The Date Auction (24 page)

A lot of what happened in The Date Auction actually happened in real life. For example, do you remember the scene where Lilly (*ahem* Alaina) hugged the pirate in the park? That actually happened too. I know that for a fact because I saw it happen right in front of my eyes. Some idiot was dressed up like Jack Sparrow from Pirates of the Caribbean, and Lilly thought it was the coolest thing in the world. She gave him such an enormous hug, I'm sure it made my brother uncomfortable. Jack Sparrow (not unlike his character from the movie) even grabbed her right butt cheek, but I don't think William noticed.

Okay... moving on to Jamie and Eva. A few chapters after their big sex scene, Jamie was going to find out Eva was dating another man at the same time—a man named Greg, who was much more age-appropriate than my brother. (This also happened in real life, although I'm pretty sure my brother embellished the facts to make her betrayal sound more gut-wrenching and dramatic). Eventually, Eva was going to realize that age was nothing but a number—which, unfortunately, never really happened in real life. Jackie still seems bothered about the age difference, even though they're engaged now. Personally, I'm really happy for them and I think they make a great couple. They were actually my favorite characters from The Date Auction.

Of course, my least favorite character was Cora. It feels strange to admit it, but she was eventually going to end up with the man of her dreams. I'm talking about Harry, of course. He was going to ask her to be his girlfriend, but Cora wasn't going to feel like she was good enough for him. (Let's face it, she's not!) I don't know if Cora was going to end up with Harry in real life. If I have time, I might write one more chapter to tie up some loose ends.

I'm really not afraid of dying. Even if death is an endless black abyss, a persistent nothingness... I don't care. I'm more upset that I'll never get to see you again, Harry. If I could choose between another week with you or a cancer-free lifetime, I would choose another week with you, because those were the best days of my life. For those few days, I was happy to be alive. I was happy to be Cora Crosby. For a moment, you made me feel like I had a life worth living, and even though I was dying, you made me feel like the luckiest girl in the world.

I can never thank you enough, Harry Shaw. Thank you for coming to visit me when I was feeling down. Thank you for being everything I ever hoped you would be, and more. Thank you for making me feel like I was someone worthy of affection, like I was someone who would be missed. You touched my life in more ways than you know, and I love you for that.

I hope you remember me during your Oscar speech! I see only wonderful things in your future, as talented as you are.

Love always,

Cora

The Final Chapter

When he opened his eyes, he was standing on top of the Empire State Building. Cora was right beside him, silently admiring the view. He thought she looked gorgeous. Her face was fuller, and her long strawberry blonde locks had been cut to frame her face. He could tell it was her real hair, not one of the wigs he was used to seeing.

New York.
When he realized where they were, a chill rippled down his spine. What did it mean? The last time he was with Cora, he could have sworn they were in California. Not to mention, Cora was supposed to be dead. Nothing made sense.

“Wow, look at this view!” Cora exclaimed. “No matter how many times I come here, the Manhattan skyline always blows me away. I feel like such a tourist right now, but it's worth it.”

“Cora...” As he whispered her name, Harry couldn't stop staring at her. The fact that she was standing right next to him certainly seemed too good to be true. He wanted to tell her what was on his mind, but he was afraid to say it out loud. He was afraid she would disappear.

You're supposed to be dead.

“We even have a sunset,” Cora continued. “I've always wanted to come up here during a sunset.”

“Cora.” When he repeated her name, she finally turned in his direction. “I'm really glad you're here.”

“And I'm really happy to be here!” she chimed in with a smile. “So, where did you want to go next? I picked the Empire State Building, so it's your turn.”

Did she pick the Empire State Building? He could have sworn their rendezvous on top of the Empire State Building was actually his idea, but he wasn't sure. The thoughts in his head were a jumble. His mind was awash in frustrating confusion.

He wanted her opinion. “Well... where do you think we should go?”

“I don't know.” Cora shrugged. “We can go anywhere you want to go. Anywhere whatsoever.”

“We could go back to the beach?”

“I suppose. But there aren't really any good beaches in New York City.”

