Chapter 63
Mark finally gave Roger a little shove to get him moving towards the house. As they reached the front porch the front door opened and a man stepped out and closed the door behind him. He ran his hands over his arms out of either nervousness or cold. "It's good to see you Roger."
"Hey Larry." Roger said, not meeting his eyes.
"Look I'm really glad you're here, really. I just, I need to, look I don't want your mom going through all that hell all over again okay? You've got no idea how excited she is to see you. So for her sake I gotta know. You're completely clean right?"
"Yeah," Roger answered softly without looking up. "I'm clean."
"Mark?"
Mark looked at him somewhat disgusted for a second. He knew and completely understood why Larry had to ask, but hat didn't mean Mark had to like it. "Yeah Larry, he's clean. For like about five years now."
"Good." He said to Mark before his eyes wandered to Cass. "What about her?"
"Yeah her too." Mark told him annoyed.
"Good." A grin spread over his face and you could see him relax some. "I'm really happy to hear that." He paused with his hand on the doorknob. "We're glad you came home Roger. Really."
Not knowing what to say Roger just nodded and followed him in through the door, dragging Cass along by the hand.
"Joanie!" Larry called into the house. "They're here!"
A moment later a woman appeared it the doorway, followed by two others. "Roger!" She grabbed him and hugged him. "I can't believe you're actually here." She let go of him, stepped back some to look at him and grabbed him again. "God I can't believe you're actually here!" She started to cry.
Roger never let go of Cass' hand as he hugged her back. "Hi Mom."
"Well if it isn't my long lost nephew and his Siamese twin!" The younger of the two women in the doorway said.
"Hey Aunt Cathy." Roger said, still being hugged by his mom.
"Hey Ms. Tyler." Mark said as he stepped up next to Cass. "Hey Mrs. Hall." He said to the older woman in the doorway who was crying.
"Hello Mark." She said wiping her eyes. "Joanie will you let go of the boy so I can see my grandson!"
"Hey Grandma." Roger told her as she pulled him over to hug him. He finally had to let go of Cass as she pulled him into a hug.
Joanie wiped her eyes and grabbed Mark. "I'm so glad to see you too!" She hugged him tight again before letting him go. "And you must be Cass!"
"Uh, yes ma'm." Cass put her hand out, but Joanie ignored it and just hugged her instead.
"Well we're very glad to meet you. And we're thrilled you guys are all here!" She stepped back but kept an arm around Cass' shoulder. "Here let me introduce you to everyone. This is my husband Larry. And my sister, Roger's Aunt Cathy and my mom, Olivia Hall, and I'm Joanie, his mom. But you knew that." She laughed hugging her again. "God I still can't believe you are all here!"
"Joanie something is burning." Called a voice from the back of the house.
"I'll get it." Cathy said walking away. "Why don't you guys go sit down Joanie?"
"Oh yes! I swear my brain is just not functioning today!" She grinned. "Come on in, here put your stuff down and give my your coats. You must be frozen. Did you walk from the train? Roger is that your old jacket? I can't believe you still have that thing." She said as Mark handed her the old leather jacket Cass had been wearing.
They walked into the living room and sat down. "Roger!" The young woman called as she ran across the room to hug him. "Oh my God you look so good!"
"Hi Shelly." Roger said but wouldn't look her in the eye.
"Hey," She pulled his chin up, "forget about all that stuff okay? I did. Please at this point I wish I'd never even had a wedding."
"Shelly!"
"Sorry Grandma 'Livia, I don't mean I'm sorry I married Patrick." She chuckled. "Most days. I mean I wish we would have skipped the wedding and just taken all the money my parents spent and put it down on a house instead."
She looked back at Roger. "Okay?"
"Yeah, thanks Shell." He told her as he pulled Cass closer. "Um, this is Cass."
"Hey, nice to meet you." She shook Cass' hand. "I'm Shelly, Patrick's wife. And Patrick is outside filling up the firewood bin. You guys want something to drink?"
