A Fresh Start
Chapter Fifty Seven
Cassie is standing at the stove, when Richard walks in the door. Stopping for a couple seconds, he stands there and watches her and then quietly he closes the door before he walks over to her. Wrapping his arms around her, he lightly kisses the side of her neck before he says. "Hi, Darling."
"Hi." Cassie replies, moving back into his arms.
"Where are the boys?"
"They're at the Shaunasey's."
"How long do we have?"
"Their supposed to be home by dinner, but if I know Michael and Peter, they'll want RJ to stay over, so Will will stay over too." Cassie says, turning in his arms. "What are you thinking?"
"I'm thinking that we need to spend the evening together."
"I can call Marsha and see if the boys can spend the night."
"That sounds like a wonderful idea. Why don't you do that, while I go upstairs and take a shower and we can have some dinner, and…?" Richard says, leaning over to kiss the side of her neck.
"Go take a shower and I'll call Marsha." Cassie says, stepping back and smiling up at him.
"I'll be down in a few minutes." Richard says, leaning over to give her a quick kiss before he heads upstairs, pulling on his tie as he goes.
Picking up the phone, Cassie dials the number to the farm neighboring their place and after a couple rings Marsha answers. "Hello."
"Marsha, its Cassie."
"Oh hi, the boys were just about to call you."
"They want to spend the night?"
"Yes."
"Do you mind?"
"No, they are having a great time, and Michael and Peter have the tent out back and they're going to sleep out there."
"Thank you. I'll be by tomorrow morning to get them."
"Okay."
They hang up. A few minutes later, Cassie walks upstairs. Richard is walking out of their bathroom when she walks in the room. "So?" he asks, looking up as he's drying his hair
"They are sleeping over. Michael and Peter have a tent setup in the backyard and they're camping out tonight." Cassie says, walking over to him.
She wraps her arms around his waist as he drops the towel and puts his arms across her shoulders before he asks. "A penny for your thoughts"
"I was just thinking about my husband. About how much I love him, and how lucky I am that he's back."
Richard smiles and says. "The feelings are mutual."
"I missed you this afternoon."
"Why?"
"No particular reason, I just missed you." She says, pulling him to her, as she presses her lips to his.
The kiss starts out sweet and innocent, but as the flames of desire being to burn it becomes hot and passionate. Moaning softly as Richard slowly slides his hands down her back to her waist, tugging her t-shirt from her jeans.
Pushing it up, he steps back, breaking the kiss and watching as her body is revealed to him. Lifting her arms, she helps him pull the shirt over her head. Once this is accomplished he discards the shirt, tossing it on the floor beside them. Stepping up to him, Cassie leans in and begins kissing his chest, kneeling in front of him, she softly tongues his navel. His hands are buried in her hair pressing her mouth to his stomach. His head is thrown back, eyes tightly shut. A groan escapes from deep inside him as Cassie lightly nibbles on his abdomen.
After a few seconds, he steps back and says "Cassie, stop."
Reaching down he helps her back to her feet his arms lock tightly around her, his mouth searching for hers, kissing her with fierce passion as he fights for control.
The kiss only brings the fires of passion higher until Cassie breaks the kiss needing to catch her breath. Moving along his jaw, nibbling as she goes till she reaches his ear and she whispers "Are you ready, my Prince?"
Richard responds by tightening his arms around her as he slowly walks her the short distance to the bed, reaching for the snap on her jeans as she reaches for the towel wrapped around his waist. They are almost to the bed when Richard slides his hand inside brushing the jeans downward and sweeping them off her heated body.
A few steps later her knees touch the side of the bed and she sits down raising her eyes, their gazes lock as she leans back, propping herself up by leaning on her hands, she slowly runs her eyes over him. Leaning forward she slides her hand up the inside of his thigh, brushing against him.
He responds by kneeling on one knee beside her as he gently pushes her back across the bed. Once she is comfortable he lays down beside her his arms on either side of her. He leans in for another kiss. Her arms lock around his back, as his hand slides underneath her to the clasp on her bra.
Within a few seconds he has it unhooked and she is shrugging out of it. He leans back drinking in her beauty as she gazes quietly in to his face watching his reaction. Emotions start to build inside her that she can no longer control. She tries pulling him down to her but he resists. "What's wrong?" He asks, sensing that something has changed.
