Cassie's story - Letters To Myself New Year's Special part two

Letters To Myself

Change of plan. I wrote the second part of the New Year's special, but it became rather longer than I expected. So now the two part has become a three part. Here is part two, check in on Thursday for part three. Enjoy.

Saffron and the girls came over to help me set up for the party. Did I mention that I also decided to have a theme? Yes, not content with inviting potential drama, I had to add themed decorations.

“You know at the time I wasn’t sure a pirate theme would fly, but I’m liking what we’ve done here.”

Saffron stood back and admired our decorating efforts. The kitchen table was not big enough for all of us, so I had borrowed trestle tables from her which were set up on the back deck.

We had balloons, some of which said Happy New Year and some of which said Arrrr me hearties and various other pirate like things. In the same store I found some mini cutlasses which I placed on the tables between the New Year decorations. Tiny parrots perched on the edge of the wine and water glasses. Each table setting had an eyepatch and a fortune cookie. There were even little treasure chests which held sweets and nuts.

“It looks good, I hope there’s enough food for everyone.”

Saffron cut me a sideways glance. “You’ve made enough food for an Italian army. I’m more concerned about the alcohol supplies. We’re going to need a substantial amount to get through this night.” Inviting Nathan had proved to be one of my more unpopular decisions.

It’ll be fine. He’ll be fine. And the kids will be happy to have both parents here.”

“You’re insane. You’ve got Nathan bringing his fiancé to a party hosted by his most recent ex-wife and attended by his first ex-wife.”

“Julia’s cool with it.” This may have been a slight exaggeration. Julia did not argue when I told her Nathan was coming, but her expression was a little like she just smelled something bad. We were becoming closer, and I was happy about that. I couldn’t yet say she was a good friend – after all a good friend would have told me that my decision making sucked – but I liked her and was happy she was coming.

“Who else is coming? With your Nathan bombshell I forgot.”

I stared at Saffron for a beat, sure that she was still making her disapproval clear but she continued to look curious so I sighed and told her, again. “Well there’s you four (for once Ben was attending a party with his wife), Julia and Emmie, Andrew, Alice – she’s bringing a friend too, Nathan Lucy and Susie (I hurried through those names), Sharon and Tony from next door, Annette and James from the restaurant, Bill and Mary from the patisserie, and of course Matt. Oh, and Julia asked if she could bring a friend too.”

“Julia is bringing a friend? Was that before or after you told her Nathan was coming?”

I thought for a minute. “I think before, not sure. Anyway, it’s a man called, um, John. It would be wonderful if he is a romantic interest don’t you think?”

“So not only do you have your ex coming, but his first wife is bringing a romantic interest, and you will have Matt. We are going to have a raging narcissist reacting badly to it all. I think I’ll start drinking now.”

When she put it like that it did sound like I had made a bad, bad decision. But still, surely by now Nathan was no longer threatened by anyone Julia had in her life, and me too for that matter.

“It’ll be fine, I’m sure it will be. And on the plus side we get to dress up like pirates!”

Saffron smiled at that. “We do, and I bet Matt will make a smoking hot pirate.” She winked at me and I grinned, happy she was distracted from the subject of Nathan.

“Let’s go get ready.”

“Sure, and then we can open a bottle of wine.”

“Sounds like a plan.”

Several hours later I was in the kitchen refreshing the snack plates. The party was in full swing, with so far no incidents. Dinner had been eaten and praised by all, the tables were cleared and reset with the snacks, and I had loaded the dishwasher with all the dirty dishes.

“You’ve been hiding in here for long enough. Come out and enjoy yourself.”

I turned to see Matt grinning at me from the door. Saffron was right, Matt in pirate gear was smoking hot. As I stared his grin widened. He straightened up and swaggered into the room. Arms held wide he spun on his heel, before coming closer to where I stood.

“Like what you see wench? You sure do look fetching in that outfit, I think you should wear it more often.”

I pulled self-consciously at the shirred top of my wench outfit. “This was Saffron’s idea. I wanted to be a first mate.”

“Then I must thank Saffron for her foresight. You are a most comely wench.”

I blushed. “Thank you, and you are a rakish pirate.”

Matt took a couple of steps closer and tweaked the cloth hat that was part of the costume. “I like this too, and I do like the sleeveless look.” He leered down at my cleavage.

