CHAPTER ELEVEN
Cassie rolled over and squeezed her eyes closed against the sunlight streaking through the window. Groaning, she turned back and straight into the arms of the man sharing the bed with her. She sighed as his arms tightened around her, encasing her in the security of his embrace.
“Good morning beautiful,” Deke whispered as he kissed her ear.
“Cassie giggled. “I can’t get as close to you as I want to anymore.” She looked down and saw her big belly.
Deke laughed and lowered his hand to her baby bump. They both felt the baby moving around and he smiled. He loved the woman in his arms and loved the baby they had made together. He couldn’t wait for the next three months until he could finally hold the baby in his own hands. “I think we should get married before the baby is born,” he whispered.
“Why?” Cassie looked into his eyes. “Isn’t it enough that we’re together?”
Deke stared at her for a moment. “Yes it is, but for the first time in my life, I want more. I want this child to have my name and I want you to carry my name as well.”
“Do you love me?” Cassie wanted to know.
“More than life itself, and you know it,” Deke assured her. “In fact, I can’t live without you in my life anymore. Without you, my life is meaningless. I love the way you crinkle your nose when you’re thinking about something, I love the way you smell, the way you walk, the way you look when you’re sleeping. I want you to be my lover, my friend and my wife.”
Cassie looked awed as tears formed in her eyes. “I’ve never known love before, it scared the hell out of me, these feeling I have for you,” she whispered. “Before I met you, I had nobody except Peaches to care whether I lived or died. I had to fight for everything I ever had. But being here with you has taught me that I can be happy. I can think about having my own life. You’ve helped me achieve my dreams for Redemption House and for that alone, I will always love you.”
Deke smiled at her. “I’d like to take part of the credit for Redemption House but that is your dream, you made it work. It was you and your boys that took the dream you had and made it real.”
“It is working isn’t it?” Cassie smiled.
He nodded. “Will you marry me?” Deke asked. “I can’t give you much but I can give you everything you’ll ever need. I can give you me.”
Cassie closed her eyes and inhaled his essence. “That’s all I will ever need, just you.”
Deke’s lips met hers and their passion ignited. His hand slid down her body and slid into her moistness. He groaned when he felt how wet she was. Then he groaned again, when her hand found his cock. “I don’t think I can wait. I need you so much.”
Cassie flipped over and pushed her ass against his hip. “Then take me. I need you inside me.”
Deke turned on his side and grabbed her hips. Pushing his cock deep inside her, he began to thrust in and out. Each thrust went deeper than the one before.
Cassie groaned as she felt her body responding to his thrusts. Every time they made love, it got better and better. Her hands went to her belly and she could feel their baby moving as Deke made love to her. Tears of happiness began rolling down her face.
Deke paused. “Are you okay? Am I hurting you?”
“God no,” Cassie moaned. “Please don’t stop. I need you right where you are, doing exactly what you’re doing.”
Deke smiled and thrust deeper inside her. His hand slipped down to her clit and he thumbed it. As her body tightened, he continued to rub her hot spot.
Cassie gasped and called out, “I’m so close, please hurry. I want to come with you.”
Deke pushed himself a bit harder then gave one more hard thrust.
Her body tightened as she came and he climaxed with her.
He stilled for a few minutes and held her as he panted.
When he slipped out of her, she turned and snuggled against him. “Oh man…” She sighed. “I love waking up next to you.”
Deke grinned. Hugging her, he then loosened his hold and sat up. “Come on, we got work to do.”
“It’s too early,” Cassie grumbled.
“The sun’s up Spitfire woman.” Deke leaned over and slapped her bare ass. “It’s time to get moving.”
Cassie pouted as she got up. She went over to the closet and pulled out a long dress. Her belly wouldn’t let her wear pants anymore. Her baby didn’t like the restriction pants had. “So, what are we doing today that’s so important?”
Deke pulled up his jeans and turning his head, he grinned. “Today we finish the house.”
