New Additions

by Becky Harmon

“I’m having all the necessary forms emailed to me.”

  Without thinking, Cassie cut in. “I was thinking about coming to see you tomorrow.”

  The silence was heavy between them, and Cassie’s voice broke when she spoke, “If that’s okay?”

  “Of course it’s okay.”

  “Are you sure?” Cassie asked. She wanted to say more but was scared of the silence Kathleen had left hanging between them.

  “Yes. I’m sorry if I was hesitant. That’s the best plan if you can get away. You’ll be able to get the paperwork started quicker.”

  “Right…yes…get started on the paperwork.”

  “And it’ll be good to see you.”

  Cassie smiled. She was still confused by Kathleen’s silence, but hearing her words made her feel a bit more confident. “Maybe I could take you to lunch. Somewhere quiet so we can talk.” And touch, she thought.

  “I know the perfect place.”

  Cassie sat staring at the phone in her hand when they hung up. She would see Kathleen around eleven in her office. She realized she had forgotten to mention Greg’s situation or the girls. She dialed Kathleen back.

  “Cass?”

  “I’m sorry to call right back, but I forgot one of the main reasons I called.”

  Kathleen laughed. “I understand.”

  “What do we need to do for Greg to be able to stay here too?”

  “Sorry. I guess I was distracted too. I took care of that for you. I contacted his foster family and explained the situation. They’re fine, but they’d like him to move his stuff out since he probably won’t be back. I didn’t get the idea that there was a tight bond there.”

  “No, probably not. Greg was planning to move out as soon as he turned eighteen anyway.” Cassie was relieved. “I’ll talk with Greg. If he doesn’t have much stuff, maybe I can go by tomorrow and pack it up for him.”

  “Let me know and I’ll call them. We could go by after lunch.”

  “Thank you. I really appreciate all of your help. I can’t tell you how much it means to me.”

  “I’m happy I could help.”

  “I’ll send you a text after I talk with Greg so I don’t interrupt your workday again.”

  “Okay, but you can interrupt me anytime. See you tomorrow.”

  “Tomorrow.”

  Cassie stared at the phone in her hand. She couldn’t believe she had forgotten to ask about the girls, again. Where was her mind? She would have to make a point of mentioning it tomorrow when she saw Kathleen. They were down to the last couple days before the girls arrived. She had to think if plans had been changed that Kathleen would have told her.

  * * *

  Cassie was surprise to see Chase brushing Cheyenne alone when she returned to the barn. She took a seat on the stack of hay bales and watched him stretch on the tips of his toes to reach Cheyenne’s back. When he finished, he received a nod from Dillon and then he led Cheyenne into the pasture. Holding the rope, he climbed the stairs on the mounting steps and pulled Cheyenne close. He untied her harness and stroked her neck a couple times, then jumped off the stairs with the biggest grin Cassie had ever seen.

  He came straight back to the barn and hung the harness on its hook beside Cheyenne’s stall. When he received an approving nod from Dillon, he walked slowly over and sat down beside Cassie. She could feel the excitement bubbling out of him.

  “That was the most awesomest thing I’ve ever done.”

  Cassie pulled him into a light hug. She could tell he wanted to jump up and down, and she wondered if he was going to explode.

  Greg walked over to Chase and handed him a narrow blue two-foot-long ribbon. He pointed to the end of the driveway. “See the mailbox, Chase?”

  “Yes.”

  “Run down there and tie this to the post.”

  Chase took off at a sprint.

  “And then run back,” Greg called to him.

  Greg and Dillon both exploded into laughter. Cassie looked back and forth between them. “What did you guys do?”

  Dillon stopped laughing long enough to explain. “I asked him to remain calm around the horses and now I am letting him burn his energy.”

  Cassie grinned.

  “You wouldn’t believe how many trips I made to the mailbox last summer,” Greg added.

  Cassie shook her head. “I had a guest ask me last summer what the different colored ribbons on the mailbox meant and I was distracted before I had a chance to ask.” She laughed. “You guys are just too smart.”

