Chapter 34
The conference room door opened and Joanne came in. It was the first time they had ever really seen her at work. Sure, Roger had seen her in suits, still dressed from work, and they had heard her on her cell often, but this was different. This was the first time they had ever really seen her working. It was the most relaxed he had ever seen her. She was completely in her element. He couldn't help but wonder how she had put up with all of hem over the years, because while it was her element, it certainly wasn't any of theirs.
"Hey guys how are you doing this morning?" She asked them as she looked from one to the other.
Roger looked from Mark who was still holding the pen and had started fidgeting again to Cass who had started scratching again. Both had a deer in the headlights look on their faces. Cass much more so than Mark. Roger hated seeing that look on her face. It seemed like he had seen it so many times in the few days she had been with them.
Roger carefully took her hand under the table. He not so carefully yanked the pen away from Mark and slapped it on the table. As he looked at Joanne. "They're a little nervous. And driving me crazy. You know, Mark's usual prediction of doom and gloom and no matter what we tell her," he nodded his head at Cass as he smiled at her, "she won't believe us that none of this is her fault and that there's nothing they can really do to us. She's afraid they're going to sue us or something." He laughed at that last part, hoping to lighten both their moods by saying it. It actually worked some.
"Sue you two?" Joanne laughed. "Now that is funny. For what? The huge dust bunnies residing in the loft or the yet undiscovered species growing on something in your fridge."
Mark grinned. "Well there are all our worldly possessions." He had started laughing.
"Oh just what they would want I'm sure. Hours upon hours of film Mark shot. Most of it comprised of either Maureen throwing herself in front of the camera or the rest of us yelling at Mark to get out of our faces with it."
Even Cass was laughing now. She had lived her first week at the loft camera free, but that ended when her black eye faded. She had seen that camera pointed at her more than she wanted in the days since their party last weekend.
"Okay seriously thought. Let's talk business." Joanne's whole demeanor changed. "I heard back from your father Cass. Do you want to know what he said?"
"Not really." Her eyes went down to her lap. Roger gently squeezed her hand under the table. "Just sum up the high points."
"Okay. He said the situation had been handled. You won't be receiving any more phone calls like those two before. Neither your aunt or cousin have any reason to call you again so it should not be a problem."
"What about," Roger gave a sideways look at Cass, "visitors?"
"I asked about the need for any type of restraining orders. He said that won't be needed. You can travel the entire East Coast with no problem. The whole country for that matter. With the only real exception of California and Miami. He said that would be the only places you would run the risk of crossing paths. There and various points in Europe. You just need to have me notify him in advance if you're going anywhere like that. He'll make sure no one in question has any, uh, similar travel plans."
"Good. See problem solved." Roger told them. "Is that it Jo?" Roger asked optimistically.
"Well, no, not completely." She turned back to Cass. "He did want to discuss some work arrangements with you. I suggested for the moment we limit it to email only contact, until you notify him of anything different. He was in agreement on that."
Cass just nodded her head. Roger could tell she wasn't really looking at Joanne anymore. More like past her or through her. He really thought she was going to cry for a second but she just sat there, staring, listening and nodding. She was also holing on for dear life to his hand under the table. She wasn't really squeezing it, but it would have taken the Jaws of Life to pry them apart at that moment.
"Okay," Joanne switched her focus to Mark and Roger. "Now for you two."
For all his talk, Roger still felt the bottom drop out of his stomach. Whatever you do, don't flinch Davis. If either of them sense you starting to get nervous this could go worse.
He knew he'd be able to take care of the three of them for the short term. Till they got back on their feet, or at least as on their feet as they currently are. But he also knew it would be easier if they believed that he believed it was just no big deal. Just another day in the lives of alphabet city residents.
Joanne could tell Roger was somewhat nervous, but she knew him well enough to know he was hiding it for Mark's sake. Apparently Cass' to. Wow he had really changed in the last two weeks. A whole different Roger. And that really made her happy.
Now Mark on the other hand, he was exactly as Joanne had expected. A bundle of worried nerves expecting the worst. This is really going to be fun to some extent she thought.
Joanne had a definite dislike for Cass' family. She didn't like their attitude, how they treated the situation, how they treated Cass, or how they were about to treat Mark and Roger. Well, hopefully the guys won't see anything in this beyond face value.
Look for the good Joanne. She had been telling herself this since Tuesday in Washington when she got all of this information and such. Look for the good and take what you can find. And enjoy the moment. There haven't been many like this upcoming one. For her or them especially.
"Well Mr. Cohen and Mr. Davis," Joanne smirked at them. It didn't matter how old they were at this point, that just still sounded weird. "Uh, first, here Marky." She slid a small brown paper bag like you pack a lunch in across the table at him. She tried hard to stifle a laugh. "Just in case you need it for anything."
"Oh god!" Mark said leaning back in his chair and bringing his hand to his head. "It's that bad? So bad you think I'll puke? Oh we are so doomed." He paused then suddenly leaned forward and looked at Cass. "But it's okay Cass, because we don't blame you at all. None of this is your fault so don't think that. Just before you got here Roger and I were talking about moving or redecorating or selling vital organs for spare cash." Shut up Mark! Stop while you're ahead, or at least before you dig the hole deeper! He thought to himself.
