A/N: Hey everyone! I'm going to get the rest of the chapters up tonight for the season so far. I'm going to watch tonight's new episode likely Tuesday night since I have to work and I don't want to start writing only to stop because I'm exhausted! Once I see the new episode, hopefully I'll find a way to incorporate Genevieve into the story! Please keep reading and reviewing!
Charlotte didn't seem to get over the shock of meeting me until Jack cleared his throat, indicating that she needed to move.
"I didn't know Amanda had a sister," Charlotte said, glancing at Jack, almost as if asking if was serious.
"Half-sister." I corrected, not wanting Charlotte to get the wrong impression. "Amanda and I weren't on the best terms when she died, something I deeply regret," I lied, knowing that if I was going to help my sister, I needed to lie.
"So why are you here now?" Charlotte asked, and I quickly saw the Grayson in her. Her words sounded just like something a Grayson would say, and I wondered why she was taking my father's last name when she was clearly a Grayson.
"Because when she died, Emily called me," I said, struggling to use my sister's alias. "She knew I was Amanda's sister from when we were on a foundation board together, and after Amanda died she called to inform me, and mentioned you were planning the funeral. I would of come, but I didn't think I'd be welcomed after so many years." I decided that explanation worked, and Charlotte seemed to buy it, though the mention of Emily had her flinching a little.
"So Emily asked you to come see me?" Charlotte asked, and I couldn't help but wonder what Amanda had done to upset Charlotte so much.
"No. She'd merely mentioned you were planning the funeral. I chose to come here on my own. I know it's late, but I wasn't sure what Amanda told you and therefore, how much you'd want to be around me," I explained, suddenly grateful for all those acting classes I enrolled in as a kid. I might have done it planning on being a newscaster someday, but clearly it had come in handy now.
"She never mentioned you," I let out a sad sigh.
"I was afraid of that. It was why I waited so long. But I had some business in New York and decided to stop by, see what my sister was doing before she died," Behind the bar, I could see Jack giving me a look that suggested disappointment, and wondered how much he knew. Clearly, he knew who Emily really was, but did he know why she was actually here?
"I think Amanda would of loved to see you." Charlotte said after a moment. I tried to hide my surprise at that statement. My sister hadn't seemed thrilled to see me, but maybe if the situation was different…
"I wish that was true. She resented me a lot for going to live with my mother after our father was arrested. I think she hated me for having the life she didn't get." I admitted, feeling like I was practically quoting the thoughts I usually had about why my sister didn't like me that much, or at all.
"Well she didn't hate me, and I had a good life before, so I don't think she would of hated you, and I certainly don't hate you," Charlotte said, putting her hand on my arm. "I'm excited to get to know you." I gave her a genuine smile at that, though in the back of my mind, I felt like I was betraying my father. The Grayson's had caused us nothing but heartache and here I was chatting with one like it was nothing. But we all have to make sacrifices, and clearly this was going to be mine.
