Chapter 10 ~ Fall to Pieces

South Beach - Southwest Shore, Sunday 8:19PM

All the years I've tried
With more to go
Will the memories die
I'm waiting
Will I find you
Can I find you
We're falling down
I'm falling

Fall to Pieces - Velvet Revolver

Millwood - Stanfield Home, Sunday 9:49PM

"Wyatt, what are you doing here at this hour? Shouldn't you be at school?" His grandmother embraced him warmly while chastising him and ushered him into the house. Cassandra smelled like chocolate; the entire house smelled like warm cookies on an autumn evening. "I've got your grandfather's favorite cookies in the kitchen Wyatt; come with me."

"Well now, look who's here, Cass, and eating my cookies? Wyatt, you look more like your father every time I see you! Isn't he like our Cooper?" Eric looked at both of them and then eased into a chair, leaned in and asked, "What's on your mind boy?"

Smiling half-heartedly, Wyatt replied, "What makes you think something is on my mind Gramps?"

"Well my boy, unless you smelled your grandmother's cookies all the way from campus my guess is you need to talk. There's been a lot of...excitement in the family of late."

Wyatt kept his eyes lowered as he thoughtfully considered the cookie in front of him. "Yeah I guess there has been."

They sat in silence for several moments until Cassandra finally spoke. "I think I'll clean up in the kitchen and head off to bed; you boys enjoy your treats!" Kissing Eric tenderly on the head, she smiled at Wyatt and left the room.

Eric rose and strode toward the pool table. He wasn't as spry as he used to be but he still managed to put a little spring in his step. "Let's see if you've picked up the skills to beat your grandfather shall we?"

The sound of the balls colliding on the table was the only noise that disturbed the silence. Wyatt lined his shot up carefully, not glancing up at Eric as he finally spoke. "I went to my mother's house today."

"Oh Wyatt..." Eric stood thoughtful, and exhaled as he regarded his grandson.

Wyatt set down his pool cue and folded his arms. He was unsure if his grandfather was the right person to answer his questions but he had to ask, had to know. "Did my father really love my mother? I mean, they were both really young, they knew each other for what, a week before they got married? Do you think...if the things that happened to them hadn't, would they still be together?"

Eric walked outside with Wyatt trailing behind. He glanced up at the evening sky and smiled. When he finally spoke Eric's voice was quiet, almost melancholy. "Your father loved your mother very much Wyatt but you know what terrible things kept them apart. When they found each other for the last time, neither one of them was the same person."

Turning back toward Wyatt, he continued, "They were young, very young and your father was impulsive. I wouldn't be honest if I didn't say I wish he would have waited. Julia was a wonderful young woman but she was ill equipped to be the wife of a rock star, too dependent and too idealistic, and your father's star was rising fast. I don't think either of them really knew what to expect. Your father became a huge presence; I really don't think your mother could have managed in the shadow of that. But you know all of this, Wyatt; why ask it now?"

"I have feelings, strong feelings for someone. It happened so fast. I think I love her but I don't want to hurt her. I don't know if I am ready to make a commitment, the commitment she deserves." Kicking a loose pebble with his boot Wyatt went on, "I've done some stupid things and I may still; I don't want to lose her but I don't know if I can keep her without breaking her heart."

Eric studied Wyatt for a long moment. He was very much his father's son but tempered with his mother's romanticized view of the world. "This girl," he began, "have you discussed how you feel about things with her? If she feels as strongly toward you, she should have a say don't you think?"

"Yeah, Gramps, she should." Forcing his mouth into a weak smile Wyatt started back to the house. "I should probably get back to campus; it's a long drive. Tell Grams thanks for the cookies."

Eric watched from the window as Wyatt drove away. "Everything all right with the boy, dear?" Cassandra stood waiting in the doorway. He nodded once, smiled and then followed her into their bedroom.

University Quad - Monday 4PM

Wyatt saw Cadence sitting alone absently gripping her coffee and staring at the stack of books in front of her. "You trying to will the words into your head there Cade?" he laughed as he sat down next to her.

"I wish," she laughed brightly as she set her coffee down. Her entire face lit up as she looked at him and Wyatt could not help but grim back at her. "I went home to my mom's this weekend and didn't get much done on the school front," she went on. "But," Cadence took a deep breath, "I told her about us, Wyatt, well not everything but my mom isn't naive, and she is okay with it!" She was beaming.

Squeezing his cup a little tighter than before, Wyatt fought to keep his face from exposing his shock at her announcement. "Cade, I thought we were going to do this together; I haven't even told your brothers yet."

"Oh I know that but she promised not to tell them. She understands that part. But she just seemed so sad and I thought it would make her happy. My parents have always liked you."

"Not always," he muttered. Wyatt couldn't help grinning slightly at her enthusiasm but he remembered the strange look on Heydon's face when he caught Wyatt appreciating how Cade had grown at her sixteenth birthday. He should have been with her. They should have done this together.

"Anyway we said we would tell everyone when I got to college so..." Cadence finally noticed the look on Wyatt's face and he didn't seem at all thrilled. "Wyatt, what's the matter? Are you upset about this; I thought we agreed?" The late afternoon sun dipped behind clouds. Mist from the fountain drifted toward where they sat.

Abruptly Wyatt stood and walked toward the fountains with Cadence trailing behind him. "What is the problem Wyatt?" Her voice sounded confused, almost angry, as she stood behind him. Wyatt could feel her gaze boring through his back. What was the problem? He didn't know where to begin.

Wyatt turned to face her. "It looks bad, me not being there with you. You should have discussed this with me Cadence, we should have talked about it first instead of you blindsiding me with it." Cadence stepped back, surprised, and brushed a strand of hair away from her face.

"Blindsided...you're kidding right? Wyatt, we agreed! And I am not going to clear everything I say with you, I won't do that. If you want to keep hiding it, and I don't know why you would unless..." Cadence stopped as her expression changed from surprise to hurt. "Are you changing your mind? Do you want to break up? Is that it?"

"No Cadence, that's not it! Cadie...it's not that I don't love you. We're both still really young. It's just...we should have talked...maybe I needed more time!" That wasn't what he meant at all. He was going to make her cry. Wyatt paused, averted his eyes, and reached for something else to say that wasn't going to make this worse.

"You need more time? Fine, take it, take all the time you need. I love you, I really do, and I don't think I should have to pretend that I don't. But I am NOT going to sit around and mope and wring my hands over you Wyatt. You want to take it back? Go ahead. Tell everyone I made it up if you are so ashamed of me."

"And while you're at it, Wyatt, grow up and get over yourself!"

That surprised him; he had expected tears, not anger. Maybe he didn't know her after all. The skies opened up; rain began to fall in earnest on them as Cadence turned on her boot heel and walked away leaving Wyatt stunned.