"Oh, no! Where is she?" Rose asked.
"Dammit! Come on, Rose. Let's go find her."
They searched high and low for her. The park was almost as big as Central Park, so she could be anywhere.
Where could she be? Shit! Oh, God, help us! Jack thought.
"Where would she run off to?" Rose asked.
"I don't...I don't know! Oh, God!"
Please, God. Please. Help us find Cora. Please, Rose thought.
"Cora? Cora, where are you?" Jack shouted.
She was just here. She was just there, and then in two minutes, she was gone. How could this happen? Jack thought.
Jack and Rose went everywhere. They couldn't believe it.
Rose had tears in her eyes. She began to sob, and her body was shaking.
Lake Wissota was near the park. Jack thought they should look over there.
It was three o'clock PM now. It was around 2:30 when Cora disappeared.
"Oh, God! Where can she be?" Rose asked.
Please, God. Just let her be safe. If taking my life will keep her safe and out of harm's way, then so be it, Jack prayed.
Rose felt sick, and she started to fall. Jack, noticing this, caught her just in time.
"Oh, Jack, I need to sit down," she said.
"All right. Let me find a bench," Jack said.
He was worried about Rose lately.
He tried to put that thought out of his mind. He had enough to worry about.
"Come on, Rose. Just a little bit further. Trust me," he said.
"I trust you," she said, barely above a whisper.
He hated to see Rose like this. She never fainted, unless something was really bad.
Rose couldn't stand any longer. Finally, her legs gave out, and Jack carried her to the bench.
"Come on, Rose. Wake up. Please, wake up. Please," he said, over and over.
Finally, her eyes fluttered open.
"Jack! Jack! Oh God, Jack! Where am I?"
"We're in the park, right by Lake Wissota. We need to find Cora."
"Jack, I'm sorry."
"For what, Rose?"
"For fainting like I did. I love you, Jack."
"Oh, Rose. Don't be sorry. I love you, too, honey. Can you walk?"
"I'll try. Just keep your arm around me, okay?"
"All right."
Thirty Minutes Later
"Oh, my God! There she is!" Rose screamed.
"What? Where?" Jack asked.
"Right there!"
They ran to Cora. She was crying. Rose, too, was crying.
"Cora, are you all right? Where have you been?"
"I...I have been here before. With my mommy and daddy. I remember wading in the lake, and...and my daddy rented a boat, and we went fishing," she said, looking out into space. "And so I came here, and I couldn't find my way back. I'm sorry."
Rose's arms were around Cora, and Jack's arms were around both of them.
"Rosie, Jack, since both of my parents died, y'all have been taking care of me. Can I call you Mommy and Daddy?"
Jack and Rose looked at each other. They knew what the answer was.
"Why, yes dear. Of course. Nothing would make us happier," Rose said.
They were all crying now.
"Come on. We need to get home," said Jack.
On the way home, Rose carried Cora, who was asleep on her shoulder.
Jack told her that she shouldn't be carrying her after she had fainted, but Rose, as stubborn as she was, insisted that it was okay.
"Here, Rose, let me put her in bed," Jack said, once they got home.
"All right."
Jack put Cora into bed, and went to his and Rose's bedroom.
"God, she had me worried. I feel so bad for her. But I love her like my own daughter," Rose said to Jack.
"Yeah. So do I. We need some sleep. It's been a very long day. I love you, Rose."
"I love you, too, Jack."
"Good night, beautiful."
"Good night, darling."