The nurse smiled at them sympathetically, “Once the bullet is removed, and the spleen repaired, the surgeon will want to make sure that there is no more bleeding before closing her up. The surgery could take anywhere from three to six hours depending on what happens when they begin.” Ray and Todd both nodded as Cordial finished signing the papers.
The nurse looked over them and said, “As you are considered family, you are welcomed to stay here in the waiting room. There is a drink and snack machine around the corner, and the cafeteria is on the first floor if you get hungry.” Then the nurse looked towards Cordial thinking that he was a handsome man, but his face showed his turmoil and the heartbreak that he was suffering. She laid a hand on his arm, “She is in the best possible hands. Miss Montgomery will be just fine.” She patted his arm and hurried back through the ICU doors.
Cordial sighed as he sunk down into one of the chairs. Ray and Todd settled next to him before Todd said, “We should make a few phone calls.”
Ray nodded her head as Cordial said, “I need to call her friend, Amanda, I believe her name is. Shay told me once in passing that she was like a sister to her, but I do not have her number.”
Cordial looked over at Ray and she almost cried as she saw the destruction on his face, “Do you know where Shay’s cell is since Amanda’s number is in it?”
Ray nodded as she said softly, “The police have it.”
Todd immediately stood up, “I will give the Sheriff a call and see if we can get back her thinks.” Cordial and Ray nodded their heads as he headed out of the waiting room. Ray put her hand into her brother’s and he gripped it tight.
“I cannot lose her Ray,” he whispered. “Ever since she has come to town, I have never felt so alive. Even when I was dating Charity, it did not feel like this. Charity was great in bed, but she never made me laugh or teased me as Shay does. Before that day with Dillon, I was going to ask Shay to help me repaint the house but I let my anger at Charity drive a wedge between us. I left her alone because I did not want the image of Charity to tarnish how I saw Shay.” Cordial looked at his sister with tears in his eyes, “Shay already thinks that I have feelings for her because of the fact that she and Charity resemble each other, but it is not her fault that they are twins, or that I met Charity first.”
Ray nodded her head then her jaw dropped, “Twins?”
Cordial looked at her and then he began to explain to Ray what they found out, which helped him to gain his control. Ray was stunned into silence after he told her.
“No wonder they look so much like,” Ray muttered.
“It is the only thing that they really have in common,” Cordial admitted. Ray nodded her head as her dad’s words came back to her “only in looks”. They heard footsteps and looked up to see Todd walking over to them with a smile on his face, “The Sheriff is sending over Shay’s things now because her things have been cleared from the scene.”
“Thank you, Todd,” Cordial said putting his face in his hands as Todd settled next to Ray who had a shocked look on her face. Todd frowned as he asked, “Did I miss something?”
Ray nodded her head, but said to him, “I will tell you later.”
They waited for another hour until a deputy arrived with Shay’s things, which Cordial had to sign for and he swallowed as he saw her luggage stained with blood before he took her cell out of the plastic bag they had placed it in to protect it.
“Ray, can you do me a favor?” he asked quietly, and Ray nodded her head.
“I am going to go downstairs and call Shay’s friend. After I get back, can you take her luggage back to my house and unpack, then get rid of it,” Cordial asked lifting his head to look into her eyes.
Ray nodded her head, “Yes, big brother. What are you going to do about the…?”
Cordial was heading for the elevator, the only thing he said over his shoulder was, “I will take care of it.”
He turned around after he walked in the elevator and Ray trembled at the hardness of his eyes.
“Whoever shot Shay better hope like hell that they are never caught,” Todd said as he slid an arm around Ray. “If Cordial catches them, they will be wishing that they never pulled the trigger.” Ray nodded her head as she settled her head on his chest thinking that someone was going to pay dearly for hurting the woman that her brother loved.
Cordial walked out of the hospital and strode to his truck before he flipped open Shay’s phone. His number was the first one that he noticed when he went through her contacts before he found the number for Amanda, and then he pushed send knowing that it was faster than calling from his own cell.
The phone rung twice before it was picked up.
“Shay, where are you,” the voice said with a hint of desperation. “Jack went go pick you up from the airport and they said you never boarded the plane.”
“Ma’am,” Cordial said quietly, and he heard the silence on the other end.
“Who is this? Why do you have Shay’s phone?” the voice said more desperately.
“My name is Cordial O’Ryan,” he stated. “I need to tell you something but I need you to calm down first if you can.”
Cordial listened as the woman try to calm her breathing before she said, “The man Shay cares about.”
“I truly hope she does,” he said honestly.
“Okay, I am as calm as I can be, so what is going on?” she asked in a stern voice.
“No wonder you and Shay are such good friends,” he said with a shake of his head. Then he proceeded to tell her what happened since the last time she talked to Shay.
Amanda had to sit down as the man told her that Shay had been shot again and right now, she was undergoing surgery to remove the bullet and repair her spleen. Her husband walked in as he was explaining this and taking one look at her face, he took the phone from her, and ordered, “Who the hell is this?”
