A Ghost of the Past

by Mary Goldberger

  “Okay,” Cordial said putting down his drink, “Bed for you, sweetheart.”

  “Are you going to join me?” she murmured teasingly as the others around the table laughed.

  “If you were not tired and still healing, I would take you up on that offer,” he stated with a laugh although everyone could hear the underlining seriousness.

  “I will remember to ask again then,” she said on a sigh as Cordial helped her from the chair and then she gasped as he swung her up into his arms with an arm under her knees.

  She wrapped her arms around his neck and leaned her head against his chest calling out a “goodnight” to the others as he walked out of the kitchen heading for the stairs to her bedroom.

  At the top of the stairs, he froze for a second until he started walking to his bedroom.

  “Cordial,” Shay murmured quietly although she was not protesting.

  He leaned down and kissed her softly before saying, “If you don’t mind, I would like for you to sleep with me tonight. Nothing else, but sleep I promise.”

  Her green eyes looked into his silver eyes, and she nodded her head as she remarked quietly, “I would like that for I have enjoyed you sleeping beside me the last few weeks.”

  He carried her into the room where he put her on her feet in front of his bathroom door.

  “This is the bathroom so you can get washed up and get dressed for bed. I will go get you something from your room, and be right back.” Without another word, he left the room to go get her something to sleep in.

  He was back in no time at all with a nightgown for Shay and he heard the running water in his bathroom where he knocked before opening it a crack.

  “Here,” he said passing her the nightgown and she mumbled a tired “thank you” before he closed the door.

  He walked back to his bed where he sat at the edge waiting for her to exit the bathroom. The door opened and Shay stepped out tired, but self-conscious for the nightgown was modest probably not what he was use to seeing on a woman in his room.

  She would have been amazed to know that the minute he saw her, Cordial’s breath stopped for a second until he remembered to breath. The nightgown clung to her rounded breasts to float around her curved hips before dropping to a few inches above her knees. Her feet were bare, and Cordial was enchanted to see that she painted her toenails, which enhanced her pretty feet.

  Shay blushed as he continued to stare at her and she said tiredly, “Not very sexy, I am afraid.”

  “Maybe not to some, but I find it to be very sexy,” Cordial said huskily as he got up from the bed and drew her into his arms to kiss her passionately. The kiss was unsuspected, but Shay did not hesitate to kiss him back until her tiredness took over and she wilted against him.

  Cordial felt her sag against him and he broke off the kiss as he, again, swung her up into his arms to carry her to the bed. He pulled back the covers and laid her down before pulling them over her as she looked up at him with tired green eyes, “I am sorry.”

  Cordial chuckled hoarsely, “Don’t be for I should have known better. Our day will come, hopefully. Now get some sleep.” He placed a gentle kiss on her lips and he crouched down next to the bed as she smiled at him before her eyes slid closed. He waited for a few more minutes listening to her breathing even out before he left the room quietly, but not before kissing her again lightly. He stood outside his door for a moment wishing that his guests were gone so he could curl in bed next to her and get some much-needed sleep, but he could wait, as he made sure his father was all right before he kicked everyone out for the night.

  Chapter 28

  He headed back downstairs where everyone was sitting in the living room, and Ray looked over at him as he walked in.

  “Is she sleeping, Cord?” she asked from the couch next to Todd. He nodded his head at her question, and Todd nudged Ray lightly as he noticed the look in his eyes. Ray taking the hint nodded her head as she quickly got to her feet, “I think Todd and I will call it a night. We will see you tomorrow, big brother.”

  She walked over to him, gave him a hug, and kissed him on the cheek. He smiled at her as Todd came up to them.

  “See you tomorrow, Cord,” Todd said placing an arm around Ray to steer her out.

  “Good night,” he called as they walked out and he started gathering up the glasses and cups they had used.

  “Son, she is going to be fine,” his father said from where he sat in his favorite armchair, and Cordial looked over at him to see how tired he was.

