Chapter 6:

Nick crossed the driveway over to Grey House; a short trip he had taken many times since he and his father moved to Middleton. His old basketball hoop had now found a new home in front of the Bed and Breakfast. He hadn't felt the need to pound the ball against the hoop, so he didn't care that it had relocated, but he needed it today. He was happy it was there and threw the first shot, just as his Dad had taught him. The ball swished through the net hitting the base and sprang into the side yard of Grey House.

Chasing after the ball, Nick smiled when he saw his little sister toddling over to the ball that had lost its momentum upon hitting the grass. Elizabeth Radford had reached the rolling orange object and, finding it fascinating, began rolling it around and picking it up as if trying to dribble it already. Nick laughed at seeing the next Radford basketball star in the making and made his way over to her. He bent down to her level and said looking around, "Hey my little Lizzie, where is mama, huh? I can't imagine she would have let you wander off like this?" Seconds later, he heard Cassie's concerned call, "Lizzie? Lizzie!" she cried. "Elizabeth?" came George's call.

"She's here," Nick answered immediately, getting up so both adults could see him as his sister was still entranced by the round, orange orb before her. They were there in a matter of seconds, Cassie sweeping her youngest daughter up in her arms. "Elizabeth Marie Radford," she said holding her tight. "You had Grandpa George and I scared to death. No more running off, young lady." Cassie noted a small look of longing in Nick's face. As much as she loved and got along with Nick, she figured part of him would always have that sense of longing for a relationship with his mother that she had with her children. However, she wasn't Linda but, with the help of their family, she would work to make sure he had the best possible one with his mother.

"Thank you for finding her, Nick", George said. "Cassie and I were discussing Grey House business, we put her down and the next minute we look she's gone off somewhere." Looking to Cassie he continued, "You and Sam are going to have to keep an eye on this one, I think." Cassie smiled and nodded, "It looks like we might." George excused himself, Cassie promising they would continue their business at a later time. Nick picked up the ball and was about to return to the hoop when Cassie stopped him. "Nick, you haven't needed to shoot the basketball in a while," she said gesturing to the ball. "Shall we take a walk?" Nick nodded. Cassie's perspective on things usually made him see things differently. "Sure," he agreed.

They walked in complete, but comfortable, silence for a bit. Cassie carried on what she could of a conversation with her daughter and Nick admired his surroundings. The trees around Grey House were like none he had ever seen. They hung low and close to the ground, wrapping everyone who walked around them in their magic. They were actually a source of calm whenever he was stressed. "Listen," she finally began. "Grace told your Dad and me what you learned yesterday."

"Oh yeah, it was so fun to learn my Mom lied to me and was so selfish that she never even considered raising me," he said dripping with sarcasm.

"Well," she admitted. "it actually wasn't such a surprise to me." Nick looked at her questioningly. "Your Dad had told me the situation when your mom came to town that first time and wanted to take you to Hong Kong."

"Dad told you." It was more of a statement than a question. "I can't say I'm surprised. He is lucky to have found you. We both are," he said truthfully.

"Aw, thank you Nick. I am quite lucky too," she smiled. "You know, your Dad knew this would be a difficult thing for you to understand and process, he was trying to protect you."

"Yeah, I know. He said that. But, if he had told me I wouldn't have had to felt so blind-sided when Geoffrey blurted it out in a room full of people I barely know. My Mom wouldn't have had the option to save face with her friends; she would have had to face up to it!" He said in frustration. "Besides I've got Dad, you, Grace, Alex and Liz now. Even Brandon, Tara, Lori, George and Abigail. You are all my family. She lied, she couldn't admit to what she did and so…that's it."

Placing her hand on his shoulder Cassie said, "Now Nick. You don't mean that." Nick chuckled. "You and Dad are rubbing off on each other. He said the same thing."

"Well, then maybe there is something to it." Cassie said, smiling at the thought of her and Sam giving the same advice to their kids.

"And, I can always tell when you two are thinking about each other," he added with his sideways grin, "You both always get a huge smile on your face." They both laughed.

A sparkle came to Cassie's eyes. "You know, Nick, I ordered a cake from the Bistro for all of us as a dessert, and Stephanie texted earlier to say it would be ready this afternoon. Would you mind making a trip with Lizzie to pick it up?" she asked. "I've still got to finish speaking with George about Grey House matters and I know your Dad has hospital work to get done, so I will likely be the one to watch Alex so he won't have any interruptions."

