Chapter 7
Cass walked into the TV studio with the baby in a selendang the next morning. She looked for Caitlin's office and found her sitting behind her desk.
"Hey guys, come in." Caitlin took the baby from the sling and kissed Cass on the cheek. "What's up?"
"I thought you might want to get lunch, you left your sandwich in the fridge, so I wanted Ethiopian, thought I'd see if you'd keep me company. Spike's meeting me there."
"Where's Craig, it's Saturday?"
"He had a band gig at some fair at school. So you coming?"
"Definitely, I was just wondering what I'd do for lunch. Just need to let my assistant know I'm going."
Twenty minutes later they were getting off the subway in downtown Toronto. They walked into the restaurant and found Spike at a table. They sat down and Caitlin kept Adrienne in her lap while she cooed at him.
"You are the cutest thing ever."
"Grandma Caitlin, you know you could have one of your own," Spike laughed at her.
"I am the only thirty year old grandma in the world who has never been a ma first." Caitlin said.
"You and Joey thinking of having one anytime soon?" Cass asked pulling bottle out of the selendang and handing it to her.
"I think we'll get married first," she paused as if she had said something terribly wrong. "I mean, I am so sorry guys, I didn't meant to be insensitive."
"Relax Caitlin," Spike put a hand on her friend's shoulder. "I don't know about Cass, but I think we always meant to be married first too. We understand."
"Yeah, but at least you and Snake GOT married, even if you were pregnant first."
"You and Craig are getting married, just not right away," Caitlin said feeding the baby.
"Yeah, I'm not sure if that's actually a viable option."
"Things aren't going well at the Jeremiah-Ryan-Manning-Nelson household?" Spike asked.
"Things seem to be going okay," Caitlin looked confused. "I mean there's no fighting, even Joey and Craig seem to be okay after their little spats when Adrienne was first born."
"Can I talk to you guys about something? I mean, can we keep it here between us and not yell at me for being stupid...AGAIN?"
"Of course," Caitlin was worried for her less then perfect, less then little, family.
"Craig came home last night and he was," she paused trying not to be graphic, "a little hormonal. You know what I mean?"
"Yeah," Spike did her best to not get any mental images, "go on."
"Well I didn't ask, I just got caught up in the moment."
"Cassidy Anna Nelson," Spike was visibly disappointed
"I KNOW Spike! But it's been such a long time, we are in love."
"Okay, we'll let that go, I'm sure there's a point to this?"
"There is. Afterwards, we were in the garage, and I ask him, you know, what had gotten in to him. It turned out he had a run in with Manny at that party. He said she kissed him and tried to take his clothes off and then he left. I'm not an idiot, as worked up as he was obviously it was a little more then that. I trust him, I know he didn't sleep with her, but he wanted to. I know he did. And then the baby started crying so I sent him upstairs to take care of Adrienne. So as he's going up there I rethought the idea of going to stay with my dad now that he is in Vancouver."
"Oh Cass," Caitlin looked heartbroken for her.
"Wait, it gets more complicated. I had the baby monitor and I heard him singing to the baby. He wrote a lullaby for him."
"Awe," Spike's eyes welled a little but. "That is quite sweet."
"I know. He loves Adrienne so much, but I don't think this is going to work. He obviously still has feelings for Manny, and I'm keeping him from being a kid."
"Okay," Caitlin put a hand up. "You're stopping him from having sex with other girls? Given his track record I think you're doing him a HUGE favor."
"That's not what I mean. I mean that if I married the first, or second, guy I slept with when I was sixteen I would be," she paused, "married to Pete. I am the world's biggest screw-up. Pete and I had such a good thing going and I messed it up."
"You told your father that you and Pete never had sex until you moved in together last year."
"Spike," she rolled her eyes at her aunt. "I need help here, what am I supposed to do?"
"Why don't you bring Craig in two weeks?"
"What's in two weeks?" Caitlin asked.
"Our yearly family camping trip to Algonquin Park. My mom, Cass' grandparents, her dad, and us."
"Wait, I thought Cass, wait you don't have any brothers, I never thought of that."
"Cass' grandfather and my mom are brother and sister, we have a close family. Sid was always like a big brother more then a cousin. And every year, since before Emma was born, we have gone to Algonquin Park and go camping for five days after school got out."
"Well that sounds like fun," Caitlin looked at Cass for confirmation.
"It's great," Cass was un-enthused . "But why would I bring Craig?"
"Because it will give you guys time to be alone, you know your dad and the grandparents will want to coo at the babies. You can talk these things out."
