“How’s Seth doing?” asked Cori
“He’s scared like we all are. But he’s glad you came to see him.”
“You know too?”
“Yes, my dear, I do.”
“I’m not promising anything.”
“He just wants a chance and some or lots of your time and attention.”
“That’s a scary prospect. He should run like crazy.”
“He’s not a good runner” joked Isaac. Cori chuckled with him.
Inside, Seth met her at the door. Isaac took their bags to the rooms. “Can I hug you?” asked Seth. Cori nodded and Seth gently enfolded her into his arms while she wrapped her arms around his neck. Isaac was back in a short minute and winked as her as he passed by on the way to see Millie.
“Who did you tell and what did you tell them?”
“I’ll tell you later.”
“I’m holding you too that.”
“Are either of you hungry?” Seth asked leading Cori into the living room where Mindy was entertaining her grandmother and Isaac. Mindy nodded so that propelled everyone to the dining room where Beth, Seth’s housekeeper and cook, served them lunch. After lunch, Mindy went to take a nap and Millie went to lie down also. Seth’s first request was to hear the recording of his mother’s doctor’s appointment. Cori retriever her recorder and played it for him.
“That was too short, I want more information.” Seth said frustrated. “So do I email or try to get Micah home?”
“I wouldn’t, not yet anyway.” Isaac answered. Cori agreed. “Get some answers first, Seth. Then you can decide. Your mom should help make the decision.”
“That makes more sense. Thanks.”
The room was quiet for a while as all three contemplated the seriousness of a potential leukemia diagnosis on someone they all loved. Finally Isaac broke the silence “Okay, folks, I need to go run an errand. It was wonderful to see you again Cori.”
“See ya, Isaac and thanks for everything.” Isaac nodded and left Seth’s study.
“Hi” Seth said as he went to sit by Cori on the sofa.
“Hi” she answered.
“So, do you remember Saturday night?”
“Yes, the good and the bad.”
“Which part am I?”
“Part of me says neither, you’ve confused me and scared me.”
“What kind of scared?”
“Not that kind. I’m not afraid of you like being abused by you. I’m scared for you and for me. Why didn’t you run like I asked you too?”
“I can’t and I don’t want too.”
“You should. You really should.”
Seth remembered her words from his back porch all those years prior. He looked at his hands but questioned Cori “Is this where to turn and walk away from me like you promised on my back porch that day?”
“If I turn and walk away it will be for your best good not because of some loser promise I made in high school.”
“It won’t be my best good if you walk away from me. I know it won’t.”
“We don’t know that yet.”
“Will you go with me and work on being an “us”?”
“Are you really sure, Seth?”
“I am really very sure, Cori.”
“And when I get scared?” Cori questioned looking at her hands and not Seth.
Seth’s gaze was warm and caring when he tipped her face up so she’d look at him. “Talk to me. You know I would never physically abuse you, you are secure in that aren’t you?”
“Yes. There is a type of person who is an abuser and you don’t have those characteristics. Roger did but I didn’t see them because I didn’t know what they were.”
“I got extremely angry when I heard your talk last week. I wanted to pound him into the ground and the same with Stan on Saturday.”
“That’s okay. John does too and I know he would never hurt me. He protects me from Mrs. Morgan.”
“Why is that necessary?”
“She calls sometimes and asks when I’m going to stop the charade of saying that Roger was a wife abuser. And when I’m going to donate his NFL memorabilia to Ridgemont and USC?”
“Over my dead body” He grumbled.
“Easy, Seth.” Cori soothed as she patted his hand “Roger’s football stuff is in the NFL Commissioner’s office if it even still exists. As for the other, I don’t talk to her. John and Pearl screen most of my calls. And Mrs. Morgan has no idea about Hannah’s House or Warm Comforts.”
“Cori, I’m sorry.”
“Enough about the Morgan’s.” Cori said gently clasping his hand. “He can’t hurt me anymore, it is over.”
Seth picked up her hand and kissed the back of it. “You are amazing.”
