Cassidy
TWO WEEKS HAD passed since I’d spoken to Blake. Fortunately, since we lived miles apart, the separation wasn’t apparent to Kaity. She’d asked to Facetime Blake and the kids on a few occasions, but I’d been able to tell her that they were busy and we’d call them sometime soon. Eventually I would have to tell her the truth, but for now, I wanted to protect her from the heartbreak.
Just as I was gathering my things to leave the office for the day, I heard the bells on the door jingle.
“Hello,” I said, peeking my head around the corner to find both Rich and Brooke standing in my office. “Something I can help you two with? Since I already planned your wedding, I know you aren’t needing my services.” Since Blake and I’d split, I’d tried distancing myself from the two of them as well. I didn’t want to put them in the position of picking sides, but not having my best friend to talk to was definitely taking its toll on me.
“Yeah, we need to talk. You need to sit,” Brooke said, grabbing me by the wrist and leading me to my office chair.
“Please tell me this isn’t an intervention,” I said, rolling my eyes.
“Can’t because that’s exactly what this is,” Rich deadpanned, shrugging his shoulders.
“I don’t have time for this. I need to pick Kaity up from my parents’ place.”
“They know you’ll be late,” Brooke interjected.
“Wait. You already talked to my parents?” I questioned. “Are you all in on this?”
“Yep,” Brooke said, popping her “p.” “We all know what’s best for you. Even if you’re being too dumb to see it for yourself.”
“Yeah, and what’s that, oh wise one?” I said, sarcastically.
“It’s been two weeks, Cass. You need to call him,” Brooke said. “You’re miserable. He’s miserable. This has gone on long enough.”
“He told me that he needed time. He hasn’t called me either. Why am I sitting here getting the third degree from you two?” I yelled.
“Trust me, if we were both in D.C. then he’d be getting it from us, too,” Rich promised. “He may be my best friend, but he’s acting just as foolish as you are.”
“Cass, he wants you to fight for him!” Brooke hollered. “If you love him as much as you say you do then why aren’t you fighting?”
“I’m scared,” I admitted, tears starting to flow freely.
“Scared of what? Blake hadn’t given you any reason to think he’d ever leave you. Not until you royally fucked shit up, and assumed he’d blame you for Steve’s mistakes. Put yourself in Blake’s shoes, Cass! Can you imagine how he must’ve felt? Having to relive everything that day, and to do it alone because you ran,” Brooke said, seriousness in her tone. “I know Steve seriously fucked with your head, but it’s time to move on. Blake’s a great guy. You need to give him the chance to prove it.”
I sat there for a moment, stunned speechless by the truth in her words. She was right. I hadn’t given Blake a fair chance. I assumed the worst, and I ran. I broke his heart before I’d given him the chance to break mine–instead hurting us both in the process.
“You’re both right,” I admitted. “I’ve been so consumed with fear that I’m living in his wife’s shadow that I failed to see how much he cares about me. I need to go home and call him. I need to make this right. Now I just hope I’m not too late.”
“Trust me, you’re not too late,” Rich assured me. “I’ll be sure to fuck him up good if he acts like a fool.”
“Thanks, Dick,” I said, smiling for the first time in weeks. “Brookie, can you lock up for me? I need to go!”
“You know I will. We love you, Cass,” she said as I slipped out the front door.
Pulling out into traffic, I reached into my purse to grab my phone. Not immediately finding it, I quickly glanced over to see it had fallen out onto the seat. Grabbing for it, I looked up just in time to see the truck I’d been following come to a sudden stop. Before I had a chance to think about what was happening, the sound of screeching brakes, and the smell of burning rubber flooded my senses before I let unconsciousness consume me.
“Kaity, Blake,” I screamed, as my world suddenly went dark. A few moments passed by before I began to hear commotion around me.
“Cassidy, Cassidy,” I heard a woman’s voice say, as a bright light overtook the darkness. She was dressed all in white with wavy, golden blond hair, big blue eyes, and a sun-kissed complexion.
“Where am I?” I mumbled.
“Don’t be frightened. I’m here with you now,” the woman said, a strange familiarity about her.
“I don’t–I don’t understand,” I said, my head beginning to pound. “Who are you?”
“I’m Alyssa Mitchell,” she said. “Blake’s wife. Well, his former wife, I guess you could say.” As she spoke, I slowly began to remember what led me here. Reaching for my phone, brake lights, squealing tires, shattering glass–I’d been in an accident.