"Nothing, I just love you so much."
"And I love you too."
He leans back down to her, their lips meeting once again searching for the others. She slides her hands down his back till she reaches his waist as they roll over. With Richard on his back Cassie moves to straddle him.
Her nails softly scratch his chest as his hands slowly glide up her body to her breasts. He softly teases her as she lays her head back, her eyes tightly closed, her lower lip tucked in her mouth. She can feel him beneath her hard and insistent.
As he continues to caress her body she beings to rock back and forth against him bringing a loud moan from both of them. He pulls her down to him his lips searching for hers as he flips her over. His hands sliding lightly down her body till he reaches her underwear. His hand slips inside as he breaks the kiss sliding along her jaw till he reaches her ear were he whispers "Are you ready, my Princess?"
"Oh yes, Richard Please."
He sweeps her underwear down her body as they continue to kiss. While Richard is ridding her body of the last article of clothing her hands brush across his shoulders and down his back across his waist where they finally rest at his waist.
Catching his gaze once again her hands slips downward softly enclosing him as a sigh of ecstasy slips from his lips. She slowly moves her hand, mimicking the rhythm they always share. As she caresses him he is softly caressing her inner thigh working his way up to her.
At the first touch of his hand she cries out then closes her eyes in ecstasy her lower lip once again tucked inside her mouth. Even though she is no longer stroking him, he is all too aware of her hand being wrapped around him. Just her touch is enough to drive him to distraction.
She is so wrapped up in him as he plays with her, she forgets her own stimulation. A soft cry of disappointment escapes her as he takes his hand away, only to be replaced by a cry of ecstasy a couple of seconds later when his mouth replaces his hand. He plays her almost to the point of explosion and then backs away.
Arching her back, she silently begs him to finish what he started but he holds off. Moving up her feverish body till he reaches her heated lips, he kisses her. After a few seconds he breaks the kiss, leaning back their eyes lock. Golden green locking with clear cobalt blue, each silently asking a timeless question, which she answers by once again arching her back towards him as she runs her hand down his body, guiding him in.
Cries of pure unadulterated pleasure escape them both as he sinks into her. After a few seconds he begins to thrust, slowly at first then with greater speed. She wraps her legs around him deepening his penetration with each thrust. For several minutes he carries her to the edge almost to the brink of release just to slow down again.
Then slowly he builds them up again, almost to the point of explosion but this time instead of slowing down he completely stops his head buried in the side of her neck. Their breathing is ragged as she moves restlessly beneath him.
"Richard please, I need you now!" She cries feeling intense waves of desire building inside her. She feels her body clinging to him, focused completely on him and the pleasure he can give her.
She tries to a desperately arch her body to his, but his weight holds her motionless. Silently she begs him once again to finish it. This time he changes rhythm and begins with heated movements building in intensity like a storm, each thrust drawing them closer to the peaceful center. As they once again reach their highest peak for the final time he cries out "Cassie."
"Richard." She sighs
She is swept away by the tide of love, desire and passion. Once he knows she is satisfied. He releases all control gives one final thrust and his body is whisked away. His arms can no longer support him and he collapses into her arms his face is buried in the side of her neck. Her arms are wrapped tightly around his body.
"I love you." She whispers in his ear.
"I love you too." He replies softly.
They lay there, slowly returning to reality. After a few minutes, Richard moves to his back as Cassie moves in beside him, lying her head on his shoulder, one arm across his stomach and one leg across his. "What did you do today?" Richard asks, running his fingers through her hair.
"I took the boys to the church to meet the youth group for the trip to Chicago and then I came home and I took Tammy's dress out of the closet and I called Sam."
"Did she…?"
"Yes, this afternoon, she came by."
"So, she took Tammy's dress?"
"Yes, at first she didn't want to, but I insisted. She stayed around for a while and we talked about different things."
"What kind of things?"
"I told her about Hart, and we talked about how I met you, and how we were there to rescue Reva." Cassie says, laughing softly as Richard smiles at the memory. "We talked about having brother's and sisters. Did you know that she has an older brother, but she never see him. I don't think she likes to think or talk about him. She didn't have a very happy childhood."