"Uh, sure, no problem." A walk might do just as good as shooting hoops, he thought. "Come on, little Lizzie," he said taking his little sister from her mother's arms and kissing her on the cheek. "Let's take a walk and get some yummy cake for dessert, yeah?" "'Ummy!" Elizabeth said excitedly clapping her hands. "Well, I guess we'd better go then"

"Thanks Nick," Cassie said unable to stop smiling at the sight of Nick with his little sister. "No problem," he said waving good-bye with Elizabeth. Cassie waved back and laughed. There was no greater joy for Cassie than to see her family together.

Sam, with Alexander happily settled on top of his shoulders, was making his way over to Grey House when he spotted Nick and Elizabeth.

"Hey, Dad," Nick said, while Elizabeth also got excited seeing her father and brother. "Dadadada," she said. Sam kissed her cheek. "So, where are you two headed?" he asked his eldest son.

"Elizabeth and I are talking a walk into town to pick up tonight's dessert at the Bistro, right Lizzie?" "'Ummy!" she responded. "Yes, yummy," Nick and Sam both chuckled. "Cassie asked me," he clarified. Sam grinned and nodded. "Ok then. Sounds good."

"'Izzie?" Alex questioned. "Yes, there go your brother and sister. They will be back soon," Sam responded. "Now, let's go see Mama, huh?" To which Alex happily replied, "Mamamama!"

Cassie had returned to the kitchen after her conversation with Nick and was prepping the small afternoon tea she offered to guests when she got that feeling that always brightened her day. "Hello handsome husband and son," she said smiling to herself and turning to see Sam walking through the back door with Alex on his shoulders, both wearing the same grin.

"I will never get tired of you doing that," he said kissing her then carefully lifting Alex from his shoulders to a high chair that Cassie had prepared.

"Tea that tastes like coffee?" she offered her husband with a glint in her eye. "Of course," he replied gratefully taking the cup from his wife. "I saw Nick with Elizabeth on the way over. He said he was going to the Bistro for cake?"

"Yeah, I asked him," Cassie replied. "I figured a trip to the Bistro might prove more fruitful than occupying the basketball hoop."

Sam chuckled, "Yeah, better to be out with his sister than getting angrier at his mother."

"Sam," Cassie began, taking his hands into hers. "Nick knows you were trying to protect him by not telling him about his mother's custody decision, but he mentioned to me that he felt a bit blind-sided and felt that he would have been more prepared if you would have told him about it." She could sense Sam growing uneasy and uncertain at the direction of the conversation, but continued. "He's angry at his mother, but perhaps if he had known the truth at an earlier point in time…" Sam stepped back slightly and said, "That this could have been avoided. Is that what you're saying?!"

"That is not what I am saying Sam," Cassie countered seeing that her husband was beginning to get upset. "You did what you thought was best. And, that is because you love Nick."

"Then what are you saying?" he relented, his anger fading.

"Our past makes us who we are; it's part of who we become. You know as well as I do that he can't abandon his mother without harming his future," she said, prepping a bottle for Alex who had begun to get noisy. Sam nodded in understanding and agreement. "So, we need to help him forgive his mother even if it means I take some responsibility for not telling him the truth."

Cassie picked Alex out of the chair, walked past her husband and gently squeezed his arm before placing their son back in the play area. "I think it would help."

"Duly noted." He turned to face her. "You were thinking this when I told you everything the first time, weren't you?" He saw Cassie's grin, yet she stayed silent. "How come you didn't tell me then?"

Putting her arms around his neck and pulling him close she said, "It wasn't my place. I was there to listen to my friend—and feed him—so that's what I did." Sam smiled and kissed her. "Well, thank you for being there, then and now."

"And always," she finished. "I love you," he said simply. "Love you more," she responded sealing everything with a deep kiss.

"Doggie," Alex cried interrupting his mother and father's reverie and reaching for the stuffed dog that had fallen out of the play area. They both laughed as Sam bent down to retrieve the well-loved stuffed animal. "Of course son, we can't have you missing your dog."

As he handed the toy back to his one-year old son, his phone rang—a familiar name on the screen.