January first, New Year's day. Potsie woke with a twinge in his back. He stretched stiff muscles, ignoring the pain. He looked at the blonde sleeping beside him. She had been extremely active during their love-making during the previous night, like she was demon possessed. And perhaps she was with the run in with her son, Brad. Whatever the secret she was hiding would be brought to light tomorrow she had promised; he'd reached the newspaper accounts and wondered what private devil had eaten at her during the years. The story of the accident had been front page news but within a week it had been dropped. Old news didn't sell newspapers.

She had cried out his name as her coil released. He had joined her a few seconds later. He reached over to remove a stray of hair from her face. A fiend of a large sledgehammer hit his lower back. He would like nothing better than to struggle against her warm body and try to get some sleep but knew the fiend wouldn't allow that to happen. Easing out of bed without bothering the sleeping Cassie, he found his pants and after a quick trip to the bathroom he made his way to the kitchen. A cup of leftover coffee in the microwave and a couple of aspirin he'd found in the bathroom would go a long way to placate the monster and his hammer.

He shivered and the heater kicked on, blowing warm air into the living room; he stood looking out the window, the snow stopped, street lights turned the snow lying on the lawn to sparkling diamonds. His thoughts returned to the sleeping beauty and wondered why he hadn't found anyone like her before. He had always fallen back on his career, using it as an excuse. Cassandra had changed that; his career wasn't fulfilling as it had once before. Maybe he had his own demons to expunge.

Her perfume reached him first, sweet, soft, rich and totally feminine. Fresh from the shower, dressed in jeans and a soft sweatshirt, she wrapped her arms around his waist, her cheek pressed against his bare back. "Happy New Year, Potsie."

He put the coffee aside, turning to embrace her, kissing her lips. "Good morning, Cassie. Happy New Year."

"I guess I was selfish last night, we have all day together, what would you like to do?" No mention of the next day or the proposal luncheon date.

"I need to go home, pack for the tour." 'Not to mention my meds and a nice pain pill is there too.'

"Then it's breakfast and packing. I kinda like you topless." She smiled while she spread tantalizing kisses over his chest.

"I could say the same about you." He tugged the hem of her sweatshirt up.

"After breakfast," her eyes twinkled, pulling her sweatshirt down, "I'm famished."

After a breakfast of scrambled eggs, bacon, toast and coffee they made their way to Potsie's home.

"It's humble but I call it home, when I'm here that is."

Cassie had been here before, picking Potsie up for Mass. The house hadn't changed all that much.

What had changed was Potsie. "What's wrong, Potsie?"

"Nothing is wrong, Cassie."

"We haven't known each other long enough but I know you well enough to know something is wrong. I've been lied to before, I didn't like it then and I don't like it now. And I don't think we should start a relationship with a lie between us. Now tell me, what's wrong?"

"Okay, just before Christmas I took a spill on the ice at the grocery store, messed up my back but it doesn't bother me too much, I just can't lay still, in bed for example, for any extended time. That's why I wasn't in bed this morning. I had to get up and move around."

"It doesn't hurt about love-making according to last night." Part question, part observation, she took his hand, holding it reassuringly.

"Potsie, who looks after the house while you're gone?" Cassandra flopped on the couch, being joined by Potsie.

"Joanie has a key, she drives by her car when possible." She snuggled closer, her hand caressing his cheek.

"I have something I want to talk to you about, Potsie."

Part 2

They had dropped by 'Arnold's' to pick up chicken, mashed potatoes, gravy and biscuits for the luncheon meeting. Cassandra glanced around the kitchen table; everyone was here. Annie and Jack sat side by side, Brad sat next to his sister and Potsie next to her. Food ignored or forgotten, their eyes darted from their plates to her, darting away in fear of meeting eye to eye; all Potsie who smiled when he caught her looking at him. They were all waiting. Waiting for the promised secret, waiting for her bare soul.

"Well, since nobody seems to be hungry," she drew in a breath, letting it out in a sigh, "I guess it's time I told you why I wanted you all here. That will come later, first I wanted you to know I've thought of selling this house for some time. I will be doing that as soon as possible.

"Second," she took Potsie's hand, looking lovingly at him, "Potsie and I have talked at length and have decided to build a life together. Sorry to talk about you, Potsie, like you aren't here, Potsie will be leaving on tour tomorrow. While he's gone, I plan on moving into his home.

"Third, Annie, Brad, I have pictures of your father in a box stored in the bedroom. After lunch you can go through them and pick out whatever pictures you want to keep.

"Lastly, the main reason I wanted to talk to you." She felt the reassuring squeeze on her hand, she squeezed back, acknowledging the moral support and that she didn't have to face this alone.

"You all know that David, his mistress and their baby died in the accident five years ago. Only four people know what I'm about to tell you. The medical examiner, the district attorney at the time, the investigating officer and me. I convinced the other three that the truth wouldn't serve any good purpose, so it was never released to the newspapers. I also decided to keep the truth from you, Annie, Brad, to protect you.

"Potsie, you asked at Mass if I'd forgiven them...this is the first step to that goal. Annie, Brad, you were told that your father and his mistress died immediately. That was when the media was told but it's not true. What happened it that car we'll never know but the evidence points to the fact pinned in the car, couldn't move, what happened before the police arrived early.

"Your father murdered her before he died."