"Do you really think I should back off and return with Cassandra?" Tony asked his brother, already in the kitchen, after a long after-dinner conversation.

"It would be the wise thing to do," Mike replied to the point. "I know it sounds horrible and unfair to Jeannine, but let's face it, Cass is the love of your life, and she was here first. Jeannine came in and took away what was hers. Now she's the wife with four kids, just like Cass was when their marriage ended, it's Jeannine's turn to feel what Cass felt then."

"Talk about poetic justice, huh?"

"Yeah, I don't want to sound cruel, but... Besides, Jeannine knows that you still love Cass right?".

"She doesn't know, but she figures, that's why she didn't want me to make this trip. Right now she must be thinking I'm not coming back."

"Well, don't. Send her a letter apologizing and stay here for a while, go out with Cassandra, talk to her, find out if you can really live without her."

"No, I can't do that to Jeannine." 

"I mean, I'd love to get back with Cassie, and I confess I got all excited and hopeful when we kissed, too, but at the same time I felt anguish because I know it can't be."

"Why not?"

""Because it can't. I can't just send Jeannine a letter to break up with her or tell her I'm staying in Starlight Shores with Cassandra. No, I have to see her, talk to her, be sure I'm doing the right thing." 

"Believe it or not, I’m happy with her. The time alone in France was idyllic, we have a beautiful family. I never felt so sure of anything until..."

"Until Cass broke up with Dean and became available again," Mike cut him off.

"Come on, Tony, this is what you’ve been waiting for. Perhaps such an opportunity will not come again. You know, I put myself in your shoes and I think what I would do if I lost Miranda... Well, I don’t think I could have survived that long without her, for starters, I would simply have died, but anyway, if I were you, I’d want to win back the love of my life at all costs".

"Sorry, Mikey, but I don’t think you can imagine yourself in my place."

Believe me, brother, there is still hope. Cassandra loves you and I'm sure she's waiting for you to find her and start over."

"I admire your optimism, Mike, and I understand it because life has always smiled on you, but I made mistakes that I don't know if I can ever make amends for. I insist, I don't know if Cass called me because she actually wanted to get back together with me or just to vent, or to get revenge. Or if he expected me to run and beat Dean up or something, which would mean she still cares about him."

"I don't think she cares about him anymore, and even if she did, Lothario hasn't made an appearance, which means one of two things: either he's back with his wife to stay, or he's not interested in reconciling with Cass."

"He'd be a fool not to want her back. He must be desperate, calling her over and over again, but knowing Cassie, she sure as hell won't answer the phone even if he calls her a thousand times."

"Better for you, right? Then you'll have a clear path."

 "I won't have any clear path until I go home, see Jeannine and find out if I'm capable of destroying what I've worked so hard to build with her over the last few years."

"Well, go there then, weigh the situation and decide."