A Fresh Start
Chapter One Hundred Fifty Six
Richard brought Cassie the juice as the boys come downstairs. Both are dressed in suits. Cassie smiles as they walk into the living room. "What are you boys doing?" She asks.
"We're ready for the wedding." Will says.
Cassie looks at Richard before she looks back at the boys. "We appreciate you wanting to be ready for the wedding, but it's not for a few more hours and I don't want you to get that dirty." She says, nodding at their suits. "So, could you go back upstairs and change into your everyday clothes, for now?"
"Okay." They both reply, leaving the living room.
"Did you remember to ask…?
"Yes, she said she would stop and the Beacon will be here with breakfast, so I want you to sit back and relax."
"I am relaxed, but maybe I need to get one of my pills." Cassie says, watching him. She bursts out laughing at the look on his face. "I'm only joking Richard. I don't need the pills."
"I ah… knew that." Richard says, sitting back down on the couch.
A few minutes later, the boys return in blue jeans and t-shirts. Ten minutes later, there's a knock at the kitchen door. Richard gets up. He returns a few minutes later. "Breakfast is here." He says, as the boys jump up from watching cartoons along with Cassie. They walk into the kitchen to eat.
Cassie is upstairs when Reva pulls up. After breakfast, Richard and the boys went out to the barn to take care of Blue and Lady Tammy. When they come back in, Richard had turned cartoons back on before he went upstairs to check on Cassie. He was now back downstairs in his office. Cassie looks out the window from the bedroom when she hears a car pull up. She comes downstairs as Richard comes in from his office. "Reva's here, with Josh, Billy, Hawk and Rusty." She says, as Richard turns back towards his office.
"You're not hiding in your office. We made this decision together." She says, grabbing his hand.
"Sort of brushed her off before." Richard says.
"I figured you did." Cassie says, with a smile as Josh knocks on the kitchen door. "I'll get it. You wait in the living room." Cassie says, walking into the kitchen, opening the door a few moments later.
"You're beautiful." Josh says, hugging her.
"Thank you." Cassie says, hugging him and then stepping back as Richard comes into the kitchen.
"Good morning everyone." He says, walking over to Cassie.
"Richard, what are you doing here?" Josh asks.
"I live here."
"But Cassie said you were staying at the Beacon, that's what she told Reva last night."
"I was, but we changed our mind." Richard says.
"You're not supposed to see her before the wedding." Reva says.
"We've already been married." Cassie says, reminding her. "And it was our decision for him to stay here last night, so get over it." She says, looking at Reva.
Reva starts to say something and then looks at Josh. "Alright."
"Cassie, my girl." Hawk says, reaching to hug her. "You look beautiful."
"Thank you, Hawk." She says, hugging him. She hugs Billy and Rusty after that.
They walk into the living room and the boys get up to hug everyone as Reva and Cassie go upstairs. "I'll send Harley and Sam up when they get here." Richard says, as they climb the stairs.
"Richard, where are you going for the honeymoon?" Billy asks.
"I booked us a cabin up by the Bauer's cabin." Richard says, as there's another knock on the door. He goes to answer it, returning with Jeffrey and Sam.
"Good morning." They say, walking into the living room.
"Good morning." Billy says. "Sam you look more beautiful everyday."
"Thank you."
"You know if you ever get tired of him, I'm free." Billy says, grinning at Jeffrey as Josh stiffens.
"Sam, Cassie's upstairs with Reva."
"Okay, I thought you were staying at the Beacon." She says, turning to him.
"There was a change in plans."
"Did Cassie know?" Sam asks, but Richard only smiles. She turns to Jeffrey. "Are you okay?"
"I'm fine." He says, squeezing her hand. "Go on upstairs."
"I'll see you later." She says, releasing Jeffrey's hand and turning for the stairs.
When she's upstairs, Richard turns to Jeffrey. "Are you really okay?"
"Yes, I'm fine. She made me take some pain medication and she brought more in case I need it."
"She's a good woman." Hawk says, as Jeffrey turns to Hawk. "Hello, I'm Hawk Shayne. I'm…."
"Reva's father, hello." Jeffrey says, holding out his hand, shaking Hawk's.
"Yes, I'm Reva's father and this is her brother Rusty."
"Hello." Rusty says, holding out his hand. Jeffrey shakes it as Harley knocks.
"I would guess that's Harley." Richard says. "I'll be right back." He says, walking into the kitchen. He returns a few minutes later, with Harley.
