It Takes A Village
Thank you for your review on the previous chapter, I love reading them :) Here's a quick update for you -this chapter is a little bit shorter than the previous one but I think you''ll like it. This chapter is dedicated to all of you who have stuck with this story, through the angst and the drama and kept me inspired to keep writing. 3
Chapter 18: Take Me Out
Cassie and Nathan had chatted comfortably during the car ride to the restaurant. It was a pleasant spring evening and Cassie was enjoying the opportunity to get out of Middleton for a while. Abigail had been out of sorts since Harry had gone back home, but she didn't seem to want to talk about it. Whenever Cassie had seen Stephanie at the Bistro, she had been too busy to chat. She felt like she was missing a key piece of information in both cases, but was sure she would get to the bottom of it eventually.
She had left Grace and Nick in the kitchen doing their homework, she was pleased that they were still managing to remain friends despite what was, or wasn't, going on between her, Sam and Linda.
Cassie liked the restaurant from the moment they arrived, but made a mental note not to praise it too highly in Martha's presence. The mayor wouldn't step into Blairsville if she could help it, even if the spaghetti carbonara was reported to be excellent. It seemed a little too fancy and intimate for a celebratory dinner between friends, though. Cassie had wished Nathan had let her pick out the restaurant.
They were served their entrees and resumed their conversation, focusing on Nathan's upcoming trip to Chicago to meet with his publisher. Cassie was taking a sip of her mineral water when the restaurant door opened and the waiter showed a couple to a table. The man bore a striking resemblance to Sam. She swallowed, catching his eye as he spotted her too. She was too shocked to notice that it looked like he was on a date. It probably looked like that was exactly what she and Nathan were doing too, although for Cassie it was a purely platonic dinner.
"Excuse me Nathan, I just need to use the ladies room." Cassie stood up quickly, grabbing her purse off the back of her chair and putting it over her shoulder.
She was halfway to the restrooms before Nathan had time to reply. He shook his head and turned his attention back to the breadsticks and olive paste they had been served as an appetiser.
From his table on the other side of the restaurant, Sam watched Cassie head for the restroom. Luckily for him, Madeleine was facing the other way and didn't notice.
"Bear with me for just a second," He said. "I think I left my phone in the car, sorry."
He hoped Madeleine wouldn't notice the bulge in his jacket pocket where his iPhone had been the whole time.
When he stepped through the door that lead through to the ladies and gents toilets, he almost ran straight into Cassie. His first thought was how good she looked in her strappy black dress and sandals; the second thought was that she was dressed up for another man.
"What a surprise,"
"Likewise," Cassie replied, her voice was cool but there was humour dancing in her eyes. "You're looking well." She took in his navy suit, pale blue shirt and silver-grey tie. It looked like it might be the same outfit he'd worn to work that morning, but it still looked good on him.
"Right back at you, Cassie," He had the overwhelming urge to sweep the thin strap of fabric from her shoulders and replace it with his lips.
"This is kind of awkward, isn't it?"
"Depends what you're referring to…"
"We're both here with other people…"
"I'd noticed that, yes."
Cassie heard voices, quickly grabbed Sam by the sleeve and dragged him into one of the cubicles with her. Sam regarded her with a raised eyebrow.
"Are you on a date with her?" She asked, drilling him with her gaze.
"Madeleine? I think she thinks we're on a date."
"Well, do you like her?"
"She's alright, I barely know her. Her daughter is a patient of mine."
"I mean do you like her?"
"Cassie, this isn't high school? Although we are locked in a bathroom together, so maybe not."
"Sorry, I just wasn't expecting to see you here."
"I wasn't expecting to see you here, either." Sam rubbed his hand over his tired face, this conversation was getting them precisely nowhere. "What about Nathan, do you like him?"
"Nathan is a nice guy, a really nice guy. And he's cute, and funny…"
"Steady on Cassie, my ego can't take much more."
Amused, she jabbed his stomach with her finger. Her smile quickly faded though, she knew she was finally going to have to start being honest with him.
"He's nice, he's cute and he's funny. But, I've spent the whole time driving here and sitting opposite him wishing that I was on a date with you."
Sam's face relaxed into a smile now. That was better. It might be stubborn male pride speaking, but he wasn't about to lose the love of his life to this newcomer in town.
"I only agreed to go on a date with Madeleine because I couldn't face another evening at home bickering with Linda, and I've seen you and Nathan looking all cosy in the Bistro together on several occasions."
