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Double Take
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Chapter 84
"Perhaps more will come if I kiss you more."
Dick chuckled, "Well, it's worth a try."
Kori tired quickly, which Dick was somewhat thankful about. She had more enthusiasm than he was quite comfortable with considering the state of their relationship before her amnesia; but at the same time he didn't stop her when she took off her nightgown. He figured that as long as things hadn't progressed further than they ever had before, and that was the line he had drawn for himself...
And that made him hate himself even more, feel less worthy of her.
Later he woke, looking at her by his side. Vulnerable, open, naked to him figuratively and nearly literally. The strategy earlier hadn't worked of course, there were no memories recovered by Kori, the passion sparked nothing but... passion.
Kori was very content; Richard grew more concerned, more guilty. The burden was getting to him, but she didn't want him to tell her about what she couldn't remember - why?
Plus she was so thin and still recovering from the anthrax. Surely the truth would be taxing on her, but still... She was improving quickly all things considered but her recovery would take months. Dick hoped that Kori would listen and understand once she either remembered or he told her the truth, that she'd stay with him and that they'd work through their problems – well, mostly, that she'd forgive him at all.
But for that night...
"Kori."
"Mmm?" She blinked her eyes opened and she immediately smiled.
"Let's get this back on," Richard said as he eased her up and pulled her nightgown over her head, threading her arms through the sleeves.
She nodded, barely opening her eyes, "Thank you, I am a little bit of the chilly, but otherwise, I do not mind. We are together forever, are we not?"
She sounded more sleepy than dreamy, more matter-of-fact than fantasy.
"Oh Star, I love you. We're together forever if you'll have me."
Dick dropped his head in shame, not that Kori seemed to notice.
Kori giggled. "Of course, Robin, I love you." She fell back asleep immediately.
Richard just had to hope that once Kori became acquainted with all the details of the last few months, she'd continue to want him.
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"Richard?"
"Oh, hey, I didn't expect you..."
Dick's thoughts were a miles away when Kori started to walk up to him over at the barn later that afternoon. He stood on the other end of a lead shank, holding on to a mare that he'd just acquired, and was allowing her to graze as he held the lead so he and the horse could get used to each other.
Dick gave Kori a smile as he considered the situation further. "Hold on Kor, stay right there, let me just let Ti here out in this paddock and we'll watch her together."
"Okay," Kori replied, smiling back.
Dick thought Kori looked somehow a combination of vulnerable and adorable and perfect in a sun dress and one of Richard's button down shirts she'd put on for warmth and tried not to get overly distracted. As for the horse, he had to handle the mare with care, his hand carefully covered in a cotton glove with a leather one over it, relying on his left hand to do much of what he was used to do with his left. He was fairly ambidextrous, but you get used to doing things with your dominant hand, something Dick was finding out quickly.
Once Dick gingerly worked the gate, his very patient new addition to the farm was introduced to another part of her new surroundings.
"So this was the woman you left me to see this morning Dr. Grayson?" Kori teased.
Dick chuckled as he approached her and then hugged her and held her close. "Something like that."
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The call had come out of the blue and as much as he wanted to talk about it with Kori, he was an emotional mess. He would soon. But for now, it hit close to home.
Dick's train of thought broke when Kori shivered in spite of the warmth of the Summer day. "You didn't walk down here from the manor, did you sweetheart?"
He didn't look at her for her answer, but he held her steadfastly.
"No. Alfred drove me. He will pick us up or we can walk ba-"
"We'll call." Dick dropped his forehead onto Kori's neck. He'd seen something so sad, something he was still processing...
"Richard?"
"Are you warm enough? Are you tired? Ready to go back?"
"Richard?"
He still held her and tried to pull together his emotions, failing as his eyes filled with tears. "Why don't you head back? I'll finish up here and then-"
"Richard?"
"Please Kori," he implored.
He felt her nod without hesitation.
"I'm sorry, let me just, just finish up here, Sweetheart. I'll be maybe ten, fifteen minutes and then, we have to talk."
"Of course."
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Kori hadn't been particularly concerned when she woke up alone that morning. Richard had left a note that a family friend had contacted Bruce and that they were making an early visit.
