Chapter 4 - Brendan Finally Learns the Truth
The meeting continued for another hour.
Brendan grew increasingly frustrated.
“What exactly do you expect me to do?”
Cassidy answered immediately.
“Stop pretending you were a spectator.”
“I didn’t throw the bucket.”
“You laughed.”
“I was uncomfortable.”
“You were pointing at me.”
Brendan looked away.
Rachel slid printed photographs from the security footage onto the table.
One showed Brendan laughing.
Another showed Diane smiling.
Another showed Cassidy clutching her stomach.
Diane pushed the photographs away.
“This is humiliating.”
Cassidy stared at her.
“Yes.”
Diane looked up.
Cassidy continued.
“Interesting feeling, isn’t it?”
Brendan’s attorney intervened.
“We’re not here to trade insults.”
“Neither am I.”
Cassidy placed both hands on the table.
“I want written acknowledgment of what happened. I want all communication regarding the baby conducted through our attorneys until the court says otherwise. And Diane will not be around my child unsupervised.”
Diane exploded.
“You cannot keep my grandchild from me!”
“I can protect my child.”
“I made one mistake!”
“You planned it.”
Silence.
Cassidy pointed toward the photographs.
“You walked into that room carrying a bucket.”
Diane’s face changed.
Cassidy turned to Brendan.
“And you knew.”
He looked down.
That was answer enough.
Rachel quietly asked, “Mr. Hale?”
Brendan rubbed his face.
“My mother told me she wanted to teach Cassidy a lesson.”
Cassidy felt something inside her go still.
“And you let her?”
“I thought it would be water.”
“It was water.”
“I mean... I didn’t think you’d react like this.”
Cassidy leaned back.
“You thought I would cry.”
Brendan said nothing.
“You thought I’d leave humiliated, and all of you would have a funny story.”
“Cassidy—”
“You thought I was powerless.”
Diane whispered, “You lied to us.”
Cassidy turned.
“About what?”
“Your family.”
“I never lied.”
“You hid who your father was.”
“I followed military security requirements.”
“You could have told us eventually.”
“And then what?”
Diane hesitated.
Cassidy answered for her.
“You would have treated me better.”
Diane’s silence was devastating.
Cassidy nodded.
“Exactly.”
Brendan suddenly looked at her.
“Why did you marry me?”
“Because once, you were different.”
“I still love you.”
Cassidy’s expression didn’t change.
“No. You loved being needed.”
“That’s not fair.”
“You resented me every time I stood on my own.”
Brendan lowered his voice.
“I can change.”
“Then change.”
His eyes lifted.
“For us?”
“No.”
Cassidy touched her belly.
“For yourself. And for whatever relationship you eventually earn with your child.”
That hurt him more than anger would have.
The meeting ended without a settlement.
Outside, William waited beside Cassidy’s car.
“How did it go?”
“He apologized badly.”
William smiled.
“That sounds like progress for a Hale.”
Cassidy laughed.
“Dad.”
“What?”
“You’re enjoying this.”
“Only the part where you’re standing up for yourself.”
Cassidy stopped.
“I always stood up for myself.”
William opened the car door.
“No. You endured.”
She looked at him.
“There’s a difference.”
May you like
Cassidy considered that all the way home.
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