"Shut up Mark!" Roger glared at him. "Stop while you're ahead. Or before you make the hole you're digging yourself into deeper!"
Mark looked at him and closed his mouth. Maybe they had lived together a little too long? At any other moment, that would have been really funny.
"I was actually thinking incase you needed to breathe into it." Joanne told Mark about the paper bag. "But breathe, puke, whatever you need it for Mark. I know you get uptight sometimes." She was almost laughing.
"Moving on though," Joanne opened the file she brought in with her and took out a piece of paper and began to read from it. "Mr. Sullivan would like to express his most," Joanne almost couldn't say it, "heartfelt apology. The phone calls and messages left on your answering machine were completely uncalled for and are being dealt with. He would also like to apologize for any other problems, or inconveniences that have been thrust upon either of you since your involvement in the current situation." Joanne's eyes went to Cass as she said that last part.
Roger swallowed hard and kept holding Cass' hand. She never moved a muscle. She just kept staring out the window behind Joanne. Her fucking bastard of a father basically just called her an inconvenience and a problem. God I hope for his sake I never see him again Roger thought.
Joanne continued. "With that in mind, please accept the enclosed gift as not only an expression of my gratitude, but also my most sincere apology for all you have both done and been forced to deal wit thus far."
Joanne set down the paper on the table. "It finishes up, Carlton Sullivan, yada, yada, yada, legal stuff, yada." She slid the letter across the table to the space between the now very pale Mark and the highly pissed off Roger.
She opened the file again and took out two envelopes and slid one in front of each of them. They both stared at them for a second. Roger finally reached down and picked up the envelope with his name on it off the table. He turned it over and undid the sealed flap. Without taking it all the way out of the envelope he raised the piece of paper up some, read it and shoved it back into the envelope. A second later he did the whole thing again. After reading it the second time he laid it down on the table and took Cass' hand in his again.
Mark was still staring at the envelope, not moving. Come on Mark, it's only a lousy piece of paper. What can it do to you? Don't be such wimp! Screw it, at this moment you're a wimp. Luckily, Roger's about to bail you out.
Roger sighed as he let go of Cass. He picked up Mark's envelope when Mark still hadn't moved. He looked at Joanne, who obviously knew what was in both envelopes and he could tell was trying hard at the very least not to burst into a huge smile, if not start laughing all together. She had managed to contain herself to a slight smirk when Roger looked at her and she nodded.
Again, Roger undid the envelope flap and pulled the paper up enough to read it. He started to grin as he picked up the paper bag, shook it open and set it in front of Mark.
"Oh god." Mark said dreadfully. "What is it? How bad?"
"She's right, you're gonna need that to breathe in." He couldn't help it, he started laughing as he grabbed Cass again. He smiled at her before turning back to Mark.
"Just tell me what it is." Mark was sitting there with both hands flat on the table. One on either side of the envelope, watching it. Guarding it. As if it might jump up and bite them at any moment.
"It's a check." Roger told him slowly. "For fifteen thousand dollars." He watched Mark's eyes get wider as he started breathing fast.
"Fifteen thousand dollars?" Mark asked in a small voice as he reached for the envelope. He pulled the check out and set it on the table staring at it. "Fifteen thousand dollars?" He repeated to himself. "They sent us fifteen thousand dollars?"
"No. They sent us fifteen thousand dollars each. That's thirty thousand dollars."
"Thirty thousand dollars?" Mark squeaked out. At that point he reached for the paper bag and started breathing into it.
Joanne and Roger started laughing at him, but then Roger realized Cass wasn't laughing. She wasn't really doing anything. She was just sitting there, with her head down, looking at the table. "Are you all right Cass? I mean this is good. Isn't it? You don't have to worry about anybody showing up, or calling and harassing you. That's a good thing."
Mark put the bag down and looked at her. "It's the money. It's kinda like they are trying to buy us off or shut us up or something. That's it isn't it?"
Joanne knew that was exactly their attempt. Her father had seen where they live. How they live. She was sure he had had both Roger and Mark checked out. Probably her as well. She had a feeling he figured if he threw a little money at them, they wouldn't be a problem. Then, eventually either Cass would get tired of them, or them of her, and she would come home. Situation over.
Between the letter and the money, he had treated her like some kind of business deal. They may be good businessmen, but Cass wasn't business. She was his daughter. And she was smart. Smart enough to realize all this on her own. Joanne knew that had to hurt.
She was happy about Roger and Mark getting the money. God knew they could certainly use it. However, she had hoped neither would have drawn Mark's conclusion about it. That they could just take it at face value. Something good that they could really use. Not that they were being paid off or anything
Joanne knew that those checks, whether they were fifteen thousand dollars or fifteen million dollars, would never change the way Mark and Roger felt about Cass. She didn't worry about that at all. She just wished that Cass' jerk of a father hadn't thought they could be so easily and cheaply dealt with. Did he think they were poor and stupid?
