Cassie's Courtship - The Aftermath

This story is a sequel to "Cassie's Courtship" which was posted in the Romance section. It doesn't make a whole lot of sense if you haven't read that story first. I've wrestled a long time about writing a sequel (it is only the second follow-up of any kind I've written to a story I'd previously posted), but the number of comments requesting a sequel or suggesting a sequel was warranted has stayed with me as I've continued to explore telling other, unrelated stories. I hope those of you who requested a sequel find it acceptable. As always, any resemblance between any actual person, living or dead, and people described in this story is purely coincidental. All persons described as engaging in sexual activities in the story are over the age of 18. And I welcome constructive comments, criticisms and feedback. Thanks for reading.

PROLOGUE

It was the anniversary of Cassie's death when Cassie's mom brought me a letter. She sat down and said, "Cassie wrote this to you after she discovered she had cancer. She told me to hold onto it for a year and to give it to you if you hadn't moved on. She was absolutely adamant that I not allow you to crawl back into the shell she found you in when she first met you at the shop. Read this. And please listen to what your wife had to say."

"Dear Kevin. If you are reading this, I've been gone a year and mom has determined that you haven't moved on. You were the love of my life, the only man who ever loved me as a person and not as an ornament or an object. I loved you so much and I feel so sad that we are not going to grow old together. I will be watching from above as you raise our children and I know that you will be the kind of father they need and the example every father ought to be. I want you to move on, my beloved. I'm afraid that if you don't, you will crawl back into the emotional shell you were in when I pulled into the shop what seems like a lifetime ago. I know your mother and mine will try to do all that they can to assist you to care for our children, but you need a wife and our children need a mother. I want you to feel free to find someone who can fill both of those roles. Doing so will not be disloyal to my memory. Finding someone to care for all of you will be honoring that memory. Please do what I'm asking."

I sat there for a long time thinking what she'd written before continuing.

"I know that we agreed to never again discuss what my friends and I did to you so many years ago, but there is something I need to tell you. By now, you'll probably have discovered that Anne Marie Grant stayed in touch with me after high school. She remained my best friend, even after my fall from grace. There were times when her generosity put food on our table when mom and I couldn't or kept the lights and heat on when the money ran out before the month ended. Anne Marie never got the chance to apologize for what she did back then. I never told you this, but she wanted to accept your invitation before we talked her out of it. She felt terrible about what we'd done and it's stayed with her all her life. She is still single. She's told me that she doesn't feel worthy of a relationship because she's never asked for your forgiveness. She's also told me that she'd give anything to have a relationship with a man like the one you and I have. I hope you will give her the chance to apologize and move on. And, if I might be bold, I know she thinks highly you and would welcome the opportunity to see if you might be willing to give her a chance to fill the void in your life. If you did for her what you did for me, I'd be delighted. She's my best friend and I know she'd be the kind of woman who would love you and our children with all her heart. So, my beloved, as Sally once told you, the ball is in your court. God bless you my beloved. You gave me the most precious gift you could have, the gift of your love. I hope you can find it in your heart to do that for her as well. Please move forward. I love you and I will miss you. Cassie."

I spent a long time thinking about what Cassie had written. It had been a year. I wasn't sure I was ready, but my wife had reached out to me from the grave to tell me I needed to move on.

THE AFTERMATH

Having decided that it was finally time to move on, I started by fulfilling Cassie's last request to me. I'd kept a file of letters and emails expressing condolences, including the one I'd received from Anne Marie. I opened the file and found her letter. Picking up my cell phone, I dialed her number. "Hello, Anne Marie, this is Kevin Henderson. I'd like to follow up on the letter you sent me when Cassie died."

"Kevin, I'm surprised to hear from you. It's been almost a year since I wrote. I'd given up on the notion that you might respond to my letter. I'm delighted you've called. What can I do for you?"

"Well, to be honest, I'm calling because Cassie asked me to."

"Cassie did what?"

"She left a letter with her mother to give to me after she'd been gone a year. One of the things in the letter was a statement that you still were harboring guilt over what happened in high school and that guilt was interfering with your ability to form relationships. She requested that I reach out to you and give you a chance to apologize and move on."

"Kevin, that's very generous of you. I'd like that. When can we meet?

"How about Friday evening. I'll ask Cassie's mom to watch the kids. We can meet half way between here and where you're living now. Say Millie's Diner at 6:30. That's about the halfway point and the food's pretty good there."

"That will be fine. I'll confirm by text on Friday, but I'm really glad you're giving me a chance to do this."

"Don't thank me. Thank Cassie. I'd never have given it another thought if she hadn't asked specifically."

"Well, be that as it may, thank you anyway. I'll see you Friday."

After the chaos my hiring Cassie, then developing a relationship with Cassie that led to marriage, the adoption of her three children and our having two more had caused with my sisters, I didn't see any need to tell anyone other than Cassie's mom that I was meeting Anne Marie. It had taken Cassie's death and a fair amount of time after her passing for me to get the relationships with Amanda and, in particular, Bev, back to something approaching a healthy situation. Neither had approved of Cassie, both had objected vehemently at my hiring and then marrying her. Amanda had eventually gotten to the point of grudging neutrality, but Bev continued to hold a grudge over Cassie's coterie's pranking and mocking of me in high school right up until Cassie died. She still wasn't exactly on board with my having Mrs. Wilson living in my mother-in-law suite, which she was doing to help me care for five young children. Bev was like an elephant that never forgets and she could be quite crudely vocal about her displeasure. That Cassie had made me deliriously happy, had given me the opportunity to be father to five beautiful children, and that her death had left a hole in my heart were all irrelevant in her mind. We were back on speaking terms, but much of the warmth that had existed between us before Cassie came back into our lives was still missing.

