Cassandra arrived promptly at noon at the front gate. Once she identified herself to the security monitor, the gate opened up to allow her to drive in. She maneuvered her car up the long road, marveling at the expanse of meadows and giant redwood trees.
Earlier, she had observed the road that split east from Highway One as it led to Mike's property. It was privately owned, as indicated by the many signs at the entrance. For every five hundred yards she noticed a change in the pavement. "Car sensors?" she wondered allowed. "Very smart. Very smart indeed!"
Cassandra also had noticed the thick grove of trees and the deeply shaded forest. It was breathtaking and she smiled in knowing that her friend, Gabriella, lived here. It gave Cassandra a sense of peace. It also gave her a confidence for how she would eventually use it.
When she had first approached the gate, she marveled at the height of the fence. It was formidable in size and breadth, spanning beyond her immediate view both left and right of the road as it disappeared into the stand of giant trees. The gate area was very avant-garde in security, complete with the same car sensors in the pavement. There were also cameras for approaching and departing vehicles. The manual opener for departing guests stood about ten feet inside the gate, well out of reach of most people coming in. Another advantage to insure security, Cassandra thought. She assumed that alarms would go off if someone were to breech the protective measures. She made a mental note to herself to verify that later.
Now, as she drove her car lazily up the driveway after passing through the main gate, she took a look around. Cassandra noticed deer off to her right as they grazed along the forest edge where a meadow opened up and ran along the drive. "Hmmm....it must open up somewhere to allow the deer to roam unencumbered." she thought. "I must explore that reserve a bit more. The property is probably inaccessible to the general public. Still, it would be an interesting exploration just the same." she mused silently.
The house was huge and it took Cassandra's breath away! She noticed a much smaller home off to the right behind the four-car garage. There was a thick stand of redwoods not more than fifty feet further right that bordered the expanse of lawn, which was dotted here and there with a fall collection of flowers amid the more perennial plantings. "Mike must have a large company of gardeners to keep up with the seasons!" she thought admiringly.
One thing that stood out for her was that the house was situated below a mountain. It afforded an excellent view of anyone who may try to descend upon the property uninvited from that side. Cassandra was impressed with the entire design of Mike and Rahab's compound!
The circular driveway allowed enough width that cars could be parked at an angle into the outside ring of the circle and still allow for passage around the interior. It was a well thought out plan, providing for large groups of people to visit without having to worry about where to have them park! Even the cobble stone driveway was designed so that it gave people an idea of where to put their car. She took the spot closest to the walkway that led to the main house.
"We're so glad you could have Thanksgiving dinner with us, Cassandra!" Rahab gushed as she led the woman from the foyer and into the family room. She had been initially reserved with the woman after the concert, but warmed up to her quickly enough. She found Cassandra to be quite at ease with the family and that was an important attribute, as far as Rahab was concerned.
Cassandra handed her a plate, "Here, just couldn't help myself!"
"Oh… Mike, Cassandra brought a cheesecake!" Rahab announced.
"Cool! You have my undying devotion, Cassie, dear!" Mike gushed melodramatically from the kitchen.
Gabby was the only one in the family room for the moment and as soon as she saw her, she rushed over and hugged her friend in greeting. "I'm so glad you decided to take up Don's invitation! I can't wait for the professor to meet you!" she exclaimed excitedly.
"I'm anxious to meet him, too!" Cassandra replied, smiling.
Mike called out from the kitchen, "Hey, Cassie, take a seat. Dinner's about an hour away. You want something to drink, a glass of wine or maybe some beer?" He watched Rahab carry the cheesecake over to the refrigerator, asking, "Say, Babe, mind if I…" He looked longingly at the dessert.
"No, you have to wait just like the rest of us, Mike!" she declared as she slipped the dish onto one of the refrigerator's shelves.
"Rats. You'd think the cook would have some special privileges around here." He feigned dejection.
"Not in this house, buddy!" Rahab said in jest, closing the refrigerator door.
Cassandra replied to Mike's offer, "Just ice water, please. Thanks!" She then sat down next to Gabby. "So, you've been feeling better, I hear! Leo told me your morning sickness has let up some. That's good!" she commented.
"Yes, finally. I was afraid that I would have it for the entire first trimester; just couldn't imagine being sick for three whole months!" Gabby exclaimed.
"Well, everyone's different!" Cassandra said as she patted Gabby's hand.
Cassandra wondered where everyone else was. She was going to ask about it when she heard the side door by the breakfast nook open up. She turned to see who was coming and saw an elderly man walk in, being supported by Leo who had a hold of the man's right arm. Don and Raph followed suit.
Cassandra recognized the professor, but just barely. He had lost a great deal of weight and his face was gaunt from the rigors of the disease that was slowly claiming his life. But, Cassandra held herself in check. There was still one more thing that had to happen and it had to occur before Christmas. It must, despite how she was feeling presently.
Cassandra had done a remarkable job yesterday of convincing Leo that she was better. Applying a little more makeup than usual helped, but her years of acting on Broadway - as well as other endeavors - came in handy. She needed to see Mike's house, his property, and the overall lay of the land. No way was she going to attempt her next assignment blind to Mike's safety measures.
