Blue Bloods of Bois D’Arc (19 page)

Chapter 43

The upper hand

Cass fell across her bed and reached for her princess phone on the nearby nightstand. As she dialed Rod’s number, she tried to assemble her thoughts about how to tell him what had happened.

“Hello. Cass? You sound different, are you okay?”

“No… I’m not okay. Eddie Winthrop—” She paused to work up her courage. “Eddie Winthrop raped me!”

“What!” Rod responded in shock. “Where are you?”

“I’m okay—I’m at home. I just needed to talk to you. I don’t know if I can wait for the divorce to be final. I need you now.”

Rod tried to process what he’d just heard. “I’ll kill that bastard. What happened? What were you doing with Eddie? Talk to me, Cass. What’s going on?”

“If you’ll calm down, I’ll tell you everything.”

Rod agreed and listened as Cass painfully explained the sordid details of how she came to be with Eddie and the assault before he interrupted her again.

“Did you call the law?”

“No.”

“What? Did your mom take you to the hospital?

“No.” Again.

“What’s going on? I’ll come take you to the emergency room and make sure you’re okay. Then we’ll go to the police station and file charges against Eddie. That little shit can’t hide behind his daddy’s law firm on this one. I’ve got one of the best lawyers in Dallas and he’ll eat Eddie’s lunch in court and . . .”

“I’m not filing charges.” She solemnly cut him off.

Momentarily shocked into silence he finally asked, “Are you serious? Why not? You dropped charges against Roger for assault and murder for causing your miscarriage and a dozen other charges you could have tacked on. Now this. I don’t understand.”

“I know you don’t,” she said softly, “but believe me, it’s better this way. At first I said the same thing. I was going to make Roger pay dearly for what he did. But after I thought about it, I decided not to file charges because I just wanted to be rid of him and that life so I could start over fresh, a new life. I grieved over losing the baby, but I knew I wasn’t ready to be a mother. It would have been cruel to bring a child into that marriage. I just want a life with you here in Bois D’Arc. That’s all I ever wanted.

“Eddie’s just a spoiled high school jerk who never grew up. If I take him to court, he would smear my name and family with his lies. His father is pretty thick with Judge Morgan. It would come down to my word against his and you know how this town loves to gossip. I just don’t want to go through a trial. It would be too degrading. I’ll get my payback in other ways. He knows a trial would also destroy his credibility, career, and family. If he even looks at me crossways again, I have that Sheriff Deputy’s badge number. I know Eddie paid him off not to file his report on the hospital visit. And he knows I have that information. I have him by the balls, Rod. He won’t ever bother me again. I just want us to be happy here, raise a family, and live a normal life. We couldn’t do that with a big rape scandal hanging over our heads.”

“Right now, I want to beat the shit out of him. I’m not sure I can control my temper if I ever see him again. It just isn’t right. He gets a free pass and you have to carry that baggage the rest of your life.”

“Not quite,” she said confidently. “I’m holding all the aces and can play that card any time,” she said satisfied with her power to manipulate the situation. “He will spend the rest of his life looking over his shoulder. I can deal with the rape because it gives me leverage to keep him out of my life and out of our lives together forever. Having you all to myself makes everything all right. We still have a few weeks until the divorce is final, but I can’t wait, I want to see you. I’ll meet you at the number nine green tomorrow night.” With her mouth pressed against the phone, she said, “I love you.”

Divorce is final

On the sixty-first day after filing in the 68
th
District Court in Dallas, the final divorce decree was signed by Judge Martin Hoffman. Cass was a free woman. When Roger failed to file an answer to her petition after he was served, it became an uncontested, no-fault divorce. Cass didn’t even have to appear in court. It was a quick and simple one. She had fired Eddie’s firm and retained Baxter Cardin, Rod’s attorney from Dallas, who walked the papers through the court procedure.

A small family celebration was held at the Worthington mansion the day Judge Hoffman signed off on the final decree. Also included was Jack Workman, escorting Rod’s mother, Mary Virginia, whose recovery from her stroke was miraculous.

