Following Your Heart (Love Conquers All) (14 page)

“Sure babe.” 

When he left, Courtney led the way up the stairs.  “The men will get dressed down the hall and we'll get dressed in this room.” 

When they stopped outside the room that Seth and her had made love and broke up in, she started to chuckle.  “Of course, why wouldn't it be this room?”

“I'm not following.” 

“This room has a lot of memories some great and some not so great.  It just is perfect that it comes down to this.”  She shrugged, “It doesn't matter, just ironic.”

“If you want a different room, I'm sure we can arrange it.”

“No, it's fine.  I'm just surprised, how's it going to fit 6 of us in there?  I mean, to get dressed, won't it be cramped?”

Courtney shook her head, “Actually, Megan and Seth have redone it to accommodate wedding parties.  They have quite a few weddings going on in the summer and that's actually why we decided on the winter.  Here, I'll show you.”

When Courtney opened up the door, Cassie was hit with the thought of what that room meant.  As she entered she saw that the bed was gone and in
its place we're two partitions.  Across from those were two more.  “See, we can have 4 people dress in here and then someone can dress in the bathroom.  I'm actually going to dress downstairs because my heels are too big for me to chance walking down the stairs.”

Cassie nodded, “Okay...I stand corrected.”

“Hey Courtney, can you come down here...I can't find that list.”

Courtney rolled her eyes, “It's a good thing he's handsome.  I'll be right back.”

“I could go find it for him.”  Cassie replied, but as she reached the door Courtney stopped her.

“That's okay
Cassie; it will only be a minute.  You stay up here and look around.  I'll only be a minute.”

“Well...alright.” 

When Courtney left Cassie turned away and thought that Courtney was acting odd.  It didn't matter, she was left there and she could run back downstairs or just accept what it was.  She walked over to the window and looked outside.  She smiled at the restaurant.  It was sweet of Seth to name it after her and it made her realize that his feelings were real. 

As she was closing the curtain she heard the door open.  “Did you find...” she turned around and saw Seth staring back at her.  “Seth!”

“Hello Cassie,” he looked around the room, appearing to be as anxious as she was.  “Where is everyone?”

“Downstairs finding the guest list.  I better go help.”  She went to rush past him, but he reached out to stop her.  “Well, since we're alone...I would like to talk to you.”

“I have nothing to say to you Seth.”

She hurried past him and reached for the doorknob.  “That's not exactly true, now is
it?”

She slowly turned and looked at him.  “What do you mean?”

“How's your relationship with Chad going?”

“Fine, why?”  She couldn't make eye contact as she lied.

“Cassie, I know the truth.”  She stared at him as she processed the words.

“I don't know what you think you know, but...you're wrong.”

“Why can't you just tell me the truth?  Chad isn't here because you guys broke up.”

“We didn't break
up; I just needed some time to think.”  Cassie corrected him quickly.

“Okay, I stand corrected.  The point is you guys aren't together right now.  Do you
want to talk about it?”

“With you?  No!”  She paused for a moment and looked at the door, wishing Courtney and Brad would finally come back to save her.  “How much do you know?”

He cleared his throat and sat down on the chair adjacent to her.  “Not much, just that you guys are separated right now.”

“You don't know why?”

He shook his head and she was going to keep it that way, but she saw the concern on his face.  “Cassie, the bottom line is we both have some things going on in our lives.  It happens; you don't have to tell me what happened.  I just...”

“He cheated on me.”  The words were blurted out, but she felt a sense of relief that her lie was finally revealed.

“Cassie, I am so sorry.  You don't deserve that.”

“I didn't tell you so that you would feel sorry for me, I told you because I am tired of lying about my life.”

“Why didn't you tell me at the beginning?”

“Probably the same reason you didn't tell me about Rebecca.”

“Cassie, that's not fair.  I did try to tell you and you know that.”

Cassie nodded, “I know, but Seth it never seemed the right moment to tell you about Chad.  I'm sorry, but I don't know what I'm going to do.  There really wasn't anything to tell.”

