Normally it wouldn't be hard for Applejack to sleep, not with a bed as soft yet firm as this one. But after what just happened with Draw Out there were a lot of thoughts buzzing around her head. The primary of which being what this meant for her and Cherry. Cherry had been married, to a stallion, and she'd never heard of the most prestigious mare in Dodge Junction every being sweet on another mare. Bad news that left her on shaky ground but also had her wondering why now was that earth pony back in town, coming around Cherry? It couldn't of been good, not if tonight was any indication. Applejack could feel herself prickling up a bit at the thought of him hurting Cherry. Well that certainly didn't help her get to sleep...
Eventually she had what could be called a light nap before the day broke, Applejack dragging herself out of bed and heading down stairs. The kitchen was just as fine yet also as homey as everything else in Cherry's home, a sort of old homestead style that was pretty much the only kind of fancy decoration that Applejack liked. At least with the way Cherry did it... she totally wasn't biased.
Cherry was already up as well, done up as pretty as a doll as she cooked up a proper ranch breakfast with wheat toast, eggs, and hash browns. "Mornin' sugar." she said, a beautiful yet tired smile on her face "Ya' look like somethin' the cat dragged in." she teased.
"Had a lot on mah mind." replied Applejack, smiling a bit sheepishly as she took a seat at the table. "Ya' want help with anythin'?"
"Nah, Ah got it. Oh! Ah almost forgot though!" she said, heading over to the cupboard to take out two mugs, setting them on the table before taking an oven square into her mouth so she could get the coffee off of the stove. Once she'd poured two cups for them and she put it back, she asked "How you like it, sugar?"
"Two sugarcubes n' some milk." requested the blonde mare, not sure how to feel about being served like this. On the one hand she wanted to help out if she could since that was just the way she was. But on the other.... it was kind of nice. A nice way to spend the morning with a good breakfast and Cherry. She noted that Cherry liked to take her coffee with just milk as she sipped at her own mug. "So, last night..." she began after a bit, wanting to know more about this stallion.
"... right. Guess we're gettin' to it." said Cherry, her smile growing more weary as she took a seat. "Well as you know he's mah ex-husband. A long while back we got hitched n' things jes' fell apart."
"But why is he back now?" asked Applejack, giving a light tilt of her head.
"If I had to guess, he's hit a rough patch in his gambling n' is lookin' fer a way to supplement his income." sighed Cherry, giving a light shake of her head. "Always been that way. When he was good, he was red hot. When he was red hot he could lose the horseshoes off his hooves."
"N' why's he thinkin' he can get anythin' from you? Does he own part o' the property?"
"Nah, Ah kept mah farm when it was all said n' done, Ah just paid him a hefty sum." she paused for a moment before sighing "N' custody."
"... custody of... a foal?" asked Applejack, thrown for another loop again, that much obvious on her face when her eyes widened some.
"Mm-hm. L'il Morello. Ah didn't want to..." she admitted, looking down at her coffee with a great sadness in her eyes. "But... after e'erything, all the hard work Ah put into this place. Ah just... couldn't." she said before giving a soft sigh "Ah hope he knows Ah left it all to him though, ta' make up fer' givin' him up to that stallion. Ah still write to him, usually he sends a letter mah way every now n' then, no matter where he and Draw Out move to."
"Cherry. Ah just... Ah dunno how ya' could do that." said Applejack, still stunned at hearing all of this and honestly feeling a little outraged that Cherry gave up her child like that. However, before she could express that feeling, she flinched at the sharp look Cherry gave her.
"Don't think Ah made that decision lightly, AJ. Ah agonized over it!" she said, tone not snappish but it'd get there if Applejack tried to give her any lip. "Imagine if'n ya' had to give up yer' farm or Applebloom, it's that hard a choice!"
And really Applejack didn't have anything to say to that. Giving up a family member was horrible, but to give up her home and the home her parents had worked hard on... yeah, that would be a difficult decision she didn't think she could make. "... Ah'm sorry. Ah didn't mean to imply nothin'."
"Its fine." said Cherry, not quite sounding fine but her gaze was softening. "Ah don't like what Ah had to do. It didn't make things any easier but what happened is what happened. Only thing ta' do is to keep goin'." Taking another sip of coffee, there was a sudden smell of something burning. "Oh mah stars! Ah forgot the food!" she yelped, quickly getting up and heading to the stove, salvaging what she could but having to start over on the eggs. Once that was done, Cherry put two plates of breakfast on the table for them and they would eat in silence for awhile.
"... think Ah could stick around a bit longer if'n Draw Out is stayin'?" asked Applejack before putting a bite of hash browns into her mouth.
"Ya' don't gotta' do that sugar. Ya' got yer own farm ta' take care of." said Cherry, but giving a soft smile as she took a sip of her coffee.
"Ah insist. Ah can spare a couple more days just ta' make sure things'll be fine." she'd have to put in a telegram home to make sure they would know she was staying on for a bit longer of course. It was hard to put off going home when there was always something to do, but something about Draw Out just had her uneasy.
"Well alright, jes' don't stick around too long. Ah'm sure it'll all blow over anyway." said Cherry, finishing off her breakfast before picking up her plate to take to the sink, Applejack doing the same soon enough. "... Ah gotta' admit, Ah'm glad Ah told ya'. Not something Ah've ever told anyone Ah think."
"Yeah?" asked Applejack, a smile coming to her face, a bit of happiness in her heart knowing Cherry trusted her that much.
"Yeah. Jes' real easy to talk to ya' Ah guess." she said, finishing with the dishes before grinning to Applejack, lightly bumping her rump with the blonde's as she said "Now c'mon, plenty a work to get done today!" she said, trotting out and having missed the small blush that had come to Applejack's face.