40. Highways and Monopoly

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Chapter 40

Cassandra gripped the steering wheel as she drove on the highway towards her grandparent's house. Michelle sat in the passenger seat, seatbelt tight over her chest. Her stomach rumbled with the anxiety of going to her deceased husband's parent's home.

"Keep your eyes on the road," Michelle reminded her daughter. The two girls sat in the car alone. "Keep up with everyone."

"But the speed limit is 60," Cassandra issued to her mother.

"Yes...but you have to keep up with everyone else and make sure you're looking around you at all times."

Cassandra stopped speaking. She was sure she could pass her upcoming drivers test from the lessons she received from the combined teaching of Sebastian, Michelle, and Walter, whose coaching was drastically different.

Michelle, who took a more cautious approach, reminded Cassandra of every little thing. While Walter was more laid back, more encouraging with her. Giving her constant reminders that she was doing okay. But, worst of all. The demon to her driving lessons was Sebastian. He had a habit of grabbing the wheel and shouting when teaching her.

A habit that caused many arguments and her walking home one day with him following her the entire way.

"You're pretty good," Michelle urged her. "I think by the time you're sixteen, you should be a pro."

"Thanks, mom. Is this the exit?" Cassandra pointed out.

Michelle contemplated lying, sending them on their way to another state. "Yes, be sure to watch when you switch lanes."

Cassandra did as instructed, flawlessly switching lanes. The rural streets sooner turned into residential ones. Slowly, memories started to flood her mind of the years of coming there. The time they had to go out for dinner because Michelle burned to turkey. The month she lived with them after her father died.

She'd only came to her grandparents' home twice a year. Once, for Christmas. The other being for a weekend of shopping and food-filled time with her grandparents per their request. The elderly couple held a hefty retirement pension, and they delighted in spending it on their one of two grandchildren.

Cassandra spent her time opening her many Christmas gifts and receiving kisses from her grandparents during Christmas. Cassandra didn't mind being with them. She enjoyed the attention, the constant checking upon, and the maddening amount of food at her beck and call.

She felt homey in the three-bedroom home she known about since she was a child. A place with a room that hadn't changed, one especially for her filled with small memories she left there every year. It was always clean, unlike when her dad lived in that specific room.

She and her dad were unalike in many ways; they often told her. Cassandra stopped in front of the home and put the car in park. "Are we spending the night?" Cassandra asked.

"If I have anything to do with it, we won't."

Michelle approached the door and knocked three times before the door opened. She swallowed her spit when she saw Robert, the first. He stood in the doorway. His eyes immediately brightened when he saw Cassandra walk towards the door with a bag in hand. He rushed towards her and hugged her.

She breathed in his scent, a scent that stuck with her entire life. One, he hadn't changed since she was born.

"Hey, grandpa," she smiled in his chest. He placed a kiss on her head and led her into the house.

"I've missed you, Cassandra. Come in. Grandma is finishing up the food."

Cassandra's eyes lightened, "did she make the biscuits. The one from scratch?"

"Of course, she did, and I helped this time."

"Gross, grandpa. You probably ruined it." The two walked into the house, leaving Michelle outside. Michelle inhaled and then quickly exhaled and followed the two in. Their noses could pick up the scent of food.

The home was still decorated the same—old yet clean furniture, knick-knacks, and a wall covered in pictures. Michelle's eyes followed each one. From pictures of her own wedding to the baby pictures of Cassandra. She chuckled when her eyes landed on her daughter in pigtails, hands extended as she attempted to walk.

She'd remembered that day. Weeks before her first birthday, Cassandra took her first steps in the steps on the carpet where Michelle stood. The memory was bittersweet. She'd recently found her husband's large number of text messages from women, which explained the bandage on his head.

Plates were sharper fifteen years ago.

When picking up Cassandra that following morning, she took her first steps. That moment overshadowed all the anger she held, causing him to be invited back into the house with a lie that she made herself believe. She shook her head and went to the next picture. A young Cassandra stood in front of a school. Her hair was down with a giant bow on top.

She smiled for the camera, with two missing front teeth and her bookbag too big for her small body planted on her back. She crossed her arms and smiled at her younger daughter. "You've grown so much," she whispered to herself.

Cassandra was met with Julia, her grandmother. "Grandma, you look as young as ever. Did you dye your hair?"

Julia pushed her jet hair back. "I have no idea what you're talking about." Cassandra raised an eyebrow and hugged her grandmother. "Have you lost weight?" She commented.

Cassandra looked down at her more developed body, which was more than enough indication she had, in fact, gained weight. Layers of fat were attached to her hips, and her cheeks were much more full since she last saw her grandmother.

"No, the exact opposite grandmother." Cassandra looked at the rolls that sat on the counter. She swallowed the spit that was brimming in her mouth.

"You can have one," Julia smiled.

Cassandra swiped one from the bowl and stuffed her mouth with the buttery goodness that was homemade biscuits. She thanked her great-grandmother, who grew up in Alabama, who passed it down to her ten children—her grandmother included.

"Thanks, Grandma," she said with a full mouth. "I haven't eaten anything all day."

"What? You didn't eat breakfast? Michelle," Julia called out. Michelle sighed and walked towards the calls of her mother in law. "Cassandra, didn't eat anything today?"

Michelle placed a hand on her forehead. "No, she did not. I tried to get her to eat some cereal this morning bu—"

"Cereal! No wonder she didn't eat. That's not breakfast. Eggs, bacon, pancakes, that's breakfast, Michelle. No wonder she's so skinny, you're not feeding her enough," Julia spouted out.

