It Takes a Village

Welcome to the antepenultimate chapter of this story. Chapter 25 will be the last one. I've already started work on it, and it feels a little bittersweet.

This fic wouldn't have existed without your support for The Weekend. Writing it and sharing it with you guys has been a great distraction during a really disappointing year, one that has sucked for a lot of people.

Just because this story is almost over, it doesn't mean that I don't have something else up my sleeve and I'll get back to work on Melt Your Heart soon.
I've also recently started watching Good Witch from the beginning again, which might be a blessing or a curse, haha.

Hope you're all staying safe & well and that you enjoy this chapter. Xx

Chapter 13: Making Plans

Grace sat on the edge of her bed as she answered the call from Nick. Having established that it seemed like her mom and Sam were back together again, she was surprised to be receiving a phone call from him. Normally they would send each other text messages, or he'd wander over and actually see her in person. Phone calls were saved for their super-secret conversations.

"Hey Nick, is everything okay?" She knew that Nick was still struggling with living under the same roof as both his parents.

"Hi Grace, yeah it's all good," He sounded a little hushed and Grace found herself lowering her voice to match. "It looks your mom and my dad are properly back together now. My mom is not happy about it."

Grace hadn't expected her to be. After all, it had been Linda's continued presence in Middleton that had made Cassie feel like she had to put her relationship with Sam on the back burner.

"I didn't think she would be," She replied, carefully. "She'll get used to the idea, won't she?" She really didn't want any other obstacles to get in the way of her mom's happiness. Or Sam's for that matter. As much as she still missed her own dad, she was getting used to the idea of having Sam as a father figure in her life on a more permanent basis.

"If she's set on staying in Middleton, and it sounds like she is, she'll have to accept it."

"You sound really happy about it…about our parents being back together, I mean."

"Of course I am," She could almost feel Nick's grin through the phone. "Dad has been so miserable since Mom moved it, and you know I think your mom is great."

"I know you do, and I'm really glad they're both happy again."

"Sorry," Nick said suddenly. "I just realised how insensitive that sounds. I don't really ever remember my mom and dad being happy like Dad is with Cassie, so this is really great for me but this must be hard for you Grace; your mom and dad actually loved each other."

"Yeah," Grace sighed, moving to sit on the floor with her back against the wall and legs outstretched in front of her. "They really did."

"Is it hard to see her with my dad?" Nick asked quietly, showing a sense of perception and sensitivity beyond his years; maybe those Merriwicks were rubbing off on him too.

Grace had to swallow back tears she hadn't even been expecting.

"No, no it's not, Nick," She inhaled deeply, blinking a few times until she had control of her emotions again. "I'm really glad she's happy, and I'm really glad that when she chose to fall in love again it was with your dad."

They chatted for a little while longer before they ended the call, Grace distracted enough that she hadn't heard her mother on the landing outside her bedroom door, listening to every word.

Cassie felt emotional too, but not in a bad way. She hadn't been sure whether she had believed Sam when he said that the town, their children included, had been scheming to get the two of them back together. If it was true that their nearest and dearest had been trying to help them find their back to each other, then perhaps she didn't need to worry about telling Brandon and Lori about her relationship. She had arranged a family dinner for the following evening anyway. Tara was getting closer and closer to her due date, so she would probably enjoy a chance to socialise. Cassie was also a little curious as to why Sam had wanted to see Tara at the shop today. He had kissed her so thoroughly that it had been a good half an hour before she had thought to really consider why Sam had been looking for her daughter in law. She enjoyed a good mystery just as much as she enjoyed being mysterious.

Word got around, as it does in a small town, which led to Tara turning up at Sam's practice early the next morning before she was due to work at the Bell, Book and Candle. She wasn't sure how longer she would be able to keep working there, but she didn't want to leave Cassie in the lurch either. She was so grateful to her mother in law for giving her opportunity to work there while she figured out what her next steps would be career-wise; she hadn't expected that motherhood would come first. Now she couldn't imagine things turning out any other way.

"Hi Eve, is it okay if I pop on back to see Sam?"

"Of course," The receptionist smiled. "He's been hoping to catch up with you."

"So I've heard," Tara smiled back, and then made her way to Sam's office.

"Hey Tara," He greeted her warmly, thinking how she seemed to glow more each time he saw her lately. Pregnancy was definitely a good look on her.