“I wish.” She teased. “But thanks for saying that.”
“I mean it too, missy.” He pretended to be fierce. Cori just smiled and squeezed his hand again.
“Can I have a tour of your house?” Seth nodded and took her on the grand tour.
Mindy was awake by the time the tour was over and it was time for her t-ball practice. Millie had the energy to go and Cori agreed to go so all four loaded into Seth’s car and went to the park where the practice was held. Millie and Cori went to sit on the bleachers while Seth walked Mindy over to her team. He had a few quick words with Isaac then moved to sit down by his mother and Cori.
Seth chuckled to himself when he saw that Cori had a sketch pad on her lap and the colored pencils in her hand. The bear was mostly drawn already but she was sketching the clothes and the accessories. He noticed the way she compensated for no grip by resting the pencils between her index finger and her middle finger.
Cori looked up from her drawing and shrugged. “Did I talk about this?”
“You did. You’ve compensated well.”
“Lots of practice. Speaking of practice, watch her not me.” She pointed to Mindy.
“Ooh, a temperamental artist” he teased “that information is worth knowing. I better watch it, don’t you think Mom?”
“Yes, dear, I believe you should. I heard she has a mean left hook.”
Cori groaned but Seth laughed “I know, I saw it firsthand. She tells me to walk away from a fight and an instant later she creams the guy.”
“I heard. Even the sheriff was impressed.” teased Millie
“I’m ignoring both of you.” Cori muttered. Millie patted her shoulder and Seth laughed. Cori kept drawing except when Mindy was batting or involved in a play then she was cheering loudly for the little girl. One time she took out her camera and snapped Mindy’s picture when she was at bat. She had an idea which she would do in private. For now she went back to drawing on her bears.
Seth was working late in his study when Cori came and knocked on his door.
“Hi, come in” he said motioning with his hand. “I thought I was the only one up.”
“I ummm I don’t sleep much so I draw. I was thinking as I was drawing and …..well I drew a couple of things. If you think it is stupid, it is okay. I’m sure you have tons of pictures of Mindy at t-ball practice but… and if you don’t like this it is okay but….I thought maybe it would be unique and well, I don’t draw people as well but…” Cori laid down a piece of paper on his desk. It was a picture of Mindy at the t-ball stand holding the bat on her shoulder. Seth was speechless, it was wonderful. He didn’t say anything so Cori reached for it.
“Don’t you dare.” He growled playfully flicking her with his finger. Cori snatched her hand back and laughed.
“Geez, Uncle Seth, no need to get testy.”
Seth beamed at her. “It is magnificent, Cori. Brilliant and beautiful. Thank you.”
“I thought maybe you could scan it and send it to Micah and Tish too.”
“Absolutely. And then I’m keeping the original and putting it under lock and key or Mom or Isaac or Micah or Tish will steal it from me.”
“It is just a drawing
.”
“It is not.” He stated. “It is a gift. All mine!”
“Good heavens Seth, you are going a little overboard on a picture.”
“No I’m not.”
“Forget I mentioned it and I’ll just keep these other things to myself and send them to you.”
“What other things? Give…” he motioned with his hand.
“Alright but they come with an explanation and move your hands away so I don’t lose mine…” she said shooing his hand away. Seth laughed and sat on his hands.
“I’ve being thinking about your presentation and wait….hands back…” she shooed again when he moved his hands toward his desk. When he sat on them again she laid two pieces of paper face down on his desk. “I have a couple of ideas. I won’t sell my entire collection in your catalogue but…if you agree to a couple of ideas then we maybe can make a deal. Back off , shoo..” she warned. “The first idea is, I’ll put my best seller in your catalogue if you agree to advertise it as a Hannah’s House bear. The deal is that you advertise a limited quantity of a thousand and ninety percent of the profits go to Hannah’s House. The second part is I design you your own bear and keep it out of my collections. I’ll create the pattern for it and sell you the design and the pattern but my workers make the clothes for it until we can’t keep up with your orders and we get a fee per piece.” She turned the pictures over “this one is mine and this one would be yours.” Hers was the same bear as Mindy’s but in a different outfit and his was a bear lounging on a beach towel with a beach umbrella, sunglasses, a swimming suit and a flowered beach shirt or a t-shirt with a tie-dyed design.
