One Week after Cassie's Rescue

It had been painfully obvious to Webb his wife had been unhappy with him for some time. His many nights away from home along with his same old tired excuses for cancelling family plans had stretched their marriage beyond the breaking point.

Not wanting to lie to Bonnie and Brandon about his after-hours activities for fear they'd think him crazy, he had said nothing. The time had come for him to settle accounts. He owed them the truth, at least a version of the truth they could grasp.

During the past week he didn't go to work so he could spend time with them. Today, he fulfilled his promise to spend a day at the beach with his wife and son and parked the car in a reserved guest spot at a familiar condo.

Bonnie eyed him but didn't ask how he had gotten permission to use the coveted parking spot.

He pulled three beach chairs from the trunk, an umbrella, and beach bag filled with assorted lotions, snacks, and paraphernalia. Together they joined hundreds of other tourists gathered on the sand. He picked a spot near a volleyball net.

While Bonnie sat under the umbrella reading a novel, Webb splashed in the Gulf with Brandon and the two of them collected shells. The boy had too much energy and soon tired him out. "Let's go see what's happening with your mom."

Soon after they returned to the blanket and reapplied sunscreen, a shadow fell across them. A pretty, young girl in a bikini wearing long braids and holding a volleyball blocked their sun and looked down at them.

Brandon gawked at her. Webb had recently observed how his eleven-year-old son was beginning to notice the fairer sex.

The girl nodded with her head toward the net and addressed Brandon. "Do you want to play?"

He appeared stunned for a few moments before answering. "Never tried volleyball. I play badminton though. We have a setup in our backyard."

"Same principal. You need to get the ball over the net." She sat on the sand facing them. "My name is Cassie."

Brandon went shy and said nothing. Bonnie stared at the girl with suspicion.

Webb put his arm around Brandon. "This is my son, Brandon, and my wife, Bonnie."

Cassie extended her hand and shook with Brandon. "I'm pleased to finally meet you."

Bonnie wore a bewildered expression. "Bruce, do you know this girl?"

Cassie answered for him. "I wouldn't be alive if it weren't for your husband. He's protected me, watched over me, and saved my life. I'm here to put things right."

Bonnie turned to Webb. "Put things right? What does she mean by that?"

"You know the nature of my work means I can't reveal things to you. It's made you suspicious, rightfully so. The past weeks have nearly wrecked us, so I asked Cassie's permission to tell her story. I want to make real for you, what I've been doing."

After a pause, Cassie started talking. "Without getting into details, I have very rare, unique genes." She went on to explain how Verdanx Pharma found out about the uniqueness running in the female side of her family, how they killed her mother, how she had been in hiding for the past five years and watched over by Webb. She went on to explain the kidnapping and her rescue but left out the more lurid details. She avoided telling them what  she was.

All the while she spoke, Webb studied his wife and son. Brandon hung on every word. Bonnie's expression remained neutral.

When Cassie finished, Brandon looked at his father in awe. "Whoa, Dad!"

Bonnie remained guarded. "The news reports say the Verdanx Pharmaceutical fire was caused by a chemical accident."

Webb sifted a handful of sand through his fingers. "Technically, that's true."

"But two security guards maintain it was sabotage," Bonnie pointed out.

Both Webb and Cassie remained silent.

Bonnie pushed a strand of errant hair behind her ear. "There's more to this story than you're telling me."

Webb glanced at his son then his wife. "Do you really want to know about dead bodies?"

"No," she answered quickly. She appraised the pretty girl sitting in front of her and narrowed her eyes.

Webb read her thoughts. Cassie did too, because she said, "C'mon...really? I love your husband for all he's done for me and as a father figure, but you can't possibly think..." She let the thought trail off.

Bonnie looked at Webb and scoffed. "I suppose not."

The little exchange between the two women left Webb feeling a wee bit insulted.

"You would be a really cool sister," Brandon blurted.

She giggled. "I'm an only child too. Let's be friends."

"Okay. Will you teach me how to play volleyball?"

"If you teach me badminton."

"Deal."

During the next few minutes, Webb and his wife watched Brandon and Cassie hit the ball around. Bonnie remained silent.

When he could stand it no longer, Webb asked, "Do you believe me? Does it make sense now, why I couldn't tell you anything?"

Bonnie smirked. "What that girl told me is way too elaborate for it not to be true. How did you even come to know her?"

He was frank about how he had been complicit in Cassie's mother's death.

"Does she forgive you for that?"

Webb studied Cassie as she played with their son and remembered how depressed she had been over being unable to save Doctor Armando, a man she could rightfully regard as being evil incarnate. "I don't believe Cassie has the capacity to hold a grudge. She's not wired that way. She's a remarkable young woman."

Bonnie regarded the teen. "She's good with Brandon. We could ask her to be a sitter."

Webb chuckled. "I'm sure he'd like that."

Brandon ran toward them out of breath. "Cassie says we can go up to her aunt's condo for some ice cream."

"Oh, no, honey, I don't think so," Bonnie said.

Cassie joined them, one arm balancing the volleyball against her hip. "Come on. Aunt Marnie prepared sandwiches. My boyfriend, Rafe, will soon be here and I want you to meet him."

They weren't able to resist Cassie's charm and began gathering their things together.

Cassie helped Webb fold their blanket. As she handed it to him, she said, "My dear custodian, thank you again. For everything."

Her words reminded him of something. He pulled his wallet and removed the token she had once given him. Taking her hand, he pressed the talisman against her palm. "You'll need this to pass on to your daughters when their times come."

She cocked her head and looked at him. "This doesn't mean goodbye, does it?"

"Of course not. I'll always be here for you, but our relationship has changed. You can feel that, can't you?"

She lowered her gaze and said with sadness, "The sea has released you."

"You have Rafe now, and I have my family back. Life is good."

She embraced him. "Yeah, life is good."

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