"Tom, how are we going to bring Charlotte back."
"Do you think she wants to come back?" Tom asked.
"Well, maybe not, but she needs to tell Mama and Papa that she is alright. Why didn't she let us know something."
"I think Kieran is behind this. As a kid he always had that controlling part. He needed to be in control of everything and if he wasn't he would rage."
"Oh my, do you think he hurt Charlotte?" Sybil asked with a scared voice.
"No, that I am positive about. He really likes Charlotte, so he would never do anything to hurt her. He just want her for himself."
"Can you go talk to him? He will listen to you!" Sybil asked.
"I can definitely try."
"Robert!" Violet entered Robert's office.
"Mama? What is so important you walk in without knocking?" Robert looked up irritated.
"We might have found Charlotte." Robert jerked up, but Violet put her hands out. "Well, I have to be specific, they know what area she might be in."
"Mama, does Cora know this already?"
"I didn't tell her yet, that is something you have to do. Make her happy again Robert."
Robert got up and hugged his mother. "Thank you Mama. Are you coming with me, you can tell the details when we are at home." Without waiting for an answer he walked out of his office.
Cora was doing laundry, when she heard Robert's voice yelling from downstairs.
"Cora! Cora, where are you? Cora?"
The sound of Robert's voice made her worried, she hurried down. "What is wrong darling?" Than she saw Violet standing in the hallway, and her heart sunk." What is the bad news?"
"Why would you think the news is bad?" Violet said on her usual annoyed tone.
Cora looked at Robert confused. He took her hand. "Come into the living room."
"Robert? Why aren't you saying what is wrong. You got me worried now."
"Don't be. Sit down please."
Cora sat down, trembling from the tension. Why wasn't Robert telling her what he knew. Did they find Charlotte, did something bad happen to her.
Robert sat next to her and took her hand in his. "Mama just told me, they might know were Charlotte is."
"What?" Cora said breathless. "Where? Where is she?"
"Darling, you have to remember the word, might. She is probably in Scotland, they are narrowing the search area now. But they got reports of people seeing her and Kieran."
"Oh my God, oh my God, I can't believe it." Tears were streaming down Cora's face.
"My men say that they expect to find her in the next two of three days." Violet said.
Cora wrapped both arms around Robert and burried her face in his neck. "We are getting our girl back."
Robert brushed her back. "Finding her doesn't mean we will get her back." He said softly.
Cora pulled back. "What do you mean?" Why would she not want to come back?"
"She left for a reason, darling. We have to keep that in mind." Robert's hands rested on her shoulders.
"You are right. I know." She lowered her shoulders and let out a deep sigh.
Violet got up. "I leave you two and will say goodnight."
"Dad, is it true, granny found Charlotte?' Mary asked while walking into Robert's office
"They narrowed the area down where she can be, but she isn't found yet."
"What if she doesn't want to come home? How are you and mum going to cope with that?" Mary asked.
"Let just not think about that yet, alright. And please don't say this to your mother. I already did and that gave her so much anxiety, that I regret my words."
"But what about you and your anxiety. Are you not worried?"
Robert cupped Mary's cheek. "Don't you worry about me. I will be alright."
"Well, I am glad you and mum are talking again." She turned around and walked away.
Tom was waiting infront of the house Charlotte described, the frontdoor opened and Kieran stepped out.
"How did you find me?" Was his response when he saw Tom.
"We didn't really. It is just a coincidence we bumped into Charlotte."
"Of course, you told Cora and Robert already!"
"No, we didn't, not yet." Tom looked Kieran in the eye. "Why did you do it?"
"They would never let me be together with her. This was the only option."
"You didn't hurt her did you?" Tom asked.
"Tom, you know me better. Of course, I didn't hurt her." Kieran sounded surprised
"Alright. But you do realise, that you should give Charlotte a choice." Tom said.
"What choice? Why? She is here with me and we will buil our life's together."
Tom let out a deep sigh. "Kieran, is this really what Charlotte wants? Did you ask her?"
The look at Kieran's face told Tom enough. "Let Charlotte go for a drink with Sybil."
Kieran gave in and agreed.
"What are we going to do, when Charlotte doesn't want to come back?" Robert asked while getting into bed.
Cora looked up from her book. She was sitting in the armchair. "I am not sure." She said with a uncertain voice.
"We cannot force her to come back." Robert continued.
Cora closed her book and put it on the side table. She folded her hands in her lap. "I just want to know where she is. And if she is alright." A tear dropped on her cheek.
Robert got out of bed and walked over. He sat down on the arm rest and took her hands in his. "Charlotte will be fine. I am sure."
"I am so scared, Kieran has done something to her." She breathed in shakily.
Robert kissed the top of her head. "Let's not think about that. We are making ourselves crazy. She will want to get in contact and she will be unhurt.
Cora rested her head against Robert's chest, his steady heartbeat always calmed her down. She looked up and saw Robert looking down. Slowly she stretched her neck, he did the same and their lips touched, very briefly and quick. Both were startled, and had a confused smile on their lips. Cora rested her hand against Robert's chest, her fingers played with the fabric of his pyjamas.
"We should get some sleep." Robert said, while pulling her up and walking over to the bed. Cora almost crawled into Robert, when he got next to her. She needed to be close to him. It was months ago their lips had touched and although it was short, it felt heavenly.
