Hi there! Thank you SOOO much for all the reviews, messages and views! They keep me motivated to continue writing, so thank you❤
Here's another update. I anticipate that this fic is approaching the end (2-3 updates left I'd guess)...that being said, I'm always one for a sequel, and already have some ideas!
Also, here is the inspiration for Cassie's dress in this update! photos/Catherine+Bell/Hallmark+Channel+Hallmark+Movie+Channel+2015/fOV-isHL3N5
Let me know what you think with a reply/message❤
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. .. .
Chapter 20
The flowers on the island are long dead, their petals and leaves littering the counter and floor, and while there's still a lingering presence, Grey House feels more like home than it has in a long time.
Cassie closes her eyes, taking a minute to just soak it in. Letting the pieces inside of her realign and fall in place. Settle.
Ignite again.
The warmth unfurls inside of her, flowing through her entire body right down to her toes. Inhaling deeply, she exhales, smiling.
"Hello, old friend," she greets with a soft smile.
The silence that greets her back is familiar and comforting.
She starts first with removing the dead flowers, tossing them in the compost bin before rinsing the vase. There's something cathartic about the entire process, and she can feel the energy shifting around her. Moving towards the stove, she decides to make herself a cup of tea before heading upstairs to get ready for the historical Middleton event.
Her phone chirps from her pocket, and she slides open the message from Sam.
Running late...will meet you at Grey house!
She sends back a quick message, removing the kettle just as it begins to whistle.
See you then?
Preparing her tea, she smiles, sensing Grace.
There's finally a crack in the fog she's felt for weeks and a glimmer of her intuition manages to break through, strong and clear. Turning from the counter, she greets her daughter with a smile.
"It's good to be back here," Grace sighs, closing her eyes.
Her daughter inhales deeply, and Cassie can feel the shift in her too. "I couldn't agree more."
A little more settled herself, Grace moves around the kitchen to make herself a cup of tea too. "As much as I've enjoyed staying with Sam and Nick, I'll be happy to back in my own bed, the Grey lady and all."
She nods, taking a sip of her tea. They haven't talked much about their impromptu stay with Sam and Nick. "We haven't really talked about how you've felt staying with Sam and Nick."
Grace shrugs, sliding onto one of the breakfast stools. "I mean, Nick is surprisingly way more neat than I expected..." She takes a sip of her tea, hiding a bit behind her mug. "...I really like seeing how happy you and Sam make each other."
He makes her so happy. In so many ways she had never thought of before. It's the way he reads every night before bed. The way he plays with her hair absentmindedly. His laugh and how the surprise still crosses his face whenever she senses his presence.
It's everything about him.
"Earth to mom," Grace teases.
She laughs, shaking her head at herself. "I'm sorry...what were you saying?"
Grace smiles, sliding off the stool. "I was just saying that I hope when we finally do come back to Grey House, things don't change with Sam and Nick...I'm going to go get ready."
Cassie watches her go, cradling her mug between her hands. Living under one roof certainly made things more convenient. She isn't sure how their relationship might work otherwise.
Her mind immediately drifts back to her dream the other morning, and she absentmindedly runs her thumb over her bare ring finger.
...
Sam bounds down the stairs, fiddling with his tie. He had only just escaped his practice, the phone ringing just as he managed to slip out the door. Eve's text shortly after he made it to his car informed him that he narrowly missed a house call to Mrs. Wilkins. "Nick, we gotta go!" He turns the corner, finding his son standing in front of the hall mirror, the ends of his tie in his hands.
"Dad...how do you do this thing?" He questions, turning towards him.
"Here..." He turns Nick back towards the mirror, working to tie his tie over his shoulders. "...there. How does that look?"
Nick straightens the knot a little, looking at himself in the mirror. "Better. Thanks." He gives his shoulders a squeeze. "Anytime...let's go; we're already late."
Grabbing his jacket, his slings it on as Nick heads out the front door, heading across the driveway to Grey house. His son doesn't bother knocking, letting himself in and he can't help but feel like they're stepping into their second home.
Grace is waiting for them in the hallway, and she gives them both a nod of approval. "You both are looking very dapper."
Nick straightens his jacket. "Thanks...you don't look so bad yourself."
Grace frowns. "Is that the best you can do?"
"You look beautiful, Grace," Sam corrects, already heading upstairs.
Grace smiles. "Thanks Sam...can you tell Mom to hurry up? We're going to be late!"
"Noted," he acknowledges, glancing at his watch. They're going to be late late. He's just about to reach for the door, when it swings open.
She's standing there, in the most gorgeous dress it takes the air from him. "Cassie...you look...stunning," he manages to get out.
He needs a minute.
Stepping into her, he guides her back into her room, closing the door behind them.
"...Sam, we're going to be late," she protests.
