On A Wing And A Prayer Part 2

"Let's see ... I'll take the vegetarian omelet, wheat toast, side of home fries," she said.

"Hungry this morning, huh?" Angie commented as she wrote down the order.

"A container of yogurt and a few crackers just didn't cut it yesterday," Ca.s.s replied.

"You know Ca.s.s, you need to settle down with someone who can cook. It would save you a lot of time and money," Angie observed.

"No thanks, Ang ... I kind of like being foot loose and fancy free," Cat said "And lonely?" Angie asked.

Ca.s.s looked at her through narrowed eyes.

"Oh oh... kind of overstepped my bounds there, huh? Okay ... I know when to retreat - I'll be back with your order in a few minutes," Angie said, as she turned and practically ran to the kitchen.

Ca.s.s sat there looking at her hands clasped together on the table.

She's right you know. You are lonely. You really do need to find someone to share your life with, Enforcer said, just do it cautiously ... be careful who you choose.

I won't expose myself to that again, she replied internally.

You also can't go through the rest of your life alone and miserable. Get a life Ca.s.s! Not everyone you meet will be like Patti! Those one-night-stands you pick up occasionally are only good for one thing and you know it ... you need someone to have a meaningful relationship with, Enforcer chided again.

"I can't" exclaimed Ca.s.s out loud, eliciting stares from the other patrons around her.

Ca.s.s looked around nervously, the slid down into her chair, trying to make herself as invisible as possible. d.a.m.n it Ca.s.sidy, get a grip! Her thoughts were interrupted by Angie returning with her breakfast.

"Okay, one veggie omelet and a side of home fries. How 'bout a refill on that coffee?" Angie asked as she put Ca.s.s' plate down in front of her.

"Only if you join me," Ca.s.s said, half asking, half pleading.

Angie looked at her friend and saw the quiet desperation in her eyes. "Sure Sugar," she said smiling, grabbing Ca.s.s' coffee cup. "I'll be right back," she added.

Moments later, Angie was back with two full cups of coffee. Sliding into the seat opposite Ca.s.s, she began the conversation with a question. "So, did you get a chance to start the book?"

"Started and finished!" Ca.s.s said, "all in one night ... in a tub of cold water!"

Angie smiled. "It was a good book. Couldn't put it down, could you?"

Ca.s.s shook her head no as she chewed a mouthful of home fries.

"When are you going to start Part II?" Angie asked.

Ca.s.s just looked at Angie with a pathetic smile, catching her bottom lip between her teeth.

Angie looked at her incredulously. "You're kidding, right? Don't tell me you've read that one already too!?" she exclaimed.

Ca.s.s nodded her head.

"Ca.s.sidy Conway! Is that all you've done since you got home Friday is read?" Angie asked, shocked.

"Ang ... I couldn't help myself ... they were so good!" she replied.

Angie reached over to place a hand on Ca.s.s' arm. "Ca.s.s, darlin', I'm worried about you. Here you are, a beautiful young woman, and you spend your entire weekend holed up in your condo reading. Sweetheart, you've got to get out and meet people. How are you ever going to meet Ms. Right if you aren't out there looking?"

Ca.s.s put her fork down and wiped her mouth with her napkin. Placing it back in her lap, she sat back in her chair and looked at Angie. "Angie, I'm afraid. After Patti ..." she began.

"Patti wasn't your fault, Ca.s.s. I could tell she was using near the end. When the two of you came in for the occasional dinner, it was obvious that she was high on something. And beside, that was three years ago. It's time you put all that behind you and move on. You need someone to share your life with. Life is too short, sweetie ... don't waste it," she finished.

Ca.s.s just nodded her head solemnly then drank the rest of her coffee. Putting the cup back on the table, she threw some money down to cover the tab, then stood up and kissed Angie on the cheek. "Thanks Ang. It feels good to know someone cares."

"That, I do, Ca.s.s. You know I'm here for you, right?" The older woman asked.

Ca.s.s smiled. "Thanks," she said, squeezing the waitress' shoulder. "I'll see you around dinner time, okay?"

