Double Play XXXIX

By Cruise

Chapter 45

Angélica entered Dakota’s darkened room and sighed when she saw her daughter sitting in the recliner watching TV.  She walked over to her daughter’s side.  “Mi amor.  Please, get out of this room; it’s not healthy for you.”  She walked over to the curtains to open them.  “It’s a beautiful day out. How about if you go ride your horse or go to the beach.”  She reached up for the curtains.

            “Don’t open them.”  Dakota said firmly, not taking her eyes off of the TV that was tuned to a sports channel.

            Angélica walked back over to daughter.  “Alejandra, I know that you are hurting, but this is not the way to go about it.  You haven’t eaten hardly anything at all and you haven’t been out of this room for days.”  She looked at the tray of food untouched that still sat on the dresser and looked back at Dakota.  “Please tell me what happened between you and Cass.  Chad mentioned she was supposed to come home with you.” She looked down beside the chair, seeing old letters laying there. 

            “Maybe he should keep his mouth shut.”  Dakota snarled, still staring at the TV.

“He’s concerned; we’re all concerned about you.”

            “Don’t be.”  Dakota said softly.

“What are these?” She asked as she leaned down to pick one up, but was stopped by Dakota.

            “Please don’t touch them.” Dakota said staring at her mother who stood upright.

            “Alejandra you can’t stay in here forever.”

            “Mamá, please just leave me alone.  I’ll be alright.” 

            Angélica sighed displeased and concerned as she reluctantly left the room.  She walked into the kitchen and picked up her cell phone, sighing.  ‘I have to; it’s the only thing I can think of to get her out of that room.’  After dialing the number, she lifted the phone to her ear.  “Please come over, right away.”  She clicked the phone off and poured herself a glass of wine.  “I may need something stronger.”  She inhaled deeply and took a long sip of the wine. 

After having a couple of drinks, Angélica pushed her hair back and stood up, smoothing out her clothes when she heard a car door slam shut.  As she walked to the front door she inhaled deeply and exhaled loudly, then opened the door.

            “What’s going on?”

            “Please come in Alejandro.”  Angélica motioned him inside.

            “Why do you call me that? Can’t you just use my name? It really irritates me when you do that.”  Her tall, handsome ex-husband gruffly said as he faced her.

            “It never bothered you in our bed.”  She retorted sarcastically.

            He smirked slightly.  “Why did you call me here?”

            “Because of your daughter, I don’t know what else to do.”

            “What’s going on? Is she sick?”           

Angélica momentarily paused surprised, thinking that she heard a slight twinge of concern in his voice.  “Something happened between her and Cass and she won’t come out of her room.”

            “You called me over here for a lover’s quarrel? Come on Ang... I don’t have time for this crap.”  He moved towards the door.

            “She hasn’t come out of her room for days and won’t eat, just like she did that other time when she was sixteen.”  Angélica stared at him, breathing a sigh of relief when he turned around.

            “Do you really think she’s going to listen to me?”

            “I don’t know what else to do.  I, her brothers, and her grandparents haven’t been able to help, so you were the only person I could think of.”

“This is ridiculous.”

“No matter how ridiculous you think it is, she’s your daughter and she’s hurting.  I’m hoping that at the very least, you will anger her out of that room.”

He chuckled indignantly and shook his head, starting to walk away.

“Remember that she always does the exact opposite of what you want.”

Alex didn’t turn around.  “How could I forget?” He walked over to the large staircase.

“Of course not, she learned it from you.”  Angélica said under her breath and walked to the kitchen for another drink.

***

Dakota glanced over at the door when it opened and rolled her eyes at the sight of the tall figure entering the room.  “I can’t believe she called you.” She said snidely and looked at the TV.

            “Me either because I have better things to do then stand here.”  He said blocking her view of the TV.

            “Of course you do.”

            “Ooh, I think you’re better already.”  He chuckled and sat down on the corner of the ottoman. 

            “Whatever.  I can’t believe you came here in the first place.”  Dakota leaned over and grabbed the letters from the floor.

            “I heard you are holed up in here over some bitch.”

            Dakota’s anger hastened and she stood up defiantly facing her father.  “Don’t speak of Cass like that.”

            “Oh, give me a break with this shit.  You don’t need that little red head, just forget about her she’s not worth all this...” he gestured with his hand towards Dakota, “sadness I see in your eyes.  Are you kidding me with this crap?”

