Starting Over

Supervised Dates

"Cassidy," my mom said from the other side of my closed door. "Talk to me."  The thing is, I really wasn't upset about it.  I just felt suffocated at the moment.  Yeah, I have a boyfriend, and something else along the way..., but I guess that's what happens when you're expecting.  You get waves of overwhelming emotions, and it just so happened that anger wasn't one of them right now.

"Why didn't you tell me before?"

"I told you why," she answered, opening the door.

"Why is this even happening?"  I felt my voice starting to rise and took a few deep breathes to calm myself.

"It was all for a stupid bet."

"So, I'm just a bet to you?" I yelled.

"No, no, Cassidy.  It was a while ago.  When your father and I went to Las Vegas when I was pregnant, he got really drunk.  And I was six months pregnant and couldn't drink, but my mind, emotions, and priorities were all over the place.  Your father was passed out on the couch and I went downstairs to the casino in the hotel's basement.  I met a woman, she was due any day, and we started playing black jack.  She wanted to make a drastic bet and so I told her to go for it.  She said that if she won two out of three rounds, then you, my unborn daughter, and her son would have to get married.  

"I know it sounds really stupid, and there are no excuses for me agreeing, and I'm so sorry.  I tried to get out of it later, but it was already done.  The government knows about it, and the other family has a lot of money and sometimes money speaks louder than words.  Cassidy, please forgive me.  If I could go back in time I would, but I can't."

I don't know what was going on with me.  I should have shouted and fumed and paced back and forth, but even as I searched deep within me I couldn't find it in me to yell at her.  She is my support right now, and she will be for a long time.  

I stood up and gave her a hug.  "I forgive you."

"Thank God, Cassidy.  And they're going to be here soon.  They're just coming to visit, and then we are going to go out for dinner.  And remember, the boy doesn't know yet, and please, let his mom tell him.  Just hink if you heard the news from some stranger." 

I just nodded.  For some reason I couldn't think straight about anything.  Being pregnant really sucked.  I had so many things to think about and the only thing I could really wrap my mind around was what I was going to wear to dinner and what I was going to order.

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The doorbell rang at exactly 4:30, when my mom said they were going to be there.  Delany called up the stairs saying she would get the door.  

I had on a short blue dress with silver heels and a silver necklace with a ruby pendant.  I decided to leave my hair straight and down where it almost reached my elbow.  

"Hi, Susan," I heard my mom great the lady downstairs. 

Time to get this show on the road.  I reluctantly walked down the stairs towards my future.  The woman, Susan, was tall and looked like she used to be a model when she was younger.  There wasn't one stray hair on her blonde head.  A man, I assumed was her husband, was just as perfect looking in a blue suit.  His hair was brown though, just like his son's.  To my surprise, their son was very cute.  It was probably my pregnancy hormones talking but he looked breathtaking.  He wore khakis and a green polo button down shirt.  He also had the prettiest hazel eyes.

"Oh hi," the lady I thought was Susan greeted me.  "You must be Cassidy."

"Hi,"  I said shyly.