Leo led the professor over to where Gabby was and sat him down next to her. He and Don took the other couch while Raph stood over by the fireplace, taking a gander at this Cassandra who had enchanted his entire family in just a matter of weeks.
Raphael had been intrigued with her concert on Halloween night and afterwards when he visited her in her shop with everyone else. She seemed very at ease with them, which piqued his curiosity. Not too many humans felt comfortable around his family. Cassandra was certainly unique in that area. But, there had been something 'edgy' to her that he and his brothers picked up on that evening. She was anything but reserved and shy. Certainly she was gracious and had manners to boot. Her athletic ability on stage with the dancing and all showed a surprising side to the woman. It expressed an undercurrent of strength and stability that defied her petite, slim figure. It was also obvious back at the shop there was more was going on with her than she was willing to reveal. But they had dismissed it as just the come-down from her performance. It would later be discerned that, contrary to what Cassandra had told them, Gabby had been upstairs the whole time during their visit to the Musical Note. Considering what Gabby had been going through, they dismissed it as Cassandra's way of helping her.
Mike came up to Cassandra with her glass of ice water, "Here ya, go, Cassie! I'll be in the kitchen - not too far away - if ya' want a refill!"
"Thanks, Mike!" she said appreciatively.
Gabby said to the professor, "Father, I would like you to meet Cassandra, my friend who owns the Musical Note in Carmel!"
Professor Perry's eyes lit up, but when he tried to stand to greet her, she beat him to it and walked over to him, smiling and putting out her hand to shake his.
The professor said, "Gabby has told me much about you, Cassandra! I feel as if I know you already!"
Cassandra replied, "Likewise!" She thought it quite amusing the way he had worded his sentiments. "Always the scoundrel to put me on edge this way; he has too much of a wicked sense of humor!" she thought to herself. She returned to her seat and sat straight-backed in the dignified manner she always conducted herself.
They sat and visited for the better part of an hour. Don and Leo said little, as did Raph, but observed the interaction between the professor, Cassandra, and Gabby.
"I hear that you suffered a concussion a while ago!" the professor asked.
"Yes," Cassandra replied," but I'm much better - thanks to Leo's tea!" she looked over at the turtle and smiled. "Yes," she thought, "he did put together a very potent tea!" She also noticed a change in his expression, subtle as it was. More like a 'knowing' look.
Actually, she noticed that both Don and Leo seemed to be a bit different today. Raph was still as uncertain to her, since she had only met him once less than a month ago. But, Cassandra was all too familiar with the other two. Their expressions indicated that Don and Leo knew something. Rather than worry about it she turned her attention back to the elderly gentleman.
"So how has your health been?" she asked.
"Oh, I have good days and not-so-good days, my dear Cassandra! The team of nurses Don has so graciously afforded me has been marvelous to make my days easy to bear. Having my daughter so close by is also an added comfort. And, you are right about Leo's teas! They do have a particular attribute that has sustained my health when the medication has not done what it should have!" the professor replied, smiling.
Gabby squeezed her father's hand in concern, but she showed nothing more than contentment so as not to worry him.
Shortly after the professor finished talking, Seth came through the stairwell door and into the family room. He had on a tank shirt with a pair of cotton work-out pants. Seth had a good coat of sweat on him, indicating he had been working strenuously for some time. When he noticed Cassandra in the family room, he was a bit embarrassed, but didn't waste a second.
"Oh, hello, Cassandra. Glad to see you made it. I'll be back out in a moment." and he quickly made for the stairs, noticing a look of disapproval from his father.
"Yeah, I lost track of time!" Seth muttered silently.
Cassandra took a quick mental note of the young man's well muscled torso, back, and arms, not lingering too long lest anyone take notice of her observation. She saw the hardness of his overall physique. She wondered about the kind of training he had to endure to sustain it as well as to maintain it. "Leo must work him to death!" she mused appreciatively to herself.
Seth's tail looked formidable as it gently twitched in nervousness.
Probably embarrassed to be caught so under-dressed!" she thought, amused.
However, Gabby took better note of him. Her heart skipped a beat to see more of Seth than he had allowed her to see in a very long time. She had to force herself to keep her reaction under control, though. Gabby felt her desire rekindled from only the day before when he had taken her out to his 'secret' place of prayer. In that moment, she silently thanked Seth for his restraint and the wisdom to not take advantage of her then, which only deepened her love for him.
Remembering, too, her talk with Rahab the evening before, Gabby knew time would have to defeat her demons and what Jason had done to her. As Seth scurried up the stairs, Gabby thought it a relief to actually feel drawn to him rather than being repulsed. Maybe, she mused, her attraction to Seth was what she had to focus on.
So, successfully monitoring her reaction, she diverted her attention back to her friend, "How is the Musical Note doing with the holidays so close?"
