| Twelve o’clock the next day the doorbell rang and Cassie ran excitedly towards the door after her mother. Maria opened the door slowly to reveal Michael standing behind the door a dress hanging on a hanger, a plastic see through covering over it. “Daddy,” the child called hugging her father around his legs as he bent down picking her up and holding her in his arms. “So sweetheart, what do you think of this dress. Will it be suffice?” he asked her holding the dress up for her approval. Cassie could see a baby pink dress brand new looking up at her with ruffles in it. “Oh daddy, it’s beautiful. Mommy isn’t it beautiful?” Maria glanced at the dress quickly and smiling at her daughter said, “Yes sweetheart and it’ll look even more beautiful on you. Shall we?” Maria asked holding out her hand for the dress. Michael handed her the dress but didn’t even look her in the eye. “Help yourself to whatever you want. We shouldn’t be long.” Maria and Cassie headed off to Maria’s room where she had already left out things to do Cassie’s hair with. She proceeded to get Cassie ready unable to stop herself from thinking there mightn’t be many more chances she got to do it. She could feel tears coming to hers eyes but stopped them remembering her promise to herself that she would never cry in front of her daughter. It could wait until she was out. Finally she had Cassie ready. She truly was beautiful. A wonderful mix of the two of them. Her hair and eyes were very much liked her father’s except for the loose curl in her hair and she had inherited her mothers facial features such as her nose and mouth and maybe partly because she lived with Maria but she was lot more like Maria in personality. She was talkative and chatty although she had a stubborn streak not unfamiliar to both her parents. Maria ushered Cassie out to Michael who was busily looking at the pictures around the room mainly of Cassie but a few of her friends from Roswell and a couple he didn’t recognise. “Daddy, I’m ready,” Cassie’s voice said interrupting his thoughts. He turned and saw her standing in the dress looking truly spectacular. Maria stood behind her and Michael this time couldn’t stop himself from catching her eye. He saw that she was scared, scared of him and what he could do to her. He hated to see her like that but he was still too cross. He still felt bitter towards her for keeping their child from him. He didn’t know if he’d ever be able to forgive her for that so he looked coldly at her ignoring the hurt he saw there. Maria looked away. “So what time do you think you’ll be back?” Maria asked not meeting his eyes. She hated the way he was looking at her. “I don’t know. We’ll be back when we’re back. Do you have a problem with that,” Michael asked in a challenging voice. Maria shook her head. Cassie looked at her parents in confusion. She didn’t understand why they both sounded so cross. Well daddy more than mommy. Her mommy meant down giving her a tight hug whispering in her ear, “Have a lovely time and be a good girl for mommy.” Cassie hugged her mother back and said, “Off course I will mommy. I love you. Please don’t look so sad I’ll be back.” Maria smiled sadly and giving her a last kiss and hug pushed her towards her father who held out his hand for her. “See you later sweetheart,” Maria whispered as Michael and Cassie walked out of the door. She headed back to her room and sat down on her bed tears falling from her eyes. Her world was falling down all around her. It looked like the most important person in the world to her was going to be taken away …. again. *** When father and daughter arrived at the church they walked in hand in hand through the double doors. Many people were already sat and Cassie looked around at her surroundings in awe. Their were so many people in beautiful clothes and their was lots of camera men. “Friend of the groom or the bride sir?” a man asked the two. “The groom,” Michael said making his way towards a blonde. “Michael,” she said kissing him on the cheek. “I was beginning to wonder if you’d ever get here. The service starts in five minutes.” “Sorry Isabel,” Michael said. “I had to collect someone.” “You’ve got a date?” Isabel asked in surprise. “So to speak,” he said with a small smile. Isabel looked at him puzzled. “Well where is she Michael?” Michael reached behind him pulling around Cassie. “This is my daughter Isabel. Cassie.” Isabel gasped looking at the child in shock. “M-M-Maria’s?” Michael nodded. “How, when, why?” “Well the normal way I’d like to think, in our junior year seeing as that was the last time I