A Fresh Start
Chapter One Hundred Seventeen
The boys have been home about ten mines when Richard walks in. "Daddy." Will says, getting down from the table and running over to him.
"Hi, buddy." Richard says, bending down to catch him. "How was school?"
"Good, I got to read today. I read a whole chapter without Mrs. Brooks help."
"You did, that's so good. I'm proud of you" Richard says, walking over to the table, ruffling RJ's hair. "How are you RJ?"
"Good." He says, taking a drink.
"How was your day?"
"Good."
"Do you have any homework?" Richard asks, sitting down at the table with Will in his lap.
"Yes sir, I've got math and social studies."
"Do you need any help?"
"I will with the math." He says, reaching for his apple and a slice of cheese. "We're studying other forms of government and I've got to write a report about a ruler of another country."
"Do you know who you want to write it about?" Richard asks, as RJ takes a bite.
When he swallows, he says. "I was wondering if I could do my report on you."
"I'm not a ruler anymore."
"I know, but you were. You were Prince and President of San Cristobel. And you grew up as a Prince."
"If your teacher says its okay, you can do the report of me."
"Okay." RJ says, smiling as he finishes his snack.
He gets up to leave. "Put your plate in the sink and then you can go outside."
"Okay." RJ stops and picks up his plate, taking it over to the sink.
"Can I go outside?" Will asks, moving to get off Richard's lap.
"Finish your snack, where's your mother?" He asks Will as RJ goes outside the door slamming closed behind him.
"Upstairs." Will says, picking up his apple and taking a bite. "Peter and….
"Finish what you're eating before you talk."
He finishes eating and then he says. "Peter and I are not friends anymore."
"You're not friends, why?"
"Because we got into a fight at school."
"You were fighting at school. You know you're not supposes to fight. What happened?"
"He kept pulling Emma's ponytail and Emma asked him to stop a bunch of times and he kept doing it, so I told him that if he did it again we wouldn't be friends and that I would hurt him. He did it again, so I pushed him down and told him to stop. I was helping Emma. She can't get into trouble right now. Her mom has been really mad at her."
"I know you were helping Emma, but pushing your best friend down and fighting at school with anyone is not the way to solve a problem. If you see someone doing something they're not supposed to do, you tell the teacher and she will handle it."
"Yes sir."
"But it's good that you were defending Emma. I'm proud of you for doing that."
"Yes sir, can I go outside now?"
"Go ahead." Richard says, putting him down.
He runs for the door as Richard picks up his plate and takes it to the sink before he goes upstairs. He walks into their room and finds Cassie lying down on the bed. Walking over to it, he sits down beside her, watching her sleep for a few moments. Picking up the blanket at the foot of the bed, he lays it over her.
A couple hours later, the boys come in. Richard is downstairs when they come in. "Dad, we're hungry." RJ says, flopping down on the couch beside him
"Yeah, we're hungry." Will repeats, following RJ.
"Okay." Richard says, getting up and going into the kitchen with the boys following behind him. "What do you want to eat?"
"Pizza." Will says.
"Yeah, pizza." RJ agrees. "Where's mom?"
"She's sleeping. Why don't I call Tony's and ask them to deliver a pizza?" Richard says, reaching for the phone. RJ walks over to the refrigerator. Opening it, he takes out a soda can. He's closing the door when Richard says. "RJ, get some water, you know the rules."
RJ puts the soda back and then walks over to the sink as Richard gets him a glass of water along with Will as he's waiting for Tony's to pick up. After a couple rings, a young girl answers. "Thank you for calling Tony's. May I help you."
"Yes, I need to place an order."
"Yes Sir, what can we make for you?"
"I need a small pepperoni and a medium supreme." Richard says, as the boys put their glasses down and leave the kitchen.
"That's a small pepperoni and a medium supreme. Is that all?"
"Yes."
"Do you want that delivery or pick up?"
"Delivery."
"And do you want to pay for that in cash or with a credit card?
"Credit card." Richard says, reaching for his wallet and pulling out his card. He reads the number to her.
"That will be delivered within thirty minutes."