"Oh," Cassandra replied, "doing really well!! Ever since my unscheduled trip to the hospital, my business has about doubled! Which, quite honestly, doesn't say much!" and she laughed softly. "That reminds me, though...." and she turned her attention to Don and Leo, "I need to speak with the two of you privately at one point today before I return home!" Cassandra smiled gently, but her focus was severe.
Both Don and Leo were taken aback by her request. Though they did not squirm, Gabby could tell that they were surprised and just a little bit uncomfortable about it.
Don replied, "Sure, Cassandra. We'll make time for that."
"I would appreciate it very much!" she said in turn.
The professor then spoke up and asked the woman, a twinkle in his eye, "Are you going to give any more performances at the Repertory Theater? I would love to see one!"
"Yes, as a matter of fact I am doing a New Years Eve show, something like what I did at Halloween. I'll probably add a few holiday numbers to balance out the selection, but it will include many of the numbers I did at the first concert."
Then, she asked something that caught them all off guard, "I would love it if Gabriella could assist me!" and she looked straight at Don!
Silence enveloped the room. Anyone else would have backpedaled graciously, but Cassandra did not.
"I'm serious! I heard her at the Beaches karaoke bar earlier this week as well as several weeks before. She has a lovely voice and it's a shame to hide her away like you've been doing! Considering she is now known among the locals and no longer a secret, it would be a natural next step."
Leo smiled a little, somewhat impressed with Cassandra's assertiveness.
Don was a little less amused and found her request a bit inappropriate, "I'm not so sure that would be in her best interest."
"If it wasn't in her best interest, then...excuse my impertinence .... Why was she singing Monday night at the Beaches?" she asked, smiling.
Don chuckled quietly to himself at her brashness and then said, "That is an excellent question, but a question we are not at liberty to answer. I hope you will indulge us a little and not press any further with your queries."
"Ah, okay then. Well said, Mr. Tello! I apologize for the intrusive question. Still, Gabby has a lovely voice; the Repertory Theater would be blessed to have her sing there." and she changed the subject, looking over at Gabby, "So, will you and Gaele be coming over to go through the dresses I have?"
Don and Leo both realized in that instant that Cassandra had been there Monday night at the bar. Leo smiled slightly while his brother just sighed. "How much more did she 'hear'?" he asked himself nervously.
Gabby replied softly, somewhat intimidated by the discourse between her friend and her uncle, "Maybe when the holiday weekend is over."
"Please stop by my shop anytime. You don't need to call ahead, either. Just drop in." Cassandra said her eyes bright.
Then the conversation became less direct and more generalized. Devon and Seth came down stairs shortly and finally Gaele made her appearance. That was when Mike and Rahab called everyone to the dining room for the big feast.
Between the turkey, the mashed potatoes, the yams and the various vegetable side dishes, by the time the meal was nearly over, everyone was pretty much as stuffed as the bird they had just eaten.
Don looked miserable. He had the most pained expression on his face as he lamented, "You'd think as brilliant as I am that I'd be smart enough to not overdo it every year. But, NO…I must be a complete idiot."
Raph mumbled between his last huge bite, *"Yuf shed id, nob bne!"
(*You said it, not me )
Leo, as always, had eaten moderately. He was chided several times by Cassandra for trying to understate the dinner with his meager portions.
"Goodness, Leo, you'd think you weren't enjoying this! EAT!" she teased.
But, Leo smiled at her and remained determined not to over do it!
"The rest of you might enjoy having your stomachs so distended that you can't even burp without food coming back up, but that's not my cup of tea! I'll stick to my 'meager' portions!" he declared good-naturedly and sat back quite smug with himself.
Raph outdid everyone in the quantity department, although Devon did give him a good run for his money.
Mike only ate until he was no longer hungry, saying, " Hey, I want to save room for that midnight turkey sandwich, piled high with loads of dressing, with a dollop of cranberry sauce on top and all the sides."
By this time, everyone was pretty much full to capacity and groaned in unison at the very thought of eating anything more for the remainder of the day. Only Leo laughed at his younger brother's attempt at humor.
To ease the mild discomfort of taking in a bit too much food, Cassandra, Gabby, and Seth took a walk out back.
"It's quite beautiful here, Gabriella!" the woman said. "Mike has done well for himself. I'm quite happy for him!" She looked up at the huge trees and the mountain off to the right and commented, "To think that he was able to procure this land for development is amazing. It must go on forever!"
Gabby commented, "I don't know. There are deer that come up to the meadows out front, so I'm sure there is a way onto the property from somewhere."
"How far out does the forest go?" she asked calmly, yawning a bit.
"Oh, about three or four miles north in that direction." Seth said as he pointed towards the back of the property. "Then, there's the mountain to the right. It's not as close as it looks, less than a quarter mile or so east from the edge of the property. "
"It looks closer. Funny how that is sometimes!" she laughed softly. "I remember how close the mountains seemed in the Arizona desert years ago! But, they were at least a fifty miles away. Always amazed me, the illusion of distance! Do you ever walk through the forest? It looks very inviting! "
"Yeah, many times! I like to pray out there; it's very peaceful! It's pretty safe out there, now, though Mike did have a cougar that was coming around for a while." Seth commented.