"I guess so. Oh I got some good news this morning in the mail. Seems some of my high school art credits transferred and I didn't know it. All I have left is to do an internship and then I'm done school. And if I can find a paid gig and get approval then it will count toward the internship. I am DONE school. It turns out summer classes and all that have paid off. I would have been done a year early if I hadn't taken off to have the baby."
"Cass, that's amazing! Do you want me to put out feelers for magazine jobs?" Caitlin asked.
"That would be great. I do not want to go back to tending bar. Thank you Caitlin."
"Not a problem."
"So," Spike looked resolved, "we are going to not make any drastic moves until after the camping trip and you finding an internship."
"Okay, I can live with that," Cass said dipping her Injera into the spiced lamb that had been placed in front of her. They ate and made small talk until Cass stared down at her watch. "Crap, Craig goes on in 45 minutes and I was going to go home and get changed. I haven't seen Downtown Sasquatch play yet and I promised I'd be there for their second set."
"Do you want a ride?" Spike asked.
"I didn't bring a car seat, I'd feel safer riding the subway. I can make it if I leave now."
"Okay sweetheart, I got the bill," said Caitlin, "Cheer real loud for me." She handed the baby to Cass who secured him in the selendang. She jumped on the subway and found herself winded when she ran up the stairs to Degrassi. She ran into the gym and saw the band tuning as people meandered from booth to booth all around the school.
"Hey sexy," Craig jumped off the stage and gave her a kiss. His voice dropped to a hush. "I didn't want to wake you this morning. Are we okay?"
"We're okay," she kissed him and then he reached into the pouch and pulled out the baby. "Listen in two weeks we're going camping with my family, so please don't make any plans."
"Your family?"
"Yeah, the Nelson-Simpsons, Spike's mom, my dad, and my grandparents."
"Your dad? He's going to hate me."
"No he won't. He's not irrational. Don't worry about it. Just get up there and play your heart out, okay?"
"Okay. I love you," he kissed her and handed Adrienne back to her.
"I love you too."
"Awe, how sweet, a happy family." A dark haired girl said under her breath as she passed.
"Can I help you?" Cass got suddenly defensive.
"No," the girl answered.
"Ashley," Craig rolled his eyes. "I thought we were passed this."
"We are, you're in our way we're on next." Hell Hath No Fury got on stage and the boys took their instruments with them. Cass stared at the stage as the girls sang and Craig wrapped his arms around her.
"This song is the price for breaking my heart. Shouldda written these words to you right from the start..." The song continued and Cass could feel Craig getting uncomfortable.
"Is this about you?" she asked.
"Yup," Craig rested his head on top of Cass'. "But our best one is about her so what am I gonna do? Are you okay?"
"I'm fine. I know you have a past, so do I. I just don't enjoy the fact that your trying to make a career out of yours, but I can live with it."
"I'm lucky to have you."
"Yeah, you are," she laughed and then kissed his cheek. "I'm going to get something to drink."
Cass walked around the fair looking at all the booths and quickly realized that this was a health fair. Her stomach just about twisted in half when she realized that she was standing in front of the family planning booth holding her illegitimate son. There was a girl with long dark hair standing near by looking at her. She wore something that looked to Cass as if it was from a Britney Spears collection. Emma walked up behind her and tapped her on the shoulder.
"Hey," Emma gave her a hug and then, as most people did, cooed at Adrienne.
"Hey Em, that girl over there is staring at me, who is she?"
"Who?" Emma looked where Cass had motioned. "Oh that's my friend Manny."
"Geez, how many more ex-girlfriends does he have lurking in the corners. I knew this was a bad idea."
"What?"
"Oh I just had a run in with Ashley before they went on stage, then there was that song."
"Mr. Nice-Guy. Yeah, it's a good song though. Was Ashley rude?"
"Yeah, a little, and now Manny is staring at me."
"Well now she's coming over."
"Hey Emma. Hi, I'm Manny," she offered her hand to Cass.
"Cassidy," Cass answered and shook with her free hand.
"Yeah, you're Craig's new girlfriend."
"And your Craig's ex-girlfriend."
"Yeah, kinda, I guess I never really was his girlfriend." Manny looked at her shoes. Cass almost felt sorry for her until she remembered the story from the night before.
"I heard you guys had a good time at the party last night?" Cass raised an eyebrow at Manny. Manny was visibly uncomfortable.
"What happened to Craig last night? He just disappeared," Emma looked confused and Manny became even more uncomfortable.
"He came home, it's been a long time since we've," she paused for punctuation and looked directly at Manny, "you know. Spent time alone."
"Cass," Emma giggled, "I don't want to hear that!"
