Melt Your Heart
Chapter 1: Two Beds and a Coffee Machine
Cassie turned over in the twin size bed and tried not to cry. Her twins, James and Catherine, slept peacefully in the adjoining bed but their mother could not sleep. The mattress was hard and lumpy beneath her; the sheets rough and scratchy. She hadn't intended on stopping for the night, but travelling across the country with two six-year-old children was not something you could rush. They lost time every time Cassie was forced to stop for them to use the restroom and then they wanted snacks, or candy.
Normally she was a patient parent, especially as she was outnumbered by children but this trip was making her anxious and weary. She knew the kids were upset and confused, and she was doing little to reassure them everything would be alright. Even at their age they were both still very perceptive and intuitive. Cassie sometimes wished they could just be normal children who believed her when she told them that everything would be alright because Mommy said so.
Being a single parent was hard. It was harder still when you had twins and when you were all still grieving. Their father had passed away less than a year ago, and Cassie hadn't been the same since. Jake had been the love of her life and they had planned on growing old together, watching their children become adults and blessing them with grandchildren. It hadn't worked out that way now, but it had led to Cassie travelling across the country to move to the quaint little town of Middleton.
After Jake's death she had reached out to her remaining family. Not for her, but for the sakes of James and Catherine. They deserved to have family around them now they no longer had a full set of parents. She had tracked down her cousin Abigail Pershing, who was related to her through the Merriwick line. They had exchange emails, then phone calls and then Abigail had invited her to stay. She owned the local and historic Grey House, but it was really part of the Merriwick lineage so it technically belonged to them both. She had offered Cassie and her children enough room to stay for as long as they wanted.
Cassie had sold up the house she and Jake had bought, donating some of the furniture to charity and putting some of the more personal items into storage. She had then packed up their clothes, essentials and the kids' favourite toys into the SUV and had begun the journey across America.
James and Catherine were confused at times, but they seemed to know better than to ask their mother too many questions. Cassie wondered if there was some kind of telepathy between them that went beyond the normal bond between twins. She wished Jake was still around to figure it out with her. But if Jake was still alive, none of this would be necessary.
She must have dozed off eventually, because she woke to the sun streaming in through the gap where the motel room curtains didn't quite meet. The twins were still sounds asleep, curled up into each other. Cassie slipped soundlessly out of bed and went over to kiss each of them on the forehead. She showered quickly under the intermittent spray of lukewarm water and was dressed before the twins stirred. She made coffee and took two juice boxes from her suitcase. She couldn't wait to stop living out of a suitcase and get back to preparing and cooking fresh meals for her children.
Her cousin Abigail had mentioned that Grey House only served breakfast to the guests, but Cassie wondered if she could help out by offering a dinner menu as well. It was definitely a subject she could discuss with Abigail once they were all settled in.
They set off early; the final leg of their journey stretching before them. Barring any traffic accidents, Cassie should be in Middleton by early evening. She couldn't face another night spent in a cheap motel. She didn't think it was doing James and Catherine any good either. They needed stability after losing their father at such a young age, and Cassie was determined to provide it for them.
"I'm going to need you to make some extra portions for dinner tonight," Abigail said without preamble as she wandered into the Bistro just before nine o'clock that morning.
"Expecting company are we?" Stephanie, the bubbly blonde proprietor of the Bistro asked. She was so accustomed to Abigail's straightforward nature that she didn't even expect a 'hello' or a 'good morning' anymore.
"It's today that my cousin and her children are arriving," Abigail reminded her.
"Of course. Well, we're all thrilled to meet her."
Abigail was not quite so thrilled. Of course it would be good to have more family around. After losing her mother so young and her less than perfect relationship with her absent father, Abigail would welcome any family she could fine. She and Cassie had hit it off over the phone too, but Abigail wasn't so sure about the children. What did one do with a six year old, let alone two of them?
"We'll keep it low key to start with," She said. "Cassie lost her husband not too long ago, so she might be a bit fragile."
Cassie had sounded anything but fragile on the phone, but everyone in Middleton dropping by to wish her well after a long road trip across the country was not something Abigail wanted her to experience on her first night in town.
"That's so sad," Stephanie sighed. Her divorce had been painful enough, she couldn't imagine what losing the love of your life permanently must feel like. Then, she brightened. "How is Middleton's resident bachelor going to feel about having two little kids moving in next door?"
"He muttered something about not playing on his lawn," Abigail grinned. "But I'm sure they'll melt his heart eventually."
"Nothing could melt his heart," Stephanie replied, but she said it good-naturedly. A lot of the single women in Middleton had taken an interest when Dr Sam Radford had moved to town several years earlier, but aside from a few dates he had not shown an interest in any of them. This had come as a disappointment to Stephanie, but over the years they have become good friends and she knew now that Sam wasn't the one for her. Anyway, rumour had it, that his cold-hearted ex wife had put him off women for life. "It will be nice for you to have some company at Grey House, though. It must be lonely when it's just you and guests."
