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