She couldn't help but wonder if either her father or uncle had any clue or idea about what had developed between Roger and Cass. She doubted it. Most likely not something they would ever even have considered. Good. They didn't need to know that anyway. Joanne also knew Roger well enough to be positive that he wasn't going to let anything happen, or let her go anywhere without him anytime soon. She was real happy about that too. For both of them.
"Is that what they are doing Cass?" Roger's voice broke into Joanne's thoughts.
"Maybe. Most likely." She said quietly. "I'm sure that was their first trip into the Village ever. Like I said, they are somewhat used to getting their own way. A lot of time they need to throw money around to do that. They probably took one look and figured all it would take is a little money." Cass shrugged then shook her head. She was almost in tears when she spoke again. "I'm sorry you guys. I'm so sorry they treated you like that. They are such idiots. I'm so sorry."
Damn them Roger thought. All they do is upset her and make her cry. "For what? Being related to a bunch of fuckheads? That's not your fault."
"No." She said softly. "But I'm sorry they are treating you guys like this. That is my fault."
"What do you mean?" Roger gently asked her.
"Andre just has this tendency to, well." she paused a moment. Joanne could tell she was almost embarrassed to say what she wanted to tell them. "He just has this tendency to treat anyone who isn't successful, or rich or whatever as like second class people. Sometimes almost non- people. I think he thinks anyone who hasn't managed to do what he's done, just doesn't have the brainpower or whatever. He tends to act like they don't count.
"He's some sort of God and everyone else, everyone normal like you guys, just don't count. Throw a little money at them and they'll do what you want them to do. They just don't know any better. I'm so sorry." She couldn't hold back the tears that had welled up in her eyes and a few started to escape down her cheeks.
"Hey." Roger wiped away a tear from her cheek. "Don't worry about us. We can take it." He laughed a little. "The last thing me and Mark are worried about is what a bunch of idiots think of us. If Mark was ever concerned about that, he'd never leave the house in some of his geeky outfits he's got. You know, where it looks like his mommy dressed him."
Joanne tried hard to hold in a laugh. She just smirked at Mark who rolled his eyes at Roger. It had always amazed her how they were ever friend I the first place, but it was moments like this when she could see how deep their relationship really went.
"Too bad we can't get them to understand that." Mark said as he picked the check up and just looked at it. "That we don't need or care what they think. You know, let them know, in the whole scheme of things that they are the inconsequential ones."
"Yeah, we could, um, send the checks back." Roger told her with no hesitation. "Tell them we don't want or need their money. Tell them where to put it too. We could do that Cass. If that 's what you want, we'll do that. If that will help." Roger slid the check back across the table at an obviously stunned Joanne.
Mark kept holding his check for a second. He looked from it to Roger and then back at the check. Mark softly sighed and looked at Roger again. He watched him wipe another tear off Cass' face. He knew it was pointless, there would be no reason to argue with him. No matter what Mark told him, tried to make him realize, it wouldn't matter. Not now. He knew Roger was gonna put Cass ahead of all that other stuff. No matter what. He quietly slid his check across the table to Joanne as well.
Joanne could not believe it. If she ever knew two people who could use that money, it was them. And they weren't even thinking or debating about it. She couldn't get over Mark especially. Mark who actually thought out things. Mark thought of the future. Fifteen thousand dollars isn't a lot of money really, but if, when Roger gets sick, it could, no it would help. Somewhat at least.
She could understand their reasons, but hey needed that money. Mark should be telling Roger all this right now. He had to of thought of all that. Roger may not of, he doesn't tend to think that way, but Mark did. Mark knew they needed that money. If not now, then later. That Roger, that they were going to need that money. What was Mark doing? She just looked at him.
Mark saw the look on Joanne's face. Roger didn't. Roger had never taken his eyes off Cass. Mark just shook his head at her. "Yeah Cass," he said softly, "we can do that. If that's what you."
"Don't you dare!" She almost yelled at them. "First of all, you guys deserve that money. Not to mention the fact that you need it. Secondly all that would accomplish would be them, and a whole lot of other people thinking you two are completely either stupid or insane. Right?" Cass asked of Joanne.
Joanne let out the breath she hadn't even realized she had been holding. "Well.okay yes. She's right. I mean I completely understand the point you would be trying to make, but in my opinion it would be lost on them."
"Exactly! They won't get it. And even if they did, it wouldn't do any good. The only people that would hurt would be you two. You're keeping the money. You don't want to spend it, fine. But you're keeping it. It will come in handy someday."
Finally a voice of reason. Joanne pushed the checks back over to them. She was glad Cass got them to keep the money. The look on Mark's face told her he was too.
******
Cass watched Mark write on the napkin as he listened on his cell phone. She pushed her lunch around on her plate with her fork.
"Izzy called. He said something about rehearsal today. That you need to call him ASAP."
Roger looked at his watch. "Crap, I forgot about practice." Roger pulled out his own blue phone and started to dial Izzy. He picked up the ice tea the waitress had just brought him, pulled the lemon out and dropped it in Mark's tea along with Cass' lemon.
