Page 50 of Cade

“No, I think it might be a good idea,” Cass smiled a sad smile. “I’ve been running from it, which is what brought Cade and I closer. I was in a very bad place, Viv. I went to Canada with plans to kill myself.”

“No!” she gasped. “Cass, no, you can’t ever think like that. What would happen to your family? What would we do without you?”

“I know, I know,” she smiled. “I have a very different opinion now. Cade made me see how foolish I was being. I couldn’t get it out of my head, Viv. I couldn’t get Phillipe’s face out of my mind. What he did to me, what he took from me. Cade helped me to get rid of that image and replace it with something beautiful and perfect.”

“I’m so glad,” said Viv, reaching for her hand. “I would have missed you, and I know that your family would have been devastated.” Cass nodded.

“Now, what about you and Bodhi?” she grinned.

“Oh, Cass, I don’t know. I’ve given Bodhi so many hints, I’m about to lose my mind. He’s worried because of his size,” she said, blushing. “You know, his size, size.”

“Yes,” laughed Cass, “I know what you mean. His brother isn’t much different. Did you reassure him that you were ready for that?”

“I-I tried to tell him that I’d been preparing myself,” she said, burning hot pink. “I bought some things from Charlie that have kept me sane and helped me to get ready for Bodhi. I’m crazy about him, Cass.”

“Then tell him that to his face when he returns. Don’t hide anymore. We’ll figure out all this mess with your grandmother and the care facility. We’ll sit down with the others and talk about what we can do to help. I’ll help you!”

“Aren’t you going back to the gallery?” asked Viv.

“I don’t know,” she said thoughtfully. “I’m not sure I want to. I love art. Really, I do. I love painting, but I’m not sure that’s what I want to do for the rest of my life.”

“Well, maybe we can combine our talents and do something good for our elderly. I hated seeing what I did in Fresno, and I know that in the grand scheme of things, they were living in a fairly decent place. I’ve been researching things on the internet, and it’s appalling, Cass. I need to do something.”

“Then that’s what we’ll do,” she smiled, standing to take the other woman’s hand. “You and I are going to take on the issues of the elderly. We can’t be stopped!” Viv laughed, hugging her friend.

“Oh, Cass, you’ve made me feel so much better. Thank you!”

“Hey, we might be family one day soon. I need all the help I can get with keeping my big guy in line.”

“Speaking of,” said Viv, biting her lip. “I don’t want to pry into your personal life or anything, but, I mean, I have to assume…”

“It’s huge.” Cass stepped off the porch waiting for her friend. When she turned, Viv’s eyes were wide, her mouth opened in a perfect ‘O.’ “Viv?”

“Sorry, just dreaming.”

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