"Detective Varner, what are you doing here?" Vanessa greeted Logan at her front door. "I hope nothing's wrong."
"No, not at all. I just stopped by to say hi and see how you're doing. I hope that's alright."
"Of course," she said brightly. "I was worried for a second there. You'll have to pardon me for getting a little nervous about seeing a police officer at my door, especially after everything that's happened lately."
"I understand," he said with a smile. "I get that a lot. It kind of comes with my line of work. People are either relieved to see us or dreading our knock on the door."
"I have to admit. I was feeling a little of both. I'm glad you don't take that personally."
He wanted to ask what she did think of seeing him there, personally, and not just as Detective Varner.
"Please come in, Detective."
"Thanks. And call me Logan. I'm not on duty. This is a personal call."
"Oh, and to what do I owe the pleasure, Logan?"
"Well, there's something I've been wanting to ask you for a long time, but couldn't, because of my investigation. Now that it's over, I was wondering if you would like to have dinner with me? Maybe this weekend?"
"I'd love to, but I'm busy this weekend. I have a wedding to go to. Maybe the next weekend, unless you'd like to come with?"
"Sure, if you don't mind. I may have to go out of town for work soon, I'm not sure when yet, so the sooner we can get together the better. I'd hate to lose my chance to get to know you better."
"You've been pretty quiet ever since you talked to Mother," Zara said as she and Cassie returned to the house. "What did she say to you when you went in to talk to her?"
"Nothing," Cassie said.
"It had to be something," Zara insisted.
"Ok, she did say something, but it didn't have to do with anything," Cassie answered cryptically.
"Alright, fine," Zara said. Giving up on getting anything else out of her sister, she walked away.
Cassie was still trying to make sense of the advice her mother had given her. The conversation with her mother left Cassie feeling awkward. Serena was in jail awaiting a murder trial and instead of worrying about herself or what was going to happen to her, she was giving Cassie advice on how to get Blaine. Even Cassie herself, who had been admittedly fixated on Blaine since they met, wasn't thinking about her love life right now. She wondered exactly what Serena had seen, what kind of vision or premonition had made her think that getting pregnant right away was so important.
When there was a knock on the door, Cassie found herself feeling, not surprised, but slightly awkward at seeing Blaine on her doorstep.
"Hey, I hope it's alright that I just stopped by," he said shyly. "But I was thinking a lot about you after everything that's happened and I wanted to see how you're doing. I know the whole thing must be traumatic for you, so I just thought I'd stop by and see if you were ok."
"I'm coping . . . well, trying to. It's just an awful situation all around. It's not easy to handle."
"I can't even imagine. Is there anything I can do?"
"No, but thank you for offering. There's not anything anyone can do."
"I know it was kind of strange how we left things last time, but I want you to know that I'm here for you if you need anything at all . . .I just can't seem to stay away, can I?" he said with a light laugh.
Cassie just smiled slightly at him. She tried to remain calm on the outside, but her heart suddenly felt like it was beating out of her chest. She could feel something major was coming from this conversation.
"I guess I'm just drawn to people in need, especially when it's a friend in need . . . Were you really serious when you said we couldn't be just friends?"
"Yes, I was, but I don't really want to end our friendship," she said slowly, trying to put her thoughts together. She hated the way she felt when Blaine and Reese were together and she didn't want to go through that again if he started dating someone else, but on the other hand she didn't want to give him an ultimatum. She didn't want him to ask her out, just because she was pressuring him to do it. She would be getting what she always wanted, but it wouldn't feel right. It was important that everything felt right. "I don't want to cut you out of my life altogether. I think that it would be way worse to be nothing at all."
"I'm glad you said that, because I feel that way too. I don't have many friends in my life right now. It seems like everyone has moved away or moved on. You're one of the few people I can really talk to and I'd hate to lose that."
"Me too."
"It's made me realize how important you really are to me." As Blaine spoke those words the expression in his eyes seemed to soften and Cassandra had to remind herself to breathe. "At first I was a little surprised that you were interested in me, because when we first met, Reese and I were just getting together and I wasn't looking for anyone. Then when Reese and I broke up, it took me a little while to get over her. But I am over her now and I'm ready to move on. This might be a bad time to say so with all that's going on with your family, but now that I've had some time to think, I realize I really can see myself with you. If you're interested, I'd like to give it a try. What do you think?"
Cassandra was so elated she wanted to throw her arms wide and shout from the rooftops. Instead she smiled a bright, beaming smile and answered, "Yes!"
"Dad, are you ok?" Eileen asked as she rushed to her father's side.
As Arthur looked up at her, the vacant look in his eyes faded and he seemed like he was awakening from a trance. "I'm alright now."
"Are you sure? Do you need anything? Should I call Veronica? Should I take you to the hospital?"
"No, I'm alright."
"You didn't look alright a second ago. You scared me," Eileen said.
"I'm sorry. It's -" he stopped suddenly, reconsidering what he was about to say. "Eileen, there's something I should probably tell you. It's not easy for me to say to you and it won't be easy for you to hear."
"What is it?" she asked anxiously. The seriousness in her father's voice frightened her, but she couldn't take any suspense. Fortunately Arthur got right to the point.
"I'm not well, sweetheart, and I'm getting worse all the time. My health started getting worse while Veronica and I were away and I actually went to a few specialists about it. They don't know anything for certain, but they don't think I have much longer to live."
Eileen was stunned. The thought of losing her father instantly brought tears to her eyes. "What is it? Isn't there anything they can do?"
Arthur just shook his head. "No, it just is what it is. It's hard to deal with, but we all have our time and I've had a long full life. I've married twice, both times to women that I loved, I started a successful business that I've been able to pass on and that will continue on after I'm gone, and most importantly of all I had you, my pride and joy. I couldn't have asked for more in a daughter."
Eileen turned away, embarrassed and wiped her eyes. "Oh Dad."
"It's true. I've watched you grow from a beautiful baby girl to a lovely, bright young woman. I can't even tell you how much happiness you've brought into my life. In spite of anything else that has happened, you have always brought me joy and I only hope for you to have as much happiness and joy as you have brought to my life . . . Oh, darling, don't cry."
"How can I not? My whole life, it's always been you and me."
"I know, but life moves on and things change. Listen, I still have some time left and we'll make the most of it, I promise."
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