Chapter 6

August 5, 2022

Nashville, TN

Charles

"LOU! CARO!" I shouted as soon as I unlocked their door.

I was thankful Jane drove us here. If I had been behind the wheel I am sure I would have gotten about 5 speeding tickets. Also my normal excited self is uncontrollably shaking with energy at this point.

I could hear frantic movement above me. "Charlie, what's up?" I heard Louisa yell down as her footsteps pound down the steps. I met her at the bottom of the stairs. She had Bella on her hip, I could immediately tell Louisa looked a bit disheveled and pale. Jane must have noticed as well, she took Bella from Louisa and started playing with her in the living room.

"Where's Caro?" I asked unable to hold my news any longer.

I follow Louisa into the kitchen as she gets a glass of water.

"She went shopping. Aaron is picking up dinner. There was a late delivery at the cafe so he had to sign for it." She tells me not realizing I was well aware that Aaron had to stay late to sign for some appliances that were coming in.

I run my hands impatiently through my hair. I know it has to be a wild mess up there.

I pull my phone out and call Caroline. But it goes to voicemail. I don't bother leaving a message, I know she will never check it. I quickly send her a text:

Get home quick! Big news have to tell family.

Louisa is just staring at me waiting for an explanation.

"Listen I have huge news and I can't wait any longer. I would have preferred to tell Caro at the same time, and I am sure we will hear about it later." I hesitate, trying to form the words.

"Just spit it out Charlie! What's going on?" She shocks me with her outburst. Apparently pregnancy hormones are in full force today.

I take her hands in mine. "Lou, I found her! I found Izzy!"

Louisa's eyes became huge, but before she could get a word out she rushed out of the kitchen towards the bathroom. I followed behind her and stopped in front of the now closed bathroom door. I regretfully heard her losing the contents of her stomach... multiple times.

Jane walked over holding Bella with a worried look. "Did she just get sick?"

I nod my head "Yeah, I had just told her about Izzy and then she ran off to the bathroom."

"She was looking pretty rough when we walked in, she told me the other day that she was really struggling with morning sickness." Jane says while passing Bella to me.

"But it's not morning?" I asked completely confused.

Apparently that was a stupid question because all I got in response was an eye roll.

Jane goes back to the kitchen, grabs paper towels, crackers and refills the water glass Louisa was using before.

"I'll go see if I can help her." Jane says as she enters the bathroom.

All I can think is that woman is amazing. She just swoops in and helps wherever she is needed.

"Mommy sick?" Bella said, looking up at me with big sad eyes.

"Yes. But Jane will make her feel better." I say while we walk back into the living room where a stash of her toys have all been dumped out.

I get down on the floor with Bella, but am unable to keep my hands and legs still. Unable to fathom that we found her, but on top of that I can't get a hold of anyone to tell this big news to!

Then it hits me: DAD!

I pull my phone out again. It rings a few times, but thankfully he answers before I have to try again.

"Hey Son, how's it going?"

My heart is beating out of my chest. Wishing I could be there in person when I give him this news.

"Dad, I found her! I found Izzy!" Thankful I got the words out without choking up.

There was silence on the other end of the call.

At the same time Bella ran up to me with her doll in her hand. "Unk-Charlie, Izzy's right here!" She waved the doll in my face. I let out a laugh and shook my head.

"Not that Izzy baby, your Aunt Izzy. We found her!"

At this I could hear sobs coming from the line. My heart ached that I wasn't there with him. Comforting him. Instead he was all alone.

"Are you sure? Are you 100% positive?" Dad said barely above a whisper.

"Yes dad it's her. She looks identical to mom. Also her story adds up perfectly to ours." I say wiping my own tear streaked face. "You will never believe it, but it's Jane Bennet's sister. The one they took in."

"I thought her name was something different, Elizabeth was it?" He asked with concern in his voice. Most likely fearing that somehow we had gotten are hopes up and it wasn't her after all.

"When they found her she told them her name was Wizzy BenLee. They thought she had a lisp and that her name was Lizzy." I say while shaking my head. Still unable to believe it.

