Chapter 6

Brax kept on pacing from one side of the lounge to the other.
"Can you please stay still, Brax?" asked Bianca. "It's kind of annoying hearing your footsteps while I'm trying to watch TV."
"I'm sorry. I'm worried about Charlie. I know there's more to it than period pains."
"So you're a doctor now?"
"No, all I'm saying is that either you or Charlie isn't telling me the truth."
"You're calling me a liar?" Bianca shouted.
"No, of course not. But I know Charlie."
"Yeah, so do I. I'm her best friend."
"Well I'm her husband."
"I know."
"Yeah, which means she should tell me what's going on. This is what Charlie's always like. She never tells anyone what's going on until the very last minute."
"But we have to understand and respect what she wants, and right now, all she wants is some time to herself."
"Well I'm going to check on her."
"No, Brax!" yelled Bianca. "Just let her be okay?"
Bianca was too late. Brax had already gone out of the room.

Brax turned the doorknob, and fortunately for him, it opened. Charlie was still lying on the ground in the exact same position as he last saw her. He locked the door behind him and sat next to her. He pulled her towards him gently and started stroking her hair.
"Baby, can you please tell me what's up?"
Charlie could hardly answer him. She was still crying and felt sick to the stomach.
"Nothing Brax, I'm fine."
"No you're not. Nobody cries this much when they're fine."
"I just have really bad period pains, and there's also the stress from work."
"Yeah, but we're going on holiday on Friday, and it's Monday now. You've only got a few more days."
"I think the stress of all this work has started to hit me. I need some rest more than ever."
"Maybe we could move the holiday up to Wednesday? So there's more of a break for you?"
"Yes, please. I could really do with that."
"Okay, I'll tell the others when they get back. Why don't you go and take a quick nap for now?"
"That sounds great. Thanks babe."

Brax was glad that he and Charlie talked everything out. From what he could gather, there were no more secrets between them, although Charlie wasn't exactly on the same page. The minute Brax left her alone in their room; she started to feel uncomfortable again. She kept twisting and turning in bed and tears began to drip down her face. Having so many people in the house made it hard for her to shut everyone out. All she wanted to do was avoid every way of communication.

It was 10 o'clock the next morning and Heath, Bianca, Darcy and Brianna had stayed over the previous night. The Braxton's house was back to its full and noisy self with everyone awake except Charlie.
"There's something I have to tell you. Come around the dining table," said Brax.
"What about Charlie?" asked Ruby.
"She's still asleep. Just let her rest, anyways, she was the one who made this decision."
"Are you two splitting up..?" Casey asked.
"What? No! Of course not! What makes you think that?"
"Well yesterday I heard you arguing with someone... I'm sorry; I didn't mean to eavesdrop... I just overheard you two when I came home yesterday."
Bianca couldn't stop laughing when she heard this.
"What's so funny?" demanded Casey.
"Oh, nothing. It's just that it was your brother and I who had a little disagreement," Bianca said.
"Oh whoops... So what is it you want to tell us, Brax?"
"We've decided to move our holiday up and we're leaving tomorrow instead."
"Brax, I can't," Casey said.
"Why?"
"I've got a class to teach tomorrow."
"Well can't you reschedule it to today?"
Casey looked at Brax as if he was out of his mind. "No? There's like ten students bro!"
"Well can you get Romeo to cover for you?"
"He's got another class to teach at the same time."
"Well how about Xavier?"
"He's busy with that police academy thing."
"So he's going on with being a cop?"
"Sounds like it."
"So there's no way of you getting out of tomorrow?"
"No, don't think so. Look, why don't you all go tomorrow and I'll just drive up by myself after my shift?"
"I think Gina needs me tomorrow so I can go with Case?" Bianca interrupted.
"Yeah, okay. That should be fine. The rest of you better get packing then!" said Brax.

Next chapter:
Holiday