Abigail liked her own company, but she couldn't disagree with Stephanie. Like her friend, she hadn't had the greatest luck with men either so it would be nice to have the company of family. She certainly needed some help running Grey House as well. In the past year she had taken ownership of the Middleton flower shop and trying to run both businesses was leaving her with very little free time.
"Let me know when Cassie is settled in, I would love to meet her."
"I'll bring her by for coffee as soon as she's found her feet." Abigail promised, picking up her latte and the brown paper bag containing her almond croissant. If she didn't hurry up, she would be late opening the flower shop.
She left as abruptly as she had arrived, stepping out into the cool September morning. She already knew her life was going to change, and that this was the last morning of its kind.
Both James and Catherine were fast asleep in the back of the SUV when Cassie crossed into Middleton. Although it was nearly full dark, she liked the way the town looked. It was quaint and beautiful, and no doubt steeped in history. She was looking forward to learning more about her ancestors, the Merriwicks, and living in the town they had called home. She needed a place that she could settle and start to heal from the heartbreak of losing her husband at such a young age. Jake had been just shy of his fortieth birthday when he had passed away.
Cassie found Grey House easily, trusting her intuition to lead her there. It very rarely failed her. Soon she was pulling up outside the grand house. She stopped for a minute with the engine still running, taking in its grandeur. She couldn't believe that she would be living here, it looked so much more impressive than it had in the pictures Abigail had snapped and sent to her. It already felt like home.
She left the sleeping twins in the car and approached the front door. She had raised her fist to knock on the glass panel, when the front door swung open and her cousin appeared in the doorway.
"Hey Cassie," She grinned, pulling her cousin into a fierce hug. Abigail was not somebody who enjoyed physical intimacy, unless it was with a very attractive man, but she felt overcome with the need to embrace this long lost cousin of hers.
"Hi Abigail, thank you so much for having me."
"Where are the kids?" Abigail asked, peering out at the SUV on the front drive.
"They fell asleep about thirty miles ago, I thought I'd check you were in before I woke them."
"Let me give you a hand with your bags and then we'll wake them. I've got some dinner ready to heat you if you guys are hungry?"
Cassie was relieved. "That would be great, thank you. We've lived off gas station snacks for the last couple of days."
They headed out to the car together. "I have to confess now that I didn't cook it. It was made by Stephanie who owns the Bistro in town, her food is amazing."
They started to unpack, Abigail amazed at the amount of stuff you appeared to need in order to transport two small children around.
"Wow, good thing we've got plenty of room here," She muttered, and began dragging a suitcase towards Grey House.
Sam Radford was washing up his dinner things when he heard a commotion from next door. Okay, so perhaps commotion was too strong a word, but although he was used to comings and goings at the Grey House, most guests were checked in by mid-afternoon and checked out by noon. With little else to occupy his evening after a busy day at the hospital, Sam went out to investigate.
A late model SUV, that looked like it might be a rental was parked on the drive outside Grey House. That in itself was not usual, though it was rare that Abigail ever helped anybody load or unload their belongings. He assumed that whoever was staying at Grey House was planning on a long visit, because Abigail was coming back for another bag. Another woman came into view and Sam froze. He wasn't immune to female beauty, far from it. But he had avoided serious relationships ever since his marriage had gone south, he never wanted to find himself in that position again. This woman though, whoever she was had already intrigued him. Against his better judgement, he put the tea towel he had been using aside and went out to him Abigail and her latest guest.
"Oh hey Sam," Abigail greeted her neighbour, only the slightest bit breathless. She had been regretting not asking him to come and help, but now here he was. "Fancy giving us a hand?"
Sam went around to the back of the car, his heart beating just the tiniest bit faster in his chest as he approached the raven haired beauty.
"Hi, I'm Sam Radford, I live next door."
"Cassie Nightingale," She replied, accepting the hand he offered and shaking it. "I'm Abigail's cousin." That explained all the baggage, Sam thought. "And those two in the backseat, they're my twins James and Catherine."
Sam blanched a little, but hoped it didn't show. After a serious relationship, the last thing he wanted was a relationship with a woman who had children. He tried to look at her left hand to see if she was wearing a wedding band, but the light wasn't strong enough to make it out.
"Well, I hope you'll all be very happy in Middleton. It's a pretty nice town."
"Don't listen to him," Abigail interjected. "He loves it here really."
They finished unpacking the SUV and then Cassie went to wake up the twins, leaving Sam and Abigail together.
"Would you like to have dinner with us?" Abigail asked.
Sam shook his head. "I've already eaten, but thanks." He paused, and Abigail smirked at him. She was just too good at reading people, he mused. "So what's the deal with your cousin, then?"
Abigail's smile fell. "We've never met before, but she reached out to me a few months ago. Her husband passed away about a year ago and she's been drifting ever since, looking for family I think."
Sam felt guilty because he had felt the tiniest hint of relief when Abigail had revealed that Cassie did not have a husband. But he had had his own heartbroken when Linda had cheated on him, so he couldn't imagine the hell that Cassie was going through. It would be better for both of them if he stayed out of her way, he thought. Of course he should have known that, in a town the size of Middleton, it would be next to impossible.
