Liza

In the five weeks since Charles had stepped down at Empirical Liza's life had been one crazy dramatic event after another. The only consistently solid thing in her life has surprisingly been the addition of Charlotte at Millennial. She worked harder than any of the other assistants while keeping Diana happy and busy. The two worked very well together and even though Charli had only signed up for a few days a week she was usually there at least a few hours every day. They'd found a good routine Liza still watched Diana's phone and made her morning coffee while Charli spectated on the early morning news channels. Rarely would she have to do an afternoon interview, so Liza was free to do her own work then. Which mostly consisted of reassuring a frantic Kelsey.

While Kelsey was wearing Liza's nerves to the bone at work, Charles was driving her crazy at home. She sighed and thought that she was being unfair to him, he was just trying to find a way to be a productive member of society. She just wished he'd make up his damn mind! Two days ago he'd been ready to go back to school to be a large animal vet. He had visions of taking care of polar bears and giraffes at the zoo, but then he couldn't see himself feeding lions or outwitting mischievous monkeys. Last week he'd almost bought a boat, but after a heated argument with Charlotte that lasted three days he decided he had no business on the water. The only thing that came from their argument was Liza found out just how Charles' parents had died. He only ever said it was an accident when she'd brought it up in the past and then he'd shut her out in way only Charles Brooks could do.

A sailing accident, the couple had gone out on a clear day and never returned. It was particularly traumatic to Charli as she was suppose to have been on the boat with them but as punishment for being rude at the breakfast table she'd been banned to her room. She'd been 12, it was hard to imagine Charli as a child she seemed older and wiser than Liza some days. Even Diana looked to her for advice.

Then there was the Josh conundrum, he and Claire had made such sweet idealistic plans. Most of which had imploded over the past few weeks as Claire got nearer and nearer to delivering. Liza had tried explaining to josh that right now was a strange and scary time for Claire and the best thing he could do was just be there on her side supporting her figuratively and physically as her body continued to swell in sync to the tiny life in her uterus. She could see that he wanted what was best, but it's harder for the guys they don't have to go through the physical strain of growing a human being. Ironically Josh's biggest asset had been his budding friendship with Charli. The two had grown closer when Charlotte had brought Diana in to fix her brow (which looked so great Liza had been contemplating getting her own done) afterwards she had expressed interest in Josh's work and he'd invited her be his jr apprentice. So in addition to her tv gigs and working for Diana she also "interned" at Inkburg two nights a week. She didn't know how she found the time Liza was exhausted from her one job...she asauged herself and reasoned that keeping kelsey on track plus mornings with Diana were in addition to her editrix duties. Just as she was drifting off to the fairy tale land of West Tovina (the current manuscript she was muddling through) Charli plopped down on the desk causing Liza to nearly jump out of her skin.

"Hey Marsha! Where are we with Di today on a scale of baby panda to Kanye?" Marsha...Charli always had some strange new nickname for Liza, she had no idea what she meant when she called her Marsha and she didn't dwell on it instead she ignored it entirely and tried to match Charli's cleverness.

"I'd say Cardi B at fashion week."

"That good huh?" She cracks her knuckles and hops down. She seems young almost childlike for a moment and then it's gone, she all business. "I'll tell Diana later when she's more Oprah than Cardi, but I'm going put in my notice of resignation. Don't worry I've already got my replacement. John my old assistant from the firm, he doesn't like his new boss and is looking to make a change. Seriously he's the best and I know for a fact that he and Diana will get along. This is good for you too, because he'll be able to be here full time unlike my crazy hours. He can come in tomorrow for an official sit down with you if you'd like?"

Charli was leaving?? She had just been thinking how great it was to have the little stability she got because of her being here, well she can't just leave her!

"Where are you going?" Charli regarded her with mild curiosity but shrugged and answered honestly.

"I'm going to work bond court, it's not the glitz and glam of a murder trial but I'll be in court and I'll get to help people who can afford a lawyer otherwise. Best part is I'm not trying cases I'm just helping people set their bond till they're court dates. Mostly misdemeanors, nonviolent crimes just people who have no idea how to plea for a low bail, aannnd the firm can't tell me not to do it as long as I keep my public appearances and don't get invested in any lengthy trials." She takes a deep breath, "I cannot wait to get back at it." Liza felt bad at her selfishness, Charli was leaving to help people.

"I'm happy for you then, we should take you for dinner, me and Diana on your last day as a thanks you for saving our asses five weeks ago!"

"Sure, sounds great...hey now that that's out of the way can I ask you something about Chucky?" Liza nods not sure what's about to come out of her mouth. "Is it just me or do you kind of want to punch that giant nose of his? He is driving me bananas, please tell me I'm not alone in my lunacy?" She nods in agreement ashamed of herself for the second time in as many minutes. "Okay so we're in agreement operation find Chucky a job is underway?"

"I don't know Charli, I think he just needs time. His world got turned upside down, he has the right to drift aimlessly for awhile."

