here to tell the tale

 

"What just happened?" Megan was still asking herself this, hours later as she was cutting an apple for Cora to eat. Here they were supposed to be thinking of a lovely time alone, but there she was with the toddler.

Oh, she winced at the thought that Cori might have made her a fool. Was he Cora's father? That sounded like an absurd drama to her. No way was her Cori unfaithful. Well, it would have all happened before they met. Not once had he ever mentioned Ali, his brother's girlfriend.

It pained her to think that Cora was in such an awful situation. At least, Cori was doing his best to track down his brother. Naturally, Hope and Tori were helping out too and her grandmother told her they should go ahead and get away on a honeymoon.

"We'll take care of Cora," her grandmother looked settled on the idea, but Megan hated to leave now. She didn't want Cora to think they'd abandoned her as soon as she got here. Although, she hadn't cried once. It was if she knew her mother was coming back. Wasn't she? 

She nibbled away on the apple. Although, Megan wasn't prepared for a child in her life. This was exciting and yet devastating in the same breath. Oh, she was feeling dizzy. Maybe she was crazy or coming down with something. Still in her wedding dress, she vomited in the bathroom.

Cori clicked off his call and went running. Cora wasn't far behind. There was Megan laying on the bathroom floor.

"Oh my God," Cori felt for a pulse, but she lay there with her eyes open.

"I'm fine," she said so automatically. "I forgot to eat today."

"You forgot to eat?" He lifted her to sit up. "How could you?"

"I dunno. A lot was going on," Megan squinted tears. "I'm OK."

He said he didn't believe her. They were going to the emergency. What if was COVID?

"It couldn't be." But she felt numb. She didn't even take a bite of the cake but she wanted a piece now.

"You need protein," Cori told her as they sat all together in the stinky bathroom just off from the bedroom. He got her up and held the baby too. Finally, they found refuge on the bed. Before she knew it, it was their cozy little island. He'd brought cake for everyone.

"Where's she going to sleep?" Megan wanted to know. She couldn't let Cora wander off. She was still so little, even if she ate like there was no end in sight. "What could have happened?"

"Probably something my mother did," Cori sighed as he went to clean moist crumbs and icing from Cora's face.

"Yes, that would be true." Megan was solemn at the idea.

"I don't know where my brother is," Cori finally confessed.

"What about your mother?" She turned to look at the frustration on Cori's face.

"I can't worry about her," he said.

Megan nodded. She went to find a toothbrush to brush Cora's teeth. The child needed a bath. So much to endure just for the night. And of course, Cora needed a place of her own to sleep. No way did Megan want to start any bad habits, but she had no idea what Cora had been through.