MONEY TALKS

1

Cassie set in the court room listing to the judge's ruling. Granting custody of her kids to her ex-husband Eric. Her world had just collapsed, she was barely hanging on as it was. She had lost her home and now her kids not to mention divorced. What the hell just happened she thought? Two years ago she was happily married, Eric was settled into his new job making good money and so was she at the hospital, life was good. Or so she thought.

"Court adjourned, "the judge stated.

She numbly stood up and walked to the back of the courtroom in disbelief. As she opened the doors, there stood Eric In the hall. Cassie wanted to say so much but all that come out as she walked up to him was" Why?

"We feel it's best for the kids," Eric responded sincerely.

"We? We is you and me, our kids. Not yours and hers!" Cassie said as she pointed to Clare, Eric's new wife. "And I don't remember having a say in this decision."

"Look Cassie, its best till you get back on your feet."

"'I'm on my feet, just because you took my home doesn't mean I'm not!" Cassie says with the frustration in her face.

"Cassie, let's go. There's another time for this." Diane, Cassie's best friend calmly says.

"What did I do? What happened to you?" Cassie passionately asked as Diane pulled on her hand.

There was a brief moment of silence as they looked at each other. A tier ran down Cassie's cheek. Eric had a look of regret, and then it was gone.

"Some of us grow and become the people were destined to be, others choose to stay in there fantasy world. I didn't spend five years in college busting my ass to settle for a five figure income." Eric boldly said.

"Wow that's cold," Diane says in disbelief.

"I never asked you to settle for a five figure income," Cassie replied in confusion.

"You didn't want to leave the cozy little town of South Haven," Eric said.

"So you hook up with your project partner and move to Chicago?

"It's not like that! "

"Enjoy your six figures, I like my fantasy world, I still believe in it."

Cassie turned around with her head hung down and walked out of the court building with Diane. She didn't hear a word Diane said on the way to the car. She was numb, even the coldness of the Chicago fall wind didn't faze her. As Diane unlocked the car she asked Cassie if she was ok. She heard her but said nothing and sat down in the passenger's seat, closed the door and stared at the floor board. Her hands were cold, she put them in her coat pockets.

"You ok?" Diane asked as she put her hand on Cassie arm.

Cassie started to uncontrollably shake and the tears began to fall and with a whisper of a voice she said "Take me home – take me home. Where ever the hell that is."

Diane held Cassie for a while in the car. Trying to think of something to say, some form of comfort. Truth was, there was nothing to say. She had lost her kids and home in three months' time. It will be ok honey, doesn't quite work Diane thought. So she just held her.

After a short time Cassie picked her head up and said "let's go home, setting here crying doesn't change it. I can cry at home."

"It's bullshit – it's wrong but it's not over. We'll regroup and go at it again." Diane said sternly.

"I'm tired, I used all my savings for the lawyer and court fees. I don't even have a home. I don't stand a chance of getting custody of Breanne and Troy until I have a home for them, Eric won't let that go." Cassie says with hopelessness.

"You will always have a home with me and Don."

"I know, but my kids need a home."

Diane starts the car, looks at Cassie and sternly says "And you need a guy."

Cassie solemnly says, "NO, that's the last thing I need."

It was an hour and a half drive back to South Haven. Cassie couldn't stop thinking about Breanne and Troy. She missed them so much. Since the divorce they became her world. She didn't know how to go on without them home every night. Now she only got them two weekends a month. And one of those she had to drive to Chicago to pick them up. Which means she had to leave work on Friday, drive to Chicago and drive back to South haven, three hours of driven. Then take them back on Sunday.

"How the hell did this happen," Cassie burst out with tears. "I'm not the one who cheated. I never even flirted. He left me, for another fricken women.

"It's not always about who's right or wrong." Diane reluctantly said.

"It's about money – isn't it? It's about who can provide for them better, who can give them more stuff. I don't get it, it's not like Eric was close to them. Having kids was my fantasy not his."

"What does he mean by fantasy world?"

