Shattered Dreams Due to Unforeseen Consequences

Chapter 13 Boxing Day

Cassie Perspective

Cassie awoke with a knot in her stomach, her anxiety growing. She knew she had to have a conversation with Shawn later that day, and she was dreading it. She had no idea how he would react, and it made her stomach churn. She took a deep breath and reminded herself that she could handle anything Shawn threw her way.

She got up, took a shower, and got dressed. She chose a casual but fashionable outfit to boost her confidence: a pair of light-wash skinny jeans, a white t-shirt, and a denim jacket. She put on a pair of black ankle boots and applied some light makeup. She took a few moments to sit and meditate, breathing in and out slowly to calm her nerves. She looked in the mirror and smiled, feeling ready to take on whatever Shawn threw at her.

She walked down the stairs to the lounge, where her toddler twins, Lizzie and Phillip, were playing. She smiled and greeted them both, giving them each a hug. "Good morning, my little angels," she said. "How are you feeling today? Are you ready for breakfast?" She asked as she made her way to the kitchen. The twins smiled and said, "Yes, mama!" as they followed her to the kitchen. She pulled out the ingredients for pancakes and turned on the oven. She poured the batter into the hot pan and waited patiently for it to sizzle. Once the pancakes were done, she placed them on the table and called the twins over. They eagerly sat down and began eating their breakfast.

Amanda was awakened by the smell of pancakes wafting through the house. She opened her eyes and stretched her arms, then got out of bed and made her way to the kitchen. She smiled as she saw Cassie and the twins enjoying breakfast together. "Good morning," she chirped. "Pancakes for breakfast? I'm in!" She grabbed a plate and piled it high with pancakes, adding a generous amount of syrup on top. She took a seat at the table and began to eat.

Cassie finished her breakfast and smiled at Amanda. "Thank you for joining us for breakfast. Are you sure you don't mind looking after the twins while I go have a chat with Shawn?" she asked. Amanda nodded. "Of course. I'm happy to help. You go take care of your business, and I'll be here with the kids," she said reassuringly. Cassie smiled gratefully and gave her a hug. "Thank you," she said.

Cassie quickly sent Shawn a DM asking, "What time do you want to meet?" She nervously waited for his response. Shawn replied, "Around 11:30. Is that okay with you?" Cassie replied and said, "Yes, that's fine. I'll see you soon." Cassie smiled and said, "Come on, let's go play in the snow!" She took the twins outside into the back garden, and they all squealed excitedly. They spent the next hour building snowmen and having a snowball fight. The twins laughed and giggled as they ran around in the snow. Even Cassie couldn't help but join in the fun, throwing snowballs at the twins and laughing. After an hour, they were all exhausted and went back inside. The twins had rosy cheeks and were out of breath, but they were all smiles.

Cassie gave Amanda and the twins one last hug before saying goodbye. "Thank you for watching the kids," she said gratefully. "I'll be back soon." and quickly got ready to head out. She grabbed her coat, scarf, and gloves and made her way to the cafe to meet Shawn. As she walked, she couldn't help but feel a little nervous. She wasn't sure what to expect, but she was determined to get some answers. She took a deep breath and opened the door to the cafe. Shawn was already there, waiting for her; she took a deep breath and walked over to him.

Shawn Perspective

Shawn woke up earlier than usual, eager to meet Cassie. He quickly showered and got dressed, taking extra time to make sure he looked presentable. Shawn headed downstairs for breakfast with his parents and sister. His father was already at the table, reading the paper. His mother was in the kitchen, bustling around and cooking breakfast. His little sister, Amanda, was setting the table. He grabbed a cup of coffee on his way to the kitchen. "Good morning," he said cheerfully.