LOGAN
CASSIE IS still staring at me with an unreadable gaze. She's been acting differently today, looking at the garden always cheered me up. I wonder if it did the same for her.
I can understand that mother is only after my well-being but I'll do anything else for her aside from this surrogacy thing, I still have faith in me and Lois. Lois said she was fine with it but all her actions lately have said the opposite of what she wanted.
I can't stay angry at Cassie because she's only trying to make a living and if she eventually gets tired I'll endeavor to pay her twice the promised amount.
It felt comforting to have her around, to have someone to talk to at least until Lois is back. Cassie didn't treat me specially because of my disability, she spoke to me like I was still the same man I was seven months ago. Disability or not, I'll get my own share of her taunts and scolding. Funny how she's been here for just a day.
"How did you get so many flowers? " Cassie asked, looking around as she touched the tulips.
"We got some seeds and cultivated them, there are also skilled gardeners and horticulturists paid for maintenance,
"Like you maintain your library, huh? "
"Something like that, "
She smirked and kept looking around , "Why do you even collect books? "
"Because I love reading, " I answered plainly.
"Oh so you're a nerd?"
My lips twitched into a sly smirk, "Maybe, but it's always been comforting to read. It's like visiting different places and seeing the world from the lens of another. I don't read only works of fiction,I read several books as well,"
Cassie nodded as she left the tulips and walked back to me, "I expected you to be into writing as well, but it's a great perspective you have coming from someone who could go to wherever he wants in the next thirty minutes, "
Nice point, "Yeah but without a decent adventure, I only travel for work and our monthly family vacation which I wouldn't dare to come this year, "
"They're going to disown you? "
Where did she get that idea and why does her shocked expression look so genuine?
"No, I just don't want to ruin the fun. It's more complicated than you think, "
"You sure look like someone who's always ruined fun, this month wouldn't make a difference, "
I chuckled, "I am the f in fun, "
"Says the B in boring, you should consider writing. You look like a writer, "
"How's that even possible, "
"A writer's brain is interesting but for their personality, plain like paper. At least the writers I've met and seen but your Aunt Heather is different, "
"I'm not plain, I'm quite interesting in some ways, "
"Write about that then. It's getting dark, we should head back in, "
"Are you scared of the dark? " I teased with a smirk.
Cassie let out a laugh and switched to a death stare, "I am the dark, let's get you back inside so I can give you your evening dosage and get this over with, "
"Yes ma'am, " I said with my hands in surrender and she led the way.
The walk back to the building was silent as she kept stealing glances from the garden continuously, it's almost like she didn't want to leave but she had to. It might be because of me, maybe I am the 'B' in boring.
When we got back inside, Cassie went off to call a few maids to get a bath ready for me while she talked to my aunts before dinner. My uncles were at work, I wish I was with them though and Luke was busy babysitting.
I barely had anyone to talk to aside from Lois who was dedicated to her phone when we were together. I don't blame her though, we've always been busy with work, I'm only noticing the void now that I had nothing to keep my head at work.
After the bath, I went back to the dining room for dinner and everyone was present except uncle Harold who was in the observatory. It took a lot of courage to lend it to him last month but it's not like I make use of it very often.
It belonged to my father and I made dozens of my childhood memories there but since I got married, I only went there a few times with my wife and got carried away with work.
"Many butterflies," I heard her say, she was probably talking about the garden.
"You like butterflies, Cassie? " Aunt Heather asked her and she paused.
"I didn't until today, I never knew flower gardens would be so beautiful, "
"And how do you say beautiful in Spanish, Cassie? " Jesse grinned.
"Hermosa, for females and hermoso for males, J" Cassie answered, the words rolling off smoothly from her mouth.
"She called me J… I think you're really hermosa Cass, "he winked.
Ugh. Teenagers.
Penelope made a puking expression, "Don't mind him Cassie, he escaped from the asylum last night, "
She's always there to knock sense into her brother's head in my case, I knock sense into Lily's head. I can totally understand her.
"No problem, Penelope. J, Eres Hermoso," Cassie smiled.
"And what does that mean? " Aunt Evelyn asked, taking a tray from a maid and placing it on the table.
"It means you're handsome, " Jesse giggled, "I looked it up, thank you, " he smirked.
I wheeled my chair to the table and greeted everyone with a slight bow as the maids served me my portion. Cassie's still laughing with everyone and Sarah just returned from work, right on time to save her toddlers from Luke who was feeding them at the kiddies table.
"Heather, I checked out your novel Greta Van Helsing. I'm currently in chapter five, it's really interesting, "
"Oh my thank you, " Aunt Heather blushed like she hasn't gotten that compliment multiple times.
"Although I think Greta's too limited with her weapon supply. She should always keep an extra knife in a band secured on her thigh to avoid situations like that time in Venice when she ran out of bullets. Her defenses are still on medium level that's why that dude was able to knock her out easily, she should get more training, "
Wow. That's a lot of knowledge. Was she in a combat class? She doesn't look like it though.
"Wow, that is a really honest review given that you've just read five chapters, Cassie, " Aunt Heather smiled.
"It's almost like you've been an assassin before, " Penelope gushed.
Cassie paused for a second then laughed, "I watch movies, it's just a mere suggestion, "
"Well, I can't wait to discuss more book ideas with you, love, "
"My pleasure, "
Dinner went by quickly with me boring things up with talks of politics with Sarah and Luke, I really am the 'b' in boring but why's this statement still ringing in my head?
I'm already on my bed, going through a chapter in my Bible before I go to sleep while Cassie carefully arranged the drugs serially and checked on the manual Gertrude gave her for proper dosage delivery.
She's already changed into a pair of loose fitting blue pajamas and she packed her hair into a bun.
I finished my Bible reading with a prayer of gratitude and dropped it on the desk close by. Cassie seemed to have already finished as she came up to me with the drugs and water, she handed them to me and took a seat at the edge of the bed.
"Isn't this weird to you? "
Taking drugs everyday. Yes, it is.
"What are you talking about? " I questioned as I sent the pills down with a drink of water. Then I gave her back the glass.
"The cocoon at the garden,"
This must have been a memorable experience for her.
"I guess it was ready for a change, a proper transformation into something beautiful,"
"But what if it wasn't ready?"
"Well ... .change comes when we least expect it while there are some changes we can manipulate but there are some we can't. I was an infant years ago but here I am as a man, I can't return back, Can I?"
She stopped to think for a few minutes, "It makes sense then, good night,"
"Aren't you going to tuck me in?" I said jokingly and she turned to look at me, grabbed the duvet and covered me from head to toe. I couldn't help but laugh.
"Is that good enough? Don't cross your limits, Mr. Wellington,"
"Very good, Miss. Hugh. I'll keep your words in mind,"