Cassie squealed as she put her hands over her mouth. “Really? It’s finished?”
~* * * *~
Deke nodded as he pulled on his shirt. As soon as they had gotten back from taking care of Robbie, he talked her into building their house. She was excited to get started but he hadn’t allowed her to peek. This was his surprise for her and the baby.
While she’d been gone yesterday at her doctor’s appointment, he had the furniture delivered. He and the boys had put everything in place and today…was the big reveal.
Cassie sat down on the bed and grabbed his hand. Pulling him down beside her, she wet her lips with her tongue. “You never asked how the appointment went yesterday.”
Deke cocked his head to one side. “I guess I assumed it went just like any other appointment. Is everything okay? Is the baby doing good?”
Cassie nodded. “The baby is doing great. At least I think so. The doctor said he was having problems finding a decent angle.” She peeked at him, then asked. “Would you like to see the baby? I got pictures.”
Deke’s eyes widened. “Are you kidding? Oh course, I want to see! Hand them over.”
Cassie smiled and went to the dresser. Taking the small black and white photos out, she handed them to Deke.
Deke stared at the pictures from the sonogram. He could clearly see what the baby looked like. It was so small, yet so perfectly formed. He frowned at two of the photos. They looked similar but not the same. Maybe this is what the doctor meant by not having the right angle. He glanced at Cassie. “Did you find out if it’s a boy or a girl yet?”
Cassie nodded. “What do you think of the name Jemmia?”
Deke’s mouth split into a grin. “A girl huh? I love the name. I’d like her middle name to be Phoebe after you. And I definitely want to get married before she gets here.”
“There’s one problem with that.” Cassie sighed. “I don’t have a birth certificate in order to get the license.”
“So, we’ll get it.” Deke shrugged. “Where were you born?”
“I don’t know. I don’t even know where my mother is buried.” A single tear ran down her cheek.
“Oh God baby, I’m sorry. I never thought about it before now.” Deke wrapped his arms around her shoulders. Tucking the photos in his shirt pocket, he suggested, “Maybe Deacon would know.”
Cassie wiped the tear away and nodded. “Maybe he would. What are we going to do if he doesn’t? I don’t know if I was born in Boston or taken there after my Mom died.”
“We’ll figure this out, don’t worry,” Deke vowed.
“I hope Deacon can help, otherwise we can’t get married,” Cassie whispered. “I know my name but I have no way to prove it to anyone. It’s like I’m nobody.”
“You aren’t nobody baby,” Deke tightened his grip. “Your name is Josette Phoebe Ryan but you go by Cassie. You are someone, you are the woman I love…My Spitfire, the mother of my child. You mean so much to everyone you come in contact with.”
Cassie raised her eyes to his. “I don’t know why but I need to find out where my Mom is. I want to see where she’s buried. I’ve been feeling so lonely thinking about her lately.”
“Then we’ll ask Deacon and find out what he knows,” Deke assured her. “In fact, we can go right now and ask him.” He held out his hand.
When she took it, he walked her toward the door. When they got out to the main room, they saw Deacon and Marnie sitting together, along with Gator and Reva. The three kids were sitting at a different table eating breakfast.
Deke and Cassie sat down next to Deacon and Marnie.
When Deacon glanced at Cassie, something caught his eye. “Are you okay baby?”
Cassie shook her head. “Deke wants to get married before the baby comes and I told him I didn’t even have a birth certificate. Do you know where I was born?”
Deacon frowned. He glanced at Deke and then back to her. He wore an odd expression. “I think I have something that would help. The last time I saw your mother, she gave it to me for safekeeping. I never looked at it. In fact, I forgot I even had it. Hang on, I’ll go get it.” Deacon got up and went outside. When he returned a few minutes later, he handed her a small wooden box. “It’s been sitting in the bottom of a duffle bag for so long, I forgot it.”