Harry's brow was tilted. “Hey! I thought you said we could go anywhere!”

“Anywhere within reason,” Cora corrected herself with a grin. “Look, why don't we just go back to my apartment for a little while? I can make you some tea.”

As they were already on their way back to the elevator, it seemed their next destination was already decided. “You won't add anything ridiculous to the tea like honey or lemon, will you?”

“Aww. Are you afraid of Yankee tea?” Cora teased him. “Don't worry. I make my tea with milk, just like you do.”

“Well, that's a relief. I didn't think it was possible to get a good cup of tea on this side of the Atlantic Ocean.”

As soon as they were outside, Cora headed for the curb and hesitated. “Should I hail a taxi?”

Harry answered with a nod.

“I mean... I live all the way in Brooklyn. Cab fare is going to be pretty steep. Are you sure we shouldn't take the subway instead?”

“I'll split the cost with you,” Harry offered. He was afraid that getting jostled on the subway and packed in a tight space would put an end to whatever fantasy he was having at the moment. He didn't want to take that chance.

“Very well. A cab it is!” With her arm extended, Cora stepped to the end of the curb. The streets were slick with recent rain, and she failed to notice there was a giant puddle in front of her. When the first cab whizzed past, Harry grabbed her by the waist and pulled her away from the incoming splash. “Oh my god!” Her eyes were wide when she turned to him. “You saved me!”

“Of course I did,” He said with a grin. “I'm ready to help a damsel in distress at a moment's notice.”

“And I always knew you were a hero.” She moved away from the puddle and made a second attempt to hail a taxi. After a couple of off-duty cabs drove by, she finally had success. They climbed into the back of the taxi and headed for her apartment.

“Your hair...” He leaned in Cora's direction and gently tugged one of the strands. “I can't get over it. It's so beautiful.”

“Is it?” She looked at the ends of her hair, which looked like they were in desperate need of a trim.

“It is. It's exactly as you described it.”

“As I described it?”

In your book.
That's what he wanted to say, but everything in his head was still a mess. Harry wasn't sure what was real anymore. He wanted to ask her some questions, but he wasn't sure how she would react. What if she thought he was crazy?

Either way, he needed to know what was happening. After generously tipping the cab driver, Harry followed her into her apartment and scoured the room. Was it supposed to be familiar?

“Cora...” The reluctance in his voice was obvious. “I need to ask you something.”

“Okay.” Cora collapsed on her couch, crossed her legs, and waited for him to continue.

“I'm a little confused,” he admitted. “Have I been to your apartment before?”

“Umm... no.”

“Are you sure?”

“No. You haven't been here before.” Cora glanced at her pile of Harry Shaw dvds and hoped he wouldn't see them.

“Am I... famous?”

“I think that answer would depend on who you asked,” Cora replied. “I happen to think you're a rising star.”

“Is there going to be a remake of Gone with the Wind?”

Cora had to smile at his question. “Oh wow. You really
are
confused, aren't you?”

Harry stuck out his lower lip and attempted to look as pitiful as possible. “Yes. Thoroughly confused.”

“Okay, well...” Cora couldn't keep him in suspense, not when he looked so precious and perplexed. “No, there's not going to be a remake of Gone with the Wind. Not many people would agree with me, but I think there
should
be a remake.”

“Starring Harry Shaw?”

“Well... that's who I'd cast as Rhett Butler.” Cora smiled at him.

Harry could feel some of the fog lifting, but he still didn't understand. Why was she here? “Do you know Jamie?”

“Of course I know Jamie.”

“Is he...” Harry turned his sheepish eyes to the floor. He felt like he should know the answers to these rudimentary questions. “Is he your brother, or is he my friend?”

“He's my brother. Although... it would be nice if he was your friend too.”

“I'm sorry. I know these are strange questions, but I've been confused ever since we were on top of the Empire State Building. I have no idea how we got here, or why we're in New York City, of all places. I'm supposed to be in London.
You
are supposed to be in California.” When he looked up at her, Cora was still smiling, but there were tears in his eyes. “Actually, that isn't true. You're supposed to be--”

“I'm supposed to be
what
?”