"What Emma? We have a baby. I know your mom, she's explained this to you."
"I know, I just didn't need to know that he left the party to go home and have sex."
"Okay, well don't worry. It doesn't happen often, and I'll never tell you about it again." Emma saw Chris and ran over to him and started to pull him toward the family planning booth where they had gathered.
"So Craig told you about the party huh?" Manny said quietly. Cass said nothing. She reached behind her and picked something up off the booth. She pressed it into Manny's hand sure that no one could see..
"Sometimes the pill isn't enough," Cass turned to Chris and started talking. Manny looked at the foil square in her hand. The girls on stage received a raucous cheer as they left the stage. Cass suddenly realized why Craig had demanded her attendance.
"Hi, we're Downtown Sasquatch, and I know you're all waiting for our award winning number, but first I'd like to dedicate this to my fiance and my son." The music started. "There is a world where everything is how it's meant to be. / But where we are is where we've been, you and me./ But I will find that other place and I will give it to you./ You are my future and my past/ You are my life's greatest achievement/ I'll do everything you ever need for you./ This world can not understand why you love me too./ But I know that all I see is you and me./And I can not count the ways you've bettered everything about me./ You are my future and my past./ You are my life's greatest achievement/ I'll do everything you ever need for you. /You've given me more then I knew I could have dreamed of./ No dream could equal the joy of all you have let me see./ So please just tonight can we let this dream sit and be./ You are my future and my past/ You are my life's greatest achievement./ I'll do everything you ever need for you./ You are everything I ever need from you./ I'll do everything you ever need for you / You are everything I ever need from you." The crowd erupted in cheers and Emma put a hand on Cass. The tears running down her face were warm and she walked quickly toward the door. She sat on the steps she had walked on everyday in high school. It felt so foreign now. It was like she came to school naked. The doors behind her opened.
"He always has the right words when he's got a guitar in his hands." Ashley sat down next to her. "I don't hate him, or you, I'm sorry for my attitude earlier."
"It's fine, I'm Cass by the way."
"Ashley," they shook hands. "Can I hold him?"
"Yeah, he will probably fall asleep, he usually does when Craig sings. Even when we're sitting in the garage during rehearsal, I will never understand it." She handed the baby to the teenager.
"He's beautiful. He looks like Craig. I guess you know our past, even if it's Craig's side of the story."
"You'd be surprised how close to the truth Craig's side usually is, especially when he thinks telling the truth is going to get him somewhere. I know it's hard to believe, but he's become polygraphic lately."
"That is hard to believe. So are you guys really going to get married?"
"Eventually, hopefully. If I tell you something, think you can keep it a secret?"
"Um," Ashley looked at her strangely. "Sure."
"Well, Craig came home last night and Manny had tried to get him in bed again. Well she did get him in bed. He says he said no, and nothing happened. I believe him, like I said, polygraphic."
"At least he said no this time."
"Because when he came home I'd have sex with him, and he knew that," Cass looked like she was going to cry.
"I don't mean to be rude, but why are you talking to me like this?"
"Because you know that he has all the right words with that damn instrument in his hands. That little boy in your arms is a result of that damn music. But I love him, what can I say? I'm an idiot."
"No, there's something good there. If there weren't then I wouldn't have wanted to die when he cheated on me. The better the guy the worse it hurts when he screws you over, and Craig's the best." Ashley stood when she saw Craig exit the gym behind them and she handed the baby to him. "Don't be an idiot Craig, because you're not. She loves you, and I think you actually do love her too."
Craig just looked confused as he took Adrienne and then Ashley walked away. He sat down beside Cass and reached over to wipe the single tear that was rolling down her left cheek. He pulled the selendang off her shoulder and put it on. He put the baby inside and wrapped an arm around Cassidy.
"You wanna go home?"
"Yeah," she allowed her petite frame to fit underneath his arm as he slung his guitar over his other shoulder. They walked out of the school and Ellie was walking out with Ashley.
"Craig," Ellie called. He turned around and saw a video camera pointed at them. "Thanks, wouldn't have been a video diary of our grade eleven class without a picture of our first family." Craig smiled as Ashley and Ellie did the same.
"Craig, we're cool."
"So are we," Cass said smiling at the girl wishing that she could rewind time and save all of them all the pain they had experienced in the last two years. Craig kissed the top of Cass' head as they headed down the front step toward the car.
"Another day/ Another choice/ Today I did right by the moon." Craig sang softly to the sleeping baby he was putting in the car. "You guys are the best thing to ever happen to my writing."
"Who are you kidding? We're the best thing that everhappened to you period."