Betrayal (70 page)

“Good.”

“Cass?”

“Yeah?”

“Do you think we succeeded?”

“Succeeded?”

“Yeah, you know…I’d hate to disappoint my mom.”

Cassidy laughed and propped herself up on her elbow. “That
would
be terrible.”

“I think we should try again,” Alex smirked.

Cassidy shook her head. “You are incorrigible. I am happy to be your test subject, but I think YaYa might have to be disappointed on this one,” she winked and kissed Alex’s cheek.

“Well, no harm in trying.”

“No harm at all,” Cassidy agreed.

Tuesday, June 3
^rd

assidy sat at the kitchen table perusing job postings for local schools. Alex was at work. Dylan was at school. Life was quiet. Life was wonderful. She looked at the ring on her finger and pondered how happy she truly was. There were still things that she needed to resolve. Custody of Dylan was paramount on her list. She had Alex’s full support and they had wonderful people behind them. She had no doubt that with the love of her family and friends, she and Alex would be well on their way to establishing the family they both desired; a family free and clear of the influence of her ex-husband. She took a sip of her iced tea and returned to her task when the ringing of her cell phone startled her. “Alex?”

“Yeah, it’s me.”

“Hey, are you okay?” Alex did not respond immediately and Cassidy knew something was wrong. “Honey?’

“It’s my father, Cass.”

“What, did you see him or something?”

Alex took a deep breath. “Cass, I’m on my way to my mom’s. Is there any way you can get Dylan and pick up Barb and Cat and meet me.”

“Alex, what is going on?”

“Cass….my father is…he’s gone.”

Cassidy was confused. She knew Helen’s insistence on supporting Alex had caused tension in Alex’s parent’s marriage. They had been together over fifty years, married for forty. She
couldn’t imagine that Nicolaus Toles would leave his wife. “He left?” Cassidy asked.

“No, Cass. He didn’t leave. He died. He’s gone,” Alex said softly.

“What?”

“Mom came home this morning from Nick’s and found him in his study. Looks like he had a heart attack, maybe a stroke.” Cassidy was at a loss for words. She ran her hand over her face. “Cass, can you? I mean can you get Dylan early and pick up Barb and Cat? I just talked to Nicky…I just…I’m closer…I…”

“Of course. Whatever you need me to do. You know that. Alex? Are you all right?”

“I don’t know, Cass. I really don’t know.”

“I’ll be there as soon as I can, okay? I love you.”

“Okay. I love you too.”

Friday, June 6
^th

“How are you feeling?” Cassidy asked.

“Numb,” Alex answered.

Cassidy understood. She looked over at the casket and shook her head in disbelief. A week ago they we preparing for their wedding. Now they were standing in a receiving line at a wake for someone Alex loved. It made Cassidy angry. Alex’s life was suddenly upside down. “You know, whatever you decide; I will support you.”

Alex smiled at her wife. “I know that,” she said. She was dreading making pleasantries with her father’s business associates. She didn’t want to imagine who might make an appearance today. She had talked at length with Krause the night before. What should she do? He seemed certain that her father’s death was no accident and no heart attack. This was the choice the admiral had assured Krause that Alex would face. Should she take the helm of her father’s company? It presented problems and possibilities.
Initially, she had completely disregarded the idea. But, after talking to Krause, she had begun to consider the possibility. “Right now,” she said to Cassidy, “I am mostly worried about Mom.”

Cassidy took Alex’s hand and squeezed it gently. “I know.” She looked a few feet away to see Helen looking at the casket that held the man she loved. The visual made her weak. She recalled her own father’s death and witnessing the grief in Helen’s eyes, Cassidy could only imagine what losing Alex would feel like. “I love you, Alex,” she said as the first wave of condolence givers streamed in.

Alex smiled and pulled Dylan against her hip. “Wanna know a secret?” she asked her wife. Cassidy nodded. “There
is
one thing that makes me smile.”

“What’s that?” Cassidy asked.

“I am going to introduce you and Dylan to every person who walks through this line as my wife and son.” Cassidy couldn’t help but smile. There was a slight twinkle in Alex’s eye as she shared her secret. Cassidy was certain that Alex would do exactly that.