“You're supposed to be... well...” He didn't want to say the word, because he was afraid that saying it would make it true. If Cora had risen from the dead to be with him, why should he complain?

“Dead?” When she finished the thought for him, she didn't look disturbed in the least. “It's true. I'm dead in the real world.”

“I was afraid of that.” Harry could feel tears burning behind his eyes. He pinched the bridge of his nose in an attempt to keep them at bay. “So... this is a dream, isn't it?”

“You
are
asleep,” Cora confirmed his suspicions.

“Then I know what this is. I'm trying to give us a better ending.”

“Not exactly.” Cora rose from the couch and moved in his direction, closing the gap between them. “
I'm
trying to give us a better ending.”

“
What
?! You'll have to explain yourself, because that makes absolutely no sense to me.”

Cora bellowed an exasperated sigh. It wasn't really as complicated as he made it out to be. “Do you remember my letter? I said something about death being an endless black abyss. Well... it's not an endless black abyss.”

“That's good to know.”

“I got to visit my father,” Cora said. “And I get to visit you in your dreams.”

No matter what she said, Harry couldn't shake the feeling that it was all in his head. Even if it was a dream, even if she was a figment of his imagination, she seemed real enough. He wanted to enjoy her company while he had it. “Well, I'm glad to know you're alright.”

“Oh, I'm
more
than alright.
You're
the one I'm worried about.” Cora gave him a gentle tap on the nose. “I lied, you know.”

“You lied? About what?”

“When I said I couldn't take you to the beach, I lied. I could have taken you anywhere. Machu Picchu, Easter Island, the Banaue Rice Terraces...”

“What are the Banaue Rice Terraces?”

“You haven't heard of them? They're in the Philippines. They're a really amazing thing to see, quite possibly the eighth wonder of the world. They were one of the first places I visited after I passed away.”

“So, let me get this straight. When you're dead, you can just go anywhere you want to go?” Harry was incredulous. It sounded too good to be true. It sounded like exactly the sort of thing he would invent in his head—something to make him feel better about Cora's passing.

“Uh huh.” Cora nodded. “And when you're dreaming, you can go anywhere you want to go. I could have taken you to the beach, but... well... I wanted to take you to my old apartment instead.”

“I hope you wanted to take me back here so you could ravish me?”

“Something like that.”

“Okay, now I
know
this is a dream!”

“You really think I wouldn't want to ravish
you
?” Cora rolled her eyes.“I hope you realize how ridiculous you sound right now.”

“Well, if you want me to ravish you, we better get on with it. This is my dream, after all, and I could wake up any minute, so--”

In her most condescending voice, she uttered his name. “Harry Shaw.”

“What?”

“That's not very romantic, is it? If you're going to make love to me, you could try to be a little nicer.”

“I'm sorry.” He tried to amend his wicked ways by cupping her cheek in the palm of his hand and gently caressing her lips. “You're right. I'm a cad. I should be saying sweet things to you.”

“Right. You should.”

“Then you should know I need you, I adore you, and I've been dreaming of this moment.” With a smirk, he added, “and I mean that literally.”

“You're so bad.”

“I know.” His fingers were already plucking at the buttons of her blouse. When he slid the garment away from her shoulders, he was grinning. “You're beautiful, you know.”

“No I'm not. I'm far from beautiful!”

“That sounds like something you would say.”

“Of course it does. And I'm saying it because it's true!” Cora insisted. “I was never good enough for you. I have no idea why you'd actually like me. At first, I thought you might have felt sorry for me, but then you kept coming around and you said nice things and you--”

Harry silenced her with a finger. “Shh. I'm going to carry you to your bedroom now. Where is it?”

As soon as his finger slid away from her mouth, Cora shrieked, “You're going to
carry me
?! Good luck with that. I'm not exactly the most slender woman in the world, if you hadn't noticed, and you don't exactly look like a body builder.”

He already had her off her feet. “Give me some credit, girl. Now, where's the bedroom?”