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I almost gasped in astonishment and embarrassment. She was leaning forward, her tight yoga shirt strangely low, showing off her very expensive cleavage.
“Yeah, it is a shame. I hope she gets better soon,” Brad said, keeping his eyes firmly up.
“Cassie, that’s interesting. Spending time with your ex’s father.” She looked between us, and I could feel my cheeks reddening.
I didn’t know what to say to that.
“It was such a shame that things ended with Jason the way they did. But no one can seem to hold onto my Cassandra.” She laughed, her hand fluttering back to her chest, attempting to draw attention to it.
My blood was boiling, and I just wanted to go, take my mother, and drop her off at the edge of the park. Why was she doing this?
“Well, have a good day, you all. I’m off to my yoga class.” She kissed me and then waved prettily at Brad.
“Oh, here’s my card. I do love to catch up with an old friend. We’re old friends by association, you see.”
Brad took the card to be polite, and he gave her another handsome smile. “Thanks.”
“Call me anytime,” she added with another flutter of her eyelashes, and then she was gone, waggling her hips purposefully seductively as she walked away.
“Well, that was interesting.” Brad pocketed the card, and it didn’t escape my notice.
“Yeah, it certainly was.” Suddenly, I had no desire for ice cream or anything else; I just wanted to get the hell out of there.
* * *
BRAD
At my age, and with my wealth, older women were drawn to me, so I was not entirely surprised by Cassie’s mother’s reaction. But it felt so fake, and to be honest, annoying, especially when compared to Cassie’s genuine reactions to my flirtations. I could tell Cassie was uncomfortable, and I was not shocked by that either.
How did that woman create Cassie?
“I didn’t know your name was Cassandra. It’s not on any of your forms,” I said as we sat down again, trying to keep the conversation going.
“I prefer to use Cassie.” She kept eating, but her eyes were looking away at anything else.
“It’s pretty, Cassie,” Camilla said. “Your Mommy is pretty too.”
“Thanks, Camilla,” Cassie said, throwing my daughter a weak smile. “I just…like Cassie a bit better. I think it suits me.”
“It does.” I touched her on the leg, and she tensed a little but then relaxed under my touch. “So, should we go home?” I asked, hoping I could figure out a way to get her back to her old self.
I had a whole plan for her to stay the afternoon, evening, and then the night. I didn’t want to lose her just yet.
“Sure.” Cassie stood, and I took Camilla’s hand.
We walked to the car with our ice cream and tossed the cups into the trash can by the car. I helped Camilla inside, and then we were off home. When we got inside, Camilla raced off to her room, and Cassie looked uncomfortable, looking around my house as if she hadn’t seen it before.
“Can I get you something?” I asked, leaning against the counter, hoping she’d open up to me.
“I think, Brad, that I’m just going to go home.”
“Home?” I straightened, surprised that she’d said that. “Are you ok?”
“Yeah, I’m fine.”
“Look, I know it’s weird that your mom knows my ex-wife, but I swear there’s nothing between us anymore.”
“It’s not that.” She shook her head and gave me a thin smile. “I just think I’d like to go home.”