Three hours into a long afternoon Helen Toles was fading. Alex was showing clear signs of exhaustion. Dylan and Cat has taken up residence in the far corner of the funeral parlor with Barb’s iPad and everyone’s blessing. Cassidy was pleasantly surprised that Jon Krause had made an appearance and had decided to stay. He was sitting in the corner with the boys keeping a close eye on each passersby. Cassidy knew there was more than a personal interest at play in his presence, but she could also see the genuine concern he had for both Alex and Dylan. It surprised her a bit at first, but then she recalled the phone call he made to her the morning of the wedding.

Her old friend didn’t have much to say. He did say that it was Alex who told him to call. He was quiet for a long moment
and then he said something Cassidy was certain she would never forget. “You know, I loved you when we were in France. Maybe I never stopped. The truth is Cassie, Alex is lucky to have you. But, I think you are lucky to have her too. If I could go back and do it all over? Everything in my life? I’d take a page from Alexis Toles,” he told her.

Cassidy turned to Alex. The steady stream of visitors had tapered and she felt the need to see Dylan. The atmosphere had unsettled both the boys. “Honey?” Alex smiled. “I’m just going to check on Dylan while there is a lull, okay? I’ll be right back.”

“Tell him we are almost done and I know YaYa has ice cream,” Alex said.

Cassidy patted Alex’s hand. “I will do that.” She nodded to Helen and Nick and headed for the boys and their unlikely adult companion.

Alex took the moment to close her eyes and take a deep breath. She heard the voice next to her that was speaking to her mother. It sounded familiar and she opened her eyes. “What the hell are you doing here?” she hissed. Helen’s eyes flew open as she realized suddenly who was standing before her. Already exhausted and emotional, the older woman started to lose her balance. Alex grabbed hold of her mother’s arm as Barb flew in from a few feet away. Alex stepped away slightly. “Get. The. Hell. Out of here.”

Krause saw Cassidy jump to her feet. “Stay with the boys,” she issued her statement as an order. Before he could protest she was gone.

“I am telling you…leave,” Alex said as quietly as she could manage.

“Oh, Agent Toles…your father was one of my most avid supporters. After all, in a way we are family now. I simply wanted to pay my respects….Cassidy,” he acknowledged his ex-wife as she approached. “Congratulations, by the way.”

Dylan had caught sight of the man talking to his mom and Alex and he sprinted away. “Dylan,” Krause jumped up. “Cat, stay here,” he said. “Dylan, wait.” It was too late, Dylan had made his way to his family. He saw his YaYa first. His Aunt Barb was sitting beside her and she looked very upset. Then he saw Alex. He moved toward her. Nick tried to catch him, but he pulled away forcefully.

“Hey, buddy.” Congressman O’Brien took the opportunity for all it was worth and put his hand out to Dylan. “How are you?”

Dylan pushed himself up against Alex and felt her hand come to rest on his shoulder. “Did you know Alex’s dad?” Dylan asked skeptically.

O’Brien crouched to the boy’s height under the steely gaze of two very protective mothers. “I did. And, Alex is your friend, right? So…”

“Alex isn’t my friend.” Dylan looked at his father harshly.

Cassidy heard Krause’s voice in her ear and felt his hand on her shoulder. “I tried.” She patted his hand as reassurance and kept watch on her son.

“No? I thought that you and Alex…”

“Alex is my mom,” Dylan said definitively.

“Now Dylan,” he began.

Cassidy had reached her limit with her ex-husband and she stepped forward grabbing his arm. “If you will excuse us,” she said as she pulled him away.

Krause immediately started to follow and Alex stopped him. “No. I’ll go. She needs to handle this. Let her.” Alex followed Cassidy’s path and stopped in the small doorway. She could see O’Brien and she could hear Cassidy clearly.

“Cassie, you look well.”

“Cut the shit, Chris. What exactly do you think you are doing?”

“Offering my condolences of course.”

“Just leave, Christopher. Leave my family alone. If you ever cared a thing for me or for Dylan, just go.”

“I have a right to see my son.”

“Well, you certainly choose interesting times to exercise that right. Which is one reason I am exercising mine to end it.”

“Excuse me? Cassie, you really should rethink the people in your life.”

Cassidy laughed. “I did that, thank you. I walked away from Cassidy O’Brien. I much prefer Cassidy Toles.”

“Well, that is very nice for you, Cassie. Dylan is still an O’Brien.”