Page 57 of Cass

I shake my head in confusion. “Why did you think all that about me?”

“I just didn’t understand why you wouldn’t want to be in my life. I guess I made a story up in my head.”

“It had nothing to do with you, Beth. It had to do with him. He never prioritized me. He shut me out of his life.”

She nods. “He had his reasons.”

“I just learned them today. At the time I chose to cut you and your mother out of my life, I didn’t know any of that. All I knew was you were the family he wanted. You were the daughter he wanted. I was neither of those things.”

“I’m sorry, Cassandra. None of it was fair to you. But please understand it wasn’t my fault.” She takes a breath. “I’m sorry you found out about me this way. I’m not sorry you found out though. I’ve been going crazy trying to figure out how to tell you.”

“What now, Beth?”

She shrugs. “I don’t know. The ball is in your court. I think I’ve made my intentions pretty clear. I want my sister in my life. I want my son to have his aunt in his life.”

I feel like I’m at a crossroads right now. My eyes are filled with unshed tears. I take a long breath. “Well, maybe we can start with you introducing me to my nephew.”

She smiles and nods her head.

We walk out to the lobby. Darian is holding Luke as he points to the fish in the large fish tank. She turns with him as she hears us approaching. She puts Luke down and he waddles to Beth.

She bends down. “Luke, I want you to meet someone. This is… well… Aunt Cassandra.”

I bend down and smile at him. “You can call me Aunt Cass. That’s what my family calls me.” He walks right over and hugs me.

Darian is already in full blown tears. I’m well on my way. I look up at them both as Luke continues to embrace me.

He eventually pulls away and runs back to his mother. “Darian, this is my sister, Beth. Beth, this is my other sister, Darian.”

Darian smiles. “I guess I saw you when you were about four or five years old, Beth. It’s nice to see you again.”

“You, too, Darian. I assume it was your daughter who recently had a baby.” Darian nods. “Congratulations to you.”

“Thank you.” Darian looks at me in question. I nod. “Beth, we do family dinners on Sunday nights. Cassandra and I are on our way there now. Would you and Luke like to join us?”

Beth looks at me and I silently let her know it’s okay. She has tears welling in her eyes. “Yes, we’d love that. Thank you.”

I look at her. “Just so you know, tonight’s dinner is going to be a bit of a dumpster fire. It’s not really how things normally are at these weekly dinners.”

Darian laughs. “Oh right. That’s true. You’re in for quite a show tonight.”

Beth pinches her eyebrows together. “Why?”

I smile. “Because I’m banging the man you met at my office earlier this week. He happens to be Darian’s twenty-six-year-old stepson, and his parents just found out about us today.”

Darian rolls her eyes. “Cassandra, don’t scare her away.” She smiles. “Beth, they’re in love.”

I give Darian a look. “I never told you I love him.”

Darian smiles again at Beth. “She does.”

CHAPTERFOURTEEN

REAGAN

I’m getting ready for our Sunday family dinner when I hear my text tone.

Skylar: Do either of you know what we’re walking into tonight?

---