He's shaking his head, letting his gaze sweep down the length of her body. "I just a need a minute...to look at you like this."
Her cheeks flush, her breath catching.
Her dress is black and perhaps two pieces, he can't really tell. All he knows is that it hugs everything in all the right ways. He twirls his finger and she spins for him, and the back of the dress...
"Cassie," he sighs, closing the space between them. Her back is exposed albeit a sheer material, a golden zipper trailing down the small of her back, backside and leaving an alluring glimpse of her thighs. His hands are on her, sliding down the golden zipper.
"Do you like it?" She questions quietly.
"I don't know how I'm going to keep my hands off of you all night," he admits. She turns to face him, and he drags his gaze up to meet hers. There's a glint of mischievousness in her eyes, something he's not sure he's seen before.
"Just imagine how much fun it's going to be zipping me out of this."
And just that easily, she flips a switch inside him and he's got his mouth next to hers in a searing kiss. His hands tangle with hers, both not wanting to rustle their outfits. Her mouth opens in invitation and the heat of her tongue dances with his own and he wants to zip her out of the dress right now.
"We're going to be late," she breathes against his mouth, smiling.
"...the minute I zip you out of this dress, I'm going to need your mouth on me, Cassie," he breathes back.
She nips his bottom lip. "Ok."
...
The event is in full swing by the time they arrive at the Middleton Museum, and they attempt to slip into the crowd as discreetly as possible. There's a band playing soft music and there's waiters milling around serving drinks and appetizers. With a quick glance around the room, Cassie sees most of Middleton.
George is making his way through the crowd and Grace is first to embrace him in a giant hug. "Grandpa!"
"Long time no see, kiddo," he greets, meeting her hug.
"I know and I'm sorry...things have just been..." Grace shrugs, searching for the words.
George nods, looking between Cassie and Sam. "...unsettling," he provides. "But we can talk about that later...come tell me all about your exhibit."
Grace links her arms with her grandfather, smiling. "Right this way!"
George gives her a wink, a gesture she knows all too well; they'll talk later.
"I'm going to go check out the food," Nick announces, blending into the crowd.
"This is a great turn out," he comments, taking in the large crowd. "Can I get you something to drink?"
It is a large crowd, and the clarity she had felt earlier that day is a little less clear. "Yes, please." Sam heads towards the bar, disappearing in the crowd just as Abigail emerges from it.
"Wow," Abigail comments, amusement in her eyes. "Are you trying to have Sam pull you into a broom closet later?" She teases.
Cassie shrugs, deciding to play along. "I was hoping for the bathroom."
Abigail laughs, and she embraces her in a hug. "You've been back to Grey house."
As much as Cassie has felt like herself, she can sense the change in Abigail too. Pulling back, Cassie nods. "I have...there's still something lingering, but I've felt more clarity than I have in weeks."
"Me too...let's hope Weld has finally taken a hike."
She can sense Sam behind her, and she welcomes his touch as it slides beneath the split in the back of her dress, his fingers scorching her skin even with the layer of nylon between them.
"Hi Abigail," he greets, handing her the glass of wine he retrieved for her.
"Sam," she greets back. "...it feels like a lifetime since I've seen you sneaking out of Grey house," she teases.
Cassie gives her a look, and Abigail just smirks. "Things are well?"
"Things are well," Sam agrees.
Sharing a look between them, Abigail nods. "They are, aren't they? Well, if you'll excuse me: Martha would like a word with you both."
She glances over Abigails shoulder, locking eyes with Martha who is waving at her from across the room.
"Chat with you both later." Abigail conveniently slips back into the crowd as Martha weaves her way through it.
"How does she do that?" Sam asks. "It's a Merriwick thing, right? The way you all can just sense things?"
"Cassie, Sam!" Martha calls. "You're here! Finally," she adds a little tightly. "That's my fault," Sam confesses. "I was running late."
Martha gives him a stern look. "Of all days to be late, Dr. Radford!"
"I apologize."
Martha exhales, waving him off. "You're here now...In about thirty minutes, I'll be officially opening the exhibit with a few remarks. Cassie, I was hoping you'd say a few words about the Merriwick woman and the exhibit."
"Of course."
Martha beams. "Wonderful! I'll leave you two to mingle. Don't go far!"
As she slips back into the crowd, Sam exhales. "I thought I was a goner there for a minute." She laughs, finishing off her glass. "Dance with me?"
Sam finishes his glass, setting them on the empty standing table beside them. "I'd love to."
Cassie slips her hand in his as he leads her through the crowd over to the band. There's a small group already dancing, and the song changes into a slower tempo as they approach. She steps into him, slipping her arm underneath his jacket. The room is more than packed, and there are more than enough prying eyes and she doesn't care.
