Chapter 51

I don't own these characters, but it would be nice if I did.

Anyways, I do promise to keep them true to themselves.

Charlie had decided to follow his Dad's advice and talk to Sophia about the kiss. Well, he wanted to, but he still didn't know how he felt about it. He kept thinking about what his Dad had said about the feeling you got when you kiss someone you loved. And while he hadn't felt that, he also knew he had been taken by surprise by the kiss. Plus, he did like Sophia, and he didn't want there to be any awkwardness between them.

But, as much as he tried, he never got a chance to talk to her. Every time he tried, she always gave him one excuse or another as to why she couldn't. Finally, on Friday, he decided enough was enough. So, after school, he made his way to her locker.

"Is there a reason you are avoiding me?"

Sophia turned and saw Charlie standing there. "Ummm...I have to get going."

Charlie sighed. "So, you are avoiding me. I guess you regret kissing me the other day."

Sophia paused. "Trust me, its not that at all. To be honest, I actually liked it. I've just had a lot on my mind lately..."

Charlie frowned. "Is everything okay? If you want to talk about it, I'm here..."

Sophia sighed. She still didn't know what to do. If she told Charlie the truth, he might be really upset with her. But, she needed to talk to someone. Her Dad had tried to be as helpful as he could, but unless her Mom did something illegal, there wasn't much he could do. But, he did offer her the chance to come back and live with him in California if she wanted. And while she did appreciate the offer, it didn't really help her with her current problem.

Sophia finally spoke. "I've just been worried about my Mom lately. I think she's having a tough time."

Charlie nodded. "I can understand that. My parents have been kind of secretive lately themselves."

Sophia paused. "Really? Is everything okay?"

Charlie smiled. "I think so. I mean I did catch them cuddled up together on the couch together the other day looking at each other with big smiles. I just think there is something going on they are telling us about."

"Any idea what it is?"

Charlie shrugged. "No idea, but if I know my parents, its nothing they can't handle."

Sophia nodded. "I remember hearing your mom say your parents would kill for each other or their kids."

Charlie chuckled. "Well, they are very protective of each other and all of us..."

"Is it true that your Dad once threw a man off the roof to protect your Mom?"

"Well, from what Abby's told me, Mom might have embellished that story a little bit. But from what she heard, the man charged at Dad with a knife, he tripped on a garden hose and his momentum took him over."

Sophia sighed with relief. "Wow..."

"But, knowing how much my Dad loves my Mom, I think he would have if he had had to."

Sophia frowned again. "Your Dad really does love your Mom that much, huh?"

Charlie nodded and smiled. "Yeah, he does."

"I don't know if you know, but your Dad and my Mom used to date when they were in junior high..."

"I know. My Dad told me." He paused. "And a few other things..."

"Like what?"

Charlie was a little uncomfortable. "He told me your Mom didn't take it too well that my Dad fell in love with my Mom, and your Mom did some bad things..."

Sophia nodded. "My Mom pretty much said the same thing..."

"Did she tell you what she did?"

Sophia shook her head. "Nope. Your Dad?"

Charlie shook his head too. "No. He said he didn't want what happened to them to interfere with our friendship."

"I can understand that." She paused. "Did he say anything else about my Mom?"

Charlie shrugged. "Well, I asked if he hated her, and he said hate was a strong emotion. Rather, he basically ignores that she even exists. Whatever happened then, I get the impression its pretty bad..."

Sophia sighed. "I get the same impression. Unfortunately, I don't think my Mom could forget about him if she tried."

Charlie frowned. "What do you mean?"

"She tells me she constantly lives in regret for what she did and would do anything if she could take it all back..."

"I don't think it would make any difference..."

"Really?"

Charlie nodded. "Really. My Dad told me he felt like he and Mom were brought together on the ship by the fates because they belonged together. And I know my Mom feels the same way. I don't think it would have mattered what your Mom did..."

Sophia sighed. "That sounds so romantic, but at the same time, I feel bad for my Mom..."

"I can understand that...So, where are you off to?"

