Will woke up the next morning, and sighed as he saw the curled up body on the floor. Laying a blanket over the sleeping soul, he walked out in search of his mum. He found her staring at nothing in the kitchen, her body slumped over an empty cup. Her eyes swollen and red.
Shaking her with some frustration, he yelled at her immediately "What have you done to Joey?".
Charlie was deep in thought when she was shaken out of her trance by her son. He was clearly angry and upset at finding Joey in his room. "Leave it Will" she pleaded with him to no avail.
"No, you hurt her. I know you have. She wouldn't be in my room sleeping in a curled up ball on the floor!"
"We've had a disagreement. That's all Will. When she wakes up i'll talk to her again. it'll be ok I promise."
Shaking his head in frustration. "No. I don't want you anywhere near her. This is just like when Dad left. You promised me everything would be ok but it wasn't, he didn't come back. Nothing was ever the same again!" Will yelled as he slammed the kitchen door on the way back to his room, making Charlie jump.
...
Pepa overhead the yelling coming from the kitchen. As she descended the stairs Will slammed straight into her, tears engulfing his face.
"Woah, buddy, come here. Tell me whats up" Pepa gently coaxed.
Through the tears, Will cried out "Its not fair. Joeys never done anything to Mum and now she loves her so much. Mum hurt Joey, she's in my room curled in a ball. I can't have Joey leave Pepa. Its not fair!"
Pulling Will in for a hug, Pepa reflected on Joeys words from the night before. She knew what the fight was about and she knew exactly why Joey walked away. Reassuring Will she would help any way she could, she guided him to Silvia. The gentlest of requests was asked without a word. Her wife knew exactly what Will needed.
Pepa meanwhile had gone to Wills room. She found Joey sitting in a corner crying. Reaching out to her, Pepa embraced Joey in her arms and gently coaxed the information out of her. Joey quickly revealed her inner turmoil "I cant do it Pepa. I can't share her with you. I don't have the strength to watch her carry your child and then see you two raise it. I can't see the anguish in her eyes when she has to see your child. I just don't have the strength. I'm so sorry".
Pepa was surprised that Joey had revealed the truth finally and she respected her for it. For everything that they had been together as a family, Pepa knew what she had to do. Taking Joey by the hand, she led her downstairs to the kitchen. She called out to Silvia to join them. Will insisted on staying upstairs but Silvia coaxed him downstairs insisting that a family meeting involved everyone.
Joeys heart broke as she entered the kitchen. Charlie's disheveled appearance and bags under her eyes, swollen and red from all the crying indicated that she had been awake all night. Charlie saw everyone walk in and quickly brushed away the fresh tears that had fallen.