            “What do you know anyway?” Dakota turned on her heels and walked over to her dresser, placing the letters inside the drawer.

            Alex stood up.  “I know that no woman is worth you falling to pieces like this, but if you want to sit around crying for some little shit then keep me out of it.”

            “Cass is not a bitch or a little shit as you so eloquently put it and if you say one more negative thing about her I will knock you out!”  Dakota clenched her fists, trying to calm her rage and her emotions.  She tried with all her might, but it didn’t work, her tears streaked her face instead. 

            Alex was stunned by his daughter’s reaction.  He stared at her momentarily.  “What happened between you two?”

            “She left, again! She doesn’t trust me and thinks I want to be with Leila.”

            “Why would she think that?”

            “Does it really matter? Why are you still here? Do you enjoy the fact that I’m miserable?”

            “I’m trying to bring you to your senses.  Move on, she’s not worth all the heartache.  This pining and self imposed seclusion over her is ridiculous!”

            “I don’t have to hear this from you.  Get out!” She shouted loudly crying harder and pushing him towards the door, slamming it behind him.  She walked over to the chair, flipping it over in anger, and then tossed the food tray across the room.  “I hate you!” She screamed, crying harder and clutching her fists tighter.

***

            Alex hurried down the stairs towards the front door.

            “Alejandro, wait.  What happened?” Angélica asked nervously as she approached.

            Alex glanced back at her slightly, and then opened the door.  “I’ve got to go take care of something.  I’m sure she’ll come out of the room.”  He rushed to his car and looked up once more before climbing into the driver’s seat. 

            Angélica watched him climb inside and turned when Chad walked up behind her. 

            “Is that dad?”

            “Yes.”  Angélica said softly.

            “What was he doing here?”

            “I called him.”

            “Why? Because of Kody?”

            “Don’t look at me that way son, there was no other choice, I had to get her out of that room.”

            “I’m going to see how she’s doing.”  He turned and hurried back inside.

            “It can’t be.”  Angélica said under her breath as she watched her ex-husband lift the phone to his ear.  ‘The last time I saw that look from him was when Alejandra was a newborn and he didn’t know I was watching him as held her.’

            “Kody, are you okay?” Chad asked as she walked through the living room.

            Angélica hurried inside when she heard Chad speak to her.  “Are you alright sweetheart?”

            Dakota wiped her face, shielding it from her family members as she walked past them.  “I’ll see you later.”  Dakota walked to the door leaving her brother and mother speechless.  Dakota slid her feet into a pair of Docksiders before exiting the house towards the stables.  ‘Why does that man feel the need to torture me?’ She inhaled deeply and exhaled loudly, trying to calm the irritation she felt for the man as she entered the stables.

            “Hola Señorita.  I didn’t have time to get his saddle on, but it will be done momentarily.” 

            “No need Guillermo.  I will ride bareback.”

Dakota walked over to her white horse, Guinevere.   “Hello beautiful.” She smiled slightly as she rubbed the horse’s nose and leaned in kissing her.  She turned and chuckled when her horse nudged her.  Turning back, she rubbed the horse behind the ear. “I’m sorry, but my mood is too foul for you, but I promise to have carrots sent out for you.” She laughed when Guinevere whinnied and walked over to Lancelot after Guillermo led him out, grasping his mane and pulling herself up onto his back.  “Let’s go boy.”  She nudged him with her heals and both sped out of the stables in a hurry.  “Yah! Is that all you’ve got! Let’s go.”  She moved the reins toward her black horse’s head as they moved into the pasture with him gaining speed with each step.  “That’s more like it!”

***

            Chad’s nostrils flared as he walked hurriedly towards his father’s car, his fists clenched.  ‘What did he do to her?’  He fumed and pounded on the window.

            Alex jumped and turned to the window.  “Hold on.”  He rolled the window down.  “What in the hell are you doing? You could have broken the glass.”

            “I don’t give a damn.  What did you say to her?”  Chad threatened, his heart racing faster.

            “Hold on Rex, your brother wants to have an argument with me.”  He said mockingly.

            Chad reached in and grabbed the phone, backing up when his father opened the door.  “What is going on Rex? Did he tell you that he saw Kody and she walked out of here in tears? She tried to hide it, but I saw that she was crying.”  He glared at his father who stood in front of him.

            “Chad, calm down.  He’s trying to help.”  Rex responded with as much surprise as he thought might be displayed on his brother’s face.  “Put him on the phone.”

