Page 52 of St. Lucia Escapades
It was then that Moira realized that tonight had been a set up and her parents and best friend had been in on it. As they passed her, Moira sent the three of them a glare and in turn they just smiled and walked away leaving her alone with Cord. She watched him closely as he sat across from her and placed a thick manila envelope on the table. Though Moira promised herself she wasn’t going to speak first, she heard her voice break the silence.
“What are you doing here?” she demanded.
“Enjoying opening night of my new venture.” Cord answered.
“What? You…you mean this place is yours and Collen’s?”
“Yep.” Cord nodded. “I got the idea after you and your parents had lunch with me, mom and Collen. While you were on your book tour, I started everything rolling. I got lucky with location and the rest just sort of fell into place.”
She was shocked. Cord had done all this for her. “Cord…”
“Wait. Moira, let me talk first…actually, here.” Cord pushed the envelope toward her. “I want you to look over this. I think it will explain a hell of a lot better than me trying to.”
With a trembling hand, Moira took the envelope and opened it. Inside were dozens of papers, pictures, and such. As she flipped through them, she could feel her eyes widened at what she saw and read. Everything he had said in his voicemails had been true. Karina was an obsessively disturbed woman who had been stalking Cord for years. There were documents from doctors stating how delusional she was. How Karina had honestly believed that she and Cord were still a couple and were going to be married.
There were pictures from Karina’s apartment and her various rooms from psychiatric hospitals that showed the home she believed she and Cord were going to have. A whole life she had built for the two of them. Moira couldn’t believe it. This was the stuff you saw in movies, tv shows, or read in books. But she was holding proof that sometimes truth was in fact stranger than fiction.
“My god.” She breathed.
“Moira, baby, I swear I never knew. The last time I saw her was the day of our college graduation. When I saw her at the bar that night, I was shocked. Then when she kissed me…I didn’t know what the hell was going on. I found out two days later from her parents that she had found out about you and then everything sort of made sense about what she was doing that night.” Cord explained. “She had been in New York, the weekend you came for the Five Finger Death Punch event and was actually at the bar that night and saw us together. Her parents figured that sent her on a downward spiral. Karina got herself hired at my Manhattan bar and planned her move. She must have heard me, Kat or Collen mention that you were on tour and so she just waited.”
“I…I canna believe this.” Moira said.
“I know, I couldn’t either, but it’s the truth.” Cord replied.
Moira put everything back in the envelope, slid it back to him and finally met his eyes fully. “W…what happens now?”
Cord
“That’s up to you baby. Moira, I love you and God knows I want you back. I’ll do anything you want to achieve that. I also know how much this hurt you and shattered your trust in me. Phillip is the root of your reluctance to trust me now and Karina added to that fear. But you now know everything. The ball is in your court now Moira. It will be up to you what happens with us.”
“Cord…I was so hurt and crushed when I saw you with her. I believed that you were just like Phillip, in that you didn’t love me.”
“No! Moira, I do love you. God, I love you so much. When you left that night, I felt like my whole world had been swallowed up by a black hole.”
“I…I need time. I have to process all this Cord.”
“I understand. Look, I was planning on tell you this that night. This pub, this was going to be my way of telling you that I want to be with you. I know your home is in DC and well, if that’s your home it was mine too.”
“What?”
“Moira, I’m moving to DC permanently. Collen will oversee New York and I will handle DC.” Cord slowly stood from the table. “Moira, I’m not going anywhere. I’m not giving you up without a fight. I want you to know that. You take your time, process this. I’ll be here when you’ve come to your decision.”
Cord moved to her, leaned down and softly kissed her. He fought to keep his tears in check. He knew that while she could just as easily come back to him, she could, on the flip side, walk away from him for good. He pulled back, reached up to stroke her cheek, then turned and walked away. His very future now rested with his heart sitting at the table behind him. He only prayed that she would give him, give them, a second chance at a future. Together.
Chapter 21
Moira
Moira stood on the porch of the home, trembling like a leaf. It had been three days since Cord had confronted her at his pub and told her, as well as showed her everything. After he walked away, she told her parents and Roxi she needed to leave and think. So that’s what she had done. Moira had left the pub, gone to her parents’ home, packed and returned to her own apartment. And for the last three days she thought about everything. Last night she made her choice and now she was here to tell Cord. Taking a deep breath, she knocked. Not a minute later, the door opened.
“Moira!”
“Hi Cord. Um, can I come in?”
Cord stepped aside and ushered her in. “Why are you here baby?”
Moira could hear the fear in his voice. He was afraid she was walking away for good. Well, she thought of the perfect way to give him his answer. Moira grabbed the front of his t-shirt, pulled him to her and raising on her tip toes, slanted her mouth over his. She felt his arms band around her as he returned her kiss. Moira’s arms locked around his neck and she pulled herself up so she could lock her legs around his waist.
