Charity smiled, “That is the difference between you and me. You would not have let her convince you that it was what he would have liked. I just wanted to please him for although I loved him, I was not in love with him and I was unfaithful from the very beginning. Besides I loved someone else, someone who I thought loved me in return, but we were both used.”
Shay looked at her and she could feel the dream began to leave her. “Used for what, Charity? Who was the other person?”
Charity started to fade away, but she said one last thing, “You need to find out who killed me and that will explain every thing.”
“But how am I supposed to do that? Where do I begin?” Shay asked her.
“Cordial is the key,” was the last thing that Charity said before she vanished.
Shay woke up sweating and her eyes scanned the room noticing that she had slept for a few hours. She closed her eyes to control her breathing. She was losing it for now she was having conversations in her dream with her dead sister. Just great, she thought as she slowly got out of bed, could this day get any better.
There was a knock on the door and Pauline cautiously opened the door.
“Shay,” she asked coming fully into the room.
“Hi,” she said with a smile although it did not reach her eyes.
Pauline frowned, “The McClouds are downstairs wanting to talk to you.”
Shay sighed as she pushed to her feet and her arm throbbed at the movement. “I guess I have to talk to them. Should I mention that I know he is my father, or should I just play ignorant about the whole matter?”
Pauline chuckled as she walked over and gave her a quick hug, “You do what you think is right.”
Shay nodded her head as they headed for the door, but she hesitated for a second. Pauline looked at her questionly as Shay asked, “Does she know that Charity was his real daughter?”
Pauline just shook her head, “I do not think so.”
Shay sighed as they continued out of the room, but Pauline heard her mutter, “I guess I will have to be nice then.”
They walked into the living room arm and arm, and Mark got off the couch as they came into the room.
Shay smiled at him as he looked at her with a question in his eyes, and then his phone rung. He excused himself as he answered it.
“Would you like something to drink, dear?” Pauline asked as Shay made her way over to chair.
“Please, Miss Pauline, if it is no trouble,” she said settling herself into the chair with a sigh.
“I will be right back. Jessica? Shane?” they shook their head and she walked out of the room.
Shay looked at them when the Pauline left the room.
“Look here,” the woman started harshly and Shay looked at her. “We will give you the money to leave town. We do not want your name associated with our daughter’s just because you two look alike.”
“Ma’am…” Shay began.
“I do not want to hear your excuses. We are giving you the money which goes against every thing I stand for, but since that is the reason why you are here; it is the easiest way to get rid of you.” She opened her purse and pulled out a check, which she put on the table and slid across with disdain. Shay looked at the check, and then she looked at her father. His eyes were emotionless as he looked back at her.
“I see,” Shay said slowly as she got to her feet. She walked the few steps to the table and picked up the check. She looked at it for a moment before taking it between both of her hands because she forgot her sling and ripped it into tiny little pieces.
Her green eyes were flashing as she looked at them, and she said coldly, “I do not need your money. I did not come to this town expecting handouts from people like you.”
Mrs. McCloud had been shocked at her actions but now she was livid, “How dare you! We will not give you more money…”
Shay interrupted, “I...Do...Not...Want...Your...Money.”
Pauline walked in after this statement and she saw the torn pieces of paper on the floor. She knew what had happened and her eyes flashed with anger.
“I think it is time for both of you to leave,” she said harshly handing Shay her drink. She watched as Shay’s hand trembled as she took the glass from her. She turned her attention back to the McClouds.
“You are taking her side over us, your friends,” Mrs. McCloud said getting up from the couch her face astonished.
“In this instance, yes, I am for Shay has done nothing wrong,” Pauline said.
“She is trying to ruin our daughter,” Mrs. McCloud said sharply.
“Shay has not said one word about Charity nor has she mentioned Charity to anyone in town,” Pauline said just as sharply. “If you want to know anything about your daughter, why don’t you talk to your husband?” Pauline threw him a pointed look and his face paled. “You will be surprised at what you find out. Now leave my house immediately.”
