William had taken the truck home; Cassie knew she could trust him. What Cassie did not know, however, was how she was going to explain all this to Damon. She knew she had to talk to him sooner or later, now with William in the mix, things were going to be different.  She had not seen him since her birthday.  She remembered him wanting to console her after her father unveiled the baby’s headstone.  Was not long after, things had become a blur.  She did not even say goodbye.  It was strange that he had not even tried to call her since that night.  He probably did not even know about her parents’ house fire.  Colton had wanted her to question him about his father’s part in it, but could she really bring Dominic up in a conversation without breaking down?  It took everything she had just to be comfortable around Damon, without picturing his father.  Some things you can just not get out of your head.

Cassie had just stepped from the shower.  It had felt good to finally get out of all the ickiness she had felt since Saturday. She makes her way to the bedroom, wrapped in her towel.  She begins to open the closet only to realize none of her clothes had been moved in.  Aggravated, she scurries along the other rooms, she came upon her mom’s room when she would come to visit for the summer when they were on the road with shows.  She digs in the closet and the only thing hanging on the inside was one of her mother’s night gowns. “You have got to be kidding me.”  She took out the hanger and there it was, a beautiful black satin and lace nighty.  She could only imagine what took place while she was wearing it.  “At least it’s been washed.” She dried herself off, slipping into the gown and began to go downstairs.  She reaches for her phone and calls Lily. 

“Hey, when you guys come over with Lil Man, can you bring me some clothes?  There is nothing here but one of Mom’s gowns and I don’t think it’s appropriate for anyone’s eyes other than Dad’s.  I don’t know if we can get into the house or not yet.”

"Yeah, that is no problem, Cas. Is there anything there you also need? Colton has the keys and we’re going to stop to get some things for your dad. William has not seen you in that yet, has he?" Lily laughs a little.

 

Cassie laughs, "No, of course not.  That would be weird, it's Mom's!"  she then whispers, "But you never know..."  There was a quiet giggle shared between the two girls for a moment. "Does Sammy know about Mom, yet?” Lily gets a little sad. "He knows something is wrong, but not what it is. We don't think he should see her like that yet. We will take him there when she wakes up. So do you think you can watch him while we go see them?"

 

"Of course!  Just please bring me the clothes before you let the little spawn in here." She laughs. I will see you guys in a bit.  Please let daddy know I'm keeping Spawn so he doesn't wonder where I am." Cassie hangs up and begins to walk around the house.  It was much different in ways, then she remembered growing up. Mom had put her personal touch into every detail of the renovation.  Cassie walked and looked around with a heartfelt smile.  "Mom, you've got to come through this. This won't be home without you."   She takes a seat over by the sofa, in her dad’s favorite recliner.  She flips the arm out and props her feet up relaxing for just a bit.  She reached over the back of the chair and grabbed Mom's fluffy throw blanket that she always left there for Dad.  She cuddled it up to her face as she covered herself up.  She inhales softly.  "Even smells like her."  She closed her eyes and held the blanket close.   She felt herself beginning to nod off, as there was a knock on the door.  She quickly leans up, covering herself up with the blanket and begins to walk to the door.

William standing at the door. As the door opens, he sees Cassie. He smiles and starts to talk. "Not that I mind at all, but you should not be answering the door like this. There are some strange people around here. You mind if I come in?"

Cassie stood back, allowing William inside, "I am miles away from civilization here, who's going to be coming out this way?"  She laughed. "But really, all of my clothes are at my parents' place.  This was the only thing in the closet to wear.  I guess this meets your approval as well as it did my dad’s” She slowly spun around with the blanket still in place. He looked at her raising one eyebrow. "Okay if you say so. I could have brought you some clothes. You should not just be walking around in your dad’s favorite blanket?" He looks around the house, "This place brings back a lot of good memories. We used to get into a lot of trouble around here."

"Ya, it does.  Colton and Lily will be here in a bit, just wait till he hears about all of this.  He has a son now.  You will get to meet him, he's a real chip off the old block.  I kind of feel bad for Colton now."  She laughs" Sammy sure is a Hurst Boy."  Cassie's expression suddenly changed, she stood still, glaring at the floor for several moments.  She slowly looked up staring out of the window to the pasture behind the house.

William walks up behind her and softly bumps her. "What has you so down? I think your mom is going to be okay. Well, if it means anything, I am happy we have reconnected again. You want to hear something funny? I had the biggest crush on you back then." William kind of side eyes Cassie as he gets a little red in the face.  Cassie turned in his direction, her eyes at chest level.  She tried hard to keep the blanket in place, as she looked up to him. "You?  had a crush on me?" She laughed. "You were always so mean!  You and Colton, calling me those names. Even then, " she paused, "Billy..you were an asshole." she smiled, "and yet, I had the biggest crush on you." She nudged him with her elbow into the shoulder.  "Come with me upstairs, I want to show you something."  She slowly stepped away from William as she turned to see if he would follow.

 

He smiled as he followed her through the house. "You know when you are young, and you pick on the ones you like. I liked you a lot. Any chance that even a little of that crush is still there?"

Cassie smiled, with her back still turned to William.  She stopped at the entrance of her room.  she turned slowly, still holding on to the blanket.  "Come in..." She took his hand in one of hers, as the other still held the blanket and they walked into the room.  She walks over to the little nightstand and picks up a small frame and she walks back over to William. "Do you remember this?  My grandpa took this picture of us right after I had slipped through the tire trying impress you in the swing.  That's the day Colton started calling me Crashie Cassie and the day you said." They both laughed and said, "Trashie."  Cassie handed the photo to William as she took a seat at the edge of the bed.  William stood holding the photo with a smile.

He stares at the photo and then back at Cassie. "You know that was the last time I saw you. We had to leave, because my mom got sick." Just then the front door opens and slams shut. Colton, Lily, and Sammy walk into the house. Colton walks up the stairs into Cassie's room. He sees them sitting on her bed, with her just wearing the blanket. "What the hell is going on here?" He walks over and grabs William up by the shirt. "What the hell are you doing with my sister?"

Cassie jumps from the bed, holding tightly to the blanket. "Colton, Stop it! Let Billy go! We were just talking!"  William just smiles at Colton. "Still playing the tough guy huh? You never could take me back then and there is no way that has changed now. Like Cassie said we were just talking about old times together." Colton looks at the two of them with a puzzled look on his face. He looks at the bed seeing the old photo. "What the hell are you talking about?"

Cassie begins to stand on her feet. "Colton, it's Billy..William is Billy in this picture."  She steps up to Colton and hands him the photo.

Colton lets go of William and stares at the picture. He looks at William and then at Cassie. As he stares and thinks of something to say, Lily rushes into the room with an arm full of clothes. She tosses them at Cassie with a smile and rushes back out of the room. “No Sammy you can't go in there Cassie is getting dressed. Sammy says loudly. "But dad is in there, it's not fair." Colton looks at Cassie and then at William and walks out of the room. William smiles and sits down on the end of the bed.

Just as Colton was turning his back, Cassie immediately on reflex, catches the clothes Lily tossed to her, dropping the blanket to the floor.  She turns quickly with her back to the door trying to avoid Sammy's view. She now faced William with clothes in hand, eyes wide open and red faced.  Neither of them said a word.