"Thank you." Richard says, hanging up. He walks into the living room. The boys have changed the channel to cartoons. "The pizza will be here in thirty minutes." He says, as the boys nods.
When the program is finished, Richard says to RJ. "You need to go get your homework and get it done."
"Can't I watch one more cartoon?"
"No, go on and bring me your math homework and I'll help you with it."
"Okay." RJ says, getting up grudgingly. He goes upstairs and returns a few moments later with his backpack.
He follows Richard into the kitchen. Taking out his math, he shows it to Richard and then they start to work on it. Fifteen minutes later, someone knocks on the door. Richard gets up to answer it. Taking the pizza, he tips the delivery man and then closes the door. "RJ put that up and then go tell Will to wash his hands and you wash yours too." He says, putting the pizza on the counter and getting plates for all of them.
RJ puts the homework away and then goes to get Will while Richard gets the pizza ready. They come in a few moments later, sitting down at the table as Richard gives them each a slice of pizza.
"Is Momma sick?" Will asks, after taking a bite of pizza
"Will, do not talk with your mouth full."
When he swallows, he asks again. "Is Momma sick?"
"No, she's just tired so when you go upstairs be quiet."
"Okay." They both reply.
An hour later, Richard has the kitchen cleaned up and is helping RJ with his math when Cassie comes downstairs. "Richard." She calls, walking into the kitchen.
"Hi." He says looking up from the last problem he's helping RJ with.
"Why did you let me sleep? The boys haven't eaten and…." Cassie says, walking towards the refrigerator.
"It's okay. I took care of the boys. I ordered pizza and I'm helping RJ with his math." Richard says, getting up and going to her. "I let you sleep because you need the rest. Are you okay?"
"I'm fine. I didn't mean to fall asleep. I only laid down to rest…."
"It's okay. There's pizza in the refrigerator." He says, as Cassie continues to the refrigerator and he goes back to RJ.
"Do you understand?" He asks RJ, as Cassie takes the pizza box out of the refrigerator.
"I think so." RJ says, showing Richard his paper.
Richard looks over the problem and nods. "You've got it, good job."
"Thanks." RJ says, smiling.
"Are you finished?"
"No sir, I've got some pages to read for social studies."
"Okay, go do that." Richard says, turning to Cassie. She is looking through one of the cabinets. "What are you looking for?"
"The red pepper?" Cassie says, taking a bottle down.
"Red pepper, why?"
Opening the bottle, she starts to shake the pepper out onto her pizza. "Because I want it hotter." Cassie says, putting the bottle back. Getting a glass, she goes back to the refrigerator and takes out the milk while Richard watches her. "Where is my wife?" He asks, teasing her.
"I'm right here." She says, walking over to the table.
"You never drink milk."
"I'm craving it."
"And the red pepper."
"I'm craving hot stuff." Cassie says, sitting down at the table. "Where is Will?"
"He was in the living room after we ate."
"He must be upstairs. How did the call go with Seattle?"
"Good, I've got a meeting setup for after Jeffrey comes back. Did you talk to Will when he got home?"
"No, why?" She asks, looking up.
"He told me that he and Peter aren't friends anymore because they got into a fight at school today."
"A fight, what happened and why didn't his teacher send a note home."
"I don't know about the teacher, but he was defending Emma. Apparently Peter kept pulling her ponytail and Emma had asked him several times to stop. Will told him that if he didn't he was going to hurt him. Peter pulled her ponytail again so Will pushed him down." Richard says, as Cassie gets up. "Where are you going?"
"We have to talk to him about this. He can't be fighting at school. He'll get into serious trouble.
"I've already talked to him." Richard says, as Will walks in.
"Daddy, I need you…." He stops when he sees Cassie sitting there.
"What do you need?" Richard asks him
"Never mind, it's nothing." Will says, turning away.
"Will, what do you have in your hand?" Cassie asks, nodding at the paper in his hand.
"It's nothing." Will replies.
"Can I see it?" Cassie asks, holding out her hand.
"Yes ma'am." He says, handing it to her.
Cassie takes it and opens it. "This is a note from teacher."
