"Hi Casey!" Nora greeted her daughter with a kiss on the cheek as if she was used to seeing her every day rather than the fact that it had been nearly two months since they had last been together – and she hadn't been forewarned about Casey's visit.
"You just missed Robbie. He's just left for school."
Despite the lack of warning, Casey had known that her mother was going to be in. It was a Thursday, the day of the week Nora reserved for staying at home and going through her business accounts as well as her designs. In some ways, Casey envied her mother the predictability of her life. The certainties it brought were exactly what Casey had aimed for in her life, but time, career choices and to a large degree Derek changed her perception of that as being her ideal. Now she saw the advantages of a less planned life – as well as the disadvantages.
"That's okay. I'm back for a while now, I'm sure I'll catch up with him soon. Maybe you should all come to lunch one Sunday." Casey said as she removed her coat and boots and followed Nora into the kitchen.
"Is everything okay?" Nora asked a while later as they sat down with steaming cups of hot chocolate. Casey smiled.
"Same old same old. Nothing new." She said. Nora sighed with relief making Casey frown.
"Well I'm glad one of you seems okay at least." Nora said, taking a sip of hot chocolate.
"Problems?" Her daughter asked, even though she knew there were problems with Derek, it surprised her that Nora thought there were issues with Casey's siblings.
"Do you want a cookie? I'm in a cookie kind of mood." Nora announced and Casey's eyes widened. It took quite a bit to get Nora to have hot chocolate and cookies. She was worried about every pound that went onto her figure since Robbie's birth twelve years ago.
Casey nodded, thinking that to decline might halt her mother's evident need to let loose with the family gossip. Nora resumed her seat, placing a cookie jar in front of them.
"So what's wrong?" Casey asked, reaching for and then biting into a chocolate chip cookie that was homemade.
Nora fidgeted. "Well…There's Lizzie, of course. She's still getting over the incident last year with the trailer trash cult member. Marti is dating her way through NYU, and now it appears Edwin's wife has been sleeping with the gardener and there's a hole the size of Texas in their household accounts."
"Oh." What more could she say? She took another bit and a sip. "Is Ed okay?"
Nora shrugged. "He's dealing with it in his own way..."
"Meaning?"
"He's alternating between hard nose business man who has every lawyer and private eye in the state after her, and behaving like a twelve year old sap, sobbing into his Batman bed linen about the duplicity of women."
"Ed has Batman bed linen?"
"Figure of speech." Nora explained. "…I think." She sighed. "The trouble is, normally I'd set Derek on him and they'd sort the situation out together, but…" She glanced up at Casey. "You know the situation in that quarter."
"The whole world knows the situation in that quarter." Casey agreed without exaggeration.
"Derek is so busy moping over Chloe that he doesn't know his front from his rear." Nora had been tempted to use stronger language, but screwy though her family life was right now, she still wasn't at the point where she could bring herself to curse heavily…yet. "I don't suppose you could go sort him out?" She asked hopefully.
"Ed? I doubt it, Mom." Casey said, trying to ignore the flash of pain at Chloe's name. "He and I never really got passed the ol' shared bathroom trauma when he was ten. Have you tried Lizzie? She always manages to drag him out of his funk. Maybe sorting Ed out is what she needs too. She can go in there and worry about someone else instead."
"Actually, I meant can't you sort out Derek? You and he are supposed to be best friends after all."
Casey looked away. "No Mom."
Nora watched her daughter closely. "Why? I know something happened and you fell out but two years is a long time to harbour a grudge. And Chloe isn't there now. I know you didn't like her."
"And you did?" Casey asked in disbelief. Nora looked embarrassed because they both knew the Nora had hated her daughter-in-law but had done a fantastic job of covering it up so that Chloe hadn't been made to feel awkward. With the way she behaved to the family it was more than she deserved.
"What exactly did Derek do?" Nora broached what she knew was an awkward subject.
"Don't ask mom. It's just Derek and I, and over a decade of lies." Casey decided not to mention the fact that the break nearly three years ago was about something different than the latest break.
"Lies? Come on, Casey. You've been so supportive of each other over the years. I mean you've lived together for most of that time. And even when you didn't you've always lived close by. I know he hurt you some how but…"
"It's a long involved story mom, and believe me one that you are better off not knowing about."
"You mean you don't want to whine to me about something horrific that Derek has done? …You two have grown up!"