"His time is up, he told me he thought about buying a bar. A bar Liza, Charles has no business buying a bar so he can live out some weird Ted Danson Cheers fantasy. I know you agree, we should team up, double our chances of knocking some sense into him." She stares Liza down and finally she agrees to casually bring it up with Charles. They shouldn't brow beat him but maybe they could gently point him in a good direction. "That's all I'm asking." She retorts happy she's getting her way. Liza fills her in on Diana's morning and slips off to her office ready to start her own work. Instead she makes a list of possible careers or hobbies that Charles might consider the magical hills of West Tovina completely forgotten. It's almost four when Kelsey knocks on her door, another meltdown bubbling just there under the surface. She sits down and a tear escapes her right eye and as she wipes it away she begins outlining the new mess she's in with the new printers she hired to save money. They finished late and the books-the entire first run was missing the last 23 pages of the book. Liza switched gears and they worked to resolve the issue, and as Kelsey left Liza added "mentor Kelsey" to her list of possible things for Charles to do. It could be a stretch but, Kelsey would soon likely find herself in a situation Liza won't know how to fix. Then where would they be?

Charles' POV

Charles puttered around the house doing the daily chores. He'd let his housekeeper go three weeks ago and everyday he went about straightening, dusting, and cleaning the too big home. Some days he thought it was too big, he should sell it and he and the girls could move into a nice three bedroom sky rise. Other days he wished there was more to the house so he'd have more to do. Today he was sitting in his study researching optometry. Maybe he could be an optometrist? Help people see the world better, how poetic he thought wistfully. Then he thought of the pressure of being responsible for people's perfect view...maybe he should just become a food critic and just go from restaurant to restaurant judging other people's food. He could be a food blogger? He shut his laptop abruptly, suddenly frustrated in his inability to make up his mind. He couldn't stand his own company as of late and seriously doubted the people in his life could tolerate him any better. He resisted the urge to call Liza, she was the only thing in his life that he was absolutely sure about right now. He didn't want to mess it up by being too clingy, he'd wait for her to call him. He drummed his fingers on his desk anxious to do something...anything. He'd ran 4 miles that morning maybe he could run another 2? Nah. He sat unmoving and unmotivated like a lump on a log. He stood and stretched maybe he'd call Bob and they could go grab lunch, but the thought of making idle small talk irritated him. Besides Bob and Charlotte weren't speaking and he did not want to get in the middle of that mess. Just as he was debating ordering a pizza versus making a sandwich his phone rang he answered immediately when he saw that is was Pauline. She only called him when she needed to fill him in on the girls, it was her week now and he was worried that she was calling him in the middle of the day because something had happened or someone was sick?

"Pauline? Are the girls ok..." he listens intently his full focus on the sound coming from the speaker of his phone.

"Yes, they're ok. I-look I don't know how to say this without it being a whole thing, but I'm going back to L.A. next week."

So she was running again at least she's given him a heads up this time. Actually he was pretty excited to have the girls back home full time, he'd make sure the girls would call and Skype their mother routinely but ultimately they'd be home full time with him. He smiled and didn't say anything he just let Pauline raddle on.

"They've optioned Marriage Vacation, as you know into a tv series and they want me to be there in the writers room. This is too big of an opportunity to pass up Charles."

"I agree Pauline and honestly I'm happy for you. You will have time during hiatus that you'll be here with the girls, and hey maybe they can come spend a couple of weeks in LA with you during their summer break? It won't be like the last time you left and we didn't know what you were doing or when you'd be back. Nicole and Bianca will be so proud to know their mother is kicking ass, taking names, and following her dreams. We'll make this work, it'll be different this time no hurt feelings or betrayal, we'll make this work Pauline." He was laying his support for Pauline on a little thick and she knew him well enough to know that, but he knew her well enough to know she wouldn't call him out for it. Maybe he was a bit exaggerated but it was all true he was proud of her, and they would make this work for their children's sakes.

"Right, I'm glad you're on board with the move Charles because I'm going to take the girls with me. I've found the perfect school for them, it's ranked higher than the one they are in now. Like you said they can come back to New York during school breaks, and you can have Christmas, and with modern technology you could see them everyday..."

Charles stood there in shock what was she saying? Did she sincerely think she was going to pack up the girls-his girls- and take them clear across the country? He didn't have the words to argue with Pauline, mostly because he wasn't quite sure he had heard her correctly. Pauline lives in a fantasy world, most writers did, but she wasn't crazy and she'd have to be crazy to think he would let take her the girls away from the only home they've ever known, away from him. Even crazier to believe any judge on this planet would grant full custody to a mother who abandoned her children for a year, and the only reason she returned home was to manipulate their father into publishing her poorly conceived book. Yes crazy this whole thing was crazy...crazy.

"Ok I see that you're going to shut down like you do, so I think we should hire a mediator. We can work out everything with out lawyers. Charles I don't want to fight you and start a lengthy custody battle, but I will and my parents are willing to hire the best family law firm in the city. I'll talk to you later about mediation, ok?" He still can't find the words he wants to scream at her so he remains silent. "Goodbye Charles, call me when you're ready to work this out." She hangs up and the room is spinning, he can't loose his company, his professional identity, and his children in less than 3 months? It took longer than that to write, edit, and publish a children's book. Somewhere a million miles away he hears the front door open and slam shut, Charli is home but he stands cemented to the floor afraid to move. Afraid if he does it'll all be real and he'll have face the reality of loosing another part of himself, the two best parts of him

End