"I was just going to catch the bus over to my Mom's office and wait for her to get done for the day."

Charlie smiled. "Why don't you come home with us and hang out? It has to be a lot more fun that just sitting in an office..."

Sophia smiled. "I'd like that. Let me give her a call and tell her where I'll be so she can pick me up..."

Barbara didn't mind, and Sophia headed home with the other kids. Meanwhile, at the hospital, Cody had just finished up a normal (relatively speaking) triple bypass on the mayor's brother-in-law and returned back to his office to get cleaned up. After grabbing a shower in his private bathroom, he changed back into his clothes and returned back into his office. And that's when he noticed it. There was a manila envelope on his desk with his and Bailey's name on it.

Sitting down at his desk, he opened it up and began reviewing its contents. And his eyes went wide. Immediately, he opened his cell phone and hit speed dial #1.

"Hey Codykins, to what do I owe this phone call?"

"Bails, is there anyway you can leave work early and meet me at home as soon as possible?"

"Is everything okay?"

"I had a manila envelope on my desk when I got back to my office. I think you need to see what's inside..."

Bailey paused. "I can be home in thirty minutes."

"I'll see you there..."

And thirty minutes later, Bailey came through the garage door into the kitchen to find Cody already waiting on her.

"What did you find out?"

Cody held up the envelope. "Here, look for yourself, its..."

But Cody was interrupted by the front door opening. Ben, Annie, Abby, Charlie and Sophia came into the house laughing.

"Hey Mom! Hey Dad! We saw Mom pull in. What are two doing home so early?"

Cody paused seeing Sophia was with them. "We had some errands to take care of, so we took off early today."

Charlie nodded. "Cool. Well, Sophia came home with us. Her Mom said she would pick her up later."

Bailey forced a smiled. "Okay. Well, why don't you all head down to the basement and hang out down there."

The kids nodded, and all headed for the basement. Cody grabbed Bailey's hand and lead her to their home office. Once they were both inside, Cody handed her the envelope. Bailey began looking through everything, and her eyes too went wide.

"Oh my gosh!"

Cody sighed. "I know...Imagine my surprise when I saw Sophia was here and Barbara was stopping by to pick her up..."

Bailey just shook her head, but her rage was building. "How dare she? Wasn't messing with our lives in high school enough for her? I wanted to kick her butt then, this time..."

Cody nodded. "I know...and this time, I don't think I'd try to hold you back..."

"And I was right! She does have an accomplice in all of this!" She paused and looked back through the packet of information. "But it doesn't say here who it is..."

"I caught that too. According to report, Barbara is very good at computers, and even our contacts couldn't trace who she was communicating with..."

Bailey sighed. "So, what do we do about that now?"

Cody paused. "Well, Barbara is coming over here later to get Sophia...I say we confront her!"

Bailey nodded. "You're right!"

Meanwhile, downstairs, everyone was watching TV when Sophia turned to Charlie.

"I need to use your bathroom."

Charlie paused. "Ben just used the one down here and you don't want to follow him in there without a Hazmat suit..."

Sophia laughed. "That bad, huh?"

Charlie sighed. "Trust me...I share a bathroom with between our bedrooms. There is a bathroom upstairs off of the kitchen. Use that one instead."

Sophia smiled and headed up the stairs. She found the bathroom right where Charlie said it was, and once she was done, she walked out. She was about to head downstairs when she heard Cody and Bailey talking.

"Cody, this time, Barbara is going down hard!"

"Your right, Sweetie. We should never have let those restraining orders expire..."

Sophia frowned. Restraining orders? Just how bad had it been back then.

"I say we teach her once and for all not to mess with us!"

Sophia gasped and ran towards the voices. Busting into Cody and Bailey's home office, Cody and Bailey turned and saw her there.

"Please don't kill my Mom!"

To be Continued...

Author's Note: I decided to be nice to Ohio for once...even though the people there have no idea how to drive and invade all of our lakes on long weekends. At least Ohio isn't...West Virginia. lol