"Why did we never think to put her name out like that on the fliers! Of course that's what she told them! Remember at the funeral, it was the only way she would introduce herself." I can hear his frustration pouring out. Racking his brain with the What If's.

"Dad, it is what it is. But we have found her. All is well." I take a big breath. I hear him talking to someone else in the room. Most likely his personal assistant.

"Ivan is getting the jet ready and I'll be there as soon as I can. Hug Izzy for me and tell her Dad is coming."

"Will do. Love you dad."

"Love you son."

I hang up and wipe once again my now perpetually wet face.

I turn on a movie for Bella and see a text come in from Will:

We will be there soon

Not too long after Jane helps Louisa to the couch.

"Jane filled me in fully. I can't believe it Charlie!" She says with her head back and her eyes closed. Still looking very pale. But she reaches her hand over to mine. Desperate for sibling contact. I grab her hand and squeeze it.

"Her and Will are on there way, are you up for this? Or do you want me to take her to my house?" I say in concern.

She glared at me like I just stole her puppy. "Charles Marcus Bingley if you don't let me see my baby sister as soon as she is on this property you will not make it to your 30th birthday!"

My hands immediately shot up in surrender. I learned quick growing up to never cross my big sister. She is a kind hearted woman, but never ever cross her or mess with her family. She is fiercely protective. But we all became that way with the loss of Izzy.

Louisa gets enough strength to put Bella to sleep. She heads up the stairs to her room. I lean over in my seat, unable to stop my knees from bouncing.

Jane puts a hand on my knee. I look at her and she has a sweet warm smile on her face.

"All will be well Charles." She says, just like she did on our way to the house. I nod my head and put a hand on top of hers.

"Thank you." I say while locking eyes with her. This definitely was not the date I was hoping for. But I hope in the not too far future we will have the time to actually talk about us.

A knock at the door snaps us out of our thoughts. My heart starts beating like crazy once again. I jump up and swing the door open wide.

There stood my best friend and my baby sister. There stood my best friend with his hand on my baby sister's lower back.

My eyes narrow with a sudden glare at Will, staring specifically at his hand. He notices my want to kill him for touching my sister and removes his hand in a swift motion. I let my breath out and then smile at Izzy. She surprises me with a smile back. She might look just like mom, but that smile is all dad. I move to give her a hug, but hesitate. Not wanting to make her uncomfortable. She must sense it though and quickly rushes into my arms. The tears begin to flow once again. Having her safe in my arms.

I hear Louisa quickly come down the stairs. She lets out a loud gasp when she catches a glimpse of Izzy's face.

"Oh Izzy! I can't believe it's really you!" Louisa wraps her arms around her. Not hesitating for a second. After a minute Louisa pulls back to get a good look at Izzy's face. "I'm your oldest sister Louisa by the way, everyone in the fam calls me Lou. But you can call me whatever." She rushes on while taking her hand and placing it on Izzy's cheek.

Izzy smiles sweetly at her and another round of tears falls down her cheeks.

From all that I have heard from Jane about her sister the past few months, I know she is a very talkative person. I am sure her inability to speak right now tells me just how overwhelmed she is. I lead them over to the couches. Jane and Will already seemed comfortable in their chosen spots.

I keep my comments to myself as Izzy chooses the seat beside Will. Will puts an arm on the back of the couch behind her. Every part of me wants to yell at him to remove it. But I have to remind myself I don't want to completely freak out Izzy. Not yet at least. Louisa catches my eye and raises an eyebrow at me. I guess she can already see that Will is clearly interested in Izzy.

We all stare at each other for a second. Unsure where to go from here.

"These townhomes are beautiful. I love all the bright colors. I've seen them from the interstate, but have never gotten to check them out before." Lizzy says while looking around the place. I noticed Jane nod in agreement.

"Yeah we have really enjoyed them. They have worked out well for us. We all like to be close, but it gives the guys the ability to have their own space too." Louisa says while pointing towards me and Will.

