Chapter 14
Fifteen minutes later Charlotte and Caroline come down the stairs to see Max standing in the living room, looking out of the window, a bag with DVD's at feet.
"Ready Aunty Max"
"I can see that, come on, let's go"
Max then picks up the bag and the three of them head back to the apartment. When they get there, Charlotte goes into the garden to play with Chestnut while Max and Caroline watch her from the kitchen.
"Hey, how you doing?" asks Caroline.
"Whatever happens, whatever those big wigs say, she stays with me, with us"
"Of course, I wouldn't want her anywhere else"
"What are we gonna do? There's barely enough room here for the two of us"
"I'm not sure, but ..."
"But what Caroline?"
"Ryan and Shaun were the legal owners of their house, maybe we could move there?"
"You think?"
"Maybe, I know they wrote a will in case anything happened to them, I'll call their lawyer tomorrow"
"Thanks, I guess she'll have to come to work with us again tonight. Can you go ask Sophie to look after her again?"
"Sure, back in a few"
A few hours later Max, Caroline and Charlotte walk into the diner and like the previous day Max sets Charlotte up in a booth and makes sure she's comfortable while Caroline goes over to the counter where Han, Earl and Oleg are stood.
"Hey Caroline, why's the little lady here again, I thought she was going back today?" asks Earl.
"So did we, but we got a visit from the police Ryan and Shaun were involved in a car accident, they died".
"Oh, we're sorry Caroline"
"Thanks"
"Wasn't one of them your cousin"
"Yeah, Shaun, we grew up together, more like brother and sister than cousins we were".
"So what are you doing about the girl?"
"She's gonna stay with us, oh and don't say anything about death around her, she thinks they've gone away to work, got it"
"Got it"
A little while later, Charlotte gets up from her seat and goes over to Max.
"Aunty Max"
"What's up sweetie?"
"I'm hungry"
"Ok, come with me, let's go talk to Oleg"
At the counter, Max presses the bell and Oleg comes to the window.
"What can I do for you Max?"
"Charlotte's hungry, could you do her something to eat please?"
"Sure, what would you like little girl?"
"A sandwich please"
"Ok, what do you want on it?"
"Ham and Cheese and no crusts"
"I can do that, I'll bring it out in a minute"
"Thank you"
"Good girl, go sit down and I'll bring you a drink"
"Ok"
Charlotte then runs back over to her seat, a minute later Max brings her a Lemonade and a few minutes after that Oleg brings her the sandwich.
Hours later, when it is past midnight Max and Caroline walk into the apartment to find Sophie watching T.V.
"Hello girls"
"Hi Sophie, did she get off ok?" asks Caroline.
"Oh yes she fell asleep very quickly"
"Thanks, here's some money for your troubles"
"No, no money, just pay me in cupcakes"
"I'll bring a couple over this afternoon" says Max.
"Okay, night night girls".
"Goodnight Sophie"
Max and Caroline then show Sophie out of the apartment and the former pops her head around the door to check that Charlotte's ok and just stands there for a few moments watching the little girl sleep. She goes back into the living room when Caroline comes back in after checking on Chestnut.
"Chestnut's fast asleep"
"Charlotte too"
When they have both sat down Max says "I think there's a social worker coming round in the morning for Charlotte"
"They won't get her, they'll have to go through the two of us"
"And Chestnut"
"Him too, now come on, let's get some sleep"
"Goodnight Caroline"
"Night Max"
Caroline then folds down her bed and Max lies down on the couch, throwing a blanket over herself.
End of Chapter