"Good morning, guys." She says, as Gus walks in behind her.
"Is Cassie upstairs?" She asks, turning to Richard.
"Yes."
"I thought you were staying at the Beacon."
"There was a change of plans."
"Umm." She says, smiling as she turns to the stairs.
"Daddy, can we go see the horses?" Will asks.
"Alright, we can go see the horses, but no horsing around."
"Yes sir."
"Do you guys want to come with us?" Richard asks, looking around the room.
"Sure." Everyone replies, getting up to follow Richard and the boys out of the house.
When they get to the barn, RJ and Will lead the way to the horse's stalls. They all gather around the horse's stalls. "I can see why you named her Lady Tammy." Jeffrey says, looking at the mare standing with her head out of her stall. "She is the color of Tammy's hair." He says, holding his hand out, brushing her nose. The horse nuzzles his hand.
"Who's the other horse?" Gus asks."
"Oh, that's Blue. He's my horse." RJ says, walking over to the stall and holding out his hand. The horse nuzzles his hand.
"Blue, who is Blue?"
"He's my biological father's horse. Mom had to sell him before she married Richard and Dad bought him back from the man that bought him." RJ says, stroking Blue's nose.
"He's a beautiful horse." Gus says, as someone pulls up outside.
Richard walks over to the door and sees William and Ava get out. "William." He calls as they start towards the house. William turns around and seeing Richard he walks over to them.
"We're not late." He says, seeing all the men and the boys standing behind Richard.
"No, we were showing the horses."
"Are you guys going back inside? It's about time to get ready." Ava says, looking at Jeffrey.
"You guys go on inside, I'm going to take care of something and then I'll be in." He says.
They leave for the house as Richard walks back to the horses stalls. "You guys and gals need to go out to pasture." Richard says, opening each of the horse's stalls.
The horses walk through the gate. He leaves them open before he walks out and closes the gates into the barn. He goes back to the house. Gus, Hawk and Billy are in the living room when he walks in. "Where is everyone?"
"Cassie sent Ava downstairs to tell them to go to the basement. She said you were getting ready down there."
"Yes, I am. Umm, Cassie's father, brother and sister are coming." He says, looking at Hawk and Rusty.
"We'll be sure to make them feel welcome." Hawk says.
"Thank you. I'm going downstairs." Richard says, as they all nod.
An hour later, Richard is upstairs with Jeffrey, William, Rusty and Josh with the boys. "I think we need to go on out to the barn." He says.
"Okay." Gus and Billy stand up.
"We'll see you at…." Richard says, turning to Hawk.
"Don't worry I'll have her out there on time." Hawk says, standing up. Everyone leaves as Hawk walks upstairs.
Everyone was standing around outside when guest started to arrive for the wedding. Richard didn't have that many people that he knew in Springfield, but he did invite a few people from City hall and Cassie had invited some of the staff from the Beacon. They were all standing around talking when another car pulls up. JR gets out, followed by James and Olivia and then Sarah. Richard turns and seeing them excuses himself from the conversation he was involved in. "Mr. Marshall." He says, walking over to James.
"Hello, and call me James." He says, holding out his hand. "I hope you don't mind but I brought Ms. Spencer."
"No, of course not." Richard says, looking at Olivia. "You know that…."
"I know. Nothing will happen." Olivia says.
"Okay." Richard says, turning to JR. "Hello again." He says, holding out his hand.
"Hello." JR replies, shaking his hand.
When he lets go, Richard turns to the other woman with him. "Hello." He says, looking at Sarah.
"Your Highness." She says, bowing slightly.
"It's just Richard now. I no longer use my title. In fact my brother is here and he's the one that uses that title now."
"Not for much longer." Sarah says, as James coughs.
"It's okay, and you're right, he won't be using it for much longer. But for right now, he's the only one here addressed by Your Highness."
"Of course." Sarah says, nodding.
"Come, I'll introduce you to everyone." Richard says, turning towards the barn.
As they walk up, Rusty turns around and spots James. "Everyone." Richard says, walking up. "I would like to introduce Cassie's father, James Marshall, his son and daughter JR. Marshall and Sarah…." Richard looks at her.
"Lady Sarah Langley." Sarah replies.
"Lady Sarah Langley." Richard says. "This is my brother, William Winslow." Richard says, as William shakes hands with everyone. "And this is Jeffrey O'Neill. He's a close family friend." Richard says, as Jeffrey steps up.