“Can I move my hands, now?” he questioned. Cori nodded and took a step back and clasped her hands behind her back.
“I can design different clothes for yours or your own design team could when they had the pattern or we can forget it if you don’t like them.” Seth picked up both pictures and walked around his desk as he inspected them. Cori didn’t trust that goofy grin on his face so she backed away from him playfully.
“My hands are my business, be good.” She teased. “Stop it.” She laughed when he advanced on her with a huge smile. She ran around the chair behind his desk and used it as protection. She knew he wouldn’t hurt her but he looked so goofy. “Seth, knock it off and say something.”
“We can negotiate I believe. It is a good idea. I like mine better but someone is too stubborn.”
“It is my company.” She defended. He smiled at her and came around to where she was behind his chair.
“I know my dear. I like the idea. Let me run it by my staff on Monday and then we will let you know. Do you remember that I’m working on a tight deadline?”
“I can work with that. He’s basically designed from my perspective and the pattern shouldn’t take too long. I’ll have my best seamstress make a prototype after the pattern is done and then he would be yours.”
“You are amazing.” He said gently touching her hand that rested on his chair. Cori blushed and shook her head.
“I like my job.” She countered.
“Did NYU want to toss your cute little butt to the street when you designed bears in their Art History class?”
“I didn’t exactly design bears. I have the cutest little boa constrictors that I showed my professors. He passed me but I received a oh my word how could you glare when I handed in my final project.” Seth burst out laughing. He laid the pieces of paper back on his desk and gently pulled her into his arms.
“The pictures, all of them, are beautiful.”
“Thank you” she said softly. He held onto her for several minutes just enjoying holding her. He gently kissed her cheek as he released her.
“Now, beautiful, it is midnight and Mindy is an early riser so I’m off to bed.”
Cori blushed at his endearment. “Me too. See you in the morning.”
“I certainly hope so.” He said. “I’ll walk you to your room.” He shut down his computer then clasped her hand in his and led her from the room. At her bedroom door, he raised her hand and kissed the back of it. “Sleep well” he whispered.
“Good dreams” she whispered back at him. He reluctantly released her hand and she stepped into her room and he walked on to his.
Cori pulled into a restaurant parking lot and shut her car off. She was flustered and not thinking clearly so she needed a break. She was lost. Faith was going to say I told you so. Seth would laugh gently. She looked at her map again but she didn’t see any of the streets listed. She was going to have to call someone. She had said goodbye to Seth, Millie and Mindy just a few minutes ago but knew that they were in a rush to the doctor’s office so she voted for Isaac instead. Seth had programmed all his and Isaac’s phone numbers into her cell phone so she found Isaac in her address book and called him.
“This is Isaac Walters.”
“This is Cori.”
“Hello, Miss Cori. What can I do for you?”
“I’m lost in Houston and can you not tell Seth?”
Cori could hear the laughter in Isaac voice when he answered “I thought you had a map.”
“I do but I still got lost.”
“Tell me where you are.” He said still trying to not laugh. Cori told him the street signs she could see and the name of the restaurant where she was parked. Isaac thought for a minute the easiest way to get her out of the neighborhood and back onto the highway towards home. “Okay, I’ll guide you out of the neighborhood are you ready?”
“Yes” she said starting her car and backing out of the parking space and over to the street again. Isaac told her which was to turn and where until she finally saw the entrance to the freeway again. “Oh, thank you. I’m back to the freeway and now I know the way again. I appreciate your help and you can laugh now.”
“Why would I laugh now?”
“Because you are dying too. You can either laugh or tell Seth but not both. Oh, and not Faith either.”
“Missy, you are just mighty bossy. I’m calling you back in five minutes for a progress report.”
