carefully put on. She was sure, Mr. Swans, the retiring accountant would love it.
She heard a bevy of loud, excited voices coming down the hall way. Quickly stashing the box into her oversize carrier, she turned to leave, just as the mahogany door swung open.
“ Oh this looks amazing!”
“ Do you think he’ll like it?”
“ These flowers smell gorgeous Bex!”
“ Take a look at this cake! Wow!”
A sea of people rushed in and headed towards the glass, oval table that was weighed down by all the food. The cake placed neatly in its centre.
“ Did you do this?” a pregnant woman asked Cass, jostling past the small group that had already taken up residence next to it.
“ Yeah, I did. I’m from ‘CC’s Bakery”, Cass replied, reaching into her pocket to retrieve a business card.
“ It’s delightful. Do you do baby shower cakes? I’ve still to throw this one a party”, she said softly, gently rubbing her bump.
“ Yeah, one for yours and one for Luca’s new addition, eh Liz?”
She turned to see a portly gentleman in his mid-fifties approach the table.
Thoughts as fast and mixed up as a whirlwind swept through Cass’s mind. Luca, a daddy! Her Luca. Now a father to someone else’s baby?!
She felt bile rise up in her throat.
“ Excuse me”, she muttered, pushing past the throng of people.
“ Ssshhh. He’s coming in”, someone whispered loudly.
Before she knew what was happening, all the blinds were pulled down and the lights shut off, swamping Cass into darkness.
She managed to push past the people nearest her and bumped against a wall.
“ Phew”, she whispered to herself, sliding down and sitting on the floor.
“ The meeting is in here Henry”. The rich, deep timbre voice of Luca Drake carried through the closed door.
Even though it’d been ten years, ten years of deliberately not listening to the voice tapes he’d made her at the start of University. Ten years of not watching the silly videos that they’d made of each other and their friends, Cass could recognise that voice anywhere. The goose-bumps now rising on her arms, reminded her of the effect he had on her all those years ago and still had on her now.
“ What...oh!” came the surprised voice of Mr. Swans as the doors were pushed open to a loud chorus of ‘Surprise!’
Chapter 7
From her position on the floor, Cass could get a glimpse past legs of an elderly man, in a dark brown suit. Very expensive shoes, Cass noted as they walked past her.
Behind him stood the man Cass thought she’d never see again.
His dark brown hair cut shorter than when they were at University, spiked up from where he had been running his hands through it. He had the same athletic build, now hidden under a black, designer pair of suit trousers and shirt rather than the favoured University outfit of jeans and Rugby top. He looked tired, she thought. A 5 o’clock shadow began to make an appearance where it would normally have been clean shaven.
She pushed herself further against the wall as he walked past.
She was clearly not the only one to have noticed him or how his lack of tie added to his appeal, judging from the sighs of the girls in front, as he moved past them.
Congratulations and exclamations of how much Mr. Swans would be missed echoed around the room.
“ A party! You shouldn’t have”, she heard Mr. Swans say, “Especially with the project you’ve got on at the moment”.
Project! That’s how he thought of parenthood! Cass thought disgustedly.
“ It’s no bother, really. You’ve been with this company a long time. All the employees will be sad to see you go. My Grandfather would have done exactly the same”, Luca replied. Cass rolled her eyes, remembering his grandfather the last time she saw him. That was highly doubtful! Thoughtful enough to throw a retirement party? Yeah right, who was he kidding!
Seeing the crowd move forward towards the cake, she decided now was the time. Standing up with her
She heard a bevy of loud, excited voices coming down the hall way. Quickly stashing the box into her oversize carrier, she turned to leave, just as the mahogany door swung open.
“ Oh this looks amazing!”
“ Do you think he’ll like it?”
“ These flowers smell gorgeous Bex!”
“ Take a look at this cake! Wow!”
A sea of people rushed in and headed towards the glass, oval table that was weighed down by all the food. The cake placed neatly in its centre.
“ Did you do this?” a pregnant woman asked Cass, jostling past the small group that had already taken up residence next to it.
“ Yeah, I did. I’m from ‘CC’s Bakery”, Cass replied, reaching into her pocket to retrieve a business card.
“ It’s delightful. Do you do baby shower cakes? I’ve still to throw this one a party”, she said softly, gently rubbing her bump.
“ Yeah, one for yours and one for Luca’s new addition, eh Liz?”
She turned to see a portly gentleman in his mid-fifties approach the table.
Thoughts as fast and mixed up as a whirlwind swept through Cass’s mind. Luca, a daddy! Her Luca. Now a father to someone else’s baby?!
She felt bile rise up in her throat.
“ Excuse me”, she muttered, pushing past the throng of people.
“ Ssshhh. He’s coming in”, someone whispered loudly.
Before she knew what was happening, all the blinds were pulled down and the lights shut off, swamping Cass into darkness.
She managed to push past the people nearest her and bumped against a wall.
“ Phew”, she whispered to herself, sliding down and sitting on the floor.
“ The meeting is in here Henry”. The rich, deep timbre voice of Luca Drake carried through the closed door.
Even though it’d been ten years, ten years of deliberately not listening to the voice tapes he’d made her at the start of University. Ten years of not watching the silly videos that they’d made of each other and their friends, Cass could recognise that voice anywhere. The goose-bumps now rising on her arms, reminded her of the effect he had on her all those years ago and still had on her now.
“ What...oh!” came the surprised voice of Mr. Swans as the doors were pushed open to a loud chorus of ‘Surprise!’
Chapter 7
From her position on the floor, Cass could get a glimpse past legs of an elderly man, in a dark brown suit. Very expensive shoes, Cass noted as they walked past her.
Behind him stood the man Cass thought she’d never see again.
His dark brown hair cut shorter than when they were at University, spiked up from where he had been running his hands through it. He had the same athletic build, now hidden under a black, designer pair of suit trousers and shirt rather than the favoured University outfit of jeans and Rugby top. He looked tired, she thought. A 5 o’clock shadow began to make an appearance where it would normally have been clean shaven.
She pushed herself further against the wall as he walked past.
She was clearly not the only one to have noticed him or how his lack of tie added to his appeal, judging from the sighs of the girls in front, as he moved past them.
Congratulations and exclamations of how much Mr. Swans would be missed echoed around the room.
“ A party! You shouldn’t have”, she heard Mr. Swans say, “Especially with the project you’ve got on at the moment”.
Project! That’s how he thought of parenthood! Cass thought disgustedly.
“ It’s no bother, really. You’ve been with this company a long time. All the employees will be sad to see you go. My Grandfather would have done exactly the same”, Luca replied. Cass rolled her eyes, remembering his grandfather the last time she saw him. That was highly doubtful! Thoughtful enough to throw a retirement party? Yeah right, who was he kidding!
Seeing the crowd move forward towards the cake, she decided now was the time. Standing up with her
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