When he reaches for Sarah's hand, she stares at him. "You look just like…."
"Yes." Jeffrey says, glancing at Richard.
"This is my brother-in-laws, Josh Lewis, Billy Lewis and Rusty Shayne." Richard says, turning everyone's attention on Josh and Rusty. "And the rest are friend that I'm sure you'll get acquainted with through the night." Richard finishes, gesturing to everyone else.
Through the whole interaction, Rusty has been staring at James. Josh notices and walks over to him. "I know what you want to do, but you can't."
"He's the man…."
"Yes, he is, but Cassie wants him here. We have to respect that."
"Like you're respecting Jeffrey being here." Rusty asks.
"Yes." Josh says, glancing at Jeffrey. "You have to remember that Cassie isn't responsible for what that man and Sarah did. She deserves to know him."
"But does she have to rub our faces in it."
"She doesn't look at it that way. Eventually, we'll accept him."
"I will..." Rusty turns to Josh.
"Just remember that this is what she wants." Josh says, holding up his hand.
"I'll try to remember that." Rusty says, turning away from Josh.
For the next hour, everyone walks around taking and laughing. Josh gets Richard's attention, Richard turns to everyone. "If you can all go into the barn, we'll start in a few moments." He says, looking up at the window. He sees Harley standing in the window and he nods.
When they walk into the barn, there is a wide red carpet laid over the dirt floor. It leads down to the arch that setup in the widest part of the barn, directly under the hayloft, bathing it in sunlight from the open doors from the loft. Dust bowls dance in the sunlight in front of the arch and two sections of white folding chairs. There are four rows of chairs, four chairs to each row. Again, the arch is covered with climbing roses and ivy.
To the left of the arch are four seats an in those seats are four violinist. William had sent them up from the Royal orchestra as a wedding present. Everyone sits down, looking around and talking about the barn and how it was setup. Josh and Richard are standing at the end of the walkway. Josh leans over and asks. "Are you nervous?"
"No." Richard whispers, looking at him and smiling.
"I never said you this to you, but I'm sorry that I was with Cassie while you were…."
"I'm okay, Josh." Richard says, looking at him as Josh nods.
Will is the first to appear at the end of the walkway. When he appears, the violinist start to play Amazed. Will takes the first step down the aisle, throwing the flower petals on the runner as he walks. When he reaches the end, he looks at Richard and smiles. The next to go is RJ. He stops next to Will as Rusty and Reva step up. My Valentine starts to play as they walk down the aisle, followed by Jeffrey and Sam and then William and Harley.
When they're all in their places, everyone stands up. They turn as Hawk and Cassie step up to the runner. Hawk looks down and squeezes her hand. "Are you ready?"
"Yes." Cassie says, smiling.
Slowly they begin to walk. Richard is standing beside Josh, but he can't take his eyes off Cassie. She's wearing a simple white gown. She's not wearing a veil but in her hand is a beautiful bouquet of white roses. She stares at him, her heart beating against her chest as she takes a deep breath. When they stop in front of Richard and Josh, Josh asks. "Who gives this woman to marry this man?"
"I do." Hawk says, looking down at Cassie as he places her hand in Richard outstretched on. He leans over to kiss her cheek and then takes a step back.
Josh looks out at the guests. "You may be seated." He says. Everyone sits down and he continues. "Friends, we are gathered here to join this man and this woman in holy matrimony. If anyone here can show just cause why these two should not be joined in marriage, let them speak now or forever hold their peace." Josh says, pausing for a moment. "The institution of marriage a serious and scared union of man and woman. It symbolizes more than just to people joining their lives together. The bible says the marriage is a symbol of Lord Jesus Christ and his relationship with his church and as such this is way marriage should never be entered into without serious consideration." Josh looks at Richard and Cassie. "Please take each other's right hand." Richard reaches for Cassie's right hand. "Richard, do you take this woman to be your wife, to have and to hold, in sickness and health, in good times and bad, forsaking all others, until death do you part?"
"I do." Richard says, watching Cassie.
"And do you Cassie, take this man to be you husband, to have and to hold, in sickness and in health, in good times and bad, forsaking all others, until death do you part."
"I do."