"Actually can I use your bathroom?" Cass asked.
"I'll show you." Mark said before anyone else could. He walked Cass up stairs as he heard the back porch door slamming, he figured it was Patrick, but he was more concerned about Cass than Roger at the moment. "You okay?"
"Yes."
"Liar. Look I'll try and find you some crackers or pretzels or something."
She nodded her head. "Mark," she whispered, "he's okay right?"
Mark grinned, "Yeah, he's doing great. I'll meet you downstairs." He went back down to the kitchen to find Cathy cooking. He could hear Joanie and Roger in the living room but he could also hear Shelly and Patrick arguing on the back porch.
"Hey Ms. Tyler."
"Mark you've known me practically your whole life, will you just call me Cathy."
"Um, yeah, sorry."
"So Mark, truthfully, he's good?"
"Yeah, he's doing really good. Just about the best he's ever been."
"And the girlfriend?"
"Cass? Let's just say she's really good for him."
She stopped stirring the gravy. "So are you Mark. Joanie knows that, and she really appreciates it. Really. We all know he wouldn't have made it this far without you."
"Thanks." Mark could feel his ears getting hot. "Um do you have any crackers or anything?"
"For what? We're going to eat in less than an hour?"
"Um Cass is, well doesn't feel great. She uh, the train seems to make her sick. Crackers work great though."
Cathy eyed him suspiciously. "Sure here." She pulled out a box from the cupboard.
"Thanks. Um do I want to know what that's about?" He pointed at the back porch where Shelly and Patrick were still arguing.
"Well, we didn't exactly mention to him you guys were coming. We didn't know if you would show, plus Shelly didn't completely know if Patrick would show if he had advance warning."
"Oh. Sorry."
"Don't be. Joanie hasn't been this happy in years. And Shelly can handle Patrick." She smiled at him.
Mark went back upstairs with the crackers. "Here Cass. Did you throw up?"
"No, but I kinda wish I would, just to get it over with. How are things downstairs?"
"With the exception of Patrick, surprisingly good. Let's go." They headed back down to the living room. Roger took her hand as they sat down next to him. Just then Patrick and Shelly came in from the back porch.
"Hey." Patrick said to him.
"Hey." Roger said back.
Shelly realized that was the end of the conversation and started to try and help. "So Patrick you remember Mark and this is Roger's girlfriend Cass."
"Mpf." Was all he said.
"So Cass this is Patrick, my happy little leprechaun of a husband." She shot him a look that said behave.
"Roger tell your brother about the tour you were on." Joanie told him.
"Forget the tour, tell them the other part. The really good part." Mark said.
Roger shrugged. "I was a replacement guitar player for the opening act on tour with a pretty well know group."
"But tell them about what Trey wants." Mark pushed.
"The guy who's band it is, he want's to buy some of my stuff."
"And his manager wants to see some stuff too." Mark added.
"He wants to show it to his production house and label. He thinks Roger's real marketable as a song writer!" Cass joined in, excitedly.
"That's great Rog." Larry said. "You still got the fender?"
Roger nodded as Shelly nudged Patrick to say something.
"So in other words, you've still got no real job, and Mark still takes care of your sorry ass. What about her? She another junkie, groupie girlfriend?"
At that the commotion broke out. Shelly, Cathy and Joanie all yelled at Patrick at the same time. Roger was on his feet and in Patrick's face as the words left Patrick's mouth. He was followed my both Mark and Cass who were pulling him back from his brother who was being yanked back into his seat by Shelly.
"Shut you mouth Patrick. You got problems with me fine, but you leave her out of it!"
"I just want to know if this one's gonna rob us blind too!"
"Enough!" Larry said, jumping between the two of them. "Patrick shut up. Both of you calm down. I'm getting too old to be breaking up fights between the two of you!"