"Italian meatloaf on the menu tonight - your favorite!" Ca.s.s heard her yell as she left the restaurant, smiling.

Ca.s.s walked the distance back to her condo as a leisurely pace. Stopping at her mailbox, she retrieved the newspaper and climbed the steps to her apartment. Throwing the paper on the coffee table as she walked by, she headed directly to the bathroom where she stripped off her running clothes and jumped into the shower. Not expecting any visitors, she donned a pair of black high-cut bikini briefs and a short black tank top that came to just above her navel. The under clothes accentuated her long slim legs, slender waist and full, firm b.r.e.a.s.t.s.

Curling up on the couch, with her legs tucked under her, Ca.s.s reached for the paper and started scanning the various articles. Beside the article on the Columbian drug lord, there wasn't much to hold her interest. The only reason she was even remotely interested in that article was due to the fact that she flew quite regularly into Bogota. Not finding anything else to hold her interest, she fished the crossword puzzle out of the cla.s.sified section and discarded the rest of the paper.

For the next hour, she absorbed herself in the crossword, until finally, she had completed it. Putting that aside, she sat there on the couch, looking around for something to do. Spotting the remote control, she reached for it and clicked over to the TV preview channel. Surfing through the listings, she found something that peaked her interest ... Fried Green Tomatoes, Sunday, noon. d.a.m.n! I really DO need to get a life! Ca.s.s told herself. Here it is only 10:15 am, she thought, looking at her watch, and I've already run out of things to do. This really sucks!

Ca.s.s got up from the couch and started pacing. Come on Ca.s.sidy ... think! Shopping? Nah ... I hate to shop. Movies? Nah ... too early in the day. Reading? Nah ... I've read everything .... Wait! Ca.s.s stopped dead in her tracks and looked toward her spare room. "I wonder ..." she said out loud before heading to her office.

Booting up her computer was never a task Ca.s.s had given much thought to, until now. She never realized before just how long it took for it to complete the boot-up and log-in cycle. "Come on you piece of sh.... ah, finally!" she exclaimed as she clicked on 'new messages' and waited once again for the system to query the server for new mail. "G.o.d d.a.m.ned system!" she shouted in vain. "Aarrgghh! It's about time!" she said when a list of new mail was produced. "Two pieces of new mail ... Okay, let's see who they're from," she mumbled as she selected her in-box. "Let's see, a piece of advertis.e.m.e.nt, and ... YES! [email protected] She replied. I can't believe it!" Ca.s.s exclaimed as she hurriedly clicked on the mail icon next to the address.

"Hi Ca.s.s!

Thank you so much for taking the time to write. I really appreciate hearing from readers who enjoy my work.

Thank you also for the compliment on my appearance. It's been a while since I've been told that I am beautiful. It was like salve for my soul. It came at a time when I sorely needed it.

I am glad you enjoyed the Stargazer series. I am currently working on my next novel, and hope to publish it latter in the fall.

Thank you again for writing,

Rox Ward"

Ca.s.s read the response three times. Something doesn't feel right about this, she thought. This part right here..., she thought as she touched a line of text on the monitor with her finger. '...like salve for my soul ... It came at a time when I sorely needed it,' I wonder what she meant by that? she thought.

Whoa ... take it easy there Ca.s.s. Don't go jumping in without testing the water. This chick could mean trouble ... remember Patti? Remember ... take it easy ... take it slow, Enforcer reminded her.

Ca.s.s sat back in her chair and read the note once more. The words 'remember Patti' flashed across her conscious mind. With her heart in her throat, she reached for the mouse and moved the arrow to the upper right hand corner of the screen. Clicking on the "X" there, she logged off, then proceeded to shut the computer down.

Getting up out of her chair, she paced back and forth in front of the computer, arms crossed around her middle. Why do I feel this way? It's a piece of e-mail! She lives on the other side of the continent for Christ's sake! Pacing back and forth a few more times, Ca.s.s stopped and took a deep breath. Okay, Ca.s.s, you can do this. She thought, suppressing her inner voice. This is not Patti, it's Rox. You don't even know her ... she can't hurt you. Reaching for the mouse, she once again, went through the long and torturous routine of booting up the computer and logging into her inbox.

