Read Online Revenge of Cornelius by Tanya R. Taylor - Free Book Online

went over to her.
    "I'm sorry, pumpkin. I was just
playing. I know you're such a good girl." She rubbed her back
gently.
    "I know, Nana. I wasn't really upset."
She smiled.
    "Pancakes are ready. Bringing them
over now."
    "Woo-hoo!" Rosie exclaimed rubbing her
hands together. "I absolutely love Nana's pancakes. Don't you,
Pops?"
    "Yes, I absolutely love them," Michael
replied.
     
    Mira took a last sip of her coffee,
then got up and joined them at the table. She sat next to her
father.
    "While Mom's getting the pancakes,
could you go and grab my purse, sweetheart? I need to make a dash
to the store," Mira said.
    "You're going without me?" Rosie asked
curiously.
    "You actually wanna go?"
    "No way, Mom. Pops and I are having
pancakes! Tricked ya!" The child merrily skipped off.
    Mira leaned in toward her father. "How
are you doing, Dad? I mean, how are you really feeling?"
    "I feel good." He nodded. "I was a
little more tired than usual yesterday. Didn't get much sleep the
night before. That's all."
    She gazed at him.
    "I know all that stuff your mother
told you must have caught you off guard, but I'm as strong as an
ox. I'll be around for a long time. You'll see. Don't you worry
your little head."
    Mira's eyes started to well with tears
again.
    "Now put that away!" He demanded. "We
have to think of Rosie. She's too young to handle all the snibbling
and snootering and all that crap I don't like."
    "Okay, Dad." Mira quickly dried her
eyes.
    "We'll talk about this some more
later, okay?"
    "Okay," she replied.
    She could see the love in her father's
eyes and yearned more than anything right then to find a secluded
spot and scream the frustration away. She needed to get it all out.
Staying awake for half the night and crying herself to sleep wasn't
nearly enough to even begin to ease the pain inside her
heart.
    Rosie returned a moment later and Sara
arrived with the pancakes.
    "Thanks, honey." Mira gave Rosie a
peck on the forehead for the purse. "I'll see you when I get
back."
    "Drive safely, now!" Sara said as Mira
headed for the door, car-keys dangling in her hand.
     
    * * *
     
    Sara was in the process of clearing
the table when there was a knock at the front door.
    "I'll get it." She tossed the
dish-towel across her shoulder as Michael and Rosie continued their
conversation in the dining room.
    As was her custom, she never used the
peephole, but opened the door right up. She was surprised to see
who was standing on her porch. Though they had never met, Sara had
a strong inkling as to the woman's identity and the youngster
standing beside her.
    "I'm so sorry to disturb you," the
lady started. "My name is Andrea Benjamin; I live just up the
street there. I suppose you're Mira's mother?"
    "Oh, yes. And I suppose this handsome
young man next to you is Alex?" Sara returned with a
smile.
    Alex, who had once been staring the
older lady down, hung his head shyly when she placed him in the
spotlight.
    "Rosie hasn't stopped mentioning your
name hardly since her first visit. He's such a precious boy," she
said to Andrea.
    "Thank you. Alex, are you going to say
thank you?" Andrea nudged him gently.
    "Thank you," the boy answered softly,
giving Sara a quick glance before burying his head into his
mother's skirt.
    "Please come in," Sara moved to the
side. "It's nice to finally meet you, Mrs. Benjamin."
    Andrea and Alex stepped
inside.
    "We're not going to take up much of
your time, Mrs. Cullen. I was just wondering if Mira was
here."
    "She went to the store. You can wait
if you'd like. She'll be back real soon."
    "No, that's okay. You can just let her
know that I popped by and I'll speak with her later."
    "Well, please let me at least
introduce you to my husband," Sara said. "Do come
through."
    Right then, Rosie appeared. "Hi, Mrs.
Benjamin! Hi, Alex!"
    "Why hello, Rosie." Andrea smiled.
"How are you today?"
    "Fine, thank you," the dainty child
responded. "Did you come for me?"
    Andrea laughed. "I came to see your
mom. You know, I promised