Cordial heard the angry tones of the man and although he wanted to bite back, he knew that it was not the time. He explained who he was and started all over telling him what was going on.
Cordial heard the woman say, “I need to be there with her.”
Cordial quickly said, “I understand that you paid for a plane ticket for Shay. I will reciprocate that and pay for a plane ticket for you and your wife to come here.” He waited for the response and he could tell that when the man said “okay”, it was with reluctance.
“Let me make a quick phone call and I will call you back,” Cordial said and he listened for a few minutes before he said a hurried “goodbye” and hung up. Within twenty minutes, Cordial had two reservations under his name for a flight from Providence to Middleton where the airport was located. He would go pick them up when their plane landed.
He called back the number and gave them the information they needed to board the plane, and he gave them his cell number to call him if they arrived earlier then the estimated time.
“Do not worry about finding a place to stay for you are welcomed to stay in my home as long as you are here,” he told them. A few minutes later, they all hung up so they could get ready to catch their plane and Cordial had to make a few more phone calls. One to Nettie who was still out of town but he called her cell and left a message. He called Mark and Pauline for although they were on the cruise, they would be upset with him if he did not let them know. He made once last phone call, and that was to a service to have his driveway clean for he did not want Shay’s only family to see her blood lying all over his driveway. He headed back inside the hospital; there was one person he had to see before he headed back to wait on any news about his woman.
He knocked on the door and heard his dad’s voice calling “come in.” He walked in and his dad smiled as he saw him until he took in his appearance.
“What is wrong, son?” he asked in his still raspy voice, and Cordial walked over to the chair by the bed and sat down.
He took a deep breath and began, “Dad, I have something to tell you and I want you to stay calm…” before launching int
o everything that has happened.
Chapter 25
Cordial walked into the hospital room to see Amanda sitting next to Shay’s bed as she slept. It has been a little over two weeks since Shay was shot and she was healing from her surgery slowly although the doctor said she had another two weeks before he would release her.
“Hi Cord,” Amanda said softly stretching in her chair.
“Hi Amanda,” Cordial returned giving her a slight smile before turning his gaze to Shay. His smile slipped as he looked at her and he walked over to the bed. He lightly brushed back some of her hair that had settled over her eyes, and at his light touch, her eyes flickered open.
“Hi, sweetheart,” he said softly to her. Shay’s green eyes were wary, but she gave him a slight smile as she took his hand lacing their fingers together.
“Hi,” she said just as softly. He squeezed her hand lightly and her smile grew, but the wariness in her eyes remained.
Cordial grimaced mentally as he listened to her and Amanda talk. Although she smiled at him and held his hand, he could sense that she was waiting for him to mess up again. He watched her as she listened to Amanda, and her plans for the nursery that her and husband were furnishing in their home. Her green eyes were shadowed with pain for a second before she blanked them, but Cordial caught the flicker before her eyes blanked, and his hand tightened. She glanced at him with a question in her eyes and he shook his head as he leaned forward to kiss her forehead. She blushed lightly before turning her attention back to Amanda who was watching them with a twinkle in her eye.
Shay just glared at her and Amanda laughed as she said, “I miss my husband.”
Shay sighed, and then she said with authority, “Go home, Amanda. I am doing better, and Cordial will be here for me.”
Amanda looked at her, “Are you sure? I really do not want to leave while you are still in the hospital.”
Shay shook her head at her gently, “I am sure. Right now, the only thing I am during is healing,” and being bored but she did not say that aloud. “I know that your husband is missing you so go home. Finish decorating and furnishing the nursery.”
Shay could see the shining light in Amanda’s eyes and she smiled as a voice from the doorway said, “Thank God, because I miss my wife.”
Amanda’s head swung around to see her husband standing in the doorway and she was out of her seat into his arms.
Shay just laughed as they kissed passionately and she turned head away for discretion.
“They truly love each other,” Cordial whispered in her ear, and she nodded her head as she leaned her head onto his shoulder. She could not help it for although she was prepared for heartache, she was in love with him so she would take what she could for now.
“I love you Shay as a sister, but can I please have my wife back?” Jack pleaded that Amanda hit him in the arm, and Shay laughed.
“Of course you can,” she said. Then she said teasingly, “For now anyway as she is my best friend.”
He laughed, “I would never try to split you two up. Besides, I owe you for it was not for you, we may not be here right now together.”
Shay laughed again as Cordial looked at her questionly, and she just mouthed, “I will explain later.” He nodded his head as they talked and joked with Amanda and her husband.
“We are leaving tonight, honey,” Jack said to her and Amanda frowned until Shay said, “I will be fine, Amanda, I promise. I will call you when they release me.” Shay did not say that she did not know where she was going when they released her, but she would worry about that when it happened
“Okay,” Amanda said, and then she hugged her tightly.
She turned to Cordial with a glare, “You will take care of my friend, O’Ryan, or I will come back here and kick your ass.”
“Yes, ma’am,” Cordial said to her seriously.
She nodded her head before Cordial said, “Let’s get you two to the airport.”