“Okay fine, whatever.  I don't want to argue tonight.”

“Neither do I.”  Cassie agreed as she stood motionless in her spot.

“There's something you do need to know Cass.  First, there's something I need to do.”  He stood up and walked over to the door.  Cassie took in his scent as he reached over and locked the door.

“Why did you do that?”  Cassie asked nervously.

“I can't afford to get interrupted until I get everything out in the open.  Cassie just stared at him as he turned back to her.  “Rebecca broke up with me because of you.”

“What?  Now, you're going to blame me for your relationship dissolving?”

“No,” Seth grabbed Cassie's hand.  “She knew that I would never love her the way that I love you.”

Cassie pulled her hand away and stared into his pained eyes.  “Seth...I...”

He held up his hand and with his eyes begging her not to continue.  “What I have been trying to tell you and haven't gotten the opportunity is that I love you as much as I did the day we broke up.  Nothing has ever changed the way that I feel about you.”

Cassie lowered herself to the couch and looked away from him.  “Seth, you can't...”

He sat down beside her and she finally turned to look at him.  “When you walked away from me back then I was confused and when I wrote you that letter, I won't lie I prayed that it would be enough to make you want me to go with you.”

“I did want you to go with me, but I never in a million years would have considered that a possibility.”

“Then, why didn't you ask me to go?”

Cassie sighed heavily, “I never read the letter, until today.”

“What?”

“I thought you were going to ask me to stay and I probably would have, but I didn't want to miss my opportunity so I put the letter away and forgot about it.  Today when I was packing, I found it.”

“Oh, Cass...I figured you didn't want me to go and that's why you didn't come to find me.  How do you feel about me?”

Cassie smiled, “I want to forget you Seth.  However, I have found that that's not an easy thing to do.  I do still love you and as much as I have hoped that that wasn't so, I can't deny it.  Not anymore.  I do have a lot of questions.”

He nodded, “Yeah...me too.”

Cassie turned to the door and frowned.  “I don't know what's keeping Bradley and Courtney.”

Seth shrugged and got up to unlock the door, “Let's find out...we have plenty of time to get the answers we need.”

Cassie nodded as she followed him to the door.  “Seth, there's just one thing.”

“Sure...any...” before he finished the statement she locked her lips on his.

When she pulled away she smiled.  “I'm
sorry; I have wanted to do that since we kissed at the park.”

He smiled, “No need to apologize.”

Cassie smiled to herself as she led the way out of the room and down the stairs.  She saw Megan at the desk in the lobby and turned to Seth and fidgeted.  “Where could they be?”

He shrugged, “Hey Megan,” she looked up and smiled.  “
Where are Courtney and Bradley?”

Megan got a guilty look on her face, “They left.”

“What do you mean they left?”  Cassie asked as she inquisitively looked at Megan.

“They went over the guest list with me and said they had to leave.”  She shrugged, “sorry Cassie.”

“This doesn't make sense.  They're my ride back to Avery.”

“I apologize.  I have to go take care of these guests.”  Megan rushed off and Cassie cocked her head as she left them alone.  “I don't...that's just odd.”  She looked at Seth and then a thought came to her.  “Did you have something to do with this?”

“What...no, Cassie.  I'm just as surprised as you are.”

“Are you?  Frankly, it could have been your ploy to keep me here so we could talk.”

“Cassie, I swear.  I had nothing to do with this.  I didn't even know if you were coming today.  My inkling is that it's Megan's doing.  I'm sorry.  I can take you back and they knew that someone would get you home safely.”

“Back to Avery...not home.”  Cassie quickly corrected.

“Whatever, the point is they knew you would be safe.”

Cassie chuckled, she realized that it probably was Megan and Courtney trying to play cupid.  “Okay, well I guess I should be thankful.  I'm glad we are talking.”

“So, you're not mad?”  Seth asked as he moved closer to her and she shook her head. 