“Oh god, am I dead?” I asked her. “I need to see my baby girl. I can’t go. Not like this.”
“No, you’re very much alive, but you have to fight, Cass. You have to fight to stay alive–fight for Blake. Fight harder than I did. Please, for Blake’s sake, and for my children’s sake as well as for Kaity. They all need you in their lives. Be the wife and mother that I can’t be. He loves you, Cass. Please don’t let the love we once shared affect your relationship with him. Go–go be with him. I can tell you’re a good person, and I can’t think of a better woman to raise my children than you,” she encouraged, before quickly fading into the ethereal distance.
“Alyssa, thank you. Alyssa,” I mumbled, as I tried to open my eyes.
Blake
Glancing at the time on my computer screen, I sighed, realizing it was nearing the end of another day and still not a word from Cass. I was starting to think that it really was over between us. Just as I was thinking about giving in and calling her, the phone rang beside me.
“Hey, Hot,” I said, seeing Rich’s name appear on the caller ID. “What’s up?”
“I wasn’t sure if you’d answer. I assumed you’d be on the next plane to Michigan,” he said.
“What would make you assume that?” I asked.
“Cass didn’t call you? Brooke and I talked to her. She said she was going to call you,” Rich said, confusion in his tone.
“Nope, I guess she must’ve changed her mind.”
“That doesn’t make any sense. She left here about twenty minutes ago, and said she was calling you right away.”
“Sorry, Man, I don’t know what to tell you. I haven’t talked to her in two weeks.” Just as I was about to confess that I’d considered calling her, his phone buzzed with another call.
“Hold on a second, Brooke is calling. I need to take this,” he said, putting me on hold. Several seconds ticked by before he returned to the line.
“Blake,” he said, seriousness suddenly in his tone.
“Is everything OK?” I asked, concerned about Brooke’s pregnancy. “Is it Brooke? The twins?”
“No, she’s fine,” he said, pausing. “It’s Cass. I don’t know how to tell you this, Man. Brooke just called. Cass has been in a car accident. She’s been rushed to Mercy.”
Without saying a word, I set the phone down beside me–the room starting to spin rapidly. This couldn’t possibly be happening to me–not again. Fate must be playing a cruel, cruel joke on me. Taking a deep breath, I picked the phone back up, unable to stifle the tears that had begun to fall.
“Rich, as my friend, you need to tell me she’s going to be OK. She has to be OK,” I begged.
“You know I would tell you that if I could, but we both know the grim truth about these situations,” he said in earnest. “You need to get on the next flight out of there. I’ll be at the airport waiting for you. I’m on my way to meet Brooke at the hospital. I’ll let you know as soon as I have more details on her condition.”
Before leaving the office, I’d called to secure a ticket on the next flight out of D.C. Since Rich and Brooke were both in Michigan and my parents were back in New York, I had to take the kids with me. Trying to remain calm for their sake was nearly impossible.
Luckily, I’d been able to keep tabs on Cass’s condition during the flight through e-mail updates from Rich. Although she hadn’t regained consciousness, the doctors were “optimistically hopeful,” Rich had written in his most recent message. Leaning my head back in the seat, I said a silent prayer to God, Alyssa, and really anyone above who might take pity on me and listen.
“Please let her be all right,” I pleaded. “I should’ve never walked away from her. I need her in my life. The kids need her in their lives. We were broken until she unknowingly swooped in and fixed us.”
Just as he’d promised, Rich was waiting for us at the airport. Since I hadn’t checked any luggage, I scooped up both kids and ran straight out of the terminal. Fastening the kids into car seats, I slid into the passenger seat next to Rich.
“I can’t believe we’re here doing this again,” I said, swallowing back my feelings. “Has there been any change in her condition?”
“Not that I know of,” he said, patting my shoulder. “Brooke said she’d let me know right away if anything changes.”
Tapping my foot against the floor, I was beginning to think I could get to the hospital quicker by foot.
“Seriously, why is there so much fucking traffic?” I asked in frustration.
“Relax, we’re here,” he said, pulling into the parking garage. “I’ll take the kids and wait in the lobby. She’s in Room 213. I think her parents are in there with Brooke.”
Only half-listening to what Rich said, I jumped out of the car and bolted toward the front entrance. Once inside, I was struck by the familiar stark white walls and scent of antiseptic as haunting memories flooded my mind.