“I think a toast is in order,” Randolph Worthington III said. “Champagne classes up, everyone. Here’s to a new life for Cass and many years of happiness to come. Cheers!” The clinking glasses were music to his ears as everyone tipped their flutes in celebration of Cass’s freedom to start a new life.

A lot had happened since the filing date. She and Rod had secretly been meeting before Eddie’s assault. After the assault, they were inseparable with the approval of Gramps and Margaret. John C. Worthington, Cass’s dad and the quiet member of the family, had always approved of Rod and felt his confidence had been rewarded. Rod was now firmly entrenched in the Worthington family, as was Jack. The success of RJ Systems had swollen the balance sheets of Randolph’s Mercantile Bank considerably in recent years. If there was anything the Worthingtons and blue bloods understood, it was success, money, and power. Rod’s business acumen and position at RJ Systems raised his financial status and elevated him into good standing among the blue-blood ranks. An amazing achievement for the poor kid from the north side of town who was only accepted for his football prowess. But as soon as he lost that ability to an injury, he was discarded and forgotten after he joined the military.

Cass took Rod’s hand and squeezed it to her chest. “We would like to announce that following the thirty-day waiting period after the divorce, as required by Texas law, Rod and I are getting married.”

It was no surprise. Warm congratulations and hugs were exchanged. Margaret exclaimed, “Oh, my, that doesn’t give me much time to plan the biggest and best wedding Bois D’Arc has ever seen.”

“Wait a minute, Mom,” Cass interrupted. “There isn’t going to be a big wedding. I had that in Dallas the first time around. All I want is a quiet ceremony with our families and the man I’ve loved all my life in the chapel of Bois D’Arc Methodist Church. We plan to honeymoon in Acapulco for a well-deserved new beginning.”

“Well, if there isn’t going to be a big wedding or reception, we can all come back here for a reception and one of Essie’s special red velvet cakes. Please, Cass, at least let me take you shopping in Dallas for a new wedding dress and honeymoon wardrobe.”

“Okay, Mom, you win.” Only the second time in her life she had given in to her hovering mother, her big wedding was the first. We can shop for a new wedding dress, nothing formal, just a nice late summer evening dress that I can wear again. And as for the honeymoon wardrobe, I don’t think I’ll be needing one,” she said with a smile and wink at Rod.

Margaret blushed but ignored her comment. “Let’s plan on going this Wednesday to avoid the Saturday crowd at Neiman’s.”

Chapter 44

A new beginning

Happier than either thought possible, Rod and Cass returned from Acapulco with golden, bronze tans and bleached hair after a romantic week of sun, sand, and midnight swims in a blue lagoon that opened into the Pacific Ocean. Many years of frustration and bad memories were washed away as they frolicked in the chilly Pacific breakers only a short walk from the Grand Mayan Hotel. They lived like royalty and made love after watching the spectacular sunsets turn the blue skies into gold at the end of each day. Cass had finally achieved her teenage dream.

The time to return to the real world in Bois D’Arc came all too soon. They hadn’t been officially welcomed into the prestigious blue-blood ranks yet. It was only a matter of time, as Cass was a blue-blood legacy. Rod’s success at RJ Systems made him an asset to the blue-blood business community, especially patriarch Randolph Worthington III and his bank, which was the lifeblood of the community.

Rod and Cass moved in with Mary Virginia while their new house was being built within sight of the home place. Rod’s aging mother was thrilled to have their company for as long as they wanted to stay. Even though she had a live-in helpmate who kept her company, she missed her children. Rod was always at work and his younger sister and brother had moved out in pursuit of their own careers. Jessica was now a fourth-grade teacher at Bois D’Arc Elementary and lived in her own apartment in town. Mark lived in Dallas and was a cadet in the Dallas Police Academy.

“Mary Virginia, would you make a list of Rod’s favorite foods for me?” Cass asked

“I’ll do better than that—I’ll teach you how to make them.”

