About Cassie (1.9)

Mortimer came in while I was on the computer, Toby being tucked into bed and the kids either playing on their Slablets or doing homework (well, realistically, only dear Sophy was doing homework) and sat down next to me.

"Juliana, can we talk?" he asked, gently. I nodded.

"I saw Cassandra again today. She told me...well, it was an accident, but..." He sighed, and leant against my shoulder. I wrapped my arm around him, and he began to tell me what had happened.

***

Mortimer has recently taken up walking all around Willow Creek. He says it helps him think about his writing, and one of his favourite places to walk past is the park, where he went today.

As luck would have it, he spotted Cassie, dressed up beautifully and texting someone on her phone. It's rare that she visits us nowadays, and so he walked over to her, happy for the chance to talk.

"Cassandra!" He smiled, ready to hug her, but noticed that she'd jumped in shock. He described it as the same expression she'd always had as a little girl when she was in trouble.

"Dad!" she stuttered.

"Honey, it's so nice to see you! How have you been?"

"I, um...Well..." She stopped, and closed her eyes, before looking at him in a determined way. "Dad, you're gonna find out now anyway, but I kind of have something to tell you."

A young woman shouted Cassandra's name, and rushed up to them, before stopping, looking between them.

"Cass, who's this?" the blonde girl asked, tilting her head.

"Allie, this is my dad. Dad, this..." Cassandra cleared her throat, nervously. "This is Allie. She's my girlfriend."

Mortimer froze for a split second, before turning to Allie.

"It's very nice to meet you. I, ah, didn't know Cassandra had a partner, but I'm pleased to meet you!" He smiled at her, and Cassandra breathed an audible sigh of relief.

"You're...not mad?"

"Why would I be? Honey, you've found someone you like. I'm happy for you, for you both." He hugged her tight, and Allie smiled sweetly at them.

"Thanks, Daddy," Cassandra murmured, caught off guard.

"Well, sweetheart, I assume you're on a date?" he said, letting go. "Don't let your old dad crash it, especially when I've got my own date with the woods scheduled."

"Oh! Yes!" Cassandra blushed, and Allie laughed.

"Mr Goth, it really was a pleasure to meet you. I'll whisk Cass off to Chez Llama and leave you and the woods to your business, if you don't mind?"

Mortimer nodded, watching Allie link arms with Cassandra and begin to walk. He himself headed towards the woods, and looked back to see Allie hand Cassandra a red rose.

She's in good hands, surely.

***

I looked at him, waiting for him to say more.

"I think she felt she couldn't tell me. I'm guessing Bella knows, but...she didn't feel she could tell me, and I could have cried over that, but I was happy for her, too."

"It's complicated, my love. Children...Children are always so complicated. You think you know them, and then suddenly you realise they keep a side of themselves hidden, I suppose. I mean, Elliott..." I stopped there, knowing it was important to keep talking about Cassie.

"She trusted she could tell you when she saw you. You know now, isn't that good? And like I say..."

"Everything happens for a reason." He finished my sentence, and kissed me very softly. "Yes, my love. I'll listen."

But would he still listen if I tried to tell him about Elliott? About how he's not been talking to me lately, about how he distances himself from Sophy and Caden, and refuses to be nice to his brother? What on earth am I supposed to do?

Juliana

Libby's Thoughts (1.8)

Hello, all.

Juliana told me that I should start a blog, as she says it helps her feel at peace, writing everything down. When I told her I didn't feel I could update it that much, or that I had anything to say, she said I could just use hers, as no one reads it.

So, here we are. I'm sharing a blog with my partner's sister. I'm happy that she mentions Primrose on her posts, and yes, she taught me the lullaby. Somehow, it works, when nothing else does.

As for my little daughter, she doesn't yet have many friends other than her cousins. In fact, her best friend is as near to a cousin on my side as she has.

Primrose and Reagan get along so well, and it's something that makes me smile and feel a little broken up, as well. They love each other in that honest way kids do.

Except I didn't love Reagan's parents for a long time.

When I was Primrose's age, I met a girl called Summer. We were both unsure at the first day of nursery, but we made quick friends! We liked mostly the same things, and we eventually became best friends. We went around to visit each other all the time, and Summer was the first person to get an invite to any parties I had.

Around middle school, we became a trio, as we met a funny guy called Travis. Summer had found him crying and said she knew where he needed to be, and as he was lost, he followed her, but instead, she brought him to me, so I could cheer him up.

We were inseparable, and I thought nothing could change that! I was in chess club, Travis liked IT, and Summer was a cheerleader. We were still friends. Even though we knew we both liked Travis, we didn't do anything about it.

I didn't, anyway. That was the problem, it was why I ended up not talking to them for a while. Back when I still liked Travis, Summer and me made a promise not to go after him. Unfortunately for me, Travis liked Summer, and ended up kissing her just as I came back from work.

After that, I moved to San Myshuno, near my parents. I was heartbroken! But I met Orson soon after, and after a year, he asked me out. Willow Creek had the perfect house for us once we were looking for a better place than just either of our flats, and by then, I was already pregnant. People were under the impression I'd never moved once I got back there, or that I'd been on holiday.

My friendships with Summer and Travis are still strained, but it doesn't matter as much anymore. I don't care for Travis in that way anymore, but it still hurts that it happened.

But we're becoming friends again, through our children. Reagan is three, and is their firstborn, although Summer is expecting again. She's a very sweet little girl, and Primrose says that she's her best friend. Seeing them together brings back memories, of course - they look so much like Summer and me.

And Travis is so kind to Primrose. He's always got time to spend with her, when she's over there, and  she's taken to calling him 'Uncle', same as with Mort.

He even plays dolls with her when Reagan decides not to! He's a fantastic father to his own little girl, but it's weird seeing how much of a dad he's completely become.

I guess I've just been thinking about things a lot recently, what with...well, Summer's new baby on the way. It brought everything back.

Liberty, signing off.