"So this is it. We're home," Cassandra announced as she and Zara led their mother into the house.
"This is your father's house?" Serena asked as she nervously walked into the house with her arms wrapped in front of her.
"It was," Zara answered. "We're not sure if it belongs to him or Vanessa now."
"Vanessa?" Serena questioned.
"Dad's second wife," Cassandra answered in a low voice.
"In any case," Zara spoke up. "She said she doesn't want to live here and Dad won't be back."
"I hope not," Serena muttered under her breath. She took a deep breath and looked around. "Show me the rest of the house."
"Upstairs are the bedrooms," Cassandra played tour guide as they walked up the steps. "At the far end is the bathroom, then Zara's room, my room, and the master bedroom."
Serena wandered into the master bedroom at the top of the stairs and felt a chill go through her body. "This is your father's room," she said as she quickly backed into the hallway and shut the door. "I can't stay in there."
Cassandra and Zara exchanged concerned looks before Zara said, "You can take my room. I'll be in the dorm anyway."
"I don't want to put you out," Serena insisted.
Zara gave her mother a hug. "It's no problem. Let's get you settled in."
As Zara helped Serena unpack, Cassandra went downstairs to answer the telephone.
"Cassie! How's it going?"
"James? Hi, I'm fine. What's up?"
"I just got into town and I thought I'd give you a call. How about having dinner with me tonight?"
"I can't," Cassandra said nervously. "My mom just got home from the hospital and I'd really like to spend some time with her."
"What about another night? It looks like I might be in town for awhile."
"I don't know," Cassandra hedged. "Besides there's someone I'm kind of interested in and . . ."
"So?" James said with a laugh. "I'm only asking you as a friend. Bring your mom or your guy or anyone else you want with you. I just want some company and you and Zara are the only ones I know in town that I can call."
"Ok," Cassie gave in with a sigh. "I'll see what everyone else is doing and get back with you."
When she hung up the phone and saw her sister standing right behind her, Cassie was startled.
"Who's this guy you're into?" Zara asked skeptically.
Reese wandered around the house aimlessly, stopping often in front of the mirror to check her reflection. She wondered if her clothes were alright or if she should do something different when her hair or her makeup, but deciding that she looked fine as she was, she tried to convince herself to stop worrying about it. Then she wandered around the house again looking for something to take her mind off of the waiting.
When she finally heard a knock at the front door, she jumped. She stood frozen nervously in place for a full moment, wondering what she had gotten herself into, before forcing herself to answer the door.
"Hi," Blaine greeted her with a relaxed smile that started to put Reese at ease. "Are you ready to go?"
"Sure," Reese said as she stepped outside and locked the door behind her. "Where we are going?"
"I thought about bowling, but I'm still a little sore from getting run over."
"That's ok," Reese said, not thrilled with the idea anyway.
"How about dinner?" Blaine suggested.
"Sounds good."
Reese stood in awe as she and Blaine waited to be seated at the restaurant. The restaurant was beautiful. The tables were set up on a patio along the beach that overlooked the bay. When Blaine looked over and saw Reese smiling from ear to ear, he grinned back. "What do you think?"
"This place is . . .great. How did you find it?"
"A friend recommended it." Blaine leaned closer and pointed to a sculpture on the far wall. "Hey, check out the fountains. It looks like there's a waterfall along the side of the building."
"They're pretty," she agreed happily, before turning back to Blaine. When she realized how close they were standing to each other, she looked away shyly and gently took a step back. "Oh look, it's Cassandra Barrett."
Cassandra tried to turn away before the couple saw her, but it was already too late. Blaine was already waving at her, so she mustered a smile and reluctantly walked over to them.
"Hey, how's it going?" Blaine greeted her.
Cassie shrugged. "Not bad. Mom got to come home today."
"That's great. Is she here with you?"
"No, I invited her, but she decided to stay home and rest. I'm just out with a friend . . .I guess you two are here on a date?"
When the couple looked at each other and smiled before answering, Cassandra felt ill.
"It's our first," Reese explained shyly.
"That's nice," Cassandra replied awkwardly. She was grateful when she saw James approaching.
"Cassie, our table's ready."
"Thank God," she mumbled under her breath before saying a hasty goodbye to Blaine and Reese.
After they were seated at a table, Reese looked around the restaurant, for the moment too nervous to make eye contact with Blaine. "This is a nice restaurant. Your friend has good taste."
"I'll tell him that. Maybe he'll have a good suggestion for our next date."
Reese smiled shyly and stared down at her plate.
