"Here you go." Robert put Cora's tea cup down. They had agreed to meet in a pub around the corner of Cora's home.
"Thank you. Am I keeping you from your work?" She asked.
"No, no. John is doing the mise en place, so I have some free time. How are you doing?"
"I wish I could sleep better, but overall I am alright."
Robert frowned. "I am sorry to hear you don't sleep. Are you getting help?"
"You sound like Adeline." Cora said annoyed. "I will be fine. These dreams will fade away."
Robert decided to drop the subject. "Can I ask you something?"
Cora looked up from her cup. "You can always ask, I can decide to answer or not." She chuckled.
Robert loved this little smile that was playing on Cora's lips. It made his stomach jump from joy. It was such a simple and small thing, but still it warmed his heart. "On the night I brought you to the hospital. You said Adeline was your online friend on this side of the pond. What did you mean by that?"
Cora laughed. "I guess my accent is pretty decent then?"
Robert looked confused.
"I am sorry." Cora took a sip of her tea "I am born American. I moved to London about 5 years ago. I worked for the American dependence of Silver Linings, they offered me a permanent contract if I started working in the head office here in London. I decided to take the leap and packed my bags."
She looked up at Robert, who was listening with his full attention. She felt something stir inside her. It was a weird feeling. She never felt like this when looking at Anthony.
"I met Anthony." She continued. "And decided to stay here and move permanently. I realized too late I made a mistake."
"A mistake?" Robert raised his eyebrows. "Don't you like it here in London?"
"Oh no, I love London, I felt right at home here. Although you British people have some weird customs." She chuckled. "I meant with Anthony." She felt silent, her heart started racing thinking of what had happened. She lowered her eyes, and tried to steady her breathing. She felt Anthony's hands on her throat. That has happened a lot in recent days. Sometimes out of nowhere, but now it was obvious she was thinking about him.
Cora got startled when Robert touched her hand.
"I am sorry, I should not have asked that."
Cora shook her head and fought back her tears. "You couldn't know Anthony was one of the reasons I stayed here in London. Now I will find a new reason. Although I recently got promoted to be the creative director of Silver Linings, I guess I found my reason."
Robert gave Cora a smile. "Do you miss America?"
"I miss my Mother and Brother and sometimes the little things. But I wouldn't want to move back. London is my home now."
"Your parents are divorced?" Robert asked.
Cora's eyes filled with tears. "My father died last year."
Robert wanted to take Cora's hand, but the way she got spooked when he touched her just now, made him hesitate. He reached in his pocket for his handkerchief and handed it to Cora.
"Thank you. I am sorry for crying." She sniffed.
"Don't say sorry for that. I know how you feel. Well no, not quite. My father is still alive, but he is struggling with his health lately and I am scared of losing him."
Now it was Cora who reached for Robert's hand, her fingers closed around his hand. "Of course you are. I am happy he is still around and could witness your sister's wedding. Rosamund is her name right?"
Robert smiled, he liked the warmth of Cora's hand on his. "Yes, Rosamund. And we enjoy every day we have together."
He looked at his watch. "Oh my, look at the time. I should go back to the restaurant." He pulled his hand back and was getting up. "Do you have dinner plans already?"
Cora was surprised by his question. "I was going out for dinner with Adeline tonight. Why?
"Oh." Robert lowered his eyes. "I thought maybe you would like to have dinner at 'Le Grantham.'
Cora also got up. "You know what. When the new menus are ready and the new website is online, I will come and have dinner at your restaurant."
"Deal." Robert smiled at her. "You and Adeline will have a table that evening."
Cora got on her tippy toes and kissed Robert's cheek. "I am looking forward to it. Thank you. Reserve our table for next week, because the menus will roll out the printer on Monday."
"That is in three days. You are working fast."
Cora coloured. "I needed something to distract my mind." She didn't tell him, she was working constantly on his work, because that way she could look at his picture on the website.
In front of the pub, Robert turned towards Cora. "Thank you for meeting me. I had a lovely afternoon. We will see each other next week." He kissed her cheek and walked away.
Now he still doesn't know anything more than he did before. He had loved talking with her, but was this only friendship, or not even that? Was she doing this from a sense of duty? At least he would see her this Monday again.
Cora looked at Robert while he walked away. She had loved the brief moment she touched his hand. He didn't pull back immediately. Why was she scared when he first touched her hand? She wasn't prepared for it. Maybe Adeline and Robert were right and should she get help?
She turned around and headed back home, she was only one street from her house, when she heard her name.
When she turned around, Anthony was standing behind her. Cora's heart started racing and her hand palms got sweaty. "Don't come closer." She said.
"Oh don't you worry. Your restraining order made that impossible. But can we please talk?"
"Why would I want to talk to you? Anthony we are done. It's over between us." Even from a distance she saw Anthony's eyes cloud. "Please, I want to go home." She said.
"The restraining order will not last forever you know." Anthony said with his dark voice.
"Oh yes it will." Cora heard Adeline's voice. "I have you on video and will send this in as evidence that you are violating the order. You are not allowed to be in contact with Cora." She hooked her arm in Cora's and headed towards her home.
"Thank you. Thank you so much." Tears were streaming down her cheeks. "Why does he have this effect on me? I got so scared seeing him, but at the same time I want to forgive him."
"Cora listen to your inner voice. You are too good for him. You don't need him in your life." Adeline pressed Cora's arm firmly against her body.
"I know you are right." She looked at her friend. "And I promise you, I will go in for some help. I need to get rid of him and the memories of what he did."