Her daughter shook her head. Nora sat forward and placed her hand over Casey's.
"Case. He's a mess. She's really done a number on him. He's in danger of losing his career, his self-esteem, his home and maybe with the antics he's been up to, something worse. He's endangering himself and others."
"Antics?"
"Dressing room scraps, turning up for training sessions drunk. George tracked him down to a bar last week and he says he didn't recognise him at first."
Casey was silent for a while. "He's a grown man, Mom. He doesn't need his sister sticking her nose in."
"The trouble is, sweetheart, he won't listen to any of us."
"He definitely won't talk to me and I'm not sure I want to talk to him."
Nora straightened in her chair. "Casey. He's your brother. I can only guess at what is going through his mind at the moment because he won't share. The only thing I know is that every time someone tries to talk to him he just asks where you are. Now. Feud or no feud, I think you need to seriously consider whether you are ready to see him sink lower than the cess-pool he's in when all that it might take is a visit from you."
"It won't help. I can't go and see him."
"A phone call then."
"No. Mom."
Nora pursed her lips in disapproval. "You know it must be nice to have your life all sorted: to know that everything will work for you; A nice house, a good job, plenty of money, and I've no doubt, plenty of romantic interest. But not everyone is as settled and as happy as you Casey. And you need to be there for your siblings just as they are there for you. I can't believe you can be so cold about it all."
Casey stared at her mother and then she stood very deliberately and picked up her purse.
"Firstly," She started. "You have absolutely no idea what my life is like. How it feels to be away from home all the time, away from your family. I don't have a life, I have an existence. And as for romance…there is no one, Mom. There can't be anyone. I fell in love, it wasn't reciprocated, and yet I can't move on. My job, my house, my car, my money all come with a price. The world watches my every move. I have no private life because it plays out in the media. Not as bad as Derek's I grant you, but last week someone tried to get into my hotel room while I slept. Try sleeping with one eye open all the time.
Secondly, I am here for my siblings. I called Lizzie after the incident and she told me to go take a long run off a short cliff – as she has every right to do so. And Ed…I didn't know. He didn't tell me. I will call him and see if he needs anything. Did you know by the way that Robbie is struggling in chemistry? He phoned me on Monday to ask for help. I spent an hour talking him through the periodic table. And Marti? I got an email from her last night. That's the third email we've exchanged this week.
The only person I am not in touch with is Derek and that is because…" She took a deep breath. "That's because he hurt me badly, and I'm not sure if I can forgive him. He took something that meant the world to me and cheapened it with a stupid comment. It made me realise that our relationship has just been one long conflict and we were better off out of each other's lives. So I'm being the bigger person and staying out of his business as I need him to stay out of mine."
She stopped. "And you need to realise something once and for all mom. Derek is not my sibling and he never will be. Don't hold out for that because it won't happen. It can't happen. We share a family, but please don't give us a title, because there isn't one that fits."
Nora stepped forward quickly to stop her from storming out of the house. She met her daughter's look for a long time before speaking.
"You're right. I didn't know any of that and for speaking out of turn I am truly sorry. But you're wrong about Derek, Casey. He needs you. He's asking for you. Whatever he said…is it so bad?"
"Yes mom it is."
"Words, Casey. That's all it is. And he's sorry. He told George he didn't mean what he said. He says you misinterpreted it."
Casey shook her head. "It's not that simple."
"Talk to him, Casey. Please."
"I can't."
"What on earth happened between you that you are in this state?" Nora asked. Casey wasn't sure how to answer that as she raised her face slowly to look at her mom so she didn't. Nora felt a chill when she saw the pain in Casey's eyes.
In New York, Chloe Prescott, formerly Venturi crossed her long, slender legs in their tight mini-skirt and regarded the man across from her.
"Phil…You know me. I'm a determined woman. I'm capable of anything."
Her agent leaned back in his chair, his hands forming a tent as he watched her.
"This could backfire very badly. I mean, why take the risk? I know you're talented but…why not stick to what you are best at? You look fantastic." He flattered her.
"I want to raise my profile."
"Your profile is stellar, babe. You're the face of America, the darling of Canada and you have your own parking place on the Paris runways. What more do you need?"
"I'm not a success anymore. I fail at things."
He sniffed. "The only thing you failed at was that lousy almost marriage to that hockey dude."
"It wasn't an "almost" marriage!" She hissed. "He's my husband."