            Chad handed him the phone at him and walked away.  “It’s about time you acted like a father to her.”

            Alex lifted the phone to his ear, watching Chad walk away.  “Okay, so tell me everything you know about Leila.”  He said and climbed into his car. 

***

             Lancelot snorted rapidly as she slowed him down to a trot when they entered the wooded area.  He stopped when she pulled the reins back once they were in front of the family cabin. 

After dismounting, Dakota tied the reins around the porch rail and entered the cabin.  Her eyes instantly fixed on the rug in front of the fireplace and she walked over to the couch sitting down, staring at it.  She remembered when she and Cass made love there over and over again.  ‘Why did you leave me again? Why do you think after so many times of me telling  you nothing was going on, that you would think I would be with Leila? Why do I have to keep explaining myself?’ She stood up and walked around the rug.  ‘Why would you believe her over me?’ She stared at the floor and closed her eyes, flashing back to their lovemaking.  She felt a tingling sensation course throughout at the memory and as she opened her eyes, loneliness and longing swept over her from Cass’ absence.  ‘No, I’m not going to waste my time watching the days pass by without you like I did before.’  Dakota hurried out of the cabin and mounted Lancelot. 

Once they were out of the woods she kicked his sides with her heals, “Yah!” and held on tightly as her horse sprinted towards their house.  His long black mane flowed in the wind as did Dakota’s hair.  She was surprised by what she saw coming towards her.  ‘What in the hell are they doing?’ She wondered as her horse sprinted up to her brother’s.  She pulled back on Lancelot’s reins and he stopped quickly, his back feet sliding in the mud underneath him as they stopped before the group.

Dakota shook her head in disbelief.  “What is this, a scene from Bonanza?”  She looked to her left where her brothers Owen, Chad and Wyatt were lined up.  She greeted them sarcastically as her eyes scanned left to right, “Hoss, Adam, Little Joe. Too bad Rex isn’t here he could be Ben!”

“Hey sis, chill out.  We were just worried and thought we would check on you.  But that’s cool...if you want to be a bitch and shut yourself off from everyone who cares about you then we won’t waste our time.”  Owen spoke in a serious tone and pulled the reins to the left to turn his horse around.

 Dakota regretted her words.  “Wait.”  She moved Lancelot between the other horses.  “I’m sorry I’ve been such an ass, but that is going to change as of now.  You have no idea how much I appreciate all of you sticking by me.  It means a lot, thanks.”

Owen smiled and patted her on the back.  Chad rubbed her arm and Wyatt, the farthest away winked at her with a smile.

“So, what’s your plan?” Chad asked with a smile.

“To beat your asses back to the stables!” She laughed and dug her heals into Lancelot’s sides, who responded with a jump before galloping away.

“Oh, you are on!” Wyatt yelled with a laugh as the three men chased after their sister.

***

            Dakota slid off Lancelot and patted his neck.  “Good boy, you were number 1!” She laughed as she jogged out of the stables as her brother’s rode up.  “You all owe me drinks, as usual!” She teased running past them as they entered the stables.

            “We seriously need to get faster horses.”  Owen said as he dismantled.

            “Or better at riding them.”  Wyatt chuckled.

            “Guillermo, call the pilot and tell him to get the plane ready.  I’m leaving in an hour.”  Dakota said when she ran past him.

            “Si Señorita!”

            Dakota ran upstairs to her bedroom and hurriedly showered.  She dressed and packed her clothes. 

            Angélica entered her room. “Alejandra, what is going on?”

            “I’m fine Máma.  I’m in a hurry.”  Dakota said out of breath as she pulled a long, heavy coat from her closet and grabbed her gym bag as she walked towards the door.

            “Where are you going?”

            “To get an explanation.”  Dakota smiled and kissed her mother on the cheek before hurrying out of the house.  She ran across the lawn to the hangar, just as the plane pulled out.  She sprinted faster and scaled the stairs when it stopped. 

            “Hello Ms. Colby.  Where will we be going?” The co-pilot greeted with a smile and closed the door behind her.

            “Ogunquit, Maine.”  Dakota said placing her bags in the overhead bin.

            He looked down at his list of airports.  “The closest we can get you is Portsmouth, New Hampshire I’m afraid.”

            “How far is that from Ogunquit?”

            “About fifteen miles.”

            “Great, thanks for getting here on such short notice.”

            “You’re welcome.”  He smiled and headed to the cockpit.