"Yes ma'am." He replies quietly.
Cassie reads the note and then hands it to Richard. "Why didn't you tell me about this when you got home?"
"I didn't want to get into trouble."
"And you thought if you told you dad, you wouldn't get into trouble."
"Yes ma'am." Will mumbles, looking at the floor.
"Will, your dad may have just come home but that doesn't mean that you will not get into trouble when you do something wrong if you tell him and not me. You know that you're not to fight at school."
"Yes ma'am, but I was helping Emma."
"I understand that, but you should have told your teacher and let her handle what Peter was doing."
"Yes ma'am."
"I'm going to sign this note and starting tonight and for the rest of the week you will go to bed and hour early."
"Yes ma'am."
"Go on upstairs and get ready for your bath." Cassie says, getting up to get a pen.
"Yes ma'am." He says, turning away.
"Will." Richard says
"Yes sir." He says, turning to him.
"The next time you get into trouble you must tell us everything."
"Yes sir."
"We do understand that you were helping Emma, but not telling us everything that happened at school, is the same as lying to us and you have to always tell us the truth."
"Yes sir."
"Your mom has given the punishment for fighting but because you didn't tell us everything I want you to bring me your game boy and for this week you can't play any video games."
"Yes sir."
"Go get your game and bring it to me and then get ready for your bath."
"Yes sir." Will says, turning away and leaving the kitchen.
When he's gone, Richard turns to Cassie. "I hate doing that."
"I know but it's the only way he will learn."
"I didn't think about his teacher sending a note and it never crossed my mind that he was hiding something when he told me what happened."
"It's okay. I did the same thing when I was about his age, but I got more than going to bed early and losing my video game privileges."
"What happened?"
"My foster mom gave me a whipping and then my foster father gave me one too."
"I'm sorry." He says, reaching for her hand.
"It's okay. I didn't stay with them for long." Cassie says finishing her dinner as RJ comes in.
"Can I watch a movie?"
"You can for another hour and then you have to get a bath." Cassie says, as Will comes back in with his game boy.
"Here, daddy." He says, sniffing.
"Thank you, you can have it back Sunday night."
"Yes sir."
"Go get ready for your bath?"
"Yes sir." Will says, leaving the kitchen.
"What did he do?" RJ asks.
"You don't need to know that. You can watch a movie until its time for your bath."
"Okay." RJ says, walking out of the kitchen.
"Does this get any easier?" Richard asks, getting up and putting the game boy in a drawer.
"Sometimes." Cassie says, getting up and putting her dishes in the dishwasher and starting it.
"Why don't you go upstairs and take a hot bath while I get the boys in bed?" He says, walking over to her and putting his arms around her.
"Okay." Cassie says, leaning back against him before they leave the kitchen.
A couple hours later, Sam wakes up. She's lying on her stomach with her arms wrapped around her pillow. Lifting her head, she turns and sees Jeffrey lying beside her, watching her. "What are you doing?" She asks.
"I was watching you sleep."
"That must be boring."
"Not at all, you're cute when you sleep."
"I'm cute when I sleep." She says, moving to her side.
"Yes, you were smiling while you were sleeping and you were dreaming."
"Why do you say I was dreaming?"
"Because you were talking in your sleep."
"I was talking in my sleep, what did I say?"
"I didn't hear everything because I was in the bathroom, but when I came back you said something about your daddy loves you and that he will always be there for you."
"I must have been dreaming about the baby." She says, stretching as she sits up.
He watches her for a few seconds before he leans over. Reaching for her, he turns her face to him. "I love you." He says, leaning in to kiss her softly.
When he leans back, she says. "I love you too but before you get carried away I want to go on that drive."
"Okay." He says, getting up.
She watches him walk into the bathroom. Laying there a few minutes, she briefly considers following him. Getting up, she picks up her clothes from the floor. She's walking towards the bathroom as he comes out. "I'll be out in a few minutes."
"Okay." He says, going to get dressed.
Forty five minutes later, she walks out of the bathroom. "Are you ready?" She asks.
