Page 101 of Stealing Second

“They already are, CeCe. But if it’s all this you’re-worried-about-their-safety, I get it.” She shrugs.

“Chloe and Cora get to meet first, and they’ll decide together what is shared.”

“And that’s fair, too,” she says as she pulls her phone out of her pocket and looks at it. She holds it up. “Marks is pulling in.”

I send the girls a text.

Me

Next week, I swear things will get back to normal.

Fawna

You’d better mean, like, Monday and not a week from now. We need CeCe time.

Me

CeCe needs F & F time, too. Next week. Promise.

Cora startles in her sleep, and her eyes pop open. She slowly sits up, looking around. “I’m sorry I passed out”—she looks at the pillow on my lap—“on you.”

“You are totally fine and woke up at the perfect time. Marks is back with food.”

She holds her hand over her stomach. “I don’t think I can eat.”

“Okay.”

Tears fill her eyes again. “What if we wait and I never get to tell her thank you?”

“Fuck me.” Gwen stands up and walks out of the living room and to the kitchen.

“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean?—”

“Cora”—I laugh quietly—“it’s not you; it’s her, legitimately.”

“She’s not wrong, Cora. I’m sorry. I’ve simply surpassed my annual allotment for losing my shit.”

“You cry?” Marks asks.

“Yeah, a lot, asshole.”

He chuckles.

“Can we …? Can we call her?” Cora whispers.

“I don’t feel like that’s my choice. All I ask is that she doesn’t know he’s here in Trenton. She thinks he’s still in California. Danny would prefer she not stress about”—I feel my lip curl—“him.”

“And he’s why she is looking for me?” she asks as Marks and York walk in.

Marks sits on the arm of the couch. “Chloe would never want to disrupt your life; she believes she made the right choice for you. When William was released, she had a feeling?—”

“Mother’s intuition.” Gwen smiles softly.

“York, pull yourself together,” Marks jokes then looks back at Cora. “She’s always loved you, and she’s gonna love you even more when she meets you, if you want her to be part of your life.”

York wipes a tear. “She’s been seeing a therapist because she’s worried she’ll scare you away with all that Chloe kind of love.”

Cora nods, like a lot and for a long time, then finally she looks at me. “Can I use the bathroom, fix my hair? I wanna meet her now, please.”

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