2: Holiday Cards
Tina Lord and Cordero "Cord" Roberts

London, England

Tina was nervous, and she didn't do nervous. As a rule. She was also cold. As she bounced from foot to foot on high heels, she wished that she had foregone vanity for once in favor of donning much warmer clothing. But she had wanted to look good - no, amazing - hoping that it would win her brownie points with her children… And Cord. Yes, she had missed him too. So much, in fact.

Tina took a deep breath and finally knocked. She waited about a full minute before she was rewarded with the sounds of approaching footsteps. God willing, there was a big old fire blazing in the hearth tonight if Cord would even let her near it. Hell, she just hoped he didn't throw her off the porch.

Her breath caught in her throat as Cord opened the door, and his big, beautiful dark eyes narrowed on her. God, but he was still so damned handsome.

"Tina?" Cord said. His voice was full of awe. "Is that you?"

"Yes, yes, it's me, Cord," Tina said. She went to hug him - it was an instinctive move - but he stepped back.

"No, no, don't you do that."

"Cord…"

"What are you doing here, Tina? Actually, never mind. I have nothing to say to you. Just go."

Tina had expected this reaction, but it still cut. "Cord, fine, be angry as you want, but-"

"I don't need your permission to be angry, Tina! Now get off my porch."

Tina shook her head. "I can't do that."

"Tina…" Cord growled low in his throat.

"I am here to see the kids, Cord. I've missed them terribly."

"Oh, have you now?" Cord shook his head. "Were you missing them when CJ was in that car accident where he broke both of his arms? Were you missing them when Sarah was near - " he choked up -"killed by some psycho?"

"Of course, I missed them. I'm their mother."

"Then, where the hell was you, Tina? Where?"

"I was … Look; it doesn't matter, alright? The point is that they want me here now."

"Ha!" Cord said. "They don't even talk about you anymore."

"Maybe they don't talk to me, but they do write to me all of the time. Look, I just got this Christmas card from Sarah," Tina said, pulling a small card with a dancing Snoopy on the front out of her bag. She held it up triumphantly.

Before she could protest, Cord had snatched the card from her hand. "Cord!" She cried out, trying to grab for it. He held it out of her grasp as he read it.

"'Mommy, I love you and miss you. Please come home for Xmas. Please!'" Cord read. He looked at Tina incredulously. "Sarah hasn't written like this or called you 'Mommy' since she was seven. This is from years ago. Have you no shame, Tina?"

Tina grabbed the card, ripping it from Cord's hand and tucking it back inside her five hundred dollar handbag. "The point is that I want to see my children, Cord, and I won't let you stand in my way."

"Why do you want to see them, Tina? So you can turn around and walk out on them in a week or two?"

"Cord, I won't do that. Not again. I know I've made some mistakes -" Cord harrumphed - "Alright, a lot of mistakes, but you know I love my children more than anything. Nothing is going to stop me from seeing them - certainly not you."

"Why now? Why do you want to see them now?"

"I've missed them, isn't that enough?" Tina asked.

"It's not. You always have some ulterior motive."

"Not this time."

"Uh, huh…"

"Cord, you are so insufferable! Now let me inside to see my children, or I will never speak to you again."

"Fine by me."

"Cord!"

He sighed. "They're not even here right now. There's some holiday party in Notting Hill, and that's where they both went."

Tina nodded. "Then, I'll wait."

"Not in here, you won't."

"Do you really expect me to wait in my car? I'll freeze to death!"

Cord seemed to be considering the idea for an inordinately long period of time, then sighed. "Fine, come in here but don't get too comfortable."

Tina said nothing but had to bite down a triumphant smile. Cord never could say "no" to her very well. She was so glad that some things never changed.