Cassie brushed her hand over the top of the box over an engraving of a heart and her initials. Her hands were shaking as they slid down to the catch. Flicking it open, she gently pulled the lid back exposing the inside.
There were a couple of bundles of papers and when she pulled them out, she found a small photo underneath. She lifted it out and stared at it. It was a woman and a small child with red hair. She lifted her eyes to Deacon. “Is this her? Is this my mother?” She held the photo out to her uncle.
Deacon took the photo and when he saw it, he smiled. “That’s Jemmia. Wasn’t she beautiful?”
~* * * *~
Cassie picked up the first bundle and opened the papers. The first page was a birth certificate. Her birth certificate. Her hands were trembling as she pressed the paper flat. She finally felt like she as real as everyone else. She hadn’t realized it before but without this piece of paper, she couldn’t prove she was a real person.
She lifted the certificate and found another birth certificate under it. She frowned. This one was for another girl baby, born on the same day as Cassie. This girl’s name was Paige Jorell Ryan. “What the hell is this?” she asked raising her eyes to Deacon.
Deacon frowned and took the paper from her. His frown deepened. “I have no idea. Can I see yours?”
Cassie passed over her certificate and waited.
Deacon lowered them and studied her for a moment. “It seems you have a sister. A twin sister.”
“I—what?” Cassie exclaimed as she got to her feet. “I have a sister? Since when? A-and where is she?”
“I don’t know.” Deacon shook his head. “I wasn’t there when you were born. I didn’t see you until you were three years old. Jemmia never said anything about another child. This is all new to me as much as it is to you.”
“Honey, look through the rest of the papers, maybe there is something there that will tell you about what happened to your sister,” Deke suggested.
Cassie sat down and looked at the rest of the papers. Toward the bottom of the box, she found an envelope addressed to her. Pulling it out, she stared at it for a long moment. Turning it over, she opened the envelope and pulled out the letter.
My darling baby girl.
I hope you get this letter and can read it with an open mind. I pray I get to watch you grow up but I don’t know if that will be possible. I loved your father once, but now I’m afraid of him. I don’t know what will happen but I do know it won’t be good.
He’s seriously sinking fast. I want to take you away from the mess I’ve made of my life. I don’t want the ugliness to taint the beautiful person you are. I know by now, that you’ve found the birth certificates for you and Paige. I also know you probably don’t remember having a sister. She was taken when you were barely two.
I pray that you can find her someday. Flynn took her away one day, because I was going to leave him. I wanted something better for my girls and me. He broke my heart and made me hate him when he took my baby away from me. I think he used it to keep me here with him, he has threatened to do the same to you.
I want you to know that I love you both very much and I would give my life to know you and Paige are safe from the likes of your father. You need to find a friend of his though, his name is Max Portland. He might be able to help you find Paige.
If I can’t be with you I’ll be there in your heart. I’ll always be in your heart.
Love you baby girl,
Mom
Cassie had tears running down her face as she passed the letter to Deacon. “Who the hell is Max Portland?”
Deacon wasn’t paying attention to her question, only to the letter in his hand. When he read it, he got very quiet. He placed the letter on the table, then got up and went outside.
Marnie looked over at Deke, then got up and went to find Deacon.
Deke read the letter then handed it to Gator. He then took Cassie in his arms and held her close. “Don’t worry baby, we’ll find her.”
Cassie leaned away from him. “But what if we don’t? What if he took her to Janelle’s and Janelle sold her to someone else. We may never find her.”
“You can’t think that,” Deke told her sternly. “If she’s out there, we’ll find her.”
Cassie rubbed her belly as her child rolled and flipped inside her. She felt sick at the thought of another little girl being taken away from her family. What if her life had been as bad as Cassie’s had been?
Deacon and Marnie came back inside, then Deacon went to Cassie and pulled her into his arms. “I’m so sorry baby girl. I didn’t know. I swear I didn’t know.”
