Never Doubt Me: Judge Me Not #2(67)

Mrs. Metzger is still talking, saying, “Just give her a few more days, honey. And then I bet she’ll be calling you and wanting to get together and go do whatever it is you girls like to do.”

I’m not so sure about that, but I pretend to agree.

After my call with Mrs. Metzger ends, it’s back to work for me. Chase is tied up with a project in the school. He tells me this when he texts me to say that he’s skipping lunch. I’m not very hungry, so I work through lunch, too.

Then, around three o’clock, I receive another text from Chase.

Just finished up. Heading back to the house early. See you there. Love you, bb.

I know Chase is trying to spend as much time with his brother as he can before he leaves on Tuesday, so I text back: Enjoy your time with Will. Should I pick something up for dinner on my way home?

Pizza?

Sure, I’ll stop at Pizza House after work.

That works. Chase texts back.

A little while later, when I’m in my car after work, I call the restaurant to place the order. It’s stupid, I know, but I’m relieved when someone other than Nick answers the phone. I guess I’m still coming to grips with the fact he was the father of Missy’s baby. Like I told Chase, it doesn’t bother me in any way, but Missy had me so convinced that Tony was the dad that when I learned Nick was the real father it kind of threw me for a loop. And I guess I’m still reeling.

When I return to the house, the pizza is a hit, as it always seems to be. Dinner is pleasant, with the three of us sitting around the kitchen table and making small talk. Will, I take note, is nothing but cheery. It’s like the events of yesterday never even happened.

After dinner, I ask Chase in private if Will has said anything about Cassie—or Paul.

Chase shakes his head. “Nope, not a thing.”

Will’s overly happy demeanor and lack of discussion regarding the Cassie situation has me worried.

Over the next few days, I watch Will closely, waiting for him to either divulge something or have another meltdown. But every minute, every second of every day, Will behaves perfectly. There’s no running off, no drug use, and no more contact with Jared, all of which are choices Will makes without any prompting from his brother.

Since Will remains mum on the subject of Cassie, I decide to reach out to Will’s girlfriend in hopes of finding what, if anything, has been happening with Paul. Has he been picked up by the police? Has he stopped bothering Cassie? How is she handling everything? These are just a few of the things I’d like to know.

So, throughout the weekend and into Monday, I leave a slew of messages. Cassie ignores me, until, on Tuesday, out of the blue, I finally hear back from her via a text.

Sorry I haven’t gotten back to you sooner, Kay. But don’t worry. Everything’s fine. I can’t wait to see Will in two more days. Thursday can’t get here soon enough, ya know?

The message arrives late in the afternoon, just as I’m putting dinner on the table. I’ve prepared a big send-off meal for Will, since he and Chase have to leave for the bus station in a couple of hours. Will’s bus leaves tonight, and as Cassie mentioned in her text, he’s due to arrive in Vegas sometime Thursday.

Since tonight’s dinner is special, we eat in the dining room. When Will is finished eating, he excuses himself from the big oak table.

“I have a few more things to pack,” he explains. He wipes his mouth with a napkin and stands.

My eyes slide to Chase when Will walks out of the room. “Guess he’s leaving the cleaning part to us,” I say in a teasing tone.

Chase laughs. “Looks that way, babe, looks that way.” He starts to gather the dishes on the table, and adds, “Might as well get started now.”

Chase and I clear the table and take everything into the kitchen. He washes the dishes while I dry. At one point, I rest my hip against the sink and wait for him to finish washing a big serving platter. Chase runs the water in the right side of the sink and rinses suds off the platter.

“I hope everything is okay,” I say, sighing.

“What?” He glances my way. “Do you mean with Will?”

“Yeah.”

Holding out the dripping-wet platter, Chase says, “I asked Will last night what’s going on back in Vegas, and he said everything is under control.”

“Everything is under control?” I echo as I take the plate from Chase.

“Yep, those were his exact words.”

After a beat, and a swipe of the dish towel across the serving platter, I wonder out loud, “What does that mean, exactly?”

Chase shrugs. “I don’t know. But Will’s been great these past few days. Maybe that means Paul quit harassing Cassie. I’m thinking the cops must’ve picked Paul up on that restraining order violation.”

I don’t feel so certain, so I say, “It seems like Will would mention that, though.”

“Not necessarily,” Chase replies. “He is a guy, and we don’t always discuss everything.”

“Isn’t that the truth,” I interject, eyeing him meaningfully.

“Anyway…” Chase looks away. “Why else would Will remain so calm? You have to admit he’s been in an exceptionally good mood lately.”

Will has been in a great mood the past few days, or so he wants us to believe. That’s what I suspect. But my question is, why would he do that? What could Chase’s brother be hiding? I know Chase wants so badly to believe the situation with Cassie and her stepdad has been resolved, but I am not so sure. Will’s behavior has been almost too perfect, orchestrated in a way.