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“Are you going to tell him?” Cherie asked her, a few hours after the obstetrics appointment. They were curled u
p on the sofa in a nearby hotel. Cassandra couldn’t face the prospect of returning to Benedict’s apartment.
“Of course,” she answered automatically. “I would never hide something like this from him. He might have wronged me, but I know he’ll make a great father.”
“How can you say that? After what he did to you?” Cherie asked disbelievingly.
“Because, unlike him, I trust my gut. I just know it. I know he will always put this baby first, as will I.”
Cherie was silent for a moment, but the determined look on Cassandra’s face was convincing. Finally, she pushed aside her own doubts and instead leaned forward, so that she could also peer at the photo of the most adorable little embryonic baby she had ever seen.
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
Cassandra dressed for the graduation ceremony with care. She was twelve weeks along, though her stomach was only the slightest bit rounded. Her butt felt like it had gained some unusual curves and her breasts were definitely bigger.
A pencil skirt with an elasticised waist band and a black camisole were the perfect disguise. She looked at her reflection in profile and felt a burst of relief. She still looked more or less like herself.
Cassandra had never made it back to Benedict’s. Cherie had gone to collect her suitcase and saved her the heartbreak of having to see it empty.
Cherie had been a better friend than Cassandra could have hoped. She made a point to catch up with Cass almost every day, and had pledged to attend any medical appointments with her that might be necessary. A week after Benedict’s departure though, Cassandra felt at breaking point.
Reality had hit her like a shockwave.
Benedict had left her.
She was carrying his baby, and she would have moved to the ends of the earth for him, and he had left without saying goodbye. It did not say much for how highly he thought of her.
Cassandra had always believed that actions spoke louder than words. It was one of her guiding mantras in life. Her father claimed to love her, and he did, in his own way, but it was Nanny Kline who had softly tissued away her tears as a young girl. Benedict had voted with his feet, and his actions left her in no doubt that he never wanted to see her again.
Well, that was tough. This baby was going to know its mummy and daddy, and they would have to work together to achieve that amicably.
She knew she had to tell him, but whenever she had picked up her phone to dial his number, something had made her stop. Of course, she was nervous. It was not exactly like telling someone they’d overpaid for their sushi, or that their hair cut didn’t suit them. This was big. Life altering.
“Cass, you ready?” Cherie called from the doorway.
“I’ll be right out,” she called, clipping her mother’s pearl earrings into her lobes.
“How’s my favourite mum-to-be today?” Cherie asked when Cassandra emerged from the bedroom.
“Not glowing, that’s for sure.” She murmured.
“Still sick?” Cherie clucked sympathetically.
“I’ll live.” Then, she narrowed her eyes at her friend who looked remarkably happy. “Cherie Horowitz. Would you mind telling me why exactly you look like the cat that got the cream?”
Cherie’s smile stretched from ear to ear. “Oh, Cass, I know the timing sucks but...” she waved her hand in Cassandra’s face. “Look! Tim proposed!”
“How could you say the timing sucks? I’d say that’s perfect timing! What a great way to celebrate your graduation.”
“I know. He’s very thoughtful. He’s been planning it for weeks.” Cherie couldn’t keep the smile from her face, and she kept looking at the small diamond band every few seconds. Cassandra was glad they’d taken a cab, as there was no way Cherie would have been able to drive.
Timothy and Ryan were waiting for them when they arrived at the large university auditorium. “Congratulations, to the future Mr Horowitz,” Cassandra teased, hugging Timothy affectionately. “I guess this makes you my best friend in law?”
“More like brother in law,” Cherie corrected. “Aren’t we still study sisters?”
Cassandra felt her heart turn over. She wouldn’t have coped without Cherie by her side. The truth was, she was barely coping as it was. Every day was a struggle. Every second dragged. Every dark head in the crowd reminded her of Benedict. She felt like she had a permanent pain in the region of her heart, and she was barely sleeping, so tortured was she by thoughts of Benedict. Had he already met someone else? Did he hate her? She thought she could accept a lot, but the idea that he was living out his life and thinking the very worst of her filled her with dread.
