A second chance: Sequel of Against all odds (58 page)

“
Mum?”

“
I
know everything. I know about your unhappiness,” she said in a
sad voice.

“
But...”

“
Kylie
told me. Although she's just a child she noticed, she said you were
always sad during the years and that only recently she saw you happy.
From when David came to live here. Cassidy stop it honey. Stop this
nonsense and go after him.”

I couldn't stop crying.

“
I
can't mum... I just can't.”

“
Cassidy
think about it please, you're still in time. Think about what you
really want in your life and not what will make Tyler happy. I know
you never wanted to hurt him and that you do care about him, but
you're not in love with him. Seven years ago you knew this, you were
in love with David but for some reason that I will never understand
you chose Tyler. Honey you're older, now you know what life can
offer. You know how it feels to love somebody so much it hurts, and I
know that that somebody is not Tyler. It was never him.”

I looked stunned at my mum.
How did she know all this? Tears couldn't stop coming out. I hugged
my knees and chewed my lips and shook my head.

“
I
have to go now; I'll go for Kylie at school. For now, she'll stay
with me. You're in no position to be able to take care of her. Honey
think well and when you do call me. If you decide to be with David, I
can get in touch with him.”

My eyes flew to her,“What?
So you know where he is?” I asked astonished.

“
Yes
sweetheart. He did contact me because of Kylie but he made me promise
not to tell you. Cassidy, he doesn't want to see you, so please don't
ask me to contact him if you're leaving him forever.”

My mum didn't say anything
else; she got up, grabbed her keys and left. As soon as I heard the
door shutting I started to cry desperately again. I grabbed the
letter and hugged it to me. Maybe I was getting mad but I could
almost smell his cologne through that piece of paper.

“
Oh
David... David why did you leave me?” I shouted. I curled on
the sofa and kept crying until I felt my head aching so much that I
had to close my eyes.

Tyler's POV

My heart was breaking into
pieces. I was in pain; I couldn't breathe. I couldn't live. I was
sitting on the floor hiding behind the door. I had heard everything,
her desperate crying, her strangled voice. She loves him not me. I
had to accept that. All I managed to do was to cry. I had failed with
her. Desperation was taking possession of me. I just wanted to bang
my head against the wall, to grab all the things I had around me and
break them. I needed air. I felt a sense of oppression squeezing my
chest. I got up slowly and walked towards the living room. She was
lying on the sofa fast asleep. Her face was red, her eyes were
swollen. I caressed lightly her face and her hair. I loved her so
much. I had to make her happy but not in the way I wished. It had to
be another way.

I left the house. I went to
the garage and took out my car again. It wasn't going to be easy, but
I had to do this even if this meant destroying myself completely.

In the next three hours, I
had a lot of things to prepare. A lot of places to visit. At about
four finally, I was ready. I returned home; there was one last thing
to do. I entered and tiptoed inside. She was still fast asleep. I
went upstairs in her room. I looked at her things, at her shoes and
dresses. I hugged her pillow; it still had her scent on. I felt my
heart squeezing, and I cried desperately while I finished to do the
last thing. I had to gather all my courage. I had to be strong, for
myself.

Half an hour later I was in
the living room looking at her. I sat down on the sofa opposite to
her trying to find the courage to do it. As I looked at her, I
thought to stop myself from doing it. There had to be another way. I
tried to convince myself that we could still be happy together. That
things would get better and.... Stop it Tyler. There wasn't another
way and I knew it. I exhaled and counted to three. Then I stood up
and walked towards her.

“
Cassidy...
Cassy...”

She opened her eyes a
little. “Oh..you're back,” she said softly. Her eyes were
still swollen. Her face marked with the signs of tears.

“
Yes
I'm back. Cassidy I need to talk to you.”

“
Not
now Tyler, I'm not feeling well.” She said closing her eyes
again.

“
Yes
now, you have to hear this.. please wake up.”

She looked at me and I felt
lost. In a few minutes time it was going to be over. I tried to keep
calm, I tried to ignore the bitter taste I had in my mouth. I had to
ignore the pain I had in my stomach and in my heart. She slowly sat
herself up and finally her eyes looked in mine.

“
What
is it?” She asked.

“
Cassidy
I have always loved you,” I started.

“
Tyler..”

“
Please
don't interrupt me, just hear what I have to say OK?”

She nodded.

“
I
have always loved you but I have never been able to show you the real
love I feel for you. I have never been good at this. I'm selfish and
possessive I know. I have always tried to keep you close to me. Yes,
I wanted you to work with me so that I knew where you were all the
time. I made you study things you didn't like just because I was
selfish and scared. I always knew that David was in your thoughts and
in your heart. I always knew that you kept thinking about him even
when you were with me. So I wanted you close to me, to put my mind at
rest. Yes, that you wouldn't escape and return to him. I lived these
years with this fear, that one day I come home, and you 'd be gone. I
know that what I did was wrong, you might have been here with me,
physically, I might have controlled your body but not your mind or
your heart. I have failed; possession is not the right way to show
you my love. I'm sorry. I always felt that I had to fight continually
for your love but now I know that I have always been wrong. Love
doesn't have to be fought for, love comes on its own when the other
person is really in love with you. You don't love me, at least not in
the way I always wanted.”

