“Yes, thank you. A glass of water would be fine.”
“Now, why don’t you start by telling me a little about your marriage? Tell me when you were the happiest.” He had warm, friendly eyes and Cassandra felt very comfortable speaking to him.
“When Jeff and I married, we were so much in love. At least I thought we were. When the twins were born, I was ecstatic. It was the most beautiful time in my life. However, shortly after their birth, his drinking increased. He would stop at the bar every Saturday, and eventually every evening after work.”
“How did he treat you, when he had too much to drink?”
“He would abuse me.”
“Physically?”
“No, mentally. It was gradual. Insults, always insults. He reminded me of my father.” Cassandra started crying softly and Dr. Anderson handed her a box of tissues. “I’ve never received a compliment from him, at least not since the twins were born. He started to order me around as if I was his housekeeper. He would throw things, not at me, but at a door, a wall, or on the floor.
“He’s not the first man to treat me this way, Dr. Anderson. Every man I hoped would be my soulmate forever always ended up treating me like dirt. I just don’t understand. Why can’t I find a man who will show me some respect and love me?” She let out a deep sigh and blotted her eyes with a tissue.
“Let’s go back to when you still lived at home. Did you get along with your parents?”
“No. Mother left us when I was five and my brother was eight. My father was always gone a lot, sometimes for days, or even a week.”
“Who took care of you?”
“Auntie Em. She was my mother’s aunt. She loved us and took care of us after my mother left.”
“Why did your mother leave?”
“I don’t know. No one would tell us. Dad had always been drinking too much. When I turned sixteen, I asked Auntie Em, and she said it was probably because Dad was out of town a lot, and she wasn’t happy.
“When I became a bit older, I’d always wonder why he was out of town so much.”
“How did your father treat you when you were growing up?”
“He’d always been mean to me, but nice to my brother. He made fun of me. He always blamed me for everything. One winter, my brother broke his arm. Dad blamed me. He said I dared Johnny to ride his sled down a steep hill. When he introduced us to people, he’d say I was the troublemaker in the family. He told people all about my faults, and Johnny’s wonderful accomplishments.”
“Did he ever hurt you, Cassandra?”
Tears flowed down her cheeks. She heard a clicking sound against the window; the snow had turned to sleet. She shivered, but she wasn’t cold. She used a tissue to wipe the sweat from her forehead.
“I was eleven. I was sound asleep. Suddenly, I felt him pushing his heavy, stinky arm down on the edge of my bed. He was touching me under my pajama top; he was kissing me. He was so drunk and smelly and he just kept on kissing me. I tried to push him away. Finally, he got up and left my room.
“He always told me I was a slut and a whore. I was too young to know what that meant.”
“Did you ever tell anyone about it?”
“No. He never tried it again, but I hated him so much after that. I promised myself I would leave home when I turned eighteen, and I did. I never returned.”
“Okay. I think we’d better stop for today. I can see you’re getting tired. I’ll see you back here in three days. How does that sound?”
“Okay,” Cassandra answered, and blew her nose.
“Do you have any questions?”
She nodded. “Why did you ask about my dad? Why did you have me bring back such bad memories?”
“Cassandra, do you see the similarities between your father and your husband?”
“My father had given me such a negative attitude about myself, and my husband continued to berate me in the same way?”
“Do you think maybe you’ve been choosing men who treat you as your father had, because you felt you were supposed to be treated that way? Eventually, you must face your past, Cassandra, in order to save your future. You think about it, and I’ll see you again in a few days.”
“Okay, thank you Doctor.”
“You take care of yourself and get plenty of rest,” he said, and helped her with her coat.
“I will,” she answered.
The air had become extremely cold, freezing the tears on her cheeks. Ice crunched beneath their feet. Shannon helped Cassandra to the car.