  “The colors are only to add variety. Sometimes you return with a ribbon and sometimes you don’t, but at the end of the day it’ll be his job to make sure all the ribbons are back in the barn.” Dillon smiled. “My dad did the same thing to me and it’s amazing how it works.”

  Chase slowed to a walk as he entered the barn and Greg handed him a bottle of water. Cassie patted the seat beside her and he flopped down on it. She pulled him close and looked up at Greg. “I have good news.”

  With all eyes on her, she quickly filled them in on her conversation with Kathleen. “So it’s only temporary for now.” She squeezed Chase. “But I’m going to meet with Kathleen tomorrow to start the paperwork to make it more permanent.”

  Chase pumped his arm in the air. “This is the best day ever!”

  Greg high-fived with Dillon and then with Chase before looking at Cassie. “Did you discuss me?” he asked hesitantly.

  “Yep. And you’re good to stay here. I don’t know how much stuff you have at your place, but I could pick it up tomorrow when I go to Pensacola. If you want?”

  “Could you? That’d be great. I only have clothes there. Anything personal I kept in my car ’cause you never knew who might be in your room when you weren’t home.” Greg turned toward the pasture and then spun back to Cassie, realization spreading across his face. “I don’t ever have to go back there then?”

  Cassie shook her head. “You don’t ever have to go back there, Greg.”

  “Wow.” He turned back to the pasture again. Cassie watched him rub his hands across his face. When he turned again, he was starting to bounce on his feet and excitement had replaced the stress on his face. “I think the mailbox needs a red ribbon.”

  “Me too!” Chase jumped to his feet as Greg grabbed the ribbon and they ran toward the mailbox.

  Dillon dropped onto the hay bale beside Cassie. “This really is going to be a great summer.”

  Cassie sighed and leaned back against the wall. “Yeah. I’m gonna need a lot of help, you know?”

  “I’m ready,” Dillon said eagerly.

  “But am I?”

  Chapter Twenty-Six

  Cassie left Chase and Greg helping Dillon in the barn and returned to the office again. She sent a text to Kathleen to confirm tomorrow’s plan to pick up Greg’s clothes and then tried to focus on work. She pulled out her ledger to go over any bills that needed to be paid. Her eyes focused on the pages in front of her, but her mind drifted. She had not felt this overwhelmed in years. Experiencing so much change in only a few days had her mind on overdrive. She eventually settled into the flow of work and the spinning in her head slowed to the speed of a carousel.

  She was interrupted several hours later by Dillon and the boys as they clamored past her to make lunch. Chase was talking so fast she wasn’t sure he would be able to eat. She steered him to the sink to wash his hands and then helped him make a sandwich while she made her own.

  Accompanied by Pandy and Zoey, who had not been far from Chase’s side all morning, they carried their food to the picnic table outside.

  “Chase.” Cassie put her hand up to stop his flow into a new story about one of the goats. Chase met her eyes, interpreting her interruption as concern for the goat.

  “I didn’t really hurt him when I fell. Mr. Dillon said I just scared him. He was moving so fast and I just wanted to pet him. Greg said I had to catch him on my own. Mr. Dillon explained to me the most important rule around the animals is to never hurt them and�
�”

  Cassie reached across the table and touched his arm. When he took a deep breath, she smiled. “I know you’re really excited, but you don’t have to see and do everything in one day. You’re going to be here for a while.” She watched the flash of panic cross his eyes and quickly added, “Hopefully a long while.”

  Chase’s entire face erupted into a contagious grin, and Cassie felt her heart melt. He took the first bite of his sandwich, but his eyes were already focused on the kids playing on the beach.

  “Why don’t you change into your new bathing suit and play for a while. Tomorrow morning you can help with the horses again,” Greg suggested.

  “Yeah, that’s a good idea.” Chase stood.

  “Not yet.” Cassie motioned for him to sit back down. “Eat your sandwich and then you can change. Today we’re going to coat you in sunscreen.” Cassie ignored Chase’s scrunched-up face.

  She popped the last bite of her sandwich into her mouth and pulled her vibrating phone from her pocket. She read the text message and then looked at Greg. “Kathleen says she spoke with your foster family, and we’re fine to pick up your stuff tomorrow. Do you think I need to take more than one box?”

