Chapter 88: The Next Day

Helen found herself back in her bed, sitting against the headboard with her unconscious daughter next to her. This was getting fucking old, she was exhausted, her frustration and anger the only things keeping her eyes open. She looked around the room and everyone looked stunned, there was no talking, or any sound at all for that matter. Cassie was totally out, still naked, her head on Helen’s thigh, covered by a blanket. Helen ran her hand through the soft hair on Cassie’s head. She took a deep breath to try and center her emotions.

“Okay, Kelly, what time is the flight tomorrow?” Helen said, sternly.

“6:00 PM, local time, non-stop to Miami,” Kelly said.

“Thank you. Captain, how far is the airport?” Helen sighed. “I guess the real question is when do we have to leave?”

“It is not far, 3:30 should give you plenty of time, the airport is small,” the captain said softly.

“Thank you, everyone needs to be packed and ready to go by 3:30,” Helen said, looking around to the quiet group.

The girls all nodded, Kelcie from Travis’s lap, Jennifer from Marcus’s and Taylor from the couch, sitting next to Kelly with her arms crossed over her chest, her head tilted back, staring at the ceiling. Helen could tell from just the body position that Taylor was mad.

“Taylor, it was a great plan,” Helen said.

Taylor nodded and stood up, walked to the door silently, and left the room. Beatrice stood up. “Helen, I will talk to her, anger is my specialty,” Beatrice said and walked out.

Helen sighed. Dr. Trish sat on the bed. “Helen, we need to wait and see what she’s like when she wakes up.”

Helen took a deep breath. “Trish, I truly do appreciate the endless optimism, but I don’t think a crazy drug lady in a bar could cure my daughter!” Helen said sharply, her voice rising as she spoke.

Trish sighed and stood up. Janice walked over. “Helen, her heart rate is back to normal, I think she is just coming down from whatever that was. Call me when she wakes up, I will check her again,” Janice said.

“Thank you, Janice. Trish, I am sorry I snapped. I will see you guys in the morning, I’m exhausted,” Helen said.

The doctors walked out of the room and Helen noticed Kelly was the only person left in the room. She was sitting on the couch looking at Helen. Helen felt beaten down and tired, she sighed as she looked at her friend. Kelly stood up and walked over, touching Cassie on the foot.

“That was crazy,” Kelly said.

“Yeah, that would be an understatement,” Helen said.

“I have read about that stuff, you know, weird things in local populations of isolated people. Not that Jamaica is isolated, but it looked a lot like the stuff I read about,” Kelly said.

Helen looked at her friend and now lover she guessed. “Not you too.”

Kelly shrugged and smiled. “I don’t know, I feel like why not, what else have we got to hope for.”

Helen sighed. “I’m just so tired and frustrated but I can’t give up on her.” Helen said and looked down at her daughter, pushing hair off the side of her face so she could see it.

“Then don’t.”

Helen looked at Kelly, her eyes shining with hope and excitement. “Kelly, I don’t know what to do.”

“Just hold her, that is your specialty, right?”

Helen smiled. “Yeah, I guess.”

“Okay, it’s settled, you just keep holding her and I will keep reminding you when you forget.”

Helen chuckled. “That’s a good plan.” Helen yawned and Kelly smiled.

“Do you need anything before you pass out?”

Helen shook her head. “Thank you, I’m good. Do you want to slide in here?”

Kelly shook her head. “Nope, this is mommy daughter time, I will find some other place to sleep.”

“Sounds good,” Helen said, her eyes fluttering.

Kelly leaned over and kissed Helen gently. “Good night, see you in the morning, maybe it will be a wonderful day.”

“Maybe,” Helen said softly, and her eyes closed.

Kelly walked down the hallway and checked on the next room, Jennifer was snuggled up in Marcus’s arms. Kelly smiled as that looked interesting, like he was holding a small doll. She closed the door and checked the next room. Similar scene as Travis was holding Kelcie. Kelly took a breath as she thought about how they all ended up here. It was quite a journey. She closed the door gently. She peeked into the next room and the doctors were out cold, everyone was pretty much worn out. Beatrice was not in her room and Taylor was nowhere to be seen. Kelly felt a little touch of worry and walked up to the first deck.

Kelly walked around the corner and then up to the second deck. She leaned on the railing and looked down at the pool. She saw Beatrice and Taylor sitting in the lounges, they looked to be talking. Beatrice looked tired and Taylor looked pissed.

Beatrice sighed and leaned back in the lounge. “Taylor, it was not your fault, none of it was your fault.”

