Groove To Da Beat Chpt 42

By Knightmare Elite

“Wake up, sleepy head,” called gentle voice.

“Wha?” Cassie yawned. She rubbed her eyes while sliding up against the headboard.

“Well, it’s about time you got up,” Debbie said with a hint of annoyance. Still, she sat at the edge of the bed, awaiting Cassie’s awakening.

“It’s so creepy that you still do that,” Cassie yawned, looking into her mother’s glowing face. “Is it one of those maternal things?” She pushed the sheet away, not yet accustomed to seeing a panty triangle between her legs.

“Or maybe I like pretending my baby is still my baby.” Debbie drew Cassie into her arms and kissed her forehead. “What do you want for breakfast?”

Cassie licked her lips tasting the repugnance of morning breath, “Since I chose where we had dinner, you can pick breakfast.”

“And you trust me not to pick a posh café with microscopic entrees?” Debbie asked while adjusting Cassie’s shirt to fully cover her chest.

“Please, mom, I know you love weird omelets and fresh blueberry muffins. No snooty restaurant could ever make what you’d enjoy. Pickiness with food is definitely one trait I inherited from you,” Cassie admitted.

Debbie smiled and took Cassie’s medicine bottle from the end table. “I’ve always been fond of specialized omelets. I like that only smaller places make them. It really irks me how quick you forget I grew up in an exceptionally poor neighborhood. I was fortunate to meet your father, and blessed that he gave me a daughter.”

Cassie frowned as she held the pill between her thumb and forefinger. “Mom, stop. You make me feel so guilty for neglecting you all these years.”

“It would be petty of me to say, ‘and you should’. Truthfully, this isn’t the time to squabble over who was wrong. Let’s just enjoy the day. Oh and use the minty fresh toothpaste, sweetheart,” Debbie advised.

Cassie mumbled incoherently as she headed to the bathroom pill in hand. In that time, Cassie’s mind touched on many of the recent events. She smiled thinking of her lovely squishy, and the inner peace at being loved. It wasn’t all perfect as Cassie thought of the circumstances bringing them together. The bitterness soured her expression, “I’m sorry.”

“Honey, are you going to wear one of your pretty dresses today?” Debbie asked from the room.

“Um, okay,” Cassie quickly answered. She watched her panting reflection, fingers painfully gripping the toothbrush. “I can do this…I can.”

Debbie opened the door, seeing her daughter staring apologetically at her reflection. “Sweetheart, it’s going to be okay,” she whispered while enclosing her arms around Cassie.

“I feel like I’m walking on eggshells, mom. I…I can’t hold it together. One minute I feel like I’m okay, then I want to scream and cry at the same time,” Cassie said.

“What is it you’re so terrified of?” Debbie asked.

Cassie held her mother’s hand against hers in an unsteadying breath, “Mom, I’m getting worse. I feel like I’m in a box and can’t breathe. I have to do these parties for the Martin sisters, deal with my friends knowing I have money, and I don’t want Kristine to leave me. I can’t make everyone happy.”

“Baby, no one’s expecting miracles out of you,” Debbie whispered. She wiped Cassie’s tears and walked her to the bath. “I know things feel out of control, and giving up seems the logical choice, but neither of us can afford that option.”

“I know, and thanks being so understanding,” Cassie exhaustingly agreed. She undressed and sat in the tub, leaning over the edge in the overbearing thoughts.

Do you want me to stay in here with you?” Debbie asked.

Cassie nodded, “Can we just talk? I want to keep my mind occupied.”

Debbie took a complimentary shower cap from the package, and carefully applied it on Cassie’s head. “Didn’t you say you have an appointment with the hospital psychologist?”

“Yeah, Samantha,” Cassie said while settling in the foamy tub.

Debbie opened her mini makeup bag on the counter, sorting through the contents. “How do you feel about that?” She leaned toward the mirror, carefully combing her eyelashes before a light application of eyeliner.

Cassie watched on as her mother intricately applied makeup. Even as a child, standing at Debbie’s side, the application of makeup both fascinated and discouraged her. In terms of sheer natural beauty, Cassie was a distant second to her mother, and she long accepted that. Being beautiful was only one aspect of Cassie’s personal acceptance. She wanted to be a good person, even if the principles were often convoluted with Debbie’s embracing of being a socialite.

