18. Cassidy
Chapter 18
Cassidy
I felt like a human burrito that had been wrapped in different materials. Ann’s clever hands were gliding in and out as she positioned the layers differently in the dress I now wore.
“I haven’t been able to work on a model with a waist this small in years,” Ann said giddily. Patrice sat in a rocking chair nearby, reading a book and sipping a tea.
“These dresses are beautiful,” I gushed enthusiastically. Perhaps outdated but they were crafted beautifully. She’d brought out a rack of various dresses and I was as of forty minutes ago her real-life manikin.
“It’s only a hobby now,” Ann crooned in lust-filled wonder.
“She used to own a shop back in Philadelphia,” Patrice said fondly as she continued to read, gently rocking. She was reading some historical romance. There was something endearing about their setup, it flowed as if this was their everyday routine. Enjoying their own hobby amongst chatter and tea every day.
“What happened to it?” I asked.
Ann swatted a hand, as if embarrassed. “Well, I met Coots of course. We stayed in Philadelphia for a few years, traveled around some with our children and then ended up settling here fifty-odd years ago when Coots got a local mechanics job. Haven’t looked elsewhere since.”
My wildly-romantic heart swooned at their long-term marriage. Ann gestured a hand toward Patrice. “And Patrice and I were friends since high school. When she lost her husband who served in the military thirty years ago she moved out here as well. Didn’t want to get in her children’s way as they encouraged her to move close to them. She wanted a fresh start.”
My heart sunk, unable to even imagine her loss.
Patrice rolled her eyes. “Don’t want to burden the young ones? They’re running around in their own busy lives and although I appreciated the gesture there was no way I could keep up with them. My two sons both had young families then too. I didn’t want to become dependent on nobody.” She lifted her nose indignantly.
“I’m sorry for your loss,” I said sincerely. She looked over her book, a small and gentle smile marring her expression.
“You’re a sweet one with a good heart and I appreciate the gesture. We lived many years together and he was taken too soon. But I’m grateful for the years we had spent together. It took me a long time to come to that conclusion though, mark my words.”
I couldn’t imagine losing the love of my life. The thought paralyzed me. And yet I didn’t seem any closer to finding any kind of forever relationship to truly envision its magnitude. I’d watched all the Disney movies, read all the romance books, and advocated the dramas. I’d grown up on love stories despite my parents displaying none in their marriage. It was all I craved, and yet I couldn’t have been any further from it—despite actively searching for it in New York.
“That’s why it’s so enjoyable for us to watch you and Eric flutter about each other. I haven’t seen that man crack a smile in years,” Ann goaded.
“We thought he was a lost cause,” Patrice agreed as she took another sip of her tea.
I blushed. “Oh, there’s nothing happening between us. He’s very kind though offering me a place to stay.”
The two shared a mischievous smirk. “We might be old, love, but we aren’t blind.”
Ann hissed as she pricked her finger. She waved her hand back and forth before staring at dollop of blood. Patrice, without a second glance, handed her a tissue as if the two were in unison.
“He’s a fine young man to look at it. It’s a shame how burnt he got from the last one. It’s been what? A decade since her?” Ann asked Patrice.
Patrice sighed. “Maybe even longer. He was a lot younger.”
“Everyone’s younger to us,” Ann squabbled.
“I’m sorry who?” I interrupted, suddenly interested by who this “last one” was.
After placing a plaster on her finger, Ann pushed my back. “Taller dear, don’t slouch.”
I did as I was told.
“It was the talk of the town for years,” Patrice began.
“Damn right it was,” Ann crooned in reply.
“Katia moved into the town and it was probably within six months that the two were living together,” Patrice continued.
“Youngsters falling in love quickly.” Ann sighed.
The two bounced from one another conversationally, retelling the story.
“Two years into their relationship, she took him for everything he was worth. Everything had been signed over into her name including the home and three businesses the family owned including the café.”
My jaw dropped and Ann nodded with eyebrows raised.
“Mmmhmmm.” She clicked her fingers. “Just like that, she vanished and no one heard or saw from her again.”
My heart dropped.
“Took the family another year to buy her out and get everything back. As the oldest they’d given Eric everything. But just as quickly, that one woman was able to deceive and take all of it,” Patrice said glumly shaking her head.
“A con woman,” Ann added as she lowered to her knees, establishing a new length for the dress. “Shook him up real bad. After everything was settled, he fled to Chicago and started his own business.”
“I think he must’ve felt guilty or didn’t want to hinder the family,” Patrice pitied.
“And from what Audrey’s said, he hasn’t brought another woman home since.”
“Maybe he’s gay,” Patrice whispered.
Ann waved her off.
“Umm who’s Audrey?” A twist of emotions bundled in the pit of my stomach. Eric went through all of that? I immediately pitied him. I’d gone through my flings and waves of men who’d only used me for sex—even when they promised sweet words and futures. The ones that hurt me the most were the two who’d never told me about their wives or true intentions. But I’d never been conned out of all my belongings.
“Oh, sorry dear, Audrey is Eric’s mother. Lovely woman, very sad what happened to her in the accident though. Makes it hard for her to leave the house much in this weather.”
My heart dropped again. “The accident?”
Patrice gave Ann an uncertain look. “Perhaps we’ve said too much.”
“We can’t very well stop now,” Ann reprimanded. I looked through the mirror at the rich red reflection of the princess-cut dress.
“She was in a car accident six years ago and has been in a wheelchair ever since.”
My heart physically ached. Had Eric been dealing with this all on his own?
“Shh,” Ann hushed. Patrice’s eyebrows furrowed and she stood up to peer through the window. Eric approached the front door, his hands casually tucked into his pockets.
“But you didn’t hear any of that from us,” Patrice said, swatting the comment away and continued rocking in her chair casually, sipping her tea.
“The door’s open!” Ann crooned and gave me a wink. “Looks like your knight in shining armor’s come to save you from us old croons.”
Before I could object, his hulking form filled the room. His gaze raked down the dress and back to me. “What are you doing here?” I asked breathlessly. Guilt and anguish rolled over me. I hadn’t dealt with any of the things that he had in his life, so I could only empathize. And that just made it so much worse. Guilt also niggled at me for knowing some of his deepest hurts, and yet I couldn’t share a wisp of mine. Not that he probably cared to hear them.
“Yes, what are you doing here, Eric? You never visit,” Ann said, already packing up her equipment.
“I’ve come to pick up Cassidy.”
“Do you have work for me?” I asked.
Eric looked sheepish as he glanced at our onlookers, who were hinged on his every word with curiosity. A tension filled the room, their looming romantic expectations obvious.
“Something like that.”
I looked at Ann and she waved me off. “Go, go. Now that you’re staying in town for a few weeks, I can have you anytime I want. As long as Eric’s willing to share.” Ann raised an incredulous eyebrow in Eric’s direction. Patrice, ever quiet sipped, on her tea, her gaze drifting up occasionally to watch the tension throughout the room run its course.