months, Cassandra estimated. She’d kept track the best she could in this sunless dungeon. Every breakfast plate that she’d received, she marked a notch on the floor.
Her baby had grown, and she could feel the life inside her every day now. Her tears had all but stopped. There was no reason to cry anymore, as it did nothing.
She’d still not heard word one from her captor, and the messages were short and to the point.
There’d been nothing more about Chad, and she wondered what he was doing. Had he forgotten about her? Would he have gone back to Michelle as she’d insinuated?
What would happen in three months when she delivered her baby? Would her captor know what to do? Would they take her child from her and then kill her?
Cassandra prayed every day for a miracle, not even sure what that would mean anymore. Even if someone rescued her, what would await her?
She hadn’t kept her end of the will’s instructions, so she had no home, no business. And since Chad probably thought she’d run off, he probably had gotten an annulment and married Michelle.
Dear Lord, she prayed silently. If I have to live the rest of my life here as a prisoner, I ask only for the safety of my child.
She didn’t even know why she continued to pray; obviously, He wasn’t hearing her. She did believe; there was nothing that could cause her not to believe. But it was still hard to understand.
The metal slid across the concrete with great force, and her captor flicked something across the floor. Cassandra knelt down, picking up the small manila folder, opening it carefully.
Inside the packet were pictures and they made her heart break just viewing them. She sunk to the bed. Chad had forgotten her. Her stomach lurched, and the tears that had been vacant poured freely. Gasps emanated from her throat, but she made no effort to curb them. Chad was with Michelle. She had her arms around him in one. His expression was vacant, but he was there … with her.
The others were of him dancing. He wasn’t smiling in any of the pictures; it was the only thing that allowed her to keep her sanity. Maybe he wasn’t happy. Maybe he was just trying to forget her. It’d been two months … should he wait longer than that amount of time?
Cassandra heard the grating sound and waited while the board was slid through. Her captor had remained outside and waited for her reaction, had heard her weep for her husband.
He has forgotten you and you still hold on?
What did that mean? Of course, she would hold on. She would never give up. Is that what her captor wanted? They wanted her to release Chad. Michelle? She’d never suspected for a moment that her assailant could be someone she knew; though, she should have. She’d always assumed it was someone who wanted her baby. She’d read about situations where mothers were kidnapped and the baby had been cut from their womb.
Maybe she’d been partly right. Maybe she did want her baby, but maybe it was Michelle. Other stories raced through her head. The story of the woman who drove across the country to kill the woman who wanted the same man she wanted. She remembered that the woman was a professional. She was intelligent; no one had suspected she would have been capable of such an act. And then there was that young college student who killed the wife of one of her professors. It seemed there wasn’t anyone above committing a deplorable act when it came to what they wanted.
A plan started to form in Cassandra’s mind. She knew how to escape. If it was Michelle and she really wanted Chad — or her baby — she would have to give it to her.
***
Tears came from behind the door. Cassie hadn’t cried in months. She should have finally given up on Chad, knowing he would have moved on by now, and the
pictures should have sent her over the edge.
How long could the two of them hold out … they had only been together days before they’d gotten married? How could they possibly believe this was true love? Real love took years, and even then, someone couldn’t always see what love was. It could stare them in the face, and they wouldn’t even recognize it.
It wouldn’t be long now … the pictures would get to her. She would realize that Chad had moved on, and she would be willing to leave him. Could she be released then, or would she run back to him? No. Chad had to see the truth also. Would he even believe she’d been held captive? The baby had to be born first. Cassie would write a letter informing Chad that she wasn’t ready to be a mother, and she would leave the baby on Chad’s doorstep, something he would never forgive. Then, everything could start over and turn out the way it should have, the way it will be soon. Chad would move on once he had his baby.
Chapter Thirty-Five
It was almost time for her baby to be born, and Michelle had come no closer to getting Chad to return to her. What would she do?
