Chapter 14 Cassie meets with Maddy, Kate, and Jake.
The doorbell rang and Jake opened the door to find Cassie and Madeleine standing on the entrance porch. Jake was surprised to see them there together. He was expecting both of them, but not expecting them to arrive together. This was starting to feel surreal to him. He had heard older men with multiple daughters and a wife, joking about living in a house full of women, and what it was like to be outnumbered. He was starting to feel a bit that way too, but in his case it had all the hallmarks of a dream; or a fantasy; because he was not only gathering more women around him as time went by, but was fucking, or had fucked, all of them.
"Come in," he said pleasantly, and the two girls walked in while he stood aside to hold the door open.
When he closed it, he turned and wasn't sure what to do for a moment, a slight hesitation which was not missed by Madeleine. He quickly, and correctly, decided there was no reason not to greet her in the usual way, so he kissed her on the cheek.
"Since when have you kissed me on the cheek," said a cheeky Madeleine. "C'mon, buster, do it properly."
He smiled and kissed her lightly on the lips. He was glad she allowed him to kiss her innocently, and didn't insist on a pash, but then again, she was a classy lady, like his mum, and wouldn't do anything to embarrass him or Cassie."
"Now, Cassie," said Madeleine. "You don't want her to feel left out, do you? So, he stepped over and gave Cassie a kiss too, also on the lips.
Just as he had done on the occasion of Madeleine's first visit, he took her hand, and then Cassie's, and led them to the kitchen where his mother was setting the table for lunch. As they came through the door, Kate looked up, smiled, and said:
"My son and his harem! Hi, Maddy. Cassie, it's lovely to see you again. After the two years you spent with Jake, you were almost like the daughter I never had. I've missed you, but it's been lovely having Maddy here over the last few months."
On an emotional impulse, Cassie let go Jake's hand, ran to Kate, and flung her arms around her neck. "You don't know how lovely it is to see you, Mrs Clifton. You were always wonderful to me, and I've missed you too."
"You could've visited me occasionally," said Kate in mock chide.
"I would have, but I know how much you love Jake, and I thought you might hate me for making him unhappy."
"Oh, Cassie," said Kate, holding Cassie at arm's length so she could look her in the eye, "neither of us felt that way at all, you silly girl."
"I know. Maddy told me."
Kate let Cassie go and said to Madeleine, "Hey, Maddy, come here!" and Maddy smiled and obeyed. Kate put her hands on Madeleine's shoulders and looked her in the face, and said, "Right from the first day I met you, I knew you were a woman of integrity and the perfect fuck buddy for my son, but today, bringing Cassie here to chat with us, you have proved to me you are also a very caring and wonderful person. Now, give me a hug."
The two girls hugged lovingly for a long moment, as Cassie drifted back to Jake, and they both watched -- impressed for different reasons.
"Okay, you lot," said Kate, "lunch is ready, so you organise the drinks, Jake, and you girls can sit down while I put the food on the table."
Madeleine and Kate were perfectly relaxed; Jake felt a little out of his depth, sitting with three women who were ultimately going to decide his fate, no matter how many times they said he was the man of the house and would make the final decision; and Cassie was as nervous as all hell, not being sure how Jake felt, let alone Maddy and Kate. However, the small talk started, and when the three students had updated each other on how their courses were going, even Cassie started to relax and join in fully.
Eventually, Kate called the meeting to order, and said, "The main reason we are all here is to see if there's any mutual interest in Cassie and Jake getting back together, and if so, in what capacity. That part of it is really up to Cassie and Jake, but Maddy and I do have a right to be here and voice our opinions: me, because I'm Jake's mother, and I care -- and while I would never interfere in his love life, I do feel I have a right to advise; Maddy needs to be here because she and Jake already have a relationship, which they have agreed will continue as it is until at least the end of uni. Cassie and Jake, you'll both have to tell us how you feel, and what you want. Have I missed anything?"