Chapter Six
Kyle and Kayla had just left for school. Today was their last day before summer vacation. Next year, they’ll be seniors. How fast they’ve grown up. Cassandra stood at the kitchen sink, her hands in sudsy water, gazing out the window. June had finally arrived. The curtains swayed softly in the morning breeze, and she breathed in the faint scent of lilacs in the early morning air. She stood listening to the robins chirping and the next-door neighbor’s new puppy barking at a chipmunk scrambling up a tree.
She wiped down the counter, poured a fresh cup of coffee, and then she sat down at the table and contemplated what she should do about the situation with Jeff. Her lawyer had just informed her that Jeff was being released one year early; in prison for two years, and he was being let out for good behavior.
The twins had only been to visit him once. That was a year ago. Their father told them that the accident was her fault; that it never would have happened if she’d been driving on New Year’s Eve, instead of him. He always blamed her for everything. The twins knew better. After that first visit, they refused to return.
Being served with the divorce papers made Jeff very angry and she was glad he received them while in prison; learning today that they’d be releasing him soon, frightened her.
She shivered, just thinking about it and as she reached for the sugar bowl, she spilled her coffee down the front of her white blouse. That day still affected her, made her a bundle of nerves even now. She’d have to change – and it wasn’t her fault, it was his; definitely his. He’d phoned her on the day he’d been served, and she’d let the answering machine pick up. She listened to his message as he told her she’d better have a good explanation. He’d be home soon. That was all he said, and then he slammed down the receiver. She was terrified and had bolt locks put on the doors.
While Cassandra was recuperating from the accident, her boss allowed her to work at home. When she was well enough to return to work, he gave her the option to continue working at her home office, reporting in to the company once or twice a week.
The phone was ringing when she walked in the door, and Auntie Em’s number appeared on caller I.D. She immediately picked up.
“Cassandra, I just had a wonderful idea. Do you remember my cabin I told you about years ago?”
“Sure I do, but I have no idea where it’s located. You wouldn’t say.”
“I know. I didn’t want anyone else to know. It’s private and it’s mine. Now I want you to take the kids and head up there to get away. It’s up in the outskirts of Duluth, deep in the woods, but only about an hour’s drive from my house. I purchased the land thirty-odd years ago and had a log cabin built on it. I spent time up there when I wrote my novels. It was a great place to get away, by myself, with no one to interrupt me. It’s so peaceful up there, honey. A creek runs along the front of the property. There’s a shed with a boat in it, and a dock down at the creek. Take the kids up there just to disappear for a while. He’ll never find you.”
Tears brimmed Cassandra’s eyes. “I think that’s a great idea, Auntie Em.”
“I thought you would. You can stay as long as you’d like. I haven’t been there for quite a few years, so it may be full of cobwebs, but I think all three of you will love it. I even had a toilet put in about eight years ago, so you won’t need to use the outhouse,” she said with a chuckle. “And there’s also a fireplace in the cabin to keep you warm on chilly nights.”
“Oh, Auntie Em, thank you. It sound
s wonderful. He won’t be happy when he finds out that I changed the locks on the house.”
“Don’t worry, honey. No one knows about the cabin except for you and Uncle Jack. You’ll love it. It’s so quiet and peaceful, and the air is clean and fresh. You’ll have thirty acres to roam around in. The land is full of birds, mallards, squirrels, rabbits; you name it. Even a few deer sometimes roam in the yard. Once you’re there, you won’t want to leave.”
“You’re beginning to sound like a real estate saleswoman!”
Auntie Em chuckled. “Oh, and also, the nearest neighbor is about one mile up the road. His name is Nick Colburn. He’s a very sweet man. If you ever need any help, just go to him.”
“That’s thoughtful of you.”
“When you’re ready to leave, just stop by to pick up a key and off you go. I love you, sweetheart. You’ll feel safe, I’m sure.”
“Thank you. I’ll talk it over with the kids, as soon as they get home.”
She’d just begun to unload the groceries from the car, when Kyle came strolling up the drive, swinging his backpack and whistling away, happy as can be.
“Goodness, you sure are chipper today!” she called. “Would you please give me a hand?”
