The Forgotten Night (23 page)

“But how is that possible, you can’t have two different heart rates,” Cassidy said. Cassidy went silent and looked from the smiling woman to Andrew then back.

“I’m saying that you are carrying twins,” she said with a smile.

Andrew’s grin grew wider and he looked down at Cassidy, who slowly turned to him. She was shocked, but happy nonetheless. She threw her arms around him and he kissed her affectionately.

“Who would have thought?” he said breathlessly after pulling away from her.

“Andy, I can’t believe it. Twins!” she sighed. She turned her attention back to the medic. “Thank you, so much. Nothing else is wrong?”

“From what I can tell, you are perfectly healthy. The babies heart rates are normal, there doesn’t seem to be any harm done.”

“Does this mean I still have to go to the hospital?” Cassidy asked.

“Let me just bandage up your wounds and I think you should be okay to leave. You don’t feel faint or dizzy?” Cassidy shook her head. “No nausea? No headaches?” Again Cassidy shook her head. “Then, I don’t think it’s necessary for you to go, you’ll just have to sign this form.”

“Saying I chose not to go?” Cassidy asked with a smile. She took the forms and signed all the places she needed to sign then with the help of Andrew, stepped out of the ambulance.

“Is everything all right, Cassidy?” Detective Coulter asked.

Cassidy smiled. “It’s perfect, more than perfect,” she said, intertwining her fingers with Andrew’s.

“I have a few questions I need to ask you, but we can do that later tonight, when you are home, if you’d like.”

“That sounds fine,” Cassidy said. “I should probably go tell everyone that I’m okay,” she said, looking over toward their families.

Detective Coulter nodded and watched as the two walked over to their families. Cassidy was engulfed in a huge hug by her father.

“I’m okay, Daddy,” she said when he released her.

“Are you okay, princess? Is the baby okay?”

Cassidy looked over at Andrew.

“It slipped out, Cassie. I didn’t mean to say anything. I wanted to wait for you, but I was panicked and it just came out.”

She kissed him on the cheek. “It’s okay. I’m glad you told them, but we still do have something to tell them together.”

“What do you have to tell us?” her mother asked.

“Yes, what is it?” Andrew’s parents were also curious.

“Well,” she said, looking from Andrew to their families.

“Did something happen to the baby?” Rachel asked.

“No, nothing happened, the babies are just fine.” She smiled and squeezed Andrew’s hand, waiting for the reaction.

“The babies?” her father asked.

“As in multiple?” Rachel added.

“We’re having twins,” Andrew finally said.

Their family’s immediately embraced each one and congratulated the two.

* * *

“…and then he just left. I heard the front door slam and a car pull away from the house. I didn’t hear anything after that until you came,” Cassidy explained. She was sitting on the couch nestled in Andrew’s arms as she went over what had happened with the detectives.

“And he told you about the money?” Detective Rice asked.

“Yes, but I don’t think he’s left town. He is pretty upset with me and the babies. He was going to kill me, I have no doubt about that, but I made him question it, and that’s why he left, and that’s why I know he hasn’t left, I mean. He wants to finish the job, he’s going to finish the job—”

“Don’t talk like that, Cassie,” Andrew said, stroking her hand.

“Well, I can’t help but think about how close he really did come to hurting me. I was right there, he had the drugs,”

“I’m not going to let him do it again,” Andrew said fiercely.

“Cassidy, is there anything else?” Detective Coulter asked.

She shook her head.

“Okay, we’re going to leave, it’s getting pretty late and you’ve had a long day. You need your rest. We’re stationing a few officers outside the house. I won’t let anything happen to you, Cassidy,” she said, standing up. “We’ll keep you updated.”

“Thank you, detectives,” Andrew said, releasing Cassidy and standing up. He walked them to the front door while Cassidy waited on the couch.

“Baby,” Andrew said, sitting back down next to her after they were gone.

“I really thought I was going to die, Andy,” she said, looking at the ground.

“It’s okay, Cassie, you didn't though. I’m here.”

“It’s not okay. Don’t you see? He’s still out there. He’s not one to leave something unfinished. And now that he knows about the babies, he’s hell bent on getting revenge on me, on you, anyway he can. I just want this all to be over.”