Mrs. McCloud stiffened, “Fine, we will but do not expect anything from us.”
“Jessica,” Pauline sighed, “when was the last time that you did anything for us?”
At her words, Jessica looked at her in confusion before she just stiffened her spine and said, “Let’s go, honey.”
They walked out the door, and Shay noticed not once did her father look back at her. That hurt more than she thought it would as she listened to them leave just as she listened to Cordial leave. Then she collapsed on the floor as tears run down her cheeks and Pauline just knelt next to her as she cried.
Chapter 15
Later that evening, Shay was in the house by herself for Pauline, Mark had been invited to a party, and Shay insisted that they go. She knew that they should not put their life on hold for her. She had the TV on watching a rerun of one of her favorite shows “MacGyver” when the doorbell sounded, and she frowned for she did not know who would here at this time. She looked at the clock, which read 8:25pm, as she headed to the door.
Shay looked through the peephole to see Cordial and she frowned as she opened the door. “Mark and Pauline are not home, O’Ryan.”
He looked her over as he smiled, “I came to see you, not them.” She frowned at him but stepped aside to allow him entrance. After closing the door, she walked back to the living room with him following her.
“MacGyver,” Cordial said sitting down next to her as she settled on the couch. “I love this show.”
Shay smiled as she focused on the show and Cordial noticing the smile said nothing as they watched TV together. The show was just going off when his cell rung and he scowled as he pulled it out of his pocket. Shay picked up the remote and started looking for something else to watch. She noticed that “Ghost Rider” and “Con Air” where on in about ten minutes, and she debated with herself on which one to watch as Cordial answered his phone.
“Hello,” he asked as he turned to Shay and saw the frown that had settled between her brows. He looked back at the TV and noticing the problem, he took the remote from her clicking on the channel for “Ghost Rider.”
“This movie is awesome,” he said softly to her as Susie asked him, “What movie?”
“ I am about to watch Ghost Rider with a friend. What can I do for you Susie?” he said bluntly, and Shay turned to him in confusion. He noticed the question in her eyes and he held up one finger to indicate give him a moment.
“I thought you were coming over tonight,” Susie said with a harsh voice.
Cordial rolled his eyes and Shay noticing, put her hand over her mouth to stifle her giggle. Cordial smiled as his steel-like eyes flashed at her.
“I never said I was coming over tonight,” Cordial said in to the phone. He watched Shay as she turned back to the TV as the movie begin to come on and she snuggled into the couch as much as she could with her arm in a sling.
“Look the movie is about to start, and I would like to watch it,” Cordial said to her bluntly and after saying good night, he hung up the phone and settled next to her on the couch as the movie started.
&
nbsp; The movie was ending when Pauline and Mark walked in and Cordial motioned to Shay who had fallen asleep on his shoulder.
“Did you have a good evening?” Cordial whispered as he eased Shay into his arms.
“Yes, we did,” Pauline said as Mark headed for the stairs motioning for Cordial to follow him. Cordial followed Mark up the stairs with Pauline next to him as he carried Shay in his arms. Opening the door to the guestroom, Mark stood to the side to allow Cordial to enter with Shay and he laid her gently down on the bed brushing her hair away from her face. He looked at her with a weird expression on his face that both Mark and Pauline noticed, but neither said anything to him as he turned to them.
“I will come back tomorrow if you do not mind,” he asked and they shook their heads as he looked down at Shay one more time before heading out the door.
True to his word, the next morning Cordial was there for breakfast. Pauline smiled as she opened the door for him, “In the kitchen.”
They walked back towards the kitchen, and Pauline noticed that Cordial smiled when he heard Shay laughing.
“Good morning,” he said walking into the kitchen. Shay looked up from the stove and smiled as her green eyes shined at him.
