The Cassidy Chronicles
Five - All's Well That Ends Well
Four pounding blows shook the solid oak doors, rattling its hinges. Following four more ferocious knocks, Kane wrenched open the door. A broad bath towel hung low around his hips. Water dripped from his hair. Bloody murder flashed in his eyes. His anger faded when he saw his brother and daughter on his porch.
"What the –"
Shoving Cassie into his brother's damp arms, Mark cut Kane off. "Just take her!"
Cassie appeared perplexed, but remained silent. She was more concerned with keeping her cape.
"What happened?" asked Kane.
"What happened? What happened? The kid stickered my dog! I don't know how I'm going to get 'em off! Shave him… Pluck him… Ice cubes… I don't know." Mark looked his brother up and down. "And where the hell are your clothes?"
Kane replied, "Elsewhere." He tilted his head to the side. "And did you just use 'sticker' as a verb?"
Ever the monkey-see, monkey-do, Cassie's head tilted, too. "Can I keep this?" She was referring to the towel tied around her neck.
The double head-tilt threw Mark even further off the deep end. He rushed off the porch, hands tossed in the air so he wouldn't pull his hair out.
Kane closed the door. As big and bad as his brother presented himself, the man could not handle a four year old. Kissing the top of his daughter's pretty blonde head, Kane said, "You're just like your Daddy, Cass. Can't leave you anywhere. Let's put on your Beauty and the Beast DVD." That would give him another two hours of Chris' attention. Hopefully, the musical numbers would drown out any… non-PG noises.
Super Cassie was in complete agreement. She loved the little teacup. As she fluffed out her cape, one question pressed on Cassie's mind. "Papa?" She gazed lovingly up at Kane. "Can we visit Uncle again tomorrow?"
END