"Yes." He says, turning the TV off as she slips her sandals on. He gets up and walks over to her. Opening the door and holding it for her.
Closing the door, he puts his arm across her shoulders, pulling her to him as she wraps her arm around his waist. When they get downstairs, they stop at the front desk. "I have a picnic ordered." Sam says.
"Yes ma'am, I'll go get it." The clerk says, walking towards the kitchen. She returns a few minutes later with that basket. "Will there be anything else that you need?"
"That will be all, thanks." Sam says, as Jeffrey takes the basket.
When they reach the car, he opens the door for her, closing it behind her. He puts the picnic basket in the back before walking around to the other side and getting in. When he pulls out of the driveway, he asks. "Where do you want to go?"
"Let's drive south." Sam replies, settling back in the seat.
"Okay." Jeffrey says, heading south out of town.
As they drive, they pass farms and fields full of cattle and crops. They have driven a few miles when Jeffrey asks. "What are you thinking?"
"This reminds me of home." Sam says, looking over at him.
"Do you want to go back to Georgia?" He asks, glancing at her.
She looks back outside before she says. "I don't know."
"Are you worried about Jeremiah?"
"Maybe, everybody knows about him now. He knows about us and about the baby and I don't know if I can handle another confrontation with him."
"You know, I wouldn't let him do anything to hurt you or the baby."
"I know. I want him to know about that part of his heritage. There are things that he needs to know and be proud of, but I don't want him feeling Jeremiah's hostility towards him because of the way he was conceived and Jeremiah will be hostile."
"I don't understand why he attacked you at the wedding."
"I did one of the worst things I could do in his mind. I got pregnant before I got married and then I didn't get married in a church and on top of all that I was married by a Catholic priest. I know it all sounds really closed minded but that's how he sees everything and I don't want my son to be tainted by that thinking."
"He won't be. We'll raise him to see all sides of things." Jeffrey replies, reaching for her hand, lacing their fingers together.
Sam looks over at him and then turns her attention back to the scenery around them as Jeffrey returns his attention back to the road.
"You know a part of me misses home." She says, still watching the scenery. "Even with everything that happened, with my father and Momma, I miss knowing everyone that was around me. I miss driving down the road and meeting someone and even if they didn't know you, they would still wave to you.
"You miss the small town." Jeffrey says, glancing at her.
"Yeah, I mean we didn't have a mall, Starbucks or a movie theater but I could walk into the general store and I knew every person in the place."
"We had our on neighborhood where I grew up. We looked out for each other. And most of us knew each other's business. It was dangerous growing up in Chicago, especially on the south side, but our neighborhood had it problems and it got progressively worse as the years rolled passed. That's why I tried to get my mom to leave, but she grew up there and she sort of looked at the place as it was when she was growing up, with an innocence that washed over the dangerous moments."
"Do you miss Chicago?"
"No, when I left after Mom died, I never thought I would settle down with hours of there. I wanted as far away from there as I could possibly get I think that's why I ended up in San Cristobel. It wasn't home and no one knew who I was."
"I know what you mean. After momma died, the last place I wanted to be was Georgia. I had seen too much of the world, been involved in too many things, seen too many people hurt for petty things like religious intolerance and discrimination. My family valued their confederate heritage. Jeremiah and my Dad both had the confederate flag tattooed on their left shoulder. My Dad would talk about the different family members that were involved with Civil War like they were heroes. And during that time, in those circumstances maybe they were, but I don't believe they are today. It's sad that our country was torn apart over slavery, especially when we're all the same." Picking her hand up, he gently kisses the back of it. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to get all dark and depressing.
"Its okay, you don't talk that much about your home and growing up. I want to know about it." Silence falls again while he continues to drive.
Cassie is leaving the bathroom as Richard walks in from putting the boys to bed. "I'm going to go take a shower, I'll be right back." He says, headed for the bathroom.
"Okay." Cassie replies, walking over to her side of the bed, pulling the covers back. A few seconds later, she hears the water start to run. Taking off her robe, she props her pillow up and then settles against it, picking up a magazine while she waits.