"I heard you were looking for me," She took a seat in one of the chairs opposite Sam's desk, glad to take the weight off her feet for a few minutes.

"Seems like you can't keep anything quiet in Middleton…" Sam mused, but a smile was twitching on his lips.

"No, it doesn't," Tara looked him straight in the eyes and he had the good grace to blush. "Am I to believe the rumours that you and Cassie are giving things another shot?"

"I can neither confirm nor deny…" But his face had already broken out into a wide grin.

Tara pushed herself up onto her feet again and gave Sam a hug, or the closest thing to it when her stomach literally kept him at arm's reach.

"I'm so pleased. The two of you are so perfect together. Brandon and I were so sad when you were apart."

"Really?" Although the two men got along very well, Sam sometimes wondered how Brandon felt about seeing him with Cassie.

"Of course. Look, Cassie and Jake were wonderful together and their marriage was an inspiration. After he died, she lost some of that sparkle she has, but with you? Well, it came right back."

Sam blinked, Tara was supposed to be the one whose hormones were working overtime, not his.

"Now," She said, sitting back down and putting her swollen feet up on one of the spare chairs. "What was it you wanted to see me about?"

Cassie enjoyed putting together the roast chicken dinner for her family that evening. It would be nice to get them all together, although sometimes when it was her, the Russells and George, she felt Jake's absence more keenly. She had been thinking about him more often recently, but it was different now. She felt like she had made peace with that part of her life, and as much as she would always love him and the life they had shared, she was ready to move on into a future with Sam.

She had thought about inviting Sam, and maybe even Nick, to dinner as well but she felt like this needed to be a family meal. She hoped that family gatherings after that would include the Radfords, because she realised that was how she already thought of them. She knew that Sam was not sold on the idea of marriage, and after what Linda had put him through, she couldn't really blame him. Even if they didn't get married, she was already thinking about spending the rest of her life with him.

"Something smells wonderful, Cassie," Brandon smiled, kissing her on the cheek and handing her a bouquet of yellow roses he'd picked up at Abigail's shop on the way over.

Cassie hadn't invited Abigail for dinner either, she had a sneaking suspicion that her cousin might have other plans.

"Thank you, Brandon" She took the flowers into the kitchen and he followed her. "Is your sister on her way?"

Brandon nodded. "She's bringing her new boyfriend,"

"Oh," Cassie smiled. "I've been dying to meet him. It sounds like it might be serious then?"

"I've met him, he's certainly an improvement on Darren."

She watched Brandon's face darken in the way that only a big brother's could when a guy had wronged his baby sister.

"Look, Cassie," He lowered his voice. "Is tonight just a normal family dinner, or are you going to make an announcement or something?"

Cassie was distantly surprised at Brandon's intuition, the Merriwick magic seemed to be rubbing off on everyone to a degree these days.

"Ah, Brandon,"

"If it's about you and Sam, you know you don't need our blessing or permission, right?"

Cassie swallowed. "I just don't want you to think…"

"That you don't love Dad anymore, I know." He put a hand on each of Cassie's upper arms and looked into her eyes. "You deserve to be happy more than anyone I know."

She really didn't want to cry, so she grabbed him in a tight hug and was suddenly reminded of the boy he had been when she first met the Russells, when she had arrived in Middleton. She was so proud of the man that boy had grown up to be, and she knew that his father would feel the same way.

Abigail Pershing couldn't help but think about the first time she had met Stephanie. Their friendship had certainly not started out on the right foot. Abigail had been so concerned with keeping Sam away from her, already aware as she was of the connection between her cousin and the doctor, that she hadn't taken the time to get to know her. She hadn't wanted to. It was hard to believe that now she had fallen in love, and was pretty certain that her feelings were reciprocated. It had happened so slowly, but the feeling still felt brand new. Although she had ended things with Harry, something which she had less and less regrets about, Abigail was still dragging her feet on taking that final step.

Her conversation with Cassie had helped but some of her doubts and fears to rest, but risking your heart was never an easy step. Even if Stephanie did return her feelings, she knew that nothing between them would ever be the same. That was something that terrified her. Not that Abigail would admit that, of course.

