The day had gone from good to bad to worse. She had visited Ms. Patty and Dr. Foley and had been pleased to find them doing so well. They were thriving. Garrett had hired a cleaner for them, one that came three times a week and they also had a regular supply of groceries delivered to them twice a week.

She should have trusted Garrett when he said that he would take care of everything. He always did. But he hadn't just made sure that they had what they had needed, he had been stopping by regularly to check on them, sometimes just to visit. He even had the occasional car pick up Ms. Patty and take her to Dr. Foley's house.

Cora was starting to suspect a romance was blossoming between the two old friends thanks to Garrett.

After learning all of this she was determined that not another day would go by that he didn't know how much she loved him, so when he had texted her that he would be at least another day, she had booked a plane ticket for early afternoon. The timing of the flight left just enough time to visit Aunt Mable.

Something she shouldn't have done.

Aunt Mable would allow her to visit, according to the nurse. This amused Cora who was on top of the world with thoughts about Garrett, but Aunt Mable had always had a knack for sucking any joy she had found right out of her life. The conversation had started innocently enough, but she should have known better. Aunt Mable was like a cat playing with a mouse and she caught Cora by the tail quick enough.

"Of course, you're both living at his apartment but I hear of women going in and out of the old house all of the time, that Styles girl is among them. I can't begin to guess what he's up to, but the rumor is he's renovating the house to be a hotel."

Aunt Mable watched Cora's face as at first, she was amused, then confused and finally stunned by her aunt's words.

"It makes sense, he could make a nice profit by running it as a hotel and you know Garrett, he has always been about the profit in any business." Aunt Mable continued. "He really did play us all so well, didn't he? I have no doubt that he wanted the house from the first moment he saw it and he got it. I'm guessing he married you just to make sure that every potential weakness in his plan was strengthened."

Aunt Mable settled back in her bed. "I bet he even set that fire himself."

Cora gave Aunt Mable a weak smile, doing her best to hide her doubts.

"You can't accept that I might have something good in my life, can you? You can't bear the thought of me loving Garrett and him loving me in return."

"It's not always about you Cora," she dismissed.

"Then you, or whomever you're getting your information from is wrong.  I'm sure that there is work being done at the house. Garrett and I decided to sell it and some repairs will have to be made before that can happen"

"It's been seven months Cora. The fire wasn't that bad. I've had a friend look into it and the house has never been listed. Go and see for yourself if you don't believe me." She closed her eyes. Her wounding blow having been delivered, she was finished.

"I don't ever want to see you again Aunt Mable," Cora said, doing her best to keep her voice calm as she picked up her purse.

"Fine with me," she agreed.

Cora had stumbled from her hospital room and somehow managed to get a taxi from there to the house. She had gotten out of the cab asking the driver to wait as she stared up at the large edifice. It looked as it always had. She climbed the steps and opened the door and found Andie and Teddy standing in the hall looking over some plans that were laying on top of the hall table.

The guilty looks on their faces told her all she needed to know, she turned around and left, ignoring their requests for her to stay. She had promised Garrett she would be there when he got back but she couldn't wait that long. She would fly to New York and confront him there.

Her impulsive decision had left her standing at the reservation desk in one of the poshest hotels she had ever been in, doing her best to convince the desk clerk that she was Garrett's wife.  She was a cute blond who was insisting that Mr. Reed was not married, that he had been and established guests of the hotel for years, and he had never mentioned a wife, which if he had been expecting her he would have surely done.

Cora tried to explain that they were newly married and that she was surprising him, but the clerk was adamant that she couldn't let her into his room. She was welcome to wait in the lobby until his return.

So she sat, waiting.

It had been three hours and was going on seven o'clock and there was still no sign of him. If he didn't arrive soon she would have to get her own room. It only made matters worse that the desk clerk kept shooting her pitying glances.

Cora had let her mind wander once again. She didn't want to believe Aunt Mable but a lot of what she had said made sense. Garrett had insisted when they married that he would use her and the house for entertaining, and the night before when she had asked him if the house had sold he had been suspiciously brief on the subject.   But just as quickly as she had these thoughts she thought about how he had said he would miss her, and the way he held her in his arms and took care of her, she was sure that wasn't pretend.

But why had Teddy and Andie been at the house?

She noticed a commotion at the front desk and looked up to see Garrett's ridged back, he turned his profile to her and he looked so weary she wanted to run to him and comfort him. It was obvious that he had had a hard day, harder than hers.

Cora started walking towards him and when he looked up and saw her, his whole demeanor changed.

"I almost forgot Mr. Reed, this woman claims to be your wife," the clerk said off handedly.

"She is," Garrett confirmed as he reached for Cora and pulled her close, wrapping his arms around her. "Thank god you're here." He was holding her so tight all of the air was pushed out of her lungs.

"We need to talk Garrett," she said softly, holding him as tightly as he was holding her.

"We do, but I have Rain and Shane coming in to meet with me in a few minutes. Can it wait a little while?" Something in his voice alerted her to a serious problem.

"Yes."

"You'll stay though?" he sounded so unsure, so unlike his usual self.

"I'll stay as long as you want me to Garrett." She meant for now but also forever if he wanted her. Something in her tone must have gotten the message through to him because he took a deep breath and she felt his whole-body shudder with relief.

"I'm going to hold you to that Cora." He took her arm and led her though the hotel, into the elevator and finally into a large apartment at the top of the building.

"This doesn't look much like your average hotel room." Cora looked around in awe. Sometimes she forgot the amount of money that flowed through his fingers.

"It's not mine. It's the companies." He threw down his briefcase. "You went to see Aunt Mable, didn't you?"

Cora nodded as she walked over to the window. 'Yes, and it will be the last time."

"Teddy called me and said you stopped by the house." He poured himself a drink.

"I did, it...confused me?"

Garrett nodded as he reached into his pocket. He handed her a key. "It's your house. I put it in your name last week. If you still want to sell it, that's your choice."

Cora's eyes grew wide as she took the key. "Aunt Mable-,"

"Doesn't know a damn thing and never has." He put his hands on her shoulders. "There's a lot I want to say to you but now's not the time. Can we talk more later?"

Cora nodded and he closed his eyes for a moment before he opened them, suddenly all business. "I don't think you should be here for this meeting. There's a study and bedroom at the other end of the apartment, can you wait there?"

"Yes Garrett, but what's going on?" Cora suddenly realized that there was a bigger issue than her and the house, as she watched Garrett knock back his drink and pour himself another one.

"Don't look at me like that Cora, I'm nowhere close to getting drunk, but I need the edge of my anger blunted or else I might just kill him."

"Who?"

"Burgess, another employee, who feels that Rain is getting promoted over her, has come forward with allegations that Burgess attacked her at a company event."

Cora couldn't contain the gasp.

"Just like he did you. I have to figure out the best way to handle it. I know he probably did it but I also don't want to be blackmailed into firing one of my best employees and promoting one who doesn't deserve it."

Cora nodded, she got it. If she was there it would only make matters worse.

"I'll be waiting, we'll order room service and have a quiet night here." She went up on tiptoes giving him a kiss. It was the first time she had ever kissed him and he grabbed her close with a groan.

"I need you Cora, you have no idea just how much I need you." He held her close until there was a knock at the door. Cora picked up her purse and bag, making herself scares. She was glad that she had come, glad that she had decided to trust him, especially if he needed her.