“You didn’t know my father.”

“No, but I know you.”

Taylor scoffed. “Do you know the first time I met her I was just as bad as my brother and father; I made her eat me out at the pool while my brother and his degenerate friends watched and laughed.”

“So, you made a mistake? Been there, done that.” Taylor looked up to see Kelly smiling down at her.

“Thank God, maybe can you talk some sense into her?” Beatrice said and sat up.

Kelly chuckled. “I don’t think she needs any more sense. Beatrice, you look drained, go to bed. I will stay with her.”

Taylor stared at Kelly as Beatrice stood up. “Taylor, listen to her. The anger will consume you from the inside If you let it.” Beatrice said.

Taylor nodded and Beatrice shuffled away. “She’s right, you know.” Kelly said.

“I know but I’m so frustrated.” Taylor hit her thighs with her fists, Kelly grabbed her hands and Taylor looked at her with tears in her eyes. “She helped me so much and the first time I try to help her I screw it up.”

“The first time? Didn’t I hear a story about you pulling a gun or something?”

Taylor looked up at her with shock on her face.

“Yeah, I have seen pretty much all the tapes. Your father’s gang of weirdos sure liked recording everything,” Kelly said.

“You saw everything?” Taylor said softly.

Kelly pulled Taylor closer and put her arm around her. “Yes, baby, I saw everything. You have been fighting for her for a while.”

Taylor sniffled and leaned into Kelly. “I just want her to be better.”

“I know, we all do,” Kelly said, rubbing the girl’s hair.

“I think I love her,” Taylor said softly.

“Yes, I know,” Kelly said. Taylor pulled out of the hug and looked at Kelly.

“You know?”

Kelly chuckled. “Baby girl, the only way it could have been more obvious was if you wore a sign.”

“Does everyone else know?” Taylor said and sniffled.

“They probably suspect, but then everyone is pretty much loving everyone around here, so they probably didn’t notice anything too different.”

“I do love being with the boys and the other girls.”

“But she’s special, right?”

“Yeah,” Taylor said and leaned back into Kelly.

Kelly held the girl and rubbed her back. The ocean breeze was light and warm. She looked around and the ship seemed so different at night. She could hear the waves splashing against the sides clearly, did that happen all the time? It was funny how many things you could hear when the noise was gone. She looked down and Taylor’s eyes were closed. She leaned back on the lounge, pulling Taylor against her, wrapping her arm over the girl. It was nice, Kelly felt like she was exactly where she was supposed to be, she looked up at the sky and said a little prayer. That stuff tonight seemed almost religious, so what the hell. She chuckled at her choice of words and closed her eyes.

Beatrice heard the small ping and rolled over. She heard it again through her wall of exhaustion. Was she dreaming? Another ping, she opened her eyes and rubbed them. What time was it? She looked at her phone and it was 5:45 in the morning, she had 12 notifications. She saw the first one 45 minutes ago and she wiped her eyes again. She clicked on the tracking app, and the screen showed her worst nightmare. FUCK!

Beatrice rounded the corner and stopped, catching her breath after sprinting from her room. Cassie was sitting in a lounge at the exact spot where she jumped off the boat. She was wrapped in a blanket, a mug in her hands, looking straight ahead at the water. She took a sip and slowly turned to look at Beatrice. Cassie’s hair was all over the place, tangled, random pieces sticking out around her face. Her face and eyes looked tired. Beatrice walked over and sat down. Cassie took another sip; Beatrice noticed the aromatic smell.

“Coffee?”

“Yeah, I felt like I needed something different this morning.” Cassie said softly and turned her head to look out over the ocean.

Beatrice remembered Dr. Trish’s instructions on handling Cassie when they weren’t sure of her state of mind. “How are you feeling?”

“Crappy, thanks for asking, how are you?” Cassie said, still looking out at the open water.

“Tired as shit, I wonder what was in that pink drink?” Beatrice said, looking closely at Cassie for a reaction.

“Most likely some fucking weird islands shit to get people to lose their minds,” Cassie said and took another sip.

“So, you remember last night?”

“Oh yeah, who could forget spinning naked upside down in a bar full of people, fun times.”

“It was quite the night,” Beatrice said.

“You could say that” Cassie said sharply.

Beatrice sighed; Cassie seemed a little angry. That was a good sign, Trish said to look for emotions.

“You ready to go home?”

Cassie took a sip of coffee and turned her head slowly to look at Beatrice. Beatrice could see the bright, raw anger in her eyes and all over her face.

