Following Your Heart (Love Conquers All) (2 page)

His face was one of mixed emotions, and she knew that he was confused.  “Cassie?”

He slowly stood to his feet, the diamond ring still in his hand.  She gave it one long look before she looked away.  “Seth, I love you and I have dreamed about you getting down on one knee for awhile now.  The fact is up until about a week ago, I probably would have said yes.”

“Oh...something's changed?”

Cassie reached in her jeans pocket and pulled out a letter.  “My love hasn't changed.  I will always love you, no matter what happens.”  She handed the letter to him and patiently waited for him to read it.

When he was finished, he looked up at her and cleared his throat.  “So...you're going?”  The look of pain in his eyes was nearly too much for Cassie to
bear.

“New York University has the finest Advertising Program in the US.”

“I don't understand; I thought...” he turned his attention back to the letter.  “I thought you were denied acceptance.”

“Well, apparently they had a spot open up and so they offered it to me.  I wasn't planning on this.”

“What about us?”  His words were abrupt, and the smile that was once there had vanished.

“This doesn't have to change anything.  We can still plan on a future; it's only four years and then maybe you'll come to New York.”

“You want me to come to New York?  What about this place?  Do I have to give up my life to follow you?”

Cassie stepped back, “Your life?  No, but I thought...I mean, I thought you just got done saying I was your life.  This place was never your dream Seth, and now...”

“My family needs me, I can't up and leave and forget that my Aunt wanted us to make this work.”

Cassie nodded, “You're right and I would never ask you to leave your family.  My life is destined for another place.”

“Cassie...” he reached out to touch her hand, but she quickly pulled away.

“
Its fine, it's best we realize this before we made a big mistake.”  She turned away and headed for the door.  When she reached the hallway, she turned back around, “Thanks for today, I'm sorry you wasted your time putting it together.”  She pointed to the room, “Everything was beautiful,” before the tears fell she ran down the stairs and forced herself not to look back.

____________________

Seth watched as Cassie ran away from him; his heart was broken, but he didn't know what to do next.  He ran his hands over the roses and then turned and left the room.  He had to find her; he couldn't worry about her being upset.  He locked the door behind him and got in his car.  She couldn't have gotten far; he had only heard the slamming of the door a few minutes earlier.  He quickly dialed Megan’s number and waited for her to answer.  “Hello?  So, how did it go?  When's the wedding?”

“Have you heard from her?”

“Who?  Cassie?  Of course not; isn't she with you?”

“We had a fight.”

“A fight?  Did you even get a chance to propose?”

“I proposed, but she apparently has other ideas of how she wants to spend her life.”  He told her the short version of the story and when he stopped the phone was dead silent, Seth thought she hung up.  “Are you there?”

“I'm here, so you don't know where she went?”

“No...” then a thought came to him.  He put the car into drive and headed the short distance down the road.  As he pulled into the parking lot, he was relieved to see her.  “Hey Megan, I found her...I
got to go.”

As he got out of the car, he approached the tree that she was sitting beneath.  He looked around the familiar park, but didn't say anything when he sat down next to her.  “Seth, what are you doing?”

“I don't know Cass...I thought I had tonight figured out.  I needed a few moments to adjust.”

She looked up at him; the tear-stained face was enough to drive another knife in his chest.  He reached up and wiped a few tears from her cheek.  “I really didn't want this night to end with us fighting.  I was scared to show you the letter, worried that it would drive a wedge between us.  We could work on a long distance relationship; I know my love is strong enough for that.  Is yours?”

“Cassie, I would move heaven and earth for you.  If it was only that simple.  Cass, I don't think a long distance relationship would work for either of us.  It's not fair to you or me, don't you see that?  I wouldn't be there to encourage you, and you wouldn't be here to support me.  You say it's only for four years, but what if you don't want to come back?  What if I don't want to move to New York?  Someone would end up unhappy, and I would die before that someone was you.”

“So, this is really it?”

Seth bit his lower lip, but then slowly nodded.  “I guess so.”

“I wish that I could shut off my desire to go to New York.  If I could, I would stay.”

“I wouldn't want you to do that.  Cassie, I want you to be happy, not wonder what would have happened.”