"A cougar? Really. Hmm… What happened to it?" Cassandra asked.
Gabby replied, "Mike killed it with his…"
Seth shot her a look and Gabby quickly added," his rifle."
"Humph. I thought you couldn't shoot anything up here?" The woman asked.
"Well," Seth lied, " he received special permission because it came onto his property a few times. He – ah – has a license to take out any menacing critters like that!" He smiled victoriously.
"Ah, yes. Too bad they couldn't relocate the cat, though. Such a shame, but I guess those are the pitfalls of living in their territory." Cassandra mused. Then she asked, "I've yet to take advantage of this wonderful preserve. Do you think we could take a walk? "
"Sure! There's still about three hours of light left!" Seth commented. As they made their way towards the perimeter redwood fence, they were stopped by Don's voice.
"Say, Gabby, Seth - Mike needs to see the two of you. Something about cleaning up! Devon and Gaele are already at it, so you better get moving!" he called out.
Leo was standing beside him and they both looked like they were taking a defensive posture. Cassandra took note of it and realized they had deliberately derailed her exploration of the woods. "Ah, what is it about 'timing is everything'?" she mused silently to herself.
After Seth and Gabby returned to the house, Don and Leo joined Cassandra by the fence.
"Going for a walk?" Don asked politely.
"Yes. Thought it would be nice. The woods look inviting." she replied.
"Well, let's do it, then!" he invited and swept his hand out in front of her to imply that she should take the lead.
Cassandra felt the fingertips of warning massage the back of her neck. But, she turned it to her advantage.
"Okay! Let's go! "She accepted Don's invitation and vaulted easily over the fence first.
Leo and Don looked at each other and shook their heads in amusement. They followed suit.
Once the house had disappeared behind them as they walked deeper into the woods, Cassandra stopped by a fallen log and sat down. She looked casually around, smiling and then commented, "It's very peaceful here. Mike's picked a great place to plant himself!"
Then, she looked up at her escorts and startled them, "I want my picture back! What you do with the x-rays is up to you, but I WANT that picture back!" Her expression was flat and serious, clearly a warning and completely opposite to how she appeared just a moment ago.
"Ah, yeah....about that picture," Don started, clearly not expecting the kind of force that Cassandra was showing.
"You took it without permission, you 'stole' from my personal effects and I take great offense to that!" she stated, clipping her words menacingly. She then stood up. Her posture straightened, daring a rebuttal. She smoothed out her words, "I appreciate the care you have afforded me," and she looked over at Leo, "but that does not mean you can just waltz in to my home and take things that do not belong to you!"
Don wrinkled his brow and replied, "You are right and I do apologize! However, I have some questions to ask you if you don't mind?"
"I accept your apology! But, you lost the right to ask me any questions when you took that picture! Had you left it where it was and then asked me about it later, I might have engaged in a discussion - but, that is not the case. Now, I will decide when and WHERE to talk about it from this point on, but I want that picture BACK!"
She was resolute and not the least bit intimidated by these two formidable turtles. In that instant, her outward composure changed from a demure, sweet talking and genteel woman to one of dangerous intent!
Leo's eyes widened slightly as she stood there, defiant and determined. He saw the change in an instant. Cassandra was without any obvious weaponry and yet she gave every impression that she could hold her own.
To diffuse her, Leo brought his arms up slowly, crossed them in front of his plastron and relaxed his posture. He nudged his brother.
Without a word, Don sighed and then removed the photo from the inside of his jacket, handing it over to Cassandra. In an instant, it was gone from his grip! The next thing either of them saw was Cassandra gently shoving it into the pocket of her slacks.
"Thank you!" she said graciously. "I do not have many of these - in fact, this is the only one, for obvious reasons!" she smiled thinly. "Now, I believe I need to be going!"
She turned to go back to the house, but Don gently touched her shoulder to stop her.
"Please do not touch me, Don Tello, not at this time! I need a moment to come down a bit and I'm sure you understand that!" she said gently, but her body stiffened at the same time. "Especially after Monday night with Jason's step-father!"
Don quickly removed his hand, surprised and startled.
Cassandra said, as she turned towards him and Leo, "Yes, I was there. I was there to insure that you and your brothers and Devon would not do something really stupid! I was relieved that you have learned a thing over the years about restraint and control." She studied their reaction and was pleased to find that they were unprepared for her remark. "I did not spend the past twenty-five years of my life protecting Gabby and the professor just to see the family that has taken her in screw it up by killing a man! Craig is a jerk, but at least find comfort in knowing that he picks on anyone who is different - regardless of species!" and she smiled. "His step-son is no different!" And then she turned and walked resolutely back to the house.
Don and Leo stood out in the forest for quite a while. Neither of them said a word for the longest time. They were not expecting Cassandra to own up to who she really was so quickly and so forcibly. Don had wanted to draw her out with the missing photo. He was not prepared, though, for her to turn the tables on them. She was definitely, in his opinion, a woman to be reckoned with!
