Two days later, everything that needed to be taken care of before Karen went away, had been. Deb had been trained to handle the cafe and it was decided that Cassie would come in every second evening to help out, and on weekends as well. Lucas and Nathan were to be in charge of keeping the house fairly organized and Keith had moved in to stay with Cassie and Lucas.
Karen was finally packed and ready to go. Keith had been surprised by the size of her bag.
"Ugh Kare, your only going for six weeks, your not joining the army." He joked.
"Keith." Cassie said and laughed. "Girls aren't like guys, in that we don't pack light. I bet one of those suitcases is just for make-up. Right mom?"
Karen just shook her head at the two. "No, one is my clothes, the other is my things for my class. My laptop and my digital camera." She said matter- of- factly. "So where is that brother of yours? We have to get going." Karen said checking her watch.
"Ugh I think he said he had an errand to run, he said he would be back before it was time for you to leave for the airport."
Karen nodded and glanced at Keith loading the car. "Ok Missy." She smiled wrapping her arm around her daughter's shoulders. "You have all the numbers you need right?"
Cassie nodded. "I have the numbers for the fire department, the police, your cell number, poison control, so on so fourth mom. This isn't the first time you've left me and Lucas by ourselves." said Cassie.
"I know, but its the longest."
"Yeah, but we'll be fine. Besides Uncle Keith is here. We'll miss you though." Cassie admitted.
Karen smiled. "I'll miss you guys too." She said as she hugged Cassie and then noticed Lucas jogging up the sidewalk carrying a brown paper bag.
"Here mom." He handed her the bag and winked at his sister. "I brought you some food from the cafe, we all know how much plane food sucks and it's a long flight."
Karen laughed at her son. "Well thank you...and thank you for showing up on time." Karen said.
"Yeah Luke, you picked just the right time to avoid having to carry moms luggage." Cassie said and Lucas just laughed right along.
"Well you know that was my intention all along." He joked. "Hey, shouldn't you be headed over to the cafe?" He asked his sister who nodded. "Debs looking like she's pretty swamped."
Cassie groaned. It was almost the supper rush. "Sorry mom, but it looks as if I've got to run."
Keith walked back over to the group. "Cas, why don't we just give you a ride? We'll drive right past the cafe if you want."
Cassie just shook her head. "Nah, its cool. Mom's letting me and Lucas use her car for the next couple of weeks."
"So long as its just for going to work, school and back." Karen added. "I want you and Lucas to stick close to the house these next few weeks."
"But mom." Cassie whined and Lucas just glared at his sister.
"No buts." Karen said firmly. "I don't want anything bad to happen, especially after these last few weeks. If you want to go anywhere, Keith can take you."
"Fine." Cassie and Lucas said in unison.
"Ok I really have got to go." Cassie said. "I guess I'll see you in a few weeks."
Karen pulled her daughter into her arms one last time. "Ok sweetie, you be good. I love you."
Cassie nodded. "Love you too." She turned to Lucas. "I guess I'll see you for supper at the cafe?"
Lucas nodded as did Keith.
"Ok. Bye guys." Cassie said as she got into her moms car and backed out the driveway. She turned and started to drive away, as she turned the corner, she gave one last wave to her mom, who waved back.
Two hours later, Cassie and Deb had managed to make it through the supper rush. Deb had done considerably well for it being her first day. She and Cassie had been talking more and Cassie found herself actually liking the women that had nearly ruined her mother's life. She knew it was long ago, but for most of her life she had felt the need to hate Deb for taking her father away. Now she was old enough to realize it had all been for the best. Dan had turned into a sorry excuse for a human being, and Cassie was grateful she had never been apart of his life.
"So Cassie, you miss your mom yet?" Deb asked the young girl who was cleaning the counter.
Cassie shrugged. "Not quite yet, she's only been gone for a couple of hours. Deb your really doing a great job, Tuesdays are always one of the busiest nights. I don't know why, its just always been that way."