They both sat down as Cass took Roger's hand again and looked straight at Patrick. "To answer your question I have never been either a junkie or a groupie. I was a cokehead instead. But after my boyfriend wrapped his car around a pole and I almost died that ended that. As for your other comment, even as a cokehead, I was good enough at my job to be able to more than cover my habit. Any more questions you would like answered?" She asked as coolly as if talking about the weather.
Patrick didn't know how to respond to that. Mark loved it when Cass gave those little speeches. He remembered the one she gave Roger the first day she got here. The look on Patrick's face was so similar to Roger's Mark almost laughed out loud.
"Gee just like the old days." Cathy laughed. "It's not a holiday in this family till either a fight breaks out or somebody falls off the roof."
"I forgot about that." Shelly laughed.
"Who fell off the roof?" Mark asked trying to move the conversation on.
"Oh, Frank, that's my husband," Cathy explained to Cass, "decided Arron and Scottie, those are my boys, and Mickey should fix the roof and take the Christmas lights down last Easter. Well I don't know what happened, but they were listening to some game, there was some commotion and next thing you know, Scottie is on the ground." She laughed.
"You know," Roger's grandmother started to laugh, "when I sent you girls to nursing school I never thought it would come in so handy with my own grandsons."
"What did he do to himself?" Mark asked.
Cathy shook her head. "I had to stitch his hand up."
"Roger superglued my head once." Cass suddenly spit out.
Everyone, especially Joanie and Cathy started laughing. Cass realized how strange that sounded and tried to explain. "I mean I had stitches, and one of them pulled and well, he superglued my head." She shrugged.
Mark shook his head as Joanie and Cathy just looked at Roger and laughed.
"Hey, I knew it would work." He told them.
"You should for as many times as we glued you two back together." Joanie laughed as she got up to check on the turkey. Larry got up and followed her into the kitchen. He came back a minute later carrying a six pack of beer. He handed one to Roger, Mark, Patrick, Shelly and Cass who turned it down.
"So where are Eric and Scott?" Roger asked.
Cathy shook her head. "My insane husband and his wacko sons decide Thanksgiving weekend was a great time of year to go fishing. In Canada no less!"
"Come on Cath, they invited you along." Larry teased.
"Oh right, me freezing my rear off in some stupid cabin, cooking a turkey while they fish all day and come home stinking. I think not. And they invited you too Larry."
"Freeze my ass off for some stupid fish? No way!" Larry laughed.
Joanie came back and sat down taking a beer. "Okay give it another twenty minutes then we eat. Cass don't you want a beer sweetie?"
"Yes, I mean no. I mean," she looked at Roger then back at Joanie, "I mean we brought wine."
"We did?" Roger asked.
"Yes. The last three bottles from that second case. If you want it with dinner we should open it now so it can breathe. It's red, but that's all we make, but it's a very good year."
"What do you mean that's all you make?" Shelly asked.
"Cass' family owns a vineyard in France." Mark explained. "She's been drinking wine since before she could walk." He shook his head. "She can drink me under the table."
"Oh that's hard." Roger joked.
Cass heard Patrick laugh at that and was glad the tension had eased. "Well, maybe not that early, but I have a lot of wine experience."
"So are you from France?" Joanie asked.
"I stayed till I was fourteen then moved to Los Angeles. I worked with my father there till I started traveling."
"What do you do Cass?" Larry asked.
"Computer research. My family has an investment company. I used to travel to locations, research different things. Mainly computer, some one on one."
"Wow, that's exciting. The only place we ever go is Atlantic City." She said more at Patrick than Cass.
Patrick rolled his eyes as Shelly continued. "So where did you go?"
"Different places. France, Germany, Switzerland and Italy." Her voice trailed off on the last word as her free hand rubbed at her neck, looking for her lost necklace.
Roger squeezed her other hand. "Yeah Cass is like a computer genius and can speak French, German, Spanish and Italian. She's got lie a zillion IQ!" He smiled at her.
