Players

12. I Have News

_________________________

.

.

.

Sometimes, some news, you want to keep them all to yourself. They may be absolutely great news to others. But for you, this piece of information might mean that your world is coming to a standstill. So what does one do then?

Jeez, this sounds like a load of crap even to myself.

Honestly what else am I supposed to say?

What else am I supposed to think?

I am tired.

The whole thing is really messing with my brain at this point and I just want out. I just want a break from everything.

Maybe, I should woman up and act like the Cassidy Jade Meyers that I actually am. I should be facing this crisis head on. Instead of missing work and skipping breakfast.

Seriously, I am so ashamed of myself now that I think about what I have been doing. Get a hold of yourself, woman. What the hell?

I square my shoulders and hop down the two steps leading to the living room where Nora sits on the couch, her feet perched up on the coffee table, as she pours her focus into the crocheting what looks like a penguin. Her glasses are at the tip of her nose, ready to topple off any second. Somehow the sight makes me smile.

My eyes pan to my girl. She is seated on the carpet and she has Tobey in his carrier. The poor reptile sees his large enclosure only when Maddie is at school or sleeping.

Being home most of the week, I have made immense progress with Tobey. Now I can easily pick him up and move him from place to place. But I still refuse to let him hang from my neck. Nope, that is not happening any time soon.

I peek at the drawing she is working on. I am her mother and I am partial to her but even I have to agree that my kid can't draw to save her life.

Sydney could. Sydney was a great artist. She was a fashion designer. She really relied a lot on her artistic and creative skills.

And even I could draw. I grew up with a sister would would teach me things every chance she got so it was only natural that I picked up the basics.

Meanwhile, Maddie can't draw. Nuh uh. I am looking at the paper and wondering what kind of contemporary art she is trying.

"I have news." I say abruptly, gaining both of their attention.

Both the ladies have their eyes trained on me. While Maddie simply looks curious, Nora looks as if she is scared of what I am about to say.

Don't worry Nora. You are going to like what I am going to say just as much I hated it.

"Are you quitting work, Mommy?" Maddie asks and I am surprised.

"No." I look between her and Nora who seems equally confused as me. "Why would you think that, love?"

"Because Ms. Lale said she was sick and take leave and then she quit her job."

Ms. Juniper Lale was Maddie's eccentric math teacher. She was eccentric but a sweetheart. But she had not quit. She had committed suicide. But obviously, I could not tell my little girl that.

"Well, not everyone who goes on leaves quit, my little one." Nora speaks up. "Mommy took a break because she was feeling under the weather and she will be going back to work on Monday, right Cassie?"

She looks at me, almost expectantly. I know I have been worrying her as well with my behaviour lately.

I nod.

"Yes, of course. Now, back to what I was going to say." I clap my hands. "Maddie, remember your Dad?"

Liam has met Maddie once in the last year. On her birthday and he did not even spent much time with her.

So Maddie basically knows that she has a Dad and that her birth mother is someone else but when it comes to her parent figure, I am the only person she knows.

She nods, and if the scowl on her face is any indication, she does not like what she remembers about him.

"So Liam is getting married." The words rush out of my lips way too fast and I have to look between the duo to see that they actually understood what I am saying.

"Yay." Maddie says it so dryly that I am so proud of her. Just like that, she goes back to her drawing.

Nora puts aside everything she has been doing and grabs my hand, dragging me to the kitchen.

"What do you mean by he is getting married? Who is he getting married to?" Nora speaks in shushed tone, not wanting Maddie to hear any of this. Except, I do not understand why this should be kept a secret from her. Her father is getting married. Surely, she will be a part of it.

I realise that I do not know who he is marrying. Why didn't I ask him? Maybe because, even though, usually I care about him and actually ask about his well being, when he dropped the bomb on me that he is getting married and he wants my kid to himself, all of a sudden I did not have it in me to care about him anymore. My brain was not bothered about how to deal with the situation.

"I don't know that yet. You should give him a call. And I need to meet up with him regarding the wedding." I say.

"Did he say anything about Maddie?" She asks.

I do not answer and I get it is all the answer she needs.

But she surprises me. "She is your baby, Cassie. You do not have to give her to him."

I was wrong? Ever since I received the news from him, I was sure that Nora would want the same as Liam. She would want his happiness. But here, she is on my side? Isn't this too good to be true?

"We can talk about this later." I say. "I need to prepare dinner for our guest."

.

.

.

______________________