“Yes, Cordial, I can,” Shay said laughing, “But you can make it easier for me and we can just buy a box cake mix.” Cordial’s face fell, but he nodded his head.
After paying for their purchases, they headed to the truck and they had gotten in before Shay said, “In payment for letting me stay with you until Nettie returns, I will make you a homemade chocolate cake.”
“Really,” Cordial asked with his eyes bright and Shay could not help laughing at his childish enjoyment of getting chocolate cake. She nodded her head and he smiled at her with a smile that astounded her. They headed to his house and when they pulled into the driveway, Cordial cussed under his breath although Shay heard him.
“What is wrong?” Shay asked as she looked over at him and then she noticed that there were three other cars in the driveway.
“I forgot that tonight is my night to host the family get-together,” Cordial stated before getting out of the car.
Shay got out slowly, “Cordial, I can go back to Pauline and Mark’s house until the morning…” She never finished her sentence as Cordial grabbed the groceries and her hand pulling her to his front door.
“Ever since you mentioned potato salad I have been craving it,” Cordial said opening the door and pushing her inside. “Besides, I want the chocolate cake, too, even if it is out of a box.”
Shay just shook her head as he closed the door and pulled her along to the kitchen. They entered the kitchen to see Ray and Todd, his father and stepmother, and his cousin, Dillon.
“Hi everyone,” Cordial said. “Shay is going to join us for dinner.”
Every one just stared at them, and Shay felt as if she was just thrown into a frying pan.
Chapter 18
“Shay,” Ray said walking over to her and giving her a hug. “This is my fiancé, Todd Williams. Todd, this is Shay.”
“It is a pleasure to meet you,” Todd said walking over to them.
Shay tilted her head at him, “You were the man who was seating next to her in the café my first day in town.”
He looked at her in astonishment before he laughed, “Yeah, that was me. I am surprised that you remembered.”
Shay shrugged as she said, “Ray has a good taste in men for looks anyway.”
“I think I have just been insulted,” Todd said with a smile and eyes twinkled.
Shay thought about it, “No, not really. It is just that most good-looking guys have rotten personalities.”
“Hey,” Cordial said standing next to her. Ray and Todd laughed at his expression as Shay chuckled, “You had a terrible first impression if I am not mistaking.”
Cordial grimaced at her words, “I am improving every day.”
Shay looked over at him with teasing green eyes, “Hmm…I have to agree that you are not as surly now. My personality must be robbing off on you.” Ray, Todd and Shay laughed as Cordial rolled his eyes and muttered, “Stubborn ass woman” walking towards the counter where he placed the bags.
“Hi Dad, Lucille, Dillon,” he said.
“Hi, Cordial, who is the young lady?” his dad said as they came walking to them.
He frowned as he looked at her, “You look a little like Charity, young woman.”
Shay nodded her head, “Yes, sir, so I have been told. My name is Shay Montgomery.”
Cordial placed a hand on her arm, “Dad, this is Shay as she just said. Shay, this is my dad, Vincent, my stepmother Lucille and my cousin, Dillon.”
Shay nodded her head at each of them as she told him, “I met your cousin, Dillon when I went to go check on my car. That was the same day that you stopped and picked me up with my luggage.” Cordial nodded his head for he did remember that day.
“So what are we having for dinner?” Todd said rubbing his hands together.
“Well,” Cordial exclaimed. “We bought steaks for grilling and Shay said she could make a potato salad.”
Ray was going through the bag, “Boxed mixes for a chocolate cake?”
Shay said with a smile, “My idea although I promised to make him a homemade one later.”
“You said you were no pastry chef,” Ray teased.
“I said it was your specialty as being a Chef is mine. I never said I could not make them,” Shay said to her before sticking out her tongue at Ray.
Ray’s eyes widened as Shay got out the things she would need to make the potato salad.
“She stuck her tongue out at me, Cord,” Ray said in amazement.
“She did?” Cordial asked with amusement as Todd chuckled. “Shay, did you stick your tongue out at my baby sister?”
“Yes, I did,” she admitted. Then she said quietly, “Tattle tale.” They all busted out laughing as they realized how childish they sounded.
Cordial looked over to see his father smiling at him with joy. Cordial had to admit that it was the first time in a long time that he felt relaxed.
“So what else are we going to do while we wait for dinner?” Lucille said with a laugh, but Ray could tell that it was forced and she noticed that Shay looked at her in confusion before turning her attention back to what she was doing.
“Well, I am heading outside to heat up the grill. Shay, are you going to be okay?” Cordial called out.
“I will be fine. Besides, I am sure that you will be popping your head back in to check on me in about ten minutes,” Shay said.
He laughed as he headed to his back porch, and he teased before walking out, “I will wait at least twenty minutes before poking my head back in.” He watched as Shay swung around in shock at his words then she laughed as she realized he was teasing her.
Every one followed him out to the back porch except for Ray who settled herself down at the counter.
“He laughs more,” she said quietly. Ray continued when she had Shay’s attention, “Ever since you showed up, he laughs more and he does not drink as much.”
Shay sighed softly and Ray watched as a shadow crossed her face.