"I don't get to do this often . . .go out to a nice restaurant for dinner, that is," Blaine continued. "I'm lucky to grab a quick bite to eat from the cafeteria between classes and work."
"I don't go out much either," Reese admitted. "Unless it's work related."
"So you don't date much?"
"No," Reese admitted, then after a pause quietly asked, "Do you?"
Blaine shrugged. "I've had my share of girlfriends, I guess. Not that I date around or anything like that. Most of my relationships have ended on good terms." For a moment neither of them said anything and a silence hung over the table until Blaine added with a grin, "And almost all of my first dates have been at least a little awkward for me."
"You really don't want to be here, do you?" James asked suddenly. Cassie had barely spoken since they had sat down and she was still picking at her salad, long after he had finished his.
Cassandra sighed, "I don't know. I'm sorry I'm not good company tonight."
"Is it me?" James asked. "You just didn't want to see me?"
"No, it's nothing to do with you," Cassandra assured him. "It's. . . someone else."
"That guy you're seeing?" When Cassie half-nodded, half-shrugged, James remarked, "I guess that's why he's not here tonight."
"He had other plans," she said simply as she gazed across the patio.
James turned his head, wondering what Cassie kept glancing at. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw someone familiar at the table behind him. He did a double take and then murmured under his breath, "I don't believe it." He got up from his chair. "I'll be right back."
After the waiter served their meals, Craig lifted his glass and gazed lovingly at his fiancee. "I want to make a toast to the most beautiful woman I've ever seen, soon to be my wife and the mother of my child. Here's to a long and happy future together."
After clinking glasses, Lucy quickly brought her glass to her lips to hide her face, but she wasn't quick enough. Craig noticed the tears in her eyes, but mistook the reason for them.
He reached over to touch her cheek and kissed her lightly on the lips. "I don't mean to be this mushy. You just bring it out in me. I'm so lucky to have you. When we're together, nothing else matters."
Lucy shook her head and looked up with a smile, "I don't deserve a guy like you."
"Are you kidding me? You-" Craig started, but he was interrupted when someone standing behind him cleared their throat very loudly. Expecting a member of the restaurant staff, he turned around to give the rude employee a piece of his mind, instead he was stunned to find himself face to face with his former partner.
"James?" Craig said coldly. "What do you want?"
"You've got some nerve," James started. "A lawsuit? I knew you were bitter about being taken off the tour, but I didn't think you'd do something like this."
Craig stood to face James. "I'm not suing you because of the tour. I'm suing you because you stole the songs I wrote."
"No, not you. We. Those songs are mine as much as they are yours and I had every right to record them."
"We'll see about that."
James shook his head and glared at Craig through narrow eyes. "You've changed. Ever since you shacked up with your rich girlfriend."
"Shut up," Craig snapped as he poked James in the chest.
James slapped Craig's hand away, but before the argument could continue, the manager of the restaurant interrupted and told them both to leave.
"I wonder what's going on over there," Blaine remarked as he and Reese observed the argument from across the patio.
"I don't know," Reese shrugged. "And I don't think I want to know. One of those men is a client of mine."
"Then let's get out of here," Blaine suggested. "It's a nice night. Let's take a walk along the beach."
"Ok," Reese shyly agreed.
The beach was deserted at that time of the evening so they had the place to themselves. They chatted about everyday things as they walked along the shore, pausing only briefly to gaze across the water or look up at the stars.
When they reached the edge of the beach where the waterfront turned into private property, Blaine suggested they go back and Reese agreed. After they turned around, Blaine quietly took Reese's hand in his own and they walked back to the car hand in hand.
They rode back to her place almost in silence. When they arrived, Blaine offered to walk her to her door.
"I had a really nice time with you tonight," Blaine said, breaking the silence as they walked up her front steps.
"So did I."
As they lingered on the porch a moment, Blaine turned to face her. "So I guess it's my turn to ask. Do you want to go out again sometime?"
Reese nodded, while smiling shyly, "Sure."
"How about next weekend. Maybe we can catch a movie or get tickets to a show."
"Sounds great."
"Ok, then I'll give you a call or you can call me . . .um, goodnight." He leaned towards her slowly and kissed her lightly on the lips.
As he stepped away and started down the steps, Reese didn't even think of saying goodnight back, instead she walked inside and closed the door behind her. Sinking down into the closest chair, almost in a trance, she stared at the wall a moment, trying to take in the events of the evening. She breathed a contented sigh and smiled to herself. It had been a wonderful night.
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