Ryan and Ben are visiting Cassie in St. Louis, and they spend a great day together. Surely only good things are in store for them, right? See what's happening in this week's chapter of In Pieces. Don't forget to visit the other Briefers and see what's up with them! Their links follow my tale! Enjoy!
The weather turned out to be every bit as gorgeous as
promised. Their first stop once they reached Forest Park was indeed the Art
Museum where they headed straight to the Impressionist rooms. Ryan remembered
Dad had brought the two boys there when they were maybe twelve and nine
respectively, and they’d spent a great deal of time sitting in front of Monet’s
huge Water Lilies, admiring its
beauty—Liza hadn’t accompanied them,
but that was hardly surprising since she seldom went anywhere with them after
about the first year of their marriage. Once they’d paid sufficient homage to
Monet, Degas, Matisse and the others, they visited the modern art, and a few of
the other sections, as well. But they couldn’t linger too long in any one place
and didn’t have time for them all, regretfully.
“We’ll be back,” Ryan promised Ben. “We can take more time
then.” He squeezed Ben’s hand as he looked into his eyes, wanting to reassure
him.
“Sounds like a plan,” Ben said. Ryan was happy that Ben
wanted to come back here too.
They made a quick trip through the St. Louis Zoo, located
near the Art Museum, which was considered to be one of the finest zoos in the
country. Arriving just in time to catch the chimpanzee show, they all laughed
at the limber animals’ antics, and pronounced the little chimps to be adorable.
Afterward they bought food from one of the vendors and ate it at one of the
picnic tables located in Forest Park and watched the boaters pedal around the
lake. Once they had finished eating, Cassie drove them to the Science Center.
The exhibits were amazing, many of them pro-active. Once again there was too
much to see and do and too little time. They vowed they would return there as
well.
Driving back to the house, Cassie said, “I thought we could
get dinner down on the Hill tonight, if that’s okay with you.” The Hill was an
Italian-American neighborhood known for its great Italian restaurants.
Okay with them? Ryan’s mouth was already watering just at
the idea. Who didn’t love Italian food? And some of the finest was to be found
down on The Hill. Still, he felt obligated to say something. “You don’t have to
fuss over us,” he began, but Cassie broke in before he could complete his
thought.
“I want to fuss
over you,” she insisted. “You guys are so busy with the band and everything, I
don’t know when I’ll get another chance like this.” She pulled into the
driveway of her house and parked. Turning to face them, she added, “Don’t
worry. You can play host sometime when you’re big shot musicians and touring
all the major cities.” She winked at them. Ryan started to remind her he wasn’t
actually a musician, or even part of the band, but that didn’t really matter.
He felt as though he was a part of Salvation. More importantly, he was a part
of Ben’s life, and that’s what really counted.
“Absolutely,” Ben spoke up. “Once we get things sorted out
and get back on track…” Ryan noticed a slight frown crease Ben’s forehead but
it quickly passed.
“About that,” Cassie began. “There are some things I’d like
to talk to you two about, if you—” When she stopped speaking suddenly, Ryan
cast a curious glance toward her, but her attention was focused on the front
door. “Who’s that?” she said. Ryan followed her line of vision and his heart
sank.
Liza was there, sitting in a lawn chair on the front porch,
as if she had every right to be there. No sense in asking how she found the
house, since she’d lived there once upon a time. The question was what did she
want now? Ryan was afraid he already knew the answer to that one. How naïve to
think she’d given up on her obscene quest to snatch Ben away from him. He
glanced uneasily at Cassie, but she seemed to have already sized up the
situation.
“Maybe you guys should wait here,” Cassie said. “I can deal
with this.” She opened her car door and eased out. Ryan was surprised to hear
the other door open at the same time.
“I can’t and I won’t run from her forever,” Ben said. “I
want this to end. Now.”
to be continued
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