“He sees Charity in me,” she admitted quietly. “I think right now, he is combining his memories of her with the memories of me. Once he realizes that I am not Charity or anything like her, he will move on.” Ray did not try to correct her, but she knew differently. Cordial never even laughed like that with Charity, as she never really joked around or teased him.
“Shay,” Ray said her name and Shay turned around to look at her, and Ray just shook her head.
“What are you doing tomorrow?” Ray asked Shay as waited for the potatoes to boil.
“Probably…nothing,” Shay said with exaggeration.
“How about you go on a date with me?” Dillon said coming into the doorway. Ray frowned at him as Shay just looked at him.
“No, but thank you,” Shay said without hesitation turning back to the pot. Ray could not help the smile that crossed her face while Dillon looked stunned. Then he smirked, “Now, Shay, you would not be saying that if you knew what I could do for you.”
Shay used the wooden spoon to move the potatoes around so they could cook through then turned to Dillon, “Dillon, at the age of 16, I had a man more gorgeous than you offer to rock my world. I turned him down for the simple fact, if I just wanted to have sex; I could have my choice from the age of fourteen. You are a good-looking guy, but you got the hots for your cousins’ stepmother and that just screams to me trouble.”
Dillon paled as he looked at her before he laughed it off, “You are seeing things.” He did not make another come on though, and left the room.
“Sorry,” Shay said.
“No problem,” Ray said. “I have known for a while now that he lusts after Lucille, and something tells me that she is not so innocent in it either.”
Shay looked at her shocked for she had seen the look Dillon had thrown Lucille when she went to the stove to start the potatoes. It had shocked her that she thought maybe she had imagined it, but she saw the look again when they were walking out with Dillon following Lucille. Shay frowned slightly for Dillon looked so familiar, but she did
not know why. She shrugged her shoulders as Ray said, “So would you like company tomorrow? Todd and Cordial have to work tomorrow and until I hear more about the loan helping me pay for the space for my bakery, I am merely twiddling my thumbs. Hanging out with you will give me something to do.”
Shay laughed but she agreed to it, and Ray smiled as she watched Shay finish making the potato salad.
Shay was enjoying the evening with Cordial and his family although Dillon was throwing her glares now, but she ignored them even if they gave her a creepy feeling.
They were getting to the dessert, which turned out to be a pecan pie that Lucille had brought with her when Cordial’s dad started choking and he turned white as a ghost.
“DAD,” Cordial and Ray yelled as they jumped up to help him.
“Vincent,” Lucille started crying as Dillon put his arms around her and Todd called 911.
Within minutes, the EMT was there to get him and Shay had a very bad feeling, but she walked with them to the door as they loaded him into the Ambulance with Lucille with him.
“I need to go to the hospital,” Cordial said his face was white and pinched. Shay reacted automatically and wrapped her arms around him. Todd was holding Ray and walking her to the car.
“See you at the hospital, Cord,” Todd called out and he nodded his head although he did not release his grip on Shay.
“Would you like me to go with you?” she mumbled into his chest. He closed his eyes and swallowed as he said, “I want you to but I think it would be best if you stayed here. The book you wanted to read is in my room on my nightstand. Make sure to lock the doors and put the security system on.” He leaned down and whispered in her ear what the code was, and Shay nodded as she squeezed him before stepping back.
“Okay,” she said giving him a small smile. Cordial looked into her green eyes and for a moment he had a flash of Charity, but he knew that if Charity was standing in front of him then she would be crying and holding on to him. Shay was smiling at him although her green eyes were sad, and he was leaning down to kiss her when Dillon called out, “Want to ride with me, Cord?”
Cordial pulled himself back and he raised a shaky hand to Shay’s cheek before he dropped it turning toward Dillon.
“No, I will take my own vehicle,” he said strolling over to his truck.
Shay watched them leave and with a heavy heart, she walked back into his house. She closed the door, locked it, and punched in the code to the security alarm. She felt her heart twist when she did for she remembered seeing a reference to that number earlier.
She cleaned up from the get together making sure that the grill was cleaned and made sure that no trash was littering the ground. She locked the door behind her as she went inside and started cleaning the kitchen, and any dishes that was used after storing the left over pie and potato salad in the refrigerator. After everything was done, she turned off the lights and headed upstairs. Since Cordial had not shown her around, she looked around herself finding his room first. She liked the room from the first look but as she went to get Charity’s diary, she saw the picture of him and Charity on the same nightstand and she smiled sadly.
“He really did care about you,” she whispered before turning back to the open door clutching the book in her hand.
She looked into two more rooms, one was an office and one looked like workroom, until she found the guest bedroom. She put her packed bag on the bed and she looked around the room. It looked comfortable but a little empty. Shay put Charity’s diary underneath the pillow on the bed before she opened her bag to unpack it into the dresser in the room. She grabbed her nightclothes and opened a door that led to a small bathroom with a shower stall. She took a quick shower worrying about Cordial, Ray and their dad. Afterwards, she dressed in her nightclothes and settled down on the bed pulling Charity’s diary out from under the pillow. Then she started to read hoping to understand more about the workings of her twin sister’s mind.