  “I know she will, Dad,” he said in agreement and then he frowned, “How are you feeling?”

  Vincent laughed, “Tired.”

  Lucille who had been lounging back on the loveseat said quickly, “Let me help Cord, honey, and we will go home.”

  Cordial said, “Thank you, Lucille, but I can handle it.”

  He did not want her hanging around because he just wanted to clean up and go back upstairs so he could take a shower and climb into bed with Shay.

  “Cord,” Lucille said with a slight frown, and his father said, “Lucille, he is a grown man. He can handle it himself. Besides, I think he would rather that we leave so he can clean up quickly and go back upstairs with Shay.” Vincent’s eyes twinkled at him and he could not help but laugh for his father could always read him.

  Lucille grimaced as she said, “I think it would be a good idea if the young lady came and stayed with us…”

  “No,” Cordial said in a voice filled with complete authority.

  Lucille’s eyes widened at his tone, and she placed a hand on his arm as she said, “Cordial, I am only thinking of the young woman.”

  Cordial looked at her with narrowed eyes, and for some reason, he doubted that was the reason for her offer.

  Vincent watched his wife’s actions and his eyes narrowed as some things flashed through his mind. He watched his son’s eyes narrow on her before he pulled his arm away from her to say lightly, “Thank you, Lucille, but Shay stays here with me.”

  Vincent watched as her mouth tightened in anger and her eyes flashed, but Cordial had turned away from her to finish collecting the glasses from the table.

  Lucille turned to Vincent with a little laugh as she said, “I tried, honey”. He saw the searching glance she gave him, but he gave her an easy smile and she relaxed, but behind his smile, his mind was working.

  “Cordial,” he said letting her help him to his feet, “we will say goodnight, and I will talk with you later.” Cordial looked up at that for whenever his Dad said that meant they were going to have a heart to heart.

  “Okay, goodnight Dad, Lucille,” he said nodding his head at his father in understanding. His father nodded his head, and Lucille gave him a graceful smile and said, “When Shay is feeling better, I will definitely come and get her so we can go shopping together.”

  Cordial nodded his head although he rather she did not take Shay out, and after they left he frowned.

  He finished gathering all the glasses and went into the kitchen to clean up in there. He finished ten minutes later, and with a deep sigh, he turned off the lights heading upstairs. He quietly went into his room to see Shay sleeping quietly although there was a frown on her face, and he wondered about it. He caressed her face before going into the bathroom to take a quick shower. Stepping out, he dried himself and put on a pair of boxers before going back into the bedroom. Hesitated for a second before going over to his dresser and taking out a pair of pajama bottoms that he rarely wore, but for tonight, he would.

  He slid into bed and gently placed his arms around Shay pulling her tight into his body. He sighed as she snuggled closer, and he kissed her gently before letting his eyes close as he let sleep take him.

  Shay had felt his arms pull her to him, and she sighed as the nightmare she had of Charity disappeared.

  Shay woke up with a jerk when she heard a door slam looking around her to notice that Cordial was not in bed with her. Ever since she was released from the hospital a week ago, she
had been sleeping in Cordial’s bed although they had not made love yet. She stretched and then she frowned wondering what was going on for normally Cordial woke her up before he left for work, and she got up from the bed. Going into the bathroom, she washed her face and brushed her teeth before going back into the bedroom to change as she moved some of her clothes into his room since it was easier for her. She changed out of her nightclothes into a pair of black jeans, a t-shirt, and a pair of sneakers being careful of her stitches although most of them had been removed already before heading downstairs.

  She frowned as she heard noise coming from the kitchen, and she headed in that direction to see Cordial, Ray, Todd, and Lucille standing in the kitchen.

  “I am going to cook breakfast,” Lucille was saying as she entered the kitchen quietly.

  “Lucille,” Cordial said in a frustrated voice, and Shay could feel the tension rolling off him.

  “That will be nice, Lucille,” she said quietly, and they all turned to her.