"Iz, what's going on?" He asked into the phone. "Uh huh." He watched Cass push her food around some more on her plate. "Yeah, right," he yawned into the phone. "Well, what about tonight? You think you can survive without me? Yeah well, you know." He grinned at Cass. "Yeah. Cool. I'll talk to you later. Bye."
He hung up his phone and put it back in his pocket. "Cool. No practice and no work. Where'd Mark go?"
"I don't know." She told him as she set down her fork. "He said he would be right back."
"Why aren't you eating? You want something else?"
"No, I'm just not that hungry I guess."
"You okay? With this morning and all?"
"Oh yes. I'm glad it's over though. But I feel better knowing that was all it was. And I'm glad you guys kept the money."
"Yeah, what about that? Are you okay with that? With us having that money?"
"Yes. You need it. Use it for whatever you want."
"Okay. Say we go out someplace. We go to dinner and go clubbing or movies or something. Is it gonna bother you if that's were the money came from?"
Cass shrugged as she drank more of her tea. "No, I guess not. I mean technically, all my money comes from the same place."
"Okay, just checking." Roger nodded. He leaned in close over the table and grinned at her. "So? You wanna? I mean now that I don't have to work or anything?"
"What?" She looked at him quizzically.
"Go out. Like to dinner and stuff. Like a, you know, date."
"Go out on a date? With you?" She said to him, completely straight-faced. "Um, I'll have to check my date book, to see what night I might have open."
Roger tilted his head and gave her a serious look.
"So where are you taking me? Wait let me guess. Dinner at, maybe the Life Café and then hanging out and drinking at the Iguana?"
"Um, actually no." Actually yes but he decided maybe he would go with something different after he realized that was pretty much standard for all of them. "How about someplace else. Someplace like," he started to look around as he thought. He looked down at his tee shirt and remembered something she had said to him early last week. His grin got bigger. "Someplace like where I gotta wear a shirt that still has sleeves."
She remembered and smirked back at him. "Okay, that's a start. Then where?"
"I don't know. Go to a bar and hear a band"
"So you looking for new recruits or a place to send you resume?"
Point taken. "Clubbing? I'll take you dancing."
"Possibly. But I don't really have any 'clubbing' clothes."
"Well, I can't believe I'm gonna say this, but we could go shopping." He rolled his eyes at her. "Over on St. Mark's again."
"If we're going out I'm gonna need a nap first, and you might too." She laughed as he yawned.
"Yeah, that might be a good idea. Considering what time the alarm clock nazi made us get up. And what time we finally went to sleep last night." Roger remembered he wanted to talk to her about why she won't go to bed by herself, but that can wait. "Mo should be home soon, we can swing by there and get you some clothes from her."
"What about Jen? She's right downstairs."
Roger was thinking how to answer that when he saw Mark heading back to the table. True, Jen would have club clothes Cass could wear. But Maureen was a little more adventurous. Okay a lot more adventurous then Jen. Maureen never really did anything for Roger. She had a nice chest and all, but he could never really see much past that.
Partially because you could almost always see her chest. Few people had to bed over braless as much as Maureen did. She had been doing it for so long, she didn't even realize it anymore. Otherwise why waste it on him? And Collins and Jason?
Yeah, Jen had club clothes. But Maureen had hot club clothes. A sly grin spread across his face as he pictures Cass in some of Maureen's outfits. And Cass had a much better body than Maureen anyway. "Um, well, let's just say I think Mo might have more stuff you'd like."
"Uh huh. If you say so. I'll call her later."
Mark came back and sat down. He dropped his phone on the table. "Okay. Cass you had a message on the machine too. Margaret or something? With a heavy accent."
"Marguerite." She laughed. "Her English is, let's just say, not the best. I'll call her later."
"So who was the other message from?" Roger asked him.
"Um, it was for me." He told them evasively.
"Yeah Marky?" Roger asked, cocking an eyebrow. "Who called? That who you been talking too?"
"A, nobody you, a want to um, nobody."
"Right." He winked at Cass.
"Don't you need to go get your guitar or something? So you can go to that thing you call work?"
"Nope. No practice, no work. So I'm a free man tonight."
"You're gonna be home? Tonight? Not at work?" Mark said, almost alarmed.
"Why Mark? What's going on?"
"Nothing." He replied very quickly.
"Who was on the phone Mark?" Roger stared him down.
Cass watched Mark fidget under Roger's stare and had to fight to hold back a laugh.
"Um, Benny called. He needs a small favor I guess." Mark told him meekly as he braced himself for what was to come.
"Oh, okay. Just don't let him screw you is all. Remember the last time he needed just one small favor."
"Oh, okay Roger." Whoa, this is different Mark thought.
"Don't sweat it Mark. I'm in a good mood. Benny's not on my list today. Besides, we're going out tonight."
"We are?" Mark said still looking at Roger.
"Um," Roger chewed at his lip as he glanced at Cass. "Well, no not us, but us." He wagged a finger between himself and Cass. "Kinda like a date type sort of thing." Shit! Good move Rog. "Um, is that okay?"
"Oh yeah. No, go out. Really. Have fun. Please. Besides, I think I'm gonna end up seeing Benny tonight."
"Okay. Just be real careful. If he's looking for favors, something's up."
