Page 67 of Undoing

Willamena watched Rebecca for a moment, tears forming in her eyes. She shook her head and walked Cass silently to the door. It was only then she dared to speak the words swirling in her head.

“Samantha never allowed Rebecca to have a phone. The only phone she was permitted to use was the landline, and Samantha would check the phone bill every month to make sure Rebecca wasn’t calling anyone she shouldn’t be.”

“Like you?” Cass guessed, rage burning in her belly.

“Exactly.”

“So, when Rebecca said she didn’t have a phone, she meant it. Not that she didn’t know where it was.”

Willamena nodded. “I’m not sure giving her phone to her now will help or hurt.” She blew out a frustrated breath. “Have I mentioned how much I hate that woman who hurt Rebecca?”

“That bitch was no woman,” Cass snarled. “But I’m right there with ya.” Cass drew in air through her nose, holding it for a moment before letting it out slowly. The pause gave her time to calm her anger. Neither of the women in this room was who she was angry with, so lashing out didn’t help anything. “I don’t like keeping anything from Rebecca, Aunt Wills.”

“I know. Nor do I. But we must make choices based on what’s best for Rebecca right now.”

“And deal with the consequences later,” Cass finished. She kissed Willamena on the cheek. “If you need anything, give me a call. It doesn’t matter what time it is.”

Cass gave Rebecca one last longing look before she walked out.

“Aunt Wills?”

Willamena looked up from her book and smiled. “There she is. Hello, my sweet girl.”

Rebecca rubbed her eyes, yawning and stretching the kinks out. “Where’s Cass?”

Oh, that’s a good sign, Willamena thought with excitement. “She went home, honey. She wanted to stay,” Willamena continued when she saw Rebecca’s disappointment. “But thought it was best to let you rest.”

“Ugh! I’m getting really sick of that word.”

Willamena chuckled. “I’m sure you are. Do you need anything? Food? Drink?”

Rebecca shook her head. “I’m still a little woozy from the meds. Give me a minute to wake up, and I’m sure I can find something for you to do for me.”

“I’m sure.” Willamena tossed her bookmark at her niece. “Dang it, I need that.”

“Too late now.” Rebecca stuffed it down the front of her shirt. “That’ll teach you to throw things at an invalid.”

“You are hardly an invalid,” Willamena laughed. “To hear you tell it, you’re perfectly fine.”

Rebecca stuck her tongue out at her aunt. Despite the banter, Rebecca was discouraged by Cass’s absence. She picked at invisible lint on the blanket, trying to remember how she got from the car to the couch. Had Cass carried her again? If so, Rebecca was sorry to have missed it. She’d never experienced anything hotter.

“What’s on your mind, Rebecca?” Willamena asked, curious about the pink creeping up Rebecca’s cheeks.

Rebecca froze. She should know better than to think such thoughts in front of a professional headshrinker. “Hmm?” Oh sure, play innocent. That’ll work.

Willamena hid her grin. Her niece was thinking about Cass, which was the outcome everyone was hoping for today.

“How was your day?” Willamena asked instead of teasing Rebecca. “Did you have a good time?”

The smile that graced Rebecca’s face was instant and beaming. “Yes. Cass was…” She hesitated, trying to find the right word for how Cass treated her. “Gentle. And funny and kind. Oh, and so talented.” She laid her head back on the pillow, smiling up at the ceiling like a love-sick teenager. “Cass took me to Ellie’s diner. Oh my goodness, the food was to die for. Then we went to Blaise’s flower shop. Apparently, we’re all really close friends. I wish I remembered that because I’ve never had that…” Rebecca waved that thought away. “Then Cass showed me her work at Sumptor Gallery. Actually, I picked it out myself. I just knew it was hers. I could… feel it. Wait! My flowers!”

Willamena listened closely as Rebecca gushed about her day with Cass. Rebecca had never been giddy as a teenager. Willamena attributed it to losing her parents at an early age and then taking on the weight of the world. Seeing Rebecca like this now warmed Willamena’s heart. Could she look at this as Rebecca’s second chance to be young? To see life differently? Yes, Samantha still happened in Rebecca’s memory, but there was a significant difference between this Rebecca and the Rebecca from two decades ago.

“Cass texted me about the flowers. She found them in the car when she got home. She said she’d bring them to you…” Willamena paused, forgetting she hadn’t yet asked Rebecca how she’d feel having Cass at her doctor’s appointment.

“Were you going to finish that sentence, or am I supposed to guess when I’m going to see Cass again?”

Willamena raised a brow. “Do you often wonder when you’re going to see Cass again?”

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