Chapter Twelve
Three weeks later
Cassie stood outside of the hospital room where her mother was being treated. Terminal cancer had caught her mother, and according to the nurse she had less than a month to live.
She had asked for Slade to wait in the car. This wasn’t going to be a trip that took long. When he’d showed her the letters the day after he’d confessed his love, Cassie had fought the decision of coming here.
At first, she’d said her mother could rot after everything she did. Now, she didn’t want to leave without getting some closure herself. The letter had answered a lot of questions, but she needed to see her mother for herself.
Entering her mother’s room, the bed was empty, but the chair near the window had a woman who looked nothing like Cassie remembered of her mother.
Gone was her hair, and she wore a scarf over her head. She looked frail, old, and … lonely.
Trixie turned toward her, and there was that moment where Cassie saw that her mother recognized her.
“Cassie,” she said.
Even her voice sounded weak.
For the longest time Cassie stared at the woman that she had hated for most of her life. Even after reading the letter she’d sent to her father, she hadn’t felt sorry for the woman. Her mother had written how sorry she was for being a shitty wife and that she hoped he’d found the perfect woman, and he lived a wonderful life.
Taking a seat in front of her mother, Cassie stared at the woman who she felt had ruined her life.
“I’m so pleased you came.”
“I don’t think I am,” she said. “In fact, I wish I hadn’t come.” Cassie shook her head, even as tears came to her eyes. “Was all this worth it? You’re alone, and you don’t know anything.”
Tears fell down Trixie’s face. “No, it wasn’t worth this.”
“You only regretted it though because you realize how alone you are.” Cassie laughed and shook her head, tears running down her face. She felt sad for the woman sitting in front of her, but this didn’t make her feel any better. There were no great revelations.
“Where’s Bill?” Trixie asked. “I thought … he’d come with you.”
“He’s dead. He’s been dead for over six years.” Cassie stared at her mother. “You left, and he spiraled. Lost his job, his reputation, and turned to drink. He became an alcoholic, picked a fight, and was killed.”
Trixie bowed her head, and Cassie wiped away her tears. “This was a mistake coming here. I’m sorry that you’re alone, and that you wanted forgiveness or whatever. Fine. I forgive you. If that’s what you need, then I forgive you.”
There was no connection, no love. If anything, Cassie was angry at her, and she couldn’t bring herself to hurt the woman who was dying.
“I’m sorry, Cassie.”
“I know you are. I’m going to be getting married,” Cassie said. “I fell in love with a deputy, you don’t know him.” Cassie smirked. The way she saw it, Trixie would have probably tried to sleep with him.
“Can you at least sit with me for a while?” Trixie asked. “I’d really like it if you’d do that.”
For the next month, Cassie visited her mother every single day. Slade would drive her to the care home where she would sit with her. They would stare out into the garden, and toward the end of her mother’s life, they’d even started the plans for Cassie’ wedding.
Her mother picked out the dress, and also handed her the gold band that Bill had gotten Trixie.
“You didn’t sell it?”
“I tried to sell it many times. I could never part with it,” Trixie said. “I’m ashamed that he died like that. I drove him to drink, and to being an awful father. I’m sorry I can’t make it up to you, Cassie, sweetie.”
One week later, Trixie passed away, and Cassie buried her body in the same plot that Bill was resting in.
Daniel was there, with Jessica, William, and Slade. They were at her back as she lowered her last parent into the ground. Resting her head against Slade’s shoulder, he wrapped his arms around hers, holding her close.
“I love you,” she said.
“I wish I hadn’t shown you those stupid letters,” he said, whispering the words against her ear.
“I’m glad that you did.”
“It made you sad,” Slade said. “I don’t like to see you sad.”
She smiled up at him. “I got closure, Slade. There was no way I could have gotten anything else. I was never close to her when she was in my life. At least I got something, and that’s all I can ask for.”
“You’ll always have me, babe. Always.”
She closed her eyes, and knew she would never throw him away. She’d cherish him always.
****
Six months later
“Are you going to pass out?” Daniel asked.
“No. I’m good.” Slade glanced down at his watch, and then looked back up, waiting. He was nervous. Cassie was five minutes late, and so far there was no sign of Jessica or his mother either.
He was standing near the priest. His parents sat with the guests, and he even saw the Andersons had decided to join the celebration. He’d sent then an invitation but hadn’t expected them to actually come. Of course, he’d made sure Andrew Anderson had gotten one.
Slade smirked, thinking about the other asshole. He’d been out taking a walk with Cassie when they had bumped into Andrew.
Cassie had smiled at Andrew, and introduced him. At the same time, Jessica had called her into a shop, leaving him alone with Andrew, where he had made sure that the guy knew Cassie belonged to him, and if he ever heard or saw Andrew saying shit about his woman, he’d personally make his life a living hell.
Andrew had gotten cocky, and said he couldn’t be touched. Slade had told Andrew to ask his parents just how difficult he could be.
That had been the end of that, and of course, Slade had won. He had Cassie’s heart, her body, and their future would be together if only she turned up.
He was starting to get nervous. What if she had cold feet? He checked to make sure he had the ring she’d been looking at in the jewelers that time. The ring that would bind her to him was nestled in the fabric. Looking up, he saw the clerk was watching. When he went back to get the ring, he’d invited the clerk to his wedding.
Slade felt people looking at him, and when he was about to grab his cell and call her, Jessica came rushing forward, and the music started up.
Only when he saw Cassie did he take a breath. She looked stunning in the white dress that was cut off her shoulders, and enhanced her curves. He was going to have a lot of fun getting her out of that tonight.
Finally, when she was in his arms, he felt like the world was right again.
“What took you so long?” he asked.
“Car trouble. I’m sorry. I didn’t know it would take that long.” She gave his arm a squeeze, and then they stood facing the priest.
Binding himself to Cassie made Slade feel whole again. She was his, and he was hers, and together they could handle anything.
By the time it came for him to kiss the bride, in front of the whole town, he claimed Cassie as his forever.
Maybe the curse on the house was right. Although, he didn’t see it as a curse. No, he saw it as a blessing.