"May I have the rings?" Josh asks, as RJ steps up. Josh takes the rings and says. "May the lord bless and keep you, may he make his face shine upon you and keep you safe. Now each of you take one of the rings." They each take a ring. "Let these rings be a symbol of the promises you both make here today before God and these witnesses. Now as you slip these rings on the others finger I want you to repeat after me. I take you to be my partner, in the eyes of God and these witnesses. I promise my heart, my body, and my soul to you." They follow Josh's instructions as they slip the rings on each others fingers. "What God has joined together, let no man rip apart. By the power vested in me by the Lord Jesus Christ and the state of Illinois I now pronounce you husband and wife, you may kiss the bride." Richard steps closer, pulling Cassie to him as she wraps her arms around his neck and kisses him. After several seconds, they step back as everyone begins to clap. "I now present to you. Mr. and Mrs. Richard Winslow." Josh says, as everyone stands up, clapping as Richard takes Cassie's hand and they walk back up the aisle.
When they reach the end of the aisle, they turn to each other and they kiss again, just as they had done in San Cristobel, but this time he lays his head against her forehead. "I love you and I will never leave you, the boys or our baby."
"I love you too and I know you won't." Cassie whispers back, leaning in to kiss him again.
When she steps back, he turns to their guests. "Are you guys ready to party?" He asks everyone as everyone nods.
They lead everyone out to the trees in the backyard between the house and the open pasture between the Jessup farm and the Beacon hotel. The day before the catering staff had been at the farm, sitting up the tables and chairs, hanging the lights in the trees, sitting up a dance floor. To one side of the yards are two tables. One has all the food that Cassie ordered and on the other are two cakes. One is a groom's cake and the other is the wedding cake, both are chocolate. "Everyone is free to help themselves to the food." Richard says, turning to Cassie. "But you need to eat."
"I'm…." She looks up. "Okay." She says, following him over to the table. They are halfway down the line when Cassie asks. "How much of that do you expect me to eat because I hope you're planning on eating some of it?"
"I want you to be okay, but if you need help I'll help you." He says, leading the way over to one of the tables where the rest of the wedding party is waiting.
"Sam, why don't you sit down and I'll get…."
"No, you sit down and I'll get us something to eat." She says, standing up as Jeffrey looks at her before he sits down.
She returns a few minutes later with each of them a plate. She sits down beside him. "Did you see Olivia?" She asks, glancing at James and Olivia.
"Yes, I saw her."
"You don't think she'll start something, here?" Sam asks.
"I hope not. Although I'm surprised that Cassie invited her." Jeffrey says.
"We didn't." Richard says, having overheard Jeffrey's comment.
'I'm sorry."
"It's okay. We didn't invite her because of the issues you've been having but James brought her along."
"He's Cassie's father. Her biological father." Jeffrey asks, looking for the man.
"Yes, he came looking for her." Richard says, following his gaze. "We were absolutely shocked when he told us why he was here."
"He's proposed using the Beacon as a model for hotels geared towards the other end of the spectrum." Cassie says, hearing Jeffrey and Richard's conversation.
"Hawk is taking it well." Jeffrey says, looking at Hawk.
"I think they've come to an understanding." Cassie says, watching Hawk and James.
"I think we need to start the official festivities." William says, standing up. "Ladies and Gentlemen, if everyone is finished eating. It's time we start the official festivities with the first dance… well in this case, second dance for the husband and wife."
Richard and Cassie stand up and walk over to the dance floor. When they are in the center the violinist begin to play a slow waltz. Slowly Richard leads her through the steps while everyone watches. When they finish the dance, he leans in to kiss her. "You dance wonderfully, Mrs. Winslow." Richard whispers.
"I had a good teacher." She whispers back. The violinist's begin another and they begins to dance again while everyone else joins them on the dance floor.
Everyone dances several songs before Hawk walks over to Richard and Cassie. "May I have this dance?" Hawk asks as he walks up, holding his hand out.
"Sure." Cassie says, as Richard releases her.
Hawk leads Cassie out onto the dance floor while Richard walks over to the table. Getting a glass of punch, he watches while Cassie and Hawk dance. He's watching them as Sarah walks up to him. "You must trust her a lot." She says, getting some punch for herself.
Richard looks at her and then turns his attention back to Cassie and Hawk. "I do." He says.
"I guess you have too."
"What does that mean?" Richard asks, turning to her."
"I only saying that you have to trust her, otherwise it would wear you out with worry."
"Why would I be worried?"
"She a very beautiful woman, that's all I meant. I'm sure she gets a lot of attention from other men."
Richard only looks at her and then turns to walk away, leaving her standing alone.
