Scott didn’t come home until after dinner. I was relieved when Derick came with him to the front door and not the wanker. Derick hadn’t stayed long and he didn’t say a word to me.
I stayed in the guest bedroom, which was the biggest room I’d ever seen. The bed felt odd, it was soft and the sheets were of a high thread count. I’d never had a bed so soft or sheets so smooth and soothing against the skin. I tossed and turned all night.
No one woke me in the morning, and when I looked at the bedside clock I was shocked to see I’d slept past ten. I’d never done that before. I was an early riser. I showered and rushed to get dressed so it wasn’t too late when I made it downstairs. When I walked into the kitchen I was surprised to see Cassie’s dad at the stove and only Cassie at the table, set with plates, knives, forks, juice and cups.
“Hi, Jade. I hope you slept okay.” I smiled at Cassie’s father. I couldn’t tell him I hadn’t. “Yes, thanks.”
“Are you hungry? Go sit down. I’m doing sausages, hash browns, bacon, and eggs.”
I sat at the table next to Cassie. I wasn’t really a breakfast person. I sometimes had an apple or a mandarin, but nothing like what was being offered. “Yes. Could I please have a hash brown and an egg?”
“Sure.” He came over with a plate filled with already cooked food.
I placed the items on the plate.
“So what are you girls doing today?”
I had no idea so I looked to Cassie. “We are going to go to the beach. It’s such a nice day. A bit cool, but still hot enough to have a dip and sunbathe.”
“Sounds good, sweetie. You can take the car. But your brother asked for it tonight.”
“Thanks, Dad,” Cassie said. “Derick and Stephan are having a party tonight we’re going too. Scott said he’d pick up Stacy and Renee. The others are meeting us there.” Cassie’s father opened his mouth but Cassie put up her hand to stop what he was saying.
“Before you worry, we are going with Scott. You know the Silverman boys.”
“Okay. Promise me you’ll call no matter what, even if you need picking up or just want to leave.”
Cassie beamed. “Promise.”
For once in a long time jealousy flowed through me. I’d never had anyone care about me enough to give me options like Cassie’s father. The love was obvious between father and daughter. I hoped Cassie knew how lucky she was to have such caring parents. I decided I would say something. I hadn’t told Cassie much about my life before moving here, just the basics like my mother died and I didn’t have any other relatives beside my grandpa and I didn’t know my own father. Cassie hadn’t pried much, she’d been more interested in what my other high school was like and my friends. I‘d tell her a little bit, enough to understand she was extremely lucky.
After eating, we changed into our swimmers. Cassie grabbed towels, sunscreen, and the keys off the hook by the front door and we headed for the car. She jumped in the driver's side and I got in the passenger, chucking the towels and sunscreen in the back. Cassie started the car and backed out of the drive and we were heading toward the beach.
“You’re really lucky you know, to have parents like you do.”
Cassie smiled. “I know. My brother’s not too bad either. What was your mother like?”
“Not like yours. My mum would never have said anything like your father did. I don’t think she ever asked where I was going when I went out. I stayed at friends places and sometimes didn’t come home for days. She didn’t even seem to notice I was gone. I remember one time she was dating this guy and they were both high as kites. He got angry at something she did, probably stole money from him and he started beating her. When I called the cops and ambulance, the paramedic asked her a bunch of questions, I remember her saying she had no children. Another similar time she did the opposite and screamed I was a slut and no daughter of hers and went crazy attacking me. The cops pulled her off me.”
I hadn’t realized the car had stopped. I shook my head out of memory lane and turned to Cassie, she had tears rolling down her eyes and she was gripping the steering wheel so tight her knuckles were white. “I’m glad your mother is dead. She sounds like a selfish bitch.”
I flinched at her hard words. They were harsh. I didn’t hate my mother. I never had anyone else so I didn’t know what I was missing. It wasn’t until I started staying over at friends’ houses that I noticed my mother was different.
Cassie threw herself across the car and hugged me. I was stiff in her arms. Not many people hugged me, my best friend, Jess, from my old life and a couple of other friends, but not many. I‘d learned at a young age to avoid touch. It didn’t usually have a positive meaning.