Josh and Reva walked over to Danny and said how glad they were to be invited, what a beautiful house it was and how they couldn't wait to jump in that pool. It had gotten really warm and Danny explained where they could change and hoped they would enjoy all this house had to offer. Ray sat in silence and watched Cassie walk to the other side of patio. Josh and Reva went after her and he could see they were having an animated conversation. They all looked in Danny and Ray's direction. Ray felt his face getting warm. He knew he must look flustered. Danny looked from him to Josh and Reva and then back again.
"What the hell is wrong with you Ray?"
Ray looked toward the pool and said "Nothing.. getting kind of warm out here isn't it?"
"You looked like you were about to pass out on me.. what is wrong?" Danny demanded
"I told you Danny ,, it's nothing. "Ray say angrily
"Well, why don't you go get a suit on and go swimming maybe you will cool off"
Ray didn't answer him because Reva and Josh had gone to the pool house and Cassie was standing at the end of the pool by herself.
He knew he had to find out if she had said anything to anyone. As disconcerting it was to ask.. it was something he must know.
He walked toward her and she turned away and started for the house.
"Cassie.. please wait" Ray's face was so sorrowful she could help but do as he asked.
"What is it Ray, I don't think we have anymore to say to each other" Cassie said in a whisper
" I just want to apologize .. I am sorry for deceiving you.. I never meant to hurt you. I hope you know that.. I would never do anything that would .."
Danny walked up behind him.
"Well, it is nice to meet Danny's cousin. I understand you are a priest in Springfield"
Ray looked at her as if she had lost her mind.
"Yes, that is my cousin all right.. I didn't know you two knew each other" Danny said.
Ray turned and saw a Danny ,a puzzled look on his face. Danny was a lot of things.. but not a fool. If he even suspected what had happened.. Ray doubted that Danny would find it easy to forgive. He would be eternally grateful to Cassie for alerting him that Danny was there. He gave a sigh of relief thinking that she probably had not told anyone of his indiscretion.
Bill and Pilar had come out of the pool. Claiming that they were starving to death and what kind of a host was Danny anyway? Danny noticed that Pilar appeared to have been drinking and decided maybe some food would be a good idea. He excused himself and went to talk to the staff.
Pilar came over and hugged Ray. She was telling him how wonderful the family was now. Mama had done so much to improve all their lives.. she brought up all the wonderful times they had as children.
Cassie listened in silence. She glanced at Bill and he was watching Pilar with the look of a man in love. "He is a goner.. Cassie thought to herself.. poor Bill another victim of the Santos charm."
The staff brought out every type of food imaginable to the tables on the patio. There was fresh fruit and fish and meats cooked to perfection. Suddenly everyone was starving and they gathered around to help themselves from the groaning tables.
Ray and Cassie ended up in the same place at the table. He smiled at her .. she smiled back and then they sat down together at a table in the far corner of the patio. The view of the sea was spectacular and they fell into easy conversation. "He was so charming and sweet," Cassie thought to herself. She tried not to look at his mouth.. or that wonderful strong jaw.
Danny sat at the other end of the patio and watched them. Michelle came over and sat down next to her husband.
"What is so fascinating Danny?" Michelle leaned over and kissed his cheek
" Nothing. " Danny continued to stare at Ray and Cassie
" Why are you staring at Ray?
"Not staring"
"Are too'
"Am not"
"Now who is the four year old?"
" I just didn't know that Ray knew Cassie, that's all" Danny replied
" Well, he does now. Maybe he just met her here"
"Mmm..maybe"
The sun was beginning to go down and everyone decided that watching the sunset was the most romantic thing they had ever done.
Ray and Cassie continued to talk at the table on the far side of the patio.
They watched the couples as they gravitated toward the sea wall. Each in their own little worlds, . sharing something beautiful.
Ray and Cassie were silent. Each remembering their own romantic night. One they could never have again.
The guests were leaving all thanking Michelle and Danny for a wonderful day. Ray was about to leave and Danny grabbed his arm.