Ten minutes later, Richard comes out with a towel wrapped around him as he's drying his hair. Walking over to the closet, he gets a pair of pajama bottoms and boxers and then dresses before flipping the light off as he leaves the closet and walks over to the bed, pulling the covers back he lies down beside her.
"Are the boys okay?" She asks, moving to him.
"Yes, Will didn't have a lot to say."
"He'll be okay." She says, laying her head on his chest.
"Are you okay?" He asks, playing with her hair.
"I'm fine." She replies, moving her leg over his.
"You know you promised me something this afternoon."
"I did, didn't I?" She says, as she moves to lean up, looking into his eyes.
"Yes, you did." He replies, leaning forward to kiss her.
"How much have you been thinking about that tonight?"
"Umm, not so much." He says, as she looks down.
"Liar." She says, leaning into him as he laughs softly. "It's been in the back of your mind since I left your office this afternoon." She says, playing with his lips, nipping at them until he reaches up to hold her still as they kiss.
Warm desire fills them both as she sighs softly and his tongue slips inside to play with hers. After a few seconds she begins to move, straddling him as she lies across his chest. He lifts his head and she wraps her arms around his neck. He wraps one arm around her, holding her to him as he slips one hand under her hair at the back of her head, deepening the kiss. After a few more seconds, she leans back and looks down. She can feel him pressing against her and she smiles softly. He watches the look of satisfaction settled across her face as she says, "One kiss."
"That's all it takes." He replies, leaning up and softly kissing her neck as he moves up to her ear.
He plays with her ear, nibbling on her earlobe and slowly running his tongue around the rim of her ear. His breath feels cool against her skin. He moves over to her other side, nibbling and kissing her. Bracing her hands on his pillow, she closes her eyes, giving her self over to him. He nips gently on her neck before softly sucking on it and she laughs softly. She leans back and looks down. "What are you doing?"
"Making you mine." He replies, smiling softly.
"You know that's going to leave a mark." She says, as his smile widens.
"You can cover it up, but you'll know its there and that I'm yours as you are mine." He says, looking up with desire in his eyes.
"You are very bad." She says, leaning back down.
"I can be very bad for you." He says, wrapping his arms around her and rolling her over to her back as she laughs softly.
"I thought you wanted me to be the bad one."
"I think we can both be bad. Enough talking." He says, moving to lie on top of her.
Slowly he moves down her body, nibbling and kissing the smooth warm skin beneath his mouth. Settling back, she closes her eyes, waiting to see what he'll do next and loving the feel of his warm breath against her skin. He hovers for a few seconds over her breast before he licks her nipple. She jumps slightly, opening her eyes as he looks up. He smiles when he sees that her eyes have fade to a soft blue. He continues to watch her, as he plays with her nipples.
Moaning softly, she reaches for him. Burying her fingers in his hair, she holds him against her while sweet waves of passion rushes through her. She feels her heart rate jump, beating against her chest as she struggles to catch her breath. He has her completely focused on what he's doing with her breasts before he slowly moves his hands down her body, gently caressing her stomach, playing with her navel. He moves down to her lower abdomen, stopping for a few seconds as he looks up, still playing with her breasts.
He knows what she wants before she does and reaching for her, he lays his hand over her desire. Feeling warmth radiating from her, he knows that she wants him, from the rhythm of her breathing and warmth radiating from her. Reaching for her, he slips his fingers through her soft curls. "Richard." She moans, arching her back. She hadn't realized how much she wanted his touch until she felt his fingers against her, leisurely caressing her. Playing with and manipulating her desire until she's reaching for and clinging to the sheets. Releasing her breasts, he moves down her stomach, stopping for a few moments to gently kiss her stomach before he whispers. "Hello and I love you."
Lifting her head, she watches him, smiling as he kisses her again. He stops to play with her navel, slowly moving his tongue over it. She sucks in a deep breath as fiery sparks of desire seem to burst inside her. He moves on after a few moments, moving down her stomach as she arches her back again. When he reaches her lower abdomen, he pulls away. Looking down and watching while he plays with her desire, slipping a couple fingers inside her, caressing her as he leans up, kissing her.