“I’m just happy that we’re finally on summer vacation,” he said, smiling. “Only one year left of high school.”
“Yes, and then you’ll be off to college, my son.”
“I know, but that’s over a year away yet, Mom,” he said, and laughed as he grabbed two grocery bags and headed for the house.
Kayla approached from behind and goosed her.
Cassandra shrieked, almost dropping a bag. Kayla giggled and took it from her, and Cassandra laughed as she swatted her daughter’s backside.
“You sure bought a lot of groceries, Mom. What’s the occasion?”
“Help me get the rest in the house and the three of us will sit down and talk.”
Once they’d finished, Kyle grabbed some cookies and milk, and then sat at the table. He’ll never grow out of that little-boy habit. Cassandra smiled and sat at the head of the table.
“Now,” she began, “our attorney, Mr. Bloomberg, called this morning. Your dad is going to be released soon.”
She noted the looks of apprehension on their faces and hurried on. “I spoke with Auntie Em, and she offered her cabin to us, for as long as we want to stay there.”
“But, Mom…” Kayla whined, and put down her half-eaten cookie.
“Just wait a second. It will only be for about a month, until your dad has had time to cool down. No one will know where we are. I’ve been thinking about it, and we know we can trust the Millers. Maybe Shannon and Dan will let Adam and Sherry ride up on a bus to visit in a week or so.”
With that inducement, the twins both agreed and went to their rooms to start packing.
“Make sure you pack enough clothes for warm and cold weather. The nights still get chilly. And don’t forget your swimsuits.”
She told them they’d be leaving in the morning. The SUV should have enough room to carry everything they want to bring.
“Hey, Mom,” Kyle yelled, “will our laptops work up there?”
“Yes, and I’ll arrange for satellite to be installed.” Cassandra also needed to bring her laptop for her job. Her boss told her it would be fine to work from there.
“Also, Auntie Em said the cabin has a T.V. with a DVD player. You definitely won’t be bored.”
“Cool!”
The next morning the three of them were so anxious to leave, they had the SUV packed in no time.
They stopped by Auntie Em’s to pick up the key, said their goodbyes, and they were on their way.
By the time they reached the highway, they were all excited, telling jokes and singing country music along with the radio, and Cassandra thought, what an adventure this just may turn out to be after all.
*
Cassandra had been driving down a dirt road for almost a mile now, ever since they’d entered the town of Pinewood Hills. She told the kids to watch for a giant boulder. Auntie Em told her that it had a yellow X painted on the side.
“It should be along the ditch on your side,” she told Kayla, just as the car hit a huge pothole, bouncing the SUV, and causing Kayla to spill cola on her light blue jeans.
“Oh, Mom, my new jeans… ”
“Darn! Sorry, honey. There’s a roll of paper towels under the seat. I hope we find the turnoff soon. If this road gets any worse, we’ll end up needing an auto repair shop.”
“I see it!” Kyle said. “Right up ahead. See the X? And there’s the driveway just north of the boulder.”
“All right!” said Kayla, and she and Kyle watched out the window excitedly, like two little kids.
The woods were thick with trees and brush, and branches hung over the road, which appeared to be more like a path. She decided it may be hard to find, but this was an excellent way to camouflage their location.
The dirt road turned into a gravel drive, which brought them up along the west side of the cabin. The view was enchanting. They all just sat there, astonished, admiring the beauty. Green grass with yellow and purple wild flowers across the meadow, as far as they could see. The creek water rippled in the light wind. Two squirrels scrambled along the dock, chasing one another, until one of them scooted up the trunk of a nearby tree.
They all climbed out of the SUV and looked around, taking it all in.
“Gee,” Kyle said, “it looks like someone’s been taking good care of everything for Auntie Em. You can smell the freshly mown grass. There’s even a pile of recently chopped wood next to the shed. Does she pay someone to do all of this?”
“I don’t know,” Cassandra said. “I don’t remember her mentioning it. Come on, let’s go open up the cabin and air it out before we unload.”