“Oh yeah, can’t wait. Which home would you be referring to? The apartment I was allowed to live in because I whored myself out to convince Marcus to play ball at a dumpy ass little college. How about the house we’re renovating that was owned by two of the sickest fucking humans I have ever met? Or maybe I could go back to the house I grew up in so I could be a cumrag for my family? Yeah, maybe that one,” Cassie said, looked back out at the water, and took a sip of coffee.

Beatrice opened her mouth to say something and then closed it and took a breath. She scooted closer and Cassie continued to stare out at the ocean, holding her mug.

“Cassie?”

“You know, the sunrise fucking rocks out here,” Cassie said without turning her head.

“Cassie, look at me.”

Cassie turned her head slowly. Beatrice looked like she had seen a ghost as she looked at Cassie’s face bursting with emotion and sadness, her eyes brimming with tears. She reached out and touched Cassie’s cheek. She saw Cassie’s eyes release tears on her cheek as she leaned into Beatrice’s hand and put her mug on the table. Beatrice slid over and took Cassie in her arms. Beatrice held her as Cassie cried softly. She heard a small voice but held the firm hug.

“B, there’s so much, it’s overwhelming. It’s like a movie in my head running at triple speed.”

Beatrice squeezed Cassie and tried to stay in control, unable to talk as her own throat tightened.

“I’m so sorry for everything. You killed your father for me,” Cassie said softly.

“And I would do it again, he was an evil fuck,” Beatrice said, the anger releasing the hold on her voice.

“Yeah, he was, but he was your dad.”

“Nope, my dad is alive and well. That dickhead was just someone who raped my mom.”

“Well, there’s something me and our moms have in common. B, I don’t know what to do,”

Beatrice pulled out of the hug and Cassie’s face was wet, her eyes were puffy but bright. Beatrice pushed some stray crazy hair off her face. Cassie wiped her eyes.

“I must look like something the cat dragged in.”

Beatrice smiled. “You have never been more beautiful.”

Cassie smirked. “You’re a terrible liar. B, I’m so angry, I feel like I just want to kill them all.”

“I’m game,” Beatrice said, and Cassie frowned.

“My mom would probably be a little upset if I killed my dad and brothers,” Cassie said and sobbed.

Beatrice hugged Cassie again and held her. She looked up to see Jo come around the corner, carrying a plate. Jo stopped and placed it on the small table next to Cassie.

“Boss, your toast,” Jo said softly.

Cassie sat up and wiped her eyes. She looked at Jo in her French maid uniform. She caught a memory of herself in the same outfit getting pissed on in Pennington’s bathtub. Cassie felt her anger spike. “Jo, you don’t have to wear that,” Cassie said sharply. Jo winced.

“Sorry boss,” Jo said timidly and lowered her head.

Cassie felt bad instantly. She took a deep slow breath and gazed at the young girl in front of her with her head bowed. Cassie reached out and took Jo’s hand. She felt the girl flinch as she touched her. “Jo, look at me.”

Jo raised her head, and she looked terrified. “Boss, I’m sorry, I will change.”

“No sweetie, I’m the one that’s sorry for snapping at you. You are fine, we can talk about the uniform later, okay?”

“Okay,” Jo said softly.

“Thank you for the toast, I will come and talk to you and your sister, you are not in trouble, okay?”

“Okay ... I found some strawberry jelly,” Jo said with a small smile.

Cassie smiled. “Thank you so much, it’s perfect. I will see you later.”

Jo nodded and left. Cassie looked at the white stockings as Jo walked away and noticed the black heels for the first time.

“Anger is a bitch,” Beatrice said.

Cassie looked at her. “You think? I just lost my shit on the most innocent person on this whole fucking boat.”

Beatrice watched Cassie pull her blanket around her body tightly and take deep breaths with her eyes closed. She gave her a minute to compose herself before talking.

“Toast?”

Cassie chuckled. “Yeah, turns out I like toast.”

“Jennifer is going to be pissed.”

Cassie chuckled and picked up a slice of toast. “No, Gwen is not going anywhere.”

Cassie took a bite and her pussy throbbed. She dropped the toast down on the plate. “Fuck!”

“What?” Beatrice said.

“Food and sex tied together is fucking annoying.”

“I can imagine.”

“I really don’t want to wake Marcus; I could just get one of the crew to fuck me, but you scared the shit out of them.”

Beatrice chuckled. “Sorry about that, I was a little mad.”

“I totally understand. How is the piece of shit in the torture room?” Cassie said and took another bite, trying to ignore the wetness and tingling between her legs.