The conference room door opened and Joanne came in. It was the first time they had ever really seen her at work. Sure, Roger had seen her in suits, still dressed from work, and they had heard her on her cell often, but this was different. This was the first time they had ever really seen her working. It was the most relaxed he had ever seen her. She was completely in her element. He couldn't help but wonder how she had put up with all of hem over the years, because while it was her element, it certainly wasn't any of theirs.
"Hey guys how are you doing this morning?" She asked them as she looked from one to the other.
Roger looked from Mark who was still holding the pen and had started fidgeting again to Cass who had started scratching again. Both had a deer in the headlights look on their faces. Cass much more so than Mark. Roger hated seeing that look on her face. It seemed like he had seen it so many times in the few days she had been with them.
Roger carefully took her hand under the table. He not so carefully yanked the pen away from Mark and slapped it on the table. As he looked at Joanne. "They're a little nervous. And driving me crazy. You know, Mark's usual prediction of doom and gloom and no matter what we tell her," he nodded his head at Cass as he smiled at her, "she won't believe us that none of this is her fault and that there's nothing they can really do to us. She's afraid they're going to sue us or something." He laughed at that last part, hoping to lighten both their moods by saying it. It actually worked some.
"Sue you two?" Joanne laughed. "Now that is funny. For what? The huge dust bunnies residing in the loft or the yet undiscovered species growing on something in your fridge."
Mark grinned. "Well there are all our worldly possessions." He had started laughing.
"Oh just what they would want I'm sure. Hours upon hours of film Mark shot. Most of it comprised of either Maureen throwing herself in front of the camera or the rest of us yelling at Mark to get out of our faces with it."
Even Cass was laughing now. She had lived her first week at the loft camera free, but that ended when her black eye faded. She had seen that camera pointed at her more than she wanted in the days since their party last weekend.
"Okay seriously thought. Let's talk business." Joanne's whole demeanor changed. "I heard back from your father Cass. Do you want to know what he said?"
"Not really." Her eyes went down to her lap. Roger gently squeezed her hand under the table. "Just sum up the high points."
"Okay. He said the situation had been handled. You won't be receiving any more phone calls like those two before. Neither your aunt or cousin have any reason to call you again so it should not be a problem."
"What about," Roger gave a sideways look at Cass, "visitors?"
"I asked about the need for any type of restraining orders. He said that won't be needed. You can travel the entire East Coast with no problem. The whole country for that matter. With the only real exception of California and Miami. He said that would be the only places you would run the risk of crossing paths. There and various points in Europe. You just need to have me notify him in advance if you're going anywhere like that. He'll make sure no one in question has any, uh, similar travel plans."
"Good. See problem solved." Roger told them. "Is that it Jo?" Roger asked optimistically.
"Well, no, not completely." She turned back to Cass. "He did want to discuss some work arrangements with you. I suggested for the moment we limit it to email only contact, until you notify him of anything different. He was in agreement on that."
Cass just nodded her head. Roger could tell she wasn't really looking at Joanne anymore. More like past her or through her. He really thought she was going to cry for a second but she just sat there, staring, listening and nodding. She was also holing on for dear life to his hand under the table. She wasn't really squeezing it, but it would have taken the Jaws of Life to pry them apart at that moment.
"Okay," Joanne switched her focus to Mark and Roger. "Now for you two."
For all his talk, Roger still felt the bottom drop out of his stomach. Whatever you do, don't flinch Davis. If either of them sense you starting to get nervous this could go worse.
He knew he'd be able to take care of the three of them for the short term. Till they got back on their feet, or at least as on their feet as they currently are. But he also knew it would be easier if they believed that he believed it was just no big deal. Just another day in the lives of alphabet city residents.
Joanne could tell Roger was somewhat nervous, but she knew him well enough to know he was hiding it for Mark's sake. Apparently Cass' to. Wow he had really changed in the last two weeks. A whole different Roger. And that really made her happy.
Now Mark on the other hand, he was exactly as Joanne had expected. A bundle of worried nerves expecting the worst. This is really going to be fun to some extent she thought.
Joanne had a definite dislike for Cass' family. She didn't like their attitude, how they treated the situation, how they treated Cass, or how they were about to treat Mark and Roger. Well, hopefully the guys won't see anything in this beyond face value.
Look for the good Joanne. She had been telling herself this since Tuesday in Washington when she got all of this information and such. Look for the good and take what you can find. And enjoy the moment. There haven't been many like this upcoming one. For her or them especially.
"Well Mr. Cohen and Mr. Davis," Joanne smirked at them. It didn't matter how old they were at this point, that just still sounded weird. "Uh, first, here Marky." She slid a small brown paper bag like you pack a lunch in across the table at him. She tried hard to stifle a laugh. "Just in case you need it for anything."
"Oh god!" Mark said leaning back in his chair and bringing his hand to his head. "It's that bad? So bad you think I'll puke? Oh we are so doomed." He paused then suddenly leaned forward and looked at Cass. "But it's okay Cass, because we don't blame you at all. None of this is your fault so don't think that. Just before you got here Roger and I were talking about moving or redecorating or selling vital organs for spare cash." Shut up Mark! Stop while you're ahead, or at least before you dig the hole deeper! He thought to himself.
