Cora felt a hand against her forehead, slowly she opened her eyes. She had an incredible headache and when she tried to move she winched. Why couldn't she move? The moment she had that thought, she remembered. Her vision was still blurry, but she tried to focus on who was standing next to her.
She looked into the face of Anthony. She pulled up the duvet, she had a scared look on her face.
"Good morning." Anthony said. "I hope you slept."
"I, I did." Cora stuttered.
"Good. I made you breakfast. Come, I will help you up."
Cora moaned when Anthony wrapped his arm around her. She had broken and bruised ribs. "Just let me do it myself." She said softly.
Abruptly Anthony let go of her, causing her even more pain. She let out a soft cry.
"Whatever you want. You find your breakfast downstairs." He turned around and left.
Cora wanted to let out a deep sigh, but breathing caused her pain. Slowly she got up and sat on the edge of her bed, she had to muster the courage to stand up. Everything was hurting. She walked past a mirror and saw her black and blue face. The only thing she remembered was seeing Anthony's face full of rage. She ended up in the hospital, but didn't know how she got there.
When she finally reached the bottom of the stairs, she noticed Anthony had left. In the kitchen she found buttered toast.
Carefully she sat down and ate some of the toast. Chewing wasn't pleasant. The doorbell rang.
"I am coming." she yelled, hoping the person at the door would wait.
"Oh my God, you look horrible." Adeline exclaimed, when Cora finally opened the door.
She gave her a weak smile. "Thank you."
"Anthony called and said you could use some help, what happened?" Adeline stepped inside.
"I fell down the stairs. I was clumsy."
Adeline frowned. "That was a bad stumble then. You better go and sit down, you look pale."
"I am not sure if I can sit any longer. I prefer to go back to bed. My head is pounding."
Adeline put her hand on Cora's waist, trying to help her upstairs. But when Cora let out a soft cry, she quickly pulled her hand back. "I am sorry."
Cora stopped climbing. "No, no, you couldn't know, but I broke a rib and some are bruised. Well my whole body is bruised." She chuckled, but stopped when she felt the pain. She knew Adeline for a couple of years now and she wasn't sure if she would believe her story.
Adeline walked into Cora's bedroom, she had fallen asleep the moment her head hit the pillow. Softly she touched her cheek. "Cora?" She said softly.
It scared Cora, who winched in pain from the movement.
"I am sorry to wake you, but your work called." Adeline said.
Cora tried to get up, but gave up and stayed lying down.
"Andrew asked how you were and when you would be able to be back at work."
Cora gave a faint smile. "I am afraid that will take a while, I can't properly sit at a desk."
"I told him it would take at least a couple of weeks before you would be able to go to the office. Maybe you could work from home next week, but Andrew said that was up to you."
"Thank you." Cora said. "And thank you for being here."
Adeline softly touched her hand. "Of course I am, I am your friend and since Anthony doesn't have the time. I will take care of you."
Robert put his phone down and frowned.
"Bad news?" John asked.
"That was' silver linings'. I had an appointment this Friday, but they cancelled. The person who would make our new designs had an accident and isn't able to work."
"Can't they send somebody else?" John asked.
"I specifically asked for this person. He or she is the one who made all the designs and adverts we liked. We can wait, there is no rush." Robert stroked his finger over his eyebrow.
"If you say so. We could use a new website design, especially now with the attention we are getting since the Prime minister dined with us."
"I only want that designer, so we just wait."
"Can you help me with my zipper?" Judith asked.
Robert stepped closer and zipped up her dress. He rested his hands on her shoulders and kissed her neck. "You look beautiful."
Judith stepped away. "Not now."
Not ever, Robert thought, but kept his mouth shut.
"How long do we have to stay at your mother's place?"
Robert raised his eyebrows. "I don't know. She invited us and Rosamund with Marmaduke for dinner. I think she expects us to spend our evening there. Why?"
"Never mind. Are you ready?"
"How is John doing?" Rosamund asked while they sat down for dinner.
Robert looked at his sister with a thankful look. Finally somebody asked about him. "He is walking with crutches, but is doing fine."
"Surely he can't work?" Violet asked.
"He is working on our new menu."
"When can we see the new website? Is there already something to show?" Violet continued.
"We had to put that on hold." Robert started.
"But you said, John was working on the new menus?" Marmaduke chimed in.
Robert turned towards him. "We can think about the new foods we want to have on it. We just have to wait for 'Silver Linings'."
"Why don't you use another company?" Violet said surprised.
"They are the best. I prefer to wait, than not be happy with the results."
"Clearly you are not their priority, if they cancelled." Violet said.
"Their designer had an accident and isn't able to work at the moment. We will just wait.
Rosamund, how are your wedding plans coming along" Robert changed the subject.