“Oh Deacon, I know. I didn’t know either. Do you know who this Max Portland is? I’ve never heard of him before.” Cassie wrapped her arms around his waist. “Can you help us find her?”
“I will do whatever I can,” Deacon promised. He sighed heavily. “Yes, I know who Max Portland is. He, your mom and Dad were all friends in high school. When Flynn and Jemmia quit school, Max went on to finish and graduate. They kind of fell out of touch the last I heard. I have no idea where he lives anymore, but he grew up in Quincy, same as Jemmia and I.”
“Well, that’s a place to start,” Deke said. “I’ll get Zipper on his trail as soon as he gets here. In the meantime, how about we all go see the house?”
Cassie broke away from Deacon and wiped her tears away. “My goodness, I’m a mess. I hate crying.”
Deke smiled. “You look beautiful. Let’s go see our new home, then we can deal with finding your sister. I know Zipper will help. He can work his magic on the computer. I bet he can find her, even after this long.”
“At least, I know where I was born anyway,” Cassie said.
“Your mom was buried there too. In Quincy I mean,” Deacon told her.
“Will you take me to where she’s buried someday?”
“Anytime you say the word, sweetheart.”
Cassie smiled then gazed at Deke. “Let’s go see the house. I hope you put a nursery in it. This baby isn’t going to wait forever.”
Deke grinned. “Well, because I didn’t know if the baby was a boy or a girl until this morning, she’ll have to settle for green walls. I figured green would be a safe bet.”
“You’re having a girl?’ Reva looked excited.
Cassie nodded. “Yes, I got pictures yesterday.”
“Well, let’s see them,” Gator insisted.
Deke took the photos out of his shirt pocket and handed them to Gator.
Gator studied the pictures carefully before handing them to Reva. He looked at Cassie’s belly then to Deke. “Are you sure there’s only one baby?”
Deke frowned. “What do you mean only one baby? How many should there be? The pictures only show one.”
“Are you sure about that?” Gator asked. “Cuz it looks like two different babies to me.”
Cassie frowned. “The doctor didn’t say anything about twins.”
“I could be wrong,” Gator admitted as he shrugged. “I ain’t no doctor.”
Cassie glanced at Deke but didn’t say anything.
He reached out and grasped her hand dragging her to the back door. Once outside, he led the way to the new house behind the clubhouse. It was a huge building, all one story. When he opened the front door, he motioned everyone inside.
They found themselves in a huge living area. To the right was an open kitchen and laundry room. Beyond the laundry room was a door that led to the three car garage.
To the left of the living room was a hall. As Deke led the way, the hall opened up to several large bedrooms. The master bedroom was at the end of the hall. The room itself took up the entire end of the house. The furniture was light golden in color. The huge king size bed was on one side while the dressers and wardrobes took up most of the outside walls. In the other corner, there was a huge wooden desk and file cabinets behind the desk. A laptop computer took up one side of the desk and a phone the other side.
The walls were painted a muted grey and the room was accented in dark grey and cream colors.
Cassie went back down the hall and found the baby’s room. The soft green walls complimented the crib and changing table. She rubbed her belly and couldn’t wait for her daughter to be born.
Deke joined her and wrapped his arm around her waist. “What do you think? Will she like it?”
“She’ll love it,” Cassie agreed.
“And does her mama love it?” Deke asked. “I tried to get everything you wanted.”
Cassie’s eyes sparkled. “I can’t believe all of this. It’s beautiful. This is everything a home should be. I can’t wait to live here.”
“I’ll have our stuff moved over today. We can sleep here tonight,” Deke assured her.
“I’d like that,” Cassie whispered. She hesitated then asked, “Could I ask Peaches to be my maid of honor when we get married?”
Deke grinned. “Of course you can. Maybe it will give Iceman ideas of his own.”
Cassie smiled. “I hope so, Peaches is so much in love with that man.”
“I think your uncle is in love with Marnie too,” Deke told her. He waited to see her reaction.