"That's his sarcastic way of saying, I live in a dream world. Actually – it is my dream, graduate from college, get a good job, get married, and move to a quaint little town on a coast. Then just live life – savior every moment."

"Don't give up on your dream honey, you can still have it. There's a guy out there that wants to share it with you."

Cassie slowly turns her head to look at Diane questionably and says," Ya – I just need a husband my kids and a home. Shouldn't be a problem."

Hearing the sarcasm and frustration in Cassie, Diane decided to be quite. Cassie was usually a warm, loving person. This was not her personality, this whole ordeal was taking a toll on her. She was growing cold, this screwed up world was tearing her down. Diane suddenly felt the urge to cry, she couldn't let happen, and Cassie didn't need to see that. Then a random thought popped in her head. He should be castrated!

"I never should have married him, we never shared the same dreams." Cassie said in regret.

"Don't go there Cassie, it could of turned out the same if you both shared the same dreams,"

"That's a comforting thought," Cassie says with sarcasm.

"I don't mean it that way. You could have shared the same dreams in the beginning, but people change, our personalities, behaviors – and dreams. Were supposed to grow together as a couple. It could have turned out the same."

"I get that, but we were going in different directions out the gate. I never seen it, I was too caught up in my dream." Cassie muses.

"Don't blame yourself for all this sweetie. We wasn't given a rules and regulation book for this. It's a learn as you go. It took me three times to get it right" Diane said turning to look at Cassie.

"Ya I guess," Cassie said starring at the floor board." Can you stop at the next gas station, I gota pee."

"Ya, I need gas anyway."

Diane pulls up to a gas pump at a speedway. As she shuts off the car Cassie ask if she needs anything while she's in side.

"I have to pee to, I'll get something then."

"I'll get some change while I'm in there so I can give you some gas money. Don't tell me not to worry about it either!"

Cassie walks around the convenience store looking for something to munch on, maybe some comfort food. As she walked by the chocolate section her stomach turned. She could never understand why most women want chocolate when there depressed. Its fating, sits like a rock on her stomach and never comforted her anyway. Then she found the chip isle, something salty was what she was looking for. Then she would just swell up like a pig she thought to herself. She grabbed a bag of Funyuns and a water and walked to the cash register. Thinking how as a kid she loved Funyuns, they were her comfort food. Not sure if it was the name or the onion taste and salt but they were good. Walking to the cash register thinking of Funyuns and her childhood she caught a shadow out of the corner of her eye. Realizing she just cut in front of someone, she stopped and looked. Brown eyes, long black hair and a scruffy beard. Kind of scary looking she thought.

"I'm sorry, I'm not paying attention."

"No problem mam, go ahead, been there myself."

Cassie says thank you and thinks to herself, he's nicer than he looks. She pays for her snacks and smiles at the man as she leaves. He tells her to have a good day.

As Cassie sits in the car waiting for Diane she tries to understand how this all happened. The divorce, losing her house and now the kids. She could understand joint custody but two weekends a month? And why does he want the kids so much. He really wasn't that close to them. Then she seen Diane coming out of the store with that guy. They were laughing about something. That women can talk to anybody she thought.

Diane set down in the car and started it without saying anything. Cassie looked at her and raised her eyebrows.

"Yes my dear?" Diane says looking at Cassie.

"Soo…. What was that about?"

"That guy?" Diane replied.

"Ya." Cassie said looking up at her.

"He's on his way to South Haven." Diane says

"And you wasn't gona say anything – about what he said?"

"You said you're not looking for a guy!"

"What does that have to do with this?"

"Um…. I don't know. Maybe the way you looked at him or your cute little smile or how you never seen me standing behind him."

"I seen you!"

"Then why didn't you hear me, I was trying to get your attention."

"I probably thought you were some buddy else talking."

"Ok, say what you will."

"I just have a lot going on up here," as she points to her head, "I want to go to the beach and – just …..Chill."

"Then let's get back so you can do that."

Diane puts the car in drive and heads to home.