Chapter 16
Kiera gave an appreciative glance towards Cassie before she turned to Frank. “Well, I think I’ll be jealous, Frankie.”
Frank looked smug as he began loading the dishwasher. “I thought you weren’t into younger women.”
“I’m not, usually, but she is exquisite, Frank.” Then she lowered her voice. “Is she getting counselling?”
Frank looked up in surprise. “Why do you ask?”
“Her mask is very good but she’s not comfortable with Stephen`s flirting and she keeps making certain there’s nothing between her and the door. There’s an aura about her like some of my pro bono clients who’ve been abused.”
“If she’d been living here in Halifax when I found her I might have asked you to represent her rather than rushing her into marrying me.” Frank gave Kiera a brief synopsis of her home situation.
Kiera did not seem surprised by the story and said, “I wish you could convince her to go to the police. It’s often the only way to break the cycle.”
“Or it reinforces it.”
Kiera shrugged. “Unfortunately true. But Cassie may feel better knowing she tried.”
“She’s very scared of her mother’s new husband. He brags that he has gang connections.”
Kiera pondered that for a second. “Does she know enough to matter?”
Frank tried to remember all of the talks he’d had with Stephen and Kiera about testifying to what you’ve witnessed. “Probably not about the gang. Most of what she knows about them is hearsay, even Gord’s bragging about making big drug runs to the States. On the other hand, she has seen prohibited drugs in her Mom’s possession, was frequently assaulted by Gord, and at least two other men participated in the assaults. One of those guys was wearing gang colours. A third guy she thinks is a gang member was there one afternoon to keep her in the apartment but from the way she talks about it she didn’t try to leave so her suspicions weren’t tested.”
“So nothing can be proven about forcible confinement.”
“Well, not against that guy. Gord is a different story. It’s probably too late to press charges against Gord and his buddies for the assaults, though.”
Kiera hedged. “There isn’t a firm time limit on sexual assault or interference but without a medical exam or provably unretouched photos from the time of the assault it’s very hard to prosecute unless there are witnesses. It would be very difficult to get the Crown interested in a ‘he-said, she-said’ case, especially if the guys back each other up.” Kiera decided to change the subject. “So you’ll be part of the yacht club fleet this year?”
Frank smiled. “Yes, but only as far as Lunenburg. Cassie’s never sailed before so I’ve recruited my niece Jan and her best friend Hannah Dixon to crew for me. We’re going to air out Dale’s boat tomorrow and I’m going to teach Cassie how to use the galley so we can eat properly for a change.”
Kiera shook her head. “I remember seventeen. I was so clueless.”
Frank cast a glance towards Cassie and smiled. “Big time, as I recall.”
Kiera punched his arm. “Watch it, you. You weren’t any better.” She gave another look towards Cassie who was listening intently to Genevieve explain something in the earnest way of six year olds. “It’s really a shame she had to grow up so quickly.” She turned to Frank. “Be careful with her, Frank. The women I work with who’ve been in similar situations aren’t … balanced. She probably has a bunch of hidden triggers and she’ll overreact to something you do or say. And there are some areas where she hasn’t had the time to grow up because she’s had to grow up too fast in other parts of her life.”
Frank nodded. “We’ve already found some of those triggers and we’re working through them. I’m sure we’ll find more. But I do know what you mean about the missing out part. Our first meal out was at a middling Chinese restaurant but I think it was the first time she’d been to a sit down restaurant since her parents separated. I was almost embarrassed by her excitement. And the flight down here was fun because I loved seeing her reactions.”
“There will be more of those incidents. I expect the cruise down to Lunenburg will be a brand new experience for you because you’ll get to see it through her eyes.”
“That’s why you always have at least one of the underprivileged kids from the water polo team crew for you, isn’t it?”
“Yeah. It’s great to see their excitement, even if they try to come off like it’s no big deal.”
“And you like the looks you get?”
“Hey, even if I have no real interest in men, it’s nice to be considered attractive, as long as they behave themselves. And the young men from the team do.” She grew thoughtful. “I picked up that book you recommended on living as a Christian with same sex attraction. She made some very good points.”
