Chapter 5: Living with my mistakes and making confessions

Cornelia held up the green and tan stripped curtain over the window and tilted her head on a side, then the other. With a satisfied smile, she fastened the curtain to the wall and stepped back. Only around 2 weeks had passed since she had overheard Will and Hay Lin discuss the fact that Caleb had made a commitment to Will and their child. Only a week had passed since she had began to feel more and more depressed by the fact that her once perfect figure was beginning to bulge around her stomach and her parents refused to let her have a social life. And only 3 days had passed since she had told her parents that she wanted her own apartment so she could become independant.

Of course she still had issues with the whole arrangement. Already the child was growing and most of Cornelia's clothing was too tight or no longer fit over her belly. Caleb and Will were open about their child, and as a result had already found an apartment nearby and even had a small, brief civil ceremony. And still Cornelia had kept the baby a secret from the other Guardians. How could she tell them now? Irma and Hay Lin had already began to plan a massive baby shower. Caleb was already looking through history books of Meridan heroes to pick out an appropriate name. Will's mother, always understanding and a single mom herself, was calm and had loaned her Visa credit card to the happy new couple.

Cornelia sat down on the rocking chair and ran her fingers across her belly. At least that much was still attractive, but in a different way. Instead of being flat and fashionable, it was now rounded and warm and perfectly shaped like a pregnant belly should be. She hummed vaguely, wondering when her mother would drop by. She had promised to visit to see the newly remodeled apartment.

Cornelia tugged the shirt over her belly again and looked out the window at the warm summer evening. Parents pushed strollers and held infants close. But no single mothers could be found by her eyes. I guess we'll cause quite a stir, little girl. Cornelia thought quietly. Not just with Daddy and Aunt Will and their baby, but all around Heatherfield. She looked around her nursery again and walked to the door, holding it half open and gazing down the hallway for her mother. Sure enough, within moments, Mrs. Hale appeared carrying a small bundle.

"Cornelia." She said quietly. "You need to have a seat." Mrs. Hale always looked out of place against the pale green wall of Cornelia's living room or on Cornelia's small and cheap green sofa, but somehow she now looked like she belonged there. A guilty look crossed her face for a moment, and then she extended the bundle towards Cornelia. "Read it." She urged.

Cornelia let the book fall open on her lap, and she read it, not expecting to find anything other than a page condemning her for fornication and being a single mother.

Dear Diary,

Today I got married. Can you believe that? I got married to my next door neighbor's son. He had always had a crush on me, and now I'm married to him. Since I haven't kept a diary before now, I guess I had better explain what's happened.

It was only 4 months ago that I found out I was pregnant. And it was only 3 months and 3 weeks ago that my boyfriend left me. My parents are furious, but I've decided to keep my baby. I've decided to call her Cornelia Hale to hide the fact that my 'husband' is in fact a stand in to make my family appear respectible...

Cornelia jerked her hands off the books and stared at her mother. "Mom?" She asked blankly. Mrs. Hale looked through her purse and didn't respond. "Mother!" She repeated frantically. "Don't tell me that you--that I--"

Mrs. Hale handed her a worn and bedraggled photograph. "This is your real father, Cornelia." She said, looking tired.

Cornelia stared at the picture of a laughing young man with blonde hair and blue eyes. "I look like him." She blurted. "I--in the face, I sort of look like him."

"Yes, Cornelia." Mrs. Hale agreed. "You always looked and acted like your father." She stood up and gathered her things. "I never meant for you to end up like me, you know. I wanted to give you your freedom. But I guess freedom comes with risks." She kissed Cornelia on the cheek and left quietly.

Cornelia bit her lower lip and slowly picked up her phone and dialed Taranee's number. "Taranee? It's Cornelia. You know how I've been sick for a few weeks?" She said slowly. "Well...here's why."