A morning that begins with hope takes an unexpected detour when the past arrives uninvited. As Cassie and Erin prepare to search for Parker, another reckoning is already waiting at the front door.
Cassie rolled out of bed first, the sheets tangling around her legs as she stood. Her body still felt loose and warm from the morning, but her stomach was already in knots. The phone call kept replaying in her head. Six months. Parker had cut them off six months ago, and they were only finding out now.
Erin followed a second later, moving with purpose. “We should leave in fifteen minutes,” she said, already heading toward the master bathroom.
Cassie brushed her teeth quickly at the sink while Erin stepped into the shower. The water started running, steam rising. Cassie caught Erin’s eye in the mirror, smiled, and then hopped in behind her, closing the glass door.
Erin turned, water streaming down her face, giving Cassie a look that was half amused, half exasperated. “Really?”
Cassie shrugged, stepping under the spray with her. “It’s faster this way.” And you look like you need something to smile about right now.
She wrapped her arms around Erin from behind, pressing her cheek to her wet shoulder. For a moment they just stood under the water together. Cassie kissed the back of Erin’s neck, soft and affectionate, trying to pull her back into the easy warmth they’d had earlier. Her own heart was beating too fast.
“We’re going to grovel,” Cassie murmured against her skin. “We’ll tell her we’re sorry. That we should have come sooner. That we were stupid for thinking space was the right thing.”
Erin nodded, turning in Cassie’s arms so they were face to face. Water ran down both their faces as they kissed — slow, deep, a little desperate. Cassie’s hands roamed over Erin’s back, pulling her closer under the spray. Erin’s hands cupped Cassie’s face, thumbs brushing her wet cheeks.
They stayed like that for another minute, holding each other, before Cassie fell quiet, a distant look in her eye.
Erin noticed immediately. Her expression turned from bemused to horrified. “Oh my God! Are you peeing?”
Cassie laughed softly. “You said we were in a hurry!”
Erin shook her head, half-laughing despite everything, and they finished washing quickly, efficiently — hands gliding over familiar skin, but the affection from earlier had taken on a sharper edge.
They toweled off in silence, the bathroom mirror still fogged. Cassie sat on the edge of the tub blow-drying her hair, barely noticing the warm air anymore. Her eyes stayed fixed on Erin as she got dressed. The simple black bra hugging her breasts, the matching panties sliding up her hips — by the time the crisp blouse and tailored slacks were on, Cassie was practically aching to tear every piece of it off again.
Instead, she got dressed herself, pulling on the tight dark-wash jeans that hugged her ass and made Erin’s eyes linger whenever she wore them, then a bra and a tank top. She pulled her long blonde hair into a ponytail.
Their eyes met in the mirror as they finished getting ready.
“We’ll find her,” Cassie said. “Today. We’ll make this right.”
Erin nodded. “Yeah.”
They were grabbing their keys and bags when the doorbell rang.
Cassie’s heart jumped hard in her chest, a ridiculous spike of hope cutting through the anxiety. Parker? Even though she knew it was impossible.
Erin froze for half a second, then looked at Cassie.
The doorbell rang again.
✦ ✦ ✦
Cassie moved first, walking quickly down the hallway. She opened the door, already forming the words she’d say if it was somehow Parker standing there.
It wasn’t.
Her mother stood on the porch, perfectly coiffed, wearing a light jacket and that familiar, sharp smile that never quite reached her eyes. She looked… sober. Clear-eyed. Steady. Cassie hadn’t seen her like this in years.
Cassie’s stomach dropped. No. No, no, no. Not now. Not like this.
“Holy shit. Mom? What are you doing here?”
Her mother’s smile widened, thin and venomous. “I came to pay my respects to the happy couple. I heard there’s a wedding in your future.”
Cassie’s hand tightened on the doorframe. “Mom, we don’t have time for this—”
“I just want to meet my future daughter-in-law,” her mother cut in, voice sweet as poison. She looked past Cassie into the house, eyes scanning like she was appraising the place. “After all, I missed so much of your life. The least I can do is meet the woman who’s finally making an honest woman out of you.”
Cassie felt heat rising in her face. She’s sober. She’s actually sober. And this is what she chooses to do with it? Show up here and play the concerned mother? Her eyes flicked back and forth between them — her mom and Erin. Close in age, but so far apart in looks. The years of drugs and alcohol had carved deep lines into her mother’s face, while Erin still carried herself with that effortless, put-together confidence.
Before she could respond, Erin stepped up beside her, slipping an arm around her waist in a steady, protective gesture.
“It’s a pleasure to finally meet you, Mrs. Klein,” Erin said, voice cool and polite.
Cassie’s mother’s eyes flicked to Erin, taking her in from head to toe. The smile never wavered, but the venom underneath it thickened. Her gaze lingered on Erin’s arm around Cassie’s waist, possessive and practiced.
“Oh, Dr. Bennett,” she said. “The pleasure is all mine.”
Her mother’s gaze moved back to Cassie.
“You know, I always wondered who would finally fill that hole I left in you,” she continued, voice dripping with false sweetness. “I just never imagined it would be someone old enough to be your mother. Someone who should have known better.”
Cassie’s face burned. “Mom, stop.”
Her mother ignored her, turning her full attention to Erin. “You’re a fucking doctor. You of all people should know how young and unformed a girl’s brain is at that age. I heard you were quite the young mother yourself.” Her eyes flicked over to Cassie, “I guess that’s two things we have in common. And now you’re bedding down with a twenty-one-year-old fresh out of college. Trying to recapture your youth? Nice work, Doctor. A Porsche would’ve been a cheaper mid-life crisis.”
Erin’s arm tightened around Cassie’s waist, her fingers digging in almost painfully. “That’s enough,” she said, voice low and sharp.
Her mother took a small step closer, lowering her voice just enough that the neighbors might still hear every word.
“I hope it was worth it. Because from where I’m standing, you didn’t save my daughter. You just found a new way to use her.”
Cassie’s mind was reeling. She’s sober. She’s standing here sober, and she’s still doing this.
Her mother gave one last saccharine smile. “Congratulations on the wedding, girls. I can’t wait to see the photos.”
She turned to leave, but Cassie’s voice cracked out before she could step off the porch.
“Holy fuck, mom, are you sober?”
Her mother paused at the top of the steps, turning just enough to look back.
“Three years last week,” she said. “You’d have known if you bothered to call once in a while.”
Cassie’s voice cracked. “That’s not fair. You were a horrible mother, and you fucking know it!”
Her mother’s smile was thin and cold. “And now look at you. Engaged to another shitty mom.”
Erin’s arm tightened around Cassie’s waist, her fingers digging in almost painfully. “As wonderful as it’s been to meet you, Mrs. Klein, we really must—”
“It’s fine,” her mother cut in, already turning away. “I just had to see for myself. Now I’ve said my piece. Have a nice life. You two deserve each other.”
She walked down the steps and disappeared down the driveway without another word.