"Maybe you can help her."
"Help her?" Cassie asks, looking up at him.
"Yes, you know what it's like not to have a happy childhood. Maybe she needs someone that can understand."
"I do understand, but I think Jeffrey is the one she turns to."
"So, what else did you talk about?"
"Her and Jeffrey, she lost Jeffrey and her mother in the span of a month. I can't imagine losing two people I love that close together. It was hard enough loosing you."
"Is that all you talked about?"
"I was telling her about why we thought that Reva needed to be saved from you and that Olivia was involved. I think they're having problems with Olivia."
"Why do you say that?"
"Because Sam has made it clear that she doesn't want Olivia knowing about the wedding and when Olivia showed up this afternoon, Sam left immediately and she left the dress. Olivia was actually rude to her."
"How do you mean?"
"The best way describe it, is to say that Olivia was really catty with her. Sam didn't reply to her comment, but she left after Olivia arrived and Olivia commented about how we're getting to be good friends."
"What did you tell her?"
"That Sam's a good person and she's good for Jeffrey, and she asked if Sam's better for Jeffrey than she was."
"What did you tell her?"
"That I thought she was, and then I changed the subject to the Beacon and why Olivia came over."
"I know you're becoming friends with Sam, but I want you to be careful around Olivia."
"Why?" Cassie asks, leaning up and looking down at him.
"Because I just got you back and I don't want to loose you."
"Why would you loose me? I can't avoid her, she's my partner."
"I know, but I also know Olivia, and she can be very manipulative and vindictive, especially if she believes that you're out to get her or she believes that you've taken something that belongs to her. Jeffrey and Sam need to watch their backs too."
"You think she'll hurt them. Jeffrey is Ava's father. She's not going to hurt the father of her own child."
"I don't know, but I know how she was when Reva came back to San Cristobel. She brought Josh back to the island in direct contradiction with my orders, simply to get Josh to take her out of the palace and to get her away from me. She had the party announcing our engagement after I told her that I felt like we needed to postpone it until the situation with Reva and Jon was resolved. And look what she did to Josh with Alan and the harbor project."
"I know she can be mean to people that she feels threatens what she wants, but to harm her own child's father. Would she really do that?"
"I don't know, but please be careful around her."
"I will, I promise." Cassie says, lying back down. After a few seconds, she hears Richard's stomach start to grumble. "I think you're hungry." She says, sitting up.
"Someone used up all my energy." Richard replies, watching as she gets up.
"I'll be back." She says, leaning over to kiss him.
Ten minutes later when she hadn't returned, Richard gets up. Walking into the closet, he grabs a pair of jeans and boxers. Slipping them on, he walks downstairs and finds Cassie in the kitchen. "I thought you were coming back." He says, leaning against the counter behind the stove.
"I was, but then I thought I would go ahead and finish what I was cooking when you came home. It's almost finished."
"What are we having?"
"Spaghetti." She says, looking over her shoulder.
Standing up, he puts his arms around her, lightly kissing the back of her neck. "I love you." He says softly.
"I love you too." She replies, laying the spoon on the stove and reaching for the noodles.
"I'll be in the living room." Richard says, releasing her.
"Okay." She says, watching him walk out of the room
Walking into the living room, he walks over to the mantel and picks up the picture of Tammy. Turning he walks over to the couch and sits down. Slowly running his finger over her smile, he says. "I wish you were here. We're having pasta, but you probably know that." He says, smiling at the memory of the first time he'd eaten at the farm and Cassie had fixed spaghetti.
Tammy had talked his ear off, but he hadn't minded. She was so smart. Reaching up, he wipes away the tear that's in the corner of his eye as he stands up and walks back over to the mantel. Putting the picture back in place, he walks over to the couch and turns the TV on. Cassie hears the TV come on and she softly sighs as she stirs the sauce.
Colonel Mitchell is walking into his office when his assistant stops him. "Sir, you have a message?" She says, handing him a note.
Taking the note, he reads the message and then asks. "When did this come in?"
"About an hour ago Sir, she sounded desperate to speak with you."
"Thank you, and hold my call unless it's His Highness."
"Yes Sir."