The only comment made before the two retreated back to the house, came from Leo, who shook his head in wonder," What is it they say? Hell hath no fury than a woman scorned?"
Earlier, she had observed the road that split east from Highway One as it led to Mike's property. It was privately owned, as indicated by the many signs at the entrance. For every five hundred yards she noticed a change in the pavement. "Car sensors?" she wondered allowed. "Very smart. Very smart indeed!"
Cassandra also had noticed the thick grove of trees and the deeply shaded forest. It was breathtaking and she smiled in knowing that her friend, Gabriella, lived here. It gave Cassandra a sense of peace. It also gave her a confidence for how she would eventually use it.
When she had first approached the gate, she marveled at the height of the fence. It was formidable in size and breadth, spanning beyond her immediate view both left and right of the road as it disappeared into the stand of giant trees. The gate area was very avant-garde in security, complete with the same car sensors in the pavement. There were also cameras for approaching and departing vehicles. The manual opener for departing guests stood about ten feet inside the gate, well out of reach of most people coming in. Another advantage to insure security, Cassandra thought. She assumed that alarms would go off if someone were to breech the protective measures. She made a mental note to herself to verify that later.
Now, as she drove her car lazily up the driveway after passing through the main gate, she took a look around. Cassandra noticed deer off to her right as they grazed along the forest edge where a meadow opened up and ran along the drive. "Hmmm....it must open up somewhere to allow the deer to roam unencumbered." she thought. "I must explore that reserve a bit more. The property is probably inaccessible to the general public. Still, it would be an interesting exploration just the same." she mused silently.
The house was huge and it took Cassandra's breath away! She noticed a much smaller home off to the right behind the four-car garage. There was a thick stand of redwoods not more than fifty feet further right that bordered the expanse of lawn, which was dotted here and there with a fall collection of flowers amid the more perennial plantings. "Mike must have a large company of gardeners to keep up with the seasons!" she thought admiringly.
One thing that stood out for her was that the house was situated below a mountain. It afforded an excellent view of anyone who may try to descend upon the property uninvited from that side. Cassandra was impressed with the entire design of Mike and Rahab's compound!
The circular driveway allowed enough width that cars could be parked at an angle into the outside ring of the circle and still allow for passage around the interior. It was a well thought out plan, providing for large groups of people to visit without having to worry about where to have them park! Even the cobble stone driveway was designed so that it gave people an idea of where to put their car. She took the spot closest to the walkway that led to the main house.
"We're so glad you could have Thanksgiving dinner with us, Cassandra!" Rahab gushed as she led the woman from the foyer and into the family room. She had been initially reserved with the woman after the concert, but warmed up to her quickly enough. She found Cassandra to be quite at ease with the family and that was an important attribute, as far as Rahab was concerned.
Cassandra handed her a plate, "Here, just couldn't help myself!"
"Oh… Mike, Cassandra brought a cheesecake!" Rahab announced.
"Cool! You have my undying devotion, Cassie, dear!" Mike gushed melodramatically from the kitchen.
Gabby was the only one in the family room for the moment and as soon as she saw her, she rushed over and hugged her friend in greeting. "I'm so glad you decided to take up Don's invitation! I can't wait for the professor to meet you!" she exclaimed excitedly.
"I'm anxious to meet him, too!" Cassandra replied, smiling.
Mike called out from the kitchen, "Hey, Cassie, take a seat. Dinner's about an hour away. You want something to drink, a glass of wine or maybe some beer?" He watched Rahab carry the cheesecake over to the refrigerator, asking, "Say, Babe, mind if I…" He looked longingly at the dessert.
"No, you have to wait just like the rest of us, Mike!" she declared as she slipped the dish onto one of the refrigerator's shelves.
"Rats. You'd think the cook would have some special privileges around here." He feigned dejection.
"Not in this house, buddy!" Rahab said in jest, closing the refrigerator door.
Cassandra replied to Mike's offer, "Just ice water, please. Thanks!" She then sat down next to Gabby. "So, you've been feeling better, I hear! Leo told me your morning sickness has let up some. That's good!" she commented.
"Yes, finally. I was afraid that I would have it for the entire first trimester; just couldn't imagine being sick for three whole months!" Gabby exclaimed.
"Well, everyone's different!" Cassandra said as she patted Gabby's hand.
Cassandra wondered where everyone else was. She was going to ask about it when she heard the side door by the breakfast nook open up. She turned to see who was coming and saw an elderly man walk in, being supported by Leo who had a hold of the man's right arm. Don and Raph followed suit.
Cassandra recognized the professor, but just barely. He had lost a great deal of weight and his face was gaunt from the rigors of the disease that was slowly claiming his life. But, Cassandra held herself in check. There was still one more thing that had to happen and it had to occur before Christmas. It must, despite how she was feeling presently.
Cassandra had done a remarkable job yesterday of convincing Leo that she was better. Applying a little more makeup than usual helped, but her years of acting on Broadway - as well as other endeavors - came in handy. She needed to see Mike's house, his property, and the overall lay of the land. No way was she going to attempt her next assignment blind to Mike's safety measures.