"Shut up Mark!" Roger glared at him. "Stop while you're ahead. Or before you make the hole you're digging yourself into deeper!"
Mark looked at him and closed his mouth. Maybe they had lived together a little too long? At any other moment, that would have been really funny.
"I was actually thinking incase you needed to breathe into it." Joanne told Mark about the paper bag. "But breathe, puke, whatever you need it for Mark. I know you get uptight sometimes." She was almost laughing.
"Moving on though," Joanne opened the file she brought in with her and took out a piece of paper and began to read from it. "Mr. Sullivan would like to express his most," Joanne almost couldn't say it, "heartfelt apology. The phone calls and messages left on your answering machine were completely uncalled for and are being dealt with. He would also like to apologize for any other problems, or inconveniences that have been thrust upon either of you since your involvement in the current situation." Joanne's eyes went to Cass as she said that last part.
Roger swallowed hard and kept holding Cass' hand. She never moved a muscle. She just kept staring out the window behind Joanne. Her fucking bastard of a father basically just called her an inconvenience and a problem. God I hope for his sake I never see him again Roger thought.
Joanne continued. "With that in mind, please accept the enclosed gift as not only an expression of my gratitude, but also my most sincere apology for all you have both done and been forced to deal wit thus far."
Joanne set down the paper on the table. "It finishes up, Carlton Sullivan, yada, yada, yada, legal stuff, yada." She slid the letter across the table to the space between the now very pale Mark and the highly pissed off Roger.
She opened the file again and took out two envelopes and slid one in front of each of them. They both stared at them for a second. Roger finally reached down and picked up the envelope with his name on it off the table. He turned it over and undid the sealed flap. Without taking it all the way out of the envelope he raised the piece of paper up some, read it and shoved it back into the envelope. A second later he did the whole thing again. After reading it the second time he laid it down on the table and took Cass' hand in his again.
Mark was still staring at the envelope, not moving. Come on Mark, it's only a lousy piece of paper. What can it do to you? Don't be such wimp! Screw it, at this moment you're a wimp. Luckily, Roger's about to bail you out.
Roger sighed as he let go of Cass. He picked up Mark's envelope when Mark still hadn't moved. He looked at Joanne, who obviously knew what was in both envelopes and he could tell was trying hard at the very least not to burst into a huge smile, if not start laughing all together. She had managed to contain herself to a slight smirk when Roger looked at her and she nodded.
Again, Roger undid the envelope flap and pulled the paper up enough to read it. He started to grin as he picked up the paper bag, shook it open and set it in front of Mark.
"Oh god." Mark said dreadfully. "What is it? How bad?"
"She's right, you're gonna need that to breathe in." He couldn't help it, he started laughing as he grabbed Cass again. He smiled at her before turning back to Mark.
"Just tell me what it is." Mark was sitting there with both hands flat on the table. One on either side of the envelope, watching it. Guarding it. As if it might jump up and bite them at any moment.
"It's a check." Roger told him slowly. "For fifteen thousand dollars." He watched Mark's eyes get wider as he started breathing fast.
"Fifteen thousand dollars?" Mark asked in a small voice as he reached for the envelope. He pulled the check out and set it on the table staring at it. "Fifteen thousand dollars?" He repeated to himself. "They sent us fifteen thousand dollars?"
"No. They sent us fifteen thousand dollars each. That's thirty thousand dollars."
"Thirty thousand dollars?" Mark squeaked out. At that point he reached for the paper bag and started breathing into it.
Joanne and Roger started laughing at him, but then Roger realized Cass wasn't laughing. She wasn't really doing anything. She was just sitting there, with her head down, looking at the table. "Are you all right Cass? I mean this is good. Isn't it? You don't have to worry about anybody showing up, or calling and harassing you. That's a good thing."
Mark put the bag down and looked at her. "It's the money. It's kinda like they are trying to buy us off or shut us up or something. That's it isn't it?"
Joanne knew that was exactly their attempt. Her father had seen where they live. How they live. She was sure he had had both Roger and Mark checked out. Probably her as well. She had a feeling he figured if he threw a little money at them, they wouldn't be a problem. Then, eventually either Cass would get tired of them, or them of her, and she would come home. Situation over.
Between the letter and the money, he had treated her like some kind of business deal. They may be good businessmen, but Cass wasn't business. She was his daughter. And she was smart. Smart enough to realize all this on her own. Joanne knew that had to hurt.
She was happy about Roger and Mark getting the money. God knew they could certainly use it. However, she had hoped neither would have drawn Mark's conclusion about it. That they could just take it at face value. Something good that they could really use. Not that they were being paid off or anything
Joanne knew that those checks, whether they were fifteen thousand dollars or fifteen million dollars, would never change the way Mark and Roger felt about Cass. She didn't worry about that at all. She just wished that Cass' jerk of a father hadn't thought they could be so easily and cheaply dealt with. Did he think they were poor and stupid?