Colonel Mitchell walks into his office, closing the door behind him. He walks over to his desk and sits down. Looking at the message again he reads it before picking up the phone and dialing a number.
"Palace communications."
"Yes, this is Colonel Mitchell."
"Yes Sir."
"I'm about to place a call to a number. I need you to trace the call."
"Do you…?"
"This is for an investigation His Highness has ordered."
"Yes Sir."
"Thank you." Colonel Mitchell hangs up and then dials the number that was left on the message.
After a couple rings, a woman picks up. "Yes, hello." The woman says with a mid-western accent.
"Yes, this is Colonel Mitchell of San Cristobel. I was given a message to call you."
"Yes."
"To whom am I speaking to?"
"I would rather tell you what I know."
"Okay."
"I have information pertaining to your investigation."
"Tell me what you know?"
"This has to do with my niece."
"Who was your niece?"
"Her name was Camille. She was married to your prince." The woman says, looking around her living room and expecting for someone to come out and hurt her.
"Ms. Johnson was your niece."
"Yes, I'm her father's sister."
"What is her connection to this investigation, beside the fact that she was Will's mother?"
"She never told me exactly what happened except that she had ended up pregnant while she was in San Cristobel after she married your prince, and she lost the baby, he was born still born. A man approached her a few hours after she delivered and offered her $30,000 to take a baby and pretend that it was hers. She agreed and a few hours later, she was given the baby. They left the hospital a few days later. She didn't realize whose baby it was until it was announced that the princess had delivered a still born baby within hours after the man had approached her about taking the baby she had. She was afraid to come forward, afraid that no one would believe her and that she would be charged with a crime. But she did come forward later after the Prince's brother became President."
"She never said anything about the man that paid her? Was this person involved with the government, or the hospital where her Highness was?"
"No, I do know that she couldn't live with what she had done."
"If she felt guilty about what happened, why did she act as though Cassie and Richard had destroyed her life, when they adopted Will?"
"I don't know, she never explained to me what happened after she came back from visiting little Will when he was sick in Springfield."
"I want to thank you for your time Ms…."
"You're welcome."
"You've been and enormous help."
"Camille was a good girl. I know she did some things that she shouldn't've but she was a good girl."
"Thank you again for contacting me." Colonel Mitchell replies.
He hangs up and then immediately dials the number for Palace communications. When they answer, he asks. "Did you trace the call I just made?"
"Yes Sir."
"And where was it traced to?"
"A city outside of Des Moines Iowa, it was in the vicinity of Ames Iowa to be exact."
"Do you have an address? And who is the number listed to?"
"1323 RT2 Box 34 Ames Iowa. And it's listed to an Arlene Banks."
"Okay, thank you." Colonel Mitchell replies, hanging up and dialing William's number.
William is finishing up a meeting with Natalie and the Police Commissioner about Jeffrey's request to send agents down to search Alan's house. "Okay, I'll contact Jeffrey and advise him that he has clearance to send his agents down to search Mr. Spaulding's house." William says, as his phone buzzes.
"Yes Sir." Natalie replies, as William reaches for the phone.
"Yes, Jodi."
"Sir, Colonel Mitchell is on line one for you."
"Thank you."
"Please ask Mr. O'Neill to advise the agents that they must check in with…."
"I will. Thank you Commissioner. I really must take this call." William says, dismissing them as he picks up the phone and pushes the button for line one. "Hello, Colonel."
"Sir, I've got some information on the investigation into Will's adoption."
"I'll be right down." William says, hanging up the phone and leaving his office. "Jodi, I'll be in Colonel Mitchell's office."
"Yes Sir." She replies, as he walks out.
A few minutes later, William walks into Colonel Mitchell's office. "So Colonel, we have some information pertaining to Will."
"Yes Sir, this is the first solid information we've received."
"So, what is it? Do you we know how this happened?"
"We know some of it. I was in a meeting with the General's this morning and when I returned my assistant handed me this message." Colonel Mitchell says, picking up the message.
"Who was it?" William asks, taking the piece of paper.
"It's from an American woman."
"It's and American number, do we know who this woman is?"
"Yes."
"And who is she?"
"Camille's aunt."
"Camille's Aunt and how is she connected to Will's adoption?"
