Chapter 1
I was heading down the stairs towards the kitchen, when I heard the muffled sound of a male voice. Looking over the bannister I spotted Sister Evangelina at the door. Continuing my path I catch the end of a sentence, the word Mount jumping out at me.
"Sister Evangelina," I call from the bottom of the stairs, "Did I hear someone say Mount?"
"Patsy?" I heard the voice call, clearer now. A warm feeling filling my chest at the familiarity.
"Charlie?!" I finally clapped eyes upon my younger brother. His pale face with a smattering of freckles across the bridge of his nose and his feminine cheek bones contrasting to his strong jawline. His hair shorter than previously, bright ginger and in a perfect quiff. It stood out against the green checked suit he wore, that was cut rather fitted to his thin yet muscular frame in modern, contemporary style which had probably never graced the streets of Poplar before. He wore dark tortoise framed glasses, making him look somewhat arrogant to the untrained eye, like he'd stepped from the pages of a magazine or moving picture. However the white knuckled grip on his fedora and his slightly off centre outstretched hand made my heart clench.
Sister Evangelina had stepped back slightly allowing me to slip onto the porch, my hand grasping Charlies outstretched one, his fingers gripping mine as he pulled me into his arms, the dull thud of his hat hitting the floor as he brought his hand up to clutch at the back of my cardigan. Not being quite as tall as me his forehead rested against my shoulder. I could feel the small shakes pass through his frame and I knew it was a collection of relief and sadness as the tears welled in my own eyes.
"I have missed you dear sister," he smiled, pulling back from the embrace and carefully lifting his hand to my face, "just as beautiful as I remember, and I must say that I approve of your new hair, we look like real siblings."
I laugh, sniffling as tears threaten to make tracks down my recently applied make up.
"Would you two like to come inside and stop making quite such a scene in the doorway?" Sister Evangelina sighs from behind us, but I can hear the smile in her voice as I look at Charlies signature crooked half smile, his pearly whites peaking out.
"Of course Sister," we both echo, Charlie pulling back and stooping to retrieve his fallen hat, fingertips trailing to search out the brim, before straightening up offering his arm to me. I hook it around the soft curve of his bicep and lead him through into Nonnatus.
Feel free to review, leave feedback. I will be taking into account some things about where this story may go and who you might want to see Charlie paired up with, friends with and other things.