Page 19 of Caught Up In You (The Monroes 2)

“Everything okay?” he asked.

“Yeah,” Cora muttered, pulling her cell from her pocket. She didn’t want an audience for this, but she’d try to keep this as simple and as short as possible. “Just a call I’d rather not take.”

Answering, she put the phone to her ear and tried to shift closer to the door as if she could use her body as a sound barrier.

“Hello.”

“Corinne, ignoring my calls is no way to act,” her mother huffed, totally bypassing the traditional “hello, how are you” greeting. “This makes my fourth call today.”

“I’m aware of that, Mother. I’ve been busy.”

“Too busy for your mother? Well, Eric is worried and he would like to know where you are.”

Resting her elbow on the arm of the door, Cora rubbed her forehead, hoping to ward off the impending headache. Of course her mother would never admit to wanting to know where her daughter was—that would indicate she actually cared about something other than spreadsheets and financial numbers. And Eric didn’t give a damn either. He only wanted Cora as a stepping-stone to get to the top of Buchanan Chocolates.

Did anyone stop to think about what she wanted? No, which was precisely why she’d left. Her family was in constant denial about her health, which was how she ended up on a path that couldn’t be reversed. She may have been stuck living without her sight, but she didn’t have to be stuck living in a loveless lifestyle where she felt as if she were a marionette being jerked around and manipulated.

“I’m still in Georgia,” she explained, knowing that still wouldn’t appease her mom. “I have a house and a new job. I’m actually quite happy.”

“You can’t seriously be staying?” her mother asked, shock lacing her hoity-toity tone. “We need you here. The holidays are always an exciting time for the company and you know we have our annual ball coming up just before Christmas. I sincerely hope you’ll be in attendance. I’ve already ordered your gown.”

“I haven’t decided on that event yet,” she stated, cringing at the fact her mother ordered her a gown, just as she’d done the previous year and the year before that.

“Of course you will. Darling, who is taking care of you there? I’m worried someone is going to take advantage of you. Do you even care that I’m losing sleep over your move?”

The guilt card had been played so much throughout her life, Cora was immune. She closed her eyes, refusing to feel bad for wanting to live her life, for wanting to break away from the chains and control she’d lived under for years. And as far as who was taking care of her? She wasn’t even getting into that right now because for once in her life, she was taking care of herself and making the best decisions for what made her happy.

“I need to go, Mother. Assure Eric I’m fine.”

If Eric even wanted to know. She wasn’t even going to ask about her dad. Cora’s father maybe gave her a passing thought between holes seventeen and eighteen at the country club. He’d given her attention after her accident, but that loving period didn’t last long.

Cora ended the call before her mother could say any more. One had to be in the right mind-set to fully take on Barbara Buchanan and Cora was most definitely not in that mood.

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“I’m going to venture into territory I shouldn’t and assume you and your mother have a strained relationship?” Braxton asked.

Cora kept rubbing her head as she let out a sigh. “‘Strained’ would be a kind way to put it. We’re nothing alike and that has never gone over well with her. My parents and I had a difficult relationship before I went blind. Having an imperfect daughter only added to the mess.”

She’d never admitted that out loud to anyone, but now that the words were out, she didn’t regret them. The truth had glared at her for years, so why run from it?

“I doubt they think you’re imperfect.”

Cora smiled. “You don’t have to defend them. I wish the situation were different, but it is what it is and I’m dealing with it the best way I can.”

“By fleeing to Haven?”

The vehicle turned to the right, pushing Cora a little more against the door. “I didn’t flee,” she corrected. “I wanted a fresh start.”

“Fleeing,” he muttered as if agreeing with himself. “Do you want to go over that list of supplies or did your mother drain your energy?”

Cora was tempted to tell him she wanted to be alone and they could go over the list tomorrow. But, in doing that, she would give her mother the control and Cora was done letting that happen. Besides, her mother always drained her energy and would most likely do it again tomorrow when she called. Cora might as well focus on the life she had going for her, the future she wanted to start building.

“We can go over it.” The vehicle came to a stop and Braxton killed the engine. “Are we back at my house?”

“Um . . . no. I’m hungry so I pulled into this little burger place that’s popular in town. Since I had you out all day, we didn’t get lunch.”

Part of her was irked he didn’t ask and assumed she wanted to eat lunch with him. Another part of her, the part that was still reeling from his kiss, was pretty excited he’d thought to take her to lunch.

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