Chapter 9: "What's Your Secret?" (S2, Ep 7)

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Sam had invited Cassie to join him on a visit to the lake house that he was considering putting an offer on. When they had finished exploring the house, they stood outside on the second level deck overlooking the lake for a few minutes.

Sam gestured to the chairs at the edge of the dock below them. "Want to sit and enjoy the view at ground level for a few minutes before we head out?"

"Sure."

They walked down the deck stairs to the dock and each sat in a chair near the water. They were both quiet for a few moments as they took in the peaceful view around them.

"This is absolutely beautiful," Cassie said, staring out at the lake.

"Yes, it is." Sam turned to look at her and took in that view for a moment before adding, "Pretty stunning from this angle, too."

Cassie glanced over and saw him looking at her, and she smiled before shyly glancing away. While they were still maintaining their platonic friendship, Sam had become a natural at peppering hints of his romantic interest into their conversations. And she didn't mind it in the least, but sometimes it caught her by surprise and she didn't know how to respond other than an appreciative smile.

"So, what was Grey House like when you got to town?" Sam asked, shifting the subject. "I'm curious about your comment earlier about being fluent in old home."

"Oh, gosh, it was a disaster," Cassie replied with a laugh. "It was completely run down. A lot of the windows were either broken or boarded up… it was like a haunted house from a horror movie. It had been abandoned for years, and it looked it." She smiled thinking about it and added, "But I fell in love immediately."

Sam's eyes were wide as she described it. "Wow, I can't imagine it not always looking as perfect as it does now."

"I will find the pictures," Cassie replied. "You'll have to see it to believe it. It took a very long time and a lot of work to get it back in shape and up to the very much enforced town standards."

"Did the town help you fix it back up?" Sam asked.

Cassie grimaced slightly. "Well…"

Sam raised an eyebrow. "Uh oh. What was that reaction for?"

Cassie folded her hands in her lap. "Well, let's just say that as much as I love Middleton and all of its residents, some of them weren't exactly overly welcoming when I got here."

Sam was surprised to hear that. "Really? Why not?"

Cassie shrugged. "Because I was different… my shop was different… some people didn't like that."

"I can't even imagine Middleton without your shop, it's so popular," Sam said. "What was there not to like about it?"

"Well, there were a lot of herbs and aromatherapies and unique items in there, and it wasn't what the town was used to. Some of the residents tried to get it closed down."

Sam shook his head in disbelief. "Wow. I'm shocked, and I'm sorry to hear that you went through that."

"It's okay. We moved past it." Cassie smiled as she added, "I have one more piece of shocking news that you won't believe."

"Ooh, tell me," Sam said anxiously.

"This is just between you and me," Cassie warned him. "I don't want this getting around."

"It's between us, scout's honor." Sam folded his arms across his chest and leaned toward her, unable to hide the excited grin on his face. "I'm so intrigued right now."

Cassie giggled at his excited look. "Well, who do you think was one of the most verbal townspeople against my arrival in Middleton? It's someone you know."

Sam thought for a few moments. "Umm…" He narrowed his eyes, trying to think of who might have disliked Cassie. "I have no idea. Don't tell me it was George or someone like that?"

Cassie shook her head, and then paused a moment for dramatic effect before she declared, "Martha."

Sam's mouth dropped open. "Martha?! No!"

"Yes," Cassie replied with a nod.

"Martha Tinsdale? Mayor Martha? The same Martha who comes into your shop every day and relies on your help to solve all of her problems? The same Martha for whom you're currently planning a surprise anniversary party?"

Cassie laughed as she nodded along to all of his questions. "One and the same." She shook her head slightly and thought for a second. "Wow. I don't think I've ever told anyone that. I've never even told Grace, I didn't want her to hold it against Martha."

"Understandable," Sam replied, and he was gloating internally about being someone she entrusted with that information. "I won't say anything to anyone. That's really hard to believe, though."

Cassie smiled. "Martha loved Middleton, and she wanted everyone in it to fit a particular mold. I didn't fit that mold, so she disliked that," she explained. "I didn't take it personally."

"I imagine you were just as polite to the people who were unwelcoming to you as you were to everyone else," Sam said. "Because that's who you are."

"I tried to be, and still do," Cassie replied. "Because you never know what's going on with someone, and you won't be able to help them if they don't trust you. And anger and rudeness do not typically help build trust."

"No, they don't," Sam agreed. "So, how long did it take for Martha to come around on Cassie Nightingale?"

"Longer than it took you," Cassie teasingly replied with a smirk.

Sam didn't expect that response, and he let out a surprised laugh. "Wow."

Cassie grinned at him. "Speaking of rudeness."

"Come on, I apologized for how I acted," he reminded her.

"Badly," Cassie recalled, smiling. "It was definitely not a smooth apology, but lucky for you, I'm very forgiving."

"It's the apologetic thought that counts, not the delivery," Sam said.

Cassie wrinkled her nose. "Hmm, I'd have to disagree with you there."

"Of course you do. Why break tradition?" Sam joked.

Cassie smiled. "It's kind of our thing, respectful disagreement. Well, after those early days… then it became respectful."

Sam smiled, amused by her continued teasing. "Are you gonna hold it against me forever?"

"Hold it against you? No," Cassie replied, shaking her head. "Tease you about it? Probably."

"Well, I guess I deserve that," Sam said. "I was kind of harsh."

"To answer your question, it took a while for Martha to come around," Cassie said. "She had a hard shell, but I broke through it a little at a time until I won her over completely."

Sam smiled. "Killed her with kindness, huh?"

"I did," Cassie confirmed. "It's an amazing tool, kindness. It can really change people... the ones sharing the kindness and the ones receiving it."

Sam looked at her for a moment, mesmerized by the eyes of the kindest person he'd ever met. "It really can."

Cassie smiled at him. "See, we do agree on some things."

"I guess we do."

"I think we both agree on the lake house, too," Cassie said, glancing back at it behind them. "That it's pretty amazing."

Sam followed her gaze. "Yes, it is. I think it would be a great place to spend some time with Nick," he said, and then he paused for a second before he looked over at her and added, "And, you know, other special people."

Cassie responded with no words, just a smile.

Sam leaned in closer and whispered, "I was talking about you."

Cassie's smile widened. "Yes, I gathered that, Sam."

Sam leaned back in his chair, smiling at her. "Just making sure I wasn't being too subtle."

"No, you're not. You've actually been quite the opposite of subtle lately," Cassie said calmly, a smile still on her face.

Sam chuckled. "I guess that's true. Is that okay? Is it too much?"

Cassie shook her head. "Nope, it's just enough."

"Okay, good."

Cassie glanced out at the lake, and then over at him. With a nod toward him, she added, "By the way, this angle's a pretty nice view, too."

Sam grinned at that. "Yeah?"

"Yes."

They were staring at each other, smiling, both comfortably aware of the direction they were slowly heading, and both looking forward to arriving at the destination when the time was right.

"Thanks for coming with me today," Sam said, his tone soft and sincere.

Cassie smiled. "You're welcome."

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