Leo led the professor over to where Gabby was and sat him down next to her. He and Don took the other couch while Raph stood over by the fireplace, taking a gander at this Cassandra who had enchanted his entire family in just a matter of weeks.
Raphael had been intrigued with her concert on Halloween night and afterwards when he visited her in her shop with everyone else. She seemed very at ease with them, which piqued his curiosity. Not too many humans felt comfortable around his family. Cassandra was certainly unique in that area. But, there had been something 'edgy' to her that he and his brothers picked up on that evening. She was anything but reserved and shy. Certainly she was gracious and had manners to boot. Her athletic ability on stage with the dancing and all showed a surprising side to the woman. It expressed an undercurrent of strength and stability that defied her petite, slim figure. It was also obvious back at the shop there was more was going on with her than she was willing to reveal. But they had dismissed it as just the come-down from her performance. It would later be discerned that, contrary to what Cassandra had told them, Gabby had been upstairs the whole time during their visit to the Musical Note. Considering what Gabby had been going through, they dismissed it as Cassandra's way of helping her.
Mike came up to Cassandra with her glass of ice water, "Here ya, go, Cassie! I'll be in the kitchen - not too far away - if ya' want a refill!"
"Thanks, Mike!" she said appreciatively.
Gabby said to the professor, "Father, I would like you to meet Cassandra, my friend who owns the Musical Note in Carmel!"
Professor Perry's eyes lit up, but when he tried to stand to greet her, she beat him to it and walked over to him, smiling and putting out her hand to shake his.
The professor said, "Gabby has told me much about you, Cassandra! I feel as if I know you already!"
Cassandra replied, "Likewise!" She thought it quite amusing the way he had worded his sentiments. "Always the scoundrel to put me on edge this way; he has too much of a wicked sense of humor!" she thought to herself. She returned to her seat and sat straight-backed in the dignified manner she always conducted herself.
They sat and visited for the better part of an hour. Don and Leo said little, as did Raph, but observed the interaction between the professor, Cassandra, and Gabby.
"I hear that you suffered a concussion a while ago!" the professor asked.
"Yes," Cassandra replied," but I'm much better - thanks to Leo's tea!" she looked over at the turtle and smiled. "Yes," she thought, "he did put together a very potent tea!" She also noticed a change in his expression, subtle as it was. More like a 'knowing' look.
Actually, she noticed that both Don and Leo seemed to be a bit different today. Raph was still as uncertain to her, since she had only met him once less than a month ago. But, Cassandra was all too familiar with the other two. Their expressions indicated that Don and Leo knew something. Rather than worry about it she turned her attention back to the elderly gentleman.
"So how has your health been?" she asked.
"Oh, I have good days and not-so-good days, my dear Cassandra! The team of nurses Don has so graciously afforded me has been marvelous to make my days easy to bear. Having my daughter so close by is also an added comfort. And, you are right about Leo's teas! They do have a particular attribute that has sustained my health when the medication has not done what it should have!" the professor replied, smiling.
Gabby squeezed her father's hand in concern, but she showed nothing more than contentment so as not to worry him.
Shortly after the professor finished talking, Seth came through the stairwell door and into the family room. He had on a tank shirt with a pair of cotton work-out pants. Seth had a good coat of sweat on him, indicating he had been working strenuously for some time. When he noticed Cassandra in the family room, he was a bit embarrassed, but didn't waste a second.
"Oh, hello, Cassandra. Glad to see you made it. I'll be back out in a moment." and he quickly made for the stairs, noticing a look of disapproval from his father.
"Yeah, I lost track of time!" Seth muttered silently.
Cassandra took a quick mental note of the young man's well muscled torso, back, and arms, not lingering too long lest anyone take notice of her observation. She saw the hardness of his overall physique. She wondered about the kind of training he had to endure to sustain it as well as to maintain it. "Leo must work him to death!" she mused appreciatively to herself.
Seth's tail looked formidable as it gently twitched in nervousness.
Probably embarrassed to be caught so under-dressed!" she thought, amused.
However, Gabby took better note of him. Her heart skipped a beat to see more of Seth than he had allowed her to see in a very long time. She had to force herself to keep her reaction under control, though. Gabby felt her desire rekindled from only the day before when he had taken her out to his 'secret' place of prayer. In that moment, she silently thanked Seth for his restraint and the wisdom to not take advantage of her then, which only deepened her love for him.
Remembering, too, her talk with Rahab the evening before, Gabby knew time would have to defeat her demons and what Jason had done to her. As Seth scurried up the stairs, Gabby thought it a relief to actually feel drawn to him rather than being repulsed. Maybe, she mused, her attraction to Seth was what she had to focus on.
So, successfully monitoring her reaction, she diverted her attention back to her friend, "How is the Musical Note doing with the holidays so close?"
"Oh," Cassandra replied, "doing really well!! Ever since my unscheduled trip to the hospital, my business has about doubled! Which, quite honestly, doesn't say much!" and she laughed softly. "That reminds me, though...." and she turned her attention to Don and Leo, "I need to speak with the two of you privately at one point today before I return home!" Cassandra smiled gently, but her focus was severe.