“Good morning. Are you here for breakfast?” Mark said sitting at the kitchen table folding up a newspaper and looking over at him.
“Well, Shay is a better cook then I am any day,” he said throwing her a smile before turning his attention back to Mark. Shay froze when he said her name, and then she turned her attention back to the stove as she tried to bring her heart under control. The minute she heard her name from his lips, her heart shuttered in her chest, but she had to control it. She was scared for she was developing those feelings for him, the kind that she warned herself that could lead her to heartache.
“Shay,” Pauline said with a worry note in her voice. Shay looked up to notice that they were all staring at her and she realized that she had gotten lost in her thoughts.
“Sorry,” she murmured blushing as she finished making breakfast.
They had just settled down to eat when the doorbell rung and Pauline frowned as Mark got up to answer the door.
When he came back, he was frowning for behind him was Susie.
“I saw your car in the drive, and thought I would come over to see you,” she said her eyes narrowing on Shay before going back to Cordial.
Mark sat back down in his seat and Pauline asked, “Would you like to have breakfast, Susie?”
Susie looked at what was on the table and she grimaced, “I will only have coffee.”
Pauline nodded as she got up and poured her a cup before sitting back down to finish her breakfast. Susie sat down in the empty seat next to Mark with a scowl as Shay and Cordial sat next to each other with Mark and Pauline on either side of them.
“So what are you doing today, Cord?” Pauline said as she sat back in her chair.
“I need to go to Middleton for some supplies?” Cordial said. He was about to ask Shay if she would like to go with him, when Susie said, “I have the day off, Cord, and I would love to do some shopping.”
Cordial stopped himself from scowling at her as he said, “I do not plan on staying long, Susie, so there will be not enough time for you to go shopping.”
Susie pouted at him, but it did not faze him as his cell rung.
“Hello,” he said before taking a sip of his coffee.
“Hi, brother,” Raylee said. “Do you think that you could help me out today?”
“Hi, Ray,” Cordial said, and at Shay’s questioning look he answered, “My sister, Ray.”
She nodded her head as she turned back to her breakfast.
“Who is that,” she asked him.
“I was talking to Shay,” he stated and Ray drew in a deep breath.
“Where are you? Are you at Mark and Pauline’s house?” she asked in a rush.
“Yes…” he started before she cut him off, “I will be there in five minutes.”
She cut him off and he looked at the phone before flipping it closed. “My sister will be here in about five minutes,” he told the table.
Susie smiled for she knew Raylee liked her and it would be the perfect time to see if she could get herself into the wedding party.
Ten minutes later, there was a knock on the door and Pauline called out, “Come in, Ray.”
They heard the door open, then close as footsteps headed to the kitchen.
Ray came in with a smile on her face and her eyes shining, “Good morning.”
Shay smiled as she got up to clear the table of the breakfast dishes. She had not put on her sling this morning and Mark was upset by it, but she promised to put it on after she did dishes.
Cordial smiled at his sister, but his mind was on his trip to Middleton. He did have business there, but he wanted to check on something that he found in Charity’s diary that he discovered in his house the other day.
“Hi, brother,” Ray said coming over to give him a kiss on the cheek. She looked around the room smiling at Pauline, Mark and even Susie, but her eyes strayed to the one she wanted to meet from the beginning.
“Hi,” she said strolling over to Shay who stood in front of the sink her hands in the soapy water, “I am Raylee, Cordial’s younger sister. You can call me Ray.”
Shay smiled at her as she had a flash back to one of her dreams. “Hi, Ray, my name is Shay. I would shake your hand, but…” she nodded her head to the soapy water and Ray just laughed.
“No problem, but do you think I could get a cup of coffee?” she said.
“Pauline, can Ray have a cup of coffee?” Shay asked looking at Pauline.
Pauline smiled as she said, “Ray knows that she does not have to ask.”
Ray wrinkled her nose and Shay chuckled as she went back to washing the breakfast dishes.
