Love in Limbo

Epilogue

"What time does the swim contest begin. Cassie will not want to miss it" I ask Blair who is on the sun lounger beside me.

"She wont miss it" she says, sucking from her flamingo straw that is in the cocktail glass poised between her fingers. "She missed out last year. She will be like a speed demon in the pool today to make up for it. I'm gonna steer clear of her lane"

"Where is Cassidy, Sarah" Katherine Colonel asks. She comes to stand between our loungers, looking very opulent, in her very over the top sun hat and swimwear.

"She said she was taking her class until mid day, but it's like one" I observe, looking at the watch on my wrist.

"Those old people don't ever let her leave on time" Blair remarks. "Physical therapy with Cassie is the hottest class on at happy homes. The old people fight for a spot"

"It's because she's so good at it" I say proudly.

"Indeed" Katherine says nodding "Our girl is something else" she says walking away.

I had loved how Katherine had accepted me into the family. It had been quite the surprise and a relief to everyone. I think it made Jack fall in love with her all over again, she had been a new woman this past year, and had realised that not everything needed to be picture perfect, sometimes imperfections were better.

"Let's not pretend. We all know that the old dudes sign up because of her sports bras and Lycra pants" Blair says matter of factly.

I find myself glad of my large sun glasses, because now I am flushed with thoughts of Cassie in her work out gear.

"Ouch" I squeak, as an outdoor cushion comes flying at me landing on my lap.

"Stop thinking about my sister in biblical sense, and get us another cocktail" Blair teases.

"Look who I picked up" Cassie says, walking though a crowd of party makers with Maddie on her arm.

Blair and I jump to our feet and practically pick Maddie up off of the floor in excitement. We hadn't seen her in months, as her college graduation present had been a trip to Australia with her new girlfriend.

"Oh my god. I missed you so much" I say, squeezing her dramatically.

Get lost" Blair says, nudging me off of her and wrapping her in her own arms "she's mine" she says with a grin.

"Girls don't fight over me. I'm back for the summer, and I don't know about you girls, but camp squirrel is looking rather appealing"

"The three amigos" Blair squeals "yes yes I need the money let's do this again. Fuck they will be thrilled. We were the best damn camp counsellors since forever" she says, releasing Maddie and picking up her drink for another sip.

"Cassie" I say lovingly, gazing back at her, her hair is up in a high pony. She is a little sweaty in her work out gear. I have to stop the thoughts before they take hold "You want to do it" I ask, trailing my fingers down her arm.

She wraps her arms around my waist "I thought you would never ask" she says, dramatically kissing my cheek.

"Camp squirrel better be ready" Blair says with a grin. "I love this for us" she adds, as we stand in a circle beside the pool.

"I'm going to have that written on your grave stone" Cassie quips, poking Blair in the ribs.

"And if our graves are beside each other.. it works" Blair replies with a smirk.

The day would be filled with trophies, tea spilt and a lot of laughs. I loved that these women were my family, and that Milford would be a place that drew us together every summer for the rest of our lives. Each year we would make time to take a game of cards to Grams resting place and we would sit playing into the evening remembering her and letting Blair decorate her headstone. We would share it all, love, loss, marriage and babies... and they would all become a piece of what home meant to me over the course of my life. Life ebbed and flowed and so did we, together.

- I hope you enjoyed my first attempt at a novel in three years. What can I say? I tried. Thanks for the avid readers and their dedication week after week to read my chapters as they appeared. and vote when they felt it was worthy of it. Please leave me a comment and let me know what you thought. (If it's not too brutal)  Much love. thank you!

S