Chapter 4: Reconciliation
As Cassie was preparing to leave the café to meet Sid, she was approached by a still puzzled Jakob who was still wondering about her cryptic comment earlier in the day.
"Sid is the boy I said 'goodbye' to in America." said Cassie, "He happened to find all those pictures of me you put on the internet. He felt he just had to find me. He still loves me. We parted two years ago promising not to try to find each other. It didn't work. Both of us felt that there was something missing from our lives. My melancholy expression in most of your lovely photos told him I was very lonely. Sid really does care about me. He's the one, Jakob."
She paused briefly. Jakob looked sad.
"I'm sorry Jakob," continued Cassie, "but Sid is the young man I've always loved. You believe I'm beautiful and I appreciate that. Yaniv only wanted me for sex, but Sid loves all of me and everything about me."
"Can we still be friends." asked Jakob.
"Of course." said Cassie, "Just because Sid is my boyfriend, it doesn't mean I can't be friends with anyone else."
"I suppose I'll have to accept that." said Jakob, "Please don't forget me."
"How could I?" said Cassie, "But for your lovely pictures, I'd still be lonely and sad. Now, thanks to you, I'm going to see my wonderful Sid again. Anyway, he's waiting outside. Mustn't keep him. Bye Jakob. See you on Tuesday."
Cassie put on her cardigan and went out of the café into the street where Sid was waiting for her. They embraced and kissed each other passionately.
Jakob stood inside the café looking rather despondent.
"Who's that? asked Sid, "He doesn't look all that happy."
"That's Jakob." said Cassie, "He's the cook. He's also the boy who stalked me and then put all those pictures of me on line. I've just told him how much you mean to me."
"How do feel about him?" asked Sid.
"At first, I was very angry with him," said Cassie, "but once we came to an agreement about his pictures, we became friends. As far as I'm concerned, he's just a friend. If it wasn't for him, you wouldn't have found me, so in a way, he's brought us back together. Anyway, let's go up onto the heath and find somewhere to talk."
Sid and Cassie left the vicinity of the café and made their way to Cassie's favourite bench on Hampstead Heath. After they had been walking side by side for a while, Cassie linked her fingers with Sid's. He felt that the afternoon was beginning to go well.
When they reached the bench, Sid sat on Cassie's left. She once again slid her hand into Sid's. He could sense the warmth of her affection and the relief she felt now that he had found her.
"This is a nice view." said Sid, "You must spend quite a lot of time up here."
"More than I care to think about." said Cassie, "I come up here to try to make sense of my life and think things out. Also I like to watch people. I suppose, in a way, it's like my favourite bench on Brandon Hill."
"Until recently, I used to sit on that one trying to remember happier times." said Sid, "But in the end I stopped because I only thought of loneliness and how much I missed you."
"Anyway, Sid, what have you been doing since you came back from America?" asked Cassie.
"I'm back living with my Mum." said Sid, "once I'd settled down, I managed to get a job in a government office. It pays reasonably well and there is some hope of promotion."
"That's good." said Cassie, "Do you enjoy it?"
"I'm starting to, now I'm beginning to understand what I'm doing." said Sid, "Do you like your job?"
"I suppose so." said Cassie, "It pays the rent and I meet a lot of people. Anyway Sid, you've come all the way up to London to see me, but tell me honestly, how do you really feel about me?"
"What a question!" commented Sid, "I think you know how I feel. I love you. You're special. I've thought about you every day since we said 'goodbye' to each other in Phoenix."
"Thank you." said Cassie, "That's what I'd hoped you'd say. I felt the same. Do you remember that I once said I'd love you forever? Once you'd gone, I realised what that really meant. You were always in my heart. I couldn't forget you."
Sid disengaged his fingers from Cassie's and put his arm across her shoulders. She accepted this gesture and put her arm round his waist.
"Now you've found me," continued Cassie, "where do you want us to go from here?"
"I was hoping that we might get back together as a couple." said Sid.
"How do you think that might happen?" asked Cassie, "We're living in cities over a hundred miles apart."
"I could come up to live in London," said Sid, "or you could come back to live in Bristol."
