“Cordial you embarrassed her,” Vincent said as she cleared the table and started on the dishes.
“You helped,” Cordial shot back and he laughed.
Cordial watched his dad relax as they talked and he waited for what his dad wanted to talk to him about. They talked as Shay put away any leftovers and washed the dishes before she brought over a chocolate cake.
Vincent’s eyes widened at it as Cordial began to cut it when she sat it down, “Shay do you want some?”
“A small piece, Cordial,” she said bringing over the cake plates, “I do mean a small piece and not your idea of a small piece.” Both men laughed at her words as he cut them all pieces and afterwards Cordial made coffee as Shay cleaned the few dishes.
They went into the living room as Vincent settled into his favorite chair and Cordial settled on the couch with Shay next to him.
“So Dad,” Cordial began soon after they settled, “What was it you wanted to have a heart-to-heart about?”
Shay sat forward as if to get up and Cordial frowned at her. Noticing his frown, she said, “I think your father would rather talk to you alone so I will go upstairs and take a shower.”
“No,” Vincent said, “What I have to say involves you, too, Shay, so please stay.”
“Are you sure, Vincent?” she said looking at him with her green eyes.
“Yes, I am,” he stated firmly with a smile.
“Okay,” she said slowly but she settled back into the couch next to Cordial.
Vincent took a drink of his coffee as he gathered his thoughts before he began, “Cordial, I am just starting to piece together certain things that I had ignored. You know why I married Lucille, don’t you?”
Cordial nodded his head although he did not say anything.
Vincent sighed, “I was never in love with Lucille, but I thought that you and Ray, particularly Ray, needed a woman in your lives. I had not realized until later in the marriage that she was not much help to either of you. I was not stupid I know why Lucille married me: at first it was because of the money, I had it and she wanted it. Later, though, she wanted more and by that time, I thought it was easier just to stay married then worry about getting a divorce, but if I had known then what I know now then I would have obtained the divorce then.”
“What is that Lucille wants now?” Shay asked although she had a good idea and she snuggled closer to Cordial as if to keep him close to her and Cordial put his arm around her as he stared at his father.
“She wants you, Cordial,” his father said quietly and Cordial just stared at him with shocked eyes.
Lucille entered her home with a frown as she did not see her husband’s car outside. She wondered where he went, but she just shrugged it off.
Damn, she thought to herself as she headed up to her room, the dinner had been boring as hell and she had other things on her mind the whole time. Once in her room, she began to strip before heading to her shower. Letting the water fall down on her, she imagined Cordial in the shower with her running his hands down her body. When she met Vincent, she had thought he was sexy and she was attracted to him especially his money. When she met his children, she had not really paid much attention as Cordial had been only 16 at the time as Ray was only 12 so they had been no worry for her. When Cordial turned 18, everything changed. She had come home one day to see him and Ray by the pool area and she had immediately felt passion flair through her at the sight of him in a pair of swimming trunks. She knew he dated, but when he started bringing the girls to the house, she felt jealousy like she never knew although she knew that he was not serious about any of them. Charity, though, had been another matter entirely. Cordial had truly cared for her although Lucille could read her like a book so it had been easy to manipulate her to do certain things especially hooking her up with Dillon. Charity thought she had her ever a barrel with that one, but Lucille hid her smile as Dillon was loyal to one person…her. She had figured once Charity was gone then Cordial would be easy to seduce although she was seven years older than him, she was still beautiful as she rubbed her hands down her body lathering it. Cordial, instead, turned to drinking and holding Charity on a pedestal until Shay arrived. Now Cordial was smiling and he seemed happier, and she frowned as she realized Shay Montgomery was more of a threat than Charity had been. She finished her shower and stepped out wrapping the towel around as she headed for the bedroom.
She let out a short scream when she saw the figure on the bed until she realized who it was, and then she glared at him.
“Did I frighten you,” Dillon said sitting up letting his shirt fall open. Lucille looked at him and felt herself getting aroused. Dillon was very good in bed even if sometimes she was imagining that he was Cordial, but he did not need to know that.
“Dillon, you almost gave me a heart attack,” she pouted sweeping her hair to the back as she lifted her arms which caused the towel to slip and she saw Dillon’s eyes narrow in lust.
She smiled to herself as she walked over to the bed. Easy, she thought as she let the towel slip all the way down, he was just too easy that was why he was useful to her as he was easily controlled by his feelings. She lowered her body onto his aroused one as she worked her magic and then she would ask for his help one last time. This time, Cordial was going to be hers and nobody was going to stand in her way.
Chapter 36
Cordial sat tense on the couch as he looked at his father, “You know…”
Shay tensed next to him, “Cordial, you knew that Lucille wanted you.” Cordial ran a hand through his hair as he looked down into Shay’s bewildered eyes then he turned his eyes to his shocked father.
“I never really thought about it at first. I mean, she was our stepmother married to our dad, but sometimes I got this weird feeling around her. To be honest,” he said with a quick glance at Shay, “at first, I thought I was attracted to her and so…”
“You moved out,” Vincent inputted.