Anne Marie sent me a text early Friday afternoon confirming our meeting. When I arrived at Millie's Diner at 6:20, she was already waiting.

"Kevin, thank you again for agreeing to meet with me. I can't tell you how much you're doing this means to me. I really need to apologize for what I did to you in high school."

"Anne Marie, I'll tell you what I told Cassie a long time ago. High school is way in the past. I never give it a thought anymore. It's ancient history and it has no meaning in my life now. I've moved on. You should too."

"That's very generous of you. What I did to you has bothered me for more than twenty years. I can't believe I was such a shallow, inconsiderate person. I hope you'll accept that I've matured and that I'm not that bitchy teenager that I was back then."

"Put it in you past, Anne Marie. I have."

The waitress came and took our order. Anne Marie looked at me intently. "So how are you doing, Kevin?"

"I'm getting by. I still miss Cassie, but it's more of dull ache now than a sharp pain. I'm busy taking care of the kids and running the business. I couldn't do it without Cassie's and my moms' pitching in. They've been incredibly helpful."

"I'm glad to hear that. Can I ask you a question?"

"Sure."

"Would you mind if I visited the children. I spent a lot of time with the three older ones and they used to refer to me as 'Auntie AM'. I've met your older child, but not the baby. They were the closest thing to nieces and nephews I have, since my sisters live so far away that I never get to see their children. I'd really like to continue having them in my life and being part of theirs."

"That's a pretty big ask, Anne Marie. I know you stayed in touch with Cassie after she and I married, so you're aware of how much anger and resentment my sisters still bear toward your entire high school clique."

"I am. But I'd still like to be a part of the kids' lives. It meant a lot to me that Cassie let me have a role in their lives."

"I'll think about it, but it would have to be low key. Preferably coordinated with Cassie's mom and not when I'm there."

"Are you saying you wouldn't want to see me again?"

"No. It's not that. I'd just like plausible deniability if my sisters find out you're visiting the children. I've had a real struggle getting my relationship with them back onto a more even keel and their finding out that I have given you permission to play any kind of role in my children's' lives will likely upset the progress I've made there."

"I could live with that. Please let me know soon. I really miss the children."

Dinner arrived and we began eating.

After a few minutes, Anne Marie put down her fork, looked at me and said, "Kevin, can I ask you another question?"

"Of course."

"Were you really interested in me when you asked me out in high school?"

"Of course. Otherwise I wouldn't have bothered. I wasn't much of a dater. Why do you ask?"

"I don't know if Cassie told you, but I was interested in you, too. But I let the girls talk me into doing what I did. I've regretted it for over twenty years."

"I told you, Anne Marie. I've put that high school foolishness behind me. You of all people should understand that, seeing as you were Cassie's best friend. I wouldn't have married her if I hadn't put it all behind me."

"Do you think you might consider giving me another chance?"

I reached out, took both her hands and stared into her eyes. "Anne Marie, you're an attractive woman who's clearly done well for herself. Under different circumstances, if we were just meeting for the first time, I'm sure I'd be interested in you. But even though I've put all that foolishness behind me, my sisters still resent what you and your friends did to me and they have neither forgiven nor forgotten. Amanda tolerated Cassie. Bev could barely be civil to her and that only because her husband Peter, my mother and I all laid down the law to her. As I've already told you, I've spent a year trying to rebuild my relationship with my sisters and I don't want to undo all the progress I've made. I know Cassie wouldn't be happy at my telling you no because of them, but I just don't think I can deal with any more chaos in my family at this stage in my life. I'm sorry. I really am. But even if I decide to let you continue to be Auntie AM to the kids, I don't think there's any possibility of a future relationship between us."

Anne Marie teared up. "I had to ask. I'm sorry that's your answer, but I understand. Cassie was an extremely lucky woman. I envy her having had the loving relationship you had with her. I'd love to have one half as good."

"I really hope you find what you're looking for. You're a wonderful woman and my wife truly loved you and appreciated your friendship and your generosity when she was at rock bottom. But I don't think it would work and I'd hate to see you hurt."

Dinner finished on a somewhat strained note. When the waitress brought the check, Anne Marie reached into her purse.

"No, Anne Marie, this is on me. I offered to meet and suggested dinner."

"Thank you, Kevin. And thank you for meeting with me. You'll let me know about seeing the kids?"

"Of course. I'll talk to Cassie's mom and see if she has any concerns, but if she's willing, I can't see having any real objections as long as it's something between you and her and I'm not part of it."

"Thank you. I really appreciate your considering it."

We walked out of Millie's together and I walked her to her car. "Go find someone who can give you what you want, Anne Marie. Leave the past in the past and go find your future. I wish you every happiness."

She reached up and kissed me on the cheek. "Don't climb back into your shell, Kevin. Cassie would hate that and you deserve better."

With that, she drove off and I headed home.

When I got home, Mrs. Wilson was waiting. "So, Kevin, how did it go?"

"As well as could be expected. She understands that I've put high school hurts behind me and they aren't an issue. I granted her the absolution she was seeking. She's a lovely woman. I hope she finds what she's looking for in a relationship. She did ask about seeing the kids on a regular basis. I told her I'd ask you but if you agreed, it had to be arranged between the two of you without my involvement. I don't want to upset Amanda or Bev by having them think I'd brought Anne Marie back into my life."

