Chapter 5 : New wave of my life (2)

“To conclude in a simple way, Cassandra Morgan would be an official and legally the guardian for Shilloh, Rowan and Ashley Knox until Shiloh reaches 18 years old. The trust fund will be handed over to Shiloh and 20 percent will be given to Cassandra Morgan by then, as compensation.”

Christopher took a deep breath. He was relieved as he had done what had been entrusted to him but also, he was worried at the same time. He then continues, he needs to make Cassandra understand that being the sibling’s guardian would not be a burden to her. 

‘If I had to leave my kids. I want them to have each other Chris, I want my children to reunite and be family.’ Charlotte words engraved to his heart, it was just before she was bedridden.

For that Christopher needs to keep persuade Cassandra.

“The guardian then takes over responsibility for the child and has a duty to ensure the care and upbringing of the child. But the guardians need not care for the children themselves. They can arrange for someone else to do it.”

Cassandra sits upright, all ears and looks calm. 

“It's already legal, isn’t it? The court already named me as the guardian.” She paused, bit her lower lip and continued talking. “Can I refuse this responsibility?”.

“May I be honest?” 

“It’s better that way”. Cassandra nodded, put her arms on the table and looked at Christopher.

“The Trust Fund that will be inherited by the kids was more than 500 thousand grand. And it's a shame for me but you can see that some people will do anything to have hands on that amount.”

Christopher couldn’t help it but his nephew was one of them. He looks at Cassandra, wondering if that amount of money would affect her.

Latisha couldn't help but gasp, Renee’s eyes got big and covered her mouth with her hand. They glance at Cassandra, they know her best, she will not easily swayed by money but she is more afraid if she fails the trust that had been given to her.

“Did I also have to handle that much work? Look, I only work as a teacher and yes, I do lots of crazy jobs but how do you think I can manage that much?”

Christopher's eyes getting wider, he knows that Cassandra was hardworking and was not a material type of woman but he never thought that she would be this naive. But he rather felt pleasant with her, he now knew that she was trustworthy. 

“Pardon me, but you don’t have to worry about that. I will be trustee for their financial trust fund for now, and you will be responsible for the kids' upbringing. There will be some amount of money they receive monthly.”

The cafe smelled like cookies, a cup of coffee hadn’t been touched by Cassandra. Next to their table, Latisha and Renee are having their brunch and silently watching Cassandra.

“Pardon me Sir…”

“Just called me Chris..”

“Sorry… I have a lot to ask. But how did you find me?”

Cassandra took out an envelope and pushed it lightly towards Christopher. He knows what it is, in fact he was the one who sent the document to her.

“It was a copy of the appointment of me as the legal guardian for the kids. And it was already approved by the court a while ago. I believe it was before my mother fell unconscious.” 

She pointed to the date the documents were made, her finger tapped at the date a few times and she leaned back at the chair. Stare at the old man, and the old man was calm and had a fatherly smile.

“She was not mad but she was curious.” Renee whispered, she was now trying to focus on Cassandra's behaviour and emotion.

“A little bit mad, and who doesn’t?” Latisha glanced at the table next to her. 

When they got the phone call from Shiloh, urgent mail was knockin at the front door. Like it was fated, the document was a legal appointment for guardian authorisation. Suddenly Cassandra had to take care of three children.

  

“Do you remember two years ago, there was a charity event held for the victims of flood. You were there, as one of the volunteer.”

“I was paid, it was some urgent labor with a high payment.”

“You were paid for two days, but you worked for a week babe.” Renee rolled her eyes and Latisha shrugged.

“Well… that's across the country isn't it? Far from here.”

“You may not remember, but at that one time you suddenly list Charlotte's name as a missing person.”

Cassandra remembers that moment, at that very moment where she was suddenly curious if her mother was possibly one of the victims. And she also put her own contact details with.

“I was there, as one of the authorizations for the NGO that helped, and I saw your note. You even lent me a pen, gave me a cup of coffee and you also offered me your one and only blanket for the whole night.”

“We finally found you, identified you and your mother couldn't stop crying for three days straight. She also didn’t want to disturb your life, this document was only at your hand because it was the last hope, she thought she could stay longer for Shiloh to reach 18.”

Cassandra stared at the black coffee and her mind was lost in thought. Charlotte had her when she was only a teenager, just a few years older than Shiloh. At 18, while everyone was having their best day of youth, Charlotte held a baby and watched her boyfriend singing at a rustic bar.

Love was everything when you were young but the sweet dream turned to a nightmare soon when the bar underwent, the music career of a young man was buried under a pile of debt and alcohol the only friend can comfort him.

After years of barely breathing, Charlotte met a man who had everything to offer. She swam away from the sea of frustration and found her way to escape the wave of her life. Charlotte tried to make her living a better life but, her father couldn’t accept the betrayal and he took her away.

Never stay at a place more than a year, just to make sure her mother couldn't get her. And after a few years the hunting game was stopped. It must be around Shillo that Charlotte stops looking for her.

It's not that bad, when Cassandra reaches 15, her father suddenly falls in love and gets married to a young teacher. It was short, her father opened a bar and got some loan here and there, her step-mother was lovely and she was the one who inspired Cassandra to be a teacher.

The peace only lasted for 3 years, they had a car crash. Her step mother died, her father survived and Cassandra was at school at that time. Going alcoholic again, being lifeless again, Cassandra tried to save the bar but it was beyond her capability. What could an 18 years old girl really do?

Worse, her father had been addicted to drugs, he borrowed money from dark alley and died from a car crash. Cassandra sold the bar, and paid some money to the moneylender. She was lucky that the place only cared to get their money back and didn’t use any violence on her.

That's when he started to work hard and pay the debt since she was only 19 years old. And when she finally had done with that damn life at 27, a new wave was coming for her. 

She was counting in her head, Shilloh was 15 now it means she needs to be their babysitter for 3 years. Doesn’t it mean she needs to move here, and where did she need to get the money for the cost of their living, for four people?

How about her job? She was so sure that she could get the permanent position anytime by now. She is finally living a decent life.

“What is her condition for now? I… haven’t talked to the doctor yet.” Cassandra let out a heavy sigh and for a moment she wanted to put that part aside and focus on the current issue.

“Ah…” there’s a sadness in his eyes, he put a smile but Cassandra could read his face. Her long lost mother was dying… soon.

“There’s a hope… 30 percent at best to undergo surgery.” Christopher paused and continued. 

“She only had half a year at most…”

A silence fell and only sighs were heard. She finally took a sip of the coffee, and it took it a long time to realize that it was raining outside the window.