Page 54 of Wife After Wife
“I think it might be. I’ve been in a dark place for months, but... I don’t know. Out in the garden this morning, I thought maybe I could start to pull myself out.”
“I can help you with that.” Cassandra’s tone was earnest. “You’ve got to rid yourself of all the negative energy in your life, all the toxicity. I’ve done it, and I’m a whole new woman.” She smiled. “Look, let’s get dinner over and done with, and then we’ll have a heart-to-heart. By the way, I’m vegetarian now, I hope Charles remembered to tell Harry.”
As she followed Cassandra down the stairs, Katie smiled a little, thinking how Old Cassandra would have mocked New Cassandra. She experienced a pang of loss.
“Harry, no!” hissed Katie as she registered Harry opening a bottle of wine.
“It’s all right, Katie,” said Cassandra in a soothing voice. “Please, go ahead, drink wine. I’m not one of those recovered alcoholics who can’t control themselves around the booze. I have coping strategies. And I’m a much better person without it, you’ll see.”
“I’ll drink to that!” said Charles, and Harry guffawed.
“Would you like to joke about my depression too?” asked Katie, breathing quickly.
The men stopped abruptly, Charles going pink.
“No, Katie, don’t get angry,” said Cassandra. “Anger poisons your soul. Divert that negative energy into something positive, something helping.”
“Sorry, Katie,” said Charles. “Seriously, that was crass. How are you doing, sweetheart?”
“Getting through,” she muttered, and poured herself a glass of water from the tap.
“Just me and you, then, old chap,” said Harry, raising his glass.
“To old friends,” said Charles.
“Yes, to old friends,” said Cassandra, “and new beginnings.”
They took their drinks through to the living room, where Maria was watchingRaiders of the Lost Ark.
“Maria!” said Cassandra. “How are you, my pet? I haven’t seen you in so long.”
“I’m very well thank you, how are you?” she replied.
Charles looked at Katie in astonishment. “What’s happened to your child?”
“She’s been to reform school,” said Harry.
Charles laughed heartily, but Cassandra shook her head. “Harry, never disrespect your child. The consequences are far-reaching.”
“Maria,” said Katie, “run along and put your pajamas on, then come and say good night.”
“Yes, Mummy.”
“So changelings are real,” said Charles.
“That’s Sadie,” said Harry. “She’s worked wonders.”
“I’m loving the positive outcomes from what have been dark times for all of us,” said Cassandra.
“And it seems changelings aren’t restricted to children,” said Harry. “What have you done with the real Cassandra?”
Frowning slightly, she said, “I’d like to share my experience with you, if you’re all comfortable with that?”
Cassandra recounted her rehab journey, sharing her discovery that a lack of nurturing during childhood and then an over-reliance on Charles for emotional support had led to low self-esteem, and how the result was that she only ever felt good about herself after a few drinks. “Milly and Arabella could so easily have ended up the same,” she concluded, “shunted off, away from their parents from an early age.”
“Are they home?” said Harry.
“Yes, I’m homeschooling them now.”
