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“Oh Maverick.” Mom sighed, “How does she feel towards you? How do you feel towards her? It’s been so long since you’ve spoken to me about her. Not since you stupidly started dating Sarah.”
“Mom.” I interrupted her from bringing up any more painful reminders of what I’d done five years ago. “I’m madly in love with her still. And she is still in love with me. But both of our wounds that we inflicted on each other still ache and it’s going to take time to heal those. But she’s spent the last few days with me and we’re moving in the right direction.”
“Your father said she was mugged on the subway, is she okay? You need to protect her; she can’t be riding the subway now that she’s going to be linked as Maverick Jones’ girlfriend. Someone will no doubt victimize her for that connection alone.”
“I know Mom, but you know Cora better than most anyone else beside me. She’s proud and head strong and is unwilling to just allow me to consume her and her life simply because I insist on it. If I’m not careful here she’s going to push back on principle alone. But don’t worry, I’m going to make sure no one puts their hands on her ever again Mom, I promise.”
She sighed and it sounded lighter than when the conversation first started. “When can we come see you two? I’m dying to hug her; I’ve missed her so much.”
“I know, I’m working on something first and then we’ll come out for a visit. Maybe early next week?”
“Working on something?” She asked, “Something involving the Valentines?”
I chuckled, “What did dad say?”
She tsked her tongue again, “He basically came home demanding I find his suit of armor as he prepared for battle, that’s what!” She said angrily. “He has been riled up since he returned home yesterday and understandably, so am I. I want to help you with this Maverick. I want to help Cora get the justice she deserves.”
“It’s not so cut and dry Mom. I’m not just going to get Cora justice. I myself, am going to get revenge. They stole ten years from my life when they destroyed her. If they hadn’t been so selfish and vile, I would have fixed the pain I caused her, and we would have gone on with our life. We would have gone to college together like we planned, we would have been married and had kids by now, I’m sure. We would be celebrating anniversaries instead of trying to learn who each of us have become with this pain inside of us after all these years.”
“I’m so sorry baby. I’m so sorry that they did this to the both of you. And I don’t care if it’s justice, revenge, or a downright thirst for blood, I want to help.”
My mom had never spoken like this to me before. She was a gentle person and a perfect mother, but I was recognizing the mother bear in her that had come out when Luke and I were kids and my heart warmed knowing the wrongdoing to Cora called to that primal part of her.
An idea struck as I thought on it, “You really want to help with the fall of the Valentine family?”
“I want to help pull the bricks out from under the foundation of their falsehoods.” She said back instantly, firm, and strong.
“Then you make sure the Memorial for Luke is the biggest one yet. It’s been ten years since he passed, and the event is the perfect place for me to introduce the world to my wife for the first time.”
“The Memorial is in less than one month Maverick. Do you really believe she will be your wife by then?”
I chuckled, “If I had anything to say about it Mom, she would be my wife already. I plan on spending every spare minute showing her exactly how badly I want her.”
She sighed almost dreamy like. “I want you to get your happily ever after Mav, so badly.”
“I’m going to Mom. And so is Cora.”
“Good. It’s about time.”
I chatted for a minute longer and then ended my call with her and forced myself to get to work, knowing I was going to be meeting with Jake Valentine in a few hours and I needed to be on my game in order to spin a web to catch any deceit he may try to throw my way.
My intercom buzzed and Veronica’s voice rang into my office. “Sir, Jake Valentine is here for your ten o’clock meeting.”
I clicked the button, “I’ll be with him in a few minutes.”
I sat back in my chair and took a deep breath. This was the start of the end of his family and how he answered my questions in this meeting would decide which side of the fallout he found himself on.
I picked up my office phone and dialed Cora’s desk and listened to the tone of the ring.
“Mr. Peterson’s office, this is Cora.” Her sweet angelic voice rang into my hear and I growled at the buzz it lit in my veins. She sucked a breath in at the sound and then lowered her voice. “Mav.”
“I love you.” I said plainly.
I could hear the smile in her voice. “You told me that a few hours ago.”
“I know. But I wanted to tell you again.”
“I love you too Maverick Jones.” Her voice was breathy, and I ached to hear her say my name like that again and again.
