Flee From Evil (22 page)

“I lied to you, led you on, took from you.” Vince ground his teeth. “And left you vulnerable to that …” He dropped his head in his hands. “I should have gone after you. At least you would have been safe from
him
.”

The rain stopped. Cassandra realized how damp they both were, but didn’t care. “Sophie’s been asking questions.” She shivered and Vince put his arm around her as though the clock had receded sixteen years. This time she didn’t jolt at his tentative touch. In fact, it seemed best to nestle into his warmth. “I don’t know what to tell her.”

He seemed uncertain by her proximity. “I have a feeling, only the truth will satisfy her.”

Cassandra’s mind drew up the vision of the two of them chatting together in the pew, and what Sophie had revealed about his fatherly advice.

Vince ran his hand up and down her bare arm at the next shiver. It warmed her.

She didn’t dare move. “I don’t know the truth, and I can’t tell her all of it … that she could be the product of such violence.”

Vince’s arms tightened around her. She felt secure there. “I think we need to find out the truth.”

She bolted up and searched his expression.

“If it’s me, you can confirm what she already believes.” Was he ready for that?

“And if it’s not?”

Cassandra felt the swallow at his throat. “Let’s just hope she’s mine.”

Hope? His?

Did he really want to be Sophie’s dad? Did Cassandra want that too?

Too overwhelmed by the possibilities, she settled into his chest again. Was this a dream? It must be, because next she said, “Yes, let’s hope.”

Chapter Twenty

Sophie opened the door at the knock.

Sky gave her a penitent grin from the other side.

“What do you want?” Her voice wasn’t exactly inviting.

He eyed the inside of the house, both hands shoved into his worn jeans pockets. “Can I come in?”

Sophie widened the door on a harrumph, letting the jerk inside. He hadn’t called or come by ever since that night at the youth group. It was clear she wasn’t his type. And if
that
is all he wanted, she no longer wanted to be.

Tibo bolted up from driving a toy truck on the floor, and ran over.

“High-five?” Sky held up his hand.

Tibo slapped it then grinned big.

“Gotta talk to your sister and see if she’ll forgive me.” His smile almost loosened her resolve. Tibo tilted his head and narrowed his eyes at Sky then jogged back to his truck.

“Oh hi, Sky.” Mom appraised him from the kitchen as she lifted the dishes out of the washer then looked to Sophie.

Sophie shrugged a response to the question in her mother’s eyes. “We’re gonna go out back and talk.”

“Sure, hon.”

Sophie slid open the screen door. Sky stepped out and took a seat at the edge of an Adirondack chair. Sophie sat across from him.

“I wanted to apologize for treating you,” he lifted a shoulder, “the way I did.”

She didn’t know how to answer him, just searched his face to see if it would reveal the truth. It was then she noticed the smudge of purple above his cheek bone. “What happened to your eye?”

He touched the spot. “Accident skateboarding a week ago. So, you gonna forgive me or what?” His tone held the hint of an edge before he softened it. “Please?”

Oh, he was especially hot sorry, but she wasn’t sure she should trust his words. Didn’t Mom always warn her that guys would say anything to get what they want?

“Look, I know you don’t believe me, but maybe you’ll let me come to church with you again. We don’t have to be alone or anything. I just want to spend time with you.”

She could relate. “You want to come to my church again?”

His grin went lopsided, his eyes sparked. Oh what that did to her insides. She’d forgotten his effect on her. “Yeah, I like the youth group.”

“But you don’t like Pastor Vince.”

“I’ll tolerate the dude as long as you let me come with you.” He raised his brow in question. “Will you?”

What could it hurt? “I guess.”

~*~

Cassandra put the last capsule in Tibo’s weekly pill minder when her mother entered, arms lined with grocery-filled plastic bags. Shaking the almost-empty enzyme bottle, Cassandra wearied at the hit her checking account would take at the next order for Tibo’s abundance of supplements.

“I got three boxes of that cereal you like—the gluten-free stuff.” Mom dropped the load on the counter. “It was on a great sale.”

Cassandra couldn’t crack a smile.

Mom pulled a milk gallon from the sack. “Where’s Sophie?”

“Sky came by. They’re out on the deck.”

“Sky?”

“Yeah. I think he’s apologizing for not being around lately.”

“Hmm.” Mom stacked cans of crushed tomatoes in the pantry.

“While they’re out there, there’s something I need to talk to you about.”

Mom pulled a bottle of syrup from the bag, and stretched to put it on a shelf above the stove. “Okay, what?”

“Vince.”

Her mother turned. “Sometimes, Cassandra, you say his name like you’ve known him for a good long time.”

Cassandra picked at her thumbnail. “I have.”

Mom closed the cabinet door, and leaned against the counter, many questions drawing lines on her forehead.

“We dated the summer before I married Tim.”

Mom’s eyes crinkled around the edges. “You dated? Why don’t I remember meeting him?”

Cassandra hated that she’d lied to her parents back then. If only she’d trusted the advice she’d tried to avoid. “He wasn’t in my usual circle of friends, and as you now know,” she twirled a strand of hair, “not the usual speed I traveled, either.”

Mom was silent, almost as if she were mentally calculating possibilities, and coming up with answers she didn’t want. She sank into a chair at the table.

“He could be Sophie’s father.”

“Could be? Did Tim know?”

Cassandra tore the top of her nail clean off. “Yes. It’s why he married me. To give her a father.”

“Knowing she could be another man’s child?”

“Knowing she
was
another man’s child.”

“But you said—”

“It’s not what you think.”

“Then what is it?”