"She's not, Camille is."
"Of course she is, She was supposes to be…. Camille isn't Will's mother. So how did she get him?" William asks, realizing for the first time that Camille wasn't actually Will's mother.
"According to her aunt, she was paid to take the child by a man here in San Cristobel and if she ever came forward, he would deny everything. She didn't realize whose baby it was until after it was announced that Cassie had lost her baby."
"Did you ask her about this man?"
"Yes, she didn't know that much."
"Was he in the government?"
"She didn't know, Camille never told her. But she did say that Camille was pregnant and she did deliver a baby that was still born."
"We already know that, my son is buried in the royal family's plot at the National Cemetery."
"Camille's aunt said that she was afraid to come forward when she realized that the baby she had was Cassie's baby. She was afraid that no one would believe her and that she would be charged with a crime."
"If Camille knew that Will wasn't her child, why did she threaten to sue for custody, why did she go after Richard when they left San Cristobel and causing his accident?"
"She didn't know. She said Camille never told her what had happened when she had gone to see Will when he was sick in Springfield."
"So a man approached her, sold her the baby and she took it."
"Yes."
"How do we know for a fact that this woman is Camille's aunt?"
"I had the communications trace the call while I was on the phone with her."
"Were they able to pinpoint her location?"
"Yes, Ames Iowa. Where was Camille from?"
"Around that area, if I remember correctly. We need to make sure this woman is who she says she is."
"Yes Sir."
"Do you have her name?"
"Yes, Arlene Banks, she said she was Camille's father's sister."
"Alright, then do a background check on her?"
"Yes Sir."
"A through check."
"Yes Sir."
"Have we located Cassie's doctor yet?"
"Not yet, Sir."
"Keep looking. He has to be out there."
"We will, Sir."
"I've got another meeting with the Lord Chancellor." William says, standing up. "Good work, Colonel." He says as he walks to the door.
"Thank you Sir. I'll contact you as soon as we know anything else."
"Thank you Colonel."
William leaves as Colonel Mitchell picks up the phone.
Richard was watching the news when Cassie walks into the living room. "It's…" She stops for a couple seconds looking around the room. "When did you do this? I thought you were watching TV." She says, as Richard gets up.
He had taken candles and spread them through out the room, lighting them, pulling the blinds on the windows to make the room dark as he went. "I was but I did this too." He says, walking over to her and wrapping his arms around her.
"Are you okay?" She asks, looking up at him.
"I'm fine."
"Because I heard you with Tammy's picture."
"I was thinking about her and the first night we stayed here. We had pasta."
"And she talked your ear off while I was in the kitchen."
"I didn't mind. She was so smart and I enjoyed talking to her." Richard says, releasing Cassie and turning to look at Tammy's picture.
"She was smart." Cassie says, looking at the picture too. "She would be so happy you are back. She missed you so much after the accident."
"I'm sorry I missed watching her grow up. I was looking forward to doing all the Dad thing's that Dad's gets to do with their daughters."
"You mean, intimidating all of her boyfriends?"
"What do you mean all of her boyfriends? She would have been lucky to have one." Richard says, as Cassie laughs.
"She would have driven us both crazy."
"Was she that hard as a teenager?"
"No, but things might have been different if you were here, listen the pasta's ready, do you want to eat in the kitchen, or in here?"
"Let's eat in here, like we did the first time, for Tammy."
"Alright, I'll go get our plates."
"I'll help."
"You didn't help last time, so…."
"We continue with tradition?" Richard asks, watching Cassie walk back into the kitchen.
She returns a few minutes later, carrying two plates of pasta. Sitting them down on the coffee table, she goes back to the kitchen for the bread, salad, wine and glasses. Richard was sitting in the floor beside the couch when she comes back in, putting the food on the table, he reaches up to help her sit down before they begin to eat.
An hour later, Cassie sits back. Pushing her plate away she watches as Richard finishes eating. "Are you finished?" He asks, turning to her.
"Yes, I can't eat anymore." Cassie replies, getting up as he follows her.
Reaching for the plates as Cassie does, he smiles as he looks down at her. "Are we going to continue with tradition?"
"I think we settled this the last time with a dance."
"A dance that Tammy interrupted."
