Part 15
Cassy buttered another roll and listened to Frannie list the menu for the
reception. She looked over at Tom, who was watching her. It use to drive
her nuts when he would do that, but now it just warmed her heart.
"Tom?" Harry nudged Tom out of his trance.
"Umm?" He realized that Harry had been talking to him and he had no idea
what he had said. "Sorry, Harry. What was that?"
Harry decided to let it go. He could remember what it was like to be young
and in love. He glanced at his wife. Who said you had to be young? "I asked
you if you could come by my office tomorrow afternoon after you let out your
last class."
"Sure. You want to tell me why?" Tom scooped up some mushrooms and set them
next to his steak."
"I have narrowed the candidates to four and I'm meeting with each one
tomorrow morning and I would like to discuss them with you."
"What is so important about these four people that Tom's opinion is
needed?" Cassy opened the bottle of salad dressing and began to pour.
"Because I wanted to get Tom's opinions about his new partner."
Cassy could feel her stomach fall to her knees. "His new what?"
"Cassy, what are you doing?" Tom snatched the bottle from her hand.
She looked down at her salad, at least where her salad use to be. Now she
had a bowl full of dressing. "Oops, sorry." She turned her attention back
to the two gentlemen. "Now what was that again?"
Harry had hoped this would go smoothly. "Cassy, you knew this was going to
happen."
Cassy sighed as she began to hunt for her salad. "That doesn't mean I have
to like it."
Tom found Cassy sitting in the porch swing watching the water. He sat down
next to her and moved her head to his shoulder.
"You want to tell me about it?"
"I'm fine. I always loved the way the moonlight lights up the water."
"You are not fine. Something is bothering you. Is it the idea of me getting
a new partner?"
"Well, of course I'm not thrilled with it, but it's what has to be
done."
Tom was more confused. He would have bet money that a new partner was what
was bothering her. "If it's not that, then what is bothering you? Is it the
wedding? Are you having second thoughts?" Tom's stomach tightened with
fear.
She looked at him with surprise. "Of course not. I'm marrying you in six
days whether you like it or not."
Tom breathed with relief. But that still didn't answer his question.
"Something is bothering you. I want to know what it is?"
"All right, I'll tell you. I'm not looking forward to tomorrow."
"Tomorrow? Granted, nobody likes Mondays, but they've never seemed to
upset you before."
"I start my new position. Tomorrow I go from being a homicide detective to
being a desk officer." Cassy felt a tear drop. She hadn't realized she was
crying.
"Oh Honey, it's not so bad." Tom listened to the waves and wondered
why anyone would not want to live on the beach.
"That's easy for you to say. Tomorrow Matt Jones will be returning to
reclaim his class of misfits...."
"Actually not. Matt's doctor wants him to stay home another week so I'll be
teaching the misfits for another week."
She sat up straight. "Not Friday, you're not."
"Of course not. Thursday will be my last day. Someone else will cover the
class on Friday. I'm not about to go to work the day before the wedding."
"Good because we will have a ton of things to do. We have to pack for our
honeymoon. I wish you would tell me where we are going."
"Nope. It's a surprise." He began nibbling on her ear.
Cassy glanced over and could see a mischievous look in his eyes. "How am I
suppose to know whether to pack warm clothes or summer clothes?"
"No clothes. You won't need them."
"Thomas." She tried to sound firm, but with what he was doing to her
ear it was impossible.
Derek was walking along the waters edge. He stopped to let his dog Happy
drink. He could see the Ryan/St. John home from his location. Even though
it was dark, he could see the couple on their porch. They were too busy to
notice him. He pulled out his camera and began to take zoom shots of them.