Sitting at Alyssa’s side, I held her hand as the monitors she’d been hooked up to started beeping and buzzing. Immediately, I heard a “Code Blue” come through the hospital’s loud speakers. It felt like someone had kicked me repeatedly in the stomach as I saw the code team rush into her room, pushing me out the door.
“She’s flatlining!” I heard through the partially-closed door as I watched them begin CPR and administer medication to try and restart her heart. The room was silent as the doctors and nurses skillfully worked with a defibrillator to resuscitate my wife. I said a silent prayer as my eyes became fixed on the little green line dancing across the monitor. After what seemed like an eternity, the lead doctor finally stopped compressions, and glanced toward the clock on the wall.
“I’m calling it. Time of death 8:11 a.m.,” he said. Those are the last words I remember hearing before my world crashed down around me and the fog thickened.
“Sir, can I help you with something?” the receptionist asked as I approached the desk.
“Yes, I’m looking for room 213. My girlfriend was in an accident earlier in the evening. Well, she was my girlfriend. I’m not so sure anymore. I just–I just need to see her,” I said, realizing I’d just unloaded a lot more information than was necessary.
“Of course, Sir. What’s her name? I can make sure she’s still in that room” the receptionist said, nodding in understanding.
“Cassidy Carpenter,” I said, tapping my fingers on the desk.
“Yes, she’s still in room 213. Take the elevator to the second floor and make a right.”
“Thank you,” I said, running toward the bank of elevators.
Exiting the elevator, I turned to see Brooke and Cass’s parents standing outside her door. Fearing the worst, I dashed down the hallway as quickly as possible.
“What’s happening,” I asked, as I approached the three of them.
“Blake! Thank god you’re here!” Brooke said, wrapping her arms around me in an embrace.
“I got here as soon as I could. Why are you all out here? Is something wrong?” I asked again, hoping someone would fill me in on Cass’s condition.
“Oh! You don’t know?” Brooke said, sounding surprised.
“Of course I don’t know. I just got here. How would I know what’s going on? Last I knew, she was still unconscious. Has that changed?” I nearly shrieked, raising my brows.
“Oh, yes! I texted Rich, but he must’ve still had his ringer off. Cass is awake. She’s a little groggy, but the doctor has already seen her. He expects her to make a full recovery. She has a nurse in there with her now. She woke up bitching, in typical Cass-like fashion, that she had to pee like a racehorse,” Brooke laughed, relief in her voice.
Breathing a sigh of relief, I slowly opened the door to Cass’s room. Hearing her talking to the nurse as I entered was like music to my ears.
“Well, look who finally decided to show up,” she sassed, giving me a half-smile.
“I’ll leave you two alone,” the nurse said. “Cassidy, if you need me for anything else, please press the pager button,” she added, exiting the room.
“Thanks, Donna,” Cass said, as the door closed.
We stared at each other in silence for a few moments, neither of us quite knowing where to begin.
“You know, you could’ve just called and asked me to come. You didn’t have to take such drastic measures,” I said, trying to lighten the mood between us.
“Yeah, I know,” she laughed. “I was actually trying to call you when all this happened. Turns out, distracted driving is a real thing. I don’t suggest trying it–ever.”
“Yeah, well, I’m just glad you’re OK,” I admitted.
“Yeah, me too. Also, turns out, ass-packing someone isn’t as fun as I always thought it might be,” she said, the corner of her mouth curling.
“Well, I can see the accident didn’t cause any brain damage. You’re still crazy as ever,” I joked.
“Yeah, nothing too serious. I have a mild concussion, but the doctor said with a little rest I should be as good as new in a few weeks,” she said. “They’re keeping me overnight for observation, but I should be able to go home sometime tomorrow.”
“Well, I’m just glad you’re OK,” I said, kissing her on the forehead. “I think you were trying to give me a heart attack.”
“I really am sorry. I didn’t mean for any of this to happen,” she said. I knew she was talking about more than just the accident, but I let her continue anyways.
“Brooke and Rich helped me see what an idiot I’ve been. And, then, Alyssa,” she paused, looking me in the eyes.
“I don’t follow? What does Alyssa have to do with this?”
“I must’ve passed out for a minute after the crash. She came to me. I saw her, Blake. She told me to fight for you. So, this is me, fighting for you, asking you to forgive me. I love you, Mitchell,” she confessed.
A smile formed on my lips, thankful for whoever helped Cass see the light. “I love you, too, Carpenter,” I said, drawing her in for a tender kiss. “And, just so you know, I would’ve given in after three weeks, but luckily for me, you caved after just two,” I added with a wink.