"Then what's she doing with you?" Patrick said snidely.
"You two behave!" Their grandmother told them sternly.
"Let's eat." Joanie said, looking at her watch.
*******************
They all moved to the dinning room and sat down at the table, Roger and Mark on either side of Cass. Roger opened the wine and poured Cass a glass as Joanie and Cathy put the food on the table.
"God Joanie that's a tone of food!" Shelly told her pouring herself some wine and taking a sip. "Wow this is great Cass."
She smiled as she sipped hers. "One of our best years. It's hard to find in the states sometimes. It only imports to upper end wine stores."
"Wait I'm confused. You do computer research for a wine vineyard?" Patrick asked.
"No." She smiled passing the mashed potatoes to Mark. "It's two separate things. See my great grandfather's family had the vineyard. They were old world money. He also had two sons, my grandfather and his brother. Well they made it through the war fairly unscathed, with the vineyard and luckily most of their money in tact. So my grandfather and his brother decide they need to expand, just in case. You know, don't put all you grapes in one basket." She laughed, scooping up sweet potatoes. "Sorry, family joke. Well, anyway they were very smart and lucky, at least in business." She paused and looked down at her plate. She felt Mark reach under the table and squeeze her leg.
"Well a vineyard reaches a point, and once you get a wine master, it's pretty well set. So my grandfather and his brother got heavily into the investment end. After they died, my uncle took over. Carlton, that's my father, he works for my uncle. That's where I learned most of what I do."
"That and the fact that you're a genius." Mark added grinning.
"So you just travel around?" Patrick asked.
"No I don't travel anymore. I actually cut back on a lot of what I do. I'm trying to get some side work instead. Move away from the family business. We'll see." She shrugged, sipping her wine.
"So are you one of those 90 hour a week corporate types?" Shelly laughed.
"Hardly," Mark laughed. "Not if you call getting up at ten, hanging out in boxers with her feet on the desk and being done by three in the afternoon."
"Hey I work way more than that." She corrected him. "I'm up half the night sometimes."
"Yeah, reading those computer soaps." Roger teased her.
"And talking to Gia eight time zones away." Mark grinned.
"Whatever." She smiled. "To answer you question, no I am definitely not one of those corporate types."
"It sounds like you've been all over the world Cass." Larry said carving the turkey.
"Pretty much."
"Why don't you travel any more? It sounds like it would be fun." He added.
Cass' right hand tightened on the base of her wineglass. Her little finger, which neither completely straightened out nor clenched up any longer, stuck out some from the glass. She realized these were the first people since she got to New York that didn't know or at least have an idea of the truth. Grateful as she was for that, it also made all the bad stuff come back to the front of her brain. She felt her hands start to shake as she put her glass back down. She felt Mark squeeze her leg again.
Roger took her left hand and held it. "She got a better offer." He smiled at her. He saw her hands start to shake and saw her looking at her finger. He leaned over and kissed her cheek.
"A much better offer." She grinned at him.
Joanie just smiled watching them. "Do we have everything? I feel like I'm forgetting something."
"The only thing missing is the other ten people I think you planned on feeding with all this food." Larry told her.
"This is incredible. We haven't eaten like this in a really long time." Mark told her.
"Don't you guys cook?" Grandma Olivia asked.
"Sure." Roger laughed. "Cereal, frozen waffles, Ramen noodles."
"Well that was always your cooking repertoire Roger." Joanie laughed. "Mark hasn't learned anything new since high school either huh?"
"Traveling like you did you must be able to cook a ton of international food Cass." Shelly said.
At that Mark and Roger started cracking up. Even Cass grinned some. "Cut that out." She told them.
"We try and keep Cass away from the stove." Roger explained, laughing.
"Yeah, she really is a genius, but recipes calling for anything more than cereal and milk are somehow beyond her."
"Hmf! See if I ever cook for you two again!"
"Promise?" They both asked at the same time, making themselves laugh even harder.
