FORBIDDEN

CHAPTER 4

Clarissa woke to the smell of coffee and food. She stood up and wandered into the kitchen. She smiled as she watched Cass flip eggs over in the pan while talking to Jared.
"Morning," said Jared as he saw her in the doorway.
"Morning Jared, morning Cass." She said.
"Hi, Mom. Sleep okay?"
"Quite as well as possible thanks. And you two?"
"No more drama so I guess so," answered Cass.
"Yep," said Jared.
"Good," she said as she poured coffee into a mug.
She walked over to hug Cass. They embraced shortly and Clarissa stepped back to look at her daughter. Something was different. She could Feel it.
"Mom?"
"Something's different. Changed." She said as she looked closer.
"How do you mean?" Asked Jared as he went to stand next to her.
Clarissa felt a shiver. A hint of something. She looked at Jared.
"You too. Something is different with both of you."
Cass narrowed her gaze and turned to take the eggs off the stove. Jared looked nervous.
"Oh my...you two didn't....?"
"What, Mom?"
"You know, Cass. Jared?"
"Hey, don't kill the messenger," he said as he threw his hands up and backed away.
"Messenger? You didn't say anything."
"I know. It's just a figure of speech that seems appropriate right about now."
"Food's done," said Cassy.
"Thank you, Cass. But really. What is it with you two?"
"Don't know what you mean, Mom. Just eat, please."
"Okay, but I'll figure it out soon enough."
"Okay," said Cass.
Jared gave her a worried look.
Don't worry, we'll deal with it when it comes to that.
This is weird. Speaking to you in my mind.
You said it yourself, Jared. Only connected people can do this. So we might as well use it. Now eat. Before I force feed you.
Jared smiled as he settled down next to Clarissa and started with his food.

"Don't forget the juice," yelled Clarissa as Cass pulled out of the driveway.
"We won't," answered Jared as they turned onto the road.

"That was close," Cass said.
"Yeah, but if your mom could Feel it then my mom will probably See it."
"Damn," said Cass,"I forgot about that. Suddenly nothing is private anymore."
Jared laughed.
Cassy stared at him with shards of ice in her eyes.
"Okay, okay. Got it. Not funny."
"Good. Can't we hide it or something?"
"Not exactly. My mom could always tell what I've done as soon as I walked in the front door. Really sucked to be me when I wasn't exactly good on that day."
"I can imagine. My mom had to hide it seeing how I never even knew she could Feel things."
"Lucky."
"I guess. Anyways. Let your mom them know we'll be there in thirty minutes or so."
"Good idea," he said as he pulled out his phone.

They pulled up the driveway and hadn't even stopped yet when Andrea was already dragging Jared out of the car and embracing him.
Cass got out and started laughing. She was tackled from behind by Nick, Jared's father.
"Hey," she said as she giggled.
"Did you really think it would only be him to get it?" Nick asked, laughing.
"Actually,I did,"said Cass as Nick let her go just to be grabbed by Andrea as both parents swopped their precious cargos.
"Hi, sweety," said Andrea.
"Hi,"said Cass as she hugged her.
"Now, let me have a look at you. Ah, I see Jared has made sure that you don't starve." Andrea said with a smile.
"Yeah, he's pretty good at it." Answered Cass.
"That's my boy," Nick said as he patted Jared on the back.
"Wait," said Andrea," There's something else too..."
Three. Two. One. Jared counted down mentally.
"Jared!" Shrieked Andrea.
Zero. He moaned.
"What is it,Andrea?" Asked Nick.
"Jared, you didn't!"
"Mom..."He started saying as Cass cut him off.
"It was me," she said.
Andrea turned to face her. She Looked at her closely.
"I see," she said.
"Still in the dark here," Nick said,lifting his hand.
"Dad,uh Cass and I...We uh..."
"You what?"
"They...connected, Nick." Finished Andrea.
"Oh. Oh, boy. What now? Does Clarissa know?"
"No! She knows something is different but not what." Cass said.
"Oh," Nick said again.
"It won't take long,you know that right?" Andrea asked.
"We know, Mom. Cass wants to leave it until then. I want to respect that." Jared answered.
"Jared, how did I raise a boy that became such a caring young man? It's sweet how you take Cassy's feelings into consideration. If that's what the two of you want, then fine. We won't say anything. Right, Nick?"
"Er, sure," he said smiling nervously.
"Thank you both," said Jared.
"It's more for Cass than anything else but it's a pleasure. Just know. When Clarissa does find out, we had no part in it. Okay?"
"Deal," Jared and Cass said in unison.
"Good. Now take me to see my friend."
"No problem. Jared?"
"Yeah?"
"You're sitting at the back. Your mom is sitting next to me," Cass said with a smile.
"Damn," he said and laughed.
"We'll have our turn, Son," said Nick.
"I know," said Jared,"That's why I'm okay with it. Besides, Cass loves Mom to bits so leave them be."
Andrea turned to Cass with tears of joy in her eyes.
"You really feel that way?" She asked.
"Of course," said Cass,"you're like my own mom. Nothing can describe how I feel about the three of you. You're my parents and Jared my soul mate. Nothing will tear us apart. Not even time itself. And Jared and I will still be going when we're old and grey. So you're stuck with me."
Three pairs of eyes watched in shock as Cass finished.
"Too much?" She asked and was embraced by both mother and father of the boy that she would die with or for. Whichever came first. She would be there until the very end. And then after that still. She felt Jared smile and embrace her in the back of her mind and melted into the arms of his parents.
"Andrea, Nick!" Clarissa exclaimed as the car stopped in front of the house.
She ran down the porch stairs and embraced both of them in a grip of iron.
"Good to see you, Clarissa," said Nick.
"It's been far too long," said Andrea.
"It has," said Clarissa, wiping tears from her eyes.
"Strange that we meet again because of our children hey?" Asked Andrea.
"Very true," said Clarissa," if it weren't for them I wouldn't even have known you lived here."
"I think you can say that again on our behalf," said Nick.
"Definitely," said Andrea.
"Well, come on in," said Clarissa," No need for us to stand here all day. Drink anyone?"
Two eager voices agreed as everyone entered the house.