“Alive.” Beatrice said and pulled out her phone.

“B, I’m not ready to talk to anyone else.”

“I know but I’m calling Marcus, when you calm down you are going to want it to be him.”

Cassie sighed and leaned back in the lounge.

Marcus heard his phone buzz and picked it up. He saw the time and groaned. Jennifer moved a little as he shifted his body.

“B?”

“Good morning, Marcus. I need you on the deck, the place.”

Marcus sat up and wiped the sleep from his eyes. “B, what’s wrong?”

“Nothing, calm down. Just come out here, by yourself.”

Marcus hung up the phone and took a breath. 6:15, really? He slipped out of bed, taking one last look at Jennifer’s cute little butt before he pulled the sheet over her. She moaned and turned her head, her eyes closed. He kissed her on the cheek.

“Go back to sleep, I’ll be right back.”

She smiled and turned her head back to her pillow. Marcus grabbed a pair of black swim trunks from the drawer and headed for the deck, the place he yanked Cassie back on the boat. His heart shivered when he remembered that.

“B, what do you do when you get mad, other than beat the shit out of the guy in the basement?”

Beatrice chuckled. “I’m not leaving any marks, it’s more psychological.”

Cassie remembered the look on Helena’s face after the rape. “Marks would be okay.”

“Cassie, I had a lot of training on how to handle emotions, but it still gets to me. There is a punching bag in the gym and the treadmill tends to work off some frustration.”

“Treadmill? Ever run on one naked?”

Beatrice laughed. “No, I can’t say that I have.”

“Don’t knock it until you try it, keeps you in good shape for fucking.” Cassie took a sip of coffee.

Beatrice frowned. “Dr. Trish is going to be busy.”

“That’s an understatement. I’m going to have to give her a raise.”

The sun was barely over the horizon as Marcus climbed the steps. He rounded the corner and saw Beatrice and Cassie sitting in a lounge. His shorty was wrapped in a blanket with a mug in her hand.

Beatrice saw Marcus round the corner and stood up. “Cassie, you need to talk to your mom but she’s very tired, so you have a little bit of time. There’s a girl near the pool that needs you almost as bad.”

Marcus walked up and Beatrice nodded. “Food issue,” Beatrice said and walked past him. No one saw her smile as she rounded the corner.

Marcus looked down and saw the toast on the plate and looked back at Cassie.

“If you ask what hole I will cut off your balls,” Cassie said.

Marcus flinched and looked closer at her face. Her hair was all over the place and he could tell she had been crying. He knelt in front of her, and she smiled shyly at him.

“Shorty?”

“Giant man?”

“What’s going on?” Marcus said.

Cassie reached out and touched his cheek. He really was beautiful. “At this moment, I need you to fuck me so I can eat my breakfast.”

“But are you okay? Last night? Are you?” Cassie put her finger over his lips.

“Just put that gorgeous cock inside me, and we can talk.”

Marcus ripped his shorts off and sat down in the lounge, pulling Cassie onto his lap. He noticed she was naked under the blanket. She lifted her hips and sunk down on his cock slowly, her pussy well lubricated by the toast. “Oh God,” Cassie said and sat on his thighs.

Marcus looked at her perfect breasts for a second and then at her face. She looked like she had been run over by a truck, but she was as pretty as he had ever seen her. He looked into her eyes, he smiled when he didn’t see that thing he had been seeing since she was rescued.

“What are you looking at?”

“The prettiest girl in the world.”

Cassie giggled and he groaned as her pussy vibrated on his cock. “You always did love that,” Cassie said and put her hands on his chest; his wonderful cock filling her up so completely.

“Shorty, are you?”

“Pissed off? Seriously fucked up with horrible movies flying across my head. Sore as a mother fucker after whatever the hell happened last night. In love with the most perfect man ever? Yes, to all of that.”

Marcus tried to talk but his throat wouldn’t process any sound. He felt a sob escape his mouth and his eyes started to water. Cassie smiled and moved up and down on his cock.

“You’re even beautiful when you cry,” Cassie said and bounced on his huge cock a couple of times.

“Oh Shorty,” Marcus said and pulled her into a hug as she wiggled her hips.

Marcus grunted and filled his shorty with his love juice. She stopped moving and looked at him. “We do fit together well, good thing I had all that training so I could take this monster,” Cassie said and moved her hips.

“Shorty, I love you.”

“I love you too giant man. Are you going to mind fucking me every time I need to eat?”

“Nope, not fucking you anymore,” Marcus said.

