Following Your Heart (Love Conquers All) (6 page)

The next day after church Cassie and Courtney worked on finishing up the wedding invitations.  Courtney was determined to do them herself and Cassie had to admit that they turned out great.  As they were finishing up the last set there was a knock at the front door.  Cassie got up and ran to the door and saw Brad standing on the porch.  “Hey Brad,” she smiled and moved back so he could come in.  “Courtney's in the dining room.  “Courtney, Brad's here.”

“Hey Brad,” she leaned in and gave him a long and lingering kiss that Cassie had to look away, she felt that she was intruding.  “What are you doing here?  I wasn't expecting to see you.”

“Hey babe, can I talk to you for a moment...” he looked over at Cassie, “alone?”

“Uh, okay...I'll be back in a minute.”  Cassie heard the apprehension in Courtney's voice as they two began to leave the room.

“I'll go mail these invitations Court, I could use the fresh air and it will give you time to talk.”

“Sounds good.” 

Cassie grabbed the envelopes and headed out door.  Brad seemed to have a serious demeanor when arrived.  Cassie just hoped that everything was alright.  He didn't object to her mailing the invitations, so that was a good sign.  She chuckled at her paranoia, everything was fine...she was certain of it.  She still couldn't believe that Courtney would soon be
a part of Seth's family, but it didn't matter...as long as Courtney was happy.  As she was approaching the post office, she saw her friend Scarlett coming out of the building.  Their eyes met at the same time and Scarlett stared in surprise.  “Cassie, what are you doing here?”

She still wanted to keep her breakup a secret, with the exception of Courtney.  “I came to help with Courtney's wedding preparations.”  She held up the stack of invites, “I am just dropping these off.”

“How are you doing?  How are Thomas and the kids?”

“We are all great.  In fact, I was going to call you this week.  I'm pregnant with child number 5.”

Cassie shook her head in disbelief, right after high school Thomas and Scarlett eloped.  It seemed every other year they were expecting a child.  “It's been a long time, I haven't even met little Frankie or Joey.”

“Well, that will all have to change.  Why don't you come over to the house tomorrow
night?  I'll cook and you can catch up with the whole family.”

“I would like
that; I'll see you...let's say about 6:00?”

“Sounds good, see ya then Cassie.”  Cassie smiled to
herself; it would be good to see all of them again.  She went in and dropped off the invitations and then headed back to the house. 

When she got back in the house she could hear that they were still talking.  “Cassie has a right to know.”  Her sister was saying, instantly pulling Cassie to attention. 

“Why?  Everyone had moved on, why does Cassie have to know what happened?”

“Brad, you know I can't keep secrets.  Especially from my sister.  She would see right through me.  Besides, if something has changed...maybe there's hope after all.”

“I don't know Courtney...it could be a mess.  I shouldn't get involved, it's too personal and I don't want my sister to get hurt.”

Cassie backed way, making sure she couldn't be seen.  “Maybe you're right, but Cassie is my sister and I don't want her getting hurt either.”  The room was quiet for a moment, “Fine, we won't say anything.  They'll have to work it out themselves.  What is meant to be will be.”  Cassie went to the door and opened it, slamming it shut so that Brad and Courtney wouldn't continue their conversation.  Courtney looked up as Cassie walked into the dining room.  “Did you get those mailed?” 

“Yeah,” Cassie looked at Brad and then to Courtney, trying to figure out what they were hiding.  “It's all taken care of.”

“Thanks Cassie, we appreciate it.”  Bradley replied quietly and he barely looked her way.  “I have a few things to take care
of; I'll see you both later.”  He kissed Courtney and was gone in a second.

Cassie turned to Courtney and smiled, “So, did you have a nice talk?”

“Yeah, just wedding stuff.  Thanks again for taking care of the invitations.”

