You're One Thing, I'm Another
By, awesometastic9
Standard Disclaimer
Chapter Two
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Ten Years Later…
Married…
Wow, Casey still couldn't believe it; even though it's been two years since she married her soul mate, Griffin Douglas. So, now Casey is Mrs. Cassandra Douglas. She reverted to her full name right after he –
No. Stop that thought, Cassandra. Do not think about him. He's gone. He's never coming back. Never, ever. But, she couldn't help it; every year on the anniversary of his departure from her life, and their families, she thought of him… wondering what she could have done different to make him stay. But, she knew the answer to that. It was so simple: say you loved him back. But, it wasn't true. Sure, Casey (now calling herself Cassandra) was… fond of her stepbrother – near to the time they left for Queens - but she was sure it wasn't love.
Sighing, Casey pushed back from her desk and buried her face in her hands and screamed.
It was so painful, to think of him every year on this day. She just wished so bad that he wouldn't have left. She didn't know where he even went; he didn't go to Queen's that was sure. Her family was devastated, especially George, and almost as much as him, Edwin.
Derek… Casey thought painfully, for she tried not to say his name if she could help it. Edwin looked up to you! He wanted to hear of your exploits in college, and get advice on high school.
Nora and Lizzie – and oh! Marti… she cried for weeks! Her Smerek… gone. It just about broke her heart. And, Lizzie was sad, sure, but she didn't beat herself up like Casey and the rest of the family – wondering what she could have done to make him stay – she was the consoler, the optimist - for they didn't know exactly why he did; Casey didn't tell them the truth. All she said was that Derek didn't want to attend college after all, and so he left before anyone could stop him. Even though, Casey was such a bad liar – then – they believed her.
Oh, and Nora? Almost lost the baby, she was so torn up.
But, Harper Dixie Venturi-MacDonald was born healthy, though three weeks premature on February 3rd. She's nine now, Lizzie is 24, Edwin 25 and Marti 17.
Lizzie went on to become a professional soccer player, and lives over in England, whose team recruited her fresh out of college. Edwin also is in Europe right now for his photography for National Geographic. He has traveled the world – many times – to exotic places ten times over. He visits when his publisher and agent allows; Lizzie visits when it's the off season for her team. Marti is graduating next year –she's a junior at a different high school, a private one in Toronto called the Mary Burton School, which is very prestigious. When Marti hit middle school, it was scarily apparent she was a lot smarter than her peers. So, she got a scholarship to Mary Burton and George, Nora and Harper moved back to Toronto to be with her, even though Marti boarded at the school.
Casey sighed again, lifting her face from her hands as her phone on her desk ringed.
"Dr. Cassandra Douglas," she said.
"Dr. Douglas, your one o'clock is here." Said Ginger, her secretary and best friend.
"Thanks, Ginger. Send them in." and she hung up the phone.
The patient knocked on the opaque glass door and Casey could see his silhouette through it.
"Enter," Casey said in a crisp, clear voice, expertly masking her distress.
A middle-aged man, who had a bald spot and was quite plump, opened the door and stepped through.
"Good afternoon, Daniel, you can take your place at your usual couch." Casey said, standing up and walking to her chair across from her patient who lied down, and took out her clipboard and four files on him. She uncapped her pen, and asked,
"So, Daniel, how was your week? Stress levels? And how did it go with your daughter?"
Daniel began to relay his week with ever raising voice, tense with stress of relaying his disastrous week, and Casey took detailed notes.
"And how did that make you feel?" Casey asked.
Yes, Casey MacDonald… Douglas, is a shrink.
Derek would be so proud… Casey suddenly thought with a bitter taste. But that bitterness was at him, not her job. She loved it. Probably too much, but not as much as Griffin, her husband.
Casey smiled, thinking of him. Daniel was her last patient today; she always closed early on this day.
Casey had been a bit moody and depressed the past few weeks – stress of the upcoming anniversary – and Griffin was taking her out for a romantic picnic in Central Park.
Oh, and yes: Casey Douglas lives in New York City.
She's been there right after she got out of Queens for an internship for a Dr. Diane Holstrome. One year after, she got her own business practice with another woman, Dr. Florence Winston. And then, six months after that, she met Griffin at her favorite coffee spot and used book store: the Book Nook. They dated for a year and a half, and then he proposed.
The wedding was glorious. Everyone came from college and from her old high school; Emily, Sam, and even Ralph came. But, more shocking was Kendra. Casey sent a courtesy invitation to her and was shocked when she got a R.S.V.P. back.
Marie, her other best friend, arranged the whole event – with the help from Casey, of course. She wasn't about to put her wedding in the hands of someone else, even Marie – and it was wonderful. If Casey could relive that day, she would. She was that happy.
Casey wrapped up the appointment with Daniel at two o'clock on the dot, and by 2:05 she was out the door.
She took the elevator down sixteen floors and then stepped out onto the bustling New York City streets. She hurried in the throng heading the way she needed, and walked back to her apartment. There, she would get ready for Griffin and wait for him to get home.
