It Takes A Village

This chapter feels a bit disjointed to me, but I'd already written the next one and had to shoe horn this in to make everything make sense!

Thank you for the reviews on the previous chapter, that was a hard one to write. This chapter isn't exactly filler, but it's setting up the final phase of this story I guess. Please bear with me, because I think you'll like the next chapter ;)

Chapter 17: Present Tense

Cassie didn't think that anyone had missed her at the party. She slipped back in and helped herself to a piece of the gender reveal cake. The sponge was an almost iridescent blue, but Cassie managed a few bites. Stephanie's baking was always amazing, but she didn't have much of an appetite. She did feel better after visiting Jake's grave, but she was still as confused as ever about the situation between her and Sam. She knew she owed him an apology, or at least an explanation but now wasn't the right time.

Sam and Nick had already left the party by the time that Cassie returned, although the older Radford had wanted to stay to see if she came back. He was concerned about her. Cassie was always so steady yet lately her behaviour had seemed erratic and she was more emotional than normal. He wished they could at least still be friends so that he could offer her his shoulder to cry on, but she seemed to want nothing to do with him at all.

The party continued into the early evening when the sky began to darken and it was too chilly to stay in the garden. Most of the guests had had a lovely afternoon and were not pleasantly full of cake and champagne.

Stephanie offered to stay behind and help with the clearing up, despite Brandon and Tara offering. She waved them off, she could already see that Tara was starting flag even though she still had the radiant glow about her.

One by one people filed out of Grey House until Stephanie was alone in the kitchen, stacking plates and dessert forks into the dishwasher.

"Hey Stephanie," Cassie greeted her, carrying champagne flutes. "I can take this from here."

"It's fine," Stephanie replied, but she didn't turn around. Cassie was always too good as sussing when something was bothering a person, and Stephanie wasn't even sure what she would say if her friend asked how she was. "The Bistro is closed tonight so I don't have anywhere else to be."

"Would you like a glass of champagne?"

Stephanie did turn around now. "Sounds like a good idea."

All of the flutes had been used, so Cassie poured champagne into two of her tea mugs and she and Stephanie sat at the kitchen table surrounded by the detritus from the gender reveal party. Neither of them said anything as the sipped their champagne; neither of them really needed to. It was enough just to have the companionable silence.

When Cassie finished her champagne, she rinsed her cup in the sink and placed it in the dishwasher.

"I think I'm going to head up to bed. We can continue with the clear up in the morning if you like."

Stephanie roused herself from the kitchen chair, swallowing the last of her champagne.

"No, it's okay. Sleep well Cassie, I'll see you tomorrow."

They hugged and Cassie went upstairs, her concerns about Stephanie just adding to weight of things that were currently on her mind.

If Stephanie had had the Merriwick powers of observation, she would have known once she was no longer alone in the Grey House kitchen. Since she didn't, she dropped the champagne flute she was holding into the bowl of hot, soapy water. She cursed, her heart bounding a fierce tattoo in her chest.

"Hey Stephanie, what are you still doing here?"

Abigail was still dressed in her outfit from the party earlier, with her leather jacket slung around her shoulders.

"I offered to clean up seeing as I catered the party."

"Oh, well, that's very kind of you." Abigail found herself to be at a loss for words again, something that was happening more and more lately and was very out of character for her.

She shrugged. "It's my job."

Stephanie wasn't sure why she was being so offhand with Abigail. Maybe she was just tired from her early start, but she was also confused about what had passed between them that morning. It was all the more surreal because Abigail had showed up to the party with Harry, and no doubt he was currently hovering somewhere out of Stephanie's line of vision.

"Steph,"

"I've got a lot to do here," She replied, wondering why she felt like she might cry. "Harry will be wondering where you are."

Abigail bit her lip, that blow had really hit home. She really didn't know how to handle this situation, but Stephanie was right; Harry would be waiting for her. No matter how strained things were between her and Stephanie right now, she'd rather stay in the kitchen in this awkward atmosphere than go back to her room with Harry.

Cassie got up early on Sunday morning and decided to go to the Bistro for breakfast. She was worried about Stephanie and felt like she had spent too long wallowing over her own problems. She was always better at helping other people than helping herself.