“So will I see you in church?”
“Maybe.” She saw Frank’s eyes following Cassie. “I’m so glad you found someone, Frank.” There was a wistful expression on Kiera’s face.
“Me, too.”
Cassie looked up from her conversation to see Frank’s fond glances coming her way and she responded in kind then added a beaming smile before beckoning him to join the rest of the group.
———
Frank spotted his father dancing with Cassie. Then the small crowd of dancers blocked his view.
He overheard one of the women nearby ask, “Who’s Grant dancing with?”
Another woman with a superior tone answered, “His newest daughter-in-law. Dear Frank got married a couple of weeks ago without inviting anyone. I guess Leona wasn’t good enough for him.”
Frank rolled his eyes and schooled himself not to turn around. A man said, “Well, I can see that he’s still got good taste in women.”
“But she’s a nobody. I asked around and no one’s ever seen or heard of her before.”
“With her looks it doesn’t matter. I hope she’s got a sister.” Frank recognized the voice as a recently divorced colleague of his father’s and tightened his control.
Stephen said, in a low tone. “Haven’t they got anything better to talk about?”
Frank shrugged. “At least I don’t have Leona or Kirstie fawning all over me tonight.”
“I’ll bet you’re relieved.”
“A little. But I am worried about Cassie. She doesn’t look like she’s enjoying herself.” He indicated Cassie and his father on the dance floor. Frank recognized the overly polite look on her face as one she used to conceal frustration. He also recognized that his father was equally frustrated and angry on top of that.
Stephen asked, “Anything wrong?”
Frank said, “I don’t think so. It looks like Dad’s trying to buy Cassie off.”
Stephen noticed the very fixed polite smile Cassie was using and the deepening red of Grant’s florid face. “I don’t think he’s convinced her.” Then he turned to Frank. “You’re much better for her than a fat bank account, though I will admit that money’s nice to have. I’m pretty sure that she’s in love with you, Frank.”
Frank sighed. “She is pretty special, Stephen.”
Stephen continued in a low tone. “I’m having a very hard time believing she’s only seventeen. She has so much more poise than most of our crowd. She’s a much better match for you than that last woman you dated. What did you see in her?”
“Meredith is a good Christian woman and wanted to start a family right away. But we didn’t see eye to eye on a bunch of minor things. And she was very intimidated by my family.”
Stephen saw Cassie’s alert form float past along with a silently fuming Grant. “I don’t think Cassie has that problem.”
“No. She says it comes from having to lobby the medical system when her Granny was battling cancer. She’s awfully stubborn. She’s very polite about it, but she’s stubborn.”
“She’ll need it to deal with your family.” He sipped his drink. “You might want to make your excuses after this dance.”
“I think I’ll ask Cassi
e to dance with me first. We can’t let Dad have even a hint that he got to us.”
Stephen nodded. “I suppose you’re right. But you are newlyweds and it’s so obvious that you’re madly in love with her. No one will think it strange if you leave early.”
Frank smiled and said, “You’re right.” Then, in a tone that suggested he was plotting something, he said, “But I have a better idea. And thanks for the reminder.” He clapped a puzzled looking Stephen on the shoulder and returned to his table.
The music ended and Frank took Cassie’s hand as she approached with his father. Frank said, calmly, “I hope you had a good conversation.”
Grant looked daggers at his son. “Not particularly.” He turned to Cassie and pointed at her. “You know my expectations.” Then he turned on his heel and left before she could respond.
Frank handed Cassie her drink and said, “We should dance.”
Cassie sighed and rolled her shoulders to release some of her tension. “I’d rather go home, if you don’t mind.”
“If we do that right away Dad scores some points. I’d rather we stayed for at least one more dance and then I’ll introduce you to some more of my favourite people here. Do you understand?”
Cassie sipped her drink to allow herself the time to think. “Because if we leave right away, your father will think that he’s gotten to me and that there might be a crack he can widen between us.” She tilted her head in thought. “But if we dance and you introduce me as your lovely bride then we reinforce that we are truly a couple, right?” However temporarily.