A tear rolled down her
cheek, but she remained silent.

“
I
have failed with you Cassidy. I had failed when I ran away the first
time. You can never run away when you know that the person you love
will be heartbroken. When you know that the person you love needs
you. I did. I left you when you needed me most. David never left
you.. never.. he was always there ready to protect you. I failed in
this many times. Forgive me. I have not been a good husband.”
My voice cracked and I was close to tears. I had to keep strong and
continue.

“
Tyler...
this is not true.. I..”

“
No,
it is.. please. Cassidy I want to show you how much I have always
loved you. I know it's late for that, but I want to do the right
thing for once. A long time ago there was a person, a man who told me
that real love is wanting to see the person you love happy even if
that meant sacrificing your own happiness. He knows a great deal
about love, more than I ever knew.”

“
Who
told you that?”

“
Try
and guess.”

She looked up at me, and I
knew she had understood that it was David that person. I have hated
him for so many years. I have always seen him as an enemy but he
wasn't the problem. I was. I was the enemy of myself and I destroyed
my own happiness.

“
Cassidy
take these,” I said finding the courage to pull out the papers
I kept in my jacket. I put them in her hands. She opened the first
envelope, and her facial expression changed. I saw disbelief, relief,
surprise, sadness? I couldn't really tell which one...

“
Tyler?
These papers are....”

“
For
the divorce yes. Read them and see if you agree with everything and
then sign them.”

“
Tyler...
we don't have to do this.”

I swallowed the painful knot
that had formed in my throat.

“
Cassidy,
please. Stop trying to protect me. I'm not a child any more OK! I can
handle the pain. I won't kill myself, and I don't want your
compassion. I don't want you to stay with me for pity OK.” I
shouted.

I was trying to keep calm,
but it wasn't easy. I knew I was going to break down very soon, I
only hoped to resist enough to finish what I had started.

“
Open
the other envelope.” I ordered.

She did.

“
A
ticket?” She asked bewildered.

“
It's
not for a holiday. I went to the travel agency again and changed the
tickets. That ticket will take you home to our old city.”

She looked at me confused...

“
You'll
find David there.” I explained.

Her jaw dropped; her eyes
filled with tears.

“
Cassidy
go to him. It's him you want.. please go. Your flight leaves in two
hours. Your passport is there in the third envelope. I have prepared
your luggage while you were sleeping. I'll send you all your things
afterwards don't worry.. Now just leave. Please.”

She stood there looking at
me shocked. Shifting her gaze from the ticket to me. Although she
seemed undecided I knew that she had already taken her decision...

“
Go
Cassidy.”

“
Tyler..
are you sure? I can't leave you like this. I...”

“
Just
go, please before I change my mind and beg you to stay here. Go.
Now!” I cried.

She stood up and walked
towards me and then hugged me tight to her. She kissed my cheek. For
a moment I was tempted to take her in my arms and stop her like I had
done in the past years but I knew that this would cause just more
pain to everyone.

“
I
love you Tyler. Thanks for everything. Be happy, please.”

“
I
will.” I said, my voice broken. I felt tears filling my eyes. I
tried desperately to push them back; she couldn't see me like this..I
had to resist until she leaves...

“
Go
please.” I shouted again. “The luggage is near the door.”

She smiled at me weakly,
then she pulled back from my arms. She was crying. Her hands
trembled. She touched my face one last time and then she ran away. I
heard the door opening and closing. Just then I fell on my knees and
cried like I had never done before. It was the end. How was I going
to live without her? How was I going to move on? Right then I didn't
want to think about my future. I just wanted to despair, to let out
all the pain I was feeling. A few minutes later, I heard the door
opening again. I hoped it was her. Maybe she had changed her mind. I
stood up and looked in the direction of the door. I heard footsteps
getting nearer, but it wasn't her... it was my father.

“
Tyler.”

“
Dad?”

“
You
did the right thing son. You would have never been happy with her.”

I broke down again. He
walked towards me and put his arms around me.

“
Thanks
for calling me asking for my help. We will overcome this together OK.
You're still young; you'll find happiness one day I'm sure. Like I
did with Angela.”I nodded and wanted to believe it was true.

Cassidy's Pov

I cried as I drove. I felt
awful for Tyler but at the same time I felt happy. I was going to be
with my man finally. Oh David, I couldn't wait to see him. I arrived
at the airport and parked my car in the parking. Then I rushed
inside. I went hurriedly at the departures and gave in my ticket and
details to the ground hostess. Less than an hour later I was on an
airplane heading home.

CHAPTER
44

The three hours of the
journey seemed never-ending. I checked the time every minute as if by
looking at my watch time would just pass more quickly and the journey
would be over. I tried to read a book to get distracted, but I
couldn't concentrate on what I was reading. All I could think about
was David. I imagine the moment I would be reunited with him over and
over again. I couldn't wait to be with him and tell him how much I
loved him. I was so eager to begin our life together which this time
would last forever.