Deb smiled at the girl who was her son's sister. She was finding it strange that Cassie didn't seem to hold any resentment towards her. She was happy, but it was strange. She also knew that Cassie was giving Nathan a chance to be a brother to her, and she was grateful. Deb had always felt bad for the girl and Lucas, for taking Dan but she knew that Cassie and Lucas had gotten the better end of the deal. And for being Dan Scott's daughter, Cassie didn't seem to be anything like him. She was sweet and considerate, not to mention very smart and mature for someone her age. Dan was a complete monster, he was smart but not in a good way, and he was definitely not mature.
"So how long have you been working here?" Deb asked.
Cassie thought for a second. "Um well officially since I was 14, but I've been helping my mom out here since I could walk. It's one of my favorite places in the world. You know just the atmosphere, and the people. For the most part the customers know who I am, they know the Scott family history, but they never judge me because of it. Its nice, not like at school."
Deb nodded, remembering her days in high school where everyone had known all about her and her families money and because of that they judged her and thought it automatically made her a bad person.
"So I wanted to thank you for giving Nathan a chance. You and your friend Haley." Deb smiled.
Cassie smiled back. "Well I figured enough was enough, if Nathan really wanted to get to know me as much as I wanted to get to know him, I may as well let him. And so far, I can honestly say I'm happy I did give him a chance. He really does seem to be trying to be a better person. And him and Haley are actually really cute together, so as long as he doesn't do something to hurt her or my brother we won't have a problem."
Deb nodded as she saw somone enter the cafe. Cassie turned and stared at the person.
"Well well well, if it isn't my wife talking to illegitimate offspring and they seem to be getting along, tell me thats not a little strange." Dan said.
Cassie rolled her eyes. "Two run ins in one week, what is this?" She spat.
"Whoa, calm down there. I was only stating an observation I'd made." Dan smirked, the infamous Scott smirk. Both Cassie and Lucas had inherited it.
"Nobody needs your observations, in fact from what I remember the last time you were here my mom told you to get out. So I'm taking her cue. Get out." Cassie said.
Dan looked at Deb, who just raised her eyebrow at her husband, not doing anything to stop Cassie.
"Well, I don't see your mother anywhere around. In fact from what I'd heard she was leaving for Italy tonight, and my wife is helping her out. If you ask me, I should be welcome here anytime now." Dan said.
"Just go home Dan, we don't need your input or your help. We are getting along just fine." Deb stated.
Cassie laughed. "Wow, good to know even your own wife doesn't want to be around you."
Dan glared at Cassie. "I'd back off now little girl. You don't know who your messing with." He warned.
"Ooh was that a threat?" Cassie asked getting increasingly angry. "And for your information I know exactly who I'm dealing with. You're Dan Scott, the creep who impregnated my mother and then just abandoned her completely. You're the one who's own son, the one he didn't abandon, can't stand."
"You don't know anything about my relationship with Nathan." Dan said.
"Oh yes I do. See Nathan and I, we've been talking more. And from what he's told me, he can't wait to get out of your reign of terror." Cassie said.
"Cassie, be careful." Deb warned the young girl knowing she was going into dangerous territory.
"You better shut up, now. Before I wipe that pretty little smirk right off your face." Dan said just as Lucas and Keith walked in.
"Dan." Keith's voice echoed through the entire cafe, causing customers heads to turn. "Did I just hear you threaten Cassie?"
Dan turned to his older brother, a smirk plastered to his evil face. "You heard right big brother."
Keith nodded, turned to Lucas, smirked and then grabbed his brother by the collar. "You listen here, you psychopath. I heard what you said to Lucas the other day, and now what you just said to Cassie. You ever threaten these two again, and so help me god...I will kill you with my bare hands." He let go as Dan looked slightly shocked as Keith through him to the floor.
He picked himself up off the floor and turned to leave the cafe. Before leaving he turned and looked at Cassie. "Oh and for your information, I didn't just abandon your mother when she was pregnant. So don't make me out to be the monster."
He left and everyone looked around, obviously very confused by what he had just said.
Cassie looked at her Uncle and Deb. "What did he mean by, he didn't abandon us?"
Thanks you guys so much for reading this. I'm really enjoying writing it and the reviews are only helping more. I know the last chapter was kind of a filler, but trust me there is a lot of action coming your way.
Please keep reading and the reviews coming :)
xoxoxo Mia xoxoxo