Cassie smirked and moved her hips around on his lap, his cock still lodged in her pussy. “Really? So, what do you call what just happened?”

“I was making love to my girl,” Marcus said.

Cassie looked at her perfect man, her heart felt full and there was nothing in her head fucking with it for a change. That felt good. She leaned forward and kissed him gently, then laid her head on his shoulder, loving how his arms wrapped around her body.

“Do you remember the day we met?” Cassie said softly.

“Every time I look at you.”

Cassie chuckled. “I was so happy for those two days.”

“So was I, you swept me off my feet,” Marcus said, and Cassie chuckled again.

“That sounds funny.”

“Yeah, but it’s true. I was walking through life, thinking I was happy and on top of the world. Then I saw you and realized I had been miserable all along.”

“What? The booty Judys weren’t making you happy. You were swimming in pussy.”

Marcus laughed. “Baby girl, I would love you even if my dick fell off.”

Cassie smiled as she lay on his shoulder, running her fingers over his massive bicep. “Let’s not get carried away, I have become quite fond of that thing.”

Marcus ran his hand down her bare back, loving the feel of her skin and how she fit perfectly in his arms. He heard her take a deep breath and then sigh.

“What’s wrong shorty?”

“You know, you won’t be around all the time, and I have to eat a few times a day,” Cassie said softly.

“Yep, you can fuck anyone you need to, as long as you come back and make love to me.”

“Deal.” Cassie said and kissed his ear, wiggling her tongue inside. He flinched and squeezed her hips.

Cassie giggled and sat up on his lap, his cock still inside her but shrinking. “There’s also a few little girls that might need your services.”

“Deal,” Marcus said, and Cassie laughed.

Cassie picked up a piece of toast and took a bite. She put the toast near Marcus’s mouth, and he took a bite. His eyes got big. “That’s good.”

“I know, right?”

Cassie finished her toast and slid off his lap, his wet cock slipping out of her pussy. She stood up and felt his stuff leaking down her thigh. He picked up a napkin and wiped his seed off her leg.

“Thank you for cleaning up your mess, kind sir,” Cassie said and Marcus laughed.

Cassie knelt and picked up his soft wet cock. She licked all around it and sucked it in her mouth, running her tongue all over and then pulling off slowly, lapping up their combined juices.

“And thank you for cleaning up your mess, my lady.”

Cassie laughed and dropped her head on his thigh, holding onto his cock. Marcus touched her head and rubbed gently. “Welcome back shorty, I missed you.”

“You have no idea how much I missed you,” Cassie said, and a tear rolled out of her eye.

Cassie walked with Marcus, wrapped up in her blanket, and stopped to look over the railing. She saw Kelly in the lounge by the pool holding Taylor as they slept. Cassie took Marcus’s hand and led him down the steps and across the pool deck. She stopped halfway across the deck when the voices ran through her brain.

“Daddy, no!”

“Baby, relax. You just need to see what whores do, what they are good at and why they exist.”

Cassie stumbled and Marcus caught her. She rubbed her temples and groaned. The anger flashed through her when she remembered Jameson’s face laughing as he beat her savagely with the strap as she hung in the barn.

“Shorty, what’s wrong?”

Cassie stood up and took a deep breath, inhaling the ocean air. “Marcus, I’m okay.”

She handed him the blanket, walked over and knelt near the lounge. Marcus felt his cock lurch as he watched his shorty, her naked body was mesmerizing. Taylor was sleeping with Kelly’s arm around her. Cassie touched Taylor’s cheek, and saw her eyes open slowly.

“Good morning, my little fighter,” Cassie said and smiled.

Taylor blinked and looked at Cassie, she was naked, her hair was crazy, but her eyes were bright. “Wait, Cassie, you remember last night?”

Cassie nodded. “I remember everything baby.”

Taylor sat up quickly and looked at Cassie. “Everything?”

Cassie moved her hand over Taylor’s hip and then over her cute butt, moving her hand under Taylor’s suit and tracing the scar on her left cheek. “Everything,” Cassie said.

Taylor leapt off the lounge and hugged Cassie, they both fell backwards, and Marcus caught them before they hit the other lounge or the ground. Taylor was crying and squeezing Cassie, her arms around her neck. Cassie saw Kelly watching them with tears running down her cheeks. Cassie reached out and wiped a tear off Kelly’s cheek. “Thank you,” Cassie said softly.

“Cassie, I’m so happy,” Kelly said and then frowned. “Wait, how are you?”