Jack gave Shay a hug and whispered, “If you need us, do not hesitate to call.” Shay nodded her head as he stepped back from her.
Cordial walked over to her and said, “I will see you later because I am going to have dinner with you.”
Shay looked at him in astonishment but she smiled, “I would enjoy that.”
He laughed and gave her a kiss before they walked out of the room giving her a goodbye.
“Call me when you get home,” Shay said as they walked out and Amanda looked back at her with laugh, and nodded her head.
Shay leaned back after they left for she was sore, but it was manageable. She settled on the bed as she turned on the TV looking for something to occupy her time when she noticed they were playing “The Good Witch” with Catherine Bell, and she turned to the channel as she relaxed to watch the movie.
Four hours later, and two movies, the nurse poked her head around the door and smiled as she noticed Shay was awake.
“Hi, Miss Montgomery,” she chirped.
“Please call me Shay,” Shay said to her reading her name “Alice” from her badge.
Alice checked her and gave her prescribed medicine as she made small talk with her before saying, “You have a visitor, but she is not on the visitors list.”
Shay thinking that it was either Miss Nettie or Pauline who had called her but they have not been able to come see her yet, told the nurse it was okay, so she was surprised when the nurse ushered in Susie, the server from the café.
“Five minutes,” the nurse said to Susie, and she nodded her head as the nurse closed the door. Then she turned narrowed eyes to Shay lying on the bed, “We need to talk about Cord.”
Shay looked at her, “What about Cordial?”
Susie sneered at her, “I know that he is spending all his time here with you when he leaves work.”
Shay did not deny it, “He does it to keep me company.”
Susie stepped closer to the bed so she could lean down and looked into her eyes, “Do not read anything into it. He is just being nice to you because you look like Charity. Once this fascination passes, he will come back to me.”
Before Shay could make a comment, another voice said harshly, “I think that is my choice, don’t you?”
Both of them turned their heads to the door to see Cordial standing just inside the open door. His eyes were narrowed on Susie, as Shay said quietly, “She was merely telling me to watch myself, Cordial.”
Cordial turned his gaze from Susie to Shay. His eyes softened slightly, “I know what she was trying to do, Shay.”
He turned back to Susie, as Susie pulled herself together and she let a few tears build in her eyes, “You have not called me or seen me in weeks.”
Cordial nodded his head, “No, I have not because I have been busy, but I also dislike it when people lie.”
Susie paled as she stammered, “I…don’t know what you mean.”
Cordial sighed as he walked further into the room after closing the door, and he placed the basket on the only chair in the room.
“Susie,” he began, “I liked you and I did enjoy our time together, but you and I both know that nothing else was going to happen between us. For one thing, I do not like the fact that you had everyone thinking that I took you to my house. There has only been one woman to go to that house besides my sister.”
Susie pouted, “You would have taken me to your house.”
He shook his head gently, “No, I would have not taken you to my house because I never take the women I sleep with to my house unless I really want to.”
Then he frowned, “To be fair, I probably would have considered it if I had not…”
He trailed off but Susie said with a question, “If you had not, what?”
He ran a hand through his hair, “If I had not met Shay.”
Susie looked at him stunned for a moment, and then she started laughing, “You are stuck on your dead fiancée so bad that you are more willingly to spend time with her look-like then with a real flesh and blood woman.” She shook back her ha
ir as she glared at him, “You’re lost because when you realize that you want me, I will not be available anymore.”
She left the room with a toss of her head and a sway of hips, and Cordial looked at Shay as Shay stared thoughtfully at the door.
“Shay,” he said quietly, and she turned her gaze to him.
“You hurt her, Cordial, but I think it was more her pride then anything else,” Shay commented quietly.
He laughed lightly, “You are worried about her.”
Shay thought for a moment then she shook her head, “No, Susie will land on her feet. Besides, I think she saw you as some kind of challenge.”
Then she changed the topic, “I am hungry. What did you bring?”
He laughed again as he started pulling the containers out of the bag, and Shay’s mouth watered as she recognized fried chicken, cole slaw, biscuits, and even home fries.
“Wow,” was her only comment as they begin to eat, and when the nurse walked in a few minutes later, she glared at them, but she did not say a word.
“Probably not the healthiest meal for recovering from surgery,” Cordial commented as he threw away their trash.
Shay shrugged, and then grimaced slightly.
“So have you talked to any more of the men on the list,” she asked, and he frowned slightly as he nodded his head.
“Ray and Todd have been doing it for me,” he stated, and she nodded her head looking at him.
“And we will discuss it when you get back to the house,” he added to watch her frown.
“Am I going back to your house?” she asked.
He took her hand in his and lightly stroked his thumb across the top as he said, “Shay, I never meant for you to leave the house. I was just upset because Charity knew that I merely tolerated Dillon. It hurt to know that she slept with him knowing how I felt about him even though he is my cousin.”
Shay nodded her head in understanding, and whispered, “I am sorry.”
“Nothing you need to apologize for,” he said putting a light kiss in the palm of her hand. He saw the wariness in her eyes dim just a little before she smiled.
A Ghost of the Past Page 14
