I wiped the tears away from my face and, with a shaky hand, reached for the rocks glass.
"We can go, Cass..."Brody started.
My mom cut him off, "Oh, shush, Brody, you are family."
Brody smiled softly in response and then took the seat next to mine.
Mom came and sat on the arm of my chair, grabbing my free hand."Ok, Cassidy, tell us about Andrew."
Staring at my drink, I took a deep breath and did just that.I told them about how we met, how he pursued me, and how I didn't even know his name for almost a month.
How I didn't know he was married for six months, how I stupidly thought he was cheating on me.How I tried to leave him several times, and he kept coming back.What he had told me about his wife.That I didn't know they had a child until I saw their son today at the arena.I told them about Victoria cornering me in the arena bathroom and the threats she made.I told them everything, how I couldn't even look at myself in the mirror anymore.The shame, pain, and guilt were so heavy that it felt like a crushing weight on my chest.
When I was done, everyone was silent, and I was terrified about what I would see on their faces when I looked up.Would my family be angry or disgusted with me?
I took my first sip of the whiskey in my hand and looked up.My mom had tears running down her face, my dad looked murderous, Chase was pacing, and Clara looked like she was going to be sick."I am so sorry."I choked out.
My dad's face softened."What in the world are you sorry for?"
"For what I did, what I became, for the shame...You must be so ashamed of me..."
Mom squeezed my hand, cutting me off, "No, Cassidy, no...we are not ashamed of you."
"A man sixteen years your senior who is married took advantage of you, Cassidy," my dad added.
"He's a fucking predator," Chase growled.
"And who does that woman think she is threatening you like that?"Judy added.
"Her family has always acted like they are royalty."Mom chimed in.
All the fear that I had about telling my family was starting to settle."You aren't mad at me?"
Clara finally spoke, "Is that why you didn't tell us...You were worried about how we would look at you after?"A tear slid down her cheek.
"I wanted to tell you, so many times...I almost called you...But I couldn't bear thinking about how you would look at me after.You and Mom are perfect, and I...I..."
The tears were falling again.The pain on Clara's face, I am sure, matched mine.
Mom wiped away my tears from my face, "We are not perfect, Cassidy, no one is.And I could never look at you differently."
Clara was in front of me, tears streaming down her face."Cass...I could never...You're my little sister.My best friend.I will always be here for you."
She dove into my arms, and Mom wrapped us both in a hug, a pile of us in my chair hugging and crying together, until my dad said, "You have some fucking nerve showing up here."
And I heardhisvoice, "I didn't know she was your daughter, Robert."
I flinched, and my mom stood to face Andrew.
"How does that make it any better, Andrew?Did you target her because you didn't know she had a family that would stand up for her?"The ice in my mom's voice was something I had never heard from her before.
Andrew didn't respond to my mom; instead, he looked back at my dad, "I just want to talk to Cassidy, Robert.I am not here to cause any problems."
Dad stood up, "It is Doctor Morgan to you, and I don't care what you want.You have already caused problems for my daughter, and you need to leave."
Chase was up and standing beside our father.They were not violent men, but the energy radiating off them made me uneasy.I didn't want to cause any more problems for my family.Clara stood, and I followed her.
Stepping out of the comfort of my family, I faced Andrew."You need to go, Andrew.We are done.There is nothing left to say."
