When I reached Vernon, I realized that I would have to break the news of Cassie and Xander's deaths to the Carson and Murray families. What a daunting task! Undeterred, I marched into my room and grabbed the phone. I dialed Mr. & Mrs. Carson as well as Mr. & Mrs. Murray and implored them to come home from work and meet in the park. Hmmm, that park has become a meeting place for Carsons and Murrays more often as of late. About half an hour later on this beautiful spring day, my brother and his wife appeared with Mr. & Mrs. Murray, as well as Lillian, Mikey, Matt, Mark, and Zack.
"What is it, Eleanor?" asked my brother in his businesslike what-do-you-want-and-get-it-over-quick voice. Oh, I hate it when he uses my full name like that!
"I need to tell you all something." I began. "Now don't panic or faint when I tell you this. I want you to take it calmly and listen until I am finished. To put it plainly, Cassie and Xander are both dead." Unknowingly, I had used the exact same words that Belinda had used over the phone.
At this exclamation, there was a collective gasp, and Mrs. Murray and my sister-in-law began to cry. I told them the whole story, from the party to Cassie and Xander's walks to their engagement to everything that Belinda and Janice had told me, minus the nurses' odd interruptions. "So you see, Cassie and Xander looked past the family hostility and were able to be friends and lovers through it! In fact, it was the family hostility that killed your children!"
(In the discussion below, I have not included the apologies and dialogue between Lillian, Mikey, Matt, Mark, and Zack as I didn't hear it and Lillian never did share it with me.)
"I-I am very sorry, Martin and Margaret, for the malice and resentment I have shown you." my brother said in one of the most contrite voices I had ever heard him use. He offered his hand to Mr. Murray.
"You are forgiven! I also have an apology to make. I have shown you, Carter, and your wife Caroline, as well as your daughter Lillian much more enmity than what was right. I humbly ask your apology."
With that handshake (and the handshakes between the young adults), all was forgiven between the Carsons and the Murrays.
"We shall make Cassie's grave the finest in all of Vernon!" declared Martin.
"Xander's shall be just as fine! They will lay together forever, poor sacrifices of our hostility." exclaimed Carter.
Strangely enough, I never heard anything ever again from Phillip Parks. It was as if he disappeared into thin air! Poor lovesick but neglected man...
To end on a happier note, I do believe that I heard that Lillian and Mikey are engaged! To think that after all those years of hatred, they are to be married!
Now you have heard the life and love of Cassie Carson-Murray, and I hope you take a few life lessons away from it! (Such as what kind of nurse you should not be - please see Post #10, or that hostility never, ever pays)
Sincerely,
Aunt Eleanor Clementine Carson, writing for
Cassandra Melody Carson-Murray