"I know you have a steady job." said Cassie, "It might be hard for you to move."
"Yes." said Sid, "I'm working for the Home Office. It wouldn't be all that easy to transfer to London."
"So I suppose you'd prefer it if I came to Bristol." said Cassie, "I suppose I haven't really put roots down here yet, so that might be better. Where would I live?"
"If Mum's OK with it," said Sid, "you could use our spare room. After all there's only Mum and me rattling around in quite a large house. It's been pretty quiet there since Dad died."
"How does your Mum feel about me?" asked Cassie, "After all, it was my saying 'goodbye' that hurt you so much."
"She knows how much you still mean to me." said Sid, "It was Mum who encouraged me to contact Maxxie when I saw the pictures and realised you were in London. I suppose I've put her through hell the last couple of years. Anyway, she adores you."
"I've changed, Sid." said Cassie, "I'm no longer the bright, cheerful girl you knew in Bristol. I'm sorry. I've been through so much darkness. I don't know whether I can recover."
"I'm sure you can." said Sid, "Your eyes are already a lot brighter. That lovely smile is coming back. You really are beautiful when you're happy. Even Maxxie noticed the difference this morning. I love you. I love all of you and everything about you, sweet Cassie. I always have and I always will. You're very special."
Sid looked straight into Cassie's eyes as he said this.
"Wow! Thank you, Sid." said Cassie, "Before I left the café, I used those words to tell Jakob how you felt about me. It was wonderful to hear you use the same words. I love you so much."
She embraced Sid and gave him a long and passionate kiss. Sid responded by holding Cassie and gently caressing her back.
"That's a feeling I haven't enjoyed for a long time." said Sid, "I'd almost forgotten how wonderful it feels to hold you. Even though I've only just got back to you, it already feels so natural."
"and I'd almost forgotten how secure I feel in your arms, Sid." said Cassie.
"Incidentally, Cassie." said Sid, "How easy would it be for you to leave your work at the café?"
"All I have to do is tell Pete I'm leaving." said Cassie, "He'll probably expect me to give him a week's notice. Why do you ask?"
"Now I've found you, I don't want to lose you again." said Sid. "I'd love you to be my girlfriend once more. I was just wondering how soon you could move to Bristol; that is, if you want to."
"I'd love to, in my heart, but I would have to think about it." said Cassie, "I'd like to know whether I can find somewhere to live; also, is there work in Bristol?
As I've already mentioned, I'm sure mum will let you stay with us," said Sid, "and I'm sure you will find work. I'll phone Mum right now."
Sid called his mum. Liz Jenkins answered.
"Oh, hello Mum." said Sid, "I've found Cassie. I'm with her now. I really believe she'd like to be back with me again."
Cassie nodded and smiled.
"That's good." said Liz. "I suppose you'd like it if she came to Bristol."
"Of course." said Sid, "Would it be possible for her to stay with us, at least for a while?"
"I don't see why not." said Liz, "The spare room is still empty. She can stay there."
"Oh, thank you Mum." said Sid, "That's what I'd hoped you'd say."
"How soon might she be coming?" asked Liz.
"I'll ask her." said Sid, "I think she only needs to give a week's notice to the café where she's working."
Cassie, smiling, nodded again.
"That's good." said Liz, "I'll have time to get the room ready. Anyway, how is Cassie?"
"She looked quite sad when I first met her," said Sid, "but her mood is getting brighter by the minute. She's smiling again. It's wonderful to see her changing like this."
Cassie leant across and kissed Sid's cheek.
"You're sounding more cheerful than you have for a long time." said Liz, "Tell Cassie that she's welcome to come and stay with us as for long as she likes."
"Oh! Thank you, Mum." Said Sid, "That's wonderful. I'll discuss this with Cass and let you know what's going to happen."
"I'll look forward to seeing her." Said Liz, "Let me know when she's coming to Bristol and I can prepare the room. I'm glad you've found her again. I know how much she means to you. Let's hope you can stay together this time. Anyway, bye for now!"
"Thanks again Mum. Bye!" said Sid.