Reaching for him, she buries her hands in his hair as she wraps her arms around his neck. He continues caressing her desire, slipping his fingers in and out of her, mimicking their own natural rhythm as she releases him. Moving her hands down him, softly scratching his chest as she moves from his neck to his upper chest, she stops for a short while to play with his nipples before she moves on, mimicking him by playing with his navel. She moves on. Reaching his lower abdomen, she breaks the kiss, looking up as she reaches for his desire. Wrapping her hand around his erection, she squeezes it gently before caressing him, slowly moving her hand along his desire, until he pulls away from her. "Cassie." He groans, swallowing a couple times before lays his head against hers.
Smiling, she reaches to kiss him. They fall into the same rhythm, working each other towards release. After a few moments, he pulls his hand away and with her free hand she reaches to stop him. He leans over to kiss her softly before he leans back and looks into her eyes. She can read the need in his gaze and she feels the same answering desire inside her. Reaching for him as he moves into place, she starts to close her eyes, but he shakes his head no. "I want to see the look in your eyes when we come together." He whispers, slowly pushing his desire into the warmth of her shaft.
He feels her body closing around him, encasing him in soft velvet, slick with need. Leaning over her, he kisses her softly as he begins to thrust. Wrapping her arms around him, she moves her hands down his back and over his hips, clinging to him as he increases his speed, thrusting hard as he feels their needs building inside each of them. Staggering waves of desire wash over him as she rolls her hips with each of his thrusts. Her hands hold him against her when he pulls away, and pushes him deeper when they are connected.
"Cassie." He groans, leaning down to kiss her.
He changes rhythm, thrusting hard against her, pushing them higher up the slope to release. He feels their hearts hammering against their chests, beating in time to each of their caresses. He senses the moment her release breaks as she arches her back, pulling him to her and clinging to him while swelling waves of release roll over her. "Richard." She cries.
He thrusts a few more times while answering waves of her release roll over him, clinging to him. They both feel the tension snap in him, filling her with hot desire. "Cassie." He groan, while staggering waves of desire burns through him, filling her. "I love you." He groans, leaning down to kiss her.
"I love you too." She replies, wrapping her arms around him as he collapses into her waiting arms.
They lay there holding each other for several minutes. Slowly she moves her hands over his body, softly caressing him, running her finger though his hair, feeling the dampness from the sweat that still clings to both of them, feeling his weight pressing against her, the coolness of his breath as he struggles to regain control.
Turning her head, she softly kisses his neck, slowly moving her tongue over his still pounding pulse as she reaches up, pushing against him until he leans back, a staggering wave of desire rushes over him when he sees the need burning in her eyes. "Roll over to your back." She whispers, leaning up to kiss him
"Cassie." He whispers, laying his head against hers "Sweet Jesus." He groans when he feels her clinch the muscles deep inside her. Instantly, he feels desire rush through, hardening his body as he moves off her and onto his back.
She moves over him, reaching for him. She moves her hand over his erection, caressing him, mimicking her own rhythm as her body would cling to his. "Cassie, darling, please!" He groans, closing his eyes for a couple seconds before he feels her move.
Straddling him, she guides him inside her, sinking down until they are totally connected. His hands fall to her hips, clinging to her. She begins to move, rolling her hips as she rides him. He looks up, watching her body sway. He moves his hands up her body, caressing her stomach before he reaches for her breasts. Cupping them, as she begins to move faster and he begins to play with her nipples. She feels the desire building towards release as he arches his back, pressing against her deepest desire. "Richard!" She cries
Staggering waves of releases break over them, swallowing them in a sea of sweet desire and pleasure. Her body clings to his, squeezing him as he clings to her hips, holding her still as his desire breaks, filling them both with the hot surges of desire erupting from deep inside him, flooding her as remnants of her release flutter over him, adding to his.
Holding out his arms to her, he wraps them around her as she lies down across his chest, burying her head in the crook of his neck. He turns his head towards her, softly kissing her temple. "I love you so much." He whispers.
She snuggles in closer to him as she replies. "I love you too."