Who Is This?

Chapter 6

"Are you sure I look okay?" Cassidy asked anxiously, smoothing down her shirt and twitching a loose strand of hair behind her ear.

"Yes, for the millionth time, Cass, you look great," Daisy said, exasperated. She pressed down harder on the accelerator, swinging right in obedience to the monotone instructions from her iPhone. "Have a little faith in me, would you?"

"Sorry," Cassidy mumbled, pushing her sunglasses up her nose. "I just ... what if–"

"He'll love you, Cass," Daisy cut her off gently. "You've talked heaps on the phone, why would it be any different now?"

"You know why," Cass whispered. Daisy was silent for a long moment, then at last she said, "if he's an even slightly decent guy then it won't make a difference to him."

"Yes. Yes, you're right." Cass nodded confidently, but she couldn't stop her leg jumping. Daisy stopped the car and dropped her hand on Cassidy's leg.

"You will be fine. He will think you're wonderful, and you will never want to come home."

"And if I do?"

"If you do then I will be there in five minutes even if I have to break laws to do it. Promise."

The corner of Cass' mouth twitched up and she squeezed Daisy's hand. She took a deep breath and opened the door of the car. She walked to the front and stood beside Daisy, her fingers brushing the side of Daisy's hand in a system they'd worked out long ago. They walked a few metres, then Daisy reached back and squeezed the tips of Cassidy's fingers.

"I think that's him," she breathed.

"Tom?" Cassidy said timidly.

"Cassidy." She could hear his warm voice, for once not through the tinny filter of a phone, and she couldn't help the smile that spread across her face.

"Hello, Daisy," Tom said, turning his attention to Cassidy's companion.

"Hi, Tommy," Daisy said merrily. "Nice to see you properly."

"Nice to see you, too," Tom replied brightly. "Cass, I hope this table is okay?" There was a scrape as Tom pulled out a chair. Daisy placed Cass' hand on the back of the metal chair, and Cassidy shyly took a seat.

"You good?" Daisy murmured, and Cass nodded quickly. Daisy gave her shoulder a quick squeeze, then raised her voice.

"Well, then, Tommy, I wouldn't want to get in the way, so I'll just take myself off. Have fun on your date!"

Cass felt her face flare bright red, and she dropped her head into her hands.

"Oh god, I'm sorry," she mumbled, and Tom laughed.

"It's fine, it's fine." There was a brief pause, then, in a gentler tone, he said, "it's so good to see you in person."

"You too," Cassidy replied shyly, keeping her face tucked in her hands.

"Would you like a drink?" Tom asked politely. "I'm having a tea, but would you like something different?"

"Tea is fine, thanks," Cassidy murmured. Tom snapped his fingers to summon the waiter and passed on Cassidy's order.

But the trials weren't over yet. Cassidy kept her hand pressed to her face for a long moment and breathed deeply. She knew it would be fine. She knew it would. After all, she hadn't gotten a bad reaction in years. Most people were fine with it, there was no reason why Tom should be any different. She was actually surprised that he hadn't yet noticed. But she couldn't quash that maybe, maybe it would bother him. Her hands were trembling slightly as she reached up and slid off her sunglasses. She felt rather than heard Tom still, and neither of them said anything for a long, painfully stagnant moment.