She’d thought that when Chad found out that Cassie had left him, he would run back to her and then when they found the car … he should have known she was dead and charged back into her arms. When she told him she was pregnant, she’d been counting on his chivalry. He wouldn’t want her to raise a child alone, and she knew how badly he wanted a child. He’d always spoken of how he wanted to be a father someday.
If she hadn’t thought she would have lost her power over him, she would have said ‘yes’ when he asked her to marry him, but she’d wanted to be in control. She’d always been in control. She hated how her mother waited on her father hand and foot. Her father always treated her mother well, but Michelle couldn’t stand the fact that any man would tell her what to do with her life. She would do what she wanted, when she wanted, and with whom she wanted to do it.
But she had pushed Chad too far, and she’d lost him. She could not lose. It was not within her to lose; she would win at all costs.
She didn’t have any more time, though … she would have to play it his way for once. If he wanted a weak shell of a woman, that’s what she would have to pretend to be for him.
It was five o’clock; he should be coming up the embankment any moment. Michelle went inside to talk with Brandy. “Hey, Brandy.”
Brandy looked up from the register she was closing out for the day so Leslie could take over her shift. She felt the animosity roll off her, even though they would soon be sisters-in-law. Brandy was the key, though. If she could win over Brandy, she could possibly get Chad back before the baby was due.
“Hello, Michelle,” Brandy said in a clipped tone, looking back down at her register. “What’s up?”
“Just coming by to see what you’re up to … thought I could take you to dinner.”
Brandy scrunched up her nose, suggesting she wasn’t buying her friendly routine. “Why?”
Michelle shrugged. “Well, you’re going to be my sister-in-law soon; don’t you think we should swallow the animosity for Tom?”
“I don’t hold anything against you, Michelle. I just don’t like the way you treat people.”
Michelle smiled. “You’ve always been rather bold, Brandy. That’s what I like most about you.”
Brandy huffed, then looked over Michelle’s shoulder. Michelle turned around to see Chad walking in the door, but turned back to Brandy as if she weren’t interested in seeing him.
Brandy raised one eyebrow in surprise. “You’re not going to chase him down?”
“I told you … I’m here to see you. I want to take you to dinner.”
“Okay,” Brandy said on a long sigh. “Let me finish upstairs and I’ll be down in a minute.”
Brandy followed Chad upstairs with the contents of her drawer.
Michelle walked outside and waited.
***
Chad glanced up at Brandy when she entered his office. “What’s Michelle doing here?” he asked, irritated, wondering why the woman wouldn’t give up.
“She wants to take me to dinner,” Brandy said, sounding as if she couldn’t believe that fact either.
Chad chuckled. “Well … you’re the one who decided to marry into her family.”
“Can you give me any reason why I shouldn’t marry Tom?”
“What are you asking, Brandy? I think you know why.” Hadn’t he told her a thousand times about how he treated women?
“Nothing … I just hate that you are alone —”
“Not happening. I’m not going back to Michelle,” he said, cutting her off.
“I know. I’m not suggesting you go back with Michelle. The woman is horrid. I’m just saying … I don’t know what I’m trying to say. It’s just been so long, Chad.”
“You think I don’t know that, Brandy. It’s been nearly six months. She’ll be due soon. You don’t think I think about that every day. You don’t think I worry about her and my unborn child every night? But I can’t move on … not until she comes back. Do you hear me? I will never go back to Michelle.”
“Yes, and I think it’s wonderful that you are so faithful. I just worry about you.”
“Well, stop worrying. I’m here every day, aren’t I? Go have fun with Michelle, but leave me out of the conversation.”
***
Michelle waited as Brandy, and then Chad, stepped outside. Chad walked past her with barely a parting glance, and Brandy stopped in front of her. There was time. She had nearly a month to woo Brandy, and at the same time, Chad, and then she would have a child for him.