"I'd be delighted to have her involved with my grandchildren. She was the older three's 'Auntie AM' and she did see Jonathan a number of times. She's not seen Margaret yet."

"Then I'll text her and let her know she can see the kids. She has your contact information to make arrangements?"

"Of course."

"But remember, I'm not to be a part of it."

"That's fine. I'll provide you with cover if Amanda or Bev get wind of her visiting."

Then she gave me a quizzical look. "Any thoughts of seeing if there could be the basis of a relationship between the two of you?"

"In another world, I could be tempted. She really is a lovely woman. Bright, personable and attractive. But I'm not willing to upset Amanda and Bev again. I used up a lot of family capital when Cassie and I got together and I'm just not willing to deal with that kind of chaos again."

"I'm sorry you feel that way. And I'm pretty sure Cassie would be sorry, too. You'll have a hard time doing better than you would with her, Kevin Henderson. But you're a big boy now and it's your decision to live with. I'll not bring it up again."

I texted Anne Marie the following day, telling her Mrs. Wilson had agreed to helping her stay connected to the kids. She sent me back an effusive thank you and I put the whole discussion behind me.

With the one year anniversary of Cassie's death having passed, my mother and sisters began a continuous effort to get me back into dating. They were afraid I'd climbed back into my shell and were determined to drag me out of it. No family function was exempt. Every picnic, barbecue, kids' soccer game or other social event had an unattached female being shoved at me. I was polite to most of them and even took a couple out once. But my heart wasn't in it and when I mentioned that there were five children, none of whom were yet teenagers, any faint spark of interest on their part was immediately extinguished.

This had been going on for more than a year when Amanda dragged Sandra, a new teacher at her school, to one of the family picnics. Sandra was at least a decade younger than I was and had transferred to Amanda's school after a bad breakup with a boyfriend, who had also been a teacher at her previous school, after she caught him cheating on her. Amanda had been her sponsor at the school and decided that she was an appropriate candidate for her brother.

I found Sandra attractive, personable and sufficiently interesting to take her out on a date. When I raised the issue of the five children, she didn't immediately bolt from the room. She didn't dismiss it as an issue, but she taught school and had responsibility for twenty-five children five days a week for almost ten months a year. She apparently enjoyed our first date enough to agree to a second date.

The second date led to a third, then a fourth, then an overnight. Sandra met the children and Mrs. Wilson and, although there was no immediate connection, neither the kids nor Mrs. Wilson seemed bothered by my dating her. We continued dating.

In the meantime, Anne Marie was spending considerable time with the children. Mrs. Wilson made sure she had plenty of opportunities to play the role of Auntie AM, including providing Anne Marie with their sports and school schedules. Anne Marie rarely missed an event, although she always was careful to stay in the background and disappear immediately after the event if Amanda or Bev was present. I sometimes spoke casually to her if my sisters weren't present, but I was careful to limit the interactions in order to avoid giving her any hope of my changing my mind about the chances of a relationship. The kids did mention Auntie AM from time to time, but neither Amanda nor Bev connected those references with Anne Marie.

One of the things I did notice was that Anne Marie seemed to be far more engaged with my children than Sandra. I put that down to our relatively new relationship and to the difficulty of finding the correct balance between the role of daddy's girlfriend and not wanting to become too connected to the kids if Sandra's and my relationship didn't work out. I was happy with Sandra, but the intense passion that I'd felt for Cassie during our marriage wasn't quite there yet. I expected it would come with time, particularly as my mother and sisters were all enthusiastic about having Sandra as a part of our family and were encouraging me to move the relationship to the next level.

We'd been dating for nearly a year and I was seriously considering proposing. My reluctance was a combination of still not being completely over losing Cassie, which I knew would be a burden I carried all my days, and the lack of engagement between Sandra and my kids. I had anticipated their falling in love with each other the way I had with Cassie's kids when I first met them and that hadn't yet happened. Perhaps when Sandra and I married and she became their mother figure/stepmother the relationship would finally blossom. I certainly hoped so.

I also had to think about Mrs. Wilson's future, as she was dependent on me and was also the primary caretaker for five children. If Sandra and I married, we'd need to work out something that provided for her and ensured that she had a continuing active role in the children's lives. She and Sandra were polite to each other, but they had not become the kind of friends I'd hoped they'd be.

And there was the question of additional children. Sandra was in her early thirties and her biological clock was ticking. We'd discussed children in a general fashion and she'd told me that she'd like to have at least two, but that she wanted to continue to teach. If we married, we'd need to do that fairly quickly and I couldn't see asking Mrs. Wilson and my mom to take on two more infants. Day care could address some of those concerns, but neither Cassie nor I had placed any of children in day care and I wasn't enthused about the idea going forward.

So there things lay. In some respects, I was frozen in place, marking time while I tried to sort out the various issues and concerns.

I finally decided to discuss the whole situation with my mother, who had become a sounding board for me after I'd lost Cassie. I laid out all of my concerns to her and asked for her advice.

"Kevin, you need to make a decision. It's not fair to Sandra to string her along if you're not going to commit. I understand your reservations. She's a lovely woman and I think she'd be a good wife to you and a good mother to your children. And the good Lord knows they could use a mother and not just two grandmothers and two aunts who perform the job on a part-time basis."

"Aren't you concerned about her not really engaging with the kids?"

"What do you mean?"