“So, Ray,” Cordial said sitting back in his seat. “What can I do for you today?”
Ray took a sip of the coffee before she stated, “I need to go to Middleton to meet a prospective client to help in my bakery. Todd said that you were going there for business, and I thought maybe I could ride with you.”
Cordial frowned as he told her, “Ray, I may not be there long so…”
“Please,” she pouted and Cordial sighed.
“If you were not my little sister,” he threatened that Ray just smiled with a twinkle in her eye.
Susie frowned as she said, “Can I go with you? I may be of some help with the client.”
Ray sipped her coffee and thought over her suggestion although she already knew the answer. Just then, Susie’s phone rung and she frowned as she looked at the caller id.
“Excuse me,” she said getting up from the table and heading for the living room.
“Ray, you should see if Shay would like to go with you? She knows a little about the business,” Pauline suggested. Shay threw her a narrowed look, which Pauline ignored.
Ray’s smile grew as she looked over at Shay, “Shay, could you go with me please?”
Shay sighed as she turned back to the counter. “I would not like to be in the way,” she stated.
“I would love it if you came with us, Shay,” Cordial said softly and Shay swung around to look at him. His steel-like eyes were flashing at her and she blushed as she turned back around.
“If you would like,” she muttered finishing the dishes.
“Yeah,” Ray said. She finished her coffee and she smiled to herself for she would use this time to get to know Shay. She watched her brother as he talked with Pauline and Mark, but his gaze strayed to Shay often enough that Ray knew he had feelings for her.
Susie came back into the kitchen as Shay was about to head up to her room for her sling.
Susie glared at her as they passed each other and Shay just nodded her head.
“Honey,” Shay heard her say as she entered the kitchen and Shay felt her heart clench for a moment as she walked up the stairs.
Susie walked into the room with a smile
as she said, “Honey, I have to have a rain check on that trip. It seems that my roommate had another one of her breakups and needs someone to talk with her.” She leaned over and gave him a kiss although she aimed for his mouth he turned his head at the last minute and it landed on his cheek.
Susie frowned but she said, “I will see you when you get back. Ray, I would love to get with you about your wedding as I am sure that Cord told you that I am going to be his date.” Her phone buzzed and she sighed as she said goodbye. They heard the door open and close as she walked out.
“I did not know that she was going to be your date,” Ray said softly.
“Do not worry, Ray, I will not let her spoil your day,” Cordial said and Ray looked at him for in his voice she heard something she had not heard since Charity. Cordial was not looking at her though for he glanced up just as Shay entered the kitchen her arm back in its sling although she had a light jacket on.
“Ready to go?” she asked and they got to their feet.
They nodded their head as Mark said, “Take your pills with you just in case your arm starts acting up.”
Shay grimaced but Cordial took the pill bottle that Mark held out slipping it into his pocket. Shay glared at him, but he just smiled and winked, “Do not want you in pain while you are with us.”
They all laughed as Shay just shook her head a slight smile gracing her lips.
“See you later,” Pauline said as they walked out of the house.
“See you later,” they called back as they climbed into Cordial’s truck with Shay in the middle for he did not have a dual-cab.
Pauline laughed slightly as she noticed the twinkle in Cordial’s eyes and the wariness in Shay’s although she could tell that Shay was enjoying the closeness too.
Chapter 16
Shay listened to Ray talk to her prospective client and she had to mentally smile. Ray did not need any help for she handled herself very well. Shay was shocked to learn that Raylee was a talented and certified pastry chef, but she had been working in her brother’s construction company. Shay had not known that Cordial had a construction company as she assumed he was a maintenance worker as he was always fixing things around Miss Nettie’s bed and breakfast. Come to find out, though, that was something he did on the side for his real job was his construction company and Shay had been impressed. She also learned that it was Cordial and Todd who convinced Ray to open her own bakery.
A Ghost of the Past Page 8