Cassie nodded, “You're a good man Seth.”

“Just promise me one thing.  If it doesn't work out, come back.”

Cassie smiled, “I will definitely remember that.”

Seth shrugged, “What do you say we get outta here.  I'll take you home.”

“Are you sure?  I can call my parents...or a friend.”

“Don't be silly, I have to go that way anyway.”  He stood up and reached for her hand to pull her to her feet.  She leaned in and kissed him, he didn't allow it to linger too long.  “It's getting dark, we better be going.”

He walked to the car and opened the door for her, a gesture that he came to do by habit.  “Seth, can we still be friends?”

He nodded, but he didn't figure it would ever be the same.  As he closed the door, he quickly looked away.  A tear had fallen down his cheek.  He had always been the strong one and a shoulder to cry on.  In that moment, all he wanted to do was cry, and he couldn't believe that their relationship was really over.

Ten Years Later

Cassie stared at her blank computer screen; she was ready for the day to be over.  She had all her meetings done, and she was ready to set cruise on her two week vacation to the Bahamas.  It would be pointless to start a new project, because she wouldn't be able to finish it before she left.  She leaned back in her chair and yawned loudly; this day couldn't go any slower.  “Am I interrupting?”

She jumped when she heard her boss' voice at her door.  “Oh...Mr. Bishop...” she giggled nervously, “I...uh...was just...” she then shook her head, there was no use she was busted.  “May, I help you?”

He laughed as he came in and took a seat on the other side of her desk.  “Cassie, we've known each other for Almost 6 years now...please, call me Jim.”

She blushed, but then nodded.  “Okay...Jim, may I help you?”

“There, that's better.  I see you have all your work done, and you're probably anxious to get out of here.  Where are you going?”

“On a cruise to the Bahamas.  I've never been on a cruise, so I'm pretty excited.”

“That's understandable.  My wife and I went on a cruise for our honeymoon; that was nearly 30 years ago, my how time flies.”

Cassie looked at him for a moment; she was sure he didn't come in here to discuss previous vacations.  “It sure does,” was her simple reply.

He cleared his throat and then chuckled, “I'm sorry; it just makes me remember being young and in love.  I'm assuming you're going with a boyfriend?”

Cassie looked away; she was sure he would be able to see how uncomfortable she was.  “I...yeah...Chad.”  She had never held a meaningful conversation with him; he didn't hang around the office much.  He did a lot of traveling and so she really didn't know how to handle their interaction.

“Well, I'm sure you will both have a fabulous time.  If you're done here, you're more than welcome to leave.”

“Really?  It's only 11:30.”

“I know, but I'm sure that you could use some time to finish packing or just take some time for yourself.  I'm okay with that.”

“Well, thank you Mr...I mean Jim.”

He got up and started to leave, but then turned back around, “Before you leave...I do have something to tell you.”

Cassie wasn't shocked, she was just glad he was finally getting around to why the sudden interest in her life.  “Okay...”

“You see, I have decided that I am going to take an early retirement.  My wife has been bothering me to spend more time with the family and since I'm not getting any younger I decided to take that leap.”

“Jim...I'm sorry to hear that.”  The fact was he was always a reasonable boss to have and she was worried about the person that would take his place.

“It's for the best, our family lives in California and we're going to go back to that side of the country.”

“Well, I wish you the best.”  She paused for a moment, “Do you know who will be your replacement?”  She bit her lip, worried about the tyrant that she would soon have to deal with.

A smile slowly crossed his face, “Actually, I was hoping you would accept the job.  As you know, it requires a lot of travel and it can place a pressure on a person's personal life.  It also has a lot to offer a person.  You're young and you have so much to offer to the business of Advertising.  It would be an honor if you would consider taking the position.

Cassie's mouth dropped open, “I don't know what to say.”  She didn't really even know that Jim Bishop thought of her as someone capable to do his job.

“I know that it's a huge decision.  I don't plan on leaving until the end of the year.  Take these two weeks and think about it.”

Cassie nodded and as he was about to reach the door, she realized she didn't need to think about it.  “Wait Jim,” when he turned back around she smiled.  “I don't have to think about it.  I would love to accept the job.  Thank you for thinking about me.”

