Certainly unexpected
A new year arrives bringing all kind of changes and surprises for everyone, plus, Charlie discovers a very dark side of life
Chapter 11: new year
Cate
I sat on the bathroom floor. Holding a pregnancy test. I couldn't believe this was happening, I was beginning to think it was some sort of a patern, having a child every two or three years time
"mom?" Charlie leaned against the other side of the door "are you done, Lux is taking me over to Amy's"
"just a minute" I said. I hadn't opened the small stick yet, you would think that after all this years they would have invented a better way to find out if you were having a kid
"okay, it's just my toothbrush is in there" my 12 year so obvlivous of life, I stood up and hid the small package on my jeans pocket
"all yours" I said casually "so, going to see Amy huh?"
"yeah, I figured I could take those cookies we made for her" he smiled "although almost all of them got burned"
I climbed down the stairs. Baze and Hannah were watching TV. They glanced at me, but turned their attention back instantly. I entered the kitchen and began making lunch
"mama, need help?" Nate smiled widely. I placed him on the counter
"I'll be right back" Lux said vaguely "you are picking him up later, right?" she asked Baze, he nodded "sorry I cant stay for lunch"
"oh, don't worry I'm just glad, Jones is back from Seattle" I said. Sometimes I wondered if she was truly happy with the fact that Jones had persuited a career in sports
"what are we watching?" I said handing Baze a sandwich, and sitting next to him on the couch, Nate sat by my feet
"boring cooking channel" Hannah rolled her eyes. Baze smiled weakly
"I need ideas for the restaurant" he told her. She crossed her arms. He had been thinking about expanding his business into a restaurant for a while, but haven't had the courage to ask Jack to help him out
"you haven't even told grandpa" Hannah said
"I will, you just have to wait until the right time" Baze wrapped an arm around me and kissed my head "right?"
"well, I think you should tell him now, that you guys are in good terms" TJ entered the room, he was soaking wet. "what happened? I thought you were playing with your friends" he had teary eyes. I stood up
"adam Franklin push me into the kids pool" TJ sobbed..
"I'll be back" Baze said as he stood up too, Nate eyed him for a second and then followed him
"where are you going?" I asked. I hugged TJ thightly
"why did he do that?" Hannah asked TJ. He shrugged. He had always been friends with Adam, it was probably just a friendly feud
"can I come too daddy?" Nate asked. I picked him up and gave Baze a reproaching look. He always stood up for the kids, but violence was never the answer and I was afraid this had been more than a game
"stay here with mom" he said roughly. Hannah trailed behind him, I heard the door shot and closed my eyes
Baze
It was January 2, and I still hadn't told my dad about the restaurant. I wanted him to support me, but I was afraid that he might not approve of me getting into the food business, things hadn't changed much in 12 years, not matter how much I had wanted to. I was watching TV with Hannah when TJ entered the room, soaking, cate didn't know this, but this Adam kid had an older brother who, TJ was terrified of, he was 15 and constanly picked on little kids, I had had enough of it, but I could tell this boy, to stop, this wasn't my fight, but I went out, because I didn't want to get upset infront of my kid, I was a very emotional person when it came to my family
"dad?" hanah pulled my arm. She had always been my buddy in crime. She spotted Simon, Adam's brother, playing with other neighborhood kids "you aren't going to hit him, are you?"
"no, I'm not that low" I said kneeling to her level "but, you and I will make sure, he doesn't mess up with TJ anymore"
"how?" she asked me. Her eyes sparkling, I would never hit a kid, simply because he has weaker than me, and because I wasn't that guy, but I would teach my kid to stand up for himself
Charlie
Amy had told me I could come over, because her parents wouldn't be home, but I hadn't told mine, or Lux, because they would start getting their noses into other people's business
"hey" she opened the door, as soon as I knocked, Lux drove away and she let me in
"I'm sorry for the mess" she said, I shrugged, she had told me that she had a lot of siblings, then again, I was used to, having mess around me
The house was small, maybe too small for the number of people that probably lived there, it was kind of in a bad shape. I followed her into the living room. We sat on the biggest couch, I handed the small package, that contained the cookies
"my mom and my sister made them" I said, she opened them, I could see a smile forming on her lips "I just thought, you'd like them"
"thanks" she said as she kissed my cheek, I turned tomatoe red
Cate
I paced around my room. TJ was better now, I given him a bath and he was now watching tv
"hey" Baze came in, dragging his feet "how 's the little dude?"
"he's fine, where have you been?" he smiled
"don't worry, we didn't do anything, we just shoot some hoops" he kissed my lips "I think you should know the truth"
"what?" I asked curiously. He lead me to the bed
"TJ was pushed into the kiddies pool" he said quietly "but not by Adam" I winced "simon pushed him inside, he's been picking on him for a while"
"you didn't do anything to that boy did you?" I asked instantly, he looked away
"of course not, he's a kid" Baze smiled "he wouldn't stand a chance against me"
"oh, right, because you work out" I chuckled. I was honestly relieved about the fact that inspite of all the testosterone at home, Neither were Baze or the kids aggressive
"Baze, I have to tell you something" I said seroisly. He raised an eyebrow "I think I…"
"mom, dad?" Hanah's voice broke "I don't feel so good" I turned to my daughter just in time to watch her collapse on the floor.