Cassie smiled softly. “I hope he is, cuz she’s sure in love with him.”
“And you don’t mind? I mean he is your only family.”
Cassie’s smile widened. “Of course not. He deserves to be happy. I’m happy for both of them.” She hesitated then whispered, “He isn’t my only family, you know. You and the baby are family too. Family doesn’t mean just sharing the same blood.”
“I’m glad to hear you say that baby girl,” Deacon commented as Marnie and him joined them. “Because I want to marry this woman before our child is born. You are going to have a cousin, by the way.” He turned to Deke and said, “She’s right you know…family isn’t always just by blood.”
Deke nodded.
Cassie laughed. “Good, I can’t wait. I’ve always wanted a family and now, my dreams are coming true.”
Deke reached out and shook his hand. “Looks like you’ll be adding on to that small cabin of yours too.”
“Looks like it.” Deacon grinned. “Oh well, it’s all good.”
~* * * *~
Hours later, Deke had Zipper working on locating Paige Ryan and Max Portland. He had called Leon Vincinti and asked if he had heard Paige’s name mentioned in any of the paperwork they’d taken from Janelle’s house. Her name was not one listed, so Deke assumed she hadn’t gone through Janelle’s kiddy ring and that was a good thing.
Zipper ran the name Max Portland and came up with a man still living in Quincy.
Cassie’ phone rang and when she hung up after a three minute call, she seemed worried. She glanced at Deke. “That was my doctor’s office. He wants me to come back in to repeat the sonogram I had yesterday.”
“Did he say why?”
Cassie shook her head. “No but he made an appointment in an hour or so. Will you go with me?”
“Sure will.” Deke nodded.
An hour later, Cassie and Deke made their way down the hall of the clinic into the sonogram room. Her doctor, Doctor Simon Peters sat there waiting for them. He shook hands with Deke and motioned for Cassie to sit down on the exam table. “I asked you back after reviewing the photos we took yesterday, because there was something we found that puzzled me. I just wanted to double check.”
“What bothered you?” Deke asked.
“I’d rather wait to answer that question until after we have another look.” He laid Cassie back on the table and gelled her belly. When he added the wand and began moving it around, a picture began to form on the monitor.
They could clearly see a baby’s head and upper body. Deke was amazed at the picture that began to form right in front of him. A head…then shoulders…then a chest. As the wand went downward, he could see a hip and legs. The baby had toes and fingers and was rolling around. Finally, the camera showed its tiny little butt. Deke almost chuckled but instead, continued to watch as the wand moved around.
Doctor Peters moved the wand around and that’s when they saw another head and shoulders.
Cassie gasped.
Doctor Peters laughed quietly at the findings. “That’s what it was. I thought my mind was playing tricks on me.” He glanced over at Cassie and Deke. “When I looked at the scans from yesterday I thought I saw two different faces. Now, I know why. You’re having twins.”
“Are they both girls?’ Deke felt some shock, but was very curious.
“Let’s find out.” Doctor Peters smiled. Moving the wand around, they could see the two separate babies. One was a girl and the other was a…“Well, there you go.” The doctor nodded. “It looks like you’ll have a girl and a boy.”
Deke stared at the monitor. He’d been amazed at the pictures she’d shown him earlier but now he was looking at them first hand. It was a new experience for him, this wonder of life. He watched in awe as the babies moved around inside her. He turned to Cassie and noted her expression. “What is it?”
Cassie grabbed his hand. The frown on her face deepened. “Are you okay with this?”
Deke laughed with joy and grazed his lips across her knuckles. “You’re giving me a son and a daughter. I fucking love this!” He lifted his gaze to stare at her. “Are you okay with this?”
“It’s a little scary,” she admitted. “I’m almost afraid something bad is coming and it’s gonna suck all the happiness I’m feeling away from me and I’m gonna be left with nothing. I’m almost scared to believe all of this is real.”