“That’s exactly right, o wise and beautiful wife.”
Cassie smiled and giggled to relieve her tension. She set her drink on the table and tugged him onto the dance floor, flowing into his arms as the music started. “Then, o kind and handsome husband, we should put on a show.”
After a short time on the dance floor, Frank gathered her closer and said, “It’s a good thing I don’t need to act like I’m in love with you, isn’t it?”
Cassie stumbled and Frank caught her. “You love me? I thought you made that up as an excuse your friends would buy.” She looked at him with eyes wide, showing both surprise and concern.
“I’ve been telling everyone the truth, actually. But I realized while I was speaking with Stephen just now that I’ve never actually said those exact words to you. A dreadful oversight on my part.” He guided her around another couple. “I love you Cassandra Gudrun Marcussen Ellis and I plan to stick around for a very long time, if you let me.”
Cassie fell silent, obviously trying to process the information and decide how to respond.
Frank said, quietly, “I know that when I was younger it was very difficult to tell the difference between all of the emotions that are labelled love. And I think the jumbling is worse for you because you are still recovering from the shocks of losing your Granny and your Dad and moving in with your Mum and marrying me to get away from Gord. But I know that you have some feelings for me and I really hope that those feelings include love.”
Cassie gave him a brief smile. “Everything is still so mixed up, Frank. But I do care for you and I’m really glad that you’re my husband.”
Frank beamed at Cassie. “That will do for now, my love. Now, what did Dad offer you?”
Cassie’s face got hard and Frank thought she wanted to stomp her foot. “Oh, he makes me so mad. He’s almost as bad as Vlad. As if everything in the world comes down to having enough money so you don’t have to take anyone else into consideration.”
“It’s why I don’t get along with him.”
“I know, Frank.” Cassie smiled up at her husband. “He offered to pay for a top notch lawyer to get me a very good settlement.” She looked a little chagrined as she said, “He asked about the pre-nup and I guess the look on my face told him what he wanted to know. He might call you about it.”
Frank snickered. “I told you that you shouldn’t play poker.” Then, more seriously, he asked, “How much did he offer?”
“That was it. He thought that I would jump at the chance to get my ‘fair share’ of your money.”
Frank was silent for a moment. “I wonder if Ellis Holdings is in some kind of cash flow trouble.”
Cassie furrowed her brow. “Why?”
“Because I would have thought he’d sweeten the pot. If we divorced today, you’d only be legally entitled to the things I’ve already given you and half of my income for the last two weeks. Did he say anything else?”
“He got a more complete report about my family since Sunday. He thinks that my background will damage your reputation, and his, probably, especially now that he’s got proof that my drug addict mother has been both a stripper and a prostitute, and is probably turning tricks again now that Dad’s estate has run out of money.”
Frank stroked the small of Cassie’s back and said, “He’s very wrong. You were raised by your Granny, not your mother, and sacrificed almost a quarter of your life taking very good care of her. So the story line is really the responsible orphan from the unfortunate background overcomes the odds and marries the billionaire’s grandson. The press will think it’s terribly romantic. I know I do.”
Cassie gave Frank an appreciative grin. “They would, wouldn’t they?” Then she said, “I suppose we need to play the newlywed card now, right?”
“Easy for me to do. Just look at me like you want a kiss.”
Cassie looked in his eyes and saw both tenderness and desire. Her eyes widened then she licked her lips as she focused on his eyes and the rest of the world disappeared.
Frank saw her shy look of suppressed passion and almost dragged her home before he remembered his promise. So instead he gazed at her tenderly. “I love you, Cassie Ellis.”
As the music ended, he said, “I’m going to kiss you now.” He moved his head down to gently capture her lips with a possessive kiss and felt a glimmer of hope as Cassie draped her arms around his neck and kissed him back.
Across the room, Grant was glowering and Dorothy looked smugly pleased. Closer, Kiera and Stephen Barnes both sighed, each wishing that they could find their own special someone.
Rescued Runaway Page 16