While Rod was at work, which was most of the time, Mary Virginia taught Cass how to cook all of his favorite meals. Not that she needed to—Cass would have a cook and housekeeper in her new home. She used the time to get to know Rod’s mother and all the things he liked. She also learned to sew and helped her mother-in-law with the few household chores Mary Virginia insisted on doing herself.

“This is fun. I was never allowed to do anything in the kitchen or clean up my own room. I’m so glad we’ve had this time to get to know each other better. Rod is so lucky to have you as his mother.”

The two women bonded easily and formed a strong relationship built on a love for the man they would now share.

“It’s good to have you back, son. How was your first week back at the grindstone?” Jack asked his protégé at the end of the workday on Friday, as they sat behind their desks littered with official papers.

Rod leaned back in his chair. “It feels different . . . in a good way,” he added quickly. “I feel like I have something . . . someone to work for now. A greater purpose than before, you know what I mean?”

“Yeah, I think I do. You’re lucky to have a wonderful woman like Cass. She’ll be a great asset to you and your career. But, don’t ever let your job here come between you,” Jack advised. “I can tell you that from experience. It isn’t worth it. What say we go by the club for a beer like old times? We won’t stay long. I know you’re anxious to get home to your little lady and I don’t blame you.”

Still driving his Mercedes rental, Rod debated with himself whether to keep it. It was too ostentatious for his liking at first, but it was growing on him. It also fit in well with the other cars in the Lakewood Country Club parking lot. Rod was beginning to appreciate and desire the finer things he could afford in his new life. A complete reverse of his youthful views on life. Jack, on the other hand, still drove his older model Lincoln Continental into the parking place next to Rod. They walked into the dining room together as they had done many times before. Rod took only one step into the dining area and stopped dead in his tracks. He grasped Jack’s arm to get his attention.

In a muffled voice, he said, “I can’t believe the first person I see is Eddie Winthrop. If we just ignore him and keep walking to that table over there, maybe he won’t see us.” Rod pointed to a table on the opposite side of the room. “The last thing I want is to have to talk to that jerk.”

“Fine by me,” Jack responded. Rod had confided Eddie’s assault on Cass to Jack, who didn’t completely agree with Rod and Cass’s handling of the situation.

Rod’s hope that Eddie would be too engaged with his noisy friends to notice them was short lived. As soon as Eddie saw them, he left his friends and approached Rod and Jack’s table.

“I guess you think you’ve won, Mr. Big Shot,” Eddie said belligerently. “It’s not over.”

“Look,” Rod said. “This is what I think, Eddie. I know everything that happened and I
think
you had best stay away from me and Cass. Do you understand? If you can’t do that, I
will
have your ass in jail so fast it’ll make your head spin.”

“Is that a threat? Because if I wanted to, I could take
your
ass to court and make you sorry you were born.”

“Not a threat, Eddie, just a friendly suggestion. If I were you, I’d take it seriously. Now, walk away and stay away.” Rod said, pointing in the direction of his friends.

“It’s Edward, and don’t you forget it,” Eddie said, walking away in a huff.

“What was that all about?” Jack asked.

“Oh . . . just Eddie being Eddie,” Rod said through clenched teeth. “He’s a loser. He better keep his distance from Cass and me. I would so like to punch his nose into the back of his head. I’m sorry, Jack, I don’t feel like a beer right now. I’d better be getting home. Have a good weekend. See you Monday.” Rod gave Jack a pat on the shoulder as he got up to leave.

“My best to Cass,” Jack called after Rod.

“Same here,” Eddie said, loud enough to be heard by everyone in the dining room.

Rod paused, made a half turn toward Eddie’s table, and then stopped. He made eye contact that Eddie could feel burning through his pupils. It took all of Rod’s willpower to resist the urge to slam Eddie’s face into the table the way he’d started to do that night after the prom. But he knew that’s exactly what Eddie wanted. He let out the breath he had been holding for what seemed like a long time, and left the club with his fists tightly clenched—maybe for another day.