Tied To You

I

You Reap What You Sow

"Ava can we meet?" Cora said on the phone with Ava. At first Ava wasn't going to answer the call, but her guts were telling her to do otherwise. She was surprised when she heard her cousin's voice. Never has Cora ever called Ava ever since her mother's death.

"Where would you like to meet Cora?" Ava calmly said to her as she looked at her watch looking out the window of the cafe she was in. She was waiting for someone who was almost 20 minutes late already.

"Lets meet at Slider's Diner in about 30 minutes. I already made a reservation just mention my name and the host will assist you."

"Sure. I'll be there." She simply said. Ava ended the call. She decided to meet with Cora because Michael was a no-show and she didn't want to look like a fool in the Cafe waiting for almost half an hour for a guy. It didn't take long for Ava to arrive at the Diner. It quite busy being lunch hour, the ambiance was calm as a bunch of college and high school students filled up the Diner.

"Hello, Ma'am." The hostess greeted her with a playful smile. "Dine-in or reservation?" The hostess asked.

"Reservation for Cora." Ava said and the hostess gave her a quick nod, took a menu from off the podium, and directed Ava to her table. "Right this way ma'am."

There both was at the far end of the Diner. It could practically hold about 4 people. The space between the two was awkward. One, they never sat down and had a conversation with each other. Two, they aren't close and three, they aren't in the best terms.

"I thought you'd never come Ava." Cora stated pointing to the seat in front of her.

"I'm curious to know why you asked me to meet with you. That's why I chose to come."

"Well lets order first. I'm pretty sure you haven't eaten and plus I am starving."

Ava didn't order much, she was still full from the croissant she ate at the cafe so she ordered just an ice water and a Caesar Salad. "Are you on a diet?" Cora asked before biting into her fried chicken. Ava just shook her head as she was lightly stabbing the salad with her fork. 

"How's the baby Cora?" Ava thought it was about one to break the ice between them. She was feeling awkward around Cora. Cora's eyes widened hearing Ava ask the question.

"How'd you know?" Cora asked with surprise.

"I'm a Montenegro. I know everything. Plus it's obvious in the way you eat and your appearance. Your skin is more radiant and you're eating only meat of the fried chicken, from what I know, when we were kids you use to eat chicken to the bone. Now you're picking at the skin and veins of the chicken." Cora huffed in defeat. She knew she couldn't hide anything from Ava cause she always knew everything. She was a very observant individual.

"So then you know that Michael isn't the father of my baby." His was a piece of information Ava didn't know, but she just nodded confirming what Cora had said. "Well that's why I brought you here. I wanted to talk to you about Michael." Cora avoided eye contact with Ava as she sipped her water.

"What about Michael?" Ava asked. She was so curious to know what Cora was going to say next.

She saw Cora take a deep breath, as tears fell from her eyes. "Please take care of him for me. He deserves someone who will genuinely love him. He's not that hard to love." She was sobbing, Ava knew she wasn't acting. She saw how much Cora cared for Michael which got Ava more curious to know why she was asking her such a favor.

"Why are you asking me this?" She asked offering Cora a piece of napkin.

"Cause I made a mistake an unforgivable one. I know if he finds out he isn't the father he's going to hate me. The least thing I want is for him to be angry with me."

"Well Cora, you got yourself into this mess, you should be the one to fix it. Not run away from it. You reap what you sow." Ava was furious at Cora. She didn't expect her to be that irresponsible, she looked up to her, she was her idol and now she's very disappointed. And now her name is going to get mixed up in her mess and Ava doesn't want that. As much as she wants to help Cora, she has to keep her name clean she can't have her name affiliated with a scandal.

"You know I can't do that! I don't want the father of my child to be involved. He's in love with another woman! I don't want to ruin there relationship!" She cried heavily accepting the fate she was in. Ava just looked at her.

"I don't know if I should pity you or laugh at you because for a smart girl like you, you make stupid relationship decisions. But at the end of the day you reap what you sow. I shouldn't be the one you're talking too, it should be both Mike and the father of your child. I have nothing to do with your dirty laundry." Ava stated with full conviction.

"You don't know who the father of my child is do you?" Cora sniffled, as much as she didn't want to tell Ava she had to know. Ava just shook her head in response. "Well its Brandon, he's the father of my unborn child." Ava kept a straight face as she heard the revelation. She didn't want to show Cora any weakness.

"Look I'm sorry, I didn't expect all this to happen." Cora huffed as she let out a heavy sigh. "I've made a big mess and I don't know how to clean it up, that's why I turned to you. I figured you'd be able to help me, but I know the truth is inevitable and Michael will eventually find out." She explained. Ava was surprised to here Cora apologize genuinely. She had immense pride and never made her self accountable for her actions. Ava saw the change in her and she was proud to know that she changed for the better.

"It already happened Cora, we can't change anything, but I think the best thing to do is talk to Michael he needs to know. He will get hurt, but eventually time will heal all wounds. You need to clean up the mess you made before it gets any messier." Ava explained, slipping a twenty to Cora. "Thanks for lunch I really appreciate it. See you soon." Ava got up flipping her hair and fixing her YSL clutch bag as she exited the diner.