The evening passed slowly as Michelle listened to Brandy and her boring stories of her brother and their courtship and her odiously tedious job. How any woman could work at the same place every day in this boring city was beyond her. Once she convinced Chad to marry her, she’d persuade him to move into the city. He’d inherited the home and business, which were clearly worth a great deal of money according to Tom. It made no sense to continue working there.
“Will you work at the ROCK after you marry my brother, Brandy?” Michelle asked, hoping to change the subject.
Brandy fiddled with her napkin. “Tom doesn’t want me to,” she admitted. “But I’m not sure.”
Michelle wanted to tell her that she should do what she wants, not worry about what Tom wants, but then remembered why she was here. Smiling sweetly, not knowing exactly what to say in response to Brandy’s answer, she simply nodded.
“Obviously, I won’t need to work,” Brandy continued. “And Tom said he would like to have a baby soon and that he definitely wouldn’t want me to work after we have a child.”
Again, Michelle bit her tongue and attempted to turn the conversation back to Chad. “But you don’t want to leave Chad?” she asked, hoping she’d taken enough time before bringing up his name. Brandy may not be a genius, but Michelle knew she couldn’t pull the wool over her eyes.
“What is that supposed to mean?” she lashed out.
Michelle maintained her composure. She needed Brandy on her side. “I just know you and Chad are good friends and that you care about him.”
Brandy’s eyes softened. “I worry about him. It’s harder now that he’s acting as if he’s okay. He shows up to work every day, then remains till closing most nights. He never leaves the store. He doesn’t even kayak anymore. He just can’t let her go.”
“I’m sure … it’s so awful. I wish we knew the truth. He could probably move on if they could find her body, don’t you think?”
Brandy shrugged. “So when are you due, Michelle?”
“In a month,” she answered matter-of-factly.
Brandy cocked her head. “Strange … you must have gotten pregnant the same time Cassie did.” Her eyes narrowed. “She’ll be a little over eight months along.”
What was Brandy suggesting, she wondered.
“Really … I didn’t know?” Michelle lied. She did know, of course. Tom had filled her in on all the details. He hadn’t
been happy when he found out. Tom had always hoped that Cassandra would leave Chad as well. Cassandra was more up-his-alley than Brandy. Even their parents were thrilled at the idea of Tom and Cassandra, and they never agreed with any of his choices in women. “I was very upset when Chad took off with Cassandra. I hadn’t been thinking clearly, and I let myself be seduced, but never again. I will make a good home for my child and hopefully find my baby a respectable father.”
Brandy just smiled. Michelle could only hope her plan would work. No one was closer to Chad than Brandy, and if she admitted to him what she’d said, she was certain Chad would see that she’d changed and be distraught about the child he should have and want to be a father to her child.
She would confess that she found someone who looked exactly like him to drown her tears, and then he would hold her and apologize for letting her go. She would make him forget about Cassie completely. She hoped it wouldn’t take long. The baby would be due in a few weeks, and she would rather not be an unwed mother.
Her parents would return in a few months, and she hadn’t told them about her pregnancy. She’d even sworn Tom to secrecy, promising to have everything handled before their parents returned. They would be thrilled if they found out she was marrying Chad; they were crazy about him. Tom agreed easily. He wanted nothing more than for her and Chad to get back together.
***
When she arrived back at her house, she crept down to check on her prisoner.
Cassie needed to write a final letter, explaining how she couldn’t handle the responsibility of raising a child or staying in Nantahala as Chad’s wife. Chad would certainly relinquish his hold on her then. He would forget Cassie as he would have a baby and would need a wife.
She heard huffing, puffing, and an occasional cry behind muffled tears. Cassie hadn’t cried for weeks. She’d realized that crying was futile.
She waited a few minutes and then the cries came again. Oh no … she was only eight months. Unless she’d lied to Chad and had already been pregnant when she got here. Maybe that was the reason for their quick elopement. She’d been a temptress, as all women, and pressured him only because she’d been pregnant. Chad had always been weak when it came to women; he would have fallen for her ploys.
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