A few hours later, Charlie was back laying on the couch. She sat up enough to eat dinner.
Rebecca arrived a few moments after Charlie and Max did. She sat next to Charlie, who was having trouble swallowing her soup.
"Still hurt?"
"Yeah."
Rebecca nodded, and walked off towards Casey in the kitchen.
"What are we going to do with her?" Rebecca asked.
Casey shrugged. "Maybe she should go to another house?"
Rebecca thought for a moment. "I really think she needs to be with one of us. At least we can keep her safe."
"Maybe. I was just thinking if we got her in another foster home, Lindsay and Victor might not be able to find her."
"Do you not remember her anxiety of coming here?"
"I do. By the way, how does the stuff with Lindsay go?"
"Greg Waters is her uncle, I'm stuck."
"Go above him."
"I'm trying. It'll work out. One way or another."
"I hope."
Charlie walked into the room. "Can I get some more soup?" She asked.
"Sure. How much did you hear?"
Charlie cocked her head. "Nothing?"
"Good." Casey said getting her the soup.
"Hey, Casey?"
"Yeah?" She said not turning from the stove.
"Do you think we could talk?"
"Sure."
"With me or without me?" Rebecca asked.
"Without, no offense."
"None taken. I need to run some errands anyway. I'll see you guys later." She said leaving the room.
"What's on your mind, kiddo?" Casey said returning from the stove.
"I didn't want more soup. I just wanted to get you alone."
"That's fine. What's up?"
"Why do you care about me? Or, Max? or Courtney? or Erica? or Christine? Or Alex?"
"I don't understand the question?"
"All of the foster homes I've been to…..no one has ever cared about me. They were just in it for the check. What makes you different?"
Casey sat down next to Charlie at the table. "I don't have answer. To be honest, I don't know. I guess since I never had my own kids, I felt I could raise kids who's parents weren't around."
"You don't have your own kids?"
"Nope. Just never met the right guy. Got tired of waiting."
Rebecca nodded. "Okay."
"You don't seem sure."
"It's okay. I was just wondering."
Casey nodded. "I've always wondered the same thing too."
"I don't understand?" Charlie asked.
"Why people don't see what Rebecca and I see."
"See what?"
"Come with me." She said standing up, and putting her hand out.
"Where are we going?"
"Just trust me."
Charlie took Casey's hand, and began walking into Charlie's bedroom.
Courtney was sitting on her bed, with a boy Charlie didn't recognize on the end.
"Courtney, I don't remember telling you anyone could come over."
"You were busy, Max said it was okay."
Casey peered out of the door. "Max!" She called.
"I said it was fine, as long as the door was open!" Max called back.
"Okay. Can the two of you go chat in the living room. I need to talk to Charlie."
"Can't you talk to her in the living room? Courtney asked.
"Are you two doing anything wrong?"
"Of course not."
"Then, why does it matter?"
"Come on Matt." Courtney said ushering him out of the room.
Charlie waited on Casey, Casey slowly shut the door.
"Who's Matt?" Charlie asked.
"Just Courtney's friend. You don't know him?"
"Nope."
"Okay." Casey said ushering Charlie to the full length mirror on the closet door. Casey was a few inches taller than Charlie, she knelt down beside her.
"What do you see?"
"I don't understand the question."
"Look in the mirror, tell me what you see."
"It doesn't matter." She said turning from the mirror.
"Sure it does. What do you see?"
Charlie looked at her reflection for a moment. "Brokenness, abandonment, a whore." She said with tears down her cheek.
Casey embraced Charlie and held her for a moment, as Charlie cried into her shirt.
"Do you know what Rebecca and I see?"
Charlie lifted her head, eyes red and puffy, tears still falling. "Brokenness, abandonment, a whore?" She said burying her head again.
"No. Not at all." She said running her fingers through Charlie's hair. "All we see is a beautiful young woman."
Charlie broke out of Casey's embrace. "Yeah, that's why Victor, Whyatt, and everyone else treated me like they did. Because I'm beautiful." She said rolling her eyes, wiping her eyes.
"Hey, you are beautiful. It's their loss for not seeing it."
"Maybe I should have said 'no'."
Max walked into the room. "Hey mom, we need to talk. Like, now."
"In a minute. Why don't you field this one?"
"What's up?" Max asked.
"Maybe, Charlie should have just said 'no'."
"Meet me in the living room?"
Casey hugged Charlie and left the room.
"Tell me something?"
Charlie nodded, beginning to cry again.
"What happened if you said 'no'?"
"I got beat."
"What happened if you obeyed?"
"I didn't get beat."
"Exactly. You were trying to survive."
"I guess. Did you get beat too?"
"All the time. Even if I did obey."
"Sorry."
Max nodded. "Sorry about you."
Charlie nodded. "I'm okay, if you want to talk to Casey. What's it about?"
"I don't want to tell you anything, in case I'm wrong. But, if I'm right, you'll be the first person I come to, okay?"
Charlie nodded, as Max left the room. Charlie looked in the mirror, and forced a smile.