Back at the house
The phone rang as we made our way down stairs to the kitchen.
I got it, as I was the closest.
“Sidle Residence, Charlie speaking”
“It’s Sara we have just pulled into the driveway.”
“Have you told them about Harley?”
“No. Just come down”
“I’ll meet you at the deck.”
I hung up and Laura said, “ Who was that?”
“Sara. They have just arrived.”
We walked out to the deck to see Sara reaching into the back of the car.
She pulled out a car pod and was joined by her boyfriend.
“Hey mom. Hey Charlie. This is Harley Rain, mom your granddaughter and this is my boyfriend Gil.”
“Good to see you again Gil. It’s been what…nearly 18 years. Are you my grand baby’s father?”
“No ma’am. Have you seen Nakia lately?”
I started to cry and ran off to the tyre swing.
I noticed Sara pass Harley to Gil and followed me.
“Gil, Nakia died in a crash in 1999”
“Why did Charlie run off?”
“Charlotte aka Charlie is Nakia’s daughter. Your daughter!”
“Why didn’t anyone tell me?” Gil said shocked
“Child services tried to locate you. They failed. Nakia gave us guardianship before she died. Charlie took it hard.”
“Did I hit a sore point?”
“She’s very emotional at the moment. Her boyfriend died on the sports field 2 months ago.”
Just then a car pulled into the drive and two occupancies got out, Sara & I had joined Laura & Gil again.
“Now where’s that favourite Niece of mine?” a voice called.
“Uncle Rick” I said walking up to him.
“Charlie it’s good to see you. I’ve missed you so much. Grams has too!” He said hugging me.
“Warrick!” Sara said noticing her best friend.
“Sar-bear, Gris what are you guys doing here?”
“Warrick, my mom and dad are raising Charlie. So Nakia was your sister?”
“She was the only sibling I had.”
Christopher came up to Sara and said “So when am I going to meet my new Grand daughter?”
“How did you know?”
“I told Rick I’d kill him if he didn’t tell me.”
Just then a nice silver Lexus pulled up the drive, I knew who it was. So did Laura.
A tall blonde got out of the car and headed towards us, uncle Rick’s jaw had dropped.
“Hey Laura” She said
“Sofia it’s good to see you again. I knew you would keep your word into coming back to visit” I said
“Charlie I never break a promise. Oh my god Sara I haven’t seen you since you left for Las Vegas.”
“Gil, Warrick this is Sofia. She was one of mom and dad’s foster children. Fia this is my boyfriend Gil and Warrick is Charlie’s only uncle. So what does Charlie mean by you kept your word and came back?”
“I came back for Jackson’s funeral. I was actually at the game that killed him. I was there for her when it all went down. Now who’s this?” pointing to Harley.
“My daughter Harley Rain Sidle. She’s 4 weeks old tomorrow.”
The adults headed inside, everyone apart from Christopher and I.
“Charlie what’s puzzling you?”
“I’m scared to what your are going to say when I tell you.”
“Just tell me”
“A month before Jackson died we slept together. We were safe but now that doesn’t really matter. I’ve talked to Laura about this when you went to pick up Uncle Rick.”
“Your pregnant right. I’m getting the feeling that there’s more”
“Your feeling is right but I haven’t told Laura this part. But James found proof of more than one baby.”
“Twins so why do you need to talk to me about staying here?”
“How did you know?”
“Darling I can sense these things. You can stay here as long as you like. You have my support.”
“Thanks Chris”
“Yeah thanks Granddad” a voice came from behind us.
We turned to see Levi standing there.
“Levi shit you need to stop doing that” Chris said
“What Chris didn’t you sense that he was behind us?”
“I was worried about you. Levi your mother is here and brought you a surprise.”
