A Summer's Secret

Epilogue

                        Toes aching from hovering around the hall in 4 inch Jimmy Choos, Asia Cassidy couldn't help but slump on the nearest chair in sight. Oh, how wonderful it felt when she removed the killer heels from her feet and massaged her soles. She swore she would never run around in a pair of designer sandals ever again.

'Where are you,' she thought to herself, blowing a stray strand of hair away from her face. Still pressing her soles, she craned her neck, searching endlessly in a crowd of rose golds and silvers. The ballroom pavilion looked like a scene straight out from a fairytale book and she couldn't help but feel like a lost Cinderella complete with the glass slippers and all.

"Honey, have you seen your sister?" Asia jumped to the sound of her mother's voice. She too was looking around. God, with over a hundred or so guests how hard would it be to find a blonde queen in a snow white dress?

She shook her head and stood up from the chair, "no Mom, she's probably at the other side of this place meeting the rest of the family." By rest of the family she meant half of the Cross clan from Sam's seven year old little brother to his one hundred three year old great uncle, just the thought of it made Asia's head spin, or was it the after effects of champagne?

Helen Cassidy nodded her head but her thoughts weren't on her daughter's response, she was still looking around not only for her eldest daughter but for her only son as well. It has been a year since she last saw him, since he left for Bartley to study architecture and none of her children gave her reassurance that she'll see him again today.

Asia noticed her mom's restlessness and gently placed her hand on her mother's shoulder, "don't worry mom, everything's fine okay?"

At that Helen snapped out of her worried state, "weren't you supposed to look after your niece honey?"

Right, Asia gave her mother an apologetic shrug, "now if you'll excuse me mother dear. I'll go look for Holly now," she said slipping as fast as she could away from her mother.

She ran halfway across the room just realizing that she forgot to put on her heels. The thought of some random bridesmaid, or some random girl for that matter, finding her most expensive pair of shoes so vulnerable and ownerless on the floor made her head hurt. London was so going to kill her.

Right at the corner of her eye, Asia spotted a tiny little angel and she finally heaved a sigh of relief as she hurriedly made her way towards the end of the buffet table.

"Holly," she called but knew her efforts were futile as she was still more than a few feet away from her niece. Of course she wouldn't be able to hear her, how stupid could you get Asia? She thought to herself. Asia was finally able to take a hold of the little girl, one year and almost six months held on to the skirts of the table as she stuffed another cookie in her mouth.

"There you are," Asia said as she lifted little Holly in her arms. "Auntie was worried sick and not to mention, Nana would totally cut her head off if I lost you."

The little girl only giggled and smiled with chocolate all over her face.

"I'm sorry I was supposed to be looking out for her." A voice said from behind Asia causing her jump in surprise as he turned around to face her companion.

"You," she said pointing an accusing finger at his direction. "You clearly did this on purpose!"

He smirked, he still found it amusing how cute her brows furrowed when she's trying to get angry. He couldn't help it, she still looked like an angel every time he saw her. "What exactly did I do and for what purpose?"