There was no easy way to reintroduce Alec into her life without causing some controversy.
"I told you, he signed up for a long stint on a fishing ship, earn more money. They were out longer than planned." The lie was the best they could come up with—at least, something Alec was comfortable with, and they could repeat to the nosy neighbors.
"I don't care. They have cell phones; they have ways of receiving and sending messages. I've seen it on television, where they hunt crab out in the Arctic. There's always a way to get information back and forth. He said he wrote you letters, and they must have gotten lost—easy to blame it on the post office." Her aunt's caustic tone burned through the air. "And I assume he apologized profusely for abandoning you, while waving a wad of cash in the air and saying you were the only woman he'd ever loved, the only one he cared about?"
"That's not the point." Cassie bit back the curses on the tip of her tongue. "He's back, and he's happy to see Michael, thrilled about being a father and loves him so much. I can't ask for any more than that."
"A ring on your finger would be a good start. Begging for your forgiveness would be next." Her voice shifted, dropped out of the bitch range. "Cass... I only want the best for you and Michael. When you said you were pregnant, I was supportive. I came and did what I could when he was born. I never said much against Alec."
Cass pressed her lips into a tight line, holding back the snarky response bubbling under the surface.
Jean paused as if she'd heard it anyway. "Well, not as much as others did. I offered to take you in. You told me you didn't want to move away, couldn't move away until you knew what had happened to him. Now you do." She sighed. "I'm just asking you to be careful, to not get taken advantage of. All I want is for you and Michael to be safe. Tell me I'm wrong for wanting this."
"You're not," Cassie said. "I love you for being there and being concerned about me and the baby. Alec and I, we're still... discussing the situation."
"Okay. Okay," Jean repeated. "But be careful. Remember, it's not only you affected by this decision." There was a long pause. "Are you still comfortable with me coming for New Year's?"
"Of course," Cassie said. "Why would that change? Just because Alec came back doesn't mean we don't want you here. You had Christmas with your family out there and I had to work—Danny's got New Year's Eve, and we're going to have a wonderful time. You won't believe how big Michael's gotten..."
After more murmurings and a repeated promise to pick Jean up at the airport on the 31st, Cassie cut the link and put her cell phone down.
"Jean's not happy with me. Don't blame her." Alec nuzzled the side of her neck. "I'd be pissed at me too, if I were in her place."
They moved to the bedroom for the night, Michael sleeping fitfully in the crib beside their bed.
"She's coming for New Year's Eve. We arranged it months ago."
Alec stiffened against her. "That might be a problem."
"It might. We'll deal with it tomorrow." She sighed and reached for the light. "Don't forget, you promised to meet Veronica for lunch."
"Can't wait. Should be the longest meal of my life."
The dryness in his voice followed her down into a deep sleep.
***
The next day turned into a barely-contained sort of chaos, with Michael and Alec at the center of it all.
Michael slept in, thank goodness, allowing her to get a jump on the day. The bar would be opening on time at noon, with Danny taking the evening shift.
She still couldn't wrap her mind around a plan to deal with Jean, much less decide her future with Alec.
After making breakfast, she went to the bathroom, where Alec was playing with Michael—both in otter form.
Alec scampered out of the tub, shifting back to human form in a matter of seconds.
Michael did the same, giggling as he splashed in the water at the bottom of the tub.
She leaned against the door frame, smiling as Alec scooped the baby up and wrestled him back into a onesie, Michael complaining all the while.
"Almost time for me to go in." She gestured at Michael. "The day care's closed for the holidays, so he'll have to stay with you."
Alec handed the baby to her and reached for the nearby white robe. "What about lunch with Veronica?"
She scowled, remembering his promise. "We'll put him in the car seat, and he goes straight into the booth at the back, the one by the kitchen door. Anyone says anything, you duck out through the exit. I don't want the bar to lose its license for having a minor inside, even if he's not old enough to drink." She began to rock the baby, Michael now gurgling with his eyes half-closed. "Can you make sure he doesn't change in the middle of the bar?"
"Sure." Alec reached into the baby's outfit and withdrew the tiny pelt. "As long as he doesn't have this, he can't change." He gave her a wistful smile. "I hate taking this from him—he'll miss it, I know he will."
"It's not forever. Just for a few hours." A headache started behind one eye, threatening to burst free. "Let's get ready to go."
***
It was a short walk from the house to the bar, not worth taking the car. The stroll softened the headache and banished it as Alec carried the baby, pointing out various things along the riverbank. Michael laughed and waved his hands, safely locked into the car seat.
They made it to the bar on time, just after eleven o'clock. The snow crunched under her feet as she held the door open for Alec to carry Michael through.
"Veronica's going to be here soon," she warned Alec, her mind already racing through the dozens of tasks needed to get the business open and going. "Get him settled in the booth, and we'll see what happens."
Michael slept fitfully until the older woman arrived, bringing three containers containing hamburgers and fries from a local diner. She handed one to Cassie and one to Alec before settling in next to the baby with her own lunch, cooing over Michael as he reached for her French fries.
You better be good, Cass thought as she glanced over at Alec. She's going to run that gossip train right through town after this.
The door opened, admitting some regular customers. Old Mick, who always liked his coffee with a shot of whiskey and Young Mick, who was old enough to be Cassie's father.
Cass turned away from the booth and walked down the length of the bar to the two men, smiling as she fell into the familiar routine.
A few more people came in, not enough to overwhelm but enough to keep busy, occupying her full attention. Most of the talk went to the wide-screen television hanging on the wall, showing the football game. Some men glared toward the booth where Alec sat, but it was clear they were willing to leave him to Veronica for the time being.
Cassie was grateful for the regulars, anchoring her in what had been a very stressful, if amazing, few days. She made a point of giving everyone a little extra in their drinks, first because it was a holiday and second—to keep them from breaking the détente in the bar and either getting into a fight with Alec or each other.
It was a few minutes after one when Veronica left, stopping by the bar to say goodbye.