Picture Perfect

Chapter 26

Feeling utterly inconsolable about both the sharp change of direction his life has taken and his unwarranted negligence against his beloved Cora, Andrew verbally scolds himself throughout his drive to work. The impassioned tongue-lashing is well deserved in his mind, his lips unable to withhold the contempt fueling the verbal assault as it boils in his stomach and erupts from his mouth with no consideration. To anyone able to see past the dark tint of Andrew's car windows, he probably looks utterly insane. Fortunately for Andrew, he's far too immersed in audibly berating himself to care about the judgment of others at this time. Perhaps that should be a sign that the circumstances have exceeded his own abilities to control them, considering Andrew's need to appear collected at all times; however, with his thoughts raging, he's too preoccupied to notice the warning.

When he arrives at the courthouse, Andrew gulps down his irrational feelings, focusing solely on providing his client with the best defense possible; he has no intention of sullying his professional reputation anytime soon. With his head held high, he confidently strolls into the building, assuming an aura of greatness typically associated with his work ethic. The task goes off without a hitch, the reason he's so coveted as an attorney shining proudly, and his attention to detail and subtle yet effective manipulation tactics are expertly displayed. Andrew's stellar performance in court leads to a drastic but unsurprising turnaround for the case, adding another success to his impeccable track record.

"I knew you'd pull through," Ken says, firmly clapping Andrew on the back. "Excellent as always, Dalton." There's an approving glimmer in his eye, one that nudges at Andrew's consciousness; no further exchange is necessary to understand the doubt that Ken had previously held.

Regardless of his friend's initial lack of faith in him, which had been somewhat warranted after the previous fiasco, Andrew responds with a short nod, deflecting any perceived negativity. Refusing to allow such a minor offense to dilute his good mood, he brushes off the situation entirely. Instead, he silently basks in the excitement of his triumph, focusing solely on prolonging the satisfaction he's currently experiencing.

Ecstatic with the outcome of today's hearing, Andrew takes the opportunity to inform Ken that he'll be taking the next few weeks off work in order to spend more time with Cora. There are only a few weeks left of her pregnancy, and he hasn't held up his promise; he's desperate to make it up to her before it's too late. Before the guilt can overtake him, Andrew swiftly departs, eager to return home to his wife.

After a short pitstop at the florist, Andrew strides into his home with an extravagant bouquet of lilies in hand, a smile spread widely across his face. His stomach lurches in anticipation, eager to see the surprise on Cora's face as she receives a rather abundant collection of her favorite flowers and the fantastic news about his decision to remain home with her until the baby's arrival. He's confident she'll be similarly ecstatic about the change of plans, his heart bursting with love as he imagines the two of them excitedly preparing to welcome their precious child.

Stepping into the kitchen, Andrew immediately searches the space for his wife, his smile brightening when his eyes land on her cheerful face. He observes her for a moment, relishing the sheer blissfulness etched across her features as she laughs. Andrew's heart swells with pride as he stares adoringly at the woman he loves, drinking in the sight of her. Happiness certainly looks good on her; Cora's face glows with a delicate warmth, the twinkle in her eyes enough to make anyone smile.

His appraisal of the beauty in Cora's joy is short-lived, however.

"Do you think you'll have a boy or a girl?" a familiar voice asks, startling Andrew from his reverie. The sound immediately sends a chill down his spine, sparking anger deep within him.

"What are you doing here?" Andrew growls, gaining the attention of both women occupying his kitchen.

"Andrew!" Cora squeals, utterly bewildered by both her husband's sudden presence and attitude toward their guest. "What has come over you?" she asks as she slowly approaches him.

Maria watches the married couple interact with a knowing smirk on her lips, wholly pleased by the sudden tension filling the room. It gives her great comfort to know that her mere presence can elicit such a dramatic reaction from Andrew, especially stealing his attention from the wife he claims to care about so much. It's all the evidence she needs to prove that his feelings are misguided; Maria knows it's her that Andrew loves. He never truly loved Cora, and seeing how he didn't bother to greet her when he returned home has her pulse fluctuating with gratification.

Inhaling deeply through his nose, Andrew's eyes soften as he gazes at Cora. "I'm sorry," he apologizes, not entirely insincerely. While he feels no remorse for his reaction to seeing Maria in his kitchen, he hadn't meant to upset Cora with his unexpected harshness. Clearing his throat, Andrew turns to Maria and says, "My apologies, Miss Ortiz. I wasn't expecting to see you here."

Waving a hand in dismissal, Maria replies, "It's okay, Mr. Dalton. I probably should be going now, anyway." Her voice is lighter than Andrew is accustomed to, her faux friendliness making Andrew suppress the urge to retch. This isn't the Maria he's familiar with. The woman he knew so intimately would never willingly befriend his wife; Andrew's brow furrows as he attempts to decipher her plan. With a hand on her swollen belly, Maria waddles toward the Daltons before embracing Cora in what appears to be a friendly hug; however, Andrew can feel the disdain hidden within the seemingly innocent gesture.

"We'll do this again soon," Cora promises, giving her newfound friend a squeeze and a warm smile.

"Yes, I'll see you very soon," Maria assures. With that, she turns to exit the Dalton home, but not before giving Andrew a wide grin that silently promises he hasn't seen the last of her yet.