  “No, one box is enough.” Greg was silent for a second. “Do you want me to go with you? You shouldn’t have to pack my stuff.”

  Dillon gave Cassie a wink and then shook his head. “Nope, I need you here tomorrow. Besides Cassie has lunch plans that I’m sure don’t include a teenage boy.”

  Cassie dropped her head to return a text to Kathleen and ignored Dillon’s teasing.

  “Lunch with who?” Greg asked.

  “The beautiful woman who is responsible for you guys being able to stay here.” Dillon stood and waited for Cassie to meet his eyes. “Are we going to see her again soon?”

  “I was planning to ask her to come up this weekend and help get the girls settled. If she can, of course.”

  “So the girls are still coming?” Dillon asked as they walked toward the trash can.

  Cassie sighed. “I haven’t asked yet. It seems like every time we talk there are more pressing matters.”

  “Better make it a priority tomorrow. Friday is barely a couple days away.”

  “I know. I will.”

  * * *

  After covering Chase’s body with sunscreen, she piled into the golf cart with Chase, Zoey and Pandy. Cassie wanted a little more time for his lunch to settle before sending him to play, so they circled the lake. Chase asked a variety of questions about the bike trails and the woods behind the cabins.

  “Maybe tomorrow you and Greg can grab a bike and hit the trails.”

  “That would be fun. Should we go ask him now?”

  Cassie smiled. “Sure.”

  They parked the golf cart to the side of the office and walked to the barn. Dillon and Greg were in the tack room checking supplies.

  “Can we ride bikes?” Chase asked eagerly.

  Greg smiled. “How about tomorrow? Dillon and I are going to work on the tractor this afternoon.”

  “Yeah, yeah. That’s what I meant. Ride tomorrow.”

  “He thought we should ask you immediately,” Cassie added. Then she remembered the reason she had actually wanted to come see Greg. “Did you call the garage?”

  “Yeah, they said they’d mail my final check.”

  “Were they upset that you didn’t give a notice before quitting?” Cassie asked.

  “Not really. I explained the situation, and Carl even offered to put in a good word for me with a friend of his in Riverview.”

  “Which garage?” Dillon asked.

  “Joe’s I think,” he said.

  “We know Jo, too. If you need another reference.”

  Cassie nodded in agreement with Dillon. “You could have one of us go with you when you drop in to ask about a job.”

  Greg shrugged.

  Cassie and Dillon laughed. “Okay, we’ll stay out of it.” Cassie bumped her shoulder into his arm. “But we’re here if you need us.”

  Greg smiled. “I thought I might drive in this evening after dinner. Carl said Joe is normally the one that closes the shop at night.”

  “That sounds fine.” Cassie smiled at him and started to ask him if he knew that Jo was a woman, but Chase was beginning to dance beside her. “Ready to go play, Chase?”

  “Yep.”

  Greg gave him a look.

  “Uh…yes, ma’am.”

  Cassie groaned and rolled her eyes at Greg. “Okay. Take off. Be careful and behave yourself. I’ll be down in a minute.”

  Chase tore out of the barn and headed for the beach.

  Cassie shook her head. “He’s full of energy. Thank you, Greg, for reminding him to be polite, but I’ve had enough of the ma’am crap.”

  Greg laughed and Dillon nodded. “Yeah, he makes me tired just watching him talk. I don’t think I’ve been sir’d so much in my life.”

  “What’s the solution then?” Greg asked. “I want him to be courteous.”

  “We’re just giving you a hard time.” Cassie smiled at him.

  Greg shrugged. “Well, as soon as the paperwork goes through he can start calling you Mom.”

  Cassie groaned again and left the barn to the echo of laughter coming from Dillon and Greg.

  * * *

  Cassie strolled toward the beach, watching Chase squeal and run away from another kid. The other children’s shouts joined Chase’s, and a new game of tag was started. Cassie took a seat on a nearby bench. Kids were so loud. She rubbed her face. What had she gotten herself into?