"Well, there won't be interruptions tonight." Cassie says, looking up at him
"Why don't we take care of the dishes and the food and then we'll have our dance?"
"Okay."
Following Cassie into the kitchen, he helps her with the dishes and putting the food away. When everything is cleaned up in the kitchen, he follows her back into the living room. Walking over to the stereo, he turns it on and pulling out a CD, he puts it in and pushes play. The room fills with soft jazz as he walks over to her.
"May I have this dance, madamé?" He asks, bowing slightly.
"Yes you may." Cassie replies, moving into his arms as they begin to dance.
At the end of the dance, Richard leans over and kisses her softly before he whispers. "I love you Cassie Winslow."
"And I love you Richard Winslow?"
Taking her hand, he leads her over to the couch. Holding her hand as she sits down, he sits down beside her, putting his arm across her shoulders and she moves closer to him, laying her head on his shoulder. For a while they sit there, listening to the music and enjoying being together again.
When the CD ends, Cassie reaches to stop him when he starts to play it again. "I just want to sit here, with you?" She says, reading the question in his eyes.
"Okay." Richard says, putting the remote down and settling back.
After about a minute, Cassie asks. "Were you serious at the Beacon the other day?"
"About us getting married again, yes, I believe we should, not that I don't feel like I'm married to you still, but…."
"But, we should renew our vows."
There are a few moments of silence before Cassie says. "I don't want this to be a big thing, like it was at the palace."
"Only family and friends."
"Yes. We can invite Reva and Josh, Billy and Vanessa, William, and the rest of the family, along with Jeffrey and Sam. Maybe we can even get Marah and Shayne to come home. That might be a little uncomfortable."
"Why?"
"Because of me and Josh, Marah and Shayne were not at all happy about that and I don't blame them. Josh and I never should have happened."
There are a few moments of silence before Richard asks. "What are you thinking?"
"I need to tell Reva that."
"She knows…."
"I still need to tell her."
"Okay. So what about Noah, he was at the other one."
"He can come to this one, if he wants."
"What about Reva?"
"That was a long time ago."
"And what if he still has feelings for her?"
"After everything that's happened, I can't see that happening."
"Noah loved her Cassie. I've never seen him the way he was with her and I don't know how he reacted to what happened. I haven't talked to him about it."
"I guess the only thing you can do, is to ask him and see what he says. What about your family?"
"My family, William will be there and Edmund…."
"Edmund's locked up, no I was thinking about your other brother's family in Chicago. Did you ever ask Jeffrey about that?"
"No, I haven't."
"I'm sure they would want to be there."
"I don't know if our wedding is a good place to have a first meeting."
"Okay."
"Where should we have this thing?"
"Well, Sam and Jeffrey are getting married at the Light house over Labor Day."
"You want to have it that soon?"
"No, besides that would totally overshadow Jeffrey and Sam, no, I've always liked the fall here at the farm, around mid-September, early October, before Halloween. It's cool at night, but during the day it's still warm."
"So why don't we do it around September 20th."
"Okay, speaking of Jeffrey and Sam. She turned me down on using the Beacon."
"I expected that they would. I think it's uncomfortable enough for them with Olivia."
"Yes well, I offered to let them have the reception here at the farm."
"At the farm?"
"Yes, we have enough room for everyone. Buzz is catering, so I won't have to do anything. It's only going to be a few people."
"Where exactly are we going to have this reception?"
"I thought we could have it in the backyard, between the house and the barn under the oak tree."
"Is that going to be a big enough space?"
"Sam didn't say exactly how many they are inviting, but she did say that Jeffrey wants a simply gathering, that's why they're not having it at the Country Club or Towers."
"Alright."
"Are you okay with this?" Cassie asks, sitting up.
"I'm fine with it. It just doesn't seem to be Jeffrey's style."
"I think he's changed a lot from the man you knew in San Cristobel."
"Alright, I think we've talked enough. Why don't we go for a walk, maybe over by the pond?"
"Okay, let me go slip some shoes on. You want a shirt."
"No, but can you bring my boots down."
"Okay." Cassie says, walking out of the living room.
She returns a few minutes later, with his boots and socks and her sandals. They leave a couple minutes later.
57.13