Their relationship hasn't exactly been a secret but she knows she hasn't necessarily gone out of her way to show publicly her affection for Sam. It's a beat before he tucks their joined hands at his chest, brining her a little closer.
"Is this ok?" He questions softly. "Why wouldn't it be?"
He shrugs, looking around the room and the few stares they're starting to get. "...I'm not exactly Jake Russell." He steps back, leading her to spin before bringing her back into his arms.
Jake held a special place in the hearts of all Middletonians and as difficult as it was for her and her family to mourn his loss, she new it was just as hard for them. They had known her husband much longer than she had and his loss echoed throughout the small community. Privately, her relationship with Sam had grown quickly and more deeply than it had in public. She recognizes that for much of the town, seeing them together so intimately would perhaps be upsetting.
"No one's asking you to compete, Sam."
His jaw jumps and he adverts her gaze. "...I guess we've been in our own little world the past few weeks...and I've just been thinking about..." He exhales, dipping his head. "...what happens next?...when the pressures off, when Weld is found...what happens then?" The band finishes one song and seamlessly falls into another slow tempo. He adjusts his steps accordingly and his hand slips to her lower back, bringer her closer. "...the thought of you going back to Grey House...of not having you next me, in my space...not there-"
"-Sam-"
He's shaking his head, lifting his gaze to hers. "-I want to be with you tomorrow, and the day after that, and the day after that, Cassie."
The band stops playing and the couples around them begin clapping. She takes a step back out of his embrace, clapping for the band. She's still trying to process what he's said when an older gentleman approaches them.
"I'm sorry to interrupt...Sam, could we chat for a quick minute?"
"Bob, this isn't a good time-"
"-it's fine," she reassures. "I want to have a look at the exhibit." He's about to protest and she takes his hand, squeezing it gently. "I want that too...we can talk about it later." She excuses herself and Bob wastes little time, pitching Sam a new recruit for cardiology.
...
She takes her time viewing the exhibit, even if she hasn't taken in anything she's looked at or read. Sam's words have left her a little speechless. Thinking too far into the future was something she didn't necessarily want to do, considering there was so much that needed to be sorted out. They had two teenage kids, there own separate spaces and lives that they had lived just fine separately.
And what exactly was Sam implying?
She's grateful the band had stopped playing when they did; her heart had felt like it was going to leap out of her chest at any minute.
And then there was that sliver of doubt that made her question whether or not Sam had been just caught up in the moment. That he was worried about being compared to Jake and felt some sort of pressure prove himself.
Her feet had led her to the Merriwick portion of the exhibit, and she stood in front of the photograph of her great grandmother and the mystery man.
"You haven't figured out who he is yet, have you?"
She turns to find Jackson Weld standing beside her. Her gaze darts around the room, looking for Derek or Brandon, and Weld grabs her upper arm.
"I think it's time for some revelations, don't you?" Cassie attempts to pry her arm free. "Let me go." Weld reaches for the photograph. "We'll need this."
...
He's only half listening to Bob.
The words were right there.
Marry me.
He's grateful that the band had stopped playing. He had been so caught up in the future that he had lost sight of the right now.
Which was pretty perfect.
The realist in him couldn't help but think what happened next. He needed to see all the steps, see the plan, Weld making them jump a few out of sequence. And maybe it was his fear that pushed the conversation. After everything was back to normal, would their relationship remain the same? Would it continue to grow? Did he want it to? Did she?
He had never been so confused. And yet, so sure.
He wants to spend his tomorrow, and the next day and the day after that with her, for the rest of his life.
A future with her instantly materializes in his imagination and he's not sure he's wanted anything more in his entire life.
"What do you think?" Bob questions.
He brought back out his thoughts, but is conveniently saved by Martha, who has taken to the stage.
"Good evening ladies and gentleman. I'd like to welcome you tonight to the inaugural Historical Middleton event." The crowd applauds and Martha smiles. "Tonight, we are paying homage to some very important Middletonians: business women and artists, carpenters and clergy, and while these individuals have contributed immensely to the livelihood of Middleton, we would be remised to not acknowledging our founders, Meredith and Nathaniel Merriwick." The crowd applauds again, and Martha waits a few seconds before continuing. "I'd like to ask Cassie Nightingale, to please come share a few remarks about her family. Cassie?"
He waits, looking through the crowd to see where she is. A few seconds pass and the crowd beings looking amongst themselves for her.
"Cassie, are you here?" Martha questions into the mic.
People are looking at him and his mouth instantly goes dry.
Something's not right.
"Perhaps she's gone to the ladies room," Martha stalls. "Well, perhaps we'll get the band to play another number." She gestures to the band, who picks up on her cue.
The room falls back into its amenable chatter and both Grace and Abigail emerge from the crowd.
"She's not here," the both announce at the same time.
Tbc