Alfred was slightly more reserved when she really considered it, but all her effort went into getting up and eating breakfast. Then she found she needed to rest and the physical therapist was there for therapy and – even if it had only been a few days – reevaluated her for safety.
Safety: Kori's nurse's mind knew that it was another chance to prove if she was able to be – that is safe to be – on her own in the shower, in the kitchen, etc. Bottom line: Was she still too weak to be left alone? Was she rutha?
After her evaluation, Kori just met the requirements and was deemed safe to be on her own. Of course, she was safest to have someone with her, but she could be alone. Kori couldn't wait to share the news with Richard, and was looking forward to his return. Alfred seemed quite pleased as well.
After the exhiliration of the accomplishment, Kori realized that she was exhausted after her therapy. She wasn't even able to have lunch, opting instead to get a nap. When she awoke at 4 PM, Alfred informed her that Richard had returned home and was at the barn alone.
Kori wanted to see him, but Alfred insisted that she eat first and that he drive her to the barn if she was going anywhere. She smiled politely and agreed.
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Dick met Arthur and Millie Wilcox before entering Princeton and they had remained friends since.
A childless couple, Millie tutored Dick while he was preparing for college and Arthur mentored him through Med School.
The couple were a Godsend to Dick: a married couple who loved and respected each other; just like his parents had.
They also had a wonderful stable full of horses to ride.
And he was good for them too; another young person in their lives, given that their nieces and nephews scattered on the West Coast, someone they could see with some regularity.
Dick and the Wilcoxes remained friendly as time went by, but contact trickled down to birthday and Christmas cards along with a horse show or two a year, but the affinity for one another remained. The Wilcoxes retired to Florida for the Winter and much of the summer on Nantucket as their aging but active bodies sought out moderate climes.
Before the call that day, Richard had last seen the couple in March. They came to the ER. Millie hadn't been feeling well – not that she'd mention it, it was so good to be back on their Virginia farm for those few weeks a year – and on that day she woke up completely jaundiced.
Dick met them at the ER and the news was devistating. Millie had a recurrence of her breast cancer, and this time it had spread to her liver. Stage IV breast cancer. Although the disease might be able to be held at bay for a time, it was a terminal illness.
"I thought we'd beaten it." Arthur had said.
So when he got the call that morning, Dick could only be thankful that it wasn't the call. He felt terrible, he had been so caught up with his own life and the last he knew they were going to Nantucket. But they were back in Virginia and he was happy to go over; at least he'd get a chance to get caught up, or, sadly, to say goodbye.
He spent a few hours catching up along with receiving wisdom and also saying goodbye to Millie. He also hadn't left empty handed. They were giving him a couple of their favorite horses, included their favorite mare, currently in foal and due to give birth the following Spring.
Dick also had been given a lot of advice. Not that he was surprised, not that he was in disagreement, but the advice was to make sure that he was the one to fill Kori in on the past and to make sure to marry her if she'd have him. Millie didn't pull any punches.
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Kori waited for Richard patiently in his room and dozed off. She wasn't put off by returning from the barn so quickly – it was an overly ambitious outing.
Richard returned to see Kori snuggled under the covers of the bed, looking so frail, not unlike Millie had when he had visited the Wilcox's home earlier. He pushed away that thought. It was beyond horrifying, especially since nearly losing her.
After a shower, Richard pulled on running shorts and a tee shirt and slipped into the bed next to Kori. He decided not to wake her. Facing the emotional upheaval, he allowed himself to shutdown and slipped off to sleep.
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Richard woke later to the sensation of hair on his face. In his sleep, he and Kori had met in the middle of the bed and were spooning, her thick mane of hair in his face, tickling his nose.
"I love you so much Kori," he murmured quietly.
"I love you as well, Richard," Kori replied. "I apologize, I am so tired."
"Considering I just woke up with you in my arms, I must have been as well." He heaved a sigh. "I'm so glad you're with me, that we're together, you have no idea."
With some effort, Kori turned in his arms and looked at him. "But I do have an idea, Richard. I know there were issues, but I know that I am truly happy, and that is all that matters."
"I'm glad, but I have to fill you in on everything. Please."