“We needed this.”  She leaned up and brushed a kiss on his lips.

“Yes we did.”  Seth replied quietly as he pulled Cassie into a hug.

When they parted, she nervously looked away.  “I guess we can use this time to talk.”  She looked at her watch.  “I'm starved.”

“It just so happens I know the manager at the cafe.  We could probably get a table.”

Cassie smiled, “Is that right?”

“Let's go.”  He reached out and grabbed Cassie's hand.  She looked down at their hands connected and realized in that moment she wasn't thinking about anyone but Seth and her finally being in a good place.  She just hoped that didn't change when she talked to him.

Cassie looked around the restaurant as she took a bite of her chicken.  “I can't believe you did this Seth.”

He smiled as he took a drink of his water.  “It was the only thing that made since once I bought this place.  After all, the Bed and Breakfast wouldn't have been the same without you.  So, you had to be a part of it.”

Cassie could feel her face flush as she looked down at the table.  “It's a sweet gesture Seth.”

He looked pleased as they continued to make small talk and Cassie was worried about the rest of the evening.  After they finished the food, Cassie put down her silverware and smiled.  “The food was delicious.”

“I'm glad that you enjoyed it.  Are you ready to go back?”

Cassie swallowed hard, “I suppose I am.”  He waved the waitress over and whispered something to her and then they left the restaurant.  “So, what did you say to her?”

“You'll find out soon enough, he replied with a mischievous smile.  She couldn't believe how learning about Seth and Rebecca breaking up and talking to him about Chad seemed to make things easier between them.  Even though she wasn't sure what she truly wanted to do, it felt good being with Seth and she was certain she didn't want all relationships to cease with him, even if it was just friendship.

____________________

Seth turned to Cassie as they approached the top of the stairs.  He didn't want to make things more awkward than they already were, but he couldn't control the loud pounding of his chest.  “So, do you
want to stay the night?”  The moment the words came out of his mouth he instantly could have kicked himself.  “I mean, it could give us...”

Cassie just smiled, “We do need to talk and so maybe being away from Avery would be a good idea.  Plus, it's late and you shouldn't have to take me back there tonight.”

He nodded, “Of course.  Where do you...” he turned to the room they were earlier in the evening and then started back towards the stairs.  “We could talk in the dining room.”

Surprisingly she reached out and grabbed his hand, “Actually, maybe we should go somewhere a little more private.”

A knot formed in his throat, “Okay, wherever you would like to go...that's fine with me.”

He caught her looking at the room beside them, the one that no longer had the bed but still had all of the memories.  “Yeah, not in there...too many...”

“Memories?”  He finished for them and then laughed nervously.

“You said it.  Which room do you stay in?”

He nearly choked on her question and then slowly made his way to the end of the hallway, she followed close behind.  When he entered his room, his eyes quickly fell to the table by his bed, the place where her picture was so conveniently placed.  He hurried to the table and placed the picture in the drawer and then looked back at her.  Her expression was one of confusion, but he didn't want her to see how much he truly was pining for her.  “So, welcome to my home.”

Cassie laughed, “It's very nicely decorated.”  He watched as she walked around the room, stopping just shy of his bed.

“I'm sure Chad has a beautiful home, being a lawyer and all.”

Cassie shrugged, “I guess it doesn't matter.  What matters is the kind of person you make yourself.”

“Cassie, I...”

She reached her hand up to his lips and he instantly was silenced.  “Seth, when I came back the only thing I was sure of was that I needed to stay clear of you.  I didn't realize how much connected we were going to be.  When I saw you that day at the jewelry store, I was instantly brought back to the day that I left Texas and left you behind.  I am sorry that I hurt you so much, but in my mind I truly felt that I had to do this.”

“Cassie, I know you did and I am glad that you had the chance to make it out there.  I wouldn't have wanted you to stay, if you were so unhappy.”

Cassie smiled and brushed her hand against his cheek.  Each time they touched over the past week, Seth couldn't get over how familiar her touch was.  “I don't know where things are going to lead with us.”