"Sam Radford, were you jealous?"
"If by jealous, you mean I wanted to come over and punch the stupid grin off his face, then yes."
"Sam," She was suddenly aware the cubicle was awfully small, and they were stood awfully close to each other.
"Cassie?"
She reached out, stroking her fingertips over the silky material of his tie. She pulled him in until their lips were only inches apart. Then Sam's phone began to vibrate in his jacket pocket. They really could never catch a break.
"It's Madeleine," he said, and the reality of their situation and the fact they'd left their dinner companions alone at their tables hit home. "I'm on my way back in now," He assured her. "My phone had slipped under the seat." He invented.
Cassie opened the door a crack and stepped out, waiting to check that it was clear before motioning for Sam to leave as well.
"I'm going to tell Nathan I'm not feeling well, and ask him to take me home." Cassie decided.
"I'll tell Madeleine that a patient is calling."
Cassie, who had been so against the sneaking around and who had been convinced that if the path was smooth for them then it wasn't meant to be, was suddenly buzzing with adrenaline.
"Call me when you get home?" She asked.
He smiled. "Of course."
Cassie felt a little guilty for lying to Nathan, but she was concerned that he might think that this was a real date and it was unfair for him to believe there might be potential for a relationship between them. As she had said to Sam, Nathan was a genuinely decent guy and she didn't want to string him along when she knew her heart wasn't in it, and never would be. He was kind and attentive, calling for the check immediately and helping her out to the car. She avoided looking in Sam's direction as they left the restaurant.
When they got back to Grey House, he left her to go up to her room and she was relieved to be alone. She needed some time to think before she spoke to Sam again.
She was settled in bed, a cup of peppermint tea on the nightstand beside her when she heard a tap on the door.
"Come in, Grace," She smiled.
Her daughter entered the room, closing the door behind her and coming to sit on the end of Cassie's bed.
"Are you okay, Mom?" She asked. "Nathan said you came home early because you didn't feel well…" She hadn't been able to sense that something was wrong with Cassie, but then she couldn't always.
Cassie reached for her daughter's hand and squeezed it.
"I'm fine honey, I just needed to come home."
She looked Grace in the eye. Her daughter was practically a woman now and Cassie had promised never to lie to her.
"I think I made a mistake in going out with Nathan."
"Why?" Grace asked, carefully. "He seems quite nice."
"He is," She agreed. "He's very nice, but…"
"He's not Sam?" Grace guessed.
Cassie found it difficult sometimes to talk to Grace about her feelings for Sam. She knew how much Grace loved her father, and the last thing she wanted was for it to seem like she was trying to replace Jake. It had only been very recently that Cassie had realised that she could love both men.
"Exactly,"
"Mom," Grace squeezed her hand back. " You know I just want you to be happy, right?"
She stood up and walked around the bed so she could hug her mother. Cassie held onto her tightly. For the first time in a long time, she thought that maybe everything was going to work out the way it was supposed to.
Cassie had dozed off by the time that Sam called her up. Her phone vibrated on the nightstand, casting a pale blue light into the room. A little disorientated, she sat up in bed and answered the call.
"Sorry, did I wake you?" He asked.
"I was just dozing," She replied, wide awake now that she could hear his voice. "You got back late."
"Believe it or not, after I dropped Madeleine off, my phone rang and there really was an emergency at the hospital. I think that might be what you call karma?"
Cassie laughed. Not so long ago, she might have seen that as a sign that they were not supposed to be together but she didn't feel like that now.
She leaned back against her pillows and listened to Sam as he filled her in on what had happened at the hospital. She had missed this; just talking about their days and including each other in their lives.
"When can I see you?" He asked, when they came to a lull in their conversation.
Cassie didn't want to sneak around anymore, didn't want to have to hide their relationship but at the same time she wanted the opportunity for it to be just them.
"I was wondering if we could get away from Middleton, just for a bit?"
Sam's heart rate quickened. "What do you mean, Cassie?"
She gripped the phone a little tighter. "I need to be with you, Sam."
"I don't have to work at the hospital tomorrow, but I have a few patients first thing."
"We're closing the Bell, Book tomorrow lunchtime because we're getting new alarms fitted…"
"A whole afternoon to spend together, what ever will we find to do?" Sam laughed.
"I'm sure we can think of a few things."
They were both grinning as they ended their phone call.