“Thanks, Isaac. Talk to you later.” She said disconnecting. Cori chuckled herself when she pictured Isaac’s smiling face laughing at her and telling both Seth and Faith. As she drove along she was thinking about Seth and how he seemed to really like her and she was a bit overwhelmed. When her phone rang she noticed it had been about five minutes so she answered “Hi Isaac”
“Hey beautiful.”
Cori was surprised that it wasn’t Isaac. “Hi Seth.” She laughed “He called you already?”
“I’m afraid so. Are you okay and on the right road now?”
“I’m fine and I know where I am now. There shouldn’t be any more problems.”
“We are at the doctor’s office but call me back when you get back to Catesville.”
“I will, thank you for checking on me.”
“You are welcome, drive carefully.” He emphasized. Cori agreed and then disconnected the call.
When Cori arrived back home, she checked in with her mother and found out that there was a new arrival. She went to find the woman and introduce herself. “Hi Monica, I’m Cori.”
“Hi” she said quietly. Her face was swollen from the beating she had received. Cori’s mother handed her a new ice pack. “Thank you for taking me in.”
“I’m glad you found us and I’m sorry you need us.” Cori said sympathetically “For your first few days here, just take it easy and heal. If you need something just lift the phone handset there and it rings to someone always. If you need a doctor again, they will get you one. If I’m not the one who answers the phone, I can always be called and I’ll arrive as soon as I can. But I’m not always the one you will need either. We have a minister who would come, we have a counselor who would come and we have honorary mothers and grandmothers who would come.”
“Thank you.” Monica said
“And unfortunatel
y there are a few rules for your safety. Number one, don’t venture out by yourself until we are sure the danger for you has passed. Number two, no phone calls out on any house phone or your cell phone. If you and someone else need to leave the facility, get an emergency locator pager from the front desk and keep it easily accessible at all times. We are trying to keep you safe. If you change your mind about being here, then you will be dropped off at the bus station but you cannot endanger other women by telling who is here. Are you willing to accept these rules?”
“Yes” Monica said. “I will.”
“Try to get some rest and heal.” Cori said gently. Monica nodded and then Cori and her mother left her room.
“How was your trip to Houston?”
“Can we have dinner tonight and talk about that?”
“That would be wonderful.”
“I’ll see you after work then.”
Cori embraced her Mom then headed over to her office at Warm Comforts. As she walked she called Seth.
“Hi” he greeted
“How was the doctor’s appointment?” Cori questioned. “How is your Mom feeling?”
“She’s tired after the appointment. The doctor seems nice and plenty smart. Mom seemed comfortable with her. There will be lots more blood tests over the next week or so. I’m bringing Mom home on Friday so she can pack for an extended stay and then we will return to Houston on Sunday.”
“Can I call her at your house to check on her sometimes?”
“She’d love that and will you call me at any number to check on me sometimes?”
“Yes. Um, since you’ll be here this weekend can we maybe talk and be specific on what we are doing?”
“That would be an excellent idea. When is good for you?”
“My PDA says that I’m free after one p.m. on Saturday or Friday after one p.m. I’m sorry I’m not good at spontaneous. I have to put everything down or I won’t remember to do it.”
“I’ll pick you up at on Friday afternoon at two pm and we will go for a drive out to Chickory Lake and have long talk.”
“Perfect. I already marked it down.”
“I have to get on a conference call or I’d continue to talk to you now. Bye, Cori”
“Bye Seth. Have a good day.” She said disconnecting.
Pearl handed Cori her messages and mail when she arrived at the office. John and Pearl brought her up to date on business then left her alone. Cori found two letters from Seth and two emails from him also. She opened the letter with the oldest postmark and read. Then she read the last letter then moved on to read the two emails. Parts of what he wrote almost made her cry because he was so kind and gentle. Part made her laugh and parts had her bewildered. How has this happened? Cori wrote a quick reply and then went off to walk the floor and then see Faith and Nia.