Stephanie didn't look like she had slept well, but she managed a strained smile for Cassie when she arrived. She thought that neither of them were looking at their brightest.

"Morning," Cassie greeted with an equally watery smile. "Thank you so much for the clean up job at Grey House, you'd never know there had been a party."

"It was no problem," Stephanie replied.

Cassie ordered breakfast and waited while Stephanie brewed her tea.

"Can you spare five minutes to chat?"

Stephanie looked around. It was still early so the Bistro didn't have many customers yet.

"Yes, but only five."

Stephanie grabbed her bottle of water and they headed over to a vacant table where they wouldn't be overheard.

"Is everything okay, Stephanie? You didn't seem like yourself yesterday."

Stephanie could have said the same about Cassie, but she didn't.

"Just tired," She replied, knowing that her friend would see straight through her.

"Me too," Cassie replied, and a moment of understanding passed between them two women.

"Cassie, you and Sam…"

"Please Stephanie, I don't even know if I have an answer to that. I hurt him."

"He loves you. Everyone can see the two of you are supposed to be together," She paused, took a sip of water. "No one sees it more than Linda does."

Cassie grimaced at the mention of Sam's ex-wife.

"I think she still loves him."

Stephanie chuckled. "Sam only has eyes for you, you know that."

Cassie looked down into her tea and hoped Stephanie was right; hoped she hadn't pushed him so far away that he wouldn't come back to her.

"I'm sorry Cassie, I've got to get back to the customers,"

Stephanie quickly squeezed Cassie's shoulder as she went back to the counter. It was only then that Cassie realised she hadn't managed to get Stephanie to open up to her about whatever was upsetting her. Perhaps she would talk to Abigail about it later once Harry had left Middleton.

Cassie was on her way out of the Bistro when she was nearly knocked down by an out of breath Nathan Hancock.

"Cassie," He paused to get his breath back. "I've been looking for you!"

"Well, here I am."

"I tried to find you yesterday at the party, but I didn't want to intrude. I heard from my publisher yesterday morning, and they love what I've sent them so far. They want me to write a novel for them!"

"Oh wow Nathan, that's fantastic news."

He nodded enthusiastically. "I'm thrilled, but honestly Cassie I don't think I could have done it without you."

"Without me?"

"I was totally blocked, I couldn't write a sentence without deleting it before I came to Middleton. Something about this town; about Grey House; about you just open the floodgates and I realised how much I love writing."

Cassie smiled. "Well, I'm pleased for you. Middleton seems to have that effect on people."

"I'd like to take you out to dinner to say thank you, if that's okay? I need to go out of town to meet my publisher on Wednesday, but I wondered if Tuesday night would work for you?"

"It's really not necessary Nathan, but yes tomorrow would be fine."

Nathan grinned. "Fantastic. There's a new Italian restaurant in Blairsville that has been getting rave reviews, I thought we could try that?"

"That sounds nice,"

"I'll pick you up at Grey House at seven?"

"Sure,"

"Brilliant, I'm just going to tell Stephanie. I'll catch you later, Cassie."

Cassie said goodbye to him and headed back to Grey House. Part of her hoped she might encounter Sam on her walk, he often liked to run on a Sunday morning but she must have missed him. She seemed to be terribly out of touch with him at the moment, but maybe it was for a reason; maybe it wasn't time for them to reunite just yet.

Sam had wanted to talk to Cassie ever since she had left the party on Saturday afternoon, but he hadn't been able to come up with a convincing reason to talk to her and he knew she would see through any excuse he gave. There didn't seem to be an opportunity for them to run into each other organically either, which was strange considering they were next door neighbours.

Linda had spent most of Sunday with brochures from the local properties for sale or rent in Middleton spread across every available flat surface. Sam didn't complain, if this was what she needed to do to finally move out of his house then he would endure the mess for the time being.

Nick had been withdrawn, not saying much to either of his parents and feigning tiredness after the party the afternoon before. His father finally managed to get some time alone with him on Sunday morning.

"How are you feeling about school tomorrow?"

"Fine,"

"It'll be good to see everyone again, won't it?"

Nick levelled a look at his father. "Not everyone."

