Two

He awoke the next morning feeling exceptionally light, better than he had in years which was somewhat shocking considering his work load for the day. Someone warm rolled into his side and a hand, which he had not forgotten, pulled gently at his silvery hair.

She had come to bed peacefully, pulling off her clothes and slipping into one of his shirts with little effort while he had stood in the bathroom brushing his teeth and pretending not to see. She had slid into her (her! She hadn't lived there in over 4 years) side of the bed and pulled the blankets up so he could barely see her. He had eventually joined her, switching off his lamp and switching his alarm on. They lay in silence until she spoke in a whisper, "Robert, would you hold me." He felt himself flinch, the image of him holding her morphing into something entirely inappropriate before his eyes. Cora had ways of dealing with emotional pain and more often than not, it in ended physically and she was especially vulnerable now. Luckily she seemed to understand and shuffled back toward him, "I'm in no mood for anything else." He opened his mouth to speak but decided against it, instead rolling to face her side of the bed and pulling her into a warm embrace. He caught the smell of her hair and felt his heart race, how he had missed this, missed her.

Intimacy was something he had not experienced in a long time and he still felt guilt when thinking about how he had wounded Cora so deeply. Since she had left him, he had been unwilling or unable to form a steady relationship with another woman. Plenty had tried, but it just felt wrong, no one was a nice or kind or sweet as Cora was.

She had wreaked him for other women and he had wreaked them.

So really he supposed it was his own fault. He felt her relax in his arms and she muttered a goodnight to him before quickly falling into what he assumed was an exhausted sleep.

He wouldn't blame her if she wanted to leave as soon as they woke the next morning. A sense of comfort and assurance for the night while she pieced together what she did next. He lay still as the hand applied pressure to his scalp releasing the tension from the previous evening and indeed several years. His eyes fluttered back shut at her touch and he felt himself give in to her fingers.

"You look good with a silver top." He felt her giggle onto the back of his neck and he shivered. He lay still as she continued to play with his hair.

"How are you feeling today?" She flinched when he asked, as though she had forgotten what had transpired over night.

"I'm sure I will be fine," she pulled away from him and lay on her back, staring up at the ceiling, "I just need some time to adjust I suppose."

Robert had no idea how to respond to this, so instead took the opportunity to get out of bed and begin his morning routine.

"You've been distracted all morning Robert, is everything okay?"

"What?" Robert blinked and looked at his son in law who was watching him with concern across the desk. He had been distracted all morning, but he really wasn't ready to explain to Matthew why this was. "Oh yes, fine, fine, just thinking that's all." Matthew frowned but went on, oblivious to the fact that Robert was still not listening.

When he had arrived at the office (on time, by some miracle) he had searched the internet for any signs of the breakup between Cora and Bricker. The results, although full of images and stories featuring the pair, had nothing to suggest they were anything but happy. Give it time and something was sure to come up, but he was pleased that so far Bricker had kept his mouth shut.

Probably licking his wounds after being dumped. That thought caused him to laugh supposedly out loud as Matthew gave him yet another strange look. "Right, well we have done all we can for now and I will give you an update tomorrow." Matthew stood and gave his father in law one last look before leaving the room.

Robert sighed with relief at being alone with his thoughts for the first time that morning. Nancy (his assistant, a beautiful, but middle aged and entirely happily married woman) bought in a cup of tea as requested and he closed his eyes in thought.

He knew from his sister and now Cora herself, that she was opening a new gallery at the end of the week and would not be looking for any negative publicity. He thought back to when Rosamund had told him of this opening just a week ago. How she had questioned Bricker's location and actions.

"Good Morning brother dear."

"Good god Rosamund, why must you always be so bright in the mornings?"

"Talent I suppose?" she kicked her heeled feet off his mahogany desk and leant back in his chair. He took off his coat and scarf, hanging it on the wrack sitting in the chair which was generally reserved for his guests. He desperately needed a cup of tea, having skipped breakfast that morning after sleeping through his alarm, he had managed to make it on time, however was now feeling the effects.

"Did you know Cora is setting up an art gallery in Surbiton?"

She always was one to get straight to the point. He frowned at his sister's words, wondering why on earth she was intent on ruining his perfectly good Tuesday with this news.

"No I did not, and nor do I care."

"Ah but I think you do. And" here she paused to unfold some wax paper which was holding some sort of sweet pastry, "I think you rather do know."

It was true. He did know. He often found himself googling Cora, although often he wondered why. "Well I have no wish to see her."

"Don't you think it's strange?" She picked up the pastry and took a bite, chewing before staring at him intently, "Where is Mr Bricker?"

Something which Robert was yet to ask Cora not wanting to upset her anymore than she already was. Where was Mr Bricker and why had she left him? They had spoken briefly that morning about what she needed to do that week, which was how her art gallery opening had come up. But she had assured him she was fine to stay in bed for awhile yet. She looked tired and it was clear that she was still upset, so he left her in peace.

She had fallen back asleep by the time he left and he kissed her hair goodbye, hoping she had a better day than last night.