            Dakota sat down and strapped herself in as she looked out the window.  ‘I shouldn’t have waited this long.’

***

            “Dude, finally.  I have been trying to call you for days.”  Michelle greeted when she heard Chad’s voice on the phone.

            “I’m sorry; it has been so crazy around here that you just have no idea.”

            “What’s going on? Oh, congrats by the way on the Heisman.  I’m so happy for you.” 

            “Thanks, I appreciate it.  Well, Kody has been doing this self imprisonment thing in her room for the past couple of days because of something that happened between her and Cass.  My mother has been out of her mind so much so, that she called my father.  He finally got her out.”

            “No shit.  Is she okay? I know how much friction there is between those two.”

            “Well, let’s just say he got her out of that room!” Chad chuckled lightly.

            “Give me the scoop; I only know that Cass left a note for Brooke saying Leila had spoken to Cass on the phone.”

            “To be honest, I’m not quite sure what went on either.  Kody wouldn’t tell us anything.  Leila loves to cause trouble with her.  I’m waiting on a call from Rex who was talking to my father about it.  He did a photo shoot with Leila so maybe he can get this straightened out.”

            Michelle shook her head.  “Man, I hope so.  So, tell me all about the award show?”

            “It was great! Of course, I am so psyched about winning.”

            “I am so happy for you.  You deserve the award and it’s about time they gave it to someone other than a quarterback.”

            “I agree!” They laughed.

            “So, tell me how many chicks were all over you?”

            “Tons, man.”  He chuckled and walked over to the large bay window over looking the marsh.

            “Sweet, and let me guess, you gave them all to Owen seeing as how you have a girlfriend now.” 

            “Aah, well...not all of them.”  He scratched his head, chuckling.

            “No way man.  I thought you were into Jana.”

            “I am, but I’m not going to completely swear off all other women.”

            “Ruthless, dude.”

            “We didn’t say we were exclusive.”

            “You are playing a dangerous game my friend.”

            “I like being with Jana, I mean how can I not, she’s insatiable when it comes to sex, but I’m young and I don’t want to only be with one girl.”

            “TMI bro! Well, good luck with her being happy about your non-monogamy.”  Michelle chuckled, shaking her head.

            “I’m not going to tell her anything.”

            “Watch out or else you’ll get a situation like Kody has now with Cass and Leila.  Leila seems like she is a spiteful woman, you better hope Jana is not like that if she finds out about your roaming eye, or shall I say, well you know...”  She chuckled.

            Chad laughed.  “I’ll be careful.  Oh, hold on I’ve got another call coming in on the other line.”  Chad clicked over.

            Michelle sat thinking how great it was that she and Chad were back to their friendly banter.  She had worried at one point that they may not be able to get there considering the way she hurt him.  ‘I regret hurting him to figure out who I am, but we are cool now and I’m so happy.’  As she waited longer she thought about Kody’s situation with Leila and her comment of her being spiteful, then she remembered the evening she saw Leila.

            Chad clicked back.  “Hey it’s Rex.  I’ve got to get going.”

            “Wait, I have to tell you something.”

            “I’ll call you back.  Sorry.” 

            “Don’t forget, it’s very important.”  She was talking to silence.  ‘Damn, how could I have just overlooked what I saw? I need to call Kody.’  She called Dakota’s cell phone and left a message.  “Shit.”  She sighed and dialed Brooke’s phone number.

***

            “Hello Mr. Colby.”  Leila greeted with a smile as she entered the office.

“Leila, I’m glad you could meet me on such short notice.”  Alex Colby smiled, shaking her hand.  “Please, have a seat.”  He motioned to the chair behind her and sat in his chair.

Leila settled into her chair and casually looked around the room noting the name of the company blazoned across the wall ‘Colby Enterprises’.  “Rex told me you had a great proposition for me so here I am.  It’s very exciting.”  She smiled, excitedly.

“From what Rex tells me about you, I’m sure you will agree it’s a great proposition.”  Alex smiled and looked down at the paperwork before him.

Leila watched anxiously as Alex reviewed the paperwork before him and glanced over his shoulder out the large bay window with a breathtaking view of the Atlantic Ocean.   She shifted in her seat feeling awkward from the silence.  “I didn’t know you had a company.  I thought you were a sports broadcaster.”

.           “I do both.”  He placed the paperwork on the table.  “I saw the pictures of you and Rex for the magazine spread you both did together.  I was very impressed.”  He smiled.