She sounds harmless enough, Ca.s.s thought, reading the note again. Okay, I'm going to do it, she said to herself as she clicked on 'reply'.

"Hi Rox,

Thank you for taking the time to respond. I really didn't think you would. I know writers are very busy.

I can't imagine why it's been a while since someone has complimented you on your looks. The photo on your book cover is absolutely stunning. I initially bought the book more for the picture than the contents, however I was captivated by both once I started reading. You are truly a talented writer.

I am looking forward to your next book this fall.

I will understand if you are too busy to reply to this second note, but I had to reiterate what I thought of your beauty and your work. Both are truly stunning.

Thanks again for replying,

Ca.s.s Conway"

Without hesitation, Ca.s.s. .h.i.t the 'send' b.u.t.ton, then sat back and sighed. There! she said to herself. I wonder if she'll respond to that one. I hope she gets the message that I think she's beautiful. It sounds like she really needs to hear it right now. I wonder why?

Ca.s.s glanced at her watch ... 11:45 am. "Why does it take me so long to respond to an e-mail?" she asked herself out loud, realizing it had taken her more than an hour to do so. "Oh well, at least it killed some time. My show's coming on in 15 minutes... just enough time to pop a bag of corn and settle in," she said before heading to the living room.

CHAPTER IV.

ROX WAS VERY pleased with herself. She glanced at the digital clock on her desk -- 2:44 p.m. was illuminated on the LCD. In the six hours that she had actually been writing today, she had produced two chapters, and now it was time to take a break. She hadn't eaten all day, and besides, she needed to start dinner in the event that Chris came home early. If dinner wasn't ready on time, all h.e.l.l broke loose. She had learned early on to be prompt with the evening meal. If Chris did choose to stay out late, then she'd heat it up when her 'other half' finally did come home. Rox was secretly hoping that it would be late and she'd be in bed by the time Chris came home. She stood a better chance of escaping a confrontation when that was the case.

Closing the word processor on her computer, she shut the system down and went in search of a snack. Shuffling into the kitchen, she retrieved the bologna, pickles, cheese, a tomato and the mayonnaise from the refrigerator. Throwing it all together into a sandwich, she leaned back against the counter and took a big bite, closing her eyes and savoring the unique combinations of flavors. She remembered the first time Chris saw her eat one of these sandwiches. Accusing her of being pregnant ... which of course HAD to have happened because it was a.s.sUMED she was unfaithful ... Chris beat the living tar out of her, then forced her to take a home pregnancy test, which of course came out negative. Rox never did receive an apology for the beating ... she also never ate that sandwich again in Chris' presence. She saved this particular delicacy for times like this, when Chris wasn't home.

Finishing up her snack, she cleaned up the evidence and put the remaining food stuff back into the refrigerator before taking a roast out of the freezer and placing it in the microwave to defrost. Grabbing a diet soda from the refrigerator, she headed painfully back up two flights of stairs to her office to continue working on her book. She would come back to the kitchen in about an hour to put the roast into the oven.

Before starting back up on her book, Rox decided to check out her e-mail, finding two new pieces of mail. The first was from her publisher, asking for her weekly status on the new book. Rox was happy to report that it was coming along nicely, and that she had made significant progress this past week. The second e-mail was from Ah, Ca.s.s, she thought as she double-clicked on the mail icon.

"Hi Rox,

Thank you for taking the time to respond. I really didn't think you would. I know writers are very busy.

I can't imagine why it's been a while since someone has complimented you on your looks. The photo on your book cover is absolutely stunning. I initially bought the book more for the picture than the contents, however I was captivated by both once I started reading. You are truly a talented writer.

I am looking forward to your next book this fall.

I will understand if you are too busy to reply to this second note, but I had to reiterate what I thought of your beauty and your work. Both are truly stunning.

Thanks again for replying,