Page 47 of Roman and the Hopeless Romantic
Cassie
Valentine’s Day. The day everyone fell into one of three camps.
1. They were in love and spent way too much money on a Hallmark holiday.
2. They were single and surrounded by obnoxious happy couples.
3. They didn’t care about a stupid made up holiday.
Cassie wanted to be number three. She told herself she was number three.
But then she sat alone in her room with no company except her fictional men and the pictures on her wall of her mom.
She walked over to study them, imagining what it would be like to have her there. For almost sixteen years, her mom surprised her with chocolate-covered caramels for Valentine’s Day. Okay, they weren’t a surprise when she did it every year.
But the act made Cassie feel loved.
Since then, her dad let the day pass without any acknowledgement of her mom’s favorite holiday. Jesse never put much stock in a day that celebrated love, though this year he’d better do it for Charlotte.
Only Cassie lived with hearts in her eyes and cracks in her heart. Her fingers worked the buttons on her plaid shirt before she stepped into her slip-on shoes. Fridays meant going to see Annie, but she didn’t know who was taking her. Maybe Mary.
One of these days, she had to start driving again. Just the thought of it sent a chill racing up her spine. Only five days ago, she’d clung to Roman as he raced down the beach, laughing and trying to keep her hat on her head. For a few hours, it was almost like she could be herself again.
But then they’d gotten home, and she’d retreated to her room, exhausted from all the peopling. Yet, she couldn’t wait to tell Annie about her week. She spent each evening hanging out with Roman and her brothers in the living room, watching hockey or movies. Her silence didn’t return. When she was with them, there were no nerves, the anxiety belonged to someone else.
Tying her hair back out of her face, she grabbed her purse and yanked open her bedroom door. As she took a step, her toe hit a box on the ground.
Peering down, she brushed her bangs back to read the name on the top. Godiva.
Her lips curved into a smile as she bent to pick it up. She pulled off the envelope taped to the top and pulled out the card.
Just like Mom used to buy.
Holding the card between her teeth, she pulled off the top of the box to find rows and rows of chocolate covered caramels. They were the only kind of fancy chocolates she liked, a fact her mom knew. Each year, she had to order a box special to make sure it was right.
Only one other person could have known to do this.
Dad.
To some people, it may have been a small thing, but to her it was everything. The man who kept to himself, out of his children’s lives, remembered something so specific.
He was aloof, sometimes cold, but maybe there was life left in him yet. Tears welled in the corners of her eyes, but she didn’t let them fall. Closing the lid, she held the box to her chest and descended the stairs.
Mary puttered around the kitchen, finishing the boys’ lunches. Jesse and Roman were already gone for the day.
“What do you have there?” Mary asked.
Cassie set the box on the counter and smiled. “Caramels like my mom used to give me.”
The office door opened, and her dad walked out dressed in a suit and tie. Cassie couldn’t stop herself from crossing the room and wrapping her arms around his waist in a hug. “Hi, Dad.”
He patted her back. “Morning, Cass.” He looked to Mary in question.
“Don’t ask me.” Mary laughed. “I’m just happy the girl is smiling.”
Cassie’s dad pried her off him and held her at arm’s length. “What’s wrong? You look like you want to cry.”
Cassie wiped her eyes. “Nothing. This time what matters is what’s right.”