She couldn't help but wonder if either her father or uncle had any clue or idea about what had developed between Roger and Cass. She doubted it. Most likely not something they would ever even have considered. Good. They didn't need to know that anyway. Joanne also knew Roger well enough to be positive that he wasn't going to let anything happen, or let her go anywhere without him anytime soon. She was real happy about that too. For both of them.
"Is that what they are doing Cass?" Roger's voice broke into Joanne's thoughts.
"Maybe. Most likely." She said quietly. "I'm sure that was their first trip into the Village ever. Like I said, they are somewhat used to getting their own way. A lot of time they need to throw money around to do that. They probably took one look and figured all it would take is a little money." Cass shrugged then shook her head. She was almost in tears when she spoke again. "I'm sorry you guys. I'm so sorry they treated you like that. They are such idiots. I'm so sorry."
Damn them Roger thought. All they do is upset her and make her cry. "For what? Being related to a bunch of fuckheads? That's not your fault."
"No." She said softly. "But I'm sorry they are treating you guys like this. That is my fault."
"What do you mean?" Roger gently asked her.
"Andre just has this tendency to, well." she paused a moment. Joanne could tell she was almost embarrassed to say what she wanted to tell them. "He just has this tendency to treat anyone who isn't successful, or rich or whatever as like second class people. Sometimes almost non- people. I think he thinks anyone who hasn't managed to do what he's done, just doesn't have the brainpower or whatever. He tends to act like they don't count.
"He's some sort of God and everyone else, everyone normal like you guys, just don't count. Throw a little money at them and they'll do what you want them to do. They just don't know any better. I'm so sorry." She couldn't hold back the tears that had welled up in her eyes and a few started to escape down her cheeks.
"Hey." Roger wiped away a tear from her cheek. "Don't worry about us. We can take it." He laughed a little. "The last thing me and Mark are worried about is what a bunch of idiots think of us. If Mark was ever concerned about that, he'd never leave the house in some of his geeky outfits he's got. You know, where it looks like his mommy dressed him."
Joanne tried hard to hold in a laugh. She just smirked at Mark who rolled his eyes at Roger. It had always amazed her how they were ever friend I the first place, but it was moments like this when she could see how deep their relationship really went.
"Too bad we can't get them to understand that." Mark said as he picked the check up and just looked at it. "That we don't need or care what they think. You know, let them know, in the whole scheme of things that they are the inconsequential ones."
"Yeah, we could, um, send the checks back." Roger told her with no hesitation. "Tell them we don't want or need their money. Tell them where to put it too. We could do that Cass. If that 's what you want, we'll do that. If that will help." Roger slid the check back across the table at an obviously stunned Joanne.
Mark kept holding his check for a second. He looked from it to Roger and then back at the check. Mark softly sighed and looked at Roger again. He watched him wipe another tear off Cass' face. He knew it was pointless, there would be no reason to argue with him. No matter what Mark told him, tried to make him realize, it wouldn't matter. Not now. He knew Roger was gonna put Cass ahead of all that other stuff. No matter what. He quietly slid his check across the table to Joanne as well.
Joanne could not believe it. If she ever knew two people who could use that money, it was them. And they weren't even thinking or debating about it. She couldn't get over Mark especially. Mark who actually thought out things. Mark thought of the future. Fifteen thousand dollars isn't a lot of money really, but if, when Roger gets sick, it could, no it would help. Somewhat at least.
She could understand their reasons, but hey needed that money. Mark should be telling Roger all this right now. He had to of thought of all that. Roger may not of, he doesn't tend to think that way, but Mark did. Mark knew they needed that money. If not now, then later. That Roger, that they were going to need that money. What was Mark doing? She just looked at him.
Mark saw the look on Joanne's face. Roger didn't. Roger had never taken his eyes off Cass. Mark just shook his head at her. "Yeah Cass," he said softly, "we can do that. If that's what you."
"Don't you dare!" She almost yelled at them. "First of all, you guys deserve that money. Not to mention the fact that you need it. Secondly all that would accomplish would be them, and a whole lot of other people thinking you two are completely either stupid or insane. Right?" Cass asked of Joanne.
Joanne let out the breath she hadn't even realized she had been holding. "Well.okay yes. She's right. I mean I completely understand the point you would be trying to make, but in my opinion it would be lost on them."
"Exactly! They won't get it. And even if they did, it wouldn't do any good. The only people that would hurt would be you two. You're keeping the money. You don't want to spend it, fine. But you're keeping it. It will come in handy someday."
Finally a voice of reason. Joanne pushed the checks back over to them. She was glad Cass got them to keep the money. The look on Mark's face told her he was too.
******
Cass watched Mark write on the napkin as he listened on his cell phone. She pushed her lunch around on her plate with her fork.
"Izzy called. He said something about rehearsal today. That you need to call him ASAP."
Roger looked at his watch. "Crap, I forgot about practice." Roger pulled out his own blue phone and started to dial Izzy. He picked up the ice tea the waitress had just brought him, pulled the lemon out and dropped it in Mark's tea along with Cass' lemon.
