Ever A Never After: Chapter 1

"Listen to me you ungrateful brat. I have spent the past two years trying my best to raise you and your stupid sister. This is the only way for you to pay me back.....do you hear me? You will go with that young man over there, because he paid a good sum for you." 

All the while Susan remained silent, staring at their mother while Jane cried and pleaded with her.

"Please don't take my sister away. Please don't take her away" Sussie was the only one she had left, and she couldn't bear to lose her too. 

But their mother didn't listen. She had handed Susan over to the young man in suit, and Jane ran after the car as they left, calling after her sister.

Her 10 years old sister just starred from the back window of the car, watching Jane cry and cry.....till she lost sight of the car.

Now she was never going to see her sister again.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * 

"Mama, do you think angels really exist?"

Cassie turned from the vegetables she was washing to stare at her daughter, surprised by the sudden question.

"Of course darling" 

She replied with a smile, wiping her wet hands on her apron, then squatting to place a kiss on the 7 years old girl's cheeks.

"Angels do exist. Just that we can't see them, but they are here... watching over you and I, and taking our prayers to God"

The little girl smiled, nodding excitedly. 

"I believe that mama. That's why I sent angel Gabel a prayer" 

"Gabriel ..angel Gabriel" Cassie corrected immediately smiling fondly at her "What prayer was that honey?"

"I want God to give me a Daddy" She replied innocently and looked down on the floor shyly.

Cassie froze.

Danielle had never talked about a father. Cassie knew that one day she would have to explain to her daughter and tell her everything. But that will be when she becomes old enough to understand.

The little girl has never mentioned a father, or wanting one.

For the past 7 years she had tried her very best to provide Danielle everything she could, in a way that she would not feel the absence of her father.

It had been a very tough ride, but Cassie had tried her very best to be both a father and mother to her bundle of joy.

She knew that expecting Danielle to never say anything about a father was asking for too much. She knew. ...but she wasn't ready for it.

"Do you think God will answer my prayer Mama?" The little girl asked, staring innocently into her mum's eyes.

"Of course baby. Of course He will. Because God loves you, and he wants you to be happy " She replied and kissed her again on her nose, before standing up to resume washing her vegetables.

"Go play with Bonnie sweetheart. Dinner will be ready soon" She instructed and Danielle obeyed immediately leaving the kitchen to go play with her favorite doll.

Danielle was a very smart kid. She listens and obeys when she's being talked to and that makes Cassie very proud.

If only she could provide her daughter a father....

NO! ..... Cassie shook her head stubbornly picking up a knife to cut the vegetables she had arranged carefully.

Danielle didn't need any man in her life. Her biological father was totally out of the question and Cassie had never for once, considered going out on a date or giving any guy a chance.

In fact she tries to avoid people as much as she can.

Even in the apartment that they had moved into 5 years ago... she couldn't brag of ever having a conversation with anyone living there.

The less people that knew her the better. The last thing she needed was a man.

She was too busy being a single mother and protecting her new identity.

She couldn't risk running into anyone that knew her. Although it was almost impossible because she had run as far away as she could, it was a small world and you never just know.

The 7 Rings by Ariana Grande ringtone interrupted her thoughts. She dropped her knife and wiped her palms on a towel already guessing who the caller was. 

She only had about five numbers in her phone and only one of them would dare call her at such an hour.

She picked up her phone and answered with a grin.

"Hello Stranger." The caller laughed heartily.

"Hey big sister, '' Susan replied. It was always great hearing her sister's voice. After more than ten years of losing her and then finding her just a few years back, she and Susan have been building their relationship from scratch and they have gotten very close over the years.

"How are you doing?" 

"Well I'm fine" Cassie replied, holding the phone between her ear and shoulder to put her Vegetables into her boiling pot of soup. "I was wondering why you didn't call this morning. How's Mr Gilbert?"

Mr Gilbert was Susan's adoptive father and her savior. He was the man that raised her after saving her from the brothel their mother sold her to.

"He's fine. I haven't gone to see him for a week now. He's out of the country on a business trip" Susan replied, and the excitement in her voice had Cassie raising a brow curiously. She stopped herself from commenting, because she knew Susan would eventually break it to her if there was any news.

"That's great then. I miss you. Danielle and I will surely come visit you guys one day soon, hopefully before Christmas"

"Cool. I have great news" 

Aha!

"Please do tell" Cassie said curiously

"Well, I didn't call you earlier this morning because Greg took me on a surprise date today. And guess what? He proposed" 

"Proposed?" Cassie asked, grinning at the happiness in her sister's voice.

"Yeah, he totally took me by surprise. It was really beautiful, with flowers and the most beautiful ring I've ever seen. I'll send you a picture later on W******p. I'm so happy" The happiness was very obvious in her voice and Cassie was happy for her sister too. After everything she had been through.

"I'm happy for you Susan. You deserve this, you deserve every happiness you can find in this world and more"

Cassie had met Greg, Susan's boyfriend-now fiance- once, five years ago when she and Cassie went for Mr Gilbert's 50th birthday party. He was well built, handsome and a very successful business. But most of all he was very nice.

'You too big sis.' Susan responded, this time with no excitement in her voice and Cassie's heart dropped "you deserve lots of happiness too."

"I'm happy Susan" and she really was " I have a roof over my head, I'm far away from mum and Nathan, I feed well, I have a successful brand and most of all.....I have a daughter. What more could I ask for?"

"Just like you always wanted. But honey you need to give life a second chance fully. I'm proud of you and what you have don't for Danielle and yourself. You are a fighter....but you are still living under Nathan's Shadow. You need someone to love you Cassie.... Give people a chance" 

"I know that. But Susie, not everyone can get a hundred percent of what they want." She replied hoping that her sister would end it.

"Enough about me, when is the wedding?"

"November.. that's two months from now" Susan answered, excited again. "And if course you have to be there with my niece"

"Of course"

They talked for a few more minutes before saying goodnight to each other, and Cassie resumed her cooking.

Her sister was right.....

But Cassie was afraid that she couldn't get the life her sister wanted for her. 

She was very happy with the way things are at the moment and she doesn't want to change that.

Liar...