  As though Chase could hear her thoughts, he stopped running and scanned the faces until he located her. She gave him a wave, and even from a distance she could see relief flood his face. He waved back and then splashed into the water to join the other kids. Her heart flooded with warmth. Chase had become attached to her in such a short time, and she was surprised to realize she felt the same way.

  Greg’s words floated back to her and she grimaced. Mom. She had never considered herself mom material. Nett would have made a great parent and she would have loved Chase. Cassie regretted not giving her the opportunity that she was now going to get even though it wasn’t her plan. Unforeseen circumstances had placed her in this position. She took a deep breath and for the first time in days, she thought about the consequences of her actions.

  She was going to have a son. Maybe two, though Greg was almost an adult. Chase would need parenting every day and he wouldn’t be leaving at the end of the summer. She could ask herself if she was ready for this but did her answer really matter? She had taken Chase in without hesitation and she wasn’t an impulsive person. Fortunately, she was at a place in her life that she could offer him something, and as weird as it seemed to her, she wanted to. She smiled to herself as her thoughts drifted to Kathleen. The sound of her voice on the phone that morning had been soft and smooth, and she ached to see and touch her again. How would Kathleen feel about dating a single parent? She would add that to her list of questions. Tomorrow couldn’t come soon enough.

  After a while, Cassie wandered down to the beach and talked with her guests. Everyone seemed to be enjoying themselves, so she returned to her bench and tried to relax. Unable to sit still, she crossed to the storage shed and began cleaning it out. She pulled everything inside out into the sun and swept the floor. She straightened the racks as she brought everything back in. She was pushing the last bicycle inside when Chase joined her, flanked by Zoey and Pandy.

  “Ms. Cassie, is it almost time for dinner? I’m hungry.”

  Closing the door to the shed, Cassie looked at her watch. “Not for another hour or so. Let’s go up to the house and we’ll fix a snack.”

  Chase smiled and turned toward the house. Cassie fell in step beside him and put her arm across his little shoulders. “You look like Superman with your towel cape.”

  “I could be Superman.” Chase began to tell her all the reasons he could be Superman.

  She hugged his wet b
ody against her side and brushed the strands of hair from his eyes. When he paused to take a breath, she asked. “When’s the last time you had a haircut?”

  He hesitated. “I can’t remember. Usually someone at the house cuts it.”

  “An adult or one of the other kids?”

  He shrugged. “Both.”

  Cassie cringed. “How about Thursday afternoon you and I will both go get a haircut?”

  Chase nodded, but his voice was unsure. “Okay.”

  Cassie squeezed him reassuringly. “Go out back with the dogs and I’ll be out in a minute. Peanut butter sandwich okay?”

  Chase nodded.

  “With or without jelly?”

  “With, please.”

  Cassie made a peanut butter and jelly sandwich, putting half in the refrigerator for another time. On another plate she sliced two apples and added a glob of peanut butter for dipping. She carried the snack and two bottles of water outside and put them on the table. Chase had climbed into the hot tub and only his little face was sticking out.

  “I got cold,” he explained.

  Cassie held his towel open and he crawled out of the tub. He quickly ate his sandwich and began on the apple slices. He was eating the last bite when Cassie noticed he was shivering again. She stood and pulled him to his feet.

  “Face the house.” Taking the towel from him, she held it up between them. “Strip those wet shorts off and toss them on the chair, please.”

  Chase did as she requested, and she wrapped the towel around him. Pushing open the door, she pointed down the hall. He ran, taking little baby steps in the limited space allowed by the towel. She squeezed the water from his bathing suit and hung it to dry. Clearing their plates, she returned to the office. The beach had cleared except for the couple from Cabin One. She imagined they were enjoying the peace and quiet. Chase was out of the shower when she returned to the house.

  “Would you like to watch a movie or read a book?”

  Chase grinned and pulled a Harry Potter book from the bookshelf. “Could we read this together?”

  “Sure.” She sat down in the recliner. When Chase hesitated beside the couch, she scooted to one side and patted the space beside her. The recliner was large and Chase was so small that there was plenty of room for both of them.