Cassandra could barely control the tremble in her lips. Her mother’s gaze didn’t waver from her, but she would not meet it. “Vince had bet his best friend, Drew, he could … win me over.”

It was clear by her hardened jaw, Mom figured out what Cassandra’s vague choice of words meant.

Cassandra ventured a glance. “He won the bet.”

Mom gasped, placing a hand to her chest. “I …” Her eyes darted back and forth as though trying to reconcile two images before her.

“Drew was angry, so he …” Cassandra forced herself to think of Vince speaking her favorite verse, calming her, reminding her of her Savior-God. Her breaths grew deep again.

“Oh dear.” Mom stood and paced. “He raped you?”

Cassandra nodded.

“And Vince Steegle did nothing to protect you?” Her voice grew pained. “I just can’t believe …
Pastor Vince
…” his name fell from an anguished breath.

“He didn’t know. Not even about the pregnancy. I’d found out he’d paid for abortions in the past so …”

“So Tim took care of you instead.” She banged the counter with her fist.

“Yes.”

“Did you ever really love Tim?”

“I grew to.”

“You had to quit school.” Mom’s voice came from clenched teeth.

Cassandra nodded.

The woman’s jaw jerked. “And you endured those awful in-laws because—”

“I’ve never regretted marrying Tim, Mom. He was the best man I’ve ever known. He taught me so much, and he was an extraordinary father.”

Mom closed her eyes, for so long Cassandra worried she’d lost consciousness. “Why are you telling me now?”

“We plan to have Vince tested to find out if he’s Sophie’s father. He wants to know.”

“He has no right.”

Cassandra bowed her head. “No, he doesn’t.”

“Then why?”

“Sophie’s been asking, and I need to know the truth.”

The sliding-glass door rumbled open. Sophie and Sky emerged laughing. “Grandma, look who came by.”

She nodded. “Hello.” Then grabbed the keys from the counter.

“Where are you going, Mom?”

The woman ground her teeth. “For a nice, long summer drive.”

~*~

“Hi, Pastor Vince.”

Vince grasped the delicate fingers of his would-be daughter, finding it hard to let go. “Where’s your grandmother?” He’d seen her rush out the far door. Not like her.

“She took Tibo to the car.” Sophie shrugged. “I don’t know why she flew outta here so fast.”

Vince wondered too, especially after enduring some hard stares from the woman throughout his sermon. Something was bothering her, and he had a feeling he knew what. “I noticed Sky came today.” Though he left awful quick too.

The coy smile bloomed across her face. “He apologized for what happened before.”

Vince wondered about all of what happened that night at the youth group, and was on the verge of asking.

“Mom said you two have a meeting about the special needs program.”

And other things.

“She’s in the sanctuary with Kat.”

Well, that answered his next question.

Sophie headed out the door and down the steps. His heart seemed to chase after her. She was his, he knew it. The connection was too deep.

“Pastor Vince.”

He turned to greet the line of parishioners, but his thoughts were already gone. One after the other congratulated him on his gift with words. He smiled, he shook hands, but his mind kept drifting to the sanctuary and the woman inside.

“Hey.” John slapped him on the shoulder after the last congregant walked away. “Another good one today.” His fatherly smile made Vince proud of the accomplishments his mentor had cultivated.

“Thanks, John.” Vince strode toward the sanctuary.

“Vince.” Ayo passed from the side corridor. “Got some ideas about that picnic you’re planning to raise funds for the program.” He mimed shooting a basketball, sending his dreads swaying. “Hoops competition. Beat you on that one for sure.” His toothy smile gleamed.

“I like it. And I’ll like it even better when I crush you.” Vince pulled the sanctuary door as Ayo’s buoyant laughter echoed behind him.

His breath caught at the vision of Cassandra, looking especially good, auburn curls falling all over her shoulders. She pulled some strands behind her ear as she spoke intently with Kat.

Kat said something, and Cassandra became animated, talking with her hands. Vince couldn’t hold back the grin.

Kat spied him. “And there’s the man himself. We were just discussing all you’ve done to make this happen.”

Cassandra’s shoes must be her favorite since they now took all her attention.

Kat continued. “I love this picnic idea. I was wondering how we were going to pay for the new stuff. And it’s a great way to reach out to the community as well.”

His insides warmed at the little smile that grew on Cassandra’s face. Had she finally forgiven him? He’d settle for her tolerance right now. He smiled back.

“Pastor Vince?” Kat quirked a grin of her own.

“Uh, yeah. John and Ayo have some great ideas too. Can’t wait to put them all together.” He touched Cassandra’s arm. “In fact, we have a few things to discuss now.”

Kat’s attention dipped to the contact between them before she walked away.

Cassandra followed him into his office, and closed the door.

He peeked through the window at the secretary who’d agreed to chaperon them from the outer office while catching up on her fiction. They needed to get a jump on planning this picnic before too much summer passed, and he didn’t want to take any chances their meeting would reflect badly on Cass’s reputation. Yolanda sat, dug out a reading device, and propped her feet onto her desk.

There were a few things he and Cassandra needed to clear up in private.

Cass sat in front of Vince’s desk, her expression turning serious.

“Your mom knows, doesn’t she?”

The weight of his guilt increased with the nod of her head. She looked into her hands. “I figured if we were going to divulge all eventually, I’d need to start somewhere.” She picked at a nail. “I thought she’d be the easiest place to begin.”

“And?” Did he really want to know?

Cassandra’s lips pressed into a thin line.

“What aren’t you saying?”

Her green eyes lifted to his. She swallowed. “I guess it’s easier for parishioners to forgive your past sins when they don’t know they’ve been directly impacted by them.”