“My body feels like I have been in a bar fight, my head is a mess, horrible things are flying around everywhere in there and I don’t know how to slow them down. Oh, and I’m really, really angry. But, other than that, I’m good,” Cassie said.

Kelly frowned. “Oh sweetie, I’m so sorry.”

“Hey, it’s better than living in a fucking nightmare with no idea why,” Cassie said, rubbing Taylor’s back as she continued to sob.

“That’s true, now what do we do?” Kelly said and sat up.

“Well, we should probably start with this growth I have around my neck,” Cassie said, and Kelly chuckled.

“She really missed you,” Kelly said.

“And I missed her,” Cassie said and pulled Taylor off her neck.

Taylor’s cheeks were wet, and her eyes were red. Cassie kissed her on the forehead, and then kissed Taylor’s lips; she felt the girl shiver. She kissed her again and slipped her tongue into the young girl’s mouth. She heard Taylor moan, and Cassie pulled her into a long kiss.

Cassie pulled back from the kiss and Taylor took a breath. “Will that last you a while until we can get together again?” Cassie said and Taylor nodded.

“Good, you will have to share me with Marcus, is that okay?”

Taylor looked at Marcus and then back at Cassie. “Cassie, what do you mean?”

Cassie rubbed Taylor’s cheek. “Sweetie, I have known since that night in your living room. I think you kept saying ‘not like this’ when your daddy was forcing us together.”

Taylor sobbed and hugged Cassie again. “I love you so much.”

“I love you too baby girl.”

Taylor pulled off the hug. “Cassie, your hair is a mess.”

Everyone laughed and Taylor snuggled up on Cassie’s chest, kissing one of her nipples.

“Cassie, have you talked to your mom?” Kelly said and Cassie shook her head.

“Not yet, B said she was very tired.”

“Yeah, she was a hot mess last night, but she will be so happy.” Kelly said.

“I know she will but there’s some really bad stuff we need to talk about,” Cassie said.

“Then you need to get started on that,” Kelly said.

Cassie sighed and held Taylor’s head as she nursed for a few more minutes.

Cassie stood in the hallway in front of her mom’s door, wrapped in her blanket. She took a deep breath.

“We will be in Kelcie’s room when you are done,” Marcus said, and Cassie nodded.

Cassie turned the knob and entered, closing the door softly behind her. She saw Marcus and Taylor’s nervous faces before the door shut. She turned and walked over to the bed. She looked down at her sleeping mom and the voices started.

“Now Helen, you are going to eat out this cute little teenager. Have you ever tasted teenage pussy before Helen?”

“Why is this whore on me?”

“Can someone get her off me, she is all wet and sticky.”

Cassie took a deep breath and closed her eyes, trying to clear her head. She opened them and her mom was still sleeping. Cassie slid up on the bed next to her mom and snuggled up to her, laying her head on her mom’s lap. She felt the hand on her head and the fingers start to run through her hair. One of the fingers got stuck in a tangle and the hand stopped.

“Cassie?”

“Good morning mom.”

“Good morning baby girl, how do you feel?”

Cassie sat up and looked at her mom. “Mom, we need to talk.”

Helen looked at her naked daughter, she was very pretty even first thing in the morning, but her eyes were red, and her hair was a disaster. “Honey, what happened to your hair?”

“It sort of got caught up in a weird Jamaican ceremony.”

Helen gasped. “You remember last night?”

Cassie nodded. “Yes, I do, and I remember a lot more.”

“Baby, what are you talking about?”

Cassie paused and took a deep breath to try and organize her thoughts. The words came to her with a big side dish of rage. “Mom, I don’t want to see daddy and the boys.”

Helen felt her chest get tight. She forced air into her lungs and then let it out slowly. Cassie’s face was blank but her eyes flashed anger. “Honey, how much do you remember?”

“All of it mom, every single fucking disgusting detail. How could they do that to me?” Cassie said and shuddered as her eyes brimmed with tears.

“Oh sweetie,” Helen said and opened her arms.

Cassie fell into one of the best hugs of all time. Her mom rubbed her back and held her head while she kissed her cheeks and forehead. She let her tears flow out of her eyes as her anger released momentarily, and her mom continued to hold her.

“Cassie, what else do you remember?”

Cassie sat up and wiped her eyes. “Mom, I remember it all, Tony, school, HQ, the cabin, all of it. I can’t not remember it now; it’s all whipping around in my head and I can’t stop it. It sucks big time, but I will take it because I also remember you and everything that happened to you too. Mom, I’m so sorry.”