She delayed leaving the shop, inventing small jobs to do around the place so that by the time she did lock the door, the flower market was tidied than it had been since she opened. She hovered on the sidewalk, trying to summon the courage to walk to the Bistro. She could keep it light and casual; she could simply walk in and chat with Stephanie for a little, pick up a coffee for the walk home. The way she was feeling was anything but light and casual though.

Dredging up every shred of courage she had, trying to tell herself it didn't matter if Stephanie didn't feel the same way, Abigail started walking towards the Bistro.

Stephanie was rushed off her feet, the Bistro packed with dinner customers. She had seen Abigail come in, but she hadn't had time to do more than smile at her in passing. Part of her was glad that she was so busy, one of her waitresses having called in sick, it meant that she could put their inevitable conversation on hold.

The next time she was Abigail, she had taken off her jacket and stowed her purse behind the counter, and was carrying a tray of dirty plates and cups through to the kitchen. Stephanie stopped in her tracks, the glasses nearly toppling off her own tray. There was just no predicting what Abigail Pershing was going to do next. Stephanie didn't know if that thrilled her or terrified her. Perhaps it was a little of both.

"You know I can't afford to pay you, Abigail." She tried to keep her voice light.

"No, but you can give me dinner when everyone else has left." She smiled back, feeling more confident now she was acting and not just thinking.

Stephanie felt a little flutter in a belly as she registered the look in Abigail's eyes. Oh, boy.

"That sounds like a fair trade…but you really don't have to…"

"I figure that the quicker you get done here, the quicker I can get a slice of that salmon and broccoli tart." She turned on her heel and waltzed back out to clear more tables.

Stephanie watched her go, shaking her head and wondering what she was letting herself in for.

"I hear you had a dinner party tonight," Sam said softly into his phone later that evening, his voice coming through a little husky and sending shivers up Cassie's spine. "I guess my invite got lost in the mail?"

Cassie laughed. "I actually didn't invite you."

"Ouch,"

"This time."

"Don't tell me what you cooked, I don't want to have to go out and start digging through your trash cans."

This time, she snorted. "Seems like a lot of effort when there might be leftovers in my fridge."

"Might be?" He sounded hopeful.

"Only one way to find out."

"Cassie Nightingale, are you suggesting I sneak out of the house and come over for a midnight snack?"

"It's 10:30pm, Sam."

"I love you," He said, surprising them both with the natural way it popped out.

"I love you, too," She replied. "Now, are you coming over or not?"

She'd barely put her phone down on the kitchen island when she sensed Sam at the door. He crossed the kitchen floor in only a few strides, single-minded about his destination. She eagerly returned his embrace, wrapping her arms around his neck and pressing her body up against his. He groaned, before covering her mouth with his.

When they finally broke apart, they were both breathless and a little flushed.

"So, about those leftovers…" Cassie grinned.

"I'd rather have you."

Checking that they were alone, Cassie took his hand and led him upstairs to her bedroom. They'd worry about the consequences tomorrow.

"Y'know," Cassie whispered into the darkness of her bedroom a while later, her back pressed against Sam's chest and his fingers playing with strands of her dark, silky hair. "I never did find out what you wanted to see Tara about."

"We've been having a wild, passionate affair, and she's actually pregnant with my child."

Cassie elbowed him in the stomach, and he laughed a little breathlessly.

"I needed to know what her birth plan is going to be, as her local physician and all that."

"Oh," Cassie replied, settling back into his arms. "I can't believe how quickly her pregnancy is going; it won't be long before he's here."

"And you'll have to decide whether you want to be called Grandma, or Nana…MeeMaw…" Cassie rolled over and pressed her lips to Sam's, effectively shutting him up and derailing his train of thought in one fell swoop.

"It's exciting though, isn't it?" She said, laying next to him again and entwining her fingers with his. "A new life; a new beginning."

Sam smiled. "I'm glad we got to have a new beginning. There was a time when I thought we'd never get back to this. I don't ever not want you in my life, Cassie."

She squeezed his hand tighter, thinking she might just cry again. At least this week had brought happy tears, rather than the tears of loss, and pain, and fear.

"Me neither."

"I should probably get home, Cassie."

"Yeah, you probably should," She sat up in bed, watching as he found his clothes and put them back on.

She didn't want him to go, any more than he wanted to leave. All she wanted was to fall asleep next to him, and wake up by his side every morning. She hoped they weren't too far away from making that a reality.

All being well, the penultimate chapter will be with you next weekend.