He laughed and gave her a wink.  “You deserve it.  Now, go and enjoy your vacation.  When you get back, then we'll begin the training.”

“Does everyone else know that you're leaving?”

“I'm making my rounds, but I will leave it up to you to tell them that you've been promoted.  I'll see you soon.”

“Thank you Jim.”  He smiled as he left the office and Cassie stood there in shock, she didn't imagine her conversation to end that way. 

She was finishing shutting down her computer and had just grabbed her purse when Tiffany, a fellow co-worker and friend popped her head in the door.  “So, did you hear?”

“You mean about Jim...yeah, it's going to be hard to say goodbye to him.  He deserves to take this time with his family.”

“Jim?”  Tiffany cocked her head, “I didn't realize you two were so close.”

Cassie laughed nervously, “Did I say Jim?  I meant Mr. Bishop.”

“Okay, I'll act like I believe you.”  She chuckled and looked at Cassie's purse.  “So, are you leaving early?”

“Yeah, he told me that I could leave early.  My work's done and so I might as well take off.”

“I see, was that before or after he offered you the job?”  Cassie stared at Tiffany, she considered acting like she didn't have a clue what she was talking about, but then Tiffany began to laugh.  “Cassie, don't look so shocked, I heard him talking to you.  Your door was open and I eavesdropped.  Sorry, but I really am so happy for you.”

Cassie smiled, “Are you really?”

“Of course...you're one of my best friends and it will be nice having a bond with the new boss.”

“You think so...huh?”  Cassie smirked, “It doesn't matter, I plan on being the same person that I am now.”

“The only downfall is that you won't be at the office as much as you are now.  It won't be the same.”  She shrugged her shoulders, “I guess all the more reason to do things outside of the office.  Speaking of, since you'll be away for two whole weeks...let me take you to lunch.”

“Sucking up already?”  Cassie asked with a laugh, jokingly placing her hands on her hips.  “I would expect you to at least wait until
its official.”

“You're right, but I'm starved.”

“Okay, sounds good.”  They headed out of the office and decided to walk the short ways to the cafe on the corner.  Once inside they took a seat and Cassie looked in the menu.  She wasn't really hungry, but decided she could have something small.  When the waitress got to the table she smiled.  “I'll take a bowl of Chicken Noodle soup and a glass of water.”

Tiffany smirked and then placed her order.  “I'll take a 2 pc. Fried Chicken meal with French Fries and a side of Applesauce.  Please bring me cup of coffee too, thanks.”  She looked at Cassie and smiled, “You may not be hungry, but I'm starved.”

“I'm too excited to eat.”

“When do you leave?”

“We fly to Florida on Sunday morning and board the ship Monday.”

“This is going to be really romantic.  How long have you and Chad been dating?”

“Cassie thought for a moment, 2 years, 5 months, 3 weeks, 4 days, and roughly 5 hours...but who's counting.”

Tiffany laughed, “Wow...I'm surprised you haven't gotten it down to the minute.”

Cassie looked at her watch, “14 minutes.”  They both broke out in laughter.  “I don't know what to say, he's so sweet...one of the nicest guys I have ever met and he's been the only person that has gotten me to forget...” she stopped talking. 

“Oh come on, you can't get me interested and then just drop it.  Forget what, or should I say whom?”

Cassie didn't know if she really wanted to share that part of her life, but she didn't feel that saying a little could hurt anything.  “When I was in high school, I had a boyfriend...you could say it was pretty serious.”

“Really...what was his name?”

“Seth Callahan.  He was my first love and I'll always have a place in my heart for him.  I guess you always do.”

“Seth Callahan?  He sounds rich.”

Cassie laughed, “Well he wasn't.  His family owned the jewelry store in Avery.  I don't know if they still do, the truth is we kind of lost track of each other when I left Texas.”

“What happened?”

“I don't want to bore you with all the details.”  The waitress came with their food and they slowly started to eat.

“Please bore me, we have plenty of time.”