"Not in the eyes of the law, sweetheart. Or his eyes, by the looks of things."
She looked away. "Yes…well. That is a temporary set-back. He'll come around and then we'll get married again."
"I thought he was refusing to talk to you."
"Which is why I need to grab his attention in a big way…"
Phil groaned. "Don't cause me a problem Chloe. I don't need bad publicity or a law suit."
She smiled sweetly. "I'm not going to do anything illegal." She insisted. "And there is no such thing as bad publicity. Derek just needs reminding of what he is missing."
"Yes. But these things are designed to make the celebs look bad so that everyone can have a laugh at their expense."
"Oh they won't make me look bad." Chloe said with certainty.
"Really? How come you're so sure?"
"I know the producer, and he's arranging for me to have the best of everything. Coaches, stylist…the works. You'll see. A new star will be born! And Derek…will be on the phone to me faster than you can say "forgiveness"."
Phil shrugged. "I've registered my protest. I guess the decision is up to you. Who else is taking part?"
"I don't know." Chloe lied. "But I had heard they were trying to fill the place with D-listers and wannabe celebs. You know, a newscaster, Olympic medallist, some minor, nobody author…"
"I don't think this is a good idea." Casey said, looking at the two women in front of her. One of them was her agent Angela, and the other was a researcher for some new talent show that they were currently trying to talk her into. She was tired from the round trip to London she had made that morning: tired from the driving and tired from the emotions the minor confrontation with her mother had churned up. They had parted friends again, but neither woman was comfortable: Casey, because she now knew things were really bad with Derek, and Nora…Nora because she both wanted to know what had gone on between Derek and Casey – and didn't want to know at the same time.
"Miss McDonald. It would really help us out. We need to have a thinking person taking part. Without saying too much, the other contestants are not exactly renowned for their intellectual capabilities. You on the other hand are an established author. The audience is only used to seeing you on the bumpf. This is your chance to shine." She grinned. "I have it on good authority that you can sing and dance a bit."
Casey glared at Angela. "Did you tell her that?"
Her friend looked unabashed. "It's the truth. You told me the talent shows of your youth were some of your happiest memories."
"You make me sound like my grandmother." Casey objected.
"Aw! Come on Casey. Live a little. Kick up those ballet dancer legs of yours and knock their spots off."
"Jazz…Angela, not ballet."
Angela turned to the young woman beside her and smiled smugly. "See I told you."
Angela's partner in crime leaned forward.
"Miss McDonald. I don't know if this helps or not, but, this show is a special one. It's part of a new telethon to raise money for childhood cancers. Every call made by the general public for voting purposes makes a substantial donation to the various charities. And the winner gets a monetary prize to pass onto the charity of their choice."
Casey's eyes widened. The charity aspect was attractive. One of Casey's college friends had a little girl who had just fought a hard battle with leukaemia and Casey was keen to give back as much as she could to say thank you to all the staff involved in her care. She had already donated some signed gallery proofs to an auction in the little girl's name.
"Miss…?"
"Greeby." The young girl said. Casey's jaw dropped.
"Any relation to Paul Greeby of Sir John Sparrow Thompson High?" Casey asked.
"He's my uncle, why do you know him?"
"He was my counsellor at school. Wow! How's he doing?"
"Uncle Paul's doing great. He just set up his own practice providing couples therapy."
"Couples therapy?" Casey gulped. "I thought his degree was in Computer Science?"
"It was but he went back to college after he left your school and extended his psychology qualifications. He says he had more fun trying to unravel the lives of teenagers than he ever had writing machine code on a 68000." She grinned at Casey's bemused look. "Yeah. That one went over our heads too."
"Pass on my best to him would you? If he remembers me."
"I'm sure he will. He's good with names."
"Anyway, Miss Greeby." Casey tried to get back on track. "I have to admit that the charity aspect is interesting. I have a particular cancer charity that is close to my heart that I would love to see get more publicity and funding. I'm concerned though. Who am I up against?"
Paul's niece reeled off a list of names, some of whom Casey had heard off. Then the young girl frowned.
"There's someone else as well, but I can't remember her name."
Angela stood up. "Time's pressing Casey. We have another meeting across town in half an hour. What's your answer?"
Casey looked thoughtful "Oh what the hell! I'll do it." She announced suddenly. "But only because it will make a small child very happy. When do I start?"