Just Breathe by Vincent Morrone

Author:Vincent Morrone
Language: eng
Format: azw3, epub
Published: 2014-06-11T23:00:00+00:00

* * * *

Cassie heard Tyler answer the door when Noah arrived. “You didn’t expect her to be on time, did you?”

She ran to the counter and grabbed a pie. “My mom’s recipe. I hope you guys like apple pie.”

He answered her with a long, deep kiss and said, “Who doesn’t?”

Tyler just rolled his eyes.

When they arrived at Noah’s home, they found Walter waiting for them in the living room.

“Grandpa wasn’t a hundred percent sure you were real,” Noah said.

Cassie smiled. “I’m real.”

“Thank Heavens,” Walter said. “Please sit down. This must be your brother, Tyler.”

Tyler pushed his glasses up the bridge of his nose and extended his hand.

“It’s nice to meet you, Mr. Collins,” Tyler said.

“Please, call me Walter. Let’s sit.”

It didn’t take long for Cassie to see how much Walter loved Noah, but as she looked around the room, she was surprised that she didn’t see any pictures of Noah as a child. There were several of Noah’s mother when she was little, as well as Walter and Noah’s late grandmother, but not a single picture of Noah as a child.

“Walter,” a woman said as she came into the room, “I think now would be a good time.”

Noah grabbed Cassie’s hand. “Linda, I’d like you to meet Cassie. And her brother, Tyler.”

Everyone exchanged greetings before Noah turned to Cassie. “You ready?”

Cassie nodded. Noah brought Cassie in to meet his mother.

Cassie knew Jean Collins was only in her mid-forties, but the woman lying in the bed looked frail and old. Her hair was gone and her skin was milky white. She smiled weakly from her bed and held out a hand to greet Cassie.

“Hello Ms. Collins,” Cassie said.

“Please, call me Jean,” she said faintly.

Noah introduced Tyler as they sat around and talked. Jean couldn’t do much talking, but her eyes filled with joy as she listened to Cassie. She managed a chuckle for Tyler’s jokes. She looked happy.

After about twenty minutes, she motioned for Noah to come closer. He leaned in to her. She said something that Cassie couldn’t hear. Noah looked surprised and a little worried, but he nodded when she added in a strained voice, “please.”

“Tyler,” Noah said. “Let’s go see if Grandpa needs any help with dinner. My mom wants to talk about me behind my back.”

“Cool,” Tyler said. “Guess it’s time for all your potty training stories.”

Noah led Tyler out of the room, giving his mother one last worried glance.

“He’s worried,” Jean said. “He’s not ready to talk about his past.”

Cassie moved closer, taking Jean’s hand again. “I know. I can’t imagine that it’s so horrible that it’s worth the anguish he’s putting himself through.”

Jean squeezed her hand. “It’s worse, but he shouldn’t be embarrassed. He’ll tell you. Noah…” Jean stopped to take a breath. “Noah’s a good man. He just doesn’t believe it.”

Cassie could tell how hard it was for Jean to talk this much. She realized how important it must be for her.

“Did Noah tell you how we met?” Cassie asked. Jean shook her head.

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