The Course of Fate

PART 1


The three test kits sat side by side on the sink. One was a plus sign, another was a line and the last was a circle. Three different tests with three different responses but one result: Cassy was pregnant.

Cassy reviewed each of the instructions to make sure she read the results right. She had. She left the kits where they were and laid down on the sofa. Cassy could feel the tears well up in her eyes and spill over onto the sofa cushion. She didn't know if they were tears of joy and happiness or tears of sadness and fear. All she knew was that she was pregnant and had never been more scared in her life.

Cassy sat up and wiped her eyes. She got off the couch and headed to the kitchen for some water. She passed by her full-length mirror on the bathroom door and stopped. She stood in front of it and laid her hands across her stomach. 'I'm pregnant. I'm going to have a baby. I'm going to have Tom's baby.' Just thinking the words brought tears to her eyes again.

Tom. Tom's baby. How could this have happened? She turned away from the mirror and returned to the couch.

She remembered the night so clearly. At least most of it. After years of contributing time and money to it's organization,Tom was finally invited to the "Save the Florida Wildlife" charity ball. It was the creme de le creme of society balls and Tom was to be included. He had the sought after invitation and was planning on asking Leah Kerr, his girlfriend of the past few months, to be his date. Leah was a model and actress whom Tom met when they were investigating her movie director's murder. Cassy despised Leah and the feeling was mutual. She thought Leah was using Tom until she could find someone better and Leah thought Cassy was jealous.

Cassy had to laugh at that because she had been involved with Dalton Alexander, a local businessman for the past six months. So it would only seem fitting that Tom would despise Dalton. He felt there was something Dalton was hiding. This caused some bad moments between the two partners.

The week before the big ball Leah broke her relationship off with Tom. There was no warning, she just left a note on the dresser stating that it was over, that they weren't meant for each other and she left for a model shoot in Cancun. She didn't even know about the invitation, Tom was going to make it a surprise.

Tom was devastated. Cassy refrained from saying anything and helped Tom recover. She took him to dinner and to a movie. She even brought popcorn over and watched TV with him. By the end of the week, Tom was feeling better...but not better enough. He had decided not to go to the fundraiser.

"Come on Tom, you have to go."

"I'm not going, Cass, and that's final."

"All right, fine. You let little Miss Hot Stuff ruin your night, the night you have worked so hard for. You go right ahead. But I must say I am very disappointed in you. She turned you into this pathetic wimp and you let her. The man I was married to would not have let some bleach blond silicon bimbo with no class and even less taste keep him from this evening."

Tom tucked his tongue in his cheek. "Bleach blond silicon bimbo? Isn't that a little mean?"

"Isn't that a little precise? Anyway, what are you going to do?"

"I guess I'm going to the ball, fairy godmother, alone."

"Who said you were going alone? I'm going with you."

"You are? What about Dalton? Don't you think he'd mind you going to a high society party with your good looking ex-husband?"

Cassy chuckled. "He'd think that I took pity on you because you couldn't get a date."

Cassy ducked as a sofa pillow came flying through the air. "He's out of town for the next couple of weeks on business. I'll tell him when he gets back. What do you say?"
Tom smiled. "I say, pick me up at eight and don't be late."


The charity ball was everything they were expecting it to be and more; so much more. They entered dressed to the nines, Tom in a tux and Cassy in her almost-designer gown. Tom had thought about wearing his kilt and tuxedo jacket as he had done before but Cassy nixed that idea immedialtely. Privately Tom figured that Cassy didn't want his legs upstaging hers.

They looked smashing and smiled for the photographer from the society column. They knew they weren't important enough to have their pictures actually appear in the paper but no one there had to know that.

They danced to a couple of songs, ate from the vast buffet table, drank ginger ale and attempted to mingle with others but no one was really interested in the cops from Palm Beach. So in order to cover their hurt feelings and for something to do, they made remarks about the other guests.

"Look at the Mayor's wife over there, Tom. I think that makes three martinis in the last half hour."

"Actually, it's four Cass. She slipped another one in when you were at the buffet table."

"Oh, and look at that girl heading towards us. If that dress was any lower she'd be wearing it as a skirt. Tom, don't look but it's Leah."

Tom turned around and saw Leah coming towards them. He could see that she was wearing the diamond necklace he had bought for her for their three month anniversary. His stomach began to turn knots. He glanced over at Cassy and he could see that she was ready to pounce.

Leah approached them. "Hello, Tom. I'm surprised to see you here. Are you on duty?" She ignored Cassy.

Tom was completely shocked and speechless so Cassy took over. "No, Leah, Tom was invited. I thought you were out of town on business."

"I was. I returned this morning and thought it would be a shame to miss this wonderful event." Leah checked out Cassy's dress and smiled. "That is a lovely dress. Did you get it on sale?"

Cassy smiled back. "Yes, it is a lovely dress. But us cops can't afford designer dresses. Take the dress your wearing for instance. The only way I could afford it would be if I was turning tricks."

