Leaving Normal (39 page)

On hearing that, Natalie tensed to the breaking point. Cassie's explanation could very well be every parents' worst nightmare.

Natalie felt as if she were being sucked into a current of floodwaters. Suffocating. Drowning. The weight was a sinking feeling the likes of which she had never before felt in her life.

"Cassie, you need to calm down and tell me what happened."

In between gulps, Cassie said, "Her name is Candi and I hate her."

Taken aback, Natalie held Cassie's hands as they sat on her bed and faced one another. "Who's Candi?"

"She's the girl Austin cheated on me with. I hate him, too." Cassie's mascara was dark smudges beneath her eyes, her lashes spiked with tears. "She works at Chicago Carryout and he was flirting with her right in front of me, and then I went to his dorm room last night—and he was with her. In bed. I caught them
doing it
."

The way Cassie said "doing it" with a negative ring and connotation gave Natalie a thread of hope that her daughter had
not
"done it" with Austin.

Compassion filled her response. "I'm so sorry you had to go through that." Natalie moved to hug her daughter, but Cassie straightened, angry. The tears subsided and she sniffed.

In a vengeful tone, Cassie blurted, "I hate Austin Mably. I wish I'd never met him."

"You're upset with good reason."

"I'm not upset. I'm so mad, I want to kill him." With that, Cassie broke down and cried again. She'd been hurt, her voice bitter. "How could he do that to me, Mom? We were supposed to be going to his house for spring break and then he does something like this to me. Why?"

Natalie wished she had a viable answer. She hated to be real honest about it: Austin Mably was a jerk. She'd sensed it when she'd met him and she'd had a feeling something like this was going to happen. But how deep the damage was, was yet to be determined.

Downstairs, the guests were forgotten, as well as Greg's look of concern as Natalie had ushered their daughter upstairs.

"Cassie…did anything happen between you and

Austin other than what you found out? I mean—" Natalie selected her words carefully "—did you and him…"

"God, Mom. Just ask me." Cassie's eyes swam with tears. "I'm still a virgin. I held out. That's why he went to someone else. If I'd've let him, we'd still be together."

Relief came out in a whoosh of words. "No, Cassie. He would not have stayed with you. I suspect he's the player type. He would have liked you for the short term, but he would have moved on."

"I'll never know, will I?" Cassie got up, went to the bathroom and yanked a line of toilet paper off the dispenser to blow her nose. She gazed at her reflection. "I feel like crap and I look like crap, and it cost you big bucks to change the airline ticket again. You can yell at me if you want. I think I deserve it."

"Oh, Cassie, no…" Natalie patted the bed beside her so Cassie would come back. "I'm not mad."

Cassie sat down, wiped the underside of her nose, the corners of her eyes. "You should be. If I was my mom, I'd be royally pissed at me."

Natalie reached out and hugged her daughter, loving the soft feel of her, breathing in the smell of her hair. "At a time like this, I am so incredibly proud of you."

Muttering in Natalie's ear, she asked, "What for?"

"For being true to yourself. For coming home when you needed a friend, and for considering me your friend
and
your mom."

"I always thought you were my best friend, Mom. I've never stopped thinking it. I'm sorry if I forgot to tell you lately."

A tear slipped down Natalie's cheek. She held Cassie's face in her hands. "I'm so glad you came home.

And I am so glad I showed you that
Playgirl
. See—it paid off."

Cassie's laughter was the first sign she was on the way to recovery, however marginal. Of course, there was the trauma of discovering the boy she'd had a thing for had been unfaithful. At any age, that would be hurtful. "Mom, looking at a nude-guy magazine did not make me hold on to my virginity." Gazing into Natalie's eyes, Cassie went on, "
You
made me hold on to it. Sex was never an off-topic subject in our house. And the way you were always talking to me about how special it was to wait until your wedding night—I listened. And that's what I want to do."

Swallowing the lump that had formed in her throat, Natalie sighed. "I'm so glad you think that way. These days it's uncommon for girls to wait. You'll think it's worth it when the time comes."

"I know. But that's not to say I don't like to make out."

"Urn, yes…" Natalie gave a nervous laugh. "Well, maybe I don't need to know about the details."

Cassie blew her nose once more, tore apart the tissue in her hands. Then with a puzzled frown that wrinkled her forehead, she asked, "Who are all those people downstairs?"

Venting a half laugh, Natalie informed, "That would be Grandpa's girlfriend, Iris. Your dad's girlfriend, Renee—I think you already met her at Christmas at your dad's house—and my friend, Tony."

"I know who Tony is. He's hot."

"Yes, I believe you've mentioned that already."

"Are you dating him? Because if you are, I'd think it would be cool."

At this point, assailed by confusion, Natalie wasn't sure what she was doing with Tony.