Cassie could definitely feel the tension change in the room as Courtney went on to straightening up her scrap-booking materials.  “I saw Scarlett at the post office.  I'm going to go to their house tomorrow night.  It's been awhile since I've seen everyone.  Did you know Scarlett's expecting another baby?”

“She is?  Wow, I hadn't heard that.”  Cassie stared at Courtney as Courtney was avoiding eye contact.  “Would this be their 4
th
child?”

“Actually, their 5
th
.  Courtney, is everything alright?”

Courtney looked up, “Yes, why wouldn't it be?”

“I don't know...it just seems that you're a little preoccupied.  Maybe Brad said something that has you flustered.”

“No, it's nothing.  I am telling you...everything's fine.” 

Cassie could tell when she wasn't being exactly truthful with her, but she didn't want to pry.  It was true she heard her name brought up, so knowing it had something to do with her...it worried her.  In time she was going to find out, so Cassie tried not to think about it.  She just hoped Courtney hadn't told him she was now technically single.  “Okay, is there something else we need to do today?”

“No, I don't believe so. Do you have any plans tonight?”

“Not really.  How about you?”

“Brad, is going to come by later and we're going to go out for supper.  Do you
want to come?”

Cassie shook her head, “No thanks, but I appreciate the offer.”  Before she left the room she looked back at Courtney.  “Courtney, promise me you won't tell him about Chad.  You didn't already, did you?”

Courtney shook her head.  “I promise you, I haven't said anything.  I don't know why you want to keep it between us.”

“You never know what will happen and I don't want everyone to form an opinion about Chad.”

“You felt at ease to tell me...”

“We're sisters and friends and I know that you are concerned about me, but you will leave me to make my decision.”

“Cassie...” Courtney began, “do me a favor?”

“Okay.” 

“Keep your options open.  You said it yourself; you never know what will happen.”

Cassie cocked her head, “Are you sure you're okay?”

Courtney smiled, “Just promise me.”

“I promise Court, but you're getting all philosophical with me and I don't like it.”  Cassie laughed to show she was teasing.

“It's nothing, just a sister being overprotective.”

“Courtney, I'm the older one and I should be protective over you.  So, if there's anything you need to say...you can.”

“I know, but there's nothing.”  Courtney smiled and went back to what she was doing.  Cassie wished she believed that, but she had a nagging sensation that something was going on and it definitely worried her.

____________________

Cassie arrived at Scarlett's house 6:00 on the dot.  When Thomas answered the door, his smile was welcoming.  “Cassie, it's so good to see you.  Come in.”  He helped her with her jacket and then hugged her.  “When Scarlett said you were coming, I tried to remember how long it has been.”

“2 years,” Cassie replied with a smile.  “Scarlett was pregnant with child number 3.”

“Has it been that long?  Then you haven't met Frankie or Joey yet?”

Cassie shook her head, “I haven't and Bethany and Kari were both young when I saw them.  I am dying to see them all.”

“They are all playing upstairs.  I'll take over the cooking and let Scarlett lead the way.”

“Thanks Thomas,
” it was only a moment before Scarlett came out to the foyer.

“I am so glad you came Cass.”  They briefly hugged and then she pulled away.  “You
want to go see everyone?”

“Of course.”  Cassie replied as they headed upstairs.  They stopped at the bigger of the
bedrooms; the one where Cassie remembered was Bethany's. 

The door was closed and Scarlett stopped and knocked.  “She may only be 9, but she has an adult mindset.  She hates being interrupted.

“Come in.”  Scarlett opened the door and Cassie was taken aback by the room.  It looked like the room of a teenager, there were boys band posters lining on the walls and a desk full of makeup and perfume.

Bethany looked up and smiled.  “Aunt Cassie,” she jumped up and Cassie pulled her into a hug.  “I've missed you.”

Cassie could feel her eyes get moist as Bethany stepped back.  “You have gotten so big.  I didn't know if you would remember me.”

“Mom talks about you all the time,” she laughed.  “How could I not?”

