Caught in-between #Wattys2016

Points of view: Joe

‘Cass honey, wake up’ I said as I shook her gently. I hated to wake her, she’d been so edgy lately and she looked so peaceful when she slept.

 ‘Five more minutes……’ she mumbled sleepily, her voice trailing off. I chuckled. ‘Come on Cass, they’re closing up- we’ve outstayed our welcome.’ I’d always found waking her up amusing. She hated to be disturbed even if she’d slept half the day.

 Now her eyes flickered open, slowly, reluctantly. She stared at me for a moment and then a slight smile slowly crept across her face. ‘I was dreaming about you’ she told me as I lifted my hand to her soft hair, gently sweeping a lock from her forehead. God! I loved her hair! ‘All good I hope’ I asked raising an eyebrow. ‘Hmm’ she replied absentmindedly; an emotion I couldn’t decipher hidden beneath her hazel eyes. She sat up and drew her knees into her chest. It frustrated me when Cass was evasive, but I knew better than to push her.

 I took her hand and pulled her up from the ground, drawing her into my chest. I ran my fingers lightly down the back of her arm and she shivered in response, huddling closer against me. I wanted to get her home- after nine years; her beauty was not lost on me.

 ‘Are you hungry?’ she mumbled against my chest. ‘I’m ravenous, you have no idea’ I said, smiling at the double meaning in my words. I released her from my embrace and bent down to gather the items that I’d brought with us. I looked up at Cass who was searching the gardens through slitted eyes. ‘You know you should wear your glasses more- squinting like that will only make your eyesight worse’ I informed her. I thought I’d seen her body stiffen at my words- Cass didn’t like being told what to do.

 She sighed. ‘Lets get out of here’ she muttered, eyes downcast. I looked at her in surprise as she stood up and dusted herself down. I’d been expecting a retort- she must still be tired. I took her hand and intertwined my fingers with hers, enjoying the softness of her delicate palm. We made our way towards the gated exit.

 I wondered whether I should ask her now- I could feel the white gold band burning against my thigh. I could imagine her face if I were to kneel down on one knee, her hand in mine. There was no doubt in my mind- I wanted Cassandra to be my wife, a Hudson, but I wanted the timing to be perfect and something told me now wasn’t the time.

 We walked in companionable silence. Cass seemed to be deep in thought; it was sometimes difficult to tell whether this was actually the case. It was one of the reasons that I loved her so much- she was wonderfully complex. I loved how she asked questions that seemed almost childlike in their simplicity, but which were incredibly difficult to answer. I loved how she found beauty in the ugliest things and had the ability to make you think that they were the loviest things you’d ever laid your eyes upon. I wondered what she was thinking now. I guessed it had something to do her upcoming exhibition. Cass was very private about her art; I was almost jealous of the relationship that she had with it. She’d never allowed me to see an unfinished piece.

 I smiled as she removed her artist’s hat from her head and allowed her curls to tumble down the length of her back. I couldn’t fathom why she’d want to cover up hair as vibrant as hers. Women would kill to have hair like that.

 We reached the apartment. Cass opened the front door to our building and led the way up the stairs without bothering to flick the light switch. ‘It’s like you’re determined to run your eyesight into ground, and take mine with you’ I chided her playfully. ‘Sorry’ she mumbled. I could sense that she was distracted. I didn’t mind really- it was part and parcel of who she was.

 I heard her slip her key into the door and I placed my hand on hers, stopping her from completing the motion. I trailed my hand lightly down the length of her arm, and spun her around to face me. She was caught of guard and her breath caught in her throat- good!  I placed my hands on either side of her body so that she was pressed against the door. ‘If you recall earlier, I said that I wanted you to myself today’ I murmured in her ear, ‘and here you are in body………but your mind is completely elsewhere’.

 I heard her breathing hike as my eyes became accustomed to the dark, but she didn’t speak. ‘What’s wrong Cass?’ I asked her quietly. I kissed the corner of mouth. Still she said nothing. ‘You can tell me’ I continued, my voice barely a whisper now. I brushed my nose along her jaw line waiting for a response. Her breathing was becoming faster; ragged. Was she crying? I touched her face, and sure enough, my fingers were greeted with the wetness of tears. ‘Cass, what….’ I started, frustrated- confused. She placed a finger over my lips, ‘Shhh’ she whispered hoarsely. She hugged me tightly; I placed my arms around her small frame, returning the gesture. ‘I love you Joe’ she mumbled into my chest.

 Words could not express how I felt about her. I swept her up into my arms, cradling her like a small child. She wrapped her arms around my neck and hid her face against me. I opened the door and carried her into the apartment.