Andrew held her close to him and stroked her back until her breathing evened.

“I love you, Andy. I’d die if anything happened to you.”

“Don’t talk like that, baby. You’re tired. I’m taking you upstairs. You’re going to take a nice hot shower then go to bed. I’ll come by in the morning.”

“Don’t leave, Andy, please. Stay with me,” she said, looking up at him. He nodded thoughtfully. He helped her off the couch and together they walked up the stairs.

Cassidy let the water wash over her in the shower. She had no inclination to finish soon. Her hands automatically drifted to her stomach and she smiled. Twins.

“Cassie! Are you okay?” she heard Andrew call out.

“Yes, I’m fine.” He was so worried about her, they all were. She hated feeling vulnerable and she hated feeling like a prisoner in her own house. “I’ll be out in a minute!”

Cassidy turned the water off and took the towel off its hook. She stepped out of the shower, the towel wrapped around her body, and then walked out into her bedroom. Andrew was lying on her bed, watching the TV. He looked up and she smiled at him, noticing his eyes darken.

Cassidy turned toward her drawers and pulled out her pajamas just as she felt Andrew’s arm snake around her waist. She straightened and turned to face him. “I love you, Andy.”

“I love you too, baby,” he said and kissed her forehead tenderly.

“I’m going to change,” she said softly.

Andy made a nonverbal ‘mmm’ sound as he kissed down her jaw and kissed her lips. “Why change when I’m going to take it off anyway,” he whispered against mouth afterwards.

Cassidy smiled and let the clothes drop to the ground then led Andrew toward the bed. She sat down and pulled Andrew with her.

“I was thinking,” Cassidy said between kisses.

“You’re right, we shouldn’t do this. You had a traumatic day and this isn’t going to help,” he said, pulling away and bringing the covers up over them.

“That’s not what I was thinking,” she said. “And this is exactly what I need.”

“What were you thinking then?” he asked, kissing her neck.

“I was thinking, we should move the wedding up.”

Andrew pulled back. “Really?”

“Yes.” Cassidy laughed at his enthusiasm.

“March? April?”

“The end of the month? Is that enough time—” she asked but was cut off by Andrew’s zealous kiss.

“Baby, I would marry you tomorrow if our parents would let us.” He smiled down at her.

“I’ll talk to our mothers tomorrow, then. They can help us with the invitations and everything else.”

“Sounds like a plan. While you do that, I’m going to meet up with some people.”

“What’s the meeting for? A job?”

“It’s a surprise,” he said and kissed her again. “You’ll find out by the end of tomorrow. I’ll be back around two or three, will you be here or at my house?”

“Um, probably your house. I’ll call Rach tomorrow and see if we can do lunch there.”

“Ok, baby,” he said, dipping down to kiss her bare shoulder. “I love you, so much, Cassie.”

“Mm, I love you too, Andy,” she breathed.

* * *

“I think that’s feasible, but are you sure about this?” Cassidy’s mother said. They were talking about the wedding and everything they would now have to do in order to move the date up.

“I’m sure, Mother,” Cassidy said.

“What did Andrew say about this?” Mrs. Winbright asked.

“He said he would marry me tomorrow if you guys would let us. Why?”

“No reason, are you sure you’re all right?” Mrs. Winbright fussed.

Cassidy sighed. She was tired of defending herself to everyone. “I’m fine. I’m not moving the wedding up because I had a near death experience.”

“We’re not saying that you are, dear,” her mother hastened to reassure her. “It’s just we are concerned for you.”

“I’m not a baby. I’m not fragile, if you drop me I’m not going to break. I’m not doing this because I’m scared, and I hate everyone thinking that. I hate that you guys think you have to protect me. You don’t. I’m capable of handling things on my own.”

“Calm down, Cass,” Rach said, moving over to sit down next to her. “We’re not saying you’re going to break, we just don’t want anything to happen to you.”

Cassidy looked at her friend and nodded. “I think I’m going to walk home. If Andy comes, tell him where I’m at.”

“Dear, are you sure you should do that?”

“Mom, I’m not three anymore.”

“I think this is your hormones talking. Why don’t you let the police parked outside take you home, that’s what they are there for,” she argued.

“I don’t need to be watched constantly,” she cried.