“Neither do I,” he whispered.                “Maybe we should see where they can go.”

Cassie nodded and then slowly she wrapped her arms around him and they kissed.  Seth could feel the thumping of her heart as it was beating against his.  “Hm...” she moaned softly.

When their lips parted Seth ran his hands down the length of her arms.  “I have never loved anyone the way that I have loved you Cassie.”

Cassie smiled sweetly and he felt the urge to pull her close again and take her into his arms.  As he was about to take action
there was a knock on the door.  “Room service.” 

“Room service?”  Cassie asked with a gleam in her eye.  “Didn't we just eat?”

Seth smiled, “I have a surprise.”  He quickly kissed her and then reluctantly headed to the door.  When he opened the door he saw one of the waiter's standing there, chocolate cake in hand along with a long stemmed rose to add a personal touch.  “Thank you; there will be a tip on your next check.”

“Thank you Mr. Callahan.”  Seth smiled and shut the door behind him.

“I hope you're hungry for...” his eyes fell to Cassie, who was staring at the picture that he had thought was hidden away.  “Cassie...”  When she looked up, he swore he saw a hint of tears in her eyes.  “Cassie, I can explain.”  He laid the items in hand down on the table and moved closer to her.

“You were there?”  He looked down at the picture and slowly nodded.  “I don't understand.  I didn't see you.”

He reached for the picture and stared at her, where she stood in her cap and gown and gave the acceptance speech for her college graduation.  “I'm sorry.  I couldn't bring myself to say something.”

“I don't get it, why not?  All you would have had to do was let me see you, so that I didn't feel you were completely disappointed in me.  Yet, you stayed hidden?”

“Cassie, I wasn't disappointed with you.”  He placed the picture down next to the bed and then took a seat next to her.  “Quite the contrary.  I was so proud of you and I saw how happy you were.  When I went to New York, I had every intention of taking you into my arms and asking you to forgive me for letting you get away.”

“Yet...you didn't.”

Seth nodded, “I didn't because I didn't want you to have to make a decision.  I wasn't going to give you an ultimatum and the Bed and Breakfast had just gotten back underway.  I was worried that I couldn't provide you a life that you needed, a life that you deserved.”

“Don't you see?  My life wasn't complete Seth, I was still missing you and I didn't think that I would ever get over that loss.  I would have completely and totally given up New York, if it meant being with you.  I just wish you would have given me the opportunity to make that decision.”

“I was scared that you wouldn't choose me and that I would be going back to Dallas, once again being by myself.”  He paused for a moment and then shook his head.  “It goes two ways, you know.”

“Excuse me?”

“Why haven't you attempted to see me in the past 10 years?  I mean, we did say we would remain friends and yet you didn't do as much as call me once.  Why is that?”

Cassie snickered, “You think you have everything figured out?  Well, I hate to burst your bubble, but I picked up that phone at least 20 times to call you.  I wanted to explain why I felt the need to move on, yet every time I went to dial that last number I was reminded that life isn't a fairytale.  We aren't going to ride off into the sunset together, without someone getting hurt.  So, I would hang up.  Then, when I graduated and was back in Texas I realized that I couldn't go on without knowing.”

“Without knowing what?”

“Without knowing if what we had was forever.  So, I came to Dallas.  I stood outside the front door and I practiced the words I would say to you.  I imagined the moment that we would realize that we were forever and as I was about to enter the house I heard your voice.  When I peeked around the edge of the house you weren't alone.  You were with another woman.  You were laughing and talking and in that moment I realized that what we had was fantasy and so I left.  When I learned you had met someone and recently decided to marry, I figured that I must have happened across you and Rebecca.”

Seth thought for a moment and then finally shook his head.  “That couldn't have been Rebecca.  We just started dating about 2 years ago.  Probably about the same time...”

“I started dating Chad.”  She finished the statement.  “If that wasn't Rebecca, then you must have been seeing someone else back then.”