Both Don and Leo were taken aback by her request. Though they did not squirm, Gabby could tell that they were surprised and just a little bit uncomfortable about it.
Don replied, "Sure, Cassandra. We'll make time for that."
"I would appreciate it very much!" she said in turn.
The professor then spoke up and asked the woman, a twinkle in his eye, "Are you going to give any more performances at the Repertory Theater? I would love to see one!"
"Yes, as a matter of fact I am doing a New Years Eve show, something like what I did at Halloween. I'll probably add a few holiday numbers to balance out the selection, but it will include many of the numbers I did at the first concert."
Then, she asked something that caught them all off guard, "I would love it if Gabriella could assist me!" and she looked straight at Don!
Silence enveloped the room. Anyone else would have backpedaled graciously, but Cassandra did not.
"I'm serious! I heard her at the Beaches karaoke bar earlier this week as well as several weeks before. She has a lovely voice and it's a shame to hide her away like you've been doing! Considering she is now known among the locals and no longer a secret, it would be a natural next step."
Leo smiled a little, somewhat impressed with Cassandra's assertiveness.
Don was a little less amused and found her request a bit inappropriate, "I'm not so sure that would be in her best interest."
"If it wasn't in her best interest, then...excuse my impertinence .... Why was she singing Monday night at the Beaches?" she asked, smiling.
Don chuckled quietly to himself at her brashness and then said, "That is an excellent question, but a question we are not at liberty to answer. I hope you will indulge us a little and not press any further with your queries."
"Ah, okay then. Well said, Mr. Tello! I apologize for the intrusive question. Still, Gabby has a lovely voice; the Repertory Theater would be blessed to have her sing there." and she changed the subject, looking over at Gabby, "So, will you and Gaele be coming over to go through the dresses I have?"
Don and Leo both realized in that instant that Cassandra had been there Monday night at the bar. Leo smiled slightly while his brother just sighed. "How much more did she 'hear'?" he asked himself nervously.
Gabby replied softly, somewhat intimidated by the discourse between her friend and her uncle, "Maybe when the holiday weekend is over."
"Please stop by my shop anytime. You don't need to call ahead, either. Just drop in." Cassandra said her eyes bright.
Then the conversation became less direct and more generalized. Devon and Seth came down stairs shortly and finally Gaele made her appearance. That was when Mike and Rahab called everyone to the dining room for the big feast.
Between the turkey, the mashed potatoes, the yams and the various vegetable side dishes, by the time the meal was nearly over, everyone was pretty much as stuffed as the bird they had just eaten.
Don looked miserable. He had the most pained expression on his face as he lamented, "You'd think as brilliant as I am that I'd be smart enough to not overdo it every year. But, NO…I must be a complete idiot."
Raph mumbled between his last huge bite, *"Yuf shed id, nob bne!"
(*You said it, not me )
Leo, as always, had eaten moderately. He was chided several times by Cassandra for trying to understate the dinner with his meager portions.
"Goodness, Leo, you'd think you weren't enjoying this! EAT!" she teased.
But, Leo smiled at her and remained determined not to over do it!
"The rest of you might enjoy having your stomachs so distended that you can't even burp without food coming back up, but that's not my cup of tea! I'll stick to my 'meager' portions!" he declared good-naturedly and sat back quite smug with himself.
Raph outdid everyone in the quantity department, although Devon did give him a good run for his money.
Mike only ate until he was no longer hungry, saying, " Hey, I want to save room for that midnight turkey sandwich, piled high with loads of dressing, with a dollop of cranberry sauce on top and all the sides."
By this time, everyone was pretty much full to capacity and groaned in unison at the very thought of eating anything more for the remainder of the day. Only Leo laughed at his younger brother's attempt at humor.
To ease the mild discomfort of taking in a bit too much food, Cassandra, Gabby, and Seth took a walk out back.
"It's quite beautiful here, Gabriella!" the woman said. "Mike has done well for himself. I'm quite happy for him!" She looked up at the huge trees and the mountain off to the right and commented, "To think that he was able to procure this land for development is amazing. It must go on forever!"
Gabby commented, "I don't know. There are deer that come up to the meadows out front, so I'm sure there is a way onto the property from somewhere."
"How far out does the forest go?" she asked calmly, yawning a bit.
"Oh, about three or four miles north in that direction." Seth said as he pointed towards the back of the property. "Then, there's the mountain to the right. It's not as close as it looks, less than a quarter mile or so east from the edge of the property. "
"It looks closer. Funny how that is sometimes!" she laughed softly. "I remember how close the mountains seemed in the Arizona desert years ago! But, they were at least a fifty miles away. Always amazed me, the illusion of distance! Do you ever walk through the forest? It looks very inviting! "
"Yeah, many times! I like to pray out there; it's very peaceful! It's pretty safe out there, now, though Mike did have a cougar that was coming around for a while." Seth commented.
"A cougar? Really. Hmm… What happened to it?" Cassandra asked.