Cassie looked over at Scarlett, “Guilty as charged.”  Thomas and Scarlett was the other half of Seth and Cassie's foursome.  They would go everywhere together and sometimes it pained Cassie that that was no longer an option.

Cassie laughed, “Well, it's great to be back here.  You are all grown up.”

“Thanks Aunt Cassie.”  She turned to Scarlett, “Mom, can Lily come over for Supper?”

“I suppose so, but hurry up...it will be ready in a few minutes.”

“Thank you,” they hugged and Bethany ran out of the room.

“Scarlett, I really do feel old.  She seems so mature for her age.”

“I suppose she feels she has to be.  She really helps out with the younger ones.  Which is why she may appear spoiled, but I tend to reward her for her help.  Thomas works such long hours at the Police station and I am just so tired sometimes, but Bethany is there for me.  Come on, you have three more kids to see.”  Cassie sensed sadness, but she couldn't imagine what she would have to be sad about.  They went to the next room and she saw Kari sitting on her floor, her dolls sitting in rows, it appeared she was the teacher and they were the pupils.  She tried to hide her smile, but she remembered many days in her youth when she would portray the teacher.  “Kari?”

Kari looked around and smiled, “Hi mommy.  I'm playing school.  Samuel has been bad again, so he is in the corner.”  She pointed to the other side of the room where her stuffed bear was facing the corner.  Cassie couldn't help but giggle.

“I am sure he will learn his lesson,” Scarlett replied with a chuckle.  She turned to Cassie, “She's 5...she has a wild imagination,” she whispered.  “Kari, you were only 3 the last time you saw your Aunt Cassie.”

Kari got up and stared at Cassie, “Are you really my Aunt?”

Cassie smiled, “Not exactly, but I would like for you to call me Aunt Cassie...if that would be alright with you.”

Kari smiled, “I don't have an Aunt, so I...I would like that.”

“Supper will be ready soon, why don't you go wash your hands.”

“Awww, Mommy...do I have to?”

“Yes, so please go do it.”

“Okay,” she stomped away and Cassie turned to Scarlett.

“Hm...She reminds me of her mother.”

Scarlett laughed, “I was never that stubborn, was I?”

“I seem to remember a few occasions, but you grew out of it...she will too.”

“Then there's hope.”  Scarlett replied as she shut off the bedroom light and went to the last room in the hallway.  There were two cribs in the room and Cassie knew that bringing another baby into the house was going to be pushing it.  “This here is
Frankie; she just turned 2 last week.”  Scarlett picked her up out of the crib and Frankie started to smile wide. 

“She is adorable, she looks just like you.”  Cassie ran her hand over her cheek and her eyes got big.  “I'm your Aunt Cassie sweetie.”  She laughed and then laid her head down on Scarlett's shoulder.

“She can be shy, but once she gets to know you...she will be your shadow.”

“She is precious.”  Cassie replied with a smile as she ran her hand through the child's curls.

“Then over here is Joey.  He turned 1 last month.”

Cassie looked down at the sleeping boy in his crib.  “He looks so sound. 
He definitely resembles Thomas.”

“Yes he does.”  Scarlett replied as they looked down at him.  “I have a monitor
downstairs; we'll let him sleep until he's hungry.  He has been sick for the past few days; the rest will do him some good.”

“Anything serious?”

“No, just a cold.”  Scarlett shut off the light and they quietly left.  “So, that would be my bunch and then this little one will be born in about 7 months.”

“Are you going to find out what you're having?”

“I don't know that's kind of the debate between Thomas and me.  He wants to wait, but I would like to know so we could plan for it.  I guess when it gets closer to the ultrasound, we'll decide.”

Thomas was just finishing the food when they walked into the kitchen.  “Thanks babe,” she replied as she gave him a kiss.  “Did Bethany and Lily come back?”

“Yeah, they're washing up.  Why don't you ladies go have a seat at the table and I will serve.”

Scarlett's eyes got big, “How could I pass that up?”