They all answered in the negative in one way or the other: verbally, or with a shake of the head.
"Good, well logically, I think Cassie should kick it off, because if she doesn't want anything then the meeting's over," said Kate.
Cassie looked nervous and said, "I was hoping to go last, but you're right, Mrs Clifton, so..."
Kate interrupted, "Cassie, I think now that you're eighteen, and because we'll be discussing some serious adult topics, I'd be pleased if you'd call me Kate from now on."
"Thanks, Mrs... Kate. What do I want? Well, firstly, not to complicate your lives, and especially not Jake's. I'm so sorry I wouldn't let Jake bring me to you for a chat before we did it for the first time all those months ago, or at least while we were doing it, when I wasn't happy. If I hadn't been such a scaredy-cat none of this would have happened, and we wouldn't need this meeting. Getting back to what I want... that's hard to put into words, because we have all moved on in the meantime. I suppose, if a genie could grant me a wish, I'd wish I could turn back the clock to just before Jake and I consummated our relationship; so we could have come and talked it through with you Mrs C -- sorry, can I alternate 'Mrs C' and Kate until I feel comfortable in calling you Kate (Kate nodded) -- and then we could have done it properly, like Jake and Maddy did, and, hopefully live happily ever after. But that's a fantasy -- so what do I want now? Realistically, I don't expect you to love me the way you once did, Jake, because I did walk out on you after all, but I hope you do have some affection left for me -- I still love you, contrary to what you might all think, given recent events. If I can come and visit without any of you minding, I would be a happy girl."
"Cassie," said Madeleine, "Of course Kate, Jake and I discussed this at length when I asked them if I could invite you around, so I think I can speak for all of us when I say you will always be welcome here." Jake and Kate nodded their agreement, and Madeleine continued: "From my point of view, I'm very happy with the arrangement Jake and I have, and I don't want to lose that. I especially don't want to lose my visiting rights and friendship with Kate. Other than that, what Jake wants to do with you, or anyone else for that matter, is completely up to him, as long as you don't keep him away from his studies. If the two of you do get back together, then I accept I might have to drop down from three times a week to once or twice, but as long as I don't lose my fuck buddy rights, and can study hard as a sexually satisfied girl, I'll go along with whatever you two want to do. Kate, your turn."
What Madeleine didn't say was she and Kate had discussed the matter privately, without Jake, and decided, in the unlikely event Jake would want cut Maddy's visits down because of Cassie, then Kate was more than happy to supplement whatever Jake was still prepared to give, to make sure Madeleine didn't go without, and Maddy was happy with that, and prepared to give a little.
Kate said, "I agree with everything Maddy has said, and, Jake, I support her rights in this matter. She has been up front with you and given you everything you need, so, unless you fall out of lust with her, then it would be quite unfair, and ungallant, to go back on your agreement. (Maddy loved her for her support). Cassie, it wasn't your fault it didn't work out the first time round with Jake, apart from not wanting to discuss it at the time. I think I know how you are feeling, and the regrets you must be having. From my point of view, and obviously Maddy's as well, if we can all do anything to make your situation happier, then we would love to help. From my point of view, I've always loved you like a daughter, and would love to have you back in the family, but ultimately, it's up to Jake, and how he feels, so over to you, Jake."
"Hmm," said Jake. "My feelings for you have never changed, Cassie, but time and circumstances have, so this is a hard one. I'm glad I have two strong women to advise me," he said, first looking at Kate, and then at Madeleine, "and I'm glad you still have affections for me."
"Love, not affections!" interjected Cassie and Madeleine and Kate gave each other a look which said,
'my, my, the girl has got some backbone, after all, and is finally prepared to fight for her man!'
"Thanks, Cassie," said Jake with a loving smile. "As I was saying, times have changed, but like you, I almost wish we could turn the clock back," and seeing Cassie's confused expression (why
almost?
) he went on to explain. "
Almost
