Chapter Nine
The Craftsman…
Evening…
Charlie came home to find Amita leaving with a look that told him that there was going to be a lot of work needing to be done with his parents, which he knew was a possibility. He was also trying to think of a way to have Don talk to their Dad without him getting into trouble for the conflict of interest of the case.
Making up his mind, he slipped into his room, taking out his phone when he was sure he wasn't going to be seen. After a brief moment of hesitation, he dialed Don's number and only had to wait for two rings before his brother answered him.
"Eppes." A tired voice answered
"Don, it's me, we need to talk." Charlie said urgently
"Hey, Chuck, yeah, I know we do." Don said reluctantly
"I know that even if you wanted to, you can't really talk to Dad about the case or anything due to conflict of interest, but I was thinking that maybe, and just hear me out, that we could… somehow… meet either in LA or Albuquerque and try to figure things out." Charlie said, hoping it wasn't too much to ask his brother, given the circumstances.
There was a few moments of silence that made Charlie worry that he may have lost the line before his brother spoke again
"I… don't know Charlie." Don said after a few moments of hesitation, not quite sure what to say about his brother's idea, "with this case and everything that's happened between me and Mom and Dad, I don't think they would even want to see me."
"Don, I know that it's been difficult but please hear me out on this as I try to explain what I think we can do, if you want to." Charlie answered, as he had known that Don would be reluctant but he wanted to do everything possible to make the situation better, somehow.
"I'm listening, Charlie, I am, so what are you thinking?" Don said, with a lighter but still serious tone.
"Depending on what you have to do in this case, you could somehow meet up with me and Mom first and, hopefully, when Dad gets cleared, you two can meet up, as well? I mean, you don't have to but can you at least consider?" Charlie said, trying not to sound pleading, "I can honestly say I just miss having you around at the Craftsman."
Don mulled over his brother's words, as he can honestly admit that he also missed the Craftsman, as he missed the beautiful home and the city of Los Angeles, as he hadn't been there in a long time, he just didn't know how his parents would react to seeing him or, more importantly, seeing his wife and kids.
He had to make a decision soon.
"Alright, Chuck, I'll check in on the case and we can work out some kind of way to meet up, I just don't want to cause any awkwardness for you." He said, knowing that he felt it was going to be more awkward for him but he didn't want to say that.
They both knew it anyway.
"Sure, I can do that." Charlie said with a brief smile before hearing some commotion.
"Listen we'll talk later but I think Irene is here and I need to make sure things go smoothly before an argument breaks out between Dad and her." Charlie said before he and Don said their goodbyes and went downstairs to investigate.
Just as he thought, it was Irene with a couple suitcases, meaning she was intending to stay for a while.
Internally groaning, he put a smile and came to greet her before anything happened.
"Hey, Aunt Irene, nice to see you." He managed to say before the older woman grabbed his cheeks.
"Same to you, young man, now direct me to your mother and your good-for-nothing father." The woman said, as Charlie reluctantly did as she asked.
This was going to be fun.
