Gathering Roses

11.

It was Tucker, however, that joined her. He sat in the rocking chair opposite her and touched her knee.

"Hey." Cass looked up, her vision blurry with tears. She blinked and wiped them away. "I'm sorry about my mom, she—" Cass fervently shook her head.

"No, no. It's not her fault. She was only trying to make conversation. Everything that's going on right now is just too much. Seeing how close you and your parents are just reminded me how far I am from having that kind of bond with my own parents." She gave Tucker a wobbly smile.

"Wanna talk about it?" He asked, but now Emmy did come into the room and scurried up into Cass' lap.

"Mama why you cry?" She asked, brushing Cass' tears away with her little hands.

Cass laughed and hugged Emmy close.

"Later." She mouthed to Tucker over Emmy's head, and he nodded before standing up.

"I'm gonna go help clean up. Just let me know if I can do anything." He flashed her a smile and left.

Cass gave Emmy another hug then set her on the floor, tickling her as she met the ground. Emmy laughed and laughed until Cass joined her, the stress of the past few days fading away as she played with her daughter.

Frank and Tina insisted on lighting the fireplace and playing with Emmy after the fajitas were cleared away. Emmy was overjoyed to have the attention of so many people, and it wasn't long before Cass and Tucker joined them on the floor, chasing Emmy on their hands and knees while she shrieked with laughter. The day eventually caught up with her, though, and Tina directed Cass to a guest room upstairs. Emmy was asleep as soon as her head hit the pillow.

Cass wandered back downstairs to the living room. Frank and Tina were standing up and heading to their bedroom, claiming they had an early morning awaiting them the next day. Cass' mind was still spinning, and although she too was exhausted, she knew sleep would be futile.

"Cass." She looked up at Tucker's soft voice. "Want some coffee?" He offered her a steaming cup, and she smiled at him and nodded her thanks. "We can go out on the back porch if you're up for it." He suggested, and Cass nodded.

Tucker slid the sliding door to the side and motioned Cass out, closing it behind them as she did so. The sun had long since gone down, but the stars were shining and the moonlight reflected on the world around them. They sat down on the edge of the deck, neither of them saying anything.

They sipped their coffee cups, listening to the crickets chirp. Cass was grateful that Tucker didn't press her to talk.

"Emmy is my daughter." She finally said, turning to look at Tucker. His blue eyes watched her, patiently waiting for her to go on.

"She is now and forever will be. But," Cass took a slow, deep breath. "She is not my daughter by birth." Tucker's eyes widened, and an emotion Cass couldn't read flashed in them. She hurried on.

"I have never lied to you. I just never clarified the truth. I have learned that it's easier to let people think I've had an affair, or that Emmy's dad left us, or whatever because that's easier than telling the truth." Her eyes filled with tears. Tucker put his arm around her shoulder, and she let him pull her to him. She continued quietly. "Emmy's birth mom was my best friend Maya. She was in love with Jed, who was involved with Aaron, who was really just the front man for this way worse guy, Jimmy. James is what he goes by now, I guess. They ran a drug ring, mostly marijuana but some cocaine. Jed was real into guns, mostly illegal. Maya loved the excitement and the danger, but I hated every minute of it, and I hated them for stealing her from me." Cass couldn't stop the bubble of anger that rose within her even now, years later.

Tucker's arm tightened around her.

"Well, I went to college—as planned, but without Maya—not as planned. I thought that was the last time I'd ever see her. One day, she showed up at my door, pregnant. I couldn't believe it. Maya had never been the type. It would have been a joke before she met Jed.

"She stayed with me until she had the baby—Emmy. She had planned to move back home so her mom could help her, but—" Cass' sob stuck in her throat. "Sh," Tucker soothed, stroking her hair. "It's ok. It's all over now." But Cass needed someone to know the truth. She cleared her throat.

"Jimmy had them killed."