The porch, running along the front of the cabin, had a welcome mat in front of the door that looked new.
“Auntie Em told me she hadn’t been up here in years,” Cassandra remarked when she unlocked the door.
“I feel like we’re the three bears,” said Kayla.
Kyle added, “Who’s been sweeping my porch, said the papa bear.”
They all laughed and stepped inside.
Kyle exclaimed his approval over the huge brick fireplace while Kayla wandered over to the front window.
“Wow,” she said. “It’s awesome, isn’t it, Mom? Hey, what’s wrong? You’re frowning. Don’t you like it?”
“I love it, but look around. Someone’s been in here. How else would it get so clean?” When she entered the kitchen and opened the cupboard doors, she found the shelves packed with canned goods and even the refrigerator had been filled with fresh food.
“Who do you think was here?” Kayla asked, as she wandered from room to room. “Oh, wow! Come and look at this bathroom! I didn’t know Auntie Em ever had this kind of money.”
“She was a very famous author at one time, Kayla.”
“Hey, Mom,” Kyle called out from one of the bedrooms. “Come in here. There are three large bedrooms, each with bookshelves and a desk to set our laptops on.”
“Oh, this is so cool,” Kayla said, and glanced back at her when she entered one of the bedrooms.
“Now I know why Auntie Em stayed so long each time she came here to write. It’s wonderful. I’m just wondering who else has been around, and apparently quite recently.”
They walked around, looking in closets, dressers, and every nook and cranny, when suddenly there was a knock at the door. All three heads turned toward the living room. Kyle hurried to the door and slowly opened it. A tall broad-shouldered man grinned on the threshold and held out his hand to Kyle.
“You must be the Beckers,” the stranger said. “Welcome to the land of peace and tranquility. I’m your closest neighbor. I live on the ranch just a mile up the road.”
Cassandra stepped around Kyle and held out her hand. “Hi, I’m Cassandra. This is Kyle and Kayla. You must be Nick Colburn. My A
unt mentioned your name.”She didn’t tell me he was young and good looking.
When Auntie Em told her about the nice man up the road, she’d pictured him to be an older, retired gentleman. This man appeared to be nearly six feet tall, with brown hair that barely touched his shoulders. His eyes were a bright hazel.
“I just wanted to stop by to say hello. Your Aunt Emma called me this morning to tell me when she figured you’d be here. If there’s anything you need help with, just let me know. My phone number should be in the address book your aunt keeps by the phone.”
Cassandra smiled. “I’m assuming you’re the one who cleaned the place, and stocked the kitchen with food?”
“Guilty as charged.”
The twins headed outside to bring in the luggage.
“Your aunt asked me to come and get it ready for you. I take care of the grounds for her. She’s a nice woman, that aunt of yours. She treats me like part of the family.”
“Well, thank you so much for having everything ready for us. What do I owe you for the groceries?”
“Not a thing. Just relax and enjoy your stay. I’d best be getting back to the ranch. I have work to do before sunset. You make sure you call if you need help with anything. Oh, I almost forgot. I have horses. If you’d all be interested in riding, just let me know.”
“Oh, cool,” Kyle remarked with a grin, and set a suitcase down just inside the doorway.
“That would be fun,” Cassandra said, and she walked him out to the porch.
“You just let me know when you’re all settled in. I’ll be tending to the horses or out in the meadow somewhere, mending fences. I can take you all for a ride and show you around, if you like. It’s beautiful country.”
“That sounds fine. Thanks for stopping by.” She watched him walk back to his truck. Wow, what a hunk. He wore a red T-shirt stretching across those sexy muscular shoulders and jeans that fit just right. She smiled and shook her head. That’s definitely the favorable outcome of being a rancher. Grinning, she watched as the dust clouded up the driveway and his truck turned onto the county road.
Auntie Em must have had all this planned. Tomorrow, she’d better call and have a talk with that sneaky matchmaker. With a smile, she turned and headed inside.
The Sunny Side of the Mountain Page 3