"Well, there always seems to be a bit of a distance between her and the kids. It's not that she doesn't like them, but that she seems to be hesitant to commit fully to them."

"Did you ever think that her hesitation might be related to your not having committed fully to her?"

"What do you mean?"

"How would you have felt if you'd had to give up contact with Cassie's kids after you connected with them if your and Cassie's relationship hadn't worked out?"

"I'd have been heartbroken. I fell in love with those kids as quickly as I fell in love with Cassie."

"Could it be that she's keeping her distance because she doesn't want to experience that kind of heartache?'

"I hadn't thought of that."

"Maybe you should. But whatever conclusion you reach, you need to be honest with Sandra so she can move on."

"I will give it some more thought, but I appreciate your perspective and this has been a big help."

Before I had that conversation with Sandra, Mrs. Wilson came to me with a request.

"Kevin, do you think you could live without me caring for the kids for a month? I have an opportunity to go with our seniors group from church on a missions trip to Costa Rica. I know this is a big ask, but it would be the first real outing I've had since my ex-husband and son were arrested and their assets frozen. A couple of the church members would be footing the bill so I can afford to go. I'd really like to take the trip, if you can handle my being gone that long."

"Of course we can work this out. Four of the kids are in school now and I'm pretty sure mom can watch the baby while I'm working. I'll limit my hours while you're gone and there are several girls in the neighborhood who babysit and could fill in when mom's not available. You've done grandmom duty above and beyond the call and you've certainly earned a break. You know that I couldn't have gotten the kids to where they are without you. Make your plans and go. We'll get by. And we'll miss you, so be sure to come back."

"Oh I will, I promise. I love these grandchildren too much to stay away. They're a great blessing to this old lady."

Mrs. Wilson gave me the schedule for her trip and I worked with mom to make sure that we had coverage when she was gone. I'd drop the baby off at mom's on the way to work and mom would bring her home in time to meet the rest of the children when the school day ended. I'd handle the weekends, which were always busy, but something I'd been doing since Cassie had passed. I'd also lined up several pinch-hit babysitters for those occasions when mom was unavailable. We were in great shape for Mrs. Wilson's vacation, or at least so I thought at the time.

The day finally came for Mrs. Wilson to depart. I drove her to the church and told her to have a great trip. Each of the kids gave her a hug and a kiss and told her the same. And off she went.

I hadn't given it much thought at the time I told Mrs. Wilson to go, but one of the weeks when she'd be gone was a week when Sandra would be going to Nashville for her sister's bachelorette week. She'd told me about it months before, but I'd not connected the two events in my mind or on my calendar. Not really a problem as Sandra wasn't part of the child care plan, even in a backup role. She was just going to be gone for a week and I'd miss her. Before she left, she told me that she and the rest of her sister's bridal party were going to go incommunicado for the week they were gone. The sister was something of a narcissistic princess and she wanted to be the guaranteed center of attention for the entire time the women were in Nashville. Ordinarily, that wouldn't have been a problem, but it turned out to be a significant one for reasons I couldn't have foreseen at the time.

A couple of days before Sandra left for her trip, Bev's, Amanda's and my family had all been at mom's for her birthday. There'd been a flu bug making the rounds at school, but to that point none of my kids had contracted it and, as far as Bev and Amanda knew, none of theirs had as well. Little did we know.

That Sunday morning, the three oldest kids woke me about 4:00 AM. They were simultaneously suffering repeated episodes of diarrhea and vomiting. I changed sheets, put barf buckets in their rooms and as soon as the sun rose, called mom to see if she could help out. She told me that she'd already been contacted by both Amanda and Bev, both of whom were having similar problems with their children and who were showing signs of coming down with the bug as well, as were their husbands. Since I was still not showing symptoms, I'd have to deal with the problem myself. Mom was fully engaged with nursing my sisters' families.

On Monday, the two youngest began the cycle of diarrhea and vomiting as well and I was now dealing with five very sick children. Of more concern was that I could feel myself coming down with the bug as well. Based on the discussions I'd had with Amanda when the bug started running through her school, I was looking at five days minimum of sick children and sick dad.

Trying to keep the kids nourished and hydrated and simultaneously having to repeatedly clean up messes coming from both ends of them and me was running me ragged. By Thursday I was a zombie, having had less than two hours of sleep in the preceding thirty-six and with no relief in sight. At this point I was desperate. In spite of the fact that I knew Sandra was supposedly out of contact for the week, I called and then texted her repeatedly, begging her to come home early and help care for me and the children. Both the calls and the texts went unanswered.

By Friday, I was truly on my last legs. I'd not slept at all Thursday night. The children still all had fevers and, although they'd slowed the running from both ends, that was primarily a reflection of their inability to keep anything down. I really needed help. Mom was somehow not yet infected, but caring for Amanda's and Bev's families was consuming every hour of her time. She just couldn't be stretched any further.

With no one else to turn to, I did something I thought I'd never do. I called Anne Marie.

"Anne Marie, it's Kevin."

"Hi, Kevin. This is a pleasant surprise. What's up?"

"I really need help."

"What do you mean?"

"All five of the kids and I have this bug that's going around. Mom's tied up with Amanda and Bev's families, who have it too. I'm on my last legs and I can't care for the kids. I tried to reach Sandra repeatedly and ask her to come home to help, but I haven't gotten a response. I hate to ask this of you after how I left things between us, but could you see it in your heart to come over and help me with the children until Sandra gets back in town."