"Sorry." Nick had been doing so well since Courtney had ended their relationship, that Sam hadn't considered how much he might be hurting. He had been too preoccupied with his own heartbreak that he had taken his son's for granted. "If you want to talk about it…I can't offer any help, but I can offer some sympathy as we're kind of in the same boat."

"Not really," Nick snapped. "Courtney and I weren't really in love; we're sixteen. You and Cassie are meant to be together."

"Nick, I hardly think…"

"That it's any of my business?"

"No, but…"

"Everyone can see it dad. Mom sees it. You and Cassie are made for each other. I know you only broke up because of accident and the stress of having Mom here ruining everything."

Sam opened his mouth, but he honestly didn't have a response for his son.

"The whole town feels the same way. Everyone has been trying to get you back together, but you're too stubborn. Now, please leave me alone, I need to get some sleep before school tomorrow."

Sam slowly backed his way out of Nick's bedroom, softly closing the door. He realised again that the only person he wanted to talk to right now; the only person whose advice he wanted to seek was Cassie's.

After saying goodbye to a still grouchy Nick, Sam headed into the clinic. He had a fairly quiet day ahead of him, but no doubt patients would call in during the day requesting appointments.

He was just making his mid-morning coffee when he heard a familiar voice entering the waiting room.

"Come on Matilda, we need to see the nice doctor again and he'll make you feel better."

Inwardly, Sam sighed. It was the pushy woman who had given him her business card the last time she had brought her daughter to see him. She was wearing a tight pencil skirt today and high heels that couldn't have been a tiny bit comfortable.

"Doctor Radford," She smiled, leading her daughter towards him. "Your lovely receptionist said it was okay to bring Matilda back in for an eleven o'clock."

"Of course, come on back."

Sam hoped he could get them in and out before his cup of coffee got cold. He didn't really think there was anything wrong with the girl, just that her mother was over cautious.

While Sam examined Matilda, her mother delved in her tote bag.

"I left you my business card last time we were here, but you never called. I thought you must have lost it, so I brought you another."

Sam carefully set his stethoscope down on the desk.

"I didn't need any legal services since I last saw you."

"Oh, come on Sam, it's okay if I call you Sam, right?" He nodded. "We both know I gave it to you for personal purposes."

"Look Ms Kingstone, I appreciate…"

"Call me Madeleine, please."

"Madeleine…"

"Look Sam, I appreciate that I'm being forward here but I've made reservations for us at a little restaurant in Blairsville tomorrow night."

"What about Matilda?"

"My mother is staying with us at the moment, and I'm sure if Matilda gets the right medication this time, she'll be right as rain by tomorrow night."

Madeleine reached out and took her daughter's hand. She pressed her business card into Sam's hand.

"I won't take no for an answer Sam. I'll meet you here at six thirty tomorrow."

Sam stared open mouthed as Madeleine and her daughter breezed out of the practice, the prescription slip clutched in her professionally manicured hand. He wasn't going to have dinner with her, of course he wasn't. As far as he was concerned, his heart still belonged to Cassie and even if their relationship was dead in the water, he wasn't ready to start dating anyone else.

By the time Tuesday evening rolled around, Sam had forgotten about Madeleine and the date she had tried to corner him into. Although Nick's first day at school had gone well, tensions had been running pretty high at home. This had led to Nick refusing to speak to either of his parents, and Linda blaming this solely on Sam. It had taken all of his self-control not to tell his ex-wife that her presence was the actual cause of the disquiet in their house, he was prepared to give her the satisfaction.

At the clinic he had had back to back appointments all day, and Eve had left at lunchtime because a debilitating migraine had come on during the morning. That left Sam trying to be both receptionist and doctor, and made him realise that perhaps Eve deserved a pay rise.

When he locked up the clinic just after half past six he was surprised to see someone outside, until the penny dropped. The last thing he felt like was having dinner with this woman, but he didn't think he had the strength to get out of it. Perhaps if he was really terrible company she would never want a second date with him. He made a mental note to avoid domineering women in future, Madeleine was definitely more like Linda than she was like Cassie. God, he wished he was having dinner with Cassie instead.

"You didn't forget about our date, did you?"

Sam sighed. "Of course not. Your car or mine?"