Iris's house was decorated with a homey touch. Her hardwood floors gleamed a golden color while a red, green and gold Persian rug lay beneath the coffee table.

Fred wished this evening's visit with Iris could have been under more normal circumstances instead of drinking coffee and talking about what had just transpired at his daughter's house.

Easter dinner had begun on very shaky ground but, oddly, had ended on a happy note. Cassie's surprise visit was the glue that had put things to rights.

When she came downstairs with Natalie, Cassie gave her dad a hug and declared that everything was great now that she was home. A sigh of relief had been breathed by Fred—and everyone else.

The revelations of the day were forgotten—or at the very least, not discussed any further. New acquaintances were formed, maybe even some friendships. In the midst of it all, Natalie had a full crowd at her dinner table. And there was nothing more wonderful than family gathered for a holiday meal.

Iris joined Fred on the sofa. The cushions were comfortable, the back a row of down-filled pillows. He thought it was nice. The throw pillows in green and black were a good complement.

"You have a nice home, Iris."

"Thank you, Fred. I got most everything at Target." Iris set her hot cup on the coffee table to cool. "You'd be amazed at the versatility that store has."

"I believe you. I'm a regular shopper."

They sat next to one another, quietly thinking a moment.

Fred almost didn't know how to handle himself. He was still a little nervous around Iris at times, but he was grateful she'd invited him in to sit and visit after he brought her home.

"So…our kids are dating," he stated. "Interesting, isn't it?"

Iris, her eyes a rich brown like coffee, didn't readily comment. When she did, it was with thoughtful words. "I'm not surprised. You've spoken nothing but wonderful things about your daughter and you know how fabulous I think my son is."

"Who's to say what will happen between them," Fred said, realizing that he and Iris had only just begun to skim the surface when it came to learning details about one another. "And I hope I'm not talking out of turn, but I thought ahead to the fact if they ever got married or something, how that would relate us."

"I had that thought, too. We'd be in-laws." Iris picked up her cup, held it close to her mouth, but paused before drinking.

Fred pondered the idea and came up with a different explanation, but this time, he didn't speak it.

They both drank their coffee, the room growing quiet as they both lost themselves in reflection.

"Iris…it was me who delivered those irises to you that day…"

She looked into his face. "I know. I finally figured that out the day you brought me the balloons."

"Why didn't you say something?"

"I thought you might want to tell me yourself, when you were ready."

"And I thought whoever sent those irises to you might have been your boyfriend or someone special."

"They were from my aunt Edna who lives in Wyoming."

"I'm glad you have an Aunt Edna."

Iris beamed at him.

After a while, Fred put his arm around Iris's shoulder and slid her closer to him. She felt wonderfully soft, feminine, with so many features and qualities he enjoyed.

Leaning back slightly, he gazed into her face. She smiled, her mouth so sweet, her lips so red. His heartbeat tripped and skipped, his breath felt tight in his chest.

"Iris," he whispered, tingles rising across his skin. His pulse caught, held still. "I want to kiss you, but I haven't kissed a woman in so long."

"It's still done the same way, Fred."

Smiling, Fred lowered his mouth over hers, his lips gently brushing across the fullness of hers. She tasted like coffee and cream, a little hint of sugar. So sweet, so nice. Very pleasurable.

His first kiss in forever and it reminded him of what he'd been missing. He'd loved his wife and would have given her the moon, sun and the stars. It had been a good marriage, a loving one. But it was over. That part of his life was gone. He'd been living in the present, but not fully experiencing life. Tomorrow was his future and, if he let himself, he could have daily sunshine again.

He was ready to send the clouds away.

He was ready to find love. With Iris, if she would have him.

Iris's arms tightened about him, as did his around her.

And all the world seemed to be right for the first time in a long, long while.

Breathing Room

Tony saw Natalie digging in her front planters, a flat of pansies by her side as she worked the soil. A lot of her shrubs were leafing out, and her yard was coming back to life after being dormant throughout the cold winter months.

He crossed the street, walking with purposeful strides toward her house. Since Easter Sunday, Natalie had spent her time with her daughter, but he'd heard from his mom that Natalie had put Cassie on a plane back to Chicago yesterday morning.

"Hey," he said, causing her to turn in the direction of his voice.

She was on her knees, wore a sweatshirt and jeans with tennis shoes. "Hi, Tony." Her smile was pleasant.

"How've you been?"

"Good. How about you?"

"Fine. Did you have a good visit with Cassie?" He stood over her, shoving his hands into his pockets.

"Yes. It turned out really great that she came home. We had some good times, stayed up late and watched old movies. I was sorry to see her go, but she had to get back to school."

"And everything's okay with her?"

"Now it is. That boyfriend she had cheated on her. It was horrible and she had to work through the hurt of it. I hope he doesn't try and get back together with her. I don't think she'd allow it. She was pretty set in her resolve when she left."

"I'm sorry she got hurt."