Page 49 of St. Lucia Escapades
Chapter 19
Cord
Cord was almost to Moira’s parent’s house when his cell rang. He answered hoping it was Moira. “Hello?”
“Do you really want Moira back?”
Cord frowned, “Who is…Roxi?”
“You got it buddy, now answer my question.”
“I want her back more than I need to breath.”
“Good. Now, I want you to listen to me very closely and I’ll help you get her back.”
Cord listen to what Roxi told him. He pulled off into a gas station, typed in the location she told him to meet her, and in minutes was heading in the opposite direction. About ten minutes later, he parked outside a modern looking apartment complex. Grabbing the file of information on Karina, he climbed out of his truck and headed for the lobby doors. Following Roxi’s instructions, he boarded the elevator and headed up to the fourth floor. He stepped off on Roxi’s floor and found her waiting outside her apartment door.
“Roxi.” Cord nodded.
“Cord.” Roxi returned, then stepped aside for him to proceed her inside. She led him to the sofa, and both sat. “Okay, so let’s get to the point. I talked to Collen about an hour before I called you and he told me you were coming here to talk to Moira. He also explained what had happened with that woman.”
Cord handed over the file, “This is what I was coming to show Moira. After that everything would be up to her.” Cord studied Roxi as she flipped through the files, watching her eyes widen more and more with each new piece of information. “You can imagine my reaction when all this stuff was revealed to me. I was shocked, confused, not to mention pissed off that she ruined things with Moira. Roxi, please. Please help me get her back. I need her.”
Roxi took a slow breath as she closed the file. She looked up and studied Cord. She could see the heartbreak and pain on his face. The same look that had been on her best friend’s face for the last week. “I’ll help you Cord. Moira has been miserable since she came back. If you want to make this right, you’re going to have to do exactly what I say. If Moira even knew I was helping you she’d have my head, probably yours, Collen’s and her parents too.”
“Wait, her parents?” Cord asked.
“Yes, her own parents. Maureen and Kiernan called me a few days ago and said that Moira barely leaves her room. Then yesterday, Kiernan said he called Collen. Look, you, and Moira belong together, and we all see that. Since she’s not willing to come out of her funk on her own, we’re going to help her.” Roxi explained.
“Thank you. Roxi, I swear to you, I will not hurt Moira. In the short time I’ve known her, I know that she and I belong together and I’m willing to do anything and everything I can to prove that.” Cord stated.
“Good. Now, let’s get started.” Roxi smiled.
Moira
Moira sat in the chair just staring out the window of her childhood bedroom. For the last week she only left the bedroom to shower and eat dinner with her parents. Yes, she knew her parents were worried about her, so was Roxi, but Moira couldn’t bring herself to actually face the world. So, she just remained in her room. She watched as a blue jay landed on the branch of the oak tree outside the window. The bird just sat there staring at Moira. Moira just stared back. Almost as if she and the bird understood each other perfectly. Maybe on some level they did. After a few moments, the bird took flight and Moira wished she could do the same. Her thoughts were interrupted by a knock on her door.
“Moira? Honey, won’t you come downstairs for lunch. Please.” Maureen pleaded.
“No. I’ll fix me something later.” Moira answered, her voice sounding dull and lifeless, even to her.
Maureen sighed and stepped further into the room. Closing the door behind her, she moved to sit on the bed next to her daughter, “Moira, I understand you’re feeling betrayed, but have you even bothered to listen to the voicemails from Cord?”
“Why? He betrayed me mum. What excuse could he bloody well offer to excuse it? Tell me?” Moira demanded.
“Honey, you told me and your Da that he tried to explain but you left before he could.”
“I left before he could lie his way out.” Moira hissed. She suddenly surged from her chair and started pacing. “God mum, how could I be so stupid? I honestly believed that he loved me. How pathetic.”
“I donna think he was lying to you m'iníon ghrinn. Cord strikes me as an honest and loyal man. He’s nothing like that bastard Phillip. It’s because of him that you feel this betrayed by Cord. I believe, as does you Da, that there is more to this story. If you won’t come down, at least listen to the voicemails. Cord may have explained things in them. At least then you would have some information.” Maureen insisted.
Moira stopped pacing and faced her mom. Maureen said nothing more, only walked over, patted Moira’s cheek and turned to leave the room. Once more engulfed in silence, Moira thought over what her mom had just said. Could she be right? Could Moira have overreacted? Taking a few slow breaths, Moira retrieved her phone from her desk and brought up the nearly fifty voicemails that Cord had left for her the past week. Scrolling down, she brought up the first one from that night. Hands trembling slightly, she opened it and listened.
Cord
“Well, what do you think?” Cord asked, facing Roxi, Kat and Collen.
“I still can’t believe you pulled all this off in three days.” Roxi gapped.