“We’re just trying to protect you, keep you safe.”

“I realize that and I even understand it, but I’m tired of feeling like you’re all watching me, waiting for me to break so you’ll have to pick up the pieces. I’m a grown woman. I’m pregnant, for God sakes, I don’t need to be babysat!”

“Who needs to be babysat?” Andrew asked, stepping into the living room.

Cassidy looked up at her fiancé and smiled slightly at him.

“What’s wrong?” he asked but she only shook her head. “All right, what did you do to my fiancée?” he addressed the room.

“It’s not their fault, they’re just trying to ‘help’,” Cassidy said, standing up. “They’re smothering me,” she whispered in his ear when she stepped into his embrace.

“That’s it, I’m taking you out. You need to see your surprise.” He smiled down at her then turned to the rest. “We will see you all later.”

“Please be careful, let the officers follow you, maybe,” Cassidy’s mother suggested.

Cassidy gave Andrew a pointed look.

“Tell you what, I’ll inform the officers of where we are going and when we should be back. I’ll have them waiting at your house when I drop Cassie back over. Sound good?” he asked.

“I guess I can compromise,” she said.

“I’ll see you later, Mom,” Cassidy said, then said her goodbyes to Andrew’s mother and Rachel. “Where are you taking me?” she asked Andrew as they stepped outside.

“You’ll see. Wait in the car, while I talk to the officers,” he said, handing her the keys.

Once they were both in the car, Andrew handed Cassidy a blindfold.

“A blindfold? Why?”

“I told you it’s a surprise. Don’t worry, it’s not far,” he said and she put the blindfold over her eyes. Andrew stopped shortly after and went around to her side and helped her out.

“Can I take it off yet?” she asked.

“Just a little further,” he said as he guided her a short distance. “Okay, you can look, now.”

Cassidy pulled off the blindfold and opened her eyes. In front of her was a large house, not as large as their parents’ homes, but fair sized. The lovely sprawling brick home was built in the Tudor style, her favorite.

“Do you like it?” he asked cautiously.

“It’s very nice,” she said, wondering what he was getting at.

“It’s
our
house,” he said and smiled down at her.

Cassidy heard the words but the meaning didn’t hit her for a few seconds.

“Our house, our house? You bought this house?”

Andrew nodded. “Do you want to see it?”

“You bought a house for us?” She couldn’t help but smile. “I can’t believe you did that.”

“It’s not too far from our parents, but it’s close enough for commuting to work,” he explained.

Cassidy kissed Andrew then pulled him toward the house. “I want to see it.”

Andrew laughed and pulled out a set of keys.

“When did you do this?”

“I’ve been working on it since a little before Christmas. The deal went through today, that’s who I was meeting.” Andrew opened the door and they stepped into the grand entryway.

“It’s gorgeous and so huge,” she said, a little awed.

“Well, I figure we’ll fill it up eventually.” He smiled and kissed her cheek.

Andrew showed her the rest of the house, which included five bedrooms, three bathrooms, a large living room, kitchen, dining room and study.

“You like it?” he asked again after they finished touring the house. Andrew locked the front door and helped Cassidy down the pathway toward the car.

“For the hundredth time. I love it. It’s perfect. Though, I’m not sure what we’ll do with five bedrooms.”

“One will be ours, one for the kids, we could turn one into a playroom. Which leaves two.”

“A guest room and—”

“And one for any more children we have. We can convert the playroom to another bedroom if we had to.”

“What four children?”

“Four, five—”

“Andy, we are not going to have five children.”

“We’ll see,” he said, closing her car door.

“Let’s just focus on the two that we are going to be having,” she said when he closed his own car door.

“Deal.” He leaned over and gave her a quick kiss.

“Let’s go back to your house,” she said when he pulled back and put the key in the ignition.

“I told everyone we would be going back to your house,” he said as he backed the car into the street with ease.

“Exactly.”

Andrew looked over at Cassidy and smiled. “I like the way you think, baby.”

“I wasn’t thinking about that, you perv. If I had I would have said let’s do it on the kitchen counter, break in our new house.”

“We can still do that,” he said with a hint of hope in his tone.

“No,” she said flatly then almost broke her composure by laughing. “I just want to get away from everyone.”

* * *