The party continues. Everyone is dancing, talking and laughing. Reva walks over to William. He's standing next to Billy, talking with his arm around Ava. "William." She says, as he turns to her. "I think it's time for you to make the toast."
"Of course." William says, releasing Ava as he turns to Billy. "I'll be right back and we'll continue this discussion."
"Of course." Billy replies, as William walks towards the table.
Picking up his glass, he taps it a few times with his glass, getting everyone's attention. "It's time for the best man to give the toast." Everyone reaches for a glass before he begins to speak. "Some of you know some of the story about how I came to be prince of San Cristobel, but a lot of you don't know the other side of the story. When I was growing up on San Cristobel, I always felt restless. Like I was looking for something. My adoptive parents took really good care of me. They loved me and they treated me like I was t son, but I always looked for something else. That something else I didn't know was right there in the same country I lived in until I returned to San Cristobel after spending a year at sea.
When I returned from the trip, I figured my life was set. I would spend it at sea. I had a wife but Camille and I didn't know each other. I had no idea that she had ever been pregnant until a man approached me from the palace and told me that my Prince, President at the time was about to adopt my son. Now he did it, thinking I would stop the adoption, but I didn't. What did happen that day was I found what I had been searching for, my family. I knew by the time I was a teenager that I was adopted but I never stopped to think about that, until that day when I walked into the palace and I met my brother Richard and his wife Cassie.
I let Cassie and Richard adopt my son and I was fully prepared to let them raise Will. Cassie wouldn't let me leave. She insisted that I stay and she insisted that I be a part of Will's life and to be apart of her and Richard's. That wasn't easy for me, because I'm a little ashamed to say as the months wore on, I begin to fall in love with her, but that wasn't what I was meant to find when I came to the palace that day. What I found was my brother Richard, his wonderful wife Cassie and I found that I had a family. Richard and Cassie taught me how to be the man I am today. And I will always be thankful. By watching them, I knew what I wanted out of life and what I had been looking for, family and love. So, I want to propose a toast to Richard and Cassie, for showing me what my life was supposed to be." William says, lifting his glass.
"To Richard and Cassie." Everyone says, raising their glasses.
"Okay, let's continue." Reva says, once everyone's taken a drink. "It's time to cut the cake." Richard and Cassie follow Reva over to the table with the cakes on it while everyone gathers around.
Richard takes the knife and he cuts a small piece. Breaking it in half, he hands a piece to Cassie. They link arms each feeding the other the cake. When they are finished, Cassie says. "Thank you for not smearing that in my face."
"You're welcome." Richard says, smiling.
Cassie turns to the guests. "Okay, we've got a couple more things to do and then you can spend the night partying. I need all of the single ladies to the front." Cassie says, waiting for the single ladies to gather around her and then she turns her back to them "1,2,3." She says, before tossing her bouquet over her shoulder.
Ava isn't really paying attention but the bouquet falls into her open hands as Cassie turns to see who caught the bouquet. When she realizes its Ava, she looks at William and Jeffrey, shrugging her shoulders, she smiles. "Okay, since Ava got the bouquet, it's your turn Richard." Cassie says, as Reva walks forward with a chair, pushing Richard into it as Cassie walks over to him. Reva steps out of the way and Cassie puts her foot on his knee as he looks up.
"What are you doing?" He asks.
"It's another American custom. I have a garter belt on underneath my dress. You have to reach underneath and take it off and when you get if off, you have to throw it over your shoulder and the single guys try… well which every single guy catches it their life will change." Cassie says, waiting for him to reach up and pull the garter.
"Do I have to do this?"
"Yes." Cassie says.
"Okay." He says, reaching up and pulling the garter down. Cassie lifts her foot and he slips it off. "I'm sorry guys." He says, looking around at the guys standing around. He tosses the garter over his shoulder, not very hard, hoping that it will fall and no one will catch it, but it doesn't. Looking around he sees William holding Cassie's garter, he immediately looks at Jeffrey and Olivia.
"So, the official stuff is over with, so now we can party." Cassie says, turning to the violinist as Richard walks over to the house. As soon as music fills the air, she says. "You guys can stay for the party but we don't need you guys to play anymore, thanks."
They start to put everything away as Richard walks up to her. "May I have this dance, Mrs. Winslow?" He asks.
"Yes, you may, Mr. Winslow." Cassie replies, taking his hand as he leads them out to the dance floor.