Leah's face turned red just as her date showed up. Cassy extended her hand.

"I'm Cassy and this is Tom. And you would be?"

"John. John Hyman."

"Yes, you are her John aren't you. We'll it's a pleasure to meet you John. What do you do?"

"I'm a body builder and I own the chain of Hyman Gyms. In
fact, that is how I met Leah."

"I'm sure you and Leah have a lot in common. We must be going now. Goodnight." Cassy smiled and took Tom by the arm and walked away.

"I think I need another drink, Cass. Something stronger than ginger ale."

"You have what ever you want. I'll be right here to see that you make it home."

Tom walked towards the open bar, the spring in his step gone.

"How dare you say those things about me in front of Tom."

Cassy turned to see Leah standing behind her.

"Oh give it a rest Leah. No one cares about you, especially Tom."

"Tom loved me. He said I gave his life meaning."

"And you threw it all away. Why?"

Leah examined her nails. "Because he wasn't right for me."

Cassy's anger began to grow. "Because he wasn't rich
enough? Or built enough?"

"Well yes. I need a man with money; a real man. Tom, with his cop salary and poetry wasn't what I was looking for."

"It was good enough for three months." Cassy knew that she had reached the point where there would be blood shed if she didn't leave right then.

"Yes, well, it's over now. I did a lot better with John."

"No, you didn't. But that's okay. Tom can and will do a lot better than you. See ya, Leah. I hope you get what you deserve."


Cassy found Tom at the bar chatting with Alexandra Prescott, the new head of the Internal Affairs Department.

"Cassy, what a lovely surprise to see you here."

"Captain Prescott, I'm surprised to see you here. Are you alone?"

"Call me Alexandra, dear. I'm here with my husband. We like to support the causes. And here he is now.
Sweetheart, meet Cassy and Tom. Two of our finest Palm Beach Police officers."

Cassy turned and came face to face with Dalton Alexander. Cassy could feel her head getting dizzy. Tom noticed and grabbed hold of her to keep her steady. "Cassy forgot to eat with the champagne. She's a little dizzy. She'll be fine after she eats." He put his arm around her and turned her towards the buffet table. Cassy turned herself back around and smiled at Tom.

"I'm fine, Tom. Really." She smiled at Dalton. "Dalton, it's nice to see you again."

Cassy felt a small thrill as Dalton went deathly pale. Alexandra looked confused.

"Cassy, I didn't realize you knew my husband." She turned to Dalton.

"Dear, how do you know Cassy?"

"We met at, um.."

"At the book store on First Street. We both grabbed the same book and he was kind enough to let me have it. Turns out we both love horror books."

Alexandra looked please with herself. "Yes, I know. I got Dalton hooked on horror books years ago."

Cassy felt Tom's hand on her back and was glad for the support. "It's funny. I never would have guessed you were married."

"I suppose not considering I kept my own name when we married. Can you imagine going through life with the name Alexandra Alexander?"

"I guess that would be confusing."

"To say the least."

"How long have you been married?" Cassy could see out of the corner of her eye that Dalton look terrified. Good, she thought.

Alexandra kissed Dalton on the cheek. He could not meet Cassy's eyes.

"Twelve years this May."

"Twelve years?" Cassy asked as she smiled at Dalton.

"Twelve wonderful years and three kids."

Mayor Crane came up behind Tom and tapped him on the shoulder. "May I have a word with you, Tom?"

Tom looked at Cassy and she slightly nodded her head to let him know she'd be fine. Tom stepped away with Mayor Crane and Cassy turned her attention back to Dalton and his lovely wife.

"Is there a problem with Tom?" Alexandra asked.

"I doubt it. We can never get away from work. It follows us everywhere."

Alexandra smiled. "I can relate. Last week I took the kids to a movie and the wife of an officer I'm investigating came up to me in the lobby yelling and carrying on about how I'm destroying her family. I'll tell you, you neverget away from it."

Cassy could see Dalton's stare but ignored it.

"How true. You mentioned you have three kids."

"Yes, Rebecca is ten, Dalton Jr. is eight and Megan is six months."

Cassy felt her stomach drop to her knees. "Six months?"

"Born June 20. It's a shame Dalton had to miss it. He had some meeting in Manhattan that weekend and couldn't get home in time."

Cassy needed to get out before the tears that had been threatening began to fall. She turned to Tom. "I need to rescue Tom otherwise Mayor Crane will have him tied up for hours. It was nice seeing the two of you again. Have a pleasant evening." She left before either one of them could say a word.

She ran past Tom and straight to her car. Tom saw her run by as he was leaving the mayor. He caught up with her and wrapped his arms around her as she began to cry. She cried until she had no tears left.

"Please don't, Tom"

"Don't what?"

"Ask me to talk about it. I can't."

"Whatever you want, Cass. I'm here for you. Want me to take you home?"

"Yeah. I want to go home."

End Part 1

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