"Iz, what's going on?" He asked into the phone. "Uh huh." He watched Cass push her food around some more on her plate. "Yeah, right," he yawned into the phone. "Well, what about tonight? You think you can survive without me? Yeah well, you know." He grinned at Cass. "Yeah. Cool. I'll talk to you later. Bye."
He hung up his phone and put it back in his pocket. "Cool. No practice and no work. Where'd Mark go?"
"I don't know." She told him as she set down her fork. "He said he would be right back."
"Why aren't you eating? You want something else?"
"No, I'm just not that hungry I guess."
"You okay? With this morning and all?"
"Oh yes. I'm glad it's over though. But I feel better knowing that was all it was. And I'm glad you guys kept the money."
"Yeah, what about that? Are you okay with that? With us having that money?"
"Yes. You need it. Use it for whatever you want."
"Okay. Say we go out someplace. We go to dinner and go clubbing or movies or something. Is it gonna bother you if that's were the money came from?"
Cass shrugged as she drank more of her tea. "No, I guess not. I mean technically, all my money comes from the same place."
"Okay, just checking." Roger nodded. He leaned in close over the table and grinned at her. "So? You wanna? I mean now that I don't have to work or anything?"
"What?" She looked at him quizzically.
"Go out. Like to dinner and stuff. Like a, you know, date."
"Go out on a date? With you?" She said to him, completely straight-faced. "Um, I'll have to check my date book, to see what night I might have open."
Roger tilted his head and gave her a serious look.
"So where are you taking me? Wait let me guess. Dinner at, maybe the Life Café and then hanging out and drinking at the Iguana?"
"Um, actually no." Actually yes but he decided maybe he would go with something different after he realized that was pretty much standard for all of them. "How about someplace else. Someplace like," he started to look around as he thought. He looked down at his tee shirt and remembered something she had said to him early last week. His grin got bigger. "Someplace like where I gotta wear a shirt that still has sleeves."
She remembered and smirked back at him. "Okay, that's a start. Then where?"
"I don't know. Go to a bar and hear a band"
"So you looking for new recruits or a place to send you resume?"
Point taken. "Clubbing? I'll take you dancing."
"Possibly. But I don't really have any 'clubbing' clothes."
"Well, I can't believe I'm gonna say this, but we could go shopping." He rolled his eyes at her. "Over on St. Mark's again."
"If we're going out I'm gonna need a nap first, and you might too." She laughed as he yawned.
"Yeah, that might be a good idea. Considering what time the alarm clock nazi made us get up. And what time we finally went to sleep last night." Roger remembered he wanted to talk to her about why she won't go to bed by herself, but that can wait. "Mo should be home soon, we can swing by there and get you some clothes from her."
"What about Jen? She's right downstairs."
Roger was thinking how to answer that when he saw Mark heading back to the table. True, Jen would have club clothes Cass could wear. But Maureen was a little more adventurous. Okay a lot more adventurous then Jen. Maureen never really did anything for Roger. She had a nice chest and all, but he could never really see much past that.
Partially because you could almost always see her chest. Few people had to bed over braless as much as Maureen did. She had been doing it for so long, she didn't even realize it anymore. Otherwise why waste it on him? And Collins and Jason?
Yeah, Jen had club clothes. But Maureen had hot club clothes. A sly grin spread across his face as he pictures Cass in some of Maureen's outfits. And Cass had a much better body than Maureen anyway. "Um, well, let's just say I think Mo might have more stuff you'd like."
"Uh huh. If you say so. I'll call her later."
Mark came back and sat down. He dropped his phone on the table. "Okay. Cass you had a message on the machine too. Margaret or something? With a heavy accent."
"Marguerite." She laughed. "Her English is, let's just say, not the best. I'll call her later."
"So who was the other message from?" Roger asked him.
"Um, it was for me." He told them evasively.
"Yeah Marky?" Roger asked, cocking an eyebrow. "Who called? That who you been talking too?"
"A, nobody you, a want to um, nobody."
"Right." He winked at Cass.
"Don't you need to go get your guitar or something? So you can go to that thing you call work?"
"Nope. No practice, no work. So I'm a free man tonight."
"You're gonna be home? Tonight? Not at work?" Mark said, almost alarmed.
"Why Mark? What's going on?"
"Nothing." He replied very quickly.
"Who was on the phone Mark?" Roger stared him down.
Cass watched Mark fidget under Roger's stare and had to fight to hold back a laugh.
"Um, Benny called. He needs a small favor I guess." Mark told him meekly as he braced himself for what was to come.
"Oh, okay. Just don't let him screw you is all. Remember the last time he needed just one small favor."
"Oh, okay Roger." Whoa, this is different Mark thought.
"Don't sweat it Mark. I'm in a good mood. Benny's not on my list today. Besides, we're going out tonight."
"We are?" Mark said still looking at Roger.
"Um," Roger chewed at his lip as he glanced at Cass. "Well, no not us, but us." He wagged a finger between himself and Cass. "Kinda like a date type sort of thing." Shit! Good move Rog. "Um, is that okay?"
"Oh yeah. No, go out. Really. Have fun. Please. Besides, I think I'm gonna end up seeing Benny tonight."
"Okay. Just be real careful. If he's looking for favors, something's up."