Deke pressed her hand in his. “I won’t let anything happen to you or those babies. Nothing is gonna take you or them away from me. Do you hear me? NOTHING. You and they belong to me, Spitfire.”
Cassie smiled as tears welled her eyes. “I hear you big guy.” She turned to the doctor and asked, “Can we get a new set of pictures?”
Doctor Peters smiled. “You bet.” He printed them off and handed them to Deke. He gave her a towel to wipe off the gel then left them alone in the room.
Deke watched her as she sat up and straightened her clothing. She studied the pictures the doctor handed her. He cupped her chin and brought her face up to his. “What’s wrong?”
Cassie shrugged and tried to lower her eyes to hide what she was feeling.
Deke wouldn’t let her. “What is it?” he asked again.
“I’m scared,” she whispered. “Every time when something good happened in my life, something bad happened and ruined the good. For the first time in my life, I dared to hope that things could be different. I met you and I dared to hope my life could get better. Then Robbie found me and nearly took everything I had away from me. I saw my dreams for Redemption House come to life and so far, that’s going really good, but in the back of my mind, I’m waiting for the axe to fall. I found my uncle and I’m praying he’ll stay in my life. Now, I’m having a baby and in a few months my life will change again. Will I be a good mother or has my past been too warped by hatred that I may not be able to love my child? Now, I find out I’m having twins? Can I love them both? Can I protect my children from the fears I’ve been forced to live with?”
Deke pulled her close and patted her on the back.
She continued, “What about the sister I just discovered I have? What has her life been like all these years? Does she remember me at all? Does she feel the same hole in her heart that I’ve felt during the darkest times in my life? When I was in that basement at Janelle’s house, lying there broken and bloody, I felt something I never understood before. In my darkest times when I was alone and ready to give up the fight, I felt someone next to me. I always thought maybe it was my mother but now, I’m not so sure. Could the other being I felt have been my sister?”
Deke had never felt this helplessness before. He couldn’t give her the answers she was looking for but he could give her hope. “I don’t know what to tell you sweetheart, but I do know this much, you aren’t the scared little girl you once were. You aren’t alone anymore and you will never be broken or left bleeding ever again. You have people who love you, who will love you for the rest of your life. I’ll never turn my back on you and neither will Deacon. He’s been looking for you for a very long time and now that he has you back in his life, he’s not letting you go.” Shrugging he continued, “As far as the kids go, you aren’t alone there either. Those are my kids too and what’s mine I protect. Nothing will ever happen to them or to you.”
Cassie sighed and leaned her head toward his. “I love you so much,” she whispered.
“I love you too.” Deke pulled back and stared at her. “As far as your sister goes, we will find her and bring her home with us.”
Cassie nodded. “I know…it’s just that I have so many doubts and questions with no answers. It all overwhelmed me for a moment.”
He gently brushed her hair away from her forehead. “I wish I could take all your fears away but I know I can’t. I can tell you we will find her. We won’t stop until we do. As far as the babies go, you aren’t alone there either. You have me, Gator, Reva, Deacon, Marnie and the entire club looking after them. Not to mention everyone at Redemption House. These babies are gonna be so loved, they will never know what its like to be alone.”
“You forgot about Peaches.” Cassie giggled. “She thinks the babies belong to her too.”
Deke smiled. “There you go. The babies will be very much loved.” He hesitated then said, “I know you’re scared but it’s gonna be okay. I know you love these babies. I’ve heard you talk to them late at night, when you think no one else is listening. While we’re laying there in bed I’ve heard you whispering to them.”
“Why didn’t you tell me you heard me?” Cassie blushed.
“Because I felt you needed something of your own. What you told the babies was wonderful but it was your and yours alone to say to them. You spoke of your dreams and prayers for the future, you told them everything you wanted for them. How much you loved them and how much you loved me. You made me so proud.”
“Can we go home now?” Cassie whispered.