“It’s not sleeveless, it’s off the shoulder.”

“And beautiful shoulders they are too.” Matt ran a finger along the top of my shoulder, giving me goosebumps and causing a flicker of fire to run through my body.

“Cassie is there any more…wine, sorry to interrupt.”

I looked past Matt to see Nathan standing in the kitchen doorway, looking annoyed. My heart sank to my toes, but Matt’s hand settled on my shoulder and somehow the weight of it gave me courage. Nathan was my past, he could not hurt me any more.

I pasted a hostess smile on my face and stepped past Matt. “Yes of course Nathan, I was just about to bring some. How’s Lucy, is she enjoying the party?”

“She’s having a great time, thanks for the invite Cassie.”

I pulled a bottle of red from the carton in the corner and handed it to Nathan. “Here you go, take that one back to your table and I’ll be out soon with some more.”

Nathan took it, brushing his hand over mine as he did so. “Thanks Cassie. You look fantastic by the way, that outfit is great on you.”

His eyes rested for too long on my cleavage so I turned away to go to the fridge. “The bottle opener is on the counter, or there are some pirate ones on your table if you want to open the bottle out there.”

I could feel the intensity of Nathan’s gaze, but kept myself focused on sorting the wine bottles in the fridge. There was beer in a cooler on the deck, I decided to check how much was there too. After a long few seconds I heard Nathan leaving and sagged internally with relief.

Pulling a bottle at random out of the fridge I turned and walked straight into a wall of Matt who wrapped his arms around me and leaned his chin on the top of my head.

“You did good, wench.”

Despite the anxiety spiraling inside I snickered. “We wenches have to stand our ground you know. Pirates are pushy.”

“Pirates are only pushy with beautiful wenches.”

I leaned back and met his eyes. “Push away captain.”

Matt’s eyes widened, he looked dumbstruck. I fiddled with the top button on his ridiculous puffy white shirt.

“Only you could make a girlie shirt look manly.” I fluttered my eyelashes at him, even while the rational part of my brain stared in outrage at this flirt.

Matt’s hand captured mine as I began undoing the button.

“Cassie, how much have you had to drink?”

“Not sure, Saffron’s been keeping my glass full.”

“Saffron, that woman can be a menace.”

“No she’s not, she’s been worried about tonight, that’s all.”

“With good reason. Make sure you are not alone at any stage tonight, ok?”

“Even after everyone leaves?”

“Especially after everyone leaves.”

His words acted like a dose of cold water. Surely Matt didn’t think Nathan would come back here tonight? Surely he wouldn’t. I shook my head.

“Right, well let’s go back out and refresh everyone’s drinks.”

Out on the back deck I checked the dynamics of our little group. All the kids had gone inside to play the Xbox. Anticipating that I had earlier spread several mattresses and pillows in the lounge room. The younger ones could fall asleep there if they got too tired.

The people from the restaurant and patisserie were friends and were chatting with Nathan. Well they weren’t chatting with Nathan, they were listening to Nathan holding court, Lucy sitting silently at his side. My neighbours were sitting with Julia, her friend John, and Andrew. I spotted Saffron sitting with them too and looked in vain for Ben. Shrugging, I decided he must be in the bathroom.

It all seemed to be going well so I relaxed. Everyone’s drinks refreshed, I joined Andrew’s group. He smiled as I sat next to him, Matt sitting on my other side.

“Thanks for inviting me Cassie, I’m glad I came.”

I hugged him. “I’m glad you came too Andrew, I’ve missed you.”

“I’ve missed you too Cassie, but I had to take the time to say goodbye to Bev properly.”

Tears stung my eyes as I met his sad ones. “I miss her Andrew, her wisdom and her kindness.”

He smiled, and looked past me at Matt. “Well it’s good to see you’ve taken her advice about him.”

“Well I kind of have, taking it slowly.”

“You’ve got time, at least you’re going forward Cassie and you’re putting the past behind you.”

I looked behind him to where Nathan was still holding court, talking loudly and rapidly. I could see the slightly glazed expressions on the people sitting with him, and Lucy’s blank face. It was all so familiar. I looked back at Andrew and smiled, a wash of happiness filling me with warmth.

“I have Andrew, I believe I have finally have.” I felt Matt take my hand and squeeze it and I smiled at him and squeezed back.