"Behave you too!" Joanie scolded them. "Leave that poor girl alone. Come on everybody eat. Cass is that all you want? Honey that's not much food for Thanksgiving dinner."
"Oh um, I'm fine." She told her realizing she had been pushing her food around on her plate. Seeing all the food on the table had suddenly made her lose what appetite she had when they sat down. She looked at Roger quickly. "I'm, uh, a little skittish on food still. Mark and I got a bad case of food poisoning two weeks ago."
"Yeah, we ended up in the hospital. They kept Cass overnight."
"I see it's not affecting your appetite however Mark." Cathy teased him.
"Um, no. And surprisingly it wasn't from Cass' cooking either." Mark laughed.
"No but you let her talk you into that tofu Thai crap." Roger joked.
"Roger I told you, it was the restaurant, not the tofu. There is nothing wrong with tofu."
"I ate that burger. Trust me, there is definitely nothing right with tofu."
Aunt Cathy just looked at him. "You ate a tofu burger? Mr. Picky?"
"It was an accident believe me!"
"Yeah, ruin my four year no meat run!"
"You didn't eat meat for four years?" Patrick asked.
"Well I've been a quasi vegetarian for years. But I gave up meat for lent one year and just stuck with it. I had to go back to fish and poultry though, it was too hard when I traveled."
"Wow, that's impressive." Shelly said taking more gravy. "Every year I give up chocolate, every year I blow it."
"Cass has been to the Vatican Grandma." Roger told her.
"Really?"
"Yes. We actually went to an Easter Mass. Way too many people. But it was the Pope." She said matter a factly."
"The Pope! Incredible! You need to get that one to mass." She pointed at Roger. "I'm sure it's been years." She gave him a disapproving look.
"Yeah well. Pass the potatoes."
She shook her head. "My grandsons, the alterboys!"
"You were an altar boy?" Cass asked surprised.
"Against my will and for a very short period of time. Pass the potatoes."
"That one's hard to imagine." Cass said, pushing her food around. She forced another bite down and finished off her second glass of wine.
"I still feel like I'm forgetting something." Joanie told them.
"So Cass you work for your father?" Larry asked
"Sort of. I have my own research department. I work for the company. He works for the company in LA and Europe. We both work for my uncle who's mainly in France now."
"What about you mother? Where is she?" Cathy asked.
Without looking up form her plate Cass told her. "She died."
"Oh sweetie, I'm sorry."
Cass shrugged as her hand went to her neck, looking for her lost necklace. "It was a long time ago."
Just then the phone rang and Larry reached behind him to answer it. "Hello?"
"Tell whoever it is we're eating." Joanie told him.
Cass looked from Mark to Roger. She couldn't believe how much Roger had relaxed since they got there. Everyone had. Even Patrick. She was really happy for him. He looked up and caught her smiling at him. She just grinned.
"Who wants more wine?" Shelly asked. "Cass?"
"No I'm fine. Thanks."
"I don't think it will be a problem." Larry rolled his eyes. "I'll tell her." He paused to listen. "Okay, bye Mick."
At that everyone looked up. Larry hung up the phone. "Mickey wants you to put some pie in the freezer for when he gets back."
"He called or that?" Joanie said. "Please, it's easier to buy a new one when he gets back. He'll never know the difference." She shook her head.
An eerie silence fell over the table. "So, uh where is Mickey?" Mark asked realizing Roger wouldn't.
"He's helping his father move furniture to Jack's girlfriend's house from her parents in Pennsylvania. He'll be back Sunday."
"Idiot." Patrick said, stabbing at his turkey.
Roger just kept eating as if he never even heard his father mentioned.
"So," Shelly said trying to change the subject. "You guys going to Pub Night? We are."
"Yeah." Mark said.
"I don't know." Roger said shooting Mark a look. "We have to take a really late train home if we did that. And it's forty-five minutes from here just to Grand Central. And Cass is kinda sick."