Cordial nodded his head, “It made me feel dirty somehow for lusting after my stepmother so I figured moving out would stop the feelings. It was also why I limited my time at the house and why I started bringing the girls home that I knew. Lucille assumed I was dating all of them and she showed her displeasure but I thought it was mainly because she did not think they were good enough for me. Lucille seemed to like Charity when I started bringing her around and the feeling I had was gone which made me think that it had been attraction.”
“Lucille is very good at hiding what she is truly feeling,” Vincent stated, “She disliked Charity out of all the women you brought home for the simple fact she knew that Charity was different. You may not have loved her like everyone thought, but you had deep feelings for her and Lucille sensed that.”
“You knew that I wasn’t in love with Charity,” Cordial asked his father.
Vincent smiled, “I was never really sure until I watched you tonight with Shay. When you and Charity were together, you never did that with her.”
Cordial and Shay looked at each other in confusion, and Vincent chuckled. “You didn’t even realize you were doing it which makes it even more obvious. When you were finishing up the meal and Cordial got the drinks, you were constantly brushing up against each other as if you could not stand to be apart. Your mom and I were like that, and if you look closely Ray and Todd do the same thing.”
Vincent watched them for a second then he said, “But Charity thought she was putting one over on Lucille too.”
Shay caught on faster than Cordial as she whispered, “Dillon.”
“What?” Cordial said looking between the two of them.
“Charity assumed that Lucille did not know that she was sleeping with Dillon although Charity was fooled by Dillon in thinking he truly cared for her,” Vincent explained as Cordial looked at him again shocked, “Lucille thinks I don’t know about her and Dillon, but I am not as stupid as she thinks I am. The fact that she has lusted after my own son since he was 18, I did miss for some time because I did not wan
t to see it but the others I saw and ignored.”
“Dad,” Cordial said his tone sad.
“Don’t Cordial,” Vincent said shaking his head, “I knew marrying her was going to be a mistake, but I did it anyway so I have only myself to blame. As for Lucille, she is merely biding her time until she thinks you are vulnerable again, Cordial.”
“Does she know about Shay?” Cordial asked tightening his arm around Shay as he said it.
“I think she is starting to realize that Shay is more dangerous to her plans than she thought,” Vincent answered swiftly.
There was silence until Shay broke it, “Just great, now I have to worry about a lust obsessed stepmother after my boyfriend.”
Cordial hugged her tighter to him as he realized she was right, but Vincent smiled as he repeated Shay’s words in his head.
“Right now, you are safe Shay,” Vincent said as he finished his coffee putting the cup on the table.
“Why is that, Dad?” Cordial said looking at him with a narrowed look.
“Because you have a guest bedroom, right,” Vincent asked and at his nod, “then would it be possible if I stay a few weeks here while I get some things in order.”
“Dad,” Cordial said with a worried frown.
“Nothing is wrong, son,” Vincent said quickly, “I just want to spend some time with my son and his girlfriend. Besides, my daughter and her fiancé spend more time here than they do at my house so if we are going to work on their wedding plans then I need to be able to see them.”
Shay giggled as Cordial laughed at his father’s words. “Okay, dad, you can have the guest room. Let Shay finish clearing out the room then it is all yours.”
Shay smiled at Vincent as she got up heading for the stairs and Vincent waited until she left before he looked at his son.
“Cordial,” he asked quietly.
“Shay said that she doubted Jessica killed Charity although Jessica said she did, but Shay believes that she had something to do with it,” Cordial said looking up at his father with hard eyes, “I will not lose Shay, dad, now that I found her. Shay means more to me than I ever thought possible.”
“Then you take care of her,” Vincent said and watched as Cordial frowned.
“That is what Jessica told me, too, before she died,” Cordial told him and they both looked at each other wondering if Jessica had been worrying about her safety too.
“Cordial, that feeling you had when you were younger…” Vincent began.
Cordial was shaking his head, “I found her attractive, dad, but I was not attracted to her. I think I picked up on her feelings and like you, I ignored them, but since I did, it made me think that it was me with the problem of lusting after my own stepmother who was older than me.”
Vincent could see the look of disgust in his face for what he thought.
“Cordial,” Vincent said leaning forward, “even if you had been attracted to her, it is nothing to be ashamed or disgusted with. Lucille is a very beautiful woman and she is only seven years older than you not twenty or even fifteen so don’t beat yourself up about it.”
Cordial looked at him and he smiled, “Thanks, Dad.”
“No problem,” he said as Shay came back downstairs.
“The room is all yours,” Shay said coming over to them. “Before you ask, there are fresh sheets on the bed.”
Vincent chuckled as Cordial laughed and Shay rolled her eyes hitting him on the arm.
The next few days were hectic as Cordial went back to work and Shay got to know more about his father. They had heard from the Sheriff and Jessica’s death was ruled as a suicide, and they were informed that the funeral was in a three days time. Shay wanted to be there and Cordial was not going to stop her although they knew that Shane would not be thrilled.
The doorbell rung as Shay was making lunch and Ray said, “I’ll get it.”
