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“Okay. Keep me updated, Logan. If I don’t hear from you, you’ll be hearing from my team or me.”
Logan ended the call and gave the driver the address to Cori’s apartment. He knew Cori was right. Hendersons were bastards to deal with. Never realized just how much of one I was until now. But still, why would she hate us so much?
He knew when he saw her he’d need a really good explanation for being there. Nothing came to mind. Everything he thought of said he knew she was up to something. That would put her guard up. He remembered Shaun telling him his in-laws had picked her up off the road. He’d met them on several occasions. Elizabeth was what every mother should be. A nurturer.
Logan pressed the intercom and gave the driver an alternate address. Time to ask for a favor.
“Michael? He cameand saw you why?” Cori had no idea what Sarah was talking about. The only Michael she knew was a copy editor at the news station. Why he’d stop in to visit made no sense at all. Then again, he was the one who’d been asking her a lot of questions about what she was working on. Was it possible he was fishing around to try and snag the story from her? It was a tough business, and she’d seen that happen many times. Until now, she didn’t have anything worth stealing.
“He seemed very nice. And quite handsome if you ask me.”
That didn’t mean anything. Sarah thought any man who gave her the time of day was handsome. It was sad really, because she was a beautiful woman. But she was kind of a snob, and most real and fun men didn’t want to bother with her. Cori knew that from past experiences. When they were younger, Cori had tried a few blind double dates with Sarah. Awkward didn’t even begin to express how the nights had gone. It was more like Cori had two dates and Sarah sat alone.
She hoped over the years Sarah would mellow out, but the opposite happened. She had to dress just right, each hair had to be in place, and she wasn’t going to go anywhere or do anything to spoil either. Cori was up for almost anything. Clothes were meant to be washed, and hair brushed. Life was meant to be enjoyed. And it could have been if it weren’t for James Henderson.
That’s how she used to live, but now she was living, breathing, eating, and sleeping everything Henderson. It was consuming her life. Sarah said it wasn’t healthy, and Cori knew that to be the truth. Yet she couldn’t bring herself to walk away. She’d gone this far. If she quit now, not only had she wasted all that time, she’d also let Grandpa Joe down. Neither could happen. Even if it cost her all of her happiness. And right now, that seems possible.
She couldn’t help but feel bad. Shaun and his in-laws had been so kind to her. Yet, her intentions were not so nice. What were they going to think of her when they found out what she was working on? Although to be fair, she hadn’t planned on jogging by their house yesterday and getting hit by an automobile wasn’t scheduled in either. Yet it did open doors, literally. She could already tell Shaun was a bit leery of her, as he should be. But Elizabeth and Loras weren’t. Was it wrong for her to take them a nice cherry pie as a thank you?
She couldn’t bring herself to do it. That would make me as bad as them. Using people to get what I need or want. That didn’t mean she couldn’t eat the pie herself. She opened her cupboard and took out a plate. She was just about to cut a piece when there was a knock on her door. She knew it wasn’t was Sarah. Sarah refused to come to this side of town. She wanted to live in what she called luxury. Cori liked homey and quiet.
When she opened the door, Elizabeth and Loras were there with a pot. “I hope we didn’t wake you, dear.”
“Not at all. Please come in.” She opened the door, so they could enter. “What is that? It smells wonderful.”
Elizabeth walked over to the kitchen and placed the pot on the stove. “Homemade chicken and dumplings. I thought you might be sore and not in the mood to cook. But it looks like you’ve been doing some baking yourself.”
Cori laughed. “Actually I was just getting ready to bring you a homemade cherry pie to thank you for all you did for me yesterday.”
Loras had a big grin on his face. “Well, it sounds like it’s time to eat.”
Elizabeth shot him a warning look. “You don’t invite yourself to lunch.”
Loras shrugged. “I was just trying to save her a trip.”
“And how is that exactly?” Elizabeth asked.
“By eating her pie here,” Loras said as though it was the only logical thing to do.
“I have to agree with Loras. And I’m starving. What do you say we start with lunch first and then make our way to dessert? I even have ice cream to go on top,” Cori said as she gave Loras a playful wink.
“You’ve twisted my arm, but it’s all up to the boss.” Loras raised his thumb and pointed to Elizabeth.
“Don’t you forget it either,” she teased back. Then looking at Cori, she said, “We’ll stay only if you let me help. I can tell you’re still favoring that leg.” She nodded and handed some plates to them. “Shaun said it’s not broken. That’s good.”
“I’m very lucky.”
“I don’t know about that. You did get hit by a car,” Loras said as he sat down and let the ladies set the table.
“Don’t you pay him any mind. We’ve been married for over forty years. I’ve learned how to tune him out.” Elizabeth gave Loras a sweet smile, and he, in turn, gave her a peck on the cheek.
“It sounds like true love to me.”
Elizabeth nodded. “That it is, my dear. When we first met, no one thought we were a good match. But that’s because people judge others without taking the time to get to know them.”
It was as though Elizabeth was talking directly to Cori’s heart. That’s what she was doing to the Hendersons, and she knew it wasn’t right. The problem was she didn’t know how to stop. If she did, then she’d always wonder. But if she continued and found what she believed to be the side of them they hid from the world, she’d know for sure. Are they like their father or not?
“Sometimes we don’t mean to; it just happens,” Cori said, her voice riddled with guilt.