Seth shook his head, “No, Rebecca has been the only one since you.  I was busy running this place and I didn't have time for meeting new women.  So, I don't know...” he then started to laugh.  “You must have saw Sarah.”

“Sarah?”

“Yeah, Sarah Mitchum...she used to work here.  Was she tall, blonde, with a Georgian accent?”

“I suppose so.”

“It had to have been her.  Around that time she had decided to quit, because her fiancée was coming home from Iraq and they were going to settle down once they were married and start a family.  Sarah and Tony had the first wedding here and that's why we decided to keep it as a regular event.”

“Oh...I...”

“Yeah, it looks like we were both too stupid to realize what was right in front of us.”

“I'm sorry Seth, I truly am.”

Seth shrugged, “We can't go back in time.  We can only work on the future.”  He smiled at Cassie and leaned in to give her a kiss.

“Are you sure it's not too late?” 
She asked; her voice barely above a whisper.

“It's never too late, if it's worth the work.”

A silence ensued as Seth took in how blue Cassie's eyes were.  He was about to kiss her again, when he saw a shadow cross her face.  “I don't have anything to wear to bed.”  He laughed, not expecting those words to be the first thing on her mind.

“I have a shirt you could wear.”

She smiled, “Okay.”

He got up and walked over to his dresser, removing a t-shirt that advertised the Dallas Cowboys.  “You can change in the bathroom.”

She grabbed it from him and was about to kiss him, but quickly pulled away.  “Thank you.”

“You're welcome.”  Then she disappeared in the bathroom and he took a deep breath as he grabbed a pair of lounge pants.  Things would be
different; for starters they would take it slow.  He knew that was the best way to make it work.

____________________

Cassie got dressed quickly and was staring at herself in the mirror.  She was sure she had been there for awhile when she heard a knock on the door.  “Is everything alright?”

“Yeah, I'll be out in a minute.”  She ran her hands through her hair and slowly moved to the door.  She didn't know why she was suddenly so
nervous; it was as if she was back in high school and worried about who was going to make the first move.  When she exited the bathroom, she saw Seth sitting on the edge of his bed, wearing just his lounge pants and she was immediately unsure of what she really did want.  “Thanks for the shirt.”

He smiled, “No problem.  Want dessert?”

She nervously laughed, but then realized he was talking about the cake that had arrived earlier.  She walked over and looked at the cake and smiled.  “Together Forever...” she read out loud.  “That's really what you want?”

Seth reached for Cassie's hand and pulled her closer to
him; she slowly lowered herself so that she was sitting next to him.  “I know that you have a lot to still think about and the last thing I want to do is pressure you, but yes...I would give up anything in my life to have you beside me.”

Cassie looked around the room, “You would give up the Bed and Breakfast?”

“In a heartbeat.”  It was a reply without hesitation.

“This place means so much to you...how can you say that?”

“Cassie, as much as this place is a part of me...you're a bigger part and so I would give up this place.  It's in good hands with Megan.  I could walk away.  I know what I need in my life and that's you.”

“I wouldn't want you to have to do that, not just to make me happy.  I have a good life in New York City, a great job with a wonderful promotion.  Yet...”

“Would you give it up to be with me?”

Cassie turned to face Seth and slowly smiled.  “I see how much I have been missing, I love this place Seth.”

“Maybe we could find a compromise?” 

“I don't know how that would work, but I suppose I would be willing to look for one.”

“What about Chad?”  When Seth asked the question, Cassie was taken aback.

“I need to talk to him.  I didn't really end things, so it would need to be finalized.”

“Cassie, I will make the last 10 years up to you.  I promise you that.”

“I'm
going to hold it to you,” she teased.

As he moved in to kiss her, she turned her head.  Surprising him, but also surprising
her.  “I'm sorry...I just thought...”

“Seth, there's something you need to know.”

The look of worry on his face was clear, so she reached out and touched his hand.  “Go ahead.”