By her own choice, Cassie sought what it meant to be human. She openly embraced her sexuality, and the erratic lifestyle if afforded her. Though her trails and tumbles, Cassie met true friends, and found a calling in music, things otherwise nonessential to an heiress.

Professionally coping with her father’s death was a major milestone. Being an active part of her mother’s life was a forgotten wish. It tore at Cassie’s heart knowing their time was on a theoretical clock. Life wasn’t perfect, but Cassie could in many ways consider herself happy in the reconstruction of her world.

“I’m happy,” Cassie, after some time, answered.

Debbie set down her brush and took a seat next to her still pouting daughter. “Can I come with you? I understand if there’s a patient-doctor confidentiality agreement. If you want me there, I can stay in the lobby.”

“Mom, how could you even ask that? Of course I want you there; I know it’s going to take a lot to make up for all the time I’ve never--”

Debbie pinched Cassie’s lips closed. “Hush up, baby girl. We’ve been over this, we were both in the wrong, so let’s just be happy okay?”

Cassie nodded and continued her relaxing bubble bath.

“Something’s been bugging me since yesterday. I’m not sure if it’s appropriate of me to bring up, but, well it just seems odd,” Debbie hesitantly announced.

Cassie lifted a hand and blew off a soapy mountain. “What is it?”

“Well, you said that you were having lunch with Kristine today. You’ve made no attempt to disguise the true purpose of the meeting. However, you’re not allowed to be alone with Kristine, and the only two people who can escort you anywhere are myself and Sally.” Debbie’s face elevated three shades of pink, even with makeup. Sweetheart, I want to spend time with Kristine, but not while she’s having sex with my daughter.”

“MOM!” Cassie shrieked. She hugged herself in the rippling water, fabricating Debbie’s discomfort at ‘hearing’ their lovemaking.

“Hadn’t that occurred to you?” Debbie asked, amused at her daughter’s reaction.

“Of course not! This sucks, I’ll have to ask Sally to stay there…while we, dammit.”

“Are you overreacting? You make it seem as if Sally has to be in the room with you. I’m sure she could find some way to occupy herself during,” Debbie suggested.

Cassie thought for a moment and agreed. “Maybe I can have her cook dinner for us. Then again, she’s iffy about that after accidentally giving Kristine milk in her muffins.” She pulled the plug while reaching for a towel.

Debbie handed off a fluffy towel with grin. “Has the thought crossed you mind to simply have lunch and leave?”

“No way, I’m spending some quality time with my hot girlfriend. She’s SO cuddly,” Cassie said as she stepped out of the tub.

“The way you talk about that girl, I’d swear she was 300lbs, if I hadn’t seen her myself,” Debbie mused.

“Oh that’s right, you saw her at the hospital. Eh, not the best time to meet, if you even did. Ok, too depressing, let’s get some breakfast!” Cassie urged.

“Please tell me you’re wearing boxers,” Debbie, while taking a lace thong from a boutique, asked.

“That thing is so tiny…and trashy,” Cassie argued. She held the lacy thong in disdain, then thought of Kristine’s reaction. “Stop making me into a perv!”

Debbie flapped the thong and pressed it against Cassie’s waist. “Stop whining and live a little. Besides, you picked this one out. Is it that discomforting for you to dress feminine? You seemed less reserved yesterday, or was that just the initial thrill?”

Cassie riled through the bag for a less dainty brassiere to match. “You brought the skimpiest stuff on purpose. It isn’t ladylike to dress like a floozy,” she insisted.

“Does that make you think any less of Finola?” Debbie jeered.

Cassie blushingly shook her head. “Can’t you let me complain in piece?” She smiled at Kristine’s various ensembles, further chipping at her moral soapbox. “When I was sixteen, I’d die being naked in the same room as you,” Cassie admitted while putting on her undergarments.

Debbie shook her head in Cassie’s obvious inexperience in wearing a thong. “Honey, don’t pick out the back, it’s supposed to stay…between.” She adjusted the waistband, much to Cassie’s fidgeting.

