Little Red's Restaurant

Chiswick, West London, England

Elsie has dressed Ella in her favorite pink skirt and white top, her auburn curls pulled back with a white satin ribbon, and her little five year old feet in white sandals. Elsie has dressed herself in a nice blue maxi dress and tan sandals. Doing her hair and makeup took more effort with shaking hands. The clock reads 11:58 a.m. in the car when she pulls up to Little Red's Restaurant. 'Just in time,' she thinks to herself. She really does wonder if Charles will show, but he has to. If not for her sake, then their daughters, he has to be there for her when…'no, don't do this to yourself. Not again, Elsie.' When she helps Ella out of the car her hands tremble with fear, no, nerves, God, who knows.

"Mummy, are you okay?" Ella is a very perceptive child, ESPECIALLY, when it comes to her mother.

"Of course, Love," Elsie is lying through her teeth, "my sugar is just a little low."

"Do you think my daddy will like me?" her lips trembling, much like Elsie's hands and heart.

"Of course he will," I hope, "he has no reason not to. What's not to love about you? Now, why don't we go in, and you can go play with Daisy until it's time to meet him? Auntie Beryl might even have some shortbreads for you."

"Okay, Mummy. I trust you."

'Do you? I don't know if I trust me.' They are greeted by the smell of fresh bread and cakes, Beryl's specialty. Before Elsie can wonder where Beryl is her friend comes waddling out of the kitchen, her baby bump going before her everywhere.

"Hello! Ella, I have some fresh shortbreads in the kitchen. Why don't you go get some and go upstairs with Daisy and Thomas, mmhm?"

"Alright. Why is Thomas so mean to us, Daisy and me?" she really wanted to know why her cousin was always so crabby or talking about that Jimmy kid in his class.

Elsie reached down and tucked a strand of hair behind her daughter's ear, "He is fourteen, Darling. Just give him a bit of time. He'll grow out of it. Now upstairs you go!"

As she watched Ella run to the kitchen, she really hoped Charles accepted their child as much as she did. She had been gone a month when she realized she hadn't come on in almost four. She counted back the weeks when she realized it must have happened when she and Charles went away for a little spring holiday to escape their grief from losing William.

"Elsie, do you think he'll take the news well?"

"I hope. Unless he is too wrapped up in his other child," Elsie said this with contempt. Rightfully so, but she couldn't bring herself to hate a child for their parent's mistakes.

Beryl looked shocked, not because of the way she said it, but because she was surprised Elsie never found out, "Elsie, Alice aborted the baby. Claimed she lost it. The only reason she kept it as long as she did was to make sure Charlie left you or you him. Then, he found out it wasn't really his. He was heartbroken, we all were because she ruined a perfectly wonderful marriage when the child wasn't even his."

Elsie was shocked by this, stunned, and heartbroken that a hateful, scheming bitch broke her Charlie's heart. No, Elsie! He is NOT YOUR Charlie. You gave that up almost six years ago. She couldn't let her thoughts get to her so she turned the conversation towards Beryl, "So are we having a little boy or girl?"

"Girl. Ivy Brielle Mason. Daisy isn't happy and Thomas…is Thomas. Albert and I are trying to bring 'er round to the idea. Elsie, you know he is here. Been here for almost thirty minutes, and even if he doesn't except Ella she will always have a home here or with Isobel and Richard. And that's only if-"

"Beryl, there are no ifs about it. Where is he?"

"At the bar in the back. I'll be watching you two like a hawk, just send me the signal when you want Ella."

"I will, I promise. Now, wish me luck." Elsie started to walk back to the breakfast bar when she recognized his red shirt. He always looked so handsome in red. Stop it! You're on a mission here! She bit her lip to hold back the tears that threatened to spill when he turned on his bar stool and looked her in the eyes.

"Hello, Elsie," my good Lord, she is beautiful. She looks like she has always, even if she is thirty-three.

'Oh, he smells so nice. Come on, get a grip!' Elsie looks down and clears her throat before she looks back up, "Charles, it's nice to see you." It's awkward. They both knew it would be.

"Please, sit down," he says as he holds out a chair for her.

She sits, and when he does the same she just kind of blurts, "Beryl, told me about everything. I am so, so sorry, Charles." Fuck!

"Oh, I see. Well, it's all in the past now. What about you? Did you go back to being an editor?" he tries to change the subject quickly, but it's so hard when she knows everything about him. Every scar, weakness, and failure.

"Yes. Went back to Whitechapel. I moved back in December of 2010."

"Oh," he's hurt. She has been back for almost as long as they've been apart.

"Look, Charles, I'm just going to cut to the chase," she nods to Beryl, "do you remember that little spring holiday we took at the beginning of May? The one after William?" He nods. How could he forget. It was the fourth time they had lost a child. The others before the second trimester, but William almost twenty-four weeks along, nursery decorated, name picked, and tragically, early labor. He lived all of three hours, but it was the happiest three hours. Then, they went to the south of France, he felt guilty about the ongoing affair and she was drowning in grief, they both needed. After that he was determined to end it after he came home. He had reconnected with Elsie. They talked, dined, shopped, and made love sweetly over the course of a week.

"I don't see what that has to do with anything, Elsie."

"Well, Charles, I got pregnant. I didn't know until after I left, and I am so sorry I kept her from you. I was a coward who didn't want to face the humiliation of crawling back. I realize how selfish that was, but it's not anymore selfish than you having that affair." By this time Beryl had collected Ella and ushered her to her mother, "This is Ms. Ella Margaret Carson, your daughter."

Ella leaped forward and wrapped her arms, or tried to wrap her arms, around her father, "Hello, Daddy."

Charles looked up with the most shocked and hurt expression, "Elsie, we need to talk," he glanced down at Ella and back up at Elsie, "in private."

Thanks for the reviews! So, some of you are wondering their ages.

Ella: born on Dec. 28, 2010 (5)

Elsie: Jan. 11 1982 (33)

Charles: Aug. 17 1975 (40)

Beryl: (34)

Albert: (36)

Thomas: (14) adopted by Beryl and Albery

Daisy: (5) biological child of Beryl and Albert

Elsie got married at 21 and Charles 28. Not mine! Now, I hope you like this. It is going to get a lot more angsty. Sorry!