Deke grabbed her hand and didn’t let go until he helped her into the truck. All the way home, neither of them said a word. As he pulled into the parking area, he reminded her, “We still have to choose a name for our son.”
“My grandfather’s name was Sam,” she told him quietly. “I never got to know him but Sam is a good name, isn’t it?”
“Sam is a very good name,” he agreed halfheartedly.
“Samuel Deke would be even better,” Cassie hinted.
Deke shook his head. “Can’t do that sweetheart. Sam is bad enough but if we add the Deke then he’ll get a whole other title.”
Cassie turned to him and frowned. “I don’t understand?”
“My full name is Samuel Deke Tory Jr. If we name the baby after me, then he’ll be a Third and no child deserves that.” He shrugged. “I go by Deke so as not to confuse between me and my dad.”
“Your name is Sam too?” She looked surprised. “What is it then? You don’t get along with your dad?”
Deke shrugged. “I never knew him until I was twelve when he took me away from my mother. He’s not an easy man to live with. He belongs to another club over in Maine. We don’t see each other all that often and it suits us both better that way.”
“Would you rather not do Sam then? We can find another name,” Cassie offered.
“We can do the Sam, my dad’s known as Bones anyway. Neither of us go by Sam, just not Samuel Deke. Okay?”
Cassie looked disappointed, be she only nodded and they turned and went inside the clubhouse.
~* * * *~
Zipper waited until the hubbub of viewing the sonogram pictures died down then approached Deke with his news.
“What’s all this?” Deke asked as he took several pages from the other man.
“I did a background on Max Portland.”
“And what did you find?’ Deke asked quietly.
“Max Eugene Portland married to his wife Peggy for the last twenty three years. They had no children until they acquired two year old Paige, eighteen years ago. By all accounts, they raised her good. I found her high school graduation photo.” He pointed out the last page of the bundle he handed to Deke.
Deke pulled it out and stared at the woman on the paper. She looked an awful lot like Cassie. She had the same color eyes and the same mouth and nose. The only difference he could see was that while Cassie had red hair this young woman had dark brown hair. “What is she doing now?”
“She still lives at home while she’s going to college,” Zipper replied. He waited for a few minutes then asked, “Are you going to tell her?”
Deke nodded. “Yeah, I am. She deserves to know.”
“How do you think she’ll take the news?”
Deke glanced over at Cassie. “I think she’ll be okay with it.”
Zipper just shrugged and walked away.
Deke stared at the photo again. The young woman gazed out with confidence. Her skin was clear and unblemished by worry or pain. All she had in her future was hope. Deke was worried. Would Cassie resent what her life could have been if Flynn had taken her instead of Paige to Max Portland? Or, would she be okay with it?
Cassie joined him before he noticed her. When she saw the picture in his hand, she gasped. Reaching out, she took the picture from him and gazed at it. “She looks like me doesn’t she?’ she whispered.
“Yeah baby, she does.”
“Where is she? Did Zipper find her?”
“Yeah, he did. She’s still living with Max in Quincy. She’s going to college.”
Cassie looked up at him. “Can we go see her?” Her voice quivered with excitement.
“If you like…” Deke paused, then plunged in, “….You know her life was normal don’t you?”
Cassie closed her eyes. “God, I hope so. I hope that girl has never known the pain and hurt I did. I hope her life has been so boring, she did something crazy like get a tattoo for her birthday. I hope she remembers every birthday party and Christmas with nothing but the good.”
“But it could have been you not her,” he whispered.
“Then I’m glad it was her,” she whispered back. “I survived but I’m not sure she would have. I know Peaches would have died without me and I would have died without her. We survived together. I know I’m tough but I’ve had to be. I pray Paige never has to be that tough.” She stared down at the picture in her hand again. “Can we go see her?”
Deke couldn’t believe such a person as Cassie could exist. So selfless and loyal to those she cared about. How did he get so lucky? “Any time you want sweetheart, any time you want.” He smiled at her.