Gathering Roses

12.

 Tucker pulled away from her and looked at her in disbelief. Cass continued. 

"Jed missed Maya so much when she left that he came looking for her. He showed up at our door, begging to see Emmy, begging Maya to take him back. She refused at first, but finally agreed to go for a drive.

"What Jed hadn't told her was that he was on the run from Jimmy. Jed wanted out of the business and had missed a transfer of illegal weapons on purpose. It cost Jimmy over a hundred thousand dollars and the buyer swore never to do business with him again. Jimmy was known to be unreasonable, and once he got it in his head that someone was out to get him, it didn't matter what the truth was. Jed had done him wrong, so now Jed would pay. Jimmy wanted Jed's life because of what he had done, and nothing would stop him. He trailed Jed all the way to our apartment. Then, when Jed and Maya got in the car, he followed them like the maniac he is." Cass brushed the tears off her cheeks impatiently.

"They came to a bridge that sat high over a big river, and Jimmy—" Cass couldn't breathe, her chest unrelenting of the air trapped inside. Tucker turned her head towards his and she slowly let out the breath.

"Jimmy ran them off the bridge." She whispered, and Tucker hugged her close as she cried. Cass didn't know how long they sat there, not speaking. She only knew his arms and his warmth, grounding her to the present. Finally, she pulled away gently. "He only served a few years in prison because he claimed the road was slippery. Then he got out on good behavior. GOOD BEHAVIOR!" Her bitter laugh resounded across the yard.

"The only good thing that came of the whole mess was Emmy. Maya left custody to me, and we have been terrified that Jimmy would come for us ever since. His twisted mind would only see Emmy as a threat to him, even though she obviously would never be a problem for him or whatever he's doing these days." She took a breath, then turned to Tucker. He rubbed her arm.

"Cass, that is an awful thing to go through. I'm sorry you had that happen to you. But Cass, the fact that no one can tell you've experienced that trauma means you're stronger than your past. It doesn't define you. You have this cheerful attitude that people who haven't experienced anything close to what you've gone through would pay to have. You're inspiring and honestly, unbelievable. There's no way I'd be okay if I had to go through that." Tucker smiled at her, making the butterflies in her stomach start again.

"I just wanted someone to know," she said, and tried to smile. Then she remembered why she was so worried about their meeting at the police station tomorrow. "I'm scared." She whispered. "I knew everything that was going on and I didn't tell anyone. I'm afraid they'll think I helped them or... or was a part of it in some way." Her fears grew as she said them aloud.

"Cass." Tucker lifted her chin with his finger. "They wouldn't do that. Anyone can see that you're not to blame here. But," he continued, seeing her look of protest, "We could ask them for immunity in exchange for your testimony." Cass frowned. She wasn't sure how that would work.

"Maybe." She said, not fully convinced. However, now that she had told Tucker her secret, it felt as if a weight had been lifted off of her chest. It felt so refreshing to confide in someone—him—and Cass felt freer than she had in years. And now that most of her worry had been expressed, she was starting to feel the exhaustion creep in.

"It's getting late." Tucker said, rising to his feet. He pulled Cass up by her hand, and didn't let go when she was standing beside him. His eyes darkened, and he pulled her into him, wrapping his arms around her.

"I'll be right there with you tomorrow." He murmured, then softly kissed the top of her head. "Good night, Cass." She turned her face up to look at him. "Good night, Tucker. You don't know how good it feels to finally tell someone what really happened." She smiled softly. He smiled back at her, then ushered her back inside as the stars twinkled down.