  She walked over to Cordial placing a hand into his and giving it a slight squeeze. She did not know what Lucille was trying to prove, or what her motive was, but Shay knew that something was up.

  “Fine,” Cordial said grudgingly as he squeezed Shay’s hand before saying, “Todd and I will be in the office as we need to iron out a few problems that we are having and hopefully in another week, we can take a few days off from work completely.”

  He watched as Ray and Shay’s eyes lit up with pleasure, and Todd laughed as he teased Ray, “So you want to spend some alone time with me, huh?”

  Ray blushed as she said, “Now why would I want to do something like that?” throwing him a teasing glance, and he groaned, “Tease”.

  Ray raised any eyebrow, “I am a tease, huh?”

  Todd smiled and winked at her as he said, “My type of tease.”

  Ray blushed again as the others laughed. Todd and Cordial were just about to head upstairs when Lucille called out, “Breakfast”.

  They all settled down at the kitchen table as Lucille brought over the food and she dished it out to everyone while Shay made the coffee. There was limited conversation as they ate their breakfast.

  Cordial had to admit that Lucille was a good cook and he told her so, and the others agreed with him.

  Lucille just smiled as she murmured, “Just a hobby.”

  Ray narrowed her eyes as she watched her stepmother and she knew that there was a reason for her coming over to cook breakfast.

  “So,” Lucille began, “What are your plans for those days off?”

  Cordial sat back in his chair as Todd said, “Nothing much. I thought I would take Ray to see that show she wanted to go see if it is still available.”

  “Really,” Ray said in excitement, and at his nod she launched herself at him.

  Shay and Cordial laughed as Lucille smiled softly before asking, “Do you have plans, Cordial?”

  He shrugged his shoulders although he wondered why the sound of his full name from her lips gave him the chills, “Nothing definite at the moment.”

  She said slowly, “I see” that she did not see his wink to Shay whose eyes widened in surprise. They talked some more until Todd and Cordial decided that they really had to get to work so that they could arrange those days off sooner than later.

  The women cleaned up the kitchen and afterwards, Lucille suggested that they should go shopping and have some “girl” time.

  Ray and Shay looked at each other but agreed to the suggestion. Shay went up to her room to get a jacket, and she noticed that her hair needed a trim something she would have to have done soon, she thought to herself absently as she walked out of her room.

  She headed to the office, knocked and poked her head around the door. Cordial and Todd looked up at her when she poked her head in.

  “We know,” Todd said. “Ray and Lucille both already came to inform us that you ladies are going shopping.”

  Shay laughed and said, “Okay, so I won’t say anything then.”

  They nodded their heads and she could tell that they were preoccupied with whatever they were discussing before she interrupted.

  “See you guys later,” she called out before closing the door. She was at the top of the stars about to head down when Cordial caught her by the arm and gently swung her around. He kissed her deeply before lifting his head.

  “Have fun and take care of yourself,” he whispered before pecking her lips.

  “O’Ryan,” Shay growled at him as he strolled back to the office and she heard his deep chuckle float back to her. She shook her head slowly as she started down the stairs, but there was a slight smile on her lips as she met Lucille and Ray at the door.

  Ray smiled knowingly as Lucille frowned.

  “Ready?” she asked giving them a charming smile before they headed out.

  They went to the mall where they looked around as Lucille offered to buy some things for Shay, but Shay only shook her head.

  They passed a salon when Shay said, “I really need to make an appointment and get my hair cut.”

  Lucille said, “We can go to my hairstylist. I am sure that he will make room for us.”

  Neither Shay nor Ray saw the satisfied look in Lucille’s eyes as they left the mall to head to her salon after placing their purchases in the trunk. Once they got to the salon, they were immediately shown in. Lucille and Ray decided to have a complete manicure while Shay got her hair cut. Lucille came back from talking to her hairstylist, “He will fit you in, Shay.”

  “Thank you,” Shay said as her name was called.