Gabby replied, "Mike killed it with his…"
Seth shot her a look and Gabby quickly added," his rifle."
"Humph. I thought you couldn't shoot anything up here?" The woman asked.
"Well," Seth lied, " he received special permission because it came onto his property a few times. He – ah – has a license to take out any menacing critters like that!" He smiled victoriously.
"Ah, yes. Too bad they couldn't relocate the cat, though. Such a shame, but I guess those are the pitfalls of living in their territory." Cassandra mused. Then she asked, "I've yet to take advantage of this wonderful preserve. Do you think we could take a walk? "
"Sure! There's still about three hours of light left!" Seth commented. As they made their way towards the perimeter redwood fence, they were stopped by Don's voice.
"Say, Gabby, Seth - Mike needs to see the two of you. Something about cleaning up! Devon and Gaele are already at it, so you better get moving!" he called out.
Leo was standing beside him and they both looked like they were taking a defensive posture. Cassandra took note of it and realized they had deliberately derailed her exploration of the woods. "Ah, what is it about 'timing is everything'?" she mused silently to herself.
After Seth and Gabby returned to the house, Don and Leo joined Cassandra by the fence.
"Going for a walk?" Don asked politely.
"Yes. Thought it would be nice. The woods look inviting." she replied.
"Well, let's do it, then!" he invited and swept his hand out in front of her to imply that she should take the lead.
Cassandra felt the fingertips of warning massage the back of her neck. But, she turned it to her advantage.
"Okay! Let's go! "She accepted Don's invitation and vaulted easily over the fence first.
Leo and Don looked at each other and shook their heads in amusement. They followed suit.
Once the house had disappeared behind them as they walked deeper into the woods, Cassandra stopped by a fallen log and sat down. She looked casually around, smiling and then commented, "It's very peaceful here. Mike's picked a great place to plant himself!"
Then, she looked up at her escorts and startled them, "I want my picture back! What you do with the x-rays is up to you, but I WANT that picture back!" Her expression was flat and serious, clearly a warning and completely opposite to how she appeared just a moment ago.
"Ah, yeah....about that picture," Don started, clearly not expecting the kind of force that Cassandra was showing.
"You took it without permission, you 'stole' from my personal effects and I take great offense to that!" she stated, clipping her words menacingly. She then stood up. Her posture straightened, daring a rebuttal. She smoothed out her words, "I appreciate the care you have afforded me," and she looked over at Leo, "but that does not mean you can just waltz in to my home and take things that do not belong to you!"
Don wrinkled his brow and replied, "You are right and I do apologize! However, I have some questions to ask you if you don't mind?"
"I accept your apology! But, you lost the right to ask me any questions when you took that picture! Had you left it where it was and then asked me about it later, I might have engaged in a discussion - but, that is not the case. Now, I will decide when and WHERE to talk about it from this point on, but I want that picture BACK!"
She was resolute and not the least bit intimidated by these two formidable turtles. In that instant, her outward composure changed from a demure, sweet talking and genteel woman to one of dangerous intent!
Leo's eyes widened slightly as she stood there, defiant and determined. He saw the change in an instant. Cassandra was without any obvious weaponry and yet she gave every impression that she could hold her own.
To diffuse her, Leo brought his arms up slowly, crossed them in front of his plastron and relaxed his posture. He nudged his brother.
Without a word, Don sighed and then removed the photo from the inside of his jacket, handing it over to Cassandra. In an instant, it was gone from his grip! The next thing either of them saw was Cassandra gently shoving it into the pocket of her slacks.
"Thank you!" she said graciously. "I do not have many of these - in fact, this is the only one, for obvious reasons!" she smiled thinly. "Now, I believe I need to be going!"
She turned to go back to the house, but Don gently touched her shoulder to stop her.
"Please do not touch me, Don Tello, not at this time! I need a moment to come down a bit and I'm sure you understand that!" she said gently, but her body stiffened at the same time. "Especially after Monday night with Jason's step-father!"
Don quickly removed his hand, surprised and startled.
Cassandra said, as she turned towards him and Leo, "Yes, I was there. I was there to insure that you and your brothers and Devon would not do something really stupid! I was relieved that you have learned a thing over the years about restraint and control." She studied their reaction and was pleased to find that they were unprepared for her remark. "I did not spend the past twenty-five years of my life protecting Gabby and the professor just to see the family that has taken her in screw it up by killing a man! Craig is a jerk, but at least find comfort in knowing that he picks on anyone who is different - regardless of species!" and she smiled. "His step-son is no different!" And then she turned and walked resolutely back to the house.
Don and Leo stood out in the forest for quite a while. Neither of them said a word for the longest time. They were not expecting Cassandra to own up to who she really was so quickly and so forcibly. Don had wanted to draw her out with the missing photo. He was not prepared, though, for her to turn the tables on them. She was definitely, in his opinion, a woman to be reckoned with!
The only comment made before the two retreated back to the house, came from Leo, who shook his head in wonder," What is it they say? Hell hath no fury than a woman scorned?"