"I'm not sick, I'm pr, pretty tired is all." She caught herself. "I just might need a nap before something like that."
"So take a nap!" Shelly said. "Besides I thought you city living musician types were up all night anyway." She teased Roger.
"Yeah well I didn't get out of the bar until after three and then someone got me up really early." He looked at Mark again.
"So you take a nap too." Shelly told him. "You guys should come with us. Stay here and go home tomorrow."
"You can stay if you want." Joanie said quickly then looked at Larry. "You can stay in your and Mickey's old room. The two beds are still in there." She realized she probably sounded like she was begging.
"Could we? It would be fun." Cass asked him.
"Yeah Roger." Mark looked at him. "It would be fun."
"Uh, we don't have any way to get there Mark, remember? It's like the other side of town. It's not like we can take the subway."
"You guys can ride with us." Shelly said cheerfully. "Right Patrick? Come on Roger, you should go. Right Patrick?"
"Um, yeah, I guess." Patrick said, not overly enthusiastically.
"Cool. I mean it's not like we've got anything to rush home to but that tiny apartment. You're not working all weekend. Cass' computer stuff is all packed up. I didn't even get the cable line run down to the little apartment yet. And all our friends are out of town."
"Gee Mark, we could clean up that mess in the living room. And what about your girlfriend?"
"A- that mess can sit there. It's not like there's anywhere to put that stuff anyway. And B- I think Joellen has moved on." He shrugged. "So because my girlfriend dumped me, and because she blamed you for all our problems, I think you owe it to me to stay." He gave Roger the puppy dog face. "Please."
"Yes, please Roger?" Cass joined in.
Roger looked at the two of them and started to laugh. "Fine, fine, we'll stay."
"Good!" Joanie said, excitedly. "You guys will all have a great time." She started to clean the plates and Cathy got up to help her. "Why don't you guys go in the other room. We'll clean this up, make coffee and have dessert in a little bit."
"Do you want any help?" Cass asked through a yawn.
"No." She laughed. "We have it."
As they got up from the table Roger and Mark's watches beeped signaling 4:00 PM. Quickly they both silenced the alarms shooting quick looks at each other. Cass looked around and realized no one else noticed and smiled at Roger.
Cass and Mark went into the living room and she sat in the big chair. Mark was telling Larry about renovating the loft when Roger came back from taking his pills in the bathroom. He pulled Cass out of the chair, sat down and pulled her onto his lap, kissing her neck as he did. She got comfy and whispered into his ear. "You okay? You take them?"
He nodded and started playing with her hair as they talked. After a few minutes he felt her get heavier as her head tested against his shoulder.
After about twenty minutes Joanie and Cathy came back in. "Who wants dessert?"
"God not me! I'm too full!" Shelly told her.
"Yeah Mom can we wait, the second half just started."
"What's the score Patrick?" Larry asked.
"They're up 21-7."
"Yeah Joanie can we wait. You made a tone of food anyway. Beside Cass is asleep and your mom and Roger aren't far off."
"Okay. Roger why don't you guys go lie down."
"Huh?" He looked up. "Yeah maybe. Cass. Baby wake up."
"What? Did I fall asleep again?"
"Yeah. Come on." He boosted her up.
"Ug. God I'm so sick and tired of being sick and tired." She mumbled.
"Come on. He pulled her along.
"You guys want some coffee?"
"Oh God yes!" Cass said reaching for the cup she held and putting it to her mouth.
"Forget it." Roger told her pulling her towards the stairs.
"Roger I wasn't going to drink it. Just smell it."
"With what your lips? Keep walking if you really want to go out tonight." They started up the steps.
Mark started laughing as he took a cup. "I never thought I'd miss coffee."
"What was that all about?" Cathy asked. "I thought you all lived on coffee?"
"We do, or did. Cass doesn't drink coffee anymore. It gives her hives." Mark yawned.
Cathy raised an eyebrow and shot Joanie a look.