"Of course I will. You know how I feel about those kids. Let me throw some things in an overnight bag and I'll be there in an hour. And Kevin, thanks for calling me. It means the world to me that you'd be willing to give me a chance to care for the children. And for you. Now hang in there. Help is on the way."

Anne Marie arrived less than an hour later. Her first action was to send me to bed and tell me not to get out except as needed to deal with my symptoms from the bug. Then she began caring for the children, changing sheets, cleaning bathrooms, mopping floors and emptying barf bowls. She was a force of nature.

I'd barely put my head on the pillow when I was out for the count. And I stayed that way for almost eighteen hours. When I finally awoke, I could smell cleaning solutions and hear the voices of children who sounded almost normal. I was still sick, but the kids were definitely showing signs of being on the road to recovery.

When she heard me stirring, Anne Marie knocked on my bedroom door.

"Would you like something to eat or drink? I'll bring it up to you so you can stay in bed."

"I would, actually. Maybe some tea and some broth or yogurt. Something I don't have to worry about giving back if I have another bout of vomiting or the runs. And how are the kids doing?"

"The three oldest are almost back to normal. The two younger ones are well on their way to recovery. I've cleaned everything up and am feeding the children stuff that they should be able to keep down. I think the crisis has passed for all of them. How are you feeling?"

"Better than I did. The sleep really helped. I can't begin to thank you enough for doing this."

"I've told you before, Kevin. I love those kids like they are my own nieces and nephews. I'd do anything for them." And she added, under her breath as if to keep me from hearing her, "And for you as well."

With that, she turned, left the room and went down to fix me my tea and yogurt.

Anne Marie insisted that I stay in bed all day Saturday and continued to order me to remain in bed on Sunday. I hadn't given it any thought, but my cell phone had been down to minimal charge when I'd called Anne Marie on Thursday and I'd never plugged it in to recharge. I wasn't even sure where in the house I'd left it at this point.

Sandra's flight back was on Sunday morning. Finally released from her sister's insistence on no communication, she'd turned her phone on to find a whole series of increasingly desperate calls and texts from me. As soon as she'd reached the airport, she'd repeatedly tried to call and text me to let me know she was on her way home and would be coming straight from the airport to help me. But since my phone was dead, I had no idea she'd gotten any of my messages or that she was planning on coming straight from the airport to my place.

As a practical matter, I'm not sure my knowing she was coming would have helped. I was still firmly settled in my bedroom. The kids were all well on their way to normalcy. But I probably should have sent Anne Marie home with my thanks before Sandra arrived. Shoulda, woulda, coulda.

Sandra had a key, so she drove straight from the airport to my place. She noticed a strange car in the driveway. Opening the door, she walked in on a woman she didn't know, dressed in casual sweatpants and a somewhat ratty t-shirt, and taking care of my children as if she belonged. I could hear the explosion all the way upstairs in my bedroom.

"Who the hell are you and what the hell are you doing here? Where's Kevin? I thought the kids were sick and he needed help. What's going on?"

Her voice steadily rising in volume, Anne Marie began answering Sandra's questions. "You must be Sandra. I'm Anne Marie. I was a friend of Cassie's. I'm taking care of Kevin and the kids. If you'd paid attention to your phone, you'd know what was going on. He needed help because he was so sick that he called me and asked me to help. I've been here since Friday, doing what you should have been doing for your boyfriend and his family. The family you want him to make yours!"

I could hear the last comment because Anne Marie was almost shouting. Clearly, she was reaching the end of her patience and was more than a little upset.

"What the hell do you mean you've been here since Friday? You've been staying with Kevin?"

"What did you expect me to do? Drive back and forth when I'm caring for a sick man and five sick kids 24/7?"

"Where's Kevin?"

"Up in his bedroom?"

"His bedroom???"

"You know, where he'd be sleeping if he were sick. In the bed he uses."

"You've been in his bedroom?"

"Yes, I have. I've taken him food, drink and medicine. He was too sick to come downstairs to get it."

"I want to see him. NOW!!!"

"I'll check to see if he's awake. If he's not, you'll have to wait."

"Damn it, get out of my way."

"No. He's been sick as a dog. Leave him be unless he's awake. You don't need to wake him or do anything to get him upset. He's had a terrible week and he's been through the wringer physically and mentally."

"He's my boyfriend."

"You have an odd way of showing it. If you were serious about the relationship, you'd have made the children and him a priority and not your sister. You'd have found a way to stay in contact with him when you were gone."

"You bitch."

"Takes one to know one."

At this point, Sandra had been rendered sputtering to the point of being speechless. I heard the front door slam and a car start up and tear out of the driveway. I didn't know if it was Sandra's or Anne Marie's. In either case, I knew I had a problem.

As it turned out, the car was Sandra's. It was more than an hour later before Anne Marie, knocked, asked me if I were decent, then came into the bedroom.

"I just wanted to check on you and tell you something. I think I just really pissed your girlfriend off. Or at least she went tearing out of here with thunderclouds hanging over her head. I'm sorry. I didn't mean to do that. I kind of lost my temper and created problems I didn't mean to create."

"I heard some of the exchange. You were pretty hard on her."

"Yes, I was. But I think she deserved it. She's auditioning to be the mother of these five children and being out of touch for a week without checking in is damn irresponsible. They, and you, deserve better. If it helps at all, I'll leave so you can call her and talk with her."

"No, please don't go. You've done a great job caring for the kids and you are entitled to see caring for them through to the end. They, and I, really owe Auntie AM a huge thank you."

