And the Life she Never Thought she'd Have
This story revolves around a series of decisions Max made 5 years ago in the Summer of 2008 and sees it develop in a way which she never thought would happen.
Chapter 1
In her apartment Max is mulling over a cup of coffee, leaning on the countertop when she puts her hand down her top and pulls out the pendant on the end of one of her necklaces, it's a little golden C and R.
Moments later Caroline gets back from shopping for their new walk up cupcake shop and she hastily stuffs the pendant back down her top.
"Hey Max I got the post"
"Gimme"
Max then runs over and grabs the small pile of letters off of her friend and leafs through them until she finds the one she's looking for. She then drops the others, opens the letter, turns around and walks away to read it.
"Hey grabby much!"
"Sorry, it's just this is important"
"Oh, what is it?"
"None of your business"
"What's up with you, you've been acting strange all day? It's not something to do with drugs is it?"
"Caroline, do you honestly think that my drug dealer would send me a hand crafted letter?"
"Whatever, anyway I said I'd go into work for a few hours, one of Han's girls who cover us on our days off can't get in for another hour or so, she's gotta take her mom to the hospital"
"Okay, see ya later"
Caroline then leaves the apartment, Max get's changed into a pair of nice jeans with matching top, jacket and boots, grabs a bag heads out to the yard to see Chestnut when her phone rings.
"Yeah, I'll be there in like 30 minutes Ryan, I'm just leaving my apartment now, see ya soon"
Putting her phone away Max turns to Chestnut and says "How do you fancy a little road trip?"
Half an hour later Max and Chestnut arrive at a Manhattan townhouse, tying Chestnut's lead rope to the fence, Max walks up the steps and knocks on the door, a man answers.
"Hey Ryan, how is she?"
"She's fine, is that a horse?"
"Yeah, is it okay if I take him round to the garden?"
"Sure"
When she's in the garden the man called Ryan shouts into the house "Charlotte, get out here, there's someone here to see you"
Then a little girl runs out into the garden and when she sees Max she says happily "Aunty Max, Aunty Max". The little girl, Charlotte then runs up to Max and hugs her.
"Hi there Charlie bear, there's someone I'd like you to meet, this is Chestnut, Chestnut, this is Charlotte, we call her Charlie"
"Is he my birthday present Aunty Max?"
"No, but I did bring him for you and your friends to have rides on, this is your present"
Max then reaches into her bag and grabs a small box which Charlotte proceeds to open, it's a necklace which matches Max's.
"It matches yours"
"It does doesn't it, here why don't I help you put it on"
Max then helps Charlotte put the necklace on and then another man comes out of the house.
"Hey Max, how are ya?" he asks
"I'm good thanks Shaun, you?"
"Can't complain"
"Alright then missy, why don't you stay out here with daddy Shaun and I'll go help Aunty Max with her cupackes?"
"Okay"
Inside the house Ryan and Max are beginning to make the cupcakes when Max says "She's grown up so much since I last saw her"
"Tell me about it, she's outgrowing her clothes so fast it's ridiculous"
"She's an amazing kid, you've done such a good job with her"
The doorbell rings and Ryan goes to get it saying "That'll be Shaun's cousin"
Moments later Ryan walks back into the kitchen, followed by Caroline.
"Max!"
"Caroline!"
End of Chapter