We hear someone walking up the front stairs and I wonder if it's Hurst or Caroline. Part of me is fearing Caroline's reaction. I know she will want to see Izzy, but she might cause a scene when she realizes there is something going on between Izzy and Will.

Caroline

I can't wait to get back to Chicago where there are proper stores!

I thought with a huff. I was almost back to the house. But the lack of upscale fashion in this place was so upsetting. I was trying on the only item remotely wearable when I got the text from Charles. I rolled my eyes at it. Most likely it had to do with Jane. I like Jane a lot, she actually is super sweet. But if they tell us they are getting married after knowing each other just a few months, I might lose it on them.

I ended up buying the bright colorful halter dress. Maybe it will finally catch Will's attention. I have pulled out all the tricks in the book, but still the man looks at me like he does his little sister. He has been acting a little strange since we came to Tennessee. Maybe he's ready to settle down. And who better than me?

I pull onto our street and see Charles' car parked in front of his house. I then notice the brake lights turn off on Will's car parked in front of his house. He must have just gotten home. He lingers in the car for a second, then quickly rushes to the other side to open it.

My heart stops for a second.

You have to be kidding me! Does he have a date!

Anger quickly rises in me. Will hasn't dated anyone for years. He's been so focused with his sister and his business. I'm still a good block away from our row of houses. I can't get a good look at the woman. But I can see him help her out and lead her to Louisa's house. That's strange. Why would he bring her there and not his house?

I'm stopped at a stop sign watching the whole scene. A honk behind me wakes me up out of my thoughts. Aaron drives around me and stops beside my car and rolls the window down.

"You ok? Coming home?" He asks leaning forward, giving me a weird look.

I nod.

"Well hurry up, something is happening at the house. Lou said I needed to hurry." He says and then rushes off.

Now I am even more confused.

I park the car beside Aaron's and watch him walk in the house. I gather my bags and head inside. I hear Louisa talking in the living room, but then I hear a voice similar to hers but I don't recognize it. Must be the mystery woman. I place my bags by the side table, check my appearance in the hall mirror and charge in. If this woman is with Will, I am determined to end it as soon as possible.

When I walk in the living room two things shock me. First the mystery woman looks just like mom. Like a carbon copy of her is now sitting in our living room. Second thing that shocks me is the hand that Will is resting on her shoulder. In the 18 years that I have known him I have never seen him show any public affection for someone. Now this familiar looking woman suddenly is getting that kind of attention.

Charlie quickly jumps up from beside Jane and comes toward me. "Caro it's Izzy! We found her!"

I am suddenly hit with my last memories of Izzy. Being annoyed with her as she chatted with some lady in the bathroom and then letting her run off. The familiar scene that has haunted my dreams for years. The overwhelming guilt I have felt ever since I let her go. But here she is sitting in our living room. The anger about Will was gone completely. That was nothing compared to seeing my baby sister alive.

I rushed over to her and crumpled in front of her at her feet. An intense sob poured out of me. "Oh Wizzy! I'm so sorry! I'm so so sorry! It was all my fault!" I barely get the words out through the broken sobs. It wasn't long before I felt her arms around me. She was on the floor beside me, slowly rubbing my back to help calm me down. After a few long minutes, I eventually pulled back to look at her. It was a strange comfort. Knowing my baby sister was here with us, but then also being wrapped in the arms of someone who looked just like mom who we lost so long ago.

"I am guessing you are Caroline? Correct?" She said to me through her own tear stained face.

I nod with a small laugh that worked itself out. "Yes. Our family calls me Caro, but you can call me whatever you like."

She smiles brightly at me and leans back against the couch beside Will's legs. Another pang of hurt hits me with it. I look up at Will and see the look on his face as he looks lovingly down at her. I almost want to gasp once again. But that's what it is.

Will is in love with my baby sister.

*Authors Note*

Beyond thankful for all the positive reviews from the last chapter. I am so glad to hear everyone is enjoying the reunion. To the one reviewer asking if this will be a HEA, MOST DEFINITELY! That's one of the reasons why I love Jane Austen so much. Never fear with me, it will always be Happily Ever After with my stories!