“My butt wasn’t made for a damn thong.” Cassie wiggled her hips and again pulled at the back. “It feels like a wedgie. How the hell do Stephanie and Kristine wear these things?”

Debbie forced Cassie’s hands at her sides and picked up a lace bra. “Stop complaining, it’s one of the aspects of being a woman, just like having periods.”

“No, periods are mandatory, $40 wedgies aren’t,” Cassie argued to deaf ears.

“Just for today then, after that you can go back to your boxers and frumpy clothes,” Debbie compromised.

Cassie sighed and took a skirt from the bag. “I do want to embrace my feminine side, but at my own pace. I feel pretty being dressed up, but I can’t be Stephanie, that’s natural for her. I’ll always be a tomboy no matter how girlie I dress. You’re not disappointed, are you?”

“Nah, you did most of what I’ve dreamt yesterday so I can cross that off my bucket list,” Debbie said.

“Will you stop joking about dying? I DO have post traumatic stress disorder, and am a little sensitive to that type of thing. I don’t want to lose my mommy,” Cassie gravely explained in a sudden embrace.

“I have a thirst for chardonnay, what do you say?” Debbie picked her purse and slipped on a pair of heels.

“So we’re going to a place that sells homemade omelets and wine?” Cassie asked while skeptically holding a midnight green mini dress.

Debbie leaned against the closet as her daughter contemplated the dress. “It’s a cute dress; you’ll have all the girls staring.”

“I’m taken and I doubt a femininized Cassie will turn straight girls. That would be a convenient ability, especially with straight crushes,” Cassie joked. She put on the dress, turning around to get zipped. “I’ve seen pictures of you at my age and we could almost pass for sisters. Well, I’d be the less glamorous and flat sister.”

“Girls these days and their superficial obsession with breast size,” Debbie sighed. She turned Cassie around and adjusted her top for maximum cleavage. “There you go, synthetic D’s.”

Cassie looked in the mirror in sheer astonishment. “Sweet Jesus, these are some amazing bras. I definitely need to a few more.” She turned sideways, admiring the enhanced curvature and lift. “Crap! They actually jiggle, this is awesome.”

“Seriously, they’re just breasts, I’ll never understand the fascination,” Debbie said in her daughter’s overzealous self-groping.

“I’d try to explain, but then you’d lecture me on the benefits of having a small top. I’ll just enjoy being as pretty as my mommy. Never thought I’d hear myself say that!” Cassie giggled.

Debbie sat Cassie down and opened her compact. “If you really want to be glamorous, as you insist I am, then get comfortable with makeup. What better way to mark your lover than to pepper them in lipstick kisses?”

“That’s true. After every date with Steph, I was covered in lipstick, my face too,” Cassie smirked.

“Didn’t we agree on no dirty sex talk?” Debbie reminded as she lined Cassie’s lips.

“But you brought up my lunch ‘meeting’ with Kristine,” Cassie reminded.

“Yes, lunch,” Debbie clarified.

Cassie’s stomach growled as her lips automatically pursed against the lipstick.

“Don’t do that, this isn’t lip balm. Sit still, I’m almost finished.” Debbie coated Cassie’s lips in cranberry with smoky lining. “Should I drop you off at Sally’s after breakfast? Or is Kristine picking you up?”

“You can drop me off at Sally’s. I’ll have her stop off at the grocery story on the way there. She has this thing about wanting to make the ultimate dinner. I figure she could occupy herself making something crazy,” Cassie explained while blotting her lips on a tissue.

“You could learn a thing or two from Sally. At the very least, you should learn to cook for yourself. How did Stephanie feel about your lack of culinary skills?” Debbie asked while taking out her keys.

“Steph sometimes made these really romantic candlelight dinners. It was so sweet, all the work she put into it, even champagne, oh and cherry pie.” Cassie licked her lips at the treasured taste, “I have a craving for cherry crumb pie.”

“So we’re going to a place that makes specialized omelets, serves wine and cherry crumb pie, in the morning?” Debbie shrugged and opened the door.

Cassie shrugged in agreement. “Guess we’re going to a mom and pop diner after all, yippee!”

“Charming,” Debbie muttered as they walked arm in arm to the elevator.