Cora is 47, Robert 49, Ava 4. Victoria 28, Tayler 27, Olivia 26.
"I need to go to New York. The girls need me."
"Are you going for the girls? Or to see Daniel?"
"Robert! Daniel got in a bad accident and he may not survive. I need to be there. He was my husband for 22 years and he is the father of my children."
"Sure, go! Will you come back?"
"Please, don't do this. You know I love you. I am not going for Daniel. I am going for Victoria, Tayler and Olivia."
"So Ava and I can wait." Robert started to walk away.
"Robert? Robert please." Cora tried to grab his hand, but he pulled his hand back. "Why don't you and Ava come with me, so you can see for yourself what is happening."
"You know that isn't an option. I can't leave right now. John and Rosamund aren't here, so who would run the company? When is your flight?"
"Tomorrow morning, please Robert, I don't want to leave on a fight."
"Just stay than." Robert looked at her, turned around and closed the door behind him.
Cora brushed away her tears. She needed to go to New York. Daniel was in the hospital and was fighting for his life. Her daughters needed her. What if Daniel died. They would lose their father. And although Daniel cheated, he was still the father of her children and she once loved him.
Robert hadn't come to bed that evening and the next morning he didn't say a word.
"Robert, I need to go, otherwise I miss my flight." Cora kissed Ava's head. "You be a good girl for daddy alright?" She walked over to Robert and wrapped her arms around him. Cora kissed his neck and cheek, but Robert was stiff. He didn't react.
"Let me know when you landed safely." He took a bite of his toast and focused on the morning paper again.
"I will." Cora said in a soft voice. "Know that I love you." With tears in her eyes she left, and got in a taxi to the airport.
Olivia was waiting at the airport. "Mum, what's wrong?" She said when she saw her mother's face.
"Don't you worry about me. How are you holding up." Cora had tried to let the argument with Robert go, but she kept repeating the scene in her head. She hated it that she had to go while they were still fighting.
"I am not sure, how I am feeling. Papa is badly hurt and the doctors aren't giving him much hope. Victoria and Tayler are at the hospital. Do you want to go there directly?"
Cora wrapped her arms around Olivia. "Darling, I am so sorry this has happened. We better go to the hospital directly."
"Where is Ava? And Robert?"
Cora swallowed. "Robert couldn't come and having Ava with me would be hard. So she stayed home with her father."
Olivia drove to the hospital. When Tayler saw her mother she burst out in tears. "Oh Mama, what if Papa is going to die?"
Cora brushed her hair and held her tight. Not knowing what to say. Victoria leaned in on her and Cora kissed her cheek.
"Is Michelle here?" Cora asked.
"No, she will be back tonight." Victoria answered.
"Can I see your dad? Is it allowed to visit him."
Victoria brought Cora to his room. Where she left her alone with Daniel.
"Look at you." Cora touched his hair. "What have you done. Please keep fighting. Your girls need you here. They can't lose their dad." She sat down next to him and took his hand in hers. It felt strange to touch him again. She sat there for a long time. Just talking to him. Tayler came into the room to tell that Michelle was back. Cora got up and kissed Daniel's forehead. "Come back to us."
Cora had taken her girls back home. It wasn't good if they lingered around in the hospital. She would make them a proper dinner.
The next morning Cora called Robert. She needed.to hear his voice.
"Robert." He answered his phone.
His cold tone threw Cora aback. "Hi darling, it is me."
"Hi" was the only thing he said.
"I miss you." Cora tried, but she knew she wouldn't reach him. Robert didn't answer. "How is Ava doing
"She is at the day-care and doing alright. What is it that you called for?"
"I just wanted to hear your voice. I miss you."
"You have said that. How is your ex husband doing?"
Cora let out a deep sigh. "Daniel isn't doing very well. The doctor's say he will not make it. But we have to wait and see what happens."
"So you will not come home soon?"
"Darling, I don't know. I can't leave my girls alone right now. They need me."
"And you need Daniel!"
"No, no darling, no. I need you, only you. Please, don't do this."
"I have to run, say hello to the girls from me."
Before Cora could answer, he had hung up the phone. She sunk down on the couch and buried her face in her hands. She couldn't go back to London, but Robert was really upset. Why didn't he trust her.
Cora's phone rang, hopeful she looked at the name. But it wasn't Robert, it was Tayler. The only thing she heard was sobbing.
"Dear? Where are you?"
"Hospital."
"I am on my way, darling. I am on my way."
Cora got to the hospital as quick as she could. Upon arriving she found her three girls sobbing in each others arms. She knew instantly, Daniel had died. She had that feeling when Tayler called but this confirmed it. She wrapped her arms around them and just stood there for a while.
"You girls can go and say goodbye to your father." Michelle stepped into the room. "Oh hello Cora, thank you for comming."
Cora touched her hand, when she walked out with her girls. She stood at the door when Victoria, Tayler and Olivia said goodbye.
"Mum? Do you want a moment alone with dad?" Victoria asked.
"Yes, please." Cora sat down next to Daniel and waited for the door to close. She took his hand and kissed it. "I should hate you, but I can't. We had good years together, in the beginning. Because of that we have three wonderful daughters. I don't know what to say. I will miss you in their stories. They will miss you extremely. I promise I will take good care of them. Although I am in London, I will. They are grown woman now, and I wish you would had seen them get married and have children. You rest now my darling, goodbye." She kissed his cheek and got up.
The funeral service had been intimate. She invited Michelle over for a cup of tea, but she reclined. Victoria, Dan, Tayler, Sebastian, Olivia and Max were sitting in the living room, drinking a cup of tea.
"When are you going back to London?" Sebastian asked.
"I booked a flight for the day after tomorrow." Cora answered.
"So soon?" Olivia said with a surprised face.
"Darling, I have to. My work is waiting and you girls will go on with your life. I can't stay here, even though I would love to be here with you girls. Ava is also needing me.
"And Robert!" Tayler said.
Cora gave her a faint smile. "And Robert. I will make some more tea." She said while standing up.
Victoria had followed her into the kitchen. "Is everything alright between you and Robert?"
"Don't you worry about that." Was Cora's answer. "Can you bring in the cookies?"