"Thanks, Kevin. I appreciate your trust in me. But you really do need to talk with her. Where's your phone?"

"I have no idea. Can you please try to find it and bring it up here. I'll give her some time to cool down and give her a call."

"OK."

With that, Anne Marie turned and left the bedroom. Ten minutes later, she was back with both phone and charger in hand.

I waited an hour for the phone to charge, then called Sandra. The call went straight to voicemail. I left a message saying that she seemed to have gotten the wrong impression about Anne Marie's caring for the kids and me and we needed to talk. I followed that up with a text saying the same thing. Sandra did not respond to either.

The first indication I received that Sandra had gotten one or both messages was not a call from her. Rather, on Monday morning, Amanda called. She was madder than a wet hen.

When I answered the phone, Amanda lit into me without so much as a "hello." "How could you have cheated on Sandra after what I told you about her former boyfriend? And cheating with that woman? What in the hell is wrong with you, you bastard?"

"Wait a minute, Amanda. I haven't cheated on anyone. And 'that woman' has a name. It's Anne Marie. And the reason she was here is because all five of the kids and I were sick as dogs, Cassie's mom is on her mission's trip, mom was tied up caring for your and Bev's family, Sandra was incommunicado, and I needed help. Cassie's mom has continued Anne Marie's relationship with the children with my permission and I called her because I just didn't have any other alternative. She dropped everything to come over, take care of the kids, take care of me and I don't know what I'd have done without her. I really was at the end of my rope."

"But to let her stay at your house?"

"What was I supposed to do. Tell her to go home and come back? She was taking care of us 24/7. Having her here was the only possible solution."

"Well, Sandra is not happy."

"I've tried to reach her. She didn't take my call and hasn't responded to my text message. Just like she didn't respond to my calls and text messages asking for her help while she was away at her sister's bachelorette week. Can you please ask her to call me or agree to meet me so we can get this behind us. She's got a completely wrong impression of what happened."

"I'll talk to her. You know how badly her last relationship ended and she's extremely sensitive to the slightest indication of infidelity."

"Well, there wasn't any. I've made clear to Anne Marie in the past that there couldn't be anything between us, regardless of how close she was to Cassie and the kids, because of what you, Bev and mom think about her and how that would create a strain on the family dynamic."

"And she came to care for you and the kids anyway?"

"Yes, she did. And I couldn't have gotten through this without her. So cut her a break and cut me a break, too. And get Sandra down off her high horse so we can hash this out."

"I'll try."

"Thanks."

Later that day, Sandra finally called. "Amanda said we needed to talk about you and Anne Marie."

"Yes, we do. You left here with a completely incorrect idea of what happened while you were gone. As I explained to Amanda, I was out of options when I discovered Bev's and Amanda's families were sick, mom was caring for them and Cassie's mom was away. I tried you repeatedly and you didn't respond. I had no other options. The only thing that happened while you were gone is that Anne Marie came over and provided nursing care to the kids and me."

"So Amanda explained."

"So, are we good?"

"No, we're not. But not for the reason you think."

"What?"

"Anne Marie's exploding on me made me realize something. I've given it a lot of thought since she unloaded on me. I really thought, or at least hoped I could come to a point where I could deal with having five children who weren't mine in order to have you. But I can't. If I really were ready to step into Cassie's shoes, I'd have told my sister that you and the kids were more important than providing her my undivided attention for a week. You need someone who makes you and those children the most important people in her life. I didn't do that and I don't think I can. I was willing to try because I wanted a husband and children of my own and I thought I could have that with you. But I realize now that you and the kids are a package deal and it's not fair to you or them if I can't be wholly committed to all of you. I don't think we should see each other anymore. You need more than I can give you. I'm really sorry, Kevin, but that's the way I feel."

"I'm sorry, too. I had hoped we'd have a life together."

"So did I. But you need to recognize that the best I can offer is less than what you need or deserve. You need someone wholly committed to you and the kids. Someone like Anne Marie."

"Anne Marie? What are you talking about? She was just doing me a favor because she was Cassie's friend and the kids' Auntie AM."

"Are you really that oblivious? That woman is so in love with you and the kids it's painful to watch. It was all over her face while she was yelling at me. Nobody drops everything and takes on nursing five sick children and a sick man she's not in a relationship with if she doesn't have strong feelings for them all. I know how your sisters feel about her, but Amanda tells me they felt that way about Cassie, too, and, from what you and your mom have told me, Cassie was all you could ask for in a wife. As much as I hate to admit it, and as much as I know Amanda would kill me for suggesting it, you need to give Anne Marie a chance. She clearly can offer you what I can't. I'm sorry that we aren't going to make it as a couple, but I love you enough to want to see you happy and with someone who truly can be what you need as a wife and a mother to your children. Ignore your sisters and do what's best for you and the children. Give Anne Marie a chance to show you just how much she loves all of you."

"Thank you for your honesty, Sandra. I hope you find someone who can give you what you want and deserve. And I hope we can still be friends."

"Take care Kevin. And don't procrastinate. Call Anne Marie."

I didn't have to call Anne Marie, as she was still at the house. She wanted to make sure I was up and about before finally heading home.

"I apologize, Kevin. I heard your end of the conversation. I'm so sorry to be the reason that Sandra and you are ending your relationship. I know you loved her and had every expectation of a life together with her. It seems like I'm nothing but a problem for you, just like in high school."

"You aren't a problem. In fact, in my hour of need you were the solution. Why did you drop everything and come rushing over to take care of us?"