            Leila blushed, smiling.  “Thank you, I’m flattered.”

            “My clothing company is looking for models for our new athletic clothing line and I thought you and Rex would make perfect models for that campaign.”

Leila’s heart raced.  The big break she had been hoping for was staring her in the face.

 “So, what do you think about that?”

            “Wow, I think that is a wonderful idea.”  She said flirtatiously.

            “I knew you would say that.”  He smiled and moved around the front of the desk.  “You strike me as a smart woman and a beautiful one too.”  He sat before her, looking her up and down.

            “Mr. Colby, you can count on me for this or any job.”  She uncrossed her legs and leaned forward.

He casually glanced at her low cut shirt and smiled.  “You know trust is important in business and you have been friends with my daughter for some time.  Are you two close?”

“Oh, yes very close.”

He smiled.  “Well, good, that coupled with the reference from Rex sways in your favor, but I do have some other candidates so I guess what I would like to know is, what makes you stand out from the others?”

Leila shifted nervously in her seat and leaned closer to him.  “Mr. Colby, I can assure you, I would do anything for the job.”

            “Anything huh?” Alex smirked slyly.

            “Anything.”  Leila reiterated with a flirtatious smile.

            “Good, that’s what I was hoping you would say.”  He smiled broadly.

***

Dakota had difficulty finding the address written on the piece of paper and the directions she had received from a couple of locals didn’t help much either.  ‘Okay, so let me turn around and count the mailboxes again because I need to look for the fourth mailbox that is red.’  She slowed the car down, seeing the red mailbox.  ‘So, where is the house?’ She looked to her left, then to the right.  ‘Alright, I’ll try this dirt road and hope for the best.’  She turned the car down the dirt road to her right, feeling the tail end swerve from the snow on the ground.  She slowly drove the car, looking through the large trees on each side of the road where houses were hidden behind them.  ‘It would be great if you could actually see the house numbers.’  Dakota struggled to find the numbers through the falling snow and navigate the car so it didn’t slide of the narrow road into the ravine.  She sighed relieved after holding her breath for most of the harrowing climb up the snowy, slick, large hill to finally find the correct house.  She parked the car and looked around at her wooded, out of the way surroundings.  ‘Wow, I thought I lived out in the country.’  She attempted to walk up the slick driveway and stumbled into a snow bank.  “Shit!” She stood back up and dusted off the snow.  Sighing relieved that she had made it to the front door without any broken bones, she rang the doorbell.  She smiled and stepped to the side when an older, gray haired woman opened the door.  “Hello, is Cass home?”

            “No, I’m sorry she’s not.”

            “Oh, aah well my name is...”

            “I know who you are.”

            “You do?”

            “Yeah, you’re the one who broke my niece’s heart.”

            “Uhmmm, ah...” Dakota was not sure what to say to the woman.

            “Come in before you freeze to death Florida girl.”  She stepped aside and nodded when Dakota flashed a grateful smile.  “Let me get you some hot chocolate to warm you up and then we’ll have a chat until Cass returns home.”  She turned away from Dakota.

            “Thank you ma’am.”

            “If you want to get anywhere with wooing my niece back, you will not call me ma’am again.  My name is Mable.”  She smiled slightly and walked to the kitchen.

            “Sorry, aah thank you Ma...Mable.”  Dakota rolled her eyes and sighed from being so nervous.  “Do you know when she might be back?” She pulled her jacket tighter and stood in front of the fireplace, trying to warm her hands. 

            “I expect her back any time now.  She went down to MacDonalds.”

‘Is there a McDonald’s around here? Or anything else for that matter? Ooh, some hot french fries would be great about now.  Man, its freaking freezing here.  How does anyone stand this weather?’  Dakota rubbed her hands together and looked to her right.  The various pictures of Cass neatly arranged on a large piano caught her eye and she walked closer to them.  ‘She looks so adorable.  Her aunt has a ton of pictures of her, she must really love her.  I miss you so much Cass.’  Her heart quickened as she looked at the pictures, longing to hold Cass and explain.  A picture partially obscured by another piqued her interest.  She moved closer and focused her eyes on the inscription. Her heart raced and she inhaled deeply when she realized she wasn’t breathing.  She stood upright staring at the picture as her mind processed what she had read.  ‘How could I have been so stupid?’  Her thoughts were broken when she heard Mabel enter the room.

“Here you go.” Mable said as she walked into the living room.