saw her and because she obviously didn’t want me involved.” Isabel sat in shock. Cassie gazed at her thinking she looked very beautiful in her dress. She hoped that one day when she was all grown up she could wear beautiful clothes all the time. “Well, it’s lovely to meet you Cassie. I’m your Auntie Isabel.” “Hi,” Cassie said shyly. They couldn’t talk anymore because the music had started up and the flower girls and bridesmaids were making their way up the aisle. Michael and Cassie sat down quickly, Cassie in awe of everyone. *** The wedding had gone without any complications and they were all now sitting in a glamorous hotel for the reception. People were coming up to Michael curious to who the girl was with him. On hearing it was his daughter many of the women and some of the men were all over her. Isabel and Michael meanwhile were chatting about Maria. “So did she give an explanation?” Isabel asked in a hushed voice so that Cassie didn’t hear. Michael shook his head. “Not a viable one.” Isabel frowned wondering what it was but knew that was all she was likely to get. “So she’s letting you see Cassie now then?” “Yes,” Michael said crossly. “And so she should. I’m going to full custody. I don’t want her near Cassie anymore than I have to.” “Michael!” Isabel said with a slight gasp. “I know your angry but I’m sure that taking Cassie away from Maria isn’t going to solve anything.” Michael’s face turned cold and he looked at Isabel coldly, “She’s a stripper Isabel. What sort of example is that to set to a child? Also she’d left Cassie with a neighbour who was in no way capable of looking after her. She had been drinking and was smoking. Goodness knows what else has been happening the last six years. I have the money and a good home for her. I want the best for her.” “As I’m sure Maria does as well. Michael we don’t know the circumstances behind any of this. Please let me go and see her. I’m sure she really needs a friend.” Michael scratched his brow deep in thought. Should he let her go and see Maria? What if Maria turned Isabel against him? But then again Isabel would only go on at him if he didn’t let her go. “Okay,” he said with a sigh and writing down the address. “Please don’t do anything stupid,” Isabel said taking the napkin and putting it in a bag. “We don’t know what the circumstances behind this are.” Michael didn’t say anything but instead got up and walked over to Cassie. “Sweetheart would you like to dance?” Cassie smiled up at her father and said, “That would be swell daddy.” Michael laughed and lead her to the dance floor. *** At 1 o’clock the next morning Michael pulled up outside Maria’s apartment block, Cassie fast asleep. He lifted her up, bringing her upstairs and knocked on the door. The door opened revealing a obviously frantic Maria. On seeing Cassie she sighed in relieve taking Cassie in her arms kissing her softly all over making Cassie cuddle into her mother. It tore at Michael’s heartstrings at seeing her like that but he couldn’t forgive her, not yet. Maria looked up at him, her eyes red from obviously crying all day. “Did you have a good time?” she asked quietly. “Yes,” Michael said gruffly. “Good.” She paused. “When do you want to see her next?” “I’m off tomorrow evening. I’ll take her to the pictures and somewhere to eat. Where do you think she’d like to go?” “Um, I don’t know,” Maria said looking away in embarrassment. “We don’t go out very much. I’m sure she won’t mind where you go.” Michael nodded curtly. “Right. Well I’m sure you’ve had a busy evening I should let you get some sleep.” Maria’s eyes flashed angrily. “What’s that supposed to mean?” “Well how many times have you had to take your clothes off tonight? It must be exhausting,” Michael said cruelly. Maria glared at him. “I only do that a couple of times a week. I told you, it’s good money. I-I-I try my best you know. A waitresses wage isn’t very much and Cassie has to be fed and clothed.” “Well maybe if you hadn’t have run away she would have but not on a stripper’s wage!” “Well whose fault is that?!” Maria exclaimed in anger. “Mommy, daddy,” Cassie said arousing from her sleep. “Why are you shouting?” “I’m sorry sweetheart,” Maria said cuddling Cassie close to her. “It’s nothing for you to worry about. Say goodbye to your father and thank him for such a lovely day.” Cassie stretched out for her father, hugging him tightly murmuring a sleepy thanks and cuddling back into her mother’s arms. “Goodbye Michael,” Maria said coldly shutting the door in his face. TBC |
| Part 3 |
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