"Do you really have to ask?"

"Yes, I do."

"I guess I never got over the interest I had in you when we were in high school. And when you and Cassie married and I saw how happy you made her and how well you cared for her, I realized what a fool I'd been. I fell in love with you vicariously as I heard Cassie talk about what a great husband and father you were. I'd never have done anything about it while Cassie was alive, but it's true. I was crushed when you said we could never have a relationship because of the loathing your family still feels for me. I'd do anything to change that."

"You might find out that I've reconsidered. Cassie wanted me to give you a chance, Cassie's mom told me I was foolish not to give you a chance and now Sandra tells me you're in love with me and I should let you show me how you feel about the kids and me."

"Are you sure you want to do this. Cassie told me how much it cost you in terms of your relationship with your family to have her in your life. Can you really do that a second time?"

"Well, Cassie won my mom over and got Amanda to neutral and that was without stepping up in the manner you just did for the kids and me. I think we can get them to the same or better if it works out between us. Bev will just have to suck it up. Peter and Paul will both help get their wives to deal with it, because they really liked and respected Cassie."

"What about Cassie's mom?"

"She's been in your court since the beginning. She knows Cassie would look with favor on our having a relationship. And she's still the children's grandmother. I expect her to continue living here unless she decides she doesn't want to anymore. And I can't see her doing that. She wouldn't give up her time with the kids and she really likes you, so she wouldn't consider our getting together to be a problem."

"Well, I really want to give us a chance. But not until you've at least talked about it with your family. I don't want to be the cause of an estrangement between you and them. As much as I would love to be a part of your life, I won't consider it if the cost to you is your relationship with them."

"I'll do that, but I'm not going to let them decide for me. I didn't with Cassie and I won't with you."

"OK. I'll wait to hear from you. And now it's time for me to go home. I need to get back to work and you and the kids really don't need nursing anymore."

"Before you go, there's something I need to do."

"What's that?"

"Kiss you."

And I did. And I felt the same electricity when I did it that I felt with Cassie.

"Call me once you've talked to your family."

"I will. I promise."

And with that, Anne Marie left to go home.

I asked mom, Bev, Amanda and their husbands to dinner on the following Saturday evening, telling them I needed to discuss something with them. I don't know if Amanda had gotten a complete report about our conversation from Sandra, but she did know that Sandra and I had called it quits and she was less than happy about it.

I told everyone we'd discuss what I needed to discuss after dinner was complete. Dinner completed and the table cleared, I sent the kids off to the playroom and moved everyone into the living room.

Mom started the conversation. "So what's so important you need to hold a family meeting?"

"I suppose by now you know that Sandra and I have ended our relationship. She decided that she couldn't be the mother to the kids that they deserved and that it wouldn't be fair to us to try to make a relationship when she couldn't fill that role."

Amanda chimed in. "What made her decide that?"

"Something she heard when she came home from her outing with her sister?"

"From you?"

"No, from Anne Marie."

Bev chimed in at this point. "What was she doing talking to Anne Marie about the children? How is she involved with them at all?"

"Cassie's mom has been letting her continue to maintain a relationship with them. She's the woman they refer to as 'Auntie AM'."

"WHAT?"

"Calm down, Bev. She was effectively their aunt long before Cassie and I got together and Cassie maintained that relationship. Cassie's mom and Anne Marie both wanted it to continue for the children's sake and I gave my permission."

"So how did she and Sandra come to have a conversation?"

"As you know, Sandra was gone for a week at her sister's bachelorette party. The sister insisted on all of the women remaining incommunicado for the week. When the kids and I got sick, I tried to reach Sandra and got no response. By Friday, I was so desperate that I called Anne Marie, since mom was tied up with your and Amanda's families and Cassie's mom is in Costa Rica. Anne Marie was still there when Sandra got back and she walked into the house and found her. They had words and Sandra left in a huff. The next day, after I asked Amanda to have her call me, she told me she couldn't see me anymore because she didn't think she could be the kind of wife and mother to the children that I would need her to be."

"So what are you going to do now?"

"That's why I called this family meeting. Sandra suggested that I consider dating Anne Marie. She's the third person who has recommended I do that, after Cassie and her mom."

I braced for the explosion I was sure was about to occur.

"You'd do that again? After our finally getting over your having dated and married Cassie? Don't you care what we think about your well-being and happiness?"

"Of course I care. I just don't think holding a grudge against someone for almost a quarter of a century when you weren't the one pranked makes a bit of sense. I moved on, Cassie moved on, and Anne Marie has moved on. More importantly, Anne Marie loves those kids almost as much as Cassie did or I do. And they love her. So I'm going to give her a chance. And if you can't live with that, I'm sorry, but that will be your loss, not mine."

The room was silent and I could see the wheels turning in mom's, Amanda's and Bev's heads. I turned to Peter and Paul.

"You guys were never part of the problem when Cassie and I were together and I know you liked and respected Cassie. I hope you'll help me convince these three that I know what I'm doing."

Both looked at me, then each other, then shook their heads and grinned. Paul said, "I'll give you this, brother-in-law, you've got stones. Big ones. Peter and I will help where we can, but it's going to be up to you and Anne Marie to prove that these three women are wrong about her. Can the two of you do that?"

"I'm going to do my darndest and I'm sure Anne Marie will, too. So, if there are no further questions, this family meeting is adjourned."

