*~Chapter Four : Undeniable~*
Freshly shaven, Todd arrived at Marty's house the next day where she lived with Jason. Thankfully, Jason was out. Marty didn't want another heated confrontation. It was difficult enough to deal with Todd and answer his questions. With Jason there, it would have been impossible.
"Where is Cassandra?" Todd asked when Marty answered the door.
"Just a second. I'll go get her," Marty replied. After Todd had taken a seat on the couch, Marty went to get her little girl from her bedroom. Cass came out holding a rag doll with frizzy yarn hair.
Todd smiled when he saw his adorable little girl. She looked just like Marty. Softly he reached out to caress the little girl's cheek.
"You're my daddy," she said to his surprise.
"I think she recognizes you from your pictures," Marty said as she placed Cassandra on her feet. "I have told her all about you."
Cassandra gave Todd a tentative hug. She showed him her rag doll. "This is Ellie," she said as she placed the doll in Todd's arms. "She's just a baby."
"She's really cute. Just like you," Todd said to Cassandra. "I've been wanting to see you for such a long time. All I ever wanted was to be with you and your mommy."
Todd's eyes locked with Marty's over their daughter's dark-blond head. Marty wasn't willing to talk in front of Cassandra. She was too young to understand. Marty had never told her little girl that her father was in prison. Cassandra had been too young to comprehend their complex situation. When she had showed Cass Todd's pictures, she had told her daughter that Todd was far away and although he wasn't able to be with them, someday she'd meet her daddy.
"I'm glad you're finally here," Cassandra said to Todd. "I waited all my life to meet you."
Tears filled Todd's eyes at his little girl's words, but he didn't shed them. When Marty announced that it was Cassandra's naptime, Todd watched her go with sadness in his eyes. He had waited so long to get back to Marty and their child, but now everything was a complicated mess because of Jason Webb.
When Marty returned after getting Cassandra settled, Todd let her have it. "Leave Jason... and get back together with me. We belong together, you, me, and Cassandra. We are a family. I'm am only giving you one chance, Marty. Come back to me," he said to Marty forcefully.
A look of sheer pain crossed Marty's face. Very slowly, she shook her head. "I am afraid I can't do that, Todd. I have to do what's best for Cassandra," she told him quietly.
"What the hell are you talking about?" Todd gasped with a look of disgust.
"I still love you, Todd... through everything, I never stopped. But I can't leave Jason; he's been so good to me and Cass. And... and I have feelings for him..."
"What kind of feelings?" Todd demanded.
"Have you been fucking him? Answer me, Marty!" he growled as he reached out and grasped her wrist tightly in his hand.
"Let go, Todd," Marty said through clenched teeth.
Suddenly they both looked down as their little girl stepped between them. "Quit fighting," she said in a soft little voice.
Marty was saddened that her and Todd's argument had disturbed their little girl when she had been trying to go to sleep. The minute Todd saw Cassandra, he let go of Marty's wrist.
"Daddy, can you stay and play with me?" Cassandra asked Todd.
"Your daddy was just leaving," Marty stated as she gave Todd an angry glare.
"Marty, we belong together... and you can't deny it," Todd said as he returned her penetrating stare.