Vincent frowned from where he was sitting at the table, as they were not expecting any visitors for lunch.
“Dad, Shay,” Ray said coming back in to the kitchen followed by an older gentlemen.
Vincent looked at him in shock as he said, “Willis, what are you doing here?”
“Hi, Vincent,” the man, Willis, said.
At Shay’s confused look, Vincent explained, “Willis is an old friend, but he was also Jessica’s lawyer.”
Shay’s eyes clouded over at his words and she stilled behind the counter looking at the man standing just inside the kitchen doorway.
She shook herself slightly and then said, “I am sorry, sir. We were just about to have lunch, would you care to join us?”
He nodded his head after giving her a searching look then sat down next to Vincent as Shay finished what she was making and Ray poured the drinks.
They ate while they made small talk about nothing and afterwards Shay got up to clear the table and clean up.
“What is the reason for this visit, Willis?” Vincent asked leaning back in his chair as Shay finished cleaning up.
Willis ran a hand through his hair as he said, “I will be reading Jessica’s will after the funeral and she had requested that Cordial be there.”
There was silence as they all looked at him.
Then Ray asked, “Only Cordial?”
Willis looked at her with a slight smile, “I doubt that Shane will mind if anyone else was present for the reading as he assumes he knows what it says.”
“I heard that you are getting married, Ray,” Willis said. “Congratulations.”
“Thank you,” Ray said giving him a smile. “We were just finishing up the details as we are getting married in two months, and Shay is going to be my maid of honor.”
“What?” Shay said spinning around.
“Yes,” Ray said. “Cordial is Todd’s best man so it is only fitting as his girlfriend you should be my maid of honor.”
Shay sighed as she twisted her ponytail, “Ray, you are crazy. You do not pick your maid of honor because of that. You pick your best friend or your closest friend.”
Ray said quietly, “But you are my closest friend.”
Shay’s widened at that and tears shined for a moment in her eyes as Ray said, “I sent an invitation to Amanda and Jackson, too.”
Shay shook her head as she laughed and Willis could not help but smile at her expression. Then he said, “There are going to be surprises when the will is read so I just wanted to warn you.”
They looked at him and nodded their heads as the phone rung. Shay went over to it and answered it, “Hello.”
Her face went blank as her eyes narrowed and she said, “Yes, Lucille, I will let Cordial know that you called when he gets home.”
She frowned at whatever Lucille was saying before she said, “He should have his cell on him unless the battery is dead.”
Again she was silent as Lucille continued to talk and finally she said “Yes, I will. Goodbye, Lucille.”
She hung up and turned to them.
“Lucille is wondering when you will be home, Vincent,” Shay said with a slight smile. “She is missing you.”
“I bet,” Ray muttered as Vincent laughed.
“I doubt she is,” Vincent said after his laughter ceased.
They talked a little more until Willis said he had to go and Shay escorted him to the door.
Later that evening, after they ate dinner everyone was in the living room when Vincent said, “I will be leaving for a few days.”
Everybody looked at him as Cordial asked, “Dad…”
Vincent shook his head, “I am only going to see my lawyer, but he invited me to spend a few days to relax with him and his family. I have decided to do so leaving after Jessica’s funeral and I will be back next week. As for Lucille, do not worry about her because after next week, she will probably return her focus on me.”
“Dad,” Ray said with a frown, “What are you planning on doing?”
Vincent looked at them and smiled his silver eyes that Cordial inherited glinting wickedly, “Well, baby gi
rl, I am going to file for divorce.”
Chapter 37
The day of Jessica’s funeral dawned a clear day with a hint of the sun shining. Cordial had taken Shay out so she could buy a black dress for the funeral using the last of her money, but she would worry about that later.
Ray, Todd, Vincent, Cordial and Shay stood together as the funeral took place and Shay asked Cordial to buy Lilly of the valley flowers which Ray put on Jessica’s casket as the others did. Shay was respectful in that she knew approaching the casket would cause Shane to make a scene and she did not want to do that out of respect to Jessica even if her attentions at first were less than honorable.
Cordial looked at Shay as they walked back to his truck as Ray and Todd followed to Todd’s car. Vincent had already left to go see his lawyer and friend, and he promised to call when he got there although he had a driver which Cordial made sure of before he left.
“Are you sure you want me to go with you, Cordial?” Shay said as they followed Todd to the McClouds’ house. Cordial did not answer; he just reached over grabbed her hand and squeezed it as he steered with one hand. He did not release her hand until they got there.
They met up with Ray and Todd as they entered the house and Ray whispered to Shay, “No one knows what truly happened that night so don’t let what anyone says get to you.”
Shay nodded her head as eyes turned their way when they walked into the house. Shay’s hand was clasped tightly in Cordial’s as they headed for Shane.
Shane glared at them as Cordial said, “I am sorry for your loss, Shane.”
“I can see how sorry you are,” he sneered as he looked at Shay with hatred filled eyes and Shay felt a piece of her crumble; her own father hated her very existence.
“Shane,” another voice called out and they turned to see Lucille walked forward. “I am so sorry for your loss. Jessica was a fine woman.”
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