I called Anne Marie as soon as I got the kids home and into bed. "It went better than I expected. Neither my mom nor my sisters exploded, which is a lot better than what happened when Cassie and I got together. And Peter and Paul are going to help. So it's up to us to prove that this is a good idea. Are you up for the challenge?"

"Absolutely."

"Great. So what are you doing Friday night?"

"I don't have any plans. What did you have in mind?"

"Dinner and some dancing."

"I'd like that."

"Great. I'll pick you up at six."

"See you then."

We turned out to be far more comfortable together than most people on their first date. In part, that was because we had a great deal in common, including, most importantly, a fierce love for my five children. The first date led to a second, then a third, then a fourth that included all five children in a day's outing at a local amusement park. We still had not been intimate, but I could see that we were both looking forward to the time when we would finally consummate our relationship.

On the way home from the amusement park, Maggie shocked me with a question. "Daddy, is Auntie AM going to be our new mommy? I'd like to have a mommy and she would be a good one."

I heard Anne Marie choke.

Out of the mouth of babes. Or in this case, a child not quite four.

"We'll see, my love. That's something your Auntie AM and I have to talk about. It takes a while for a man and a woman to decide whether they want to be together forever and Auntie AM and I haven't been dating very long."

I looked in the rear view mirror and saw all five kids staring back at me. Michael finally spoke up. "You know dad, sometimes you are really slow to get the message. We've all talked about this. We talked to Grandmom Wilson, too. We think Auntie AM would make a great mom and grandmom agrees. What are you waiting for?"

What was I waiting for? Good question. Anne Marie had already professed her love and I was fast falling in love with her, just as I'd done with Cassie. The spark was there, too. Just kissing her was electric. The kids loved her, she loved the kids, she loved me and, if I was honest with myself, I loved her as well even though we'd only been dating a short time. What was I waiting for?

"We'll talk about this later. There's a lot to think about and your other grandmom and your aunts and uncles have a say in this too. So, let's postpone this discussion to another time."

When we got home and the kids were all in their beds, I sat down on the sofa with Anne Marie curled up beside me.

"Quite a day, eh?"

"Yes, it was."

"What did you think about what Maggie and Michael had to say in the car coming home?"

"Well, you know how I feel about you and I think I know how you feel about me. Is there a reason for us to wait on making a decision about whether there's an 'us' for the long term?"

"Can you live with my sisters? I think mom will be on board, but they still harbor some hard feelings about high school."

"I can, if you can. But I promise to do my best to build a positive relationship with them, at least as much as they'll allow me."

I pulled her over to me and kissed her. As usual, the kiss was electric. Then I got down on one knee, took her hands in mine, and said, "Anne Marie Grant, would you do me the honor of becoming my wife and mother to my children?"

"Yes, Kevin, yes! But I have two conditions and a request."

"What are they?"

"First, I want to adopt the children. Is that OK."

"Of course."

"Second, I want to allow Cassie's mom to continue to live here as long as she wants. I don't want our marriage to interfere with her relationship with the children."

"That's no problem. In fact, that's exactly what I'd want. The kids and I love mom Wilson and she loves them. The kids would be heartbroken if she moved out."

"Now, the request. If we get married, I'd like to have at least one baby with you. I've always wanted to have a child and even though I'm in my forties, the window hasn't closed yet. I know it would be more difficult than if we were younger and there weren't already five children in the mix, but do you think you could consider becoming a dad one more time? With me?"

"I think we could arrange for that to happen. When would you like to start working on that particular project?"

"Are the kids sound asleep?"

"We can check."

"Assuming they are, how about we start now?"

The kids were sound asleep, which turned out to be a good thing, because Anne Marie is pretty vocal and responsive.

We got the kids off to school the following morning and Maggie off to my mother's, then went ring shopping. We found the perfect ring, an oval diamond surrounded by emeralds, which was Anne Marie's birthstone. The jeweler promised to have it sized by the end of the week.

I didn't see any reason to delay telling my family. I called another family meeting, this time with Anne Marie in attendance. After the usual hemming and hawing to get the meeting started, I laid it out as clearly and I concisely as I could. "Anne Marie and I are getting married. I proposed, she accepted, and we've decided on a wedding date a month from now. It will be a small wedding, just family and a few close friends. Anne Marie has something to ask Bev and Amanda."

"I know that we have issues and I'd like to move past them. My sister is going to be my matron of honor, but I'd be pleased and honored if the two of you would be my bridesmaids. Will you please do that for us?"

I don't think either of my sisters saw that coming. To my surprise, they immediately agreed.

I asked Peter and Paul to be my groomsmen. Mike Schultz, my head mechanic whom I'd known for decades would be my best man.

A month later, Anne Marie and I said "I do" in front of approximately forty relatives and friends. My kids were simply beside themselves with joy. They had already begun calling Anne Marie "mom" and now she was really going to be mother, not auntie, to them. Our attorney was already working on the adoption paperwork.

Anne Marie had moved in with us as soon as she agreed to marry me. We had decided not to use any form of birth control, wanting to have our child together as soon as possible. We didn't know it at the time, but by our wedding Anne Marie was already pregnant.

Anne Marie sold her condo once we married and we decided that she'd be a stay at home mother once the baby was born. She worked from home most days, making her available to all of the children and allowing us to release mom and Mrs. Wilson from caring for Maggie at least four days a week.

Eight and a half months after the wedding, we welcomed our six pound, ten ounce daughter into the world. We named her "Cassie Anne" in honor of the woman who'd been my wife and my current wife's best friend and the woman who had finally mended my heart, and the hearts of my five children, with her love.