"No , stay with us, here at the house.. don't go back to a hotel. It's been too long Ray. We need to talk a while, o.k.?'
Ray was grateful for the excuse not to be in the hotel, not to be able to call her and for any diversion of his thoughts from that night.
Cassie had left with the other guests. Ray had said his good bye like the stranger he must become. Cassie, with eyes downcast, said it was a pleasure meeting him.
Danny asked Ray when he had met Cassie.
Ray trying not to lie to profoundly.. said "At the hotel, we just bumped into each other and realized we were both from Springfield."
Danny looked puzzled. "She sounded like she didn't know you were a priest. Did you tell her that at the party?"
Ray squirmed a bit.. "Well, I thought I told her.. maybe she forgot" It just kept getting worse.. one lie piled on another.
Danny nodded, but he eyed Ray skeptically.. "So you just met at the hotel and she told you she was from Springfield.. ?"
"Yup," Ray said
"Hmmm.. attractive isn't she?" Danny asked
"Yes, she is a beautiful woman... I am not blind, Danny," Ray said sarcastically
Danny was beginning to get under his skin.. just like he did when they were children. No secret was safe from Danny. Danny had know.. it was his nature.
Fortunately Michelle interrupted them and asked if they would like a nightcap. Pilar and Bill had already gone upstairs. "Pilar had already had enough to drink" Michelle announced
"So I guess I have you two all to myself" Michelle said
"Thank you Michelle, but I think I will turn in too.. I am kind of tired. It has been a great day and I will see you both in the morning," Ray said
Danny protested but Ray walked in the house and up to his room. He knew it would be the same one he had always occupied. Upstairs, third door on the left. The room overlooked the garden and he could hear the night sounds through the open window. He could also hear the faint sound of Michelle's laugh and Danny's deep voice. They were so much in love it was painful for him to watch. He loved his cousin more than anyone else in the world. He was his best friend as well as his cousin. They had shared secrets from the time they could talk. This was one secret Ray could not share with anyone. Danny knew him so well. It was going to be difficult to keep something like this from him.
Cassie walked into the hotel with Reva. Josh was parking the car. Reva was curious about Ray. .. "How did you meet him anyway.. sure is cute.. he looked like he was really comfortable with you.. " she went on and on and finally Cassie blurted out. "My God Reva , he is a priest.. give it a rest will you?'
Reva looked at her sister in surprise. "What did I say.? Reva asked..
Cassie told her" it was her fault.. she was sorry didn't mean to snap at her.. it had been a long day.. she just wanted to go to bed.."
They said goodnight and Cassie went to her room. She look at the phone and wondered if he would ever call her. She knew he wouldn't of course. As she slipped into bed she thought about him. How could she ever forget that night. They had met something in each other and that something was so strong that it shook her to the core. It was more than just a physical interlude.. it was something so deep in her that it terrified her. The terror was that she would never have that again.. that feeling would have to be treasured and committed to memory.
Danny and Michelle sat by the pool. Enjoying the quiet night. Michelle chuckling about Pilar and Bill. They were so sweet together and Bill was hopeless. Michelle told Danny that Pilar had Bill caught up in the Santos web.. he would never be able to escape. . she knew the feeling well.
Finally the ocean breezes cooled and they decided it was time for bed.
Michelle asked Danny why Ray seemed so quiet tonight. Danny shrugged and said he didn't know.. but he intended to find out.
Reva and Josh sat on their bed . Josh reading up on San Cristobel and Reva begging him to turn out the light.
"Just a few minutes more.. this really is a facinating place. So many things we haven't seen yet. "
"Josh, did you think that Cassie was acting strange today?"Reva asked
"Oh no, I am not answering that one..no really.. she was probably just tired or jet lagged or something."
Reva wondered. Cassie seemed different somehow and she wondered why. She would find out tomorrow. Tonight sleep. She turned over and fell asleep immediately. Josh looked over at her ,smiled and turned out the light.