*****************
Cass came downstairs in Roger's flannel plaid pants. "Sorry. I really needed a nap though."
"Roger still sleeping?" Joanie asked her.
"Yes. He was really tired. He was at the bar really late every night since Sunday." She yawned, not fully awake.
"Well the game is over. Can we have the pie now?"
"Your brother is still asleep." Joanie told Patrick.
"So?" He looked at her. "I mean, we can wake him up?" He tried, but realized she still didn't buy that. "Or just save him some."
"Patrick you're pathetic." Shelly laughed.
"We could just save him some pie." Larry said, hugging Joanie around the waist.
"Relax he's sort of awake. He'll be down soon." Cass laughed at them.
"Cass you want some coffee?" Shelly asked.
Mark shot her a look. "Yes, but I don't drink coffee anymore so no thanks."
"You want some hot chocolate?" Joanie asked.
"Sure."
Joanie filled a cup with milk and handed it to her. "Put this in the microwave."
Cass went to the microwave and popped open the door. "Ewww!" Her hand clamped over her nose and mouth as the smell left the microwave.
Joanie looked over. "I knew I was forgetting something!" She laughed taking the bowl from the microwave.
"Oh God. The brussel sprouts! I thought we escaped those this year!" Patrick said, making a face.
"Hush Patrick. It's a tradition. And they are good for you." She said stirring the bowl.
The smell got worse as Joanie stirred them up. Mark watched the greenish tint cross Cass' face. She set the coffee cup down and tried to nonchalantly leave the room and head upstairs.
Cathy watched Cass rush out of the kitchen and up the steps. She looked at Joanie, but didn't think she caught it. "Okay let's toss the stinky veggies and move on to the pie. Cass go to wake up Roger?"
"Um, yeah, I guess." Mark told her taking a large slice of pie.
"You want some whip cream Mark?"
"Sure thanks."
Cathy let everyone start in on their desserts as she got Mark concentrating on his stomach. "I don't know how you do it Joanie, you always made such good pumpkin pie. Maybe you should have made an extra one. You want some more coffee Mark?"
"Thanks. This is really, really great. Believe me, I've missed your cooking."
"Thank you Mark." Joanie said, eyeing her sister, not sure what she was doing.
"Well we're all glad you guys came out Mark. How about some ice cream." She scooped some on his plate. "How long have you been living in the city?"
"Three weeks after sophomore year of college." He told her with a mouthful of food.
"And when did Roger move in with you?" She picked up a plate. "Cookie?"
"Um thanks. Oh I remember these. I loved these." He took a bite of cookie. "Yeah Roger moved in three weeks later. Been there ever since."
"Wow. Long time." She poured him more coffee. "So Cass is what? Three? Four months pregnant?"
"Three." He answered without thinking as he put a big bite of pie and whip cream in his mouth. As he lips closed over the fork he realized what he said. His eyes went wide and he just held the fork there, between his teeth.
Joanie heard her sister ask the question and her head snapped up as well as everyone else's. The fork in her hand clanged to the plate as Mark answered.
Mark heard Joanie's fork hit the plate and the reality of what he just uttered hit him. He closed his eyes tight. You idiot Mark! Roger's gonna kill you!
Just then Roger and Cass walked into the dinning room. Everyone looked up at them. An eerie silence filled the room. Roger looked around. "What?" He asked grumpily as they sat down next to Mark who had a deer in the head lights look on his face. "What?"
"I didn't meant to do it. Really. Your aunt tricked me with pie. Really."
"What are you talking about?" He was confused.
"They sort of know about, well, Cass being, well…"
"Knocked up." Patrick laughed as Shelly shushed him.
"Oh." Roger didn't know what to say. He looked at Cass who bit her lip and looked down at the table. He took her hand and squeezed it tight. "Um, yeah. So, um, yeah, Cass is pregnant. Surprise!" He shrugged. "Pass the pie."