“That’s true. I remember when our daughter, Morgan, met Shaun. She judged him so harshly for being from a family that is perceived poorly. I didn’t think the man stood a chance, because she was being so stubborn and hardheaded. But look at them now. Not only did he marry her, but he adopted her son.” It had surprised me, too, that Shaun had a heart.
“That must make you very happy.”
“At first, Loras and I were worried he’d move them into the city where he lived. But the man has a heart bigger than the moon. He bought a house just a few down from us so we could all remain close.” Elizabeth’s eyes glistened as she spoke. “You have no idea what a blessing he has been to us all. The entire family has rallied around Tyler, our grandson. Do you know they have a Walk For Autism each year? And they not only all donate, but they walk with us. I make new T-shirts with Tyler’s picture on them and write TEAM TYLER. Each one of them wears theirs, including their children. I’m telling you, Morgan meeting Shaun was the best thing for her and Tyler.” Perhaps Shaun doesn’t have traces of his father in him. That’s why he is a Henderson with a heart.
Loras added, “It takes special people to love another person as they are and not as you wish them to be.”
She could understand that. It’s what she’d been searching for all her life. Grandpa Joe was like that, but the rest of her family wasn’t. They corrected her each step of the way. Even now Sarah told her everything she was doing wrong in her life. One day you’ll tell me what I’m doing right. Can’t you just be happy that I’m happy? She knew that wasn’t going to happen because deep down, Sarah wasn’t happy with herself.
“It sounds perfect,” Cori said as she poured them each a glass of cold lemonade.
“Perfect? There is no such thing. And if that’s what you’re looking for or waiting for, you’ll be sadly disappointed. You have to look at life as a bunch of moments all put together. This one is a good example. We’re sitting here together enjoying a lovely lunch that was totally unexpected. Yet, yesterday there was a moment that could’ve made this one impossible.” Elizabeth reached out and touched her husband’s hand.
“I’m really glad you both came to see me today.” They were medicine for her soul. The saying to stop and smell the roses had just become more than words. It was something she’d forgotten to do lately. These two were a good reminder.
“It’s our pleasure. We actually were hoping you’d come over tomorrow. It’s our wedding anniversary, and we’re having a small gathering at the house. It’s a very casual affair. A backyard barbecue.”
“Oh, I don’t want to intrude,” Cori said, looking at Loras.
Elizabeth smiled at her. “We wouldn’t be asking if we didn’t want you there. So we’ll expect you around noon. Now that that’s settled, how about a piece of that lovely pie over there calling out to me. Cherry is my favorite.”
Cori giggled on the inside. Pie does do that. It calls out for you.
“Should I make another for tomorrow?” Cori asked.
“I wouldn’t want to put you out, but if you show up with one, well, I won’t be upset,” Elizabeth said with a huge grin on her face.
Cori couldn’t believe she had actually agreed to go to a family gathering. This wasn’t just any family. It was most likely going to have some Hendersons there, definitely Shaun. She didn’t think Dean would remember her because he never gave her the time of day. Logan, on the other hand, might question things a bit too much.
That didn’t mean she wasn’t going. It just meant she was going to have some serious backstory thinking to do tonight. Whatever she did, Cori needed to make sure Elizabeth and Loras didn’t get hurt. They truly were wonderful people and didn’t deserve to be caught in the crossfire. They’re not making it into this story. Although, they are starting to make it into my heart.
After they left, Cori went to her computer to jot down what she’d learned regarding Shaun. She knew he’d married, but not the background. Loras had explained Tyler’s real father was ashamed of him and didn’t want anything to do with him. He’d gone to great lengths to make Morgan and Tyler’s life miserable.
There were, unfortunately, plenty of people like that in this world. What shocked her was how compassionate Shaun was. How he’d taken her battle as his own and defended the two of them. He sounded like a person she would choose as a friend. Maybe he is the perfect son-in-law. Of course, he’d hate her when she found dirt on his siblings.
It would be so much easier if she could say it was all part of the job. That wasn’t the truth at all. This had started out very personal to her. She knew what her goal was, and victory was nearly within her grasp. Yet as she got closer, it was as though her vision was blurring. Was she letting her emotions get in the way of what she wanted?
That couldn’t happen. Whether she told them the truth now or later, it would have the same outcome. They’d never trust her again. All she could do was move forward. At least at the end of it all, she might have the career of her dreams, and Grandpa Joe’s revenge.
Her head was pounding. It wasn’t from the accident or the stress. This was a guilt headache, and she was earning every single throbbing ache. And then some.
Cori heard her phone ringing and hated to get up. That was what voice mail was for. Yet she was curious and had to answer.
“Hello.”
“Hello, is this Cordelia Sparks?”
“It is. Can I help you?” The male voice sounded familiar, but she couldn’t place it.
“This is Dr. Henderson. I’m calling to check on you.”
Oh, shoot.“I... um. I’m fine; thank you for calling.” She didn’t believe for one second that this was normal practice for him.
“I was wondering if you were free to meet with me.”
And I know for damn sure this isn’t either.She was going to play it off like she had planned. Keep it a doctor-patient issue and nothing more. Most likely she wouldn’t see or talk to him again after this call.
“Dr. Henderson, I’m truly back to normal. No further symptoms, but I sincerely appreciate you taking the time to check in.”