Thank you guys so much for the reviews, sadly my job doesn't allow me much free time so I only have time to write on the weekends. I am flying to Colorado Wednesday so I will try to get two more chapters up before chapter is short; so I will try to get another chapter up tomorrow!
One hour later Larry was coming back down the hall after his meeting, he passed Charlie's office to hear voices coming from within. He paused for a moment, Charlie was suppose to be gone already, he glanced at his watch he had about half an hour before his next seminar. He knocked on the door, the voices stopped he heard footsteps and the door opened. Charlie peaked through the crack.
"Larry!" He swinging open the door and allowing his friend in.
"Charles I thought you would be gone by now, but I have a few minutes before my seminar and decided to drop in and…" His voice stopped as his eyes settled on the three year old girl standing beside Alan and Don. "Well who is this?" Larry asked. The little girl smiled up at him, as if she knew him, Larry had to admit she had a striking resemblance to Charlie.
"Larry." Charlie went over to his daughter; he took her hand and brought her over to Larry. "I want you to meet Hannah Sameena Eppes, my daughter." Larry's face was quite priceless as he looked between Hannah and Charlie.
"Your daughter?" He asked taken by surprise, Hannah drew closer and smiled up at him.
"You and mommy were friends." Hannah stated matter of factly, Larry looked surprised.
"I knew your mom?" Hannah nodded; Larry looked up at Charlie confused.
"Amita." Charlie answered his friend's unspoken question; it took awhile for Larry to figure out everything.
"Amita how is she?" The room grew gravely quiet, and Larry began to realize the weight of his question.
"She's in Heaven." Hannah stated, her eyes began to fill with tears, she turned back to her dad and clung to his leg, Charlie picked her up, Larry instantly felt guilty.
"I'm sorry Hannah, Charlie." He apologized, he then smiled. "I'm so glad we get to meet you." Hannah turned back to look at Larry a smile on her face despite the tears in her eyes.
"Me too." She replied softly, she reached out for Larry to take her, he took her into his arms but held her awkwardly he's never held a child before, he then handed her back to Charlie.
"I have to go, seminar, but I look forward to seeing you again Hannah." With that Larry dismissed himself the group tried hard not to laugh as he shuffled out, just like Larry in any awkward social gathering.
Shortly after Larry left Don suggested dinner, it was Hannah's choice…the little girl chose seafood. Later at the restaurant the men laughed and enjoyed watching Hannah as she told her stories, they asked questions whenever they got a chance to get a word in, and mostly Hannah asked the questions. Charlie wanted to ask more about Amita, but didn't want to press his daughter for details so soon after her mother's death; he would have to settle with the letter in the mean time.
"Do you have any change of clothes?" Alan asked, being the trained grandfather.
"In my backpack." Hannah answered nibbling on a popcorn shrimp.
"We will have to do some shopping." Hannah's face lit up at the suggestion, she loved to shop, her mom didn't shop often but when she did it was a special occasion finished off with a scoop of ice cream. After dinner they did just that, they went shopping for clothes, toys and other items needed, Alan was instructing Charlie on things that every child needed, but it was even a new experience for him shopping for a little girl. They spent a long time standing in the toy aisle looking at princess toys. All three of the Eppes men were eager to spend their money on Hannah; they were worried about spoiling her, though for a three year old Hannah chose thoughtfully and always asked for everything including shampoo. Charlie was impressed with the well mannered little girl that Amita successfully raised; he didn't doubt Amita's parenting skills he only hoped he could continue to do well. They were sure to stop and get Hannah, as well as Don and Charlie an ice cream cone on the way back home. It was late by the time they got back, and Charlie was careful when removing a sleeping Hannah from her car seat, he was diving head first into fatherhood. Alan was proud of his son, Charlie in the past was the more cautious one, but taking care of Hannah almost came second nature to him, of course it was only his first day, because of that Alan had to chuckle he couldn't wait for his son to experience the other side of fatherhood.
"Where should I put her Dad?" Charlie whispered, worried about waking Hannah.
"How about my old room." Don suggested. "You can make that into her room eventually."
"Are you sure?" Charlie asked shifting Hannah in his arms.
"Yeah, go, she needs to sleep she has had a long day." Don stayed downstairs while Alan followed Charlie upstairs to help get Hannah into her pjs. Alan helped his son, and then stepped out as Charlie sat at the foot of the bed watching his daughter sleep, he believed that Charlie was finally taking it all in and left his son with his thoughts. He went downstairs to Don who was sitting in the kitchen with a beer.
"Quite an eventful day it turned out to be." Don laughed at his dad's statement.
"Is it anything else for us Eppes?" They shared a quiet chuckle.
"It will take time, but we will adapt." Alan assured with no doubt in his voice.