She searched his face. "You are certain, than of course. But given my being the exhausted, I believe I will have something to eat and then we can discuss all of it in the morning."
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Dick tried not to fuss over Kori – he left that to Alfred – but Kori seemed barely able to eat dinner.
"Here Miss Kori, I've unfrozen some of my lobster bisque. Perhaps you'll be up for that," Alfred said as he placed a small bowl in front of her. "There's plenty, but don't let Master Bruce know that I've broken into my emergency stash."
"Oh, I should not have any then-"
"Alfred's teasing, Star. We just want to make sure you get enough to eat."
"It is indeed my favorite, so I will try to have some."
Kori apologized for only having a few spoonfuls and Alfred reassured her that there would be more for her whenever she was up for it. Barely able to stand, Kori lean on Dick as they walked out of the dining room. Once Alfred was out of view, Dick picked up Kori bridal style and she was asleep before they made it to his room.
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Even though Richard was a doctor, when Kori felt hot to him a couple hours later, he didn't hesitate to call Rachel.
"I'll be there as soon as I finish up at 11," Rachel reassured Dick.
Dick met Rachel at the door at 11:35 PM and brought her back to his room.
Dick pulled a chair to the side of the bed. "Hi Kori."
Kori opened her eyes slowly, Dick was surprised that they were now bloodshot. "Rachel, what are you doing here?"
"Dick called me, Kori. He asked that I come by and I'm here to look at you to make sure you're doing all right."
Kori sighed. "Very well. I am sorry for you to have gone to the difficulties. But I can sat for certain that I do not feel as well today as I did yesterday."
"Well, then it's good I'm here. Do you want Dick out of the room while I exam you?"
"No, he can stay."
Ten minutes later, Rachel had completed her examination and had fully reassessed Kori. She pulled out her laptop and accessed the hospital's records.
"How is she, Rachel?" Dick asked anxiously. Kori was already dozing.
"Kori does have a fever of 101.2 degrees F, and she is a bit congested, but there is nothing to indicate that this has anything to do with her recent bout with anthrax. Perhaps she is fighting off a cold or something else. At this point, I think she should just take it easy, get rest and fluids and I'll see her again tomorrow."
Kori shook her head to wake herself. "What about physical therapy?"
"Take the day off, it'll be fine Kori."
Kori was obviously deflated, her eyes tearing up. "Is there not anything else I can do? I wish to get better."
"I know you do Kori, but all this is going to take time."
"I am aware."
"Just hang in there, Kori. Call me with anything."
"Thank you, Rachel." Kori said.
"I'll see you both tomorrow then."
"Thank you Rachel for coming over, Kori and I really appreciate it."
"Anytime Dick."
"Kori, I'll be right back, I'm going to walk Rachel out."
"All right." Kori replied, her eyelids already nearly completely shut.
"How's her memory?"
"Nothing's come back. I'm going to start to fill her in tomorrow, I can't live with myself with her not knowing, I have to tell her the truth... I mean unless I shouldn't-"
"I think you should, or that you should have been all along."
"Yeah, I should have."
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Dick woke the next morning, having spent much of the night watching Kori and thinking about how to tell her about Babs, what to tell her about Babs.
Kori slept on and off, finally ending up with a simple cold and Rachel was there in the afternoon to reassure them both that that was all that it was.
Over the next few days, Dick's frustration grew; he needed to talk to Kori and she said she was in no condition. He was getting more and more angry with himself for putting her into the situation he had. And he started to feel more and more like he wasn't worthy of her again.
He had walked over to the barn, going over and over again the best way to force, or rather insist that Kori hear what happened between them. Even though she was putting off discussing it, he could easily see her being upset that he didn't tell her anyway. He felt like the extra waiting could be the deal breaker.
It was nagging at him. He walked back to tell her there would be no more delays.
Richard walked into his room to find Kori sitting on his bed. "Kori, I have to tell everything you've forgotten, I can't go on like this-"
Dick saw that Kori had been crying.
"Yes, I do believe I must fully understand why you did the cheating on me with Babs and why you did the breaking up with me."
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To be continued...
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Thank you for reading and please review.
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This chapter offered more set up than delivery... so I shall deliver next time :-)