Chapter 19
Shay was getting really worried for she had been at Cordial’s house for almost three days, and she heard nothing from him. She tried texting Ray but either she had her phone off or she was so upset that she did not feel like texting back. Shay was pacing in the living room on the morning of the third day when she heard the door open, and she rushed into the hallway. Cordial came in with tired eyes and he looked at her blankly before he closed the door and punched in the code for the security system.
He walked towards her and the look in his eye had Shay flinching thinking she did something wrong; was she the reason that his father was sent to the hospital, so it shocked her when stopping in front of her Cordial pulled her tightly into his arms.
“Cordial,” she mumbled softly as her arms encircled him holding him to her.
“He had a stroke, Shay,” he muttered into her hair. Shay felt tears well in her eyes.
“Is he okay?” she asked softly.
Cordial pulled back softly so he could look into her green eyes, “At the moment, he is unconscious and the doctors are keeping in eye on him although they think that it was a minor stroke still…”
Shay felt the tears run down her face as she looked into Cordial’s steel-like eyes that were reflecting his pain at his father’s health.
“I am sorry,” she said holding him tightly and Cordial pulled her back into his arms just holding her as his mind worried about his father.
After about ten minutes, Shay pulled away from Cordial, and putting a hand to his face she said, “Go take a shower and I will fix you something to eat.” He was about to shake his head, when Shay said, “Cordial, you need to be strong for you father and your sister so go take that shower.”
He looked at her and then nodded his head before kissing her lightly and turning to go upstairs to his bedroom. He entered his bedroom and started undressing when he noticed the picture next to his bed. Damn, Cordial thought to himself, for he knew that Shay saw it when she got the book. He picked up the picture and looked at the woman in it.
“Charity, you and your sister are so very different. I wonder if I had met Shay first, would you have still been alive?” he whispered before taking the picture and placing it in the top draw of his dresser. He would find a place for it later, right now he wanted to take a shower and get back downstairs to the woman who made him feel something he had not felt in a long time.
Thirty minutes later, he was walking back downstairs when he heard voices coming from his kitchen. Frowning, he stepped into his kitchen to see Ray and Todd sitting at the counter with plates in front of them. Ray’s face was red from crying and her eyes were bloodshot. He walked towards her and pulled her into his arms as she hugged him. He looked over her head to look at Todd whose eyes were tired and worried.
“What are we going to do, Cordial?” Ray asked him using his full name in her distress.
Cordial sighed as he said, “We are going to be there for him, Ray, that is all that we can do for now.”
She nodded her head before sitting back down in her seat and Cordial walked around the counter to stand next to Shay who looked at him for a moment before she nodded her head and handed him a plate.
“Sit down,” she instructed and he smiled slightly as he did as she ordered. She brought him a drink then sat down next to him as they all ate their lunch.
Shay’s arm was healing nicely although sometimes it was achy and today was one of those days, but she ignored it for right now belonged to Ray and Cordial.
They talked about anything that came to their minds as the time flew then Todd looked at his watch and said, “Cordial, what do you want to do about that meeting we have scheduled today?”
Cordial looked at him and his eyes widened, “Yeah, I forgot about it. Do you think we can reschedule for another day?”
Todd shook his head, “Unfortunately, when I called them yesterday, they said they would only be here today. They would be back next month if we would like to reschedule.”
Shay and Ray looked at each other
and Shay said quietly, “Why don’t you guys go to the meeting? Ray will keep me company here and we will make dinner when you two return.”
Cordial looked at her and Shay looked him in the eyes, “Something tells me that your father would have wanted you to finish what you started.”
Ray nodded her head, “Cord, Shay is right, Dad would want you to take that meeting.”
Cordial looked over at Todd and he nodded his head too so he sighed, “All right. Todd lets go to my office to make sure we have everything.” Todd and he walked out of the kitchen, and Shay looked at Ray.
“Come on Ray,” Shay said standing up and starting to clear the table.
“We will have a girl’s day,” Shay said. “So let’s do the dishes and we can see what kind of movies that your brother has in stock.”
Ray laughed softly, “Nothing that we would like to see” as she helped clear the table and they did the dishes together which took only about ten minutes. They were finishing when Todd and Cordial came back into the kitchen.
“We are heading to our meeting,” Cordial said as Todd stepped toward Ray and wrapped his arms around her kissing her passionately on the lips.
Shay smiled as she walked around them towards Cordial who pulled her into his arms.
“Thank you,” he said softly kissing her lightly and Shay just hugged him.
“What would you like for dinner?” she asked him as they walked to the door.
“I do not know. I will think about it and let you know,” he said trying to be teasing but his eyes were shadowed by pain.
“Okay,” she said as Todd followed him out the door to his truck.
After they watched them leave, Shay closed the door and turned to Ray, “Come on, time to raid your brother’s movies.”
They did exactly that but they only find one movie that they could agree upon so they watched it, which took a couple of hours.
“What shall we do now?” Ray said.
“Well, I do not know. We can not do each others nails as I do not have any polish and such,” Shay said and Ray giggled. Shay looked at her and knew that she was scared and upset.
A Ghost of the Past Page 10