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Griffin arrived home at four o'clock on the dot.
Casey had just slipped on her pink flower-print skirt and a white button-down blouse and undid her curlers from her hair - to make her natural curls more defined - when she heard the front door open and Griffin call,
"Cassandra? Darling? You home?"
Casey turned around from assessing herself in the floor length mirror and scurried out into the living room to greet her husband with a kiss.
"How was your day?" he asked, pulling away, and set his oversized laptop bag and oversized briefcase down by his feet for now.
"Good; two new clients: a mother and her troubled daughter –"
"Ahhh, the very best…" Griffin laughed, and Casey smiled and continued.
"And an older man who feels he's being harassed… by himself."
Griffin ran over and put a finger to her lips.
"Uh uh, Cassandra. You know you're not supposed to talk about your clients!" he scolded mockingly.
Casey clapped a hand over her mouth and giggled.
"I always forget when I'm with you."
He grinned and pecked her on the lips then went over to the linen closet and pulled out the wicker picnic basket from the top shelf.
"Okay, Cassandra, go finish up. I don't want you to see what I'm packing." He said, waving her away.
Casey smiled and agreed with a nod, and went back into the master bedroom, then into the master bathroom to put on her make-up.
"So!" Casey called, "How did your day go?"
"Good," Griffin called from the kitchen. "I got two manuscripts done for the Killian and Jennings clients."
Griffin was the top editor for the historical fiction books at a publishing company here in New York City: Harper Collins. He worked hard to make his way to the top and the money didn't hurt.
"That's great!" Casey replied, rolling on some lipstick.
A few minutes later, Griffin came into the bedroom as Casey was grabbing her bag, holding the full and prepared picnic basket.
"Away we go, my lady." He said, all charming and held out his arm for her.
Casey took it with a smile.
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The picnic was nice and romantic. Casey and Griffin stayed out late, eating cheeses and drinking wine. As they were heading back home – a bit tipsy – they stumbled upon a play taking place at the west end of the park.
'A MIDSUMMER NIGHTS DREAM', read the sign at the entrance of a path that led to the benches in front of the stage.
"Oooh!" Casey squealed, all excited. "I haven't seen this in a long time! Can we stay Griff?"
Griffin grimaced, holding his head. "Uhhh, I'm a bit tired sweetie. And… uh, I have a flight I have to catch early tomorrow."
Casey's eyes widened. "You have a 'flight'? Why didn't you tell me you were going away?"
"It just slipped my mind I guess." He said, a bit sheepish.
"Where are you headed? And how long?"
"New Orleans. And, about a month." Taking one look at Casey's shocked face he quickly said, "Now, I'll call every day, and it's for the Willhelm client! They are doing a book promotion there. And I'll be back before you know it."
Casey nodded, though she wasn't happy to be away from her love for such a long time.
"Alright," she conceded, and gave him a quick kiss. "Go home and pack, then get a good night's sleep. I'm going to stay and watch this, okay?"
"Fine," Griffin said, and gave her a peck. "See you, Cassandra."
Casey waved, and turned around and made her way to the benches. As she walked, she thought she saw someone she knew out of the corner of her eye, but when she turned, there was no one there. Impossible… he's gone, remember? Casey thought, shaking her head. She sat down at the end of one in the back, and took a program from a volunteer usher with a smile.
Casey quite enjoyed the play, and when it was over she was sad to leave. The characters made her feel at home… at ease; they were familiar territory.
Casey took her time heading home, just relieving the scenes of the play in her head. She was so lost in thought that she almost passed right by her building. Chuckling to herself, she turned up the stoop and went up to her and Griffin's loft.
He was already asleep when she went in, and smiled to herself at how cute he looked when he was sleeping. Still smiling, she went over into the kitchen and made herself a cup of chamomile tea and read her favorite book: Pride and Prejudice for the millionth time. Soon enough, Casey was yawning uncontrollably, and the next thing she knew it was morning, and she had fallen asleep at the table.
Good thing I didn't spill the tea on myself… Casey chuckled and sat up, rubbing the sleep from her eyes and stretched. Getting up she saw that Griffin had already left, and he had left a note for her.
Dear Cassandra,
I'm sorry I didn't say goodbye, but you were asleep and you looked so peaceful, even at the kitchen table. I'll call later tonight when I get in.
Love you,
Griffin
Smiling softly to herself, Casey left the note where it was on the table by the door under her keys.
It was then, that a knock came at the door, and Casey ran to open it, thinking it must be Ginger, who said she was dropping by today.
She opened the door, and clutched a hand over her heart and staggered backwards.
"No!" she cried.
He just smirked.
"Hi, Casey."
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A/N: okay, so you can guess who it is… right? If you can't well then, I'd suggest you work on your insight. Harrharr. So, another chapter! I hope you guys liked it! My other stories are coming soon, I'm just having trouble because I no longer like them. Urgh. Well, please review! I'd love it!
-awetast9