Southern Summer

Second Thoughts

    Brook's smile could stop you dead in your tracks, it was that compelling. It was probably the first thing Cassandra noticed about him when they had first met, the summer after high school graduation. Even after all these years, it still catches her off guard. But that could also have to do with the fact that he was here. Though she was still mad at him, she couldn't deny how good he looked standing there, in his ironed black slacks and a well fitted button up shirt. Baby blue always looked so good on his tan skin. He must have just left the office.

    But she couldn't figure out how he knew she would be here tonight. Janet had turned around to see who she was staring and turns back to Cassandra quickly.

        “I thought you two were over? Why didn't you tell me you invited him,” Janet whispers, as Brooks starts to casually walk to their table.

    “Well, that's because I didn't invite him,” Cassandra says, trying to be discreet. She puts a smile on as Brooks approaches.

    “You two look beautiful tonight. And that dress and color looks absolutely amazing you, Cas. I hope I got the wine right, Caymus Cabernet?” He looks at Cassandra, she knows he knew exactly which to buy. They talked about it every time they bought a not-so-good wine, which was often as they were avid wine drinkers.

    “Yes, that's the one,” she swirls the wine in her glass, “thank you. But, uhm, how did you know I'd be here?”

    “This has always been your favorite place, Cas. I knew this would be the one place you would want to go before you leave,” his smile fades a bit at the end.

    “Well, why don't you join us?” Janet asks, looking at Cassandra slightly shrugging, so that Brooks doesn't notice. His eyes have left Cassandra so he doesn't see.

    “Thank you, but I need to get going. Do you mind if I drop by later, just to get a couple of things I think I left behind in the apartment?” He asks, but she knows there's nothing of his left. 

    “Sure, I should be back around 9 maybe,” she tells him. She wonders what could he possibly want now, it's far too late to try to work things out.

    “Alright, I'll see you then. Happy birthday again, gorgeous,” he winks, turning and walking out the front of the restaurant.

    Cassandra turns her glass up and gulps down the entire thing, then sighs heavily and shakes her head. Her mother laughs.

    “Well, I take it you two aren't finished, just yet,” Janet winks. The waiter returns with their food before Cassandra can yell 'MOM!'

    “So is he really coming over to get his stuff?” her mother asks, suspiciously, as they eat their delicious steaks.

    “Seeing as he didn't leave anything and I know because I've cleaned, I'm assuming not. I don't know why he's wanting to come by. He acted like we were done and over. But today he's been acting very different,” Cassandra says, thinking to herself about how while she didn't think wanted to see him again, she actually was kind of excited to see Brooks later. But she won't let her mother know that. 

    “You can definitely tell he's not over you, you know. So I'd be willing to put money on he's going to try to talk you out of leaving. Again,” Janet rolls her eyes.

    “He's just so back and forth with the way acts towards me. But if that's what he's planning, I'm just going to give to him straight. Either he decides to go with me, or he stops contacting me at all. I don't want the whiplash, I want to move on. I don't need anything holding me back,” Cassandra says, firmly. Janet looks at her daughter, and smiles shaking her head.

    “Either way, I'm sure glad he ordered this wine,” her mother gets the waiter to pour them both another glass. “So how is Natalie taking the news?”

    “She seems sad that I wont be here when she gets back from Nevada, but she's excited to come down to Georgia to visit, mostly to try meet a 'southern gentleman',” Cassandra laughs. 

    Natalie wasn't the kind of girl to settle down. Every time Cassandra thought her and a guy were going to take the next step and get serious, Natalie would find some strange reason to break it off. She always told Nat that she had commitment issues, to which Natalie objected, stating that her many, many tattoos were proof of commitment and that she just didn't want to be tied down.

    “I like her thinking, I may do the same for myself when I visit,” Janet teases.

    “Valdosta just isn't ready for you two,” Cassandra shakes her head. They finish their dinner and leave the restaurant, her mother hugs her at least five times while waiting for their taxis. 

    “Call me the second your flight lands, OK?” Janet says, motherly.

    “Of course I will.”

    The taxis pull up and her mother hugs her one last time and whispers 'I Love you' to her. Cassandra tells her she loves her, too, getting into the car. She starts to get nervous, looking at her phone, it's 8:20. Maybe he won't even show up, she thinks as the driver pulls up to her apartment. She pays and gets out, unlocking and walking in the door. 

    She had just laid her purse down and got her phone out to check it when someone knocks. Her stomach does a somersault as she opens the door. Brooks is standing there, smiling once again, with another bouquet. It was just like the one she left, drowning on the side walk, what seems like forever ago but was only a week.