Dakota snapped her head around when the woman startled her thoughts.  “Oh, aah, thank you.  Uhmmm, you know I’m really sorry for causing you so much trouble, but it’s imperative that I see Cass right away.  Where did you say she was?”

Mable placed the tray on the table and stood up looking at Dakota.  “She's down the road at MacDonalds.”

“Okay, aah how do I get there?” Dakota asked, walking to the door.

“It’s just a mile down the road on the right. Head south, but you don’t need to go I won’t yell at you if that’s what you’re worried about.”  She called out as Dakota was already to the car.

“I know and thank you.  Sorry about the hot chocolate, but I need to see Cass.”  Dakota climbed into the car.

“You should know dear that it’s a small cemetery!” She sighed and shrugged her shoulders watching the tail lights of the car as Dakota pulled out onto the dirt road.

Dakota set the speedometer.  ‘I’m sure I don’t need it unless the golden arches are covered by snow.’  Her heart raced as the speedometer drew closer to the one mile mark.  ‘Okay, so where are these golden arches? I should have seen them by now.’  Dakota turned the windshield wipers to a faster speed to see through the heavier falling snow.  She stopped the car at the one mile mark and looked to her right.  ‘MacDonalds is a cemetery! What is she doing here?’  Remembering that Cass had a fear of dead people, she wondered why she would be here of all places.  She turned the car onto the paved road and drove up the small hill looking to either side, she saw Cass sitting on a bench off in the distance with her back turned to her.  She parked the car and exited, instantly flipping onto her back from the ice patch she stepped on.  “Fuck!” She grabbed her right side and groaned as she stood up slowly.  ‘This ice is ridiculous! How in the hell are you supposed to walk on it?’ She cautiously walked over to the snow and walked alongside the icy path, figuring it was safer that way.  She walked up closer to Cass who turned and stood up, surprised.

“What are you doing here?”

“I came to see you.”  Dakota inhaled deeply, feeling a nervousness sweep throughout her. 

“What for? I’m done.  Have a happy life.”  Cass turned around and walked closer to the headstone.  Cass wiped the tears that trickled down her cheeks.

“Tell me why you left.”

Cass turned around to look at her.  “You know why I left Dakota.  You chose to be with Leila.  I’m done with that.”

“I was never with Leila in New York.”

“Don’t give me that crap Dakota.  I saw her there.  Remember, they have cameras there! I saw you give her a ticket the night we were supposed to have dinner and I talked to her on YOUR phone.  Don’t make me out to be more of a fool.”

“Why couldn’t you have asked me what was going on before you jumped to conclusions?”

“Because you would have been just as evasive as you are right now.”

“I’m not being evasive; I just want to know why you couldn’t trust me...us enough to ask me what happened.  Why would you believe Leila and not me?”

“Because you would have lied.”

“Just like you huh?” Dakota snapped back.

“What are you talking about?”

“You told me you couldn’t be around dead people yet, here you are in a cemetery.”

“That wasn’t a lie.”  Cass grew angrier.

“Then what are you doing here?”

            “I never said I couldn’t be in a cemetery.  You know, you have the nerve to come here with your attitude and question me, when you hurt me with your lies!” Cass’ eyes narrowed.

            “If you had given me a chance you would know that when you spoke to Leila I was in the hospital with an acute appendicitis.”

            Cass listened considering for the first time that she had made a mistake.

“I never lied to you.”  Dakota added.  “Now you, on the other hand...”

Dakota’s accusatory eyes angered Cass.  She walked past Dakota towards the car.  “I don’t have to listen to you.”

Dakota saw the tombstone Cass had been blocking and suddenly all the questions she had pushed for so long to the back of her mind were answered.  “Cassidy!” She called.

Cass stopped in her tracks at the mention of the name that she had given up so long ago.  Her knees weakened and held back emotions rushed back to the surface.  She dropped to her knees, crying.  She cried at the memory of the horror of the past years, at the uncertainty and darkness that surrounded her ever since the day she had found herself in the wrong place at the wrong time.

The world suddenly felt so light on her shoulders.  The sound of Dakota’s footsteps coming behind her brought her back to the present and she lifted her head with a renewed sense of strength.  She looked at the tall woman and her mind raced, confronted with the urgency of an explanation.  Dakota knew, but her eyes were still so full of questions.  Cass fought to put her scattered thoughts in order.  She would have to explain to Dakota why for the past 5 years she had been impersonating her dead sister.

Continued...

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December 2007