"Jul— Mrs. Campebell," she corrected herself. "I'm a working mother. I can't feed her a full course meal every day, and besides, she didn't want to eat breakfast because she was coming here."

"Yeah, grandma. I didn't eat breakfast because I wanted to have enough room for dinner here."

Julia's frown quickly turned into a smile when she looked to Cassandra. "I understand that, but as your mother should have told you. Eating three meals a day is good for a growing body."

Michelle opened them closed her mouth. If she said anything, it would result in her leaving home and never coming back with Cassandra in tow. "I'll think of that next time Mrs.Campbell." Michelle was never given the pleasure of calling her deceased husband's parents mom and dad. 

"Come, Cassandra. Grandpa is probably wondering when dinner is coming out." Cassandra and Julia picked up a plate of food while Michelle followed behind them to the table. The mountain of food was ready for the family to eat. 

Dinner was always early in the Campbell household. Three o'clock was the usual time for the grandparents that fell asleep by six.  Cassandra began to pile food on her plate, while her parents did the same. 

She dug into the first side dish, her tongue jumped for joy with the flavor explosion on her tongue. "I've missed you so much Cassandra," Julia smiled. 

"Me too grandma."

"I just wish you could come over more than twice a year."

"Me too, I love when I come here."

"You do? Then how would you like to spend the summer with us?" Cassandra placed her fork on the table and swallowed the food in her mouth. "I mean you said you love it here. We love you being here and we could have so much fun together. There's a lot of neighborhood kids who would be fun for you to hang out with. There's a pool nearby and the waterpark is only thirty minutes away." 

"Well, I don't think that's a good idea. Cassandra has a boyfriend and I don't think she would want to be separated from him for an entire summer."

Julia face stiffened. "You have a boyfriend? When did that happen?"

"Well, it's been almost two years...sorta now. We broke up for a bit and just got back together. But, we're fine now."

"Well, why didn't you tell me about this?" 

"Well, grandma. I— it never crossed my mind to tell you," she admitted. 

Julia stared at Michelle, a scowl covered her face as Michelle took a sip of her wine. "If you came over more often then I bet you would have told me." Michelle's middle finger twitched slightly. "Well, tell me about him. Is he nice? Does he treat you kindly? Is he attractive?"

"Yeah, he is," Cassandra mumbled. 

"Do you have a picture?"

Cassandra dug into her pocket. She scrolled through her pictures of Sbeastian. From more racier ones to ones she could show her grandparents. She came to a picture of the two. One from one of their car dates that featured a box of pizza and a smile that she loved seeing everyday. 

Julia nodded her head when she saw the boy. "You know, he sorta looks like your grandfather when he was young."

"He does?" 

"Yup, you know your grandfather was quite the looker Cassandra. But, evenso his goodlooks didn't faze me as much. I had a series of men chasing after me and he was the one that stuck, you know?"

"Yeah, I guess." 

"You should invite him over one day. I would love to get to know him."

"Maybe if he's up for it."

Cassandra finished her mountain of food. Her stomach now stuck out further than it had ever before. She stood in the mirror and took a picture and quickly sent it to Sebastian. Her phone rung not a minute later. 

"I assume the food was good?"

"Very," she chuckled in the bathroom. 

"Man, I wish I was with you right now. It's hell over here."

"It can't be that bad. I thought your grandparents got along with everyone?"

"Yeah, they do and that's a problem. This means we're having family game night and grandpa always steals from the bank which causes a big argument among the family. I don't know why we don't use the credit card monopoly game." 

A soft chuckle escapes her lips. "Seems like he's like you in that regards. Cheating in video games, that is."

"Hey, that was one time and you cheated first," he laughed. "But how about you? You having fun?"

Her eyebrow furrowed, "Yeah. Hey Sebastian, what would you say if I stayed here a bit?"

Sebastian was silent, "I don't mind. As, long as it not for a very long time. I would miss you too much Cassandra." Sebastian's head turned off the screen. "Hey, I have to go. The game is starting up soon. Grandpa! You are not allowed to sit next to the money!" The phone hung up leaving Cassandra alone in the bathroom. 

When the door opened she was met with her grandmother. Her voice was as low as a whisper. "Cassandra could you meet me in my room for a moment. I have to speak with you in private." 

"Sure, Grandma." She followed her inside and the door was closed quickly after. 

"Cassandra, how's life living with your mother and her new husband."

"Fine," she answered quickly. 

"Do you feel left out at all? Like you're unwanted?" Cassandra thought of the question. Her whole life she felt somewhat like that—especially now. "Because, you can live with us if you want."

"What?"

"Cassandra, I'm not saying you don't have a good mother but...you need to grow up in a household filled with people who have time for you. I know your mother works long hours and it's hard for her to give you everything you truly need Cassandra." 

"Grandma, me and mom are alright. Sure, I couldn't spent as much time with her before but now we're fine. Mom and I spent a lot more time together now that Walter and Aurora lives with us."

"Yes, but for how long? We don't know if this marriage will truly last. One moment it might be fine but the next it can go back to how it was. Your entire life it's been just you and her. You didn't have a real father figure growing up and your mother had spent more time in the hospital than with you. Cassandra you need stability and me and your grandfather want to give you that. Come stay with us for the summer so you can see what I truly mean Cassandra." 

Cassandra stared at her grandmother, and contemplated what it meant to stay with them. It meant leaving behind everything she knew and love which was becoming less and less as the days went on. 

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