How was your mum about me?" asked Cassie.
"She sounded really pleased that you might be coming back." said Sid, "She knows how much you mean to me."
"Do you know how much I mean to you?" asked Cassie, sounding more serious.
"I do now." said Sid, "I've had two lonely years to think about it. I'll willingly admit that I didn't listen to my heart when I first met you, but I know now that that you're the one person I'd like to be my lifetime companion."
"Wow!" exclaimed Cassie, "That almost sounded like a proposal. I've had time to think about our relationship as well and I feel the same way about you. What I did to you in Phoenix was really cruel. I'm really sorry. It led to two broken hearts and two lonely years."
"So you will come back to Bristol?" asked Sid.
"Of course!" said Cassie, "I've been thinking about it while we've been talking. Are you sure your mum is completely happy about me?"
"I can assure you that she is." said Sid, "She knows how good you are for me. You're my inspiration, Cassie. I adore you."
"Thank you, Sid." said Cassie, "I'm just beginning to feel deeply happy again. I haven't felt this good for a very long time."
Cassie embraced Sid and Kissed him again.
"Anyway," continued Cassie, "how are things in Bristol? How are the rest of the gang? I've met Maxxie. What about Tony and Michelle?"
"They managed to maintain their relationship through uni." said Sid, "Both of them are working in Bristol now. They are getting married next year. Tony's asked me to be his best man."
"Good for you!" said Cassie, "He's still a good friend then. Are you going to do it?"
"Of course." said Sid, "He's always been my closest friend. I feel I owe it to him. It'll go some way towards thanking both of them for bringing you into my life."
"That's a nice thought." said Cassie, "It was Michelle who persuaded me to meet you. It would be nice if we're back together when they marry."
"That sounds as if you do really want to come back to Bristol." said Sid, "That makes me so happy, but how do you feel about Michelle nowadays."
"I suppose I should forgive her for what she did when I was in Scotland." said Cassie, "That was a long time ago and shouldn't spoil things between us."
"Oh, thank you, Cassie." said Sid, "That's what I hoped you'd say. So far, today's been the best day of my life."
Cassie embraced and kissed Sid again.
"It's been pretty good for me as well." said Cassie. "In fact nice things have been happening for a few weeks. First, this blonde boy comes in. I didn't realise he was Maxxie until he spoke to me and asked me how I was. Then he surprised me by turning up a couple of weeks ago with a girlfriend, who happened to be my roommate at the clinic in Bristol. I spent yesterday evening and last night with her. Then, this morning you show up. Incidentally, I thought Maxxie was gay."
"I thought he was as well," said Sid, "but he's told me he's not as gay as he thought. He told me he is in love with Caterina."
"Well, they certainly seemed a very close couple when they visited the café a couple of weeks ago." said Cassie, "They were all over each other. At the time it made me quite sad because I remembered how we used to be when things were going well. I didn't realise that they were helping you to find me."
"I'd love it if we could be like that again." said Sid, "I'm not asking for you to decide this minute, but I would love it if you were able to come to Bristol."
"I have decided." said Cassie. "I'm not working tomorrow or Monday, but I should be able to visit the café tomorrow morning and ask Pete what notice I have to give to leave. Hopefully, it shouldn't be more than a week."
"That's wonderful!" said Sid, "I love you so much."
He embraced Cassie and gave her another long, intense kiss. This time he let his hand explore Cassie's back under her t-shirt.
"That is just a bit naughty of you, but it does feel lovely." said Cassie, "Your hand is so warm and gentle. I'd almost forgotten how good it felt against my skin. Let's stay like this for a while."
Sid and Cassie spent the next few minutes kissing and caressing each other, completely oblivious to passers-by. It wasn't long before Cassie's hand found its way inside Sid's shirt and started stroking the skin of his back.
"Oh Sid!" said Cassie, "I missed having you around, but this is what I really missed. Now I really do want you."
After a while, they disengaged their embrace and got up from the bench. Cassie showed Sid what she enjoyed about the heath. They spent the next hour or so wandering around Hampstead Heath, expressing their feelings for each other at frequent intervals.