Many heartfelt thanks to those who've review and read. I hope you enjoy this chapter, there are only a few more remaining.
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Chapter 24
Lindsey had to be restrained from jumping on Charlie the first time they met the next day, she was really excited to be meeting her sister, Catherine was worried five minutes with the teenager would exhaust the brunette with her million words a minute conversation. However Charlie seemed to really perk up with Lindsey, she asked questions and nodded her head at the right moments, it brought a tear to Catherine's eye to see her two daughters together in the same room. Nancy was the complete opposite of Lindsey, she was nervous around Charlie even though they had spent an evening drinking together, it was like she was worried about saying the wrong thing. They were there for almost an hour before Charlie started to tire.
"You know what Linds I think we should go home and let Charlie get some rest." Catherine said placing a hand on the teenagers shoulder.
"But I haven't told her about Melanie Redmond and her new boyfriend yet, he's so gross." Lindsey protested so Charlie spoke up.
"Tell you what, come back later in the week and tell me then." At this both Lindsey and Catherine smiled. A second meeting gave Catherine hope that there'd be another and she'd finally get to know her daughter.
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Lindsey kept on pestering Catherine to let her go and see Charlie but Catherine wanted to give the brunette space to think and start to recover. The way Sara had been treating her at work made her think that it was working as she greeted Catherine with a smile.
"Hey, how are you today?" Sara asked Catherine as they both exited the break room.
"Lindsey is driving me mad, she's adamant that Charlie is the best thing since sliced bread. Keeps pestering me to take her to the hospital. How is Charlie today?" Catherine asked as the entered the break room taking up spots on the settee.
"I agree with Lindsey on the best thing, but our favourite patient is pretty tired, she's in a lot more pain than she's letting on. And I know she's worried about school, she worked so hard to get into med school. That's why I withdrew her for the rest of the year, that way she can start over but it won't stop her worrying." Sara explained and Catherine listened carefully realising how different her two daughters were. Lindsey wouldn't care about missing school, she'd be glad of the break. But then again Lindsey had always had a lot more than her elder sister, she couldn't do much about the past but she could do something about the future.
"Tell me to stop if I'm crazy but Sam gave Lindsey and I some money years ago." Catherine started and Sara stopped her straight away.
"Tried that and it won't work, everyone's tried it. Charles, his parents, friends. She won't accept charity as she calls it. Hell Cath it's a struggle to get her to accept money on her birthday or at Christmas as a gift." Sara replied as the rest of the team filed in and shift began.
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Charlie awoke from a dream about Blake and caught sight of her handbag on the bedside table, the letter she'd stashed in it a few days earlier was still there. He'd been playing on her mind for a while now, the anniversary of his death was approaching and now there was this letter to deal with. Sara obviously hadn't seen it as she would have mentioned its contents and so would have Charles, it was another life changing thing to hit her in a few weeks, and this one could potentially have consequences just as great. She managed to pull her bag onto the bed and get the letter out and started to read it again.
Dearest Charlie
I know you have one of these letters stashed away in your belongings for events such as this so I thought given my line of work it'd be a good idea to do the same thing. You told me that you found it funny that a few years ago you'd have nobody to write to but now you have an abundance of people who love and care for you to send one of these things too. However I pray with all my heart that the only time I see yours is when you get home safely after your enlistment finishes and we burn it on a sunny weekend camping together.
My life changed for the better the day I was assigned to partner Charles, he's a good man and a good teacher. Meeting him brought you into my life and I never want you out of it, to me you are the world, you are everything I ever dreamt of or wished for – yes I am aware it sounds corny but I'm a man in love and it can't be helped. I loved you from the moment I set eyes on you and I will love you until the day I die – ironic given the purpose of this letter.
I just want you to know how much you've changed my life for the better; an email or letter from you makes the world so much brighter. Thinking of you makes me smile and dream about the next time we'll see one another. I miss you more every time you go away and I count down until you come back to me safe and sound.
That's why I've written this, I need to know that you'll always be taken care of, that you'll always know how special you are, not just to me but to everyone. I took out a life insurance policy and you're the benefactor, (or if I'm lucky you and our amazing kids). I want you to spend the money on yourself, you deserve a bit of luxury for once. I need to look after you and since I'm obviously not around this is my way of doing that.
Remember – you mean the world to me, you're my endless love.
Blake
Tears streamed down her cheeks as she traced the worlds, imagining him writing the letter. When she was in Iraq she'd written one to each of her family members and him, they'd been stashed away in a box in Charles's attic the day she'd arrived back in Frisco before her move to Vegas. But Blake's had been sat in a solicitor's office for the last two years. Now it had arrived with a letter from the solicitors and a huge cheque.
"You always did take care of me Blake, and I'll always love you." She whispered clutching her teddy close and sobbing her heart out thinking of what could and should have been.
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When Sara arrived at the hospital the next morning after shift she saw the letter on the floor, she picked it up and caught that it was from a solicitors. Worried that her sister could be in trouble she started to read it, when she came to the financial part of the letter she had to sit down.
"Wow." She said staring at the numbers not realising that Charlie was awake and watching her.
"He wanted to look after me." At this Sara put the letter down.
"I didn't, it was." Sara started but Charlie stopped her.
"Saved me a job telling you, it's a lot of money Sara." Charlie said, she sounded teary.
"Tuition for the rest of medical school, money to give you a good start." Sara said looking at the letter again, "You have to take the money Charlie, it's what Blake would have wanted, it's why he did this." Sara was pre-empting Charlie's next words and one look at the younger woman told her she'd hit the nail on the head.
"It's too much money." Charlie said.
"To him knowing you'd be living your dream would make it worth every penny and so much more. It won't bring him back, it won't give you the house, kids and dog you'd both talked about. But it will give you the chance to make the difference he knew you'd make. Because Charlotte Catherine Flynn you are going to make a huge difference to so many people, and I know that because you already have. Charles, Michelle, Me, and dozens more people. Our lives wouldn't be the same without you, knowing you is a privilege, loving you is an honour. Blake got that, that's why he's done this. And that my dear little sister is why you're going to take the money and use it to become the amazing doctor that you're destined to be." Sara smiled before giving Charlie a hug.
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