What do you think? Is she insane or is she and Jude on to something? Thank you for reading my story. I plan to add three more chapters tonight to make up for missing a day. Thank you all for reading my story! If you are enjoying it, please consider leaving a comment or a gem. Each time someone comments or leaves a gift, it brings more attention to this story, helping it rise in the ranks and find new readers to enjoy it.
[Cordelia]I expected her hands to slip, or her grip to fail. She is, after all, a woman in her 60's, and although I am petite in stature, I am still a full-grown woman hanging by her ankle. Even a strong man would have a hard time keeping a hold of me.Somehow she not only manages to hold on, but she does so for long enough that a crew member could reach out from the deck below to grab my shoulders and ease me onto their deck. It was a careful operation requiring strong hands. Even so, they could have lost me if Susanna hadn't been able to hold on for as long as she did. In all the commotion someone contacts Atlas who rushes onto the lower deck just as they pull me to safety. "Cordelia, oh my God!" He shouts as he scoops me up into his lap. I sigh deeply, sinking into his warmth. I missed him so much. I can't stand when we're arguing. "What happened?""I fell," I nuzzle him closely. "I thought I was going to die."The door flies open behind us. "Cordelia, are you okay?"Atlas swive
[Atlas]Cordelia has been acting strangely. The change is stark. And when I ask her to explain, she won't, she freezes up and gives me this wide-eyed stare. When my mother enters the room, it's even worse. She starts to shake. My mother doesn't even need to say anything and Cordelia starts looking for ways to leave. My mother says Cordelia was trying to leave forever the night she rescued Cordelia from falling off the boat. I couldn't believe it at first when she told me about my wife getting up onto the railing and trying to jump, but the crewman confirmed her story and I have no reason to believe my mother would lie.Which means that Cordelia did try to jump. Cordelia has never been suicidal, even at her darkest, but now that I see the way she is around my mother, I wonder if maybe there is something that I missed. Is Cordelia as mentally unstable as my mother suggests? Could it be some unresolved postpartum depression like the doctor saysWhat is going on with you, Cordelia? Why
[Atlas]Clark's face is drawn and tired, his body hunched. He looks like he's been stuck in this chair for days, and perhaps he has."How's she doing today," I ask as I take a step deeper into the room. His daughters are asleep in a double stroller next to him as the nurses prepare to transport their mother. They make little bubbles in their sleep as they lay in their separate seats, their little fingers touching."As well as can be expected," he sighs like a man who feels the weight of everything on his shoulders. In one quick, tragic moment, he went from a man desperately in love planning his wedding to an almost widower and single father. "They still can't figure out what caused her cardiac arrest. Has Cordy said anything more about what happened before her episode?""No," I shake my head, my disappointment coloring my voice, "She hasn't been willing to talk about what happened." My anger rises as I tell him all about how our relationship has been disintegrating, how we are sleepin
[Clark]My brother is such a fool. He often is when it comes to Cordelia. I trust in his ability to make this right, but I also worry about the two of them. They've both been through so much pain."We're ready, Mr. Steele." the nurses inform me as they detach her IVs but keep her ventilator in place. She has a few other vital machines keeping her alive, but that is the only one she cannot do without until her lungs remember how to breathe on their own. My poor lost Tilly. When she "woke" yesterday, it did so much damage to her lungs they say she'll have permenant scarring. Even if she does recover, she'll have a hard time breathing for the rest of her life.Cassie and Maddie droop sleepily in their stroller as I say goodbye to their mother. They had been sleeping just a moment before, but my argument with their uncle snapped them awake. But they are such good girls, that they hardly ever cry. As their little eyes look around and take in everything they see, I can't help but marvel at
[Clark]Cordelia is seething mad. Whatever happened between her and Atlas has created a rift between them and Atlas is going to need to work hard if he wants to win back her trust. Whatever he said or did this time has her behaving much like she did when she divorced him the first time, and if he isn't careful, he'll be speaking with her lawyers a second time. She has the same resolute look on her face, the same determination of a woman with nothing to lose. "Please let me know when you have updates on Tilly," she requests as I help her with Jasper's stroller.Her usually sweet smile has a sour downturn on the edges as I pull her into my arms for a final hug. "I'll let you know as soon as her condition changes," I promise, letting her go. As I watch her wheel my nephew into the lobby of the finest luxury hotel in Honolulu, I find myself jealous of my brother. Yes, his wife isn't speaking to him at the moment, but at least she is strong enough to leave him. I'd rather have Tilly slap
[Clark]"Jenny," Matthew Madison scowls, his brow pinching as he looks between his wife and me. "Give the boy a break. He loves her too." Tilly's mother cracks her knuckles and I'm reminded so strongly of my fiance that I almost start crying. I won't crack in front of them. I need to stay strong for all of my girls. But it is hard facing off with her parents. I wish we were here on a happier occasion and on better terms. I think I'd have grown to like Jennifer Madison. My Tilly is very much like her mother. So much so that I'm certain that no amount of kindness will break through to her now. Her face is hard, unrelenting, as she condemns me with her eyes. I try to remind myself that she's hurting too but giving her that much grace is growing difficult as she spews hate and vengeance with her eyes. I understand that seeing her only child weak and unresponsive must be breaking her inside, but that doesn't mean I'll relent to give her what she wants. I won't let her cross my boundaries
[Cordelia]The helicopter's blades blasted wind into our faces, stealing our words, but the message was clear, even if Atlas couldn't exactly hear what I was trying to say. "Atlas, I'm leaving you."The way his face instantly fell, I could tell the message hit home. I am done competing with his "mother" for attention. I'm tired of having my words disregarded. As the helicopter lifted off, my best friend inside, I couldn't help but think about all the moments we have survived as a family. And now Tilly, who has held me together so many times, is falling apart and might need me more than ever. If only psychic abilities were real, as suggested by that woman pretending to be Susanna. I would place my hands on her and wish her well. I would wish so hard that she'd be holding her children right now. I can feel Atlas' eyes on me as I leave. He doesn't chase me, he knows that won't help. He is giving me space to think.Clark is a kind friend. Sometimes I wonder what my life would have been
[Cordelia]Picking up the magazine, I bring it closer to my face. The nanny, a sweet girl named Catie, informs me that it is the latest issue. "Just dropped off this morning." How is this possible? "Are you sure?" I query, knowing that this photo can't be real. Angelica has been dead for several months now, and yet here she is wearing an orchid-colored satin dress standing next to Sydney along with Delilah whose dress is a slightly darker purple. "Maybe it's an actress, or another missing embryo," I make a guess. "Magnus is capable of anything."Including maybe cloning his favorite co-collaborator? No, if he could do that, he'd have replaced her the first time she "died."Setting it down I take a photo and text it to Clark. After a few minutes of waiting, I send it to Atlas and finally to Jude with the added message. "Tell me I'm not seeing what I think I'm seeing."I take several deep breaths as I wait for my replies. "I'm coming over now," Atlas texts back, not bothering to ask wh