Cora was reading a book in the living room, when she heard the front door. She looked up and saw a small figure walking towards the stairs.
"Charlotte?" Cora asked.
The figure stopped and turned to the living room.
"Did you have a good time at Kieran?" Cora asked, with genuine interest.
Charlotte sat down opposite of Cora. "I had. I am just here to pick up some things."
"You want a cup of tea?" Cora asked while getting up.
"Yes please." Charlotte moved to the couch, when Cora sat back down.
"You are really happy with Kieran, are you?" Cora asked.
"I truly am happy, Mama. Can you believe that?"
"If you say you are, I believe you darling." She wrapped her arm around Charlotte and kissed her temple.
It was deep in the night when Robert woke up and didn't find Cora in bed. He got up and walked downstairs. He found her and Charlotte on the couch. Charlotte was lying on Cora's lap. Cora's head rested against the backrest, one of her arms protective over Charlotte's shoulder.
Robert softly kissed Cora on her forehead. She didn't wake up, he wrapped a blanket over Charlotte and tried to cover Cora as best as he could. He went back upstairs, he would let them sleep there.
Charlotte woke up, very stiff and disorientated. She was lying on her mother's lap. Slowly she got up and replaced her head for a blanket. Cora moved a little, but she didn't wake up. She walked upstairs to get her bag. She walked very slowly around the house, it was 5 in the morning, and everybody was sound asleep. When she got back down, she gave her mother a soft kiss. "I love you mum."
Cora woke up from a cold draft. She was still sitting on the couch, her back and neck were hurting. She looked at her watch, it was a little after 05.00 o'clock. She got up, stretched her back and decided to make a cup of coffee. This was going to be a long day, but going up to bed wasn't an option. She would sleep for too long.
She was reading the newspaper when around 06.00 o'clock Robert came down. "Good morning." He said, while bending down to kiss Cora. She barely stretched her neck to answer his kiss. "Where is Charlotte?"
"I think still in bed. I must have fallen asleep on the couch, while we were talking."
"Charlotte was lying on your lap. I found you two together around 02.00 in the morning."
Cora looked up in surprise. "She must have gone back to bed, I will check on her after breakfast. What do you want?"
"Just toast and juice is enough, but I can make it myself." He pushed Cora back down on her chair. "I must admit, it was an adorable sight, seeing you with Charlotte."
"Good morning, Papa, Mama." Sybil's bright voice filled the kitchen.
Cora looked up into her smiling face. "Good morning, darling. Did you sleep well?"
"I did. Do you know if Charlotte is coming home today?" Sybil asked while kissing her mother on the cheek.
"Charlotte is at home." Robert answered.
"No, she is not." was Sybil's reply, her bedroom is empty.
Robert looked at Cora. "Are you sure? She was here last night."
"She said she was only picking up a bag, but then she stayed talking with me. I think she is back to Kieran, that was her plan." Cora said.
"I will go over to Kieran, I need her advice." Sybil said.
"Can't I help you?" Cora asked.
Sybil smiled at her mother. "No, not really." She picked up a toast Robert made and walked out of the kitchen.
"Don't make a mess in your bedroom!" Cora called after her.
"Why is it always so loud in this house." Mary stepped inside, with dark circles under her eyes.
"Darling, are you alright?" Cora asked with a worried voice.
"No, I am not. Thanks to you! I have a migraine."
"And why are you blaming your mother?" Robert said.
"Ssst, Robert, she didn't mean anything bad. I have them too and it is hereditary. Darling, go back upstairs, I will bring you a cool compress."
Edith walked past Mary into the kitchen. "She is acting like a drama queen again."
"Edith! She is not and you know that!" Cora said firm, she took a cool compress out of the fridge and walked upstairs.
"Did you see Charlotte today?" Cora asked while she scooped beans onto Sybil's plate.
"They weren't at home, Kieran's car wasn't in front of the house. I will go again tomorrow."
"You know that there is something like a mobile phone?" Robert said, while dividing the chicken.
"She isn't picking up her phone, that's why I am going over."
Cora stopped with the beans. "Charlotte is almost married with her phone, and now she isn't answering? That is strange."
"Maybe they are away for a day, and she forgot her charger."
"You are right, you are. Who wants more beans?"
That Sunday they were paying a visit to Violet.
"Where is Charlotte?" Was the first thing she asked, when Robert greeted her.
"To be fair? I am not sure. I only know she isn't at home."
"What do you mean!" Violet eyes shot fire.
"She must be at Kieran's, Sybil is trying to reach her, but every time they aren't home." Robert answered.
"What about calling her?"
"Her phone is switched off." Robert said a little bit unsure.
Violet's eyes went to Cora, who got very silent and was wobbling on her legs. "Dear, you sit down! Are you worried?"
Cora thankfully sat down on the nearest chair. "I rather am. I am worried something happened."
"Cora, we discussed this, nothing happened. She is just stubborn." Robert said annoyed.
Cora sighed. "I am just not sure."
Violet sat down next to Cora and took her hand. "My dear, what are you thinking off? What could have happened?"
"I don't know what. An accident maybe, but we would have known by now, right?"
"Maybe she ran away." Edith said.
Cora looked up with scared eyes.
"Edith, don't scare your mother like that." Robert said.
"What else could it be?" Mary chimed in.
Cora fought against the tears in her eyes. 'Did her darling girl run away with Kieran. Was that night on the couch a goodbye?
