You Found Me

Chapter 14

Currently the boys are at the kitchen table and I'm rushing around making spaghetti for dinner. I put the sauce on to simmer when the doorbell rings. I tell the boys to stay put and I run to let Meghan in. I open the door to her in a white sleeveless blouse, tight black pants, and black boots. Her hair is curled and gives off a Disney princess Merida vibe. "Wow...you look so beautiful" I nearly stutter.

She smirks "You look pretty hot in sweatpants and a tank top." I hug her and pull her in for a kiss. I go to pull back but she pulls me back in by my neck. When we finally break our kiss she leans her forehead against mine "I have missed you" she says melting my heart. I tell her I have missed her too and invite her inside to meet the boys. She sits down with them and kindly quizzes Scottie on his spelling words for his test tomorrow and he crushed it! "Buddy if you do well on your test tomorrow we will go get ice cream after school" I tell him. Meghan sighs "Ugh I'm jealous I can't be there tomorrow for ice cream but maybe we can do Dippin' Dots on Wednesday at the museum."

Jaden and Scottie steal Meghan away to play while I finish dinner for everyone. It makes me gush inside how well she fits in with my family so far. I text Loren telling her about the teachers comment at school and apologize for the event that happened. She texted back saying she literally doesn't care. As long as Jaden is okay she said the teacher can shove it up her ass. Once dinner is done I call for the boys and Meghan and they all come running downstairs. "It smells so good Aunt Korie" Jaden smiles. Meghan sits down next to me and puts her hand on my thigh instantly sending a tingly be sensation throughout my body.

"Mhmm. It's so good" she says taking a bite of the noodles. The boys agree and dig into their plates. "So how was school today guys" I ask them. Scottie said it was boring and then Jaden tells us he told his class about the bear last night and scared some of the other kids. "Bear" Meghan questions. I then realized I didn't tell her about last night! So Jaden basically told her what happened and she gets quiet. I notice it but continue talking with the kids. Once dinner is over I give them a half hour to do whatever they want before shower and bedtime.

"Why didn't you tell me that happened with the bear last night" Meghan asked seemingly upset. I told her I forgot and just didn't think about it. "What if something had happened to you" she asked. I didn't know what to say so I shrugged my shoulders "I guess my nephews would've found me which is horrible." She asked why I went outside to investigate and so I told her I was trying to protect the boys and make sure there wasn't someone creeping around the house. "Why are you so upset" I ask her.

She scoffs "I care about you damn it. If something happened to you I'd be so upset." I walk closer to her "I'm okay. Nothing happened to me. But that poor lady is probably in a ton of pain still. I had to help her Meghan and I had to protect the boys because I love them. I wanted to be sure nobody was trying to break into the house." She calms down a little bit "I'm sorry I got upset. I know you're fine but I really like you Korie and it's scary that even happened." I see a tear fall from her eye.

"If you know I'm okay then why are you still upset" I ask wrapping my arms around her. "The lady that was attacked last night is in ICU currently in critical condition" she let a few more tears fall. "Korie that could be you right now but that poor lady just happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time" she cried. I hug her tightly "I'm sorry I didn't tell you sooner. I'd be devastated if the roles were reversed." She whispers a thank you and I hug closer. "Can we go relax and play with the kids for a bit now" I ask. She nods her head and we go upstairs to play hide n seek with the kids for the next twenty minutes until their bedtime.

After the boys are showered and put to bed I walk Meghan downstairs and out to her car. She turns and faces me before getting in "I'm sorry I kinda ruined the night." I frown and pull her close to me "Babe you didn't ruin anything. I think it's sweet you were worried about me." She lays her head on my shoulder and I hold her in silence "You know I'd be devastated if something happened to you Meghan." I contemplate whether or not I should tell her how I feel but my brain decides for me "I think I'd be devastated because I have fallen so in love with you these past couple of months."

She lifts her head to look at me and she smiles slowly "You love me?" I smile looking down at her "I do. I love you so much." She reaches up and kisses me deeply "I love you too" she breaks the kiss. My heart is racing and I feel tingly all over. She kissed me once more before getting in her car "Drive safe and text me when you get home." She agrees before closing her door and backing out of the driveway. She rolls her window down before pulling off "Get inside before you meet another bear." I roll my eyes "Very funny."

Once I get into the house Jaden and Scottie yell for me to come upstairs. I sit on the corner of Scottie's bed and ask then what's wrong. They then ask me to tell them a story so I pull a book off the shelf but they shake their heads "No tell us about an adventure you've been on." I smile at the odd request as most kids just want to hear a normal bedtime story. I think hard and can't really think of anything at first. I then remembered my trip to Africa when I was an intern for Baltimore Zoo.

When I was twenty I got the privilege to take a trip with our lead zookeeper at Baltimore Zoo. We got the opportunity to go to Kruger National Park in Africa to participate in elephant and rhino research. At the time I was an intern and in college.

When we arrived at the airport we were met by a group of three men and a very attractive woman, Kaya. On my third day in Kruger National Park I get invited to go on a poacher watch at night. While we were sitting in the dark in complete silence we could hear the roars of lions and close laughs of hyenas as they circled the jeep. Then suddenly we hear a gunshot and see a spotlight turn on. We jump into action putting bulletproof vests on and we drove towards the light.

As we get closer to the spotlight I hear shouts in a foreign language and we hear engines starting. The gunner on the top of our jeep fires at the other vehicles and we chase them off the reserve. We circled back around to search the area they fired a gun. We then came across a young elephant calf that had been shot in the leg and it's mother was standing over him ti protect him. Kaya knew this elephant and so she got out of the jeep.

The elephant let out some low grumbles and she spoke to the elephant in a calm matter "Liza we are here to help" she slowly approached the mother and her baby. Surprisingly Liza the elephant let Kaya approach and touch her baby to assess the damage. Once we get the okay to do so myself and the vet approached the calf alongside Kaya.

That night we saved that beautiful calf as it's anxious mother watched us closely. That animal could've killed us in a rage of hatred for the poachers hurting her baby...but she let us help her. It was that night I fell in love with elephants and their unique social structure and sense of family. Kaya raised Liza the elephant and she remembered her and treated her as a part of her herd.

Once we got the calf feeling better and got some fluids in him Liza the mother elephant touched us all gently with her trunk almost as a thank you for helping her baby. It was there in Africa that I knew what I wanted to do in my life. I want to help elephants and help make the world more aware to help save all animals so we can live together in peace.

"Wow...that was a cool story Aunt Korie" Jaden hugged me tight. Scottie had fallen asleep but Jaden listened the entire time. I smiled at him "Never give up on your dreams bud. You can be whatever you want to be in this life. Goodnight buddy. I love you." He hugs me once more "Night Aunt Korie. I love you too." I walk into the spare room and lay on my bed. I check my phone to see Meghan had gotten home safely. I text her goodnight and I lay there and think about my interaction with the boys tonight. I hope one day I have kids of my own because I love being here with them and I love taking them to do stuff. I think I'd really love to be a Mom.