“Okay fine.”  She told her about the Bed and Breakfast, his Aunt Sally, and the day he proposed.  She could tell by Tiffany's expression, she didn't expect the drama Cassie was sharing.  When she finished she shrugged, “In the past 10 years Chad is really the only person I have allowed in.”

“To think...we have known each other for 5 years and you're just now sharing the details of your past relationship.  Seth seems like a great guy.  Why haven't you attempted to see him?  Now that you have moved on, you could at least let him see that you're okay.”

“If it was only that simple.  Seth and I said that we would remain friends, but in my heart I figured it was all talk.  There have been opportunities for us to see each other, but he would never jump on them.”

“Give me examples.”

“For instance, when I graduated I told my family to let him know that I was inviting him to New York to share in my accomplishment.”

“Okay, what happened?”

“He didn't come; he must have had better things to do.  The few times I went home he was never there.  He was always in Dallas, so I just gave up hope that he really wanted to see me.  He's never called, not even once.”

“When you went back to Avery and you knew he was in Dallas, did you make an effort to go see him?”  Cassie sat there for a moment and started to shake her head no, but then nodded.  “I went once, but it was mistake.  About 6 years ago, right after graduation, I flew to Dallas, just to see how he was doing.  However, when I got there...I spotted him outside the Bed and Breakfast. 
He wasn't alone; I know that look, he was in love.  So, I left without saying anything.  I came back to the City and began dating.  Several years later, met Chad.  We've been together ever since.  End of story.” 

“I'm glad you found happiness.”  Cassie could see the apprehension in Tiffany's eyes.

“Okay, if you're glad...then why the look?”

“I just want to make sure you're not settling.”

“Settling?  Seth and I have been through for 10 years and I have been dating Chad for more than 2.  Surely, that is enough time to move on, get past my first love and find love again.  Isn't it?”

“I suppose so, but it's just that...maybe you haven't really gotten over Seth.  You don't seem like you have settled your feelings.”  She shrugged her shoulders, “I'm a hopeless romantic and I am sure that I am just looking too deep into the situation.  Forget I said anything.  Have Chad and you ever gone away together before?”

Cassie shook her head, and then she frowned thinking what Tiffany was saying.  “I love him, I am sure of that.  In fact when we get on that ship, I'm going to prove that to him.”

“What do you mean by that?”

“We've never...you know.  Well, that's going to all change next week.  He needs to know how special he is to me.”

“You have never been intimate?”  The shock on
Tiffany’s face was clear.

“There's never been the right moment.”

“In 2 years, you've never had the right moment?”

“Tiff, what are you getting at?”  Cassie was glad she didn't share with her that she had that special moment once with Seth.  That would leave a lot of questions.

“It just seems odd, but Chad must be a good guy if he's willing to wait.”

“He is;
he's the best.”  Cassie realized she was trying to sell him, but she didn't have to convince Tiffany.  It didn't matter what other people thought.  “Seth was great, but he's the past.  Chad is my future.”

“Do you realize that you light up when you talk about Seth?”

“I do not,” Cassie argued.

Tiffany shrugged, “It's just an observation.  I don't think I have ever seen you look that way when you have talked about Chad or any other person in your life, for that matter.”

“Well, it's a wrong observation.  Are you finished?”

Tiffany looked down at her empty plate, “Yeah, let me get the check.”  She waved the waitress over and paid for the two meals.  As they walked towards the door Tiffany stopped.  “Speaking of...isn't that Chad?”

Cassie stopped in her tracks when she looked where she was pointing.  “Yeah, here let's go say hi.”  She walked to the corner where he was sitting.  “Hey Chad,” her attention immediately went to the woman sitting across from him. 

“Cass,” he jumped up and gave her a kiss on the cheek.  “Uh...Cassie, this is Monica...one of my clients.  Monica, this is Cassie...my...girlfriend.”  He seemed to choke out the words, but Cassie pretended not to notice.

“Hello, nice to meet you...Monica.”  Cassie briefly looked over the dress that she was wearing.  It was definitely something she wouldn't be able to pull off.

“Likewise.”  She smiled, but Cassie noticed she kept looking at Chad.

“Are we still on for dinner tonight?”  Cassie asked quietly and then looked over at Tiffany that was patiently standing by.