  She had sat down in the chair when the hairstylist, a nice looking man whose name according to his name plate was Julio, came over to her. He frowned as she pulled the scrunchy from her hair and her hair fell down to her lower back the tips brushing, if she was standing, her butt.

  “Such a shame, such pretty hair,” Julio muttered as he began to comb it.

  Shay frowned as she said, “What do you mean?”

  Julio looked at her as he picked up his scissors, “To cut your hair so that it brushes your shoulders…” he shook his head, and he was about to start his first cut when Shay stopped him.

  “Who told you that I wanted my hair cut that short?” Shay asked although she knew.

  Julio looked at her in confusion, “Isn’t that what you want?”

  Shay shook her head and his face broke into a relieved smile, “I just want the dead ends cut off maybe two to three inches, and layered. I had my hair cut short when I was younger and I did not like it so prefer to keep it long now.”

  Shay laughed as Julio’s face maintained the relieved look before he started trimming her hair taking off the few inches that she requested, and then he layered it. It took an hour because he also shampooed and conditioned it.

  “Not much change,” he said as he fluffed it out, but Shay just smiled.

  Julio laughed as he noticed the smile, and the green eyes alight with laughter. He had a flash to another woman with the same eyes who had bit her lip after seeing the result of her hair cut, and he had seen the look of contempt and scorn before she blanked them into a polite smile.

  “You are different than her,” he said aloud, and Shay just looked at him. He continued, “When I told her what Mrs. O’Ryan told me how she wanted it done, she did not contradict her. Although she was not happy with the result, she had put on an act for Lucille who was very satisfied.”

  He shook his head and Shay smiled, “Thank you.”

  “Shay, are you ready…” Lucille called coming around the corner, but before she had turned the corner, Julio pulled her hair up into a simple twist and pinned it up so it seemed shorter than it really was.

  Shay looked at him in confusion before she saw the devilment in his eyes as he whispered, “Let her think she had her way for a little while.”

  Shay was about to protest until Lucille came around the corner with Ray and saw her. Shay kept a calm face as Lucille smiled in satisfaction and Ray frowned.


  “Shay,” Ray began to be cut of by Lucille. So, Shay thought as they left heading back to Cordial’s, Lucille had to be the one who told Charity that Cordial liked short hair, and she took a quick peek at Lucille’s hair noticing that it definitely was not short.

  Lucille in the front smirked which Ray saw out of the corner of her eye. Oh, Shay, Ray moaned silently as Lucille’s eyes narrowed.

  Let’s see if he wants you now, Miss Montgomery, Lucille thought to herself. Each woman was in their own thoughts as they pulled into Cordial’s driveway.

  Cordial and Todd were just walking out of the house when they got out of the car.

  “We need to go to the construction site,” Todd told them as they walked towards them.

  “Everything okay,” Shay asked Cordial who was staring at her with a frown on his face and his silver eyes flashed with anger.

  “Fine,” he snapped at her. Shay pulled back quickly as she read the look in his eyes and she kept herself upright as she said, “Okay”.

  She walked into the house not looking back and headed to her room where she pulled hair down letting it slither down her back. Her eyes sparkled with rage; she was not Charity.

  “I am sorry, Cord,” Lucille said softly putting a hand on his arm. “I tried to stop her, but she said it was what she wanted.”

  Ray grimaced as Todd whispered, “She looks more like Charity now than before.”

  Cordial did not respond to either of them, “Let’s go” before he climbed into his truck. His silver eyes were burning with rage as he glared at the house in front of him.

  Chapter 29

  They were gone for four hours as Shay cleaned up the house. Lucille and Ray left just after the men not bothering to say goodbye. Shay made herself a simple meal and she sat in front of the TV to watch a movie. She was so engrossed in the movie that she did not hear the door as Cordial, Todd and Ray came in. Cordial glared at her as Todd walked over to the couch and put a hand on her shoulder.

  Shay reacted quickly. She grabbed his hand, twisted it and flipped him over the couch placing a knee in the middle of his back to immobilize him.