Chapter 18

Charlotte hummed as she carried a breakfast tray into her mom's room.

"Oh, you," Jessica smiled, sitting up sleepily.

Charlotte smiled and set the tray in front of her mom, "Good morning."

"Good morning, sweetheart," Jessica kissed Charlotte quickly, "What's the occasion?"

Charlotte shrugged before curling into her mom's side, resting her head on her stomach, "Just because I love you."

"I love you too," Jessica replied, "Hmm, Jason and Alison used to do this on mothers' day when they were little."

Charlotte bit her lip, "I wish I could have…"

"Oh, Charlie," Jessica sighed, "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to remind you – "

"It's alright," Charlotte smiled, sitting up and kissing her mom's cheek, "I can make up for it now."

Jessica smiled sadly, "I'm the one who should be making up to you, Charlie."

Charlotte licked her lips, "You could share those pancakes with me."

Jessica laughed, "Sure."

"I just thought it might be nice to do something fun," Mary explained, "Our last chat was… intense."

Charlotte smiled, "It was. Did you like the movie?"

"It was good," Mary shrugged, "But anything is good when you've been away a while. Do you go to the movies much?"

Charlotte nodded, "A bit. We all like the movies so sometimes we have family day there!"

"But no Jason?" Mary asked.

"No," Charlotte shook her head, "He's up north at the moment. I haven't seen him since… everything. We spoke on the phone a couple of times but it's kind of awkward."

"Hmm, I'm sure it is," Mary sympathised, "Would you like to get a coffee somewhere? Are you in a rush to get home?"

"No rush," Charlotte smiled, "I like milkshakes!"

Mary chuckled, "Milkshake it is."

They made their way into a nearby café and ordered their drinks. Mary pulled out her purse at the same time as Charlotte did. Mary put a hand on Charlotte's.

"Please, allow me," she said quietly.

"Oh, I can pay for my own – "

"I know," Mary smiled, "But please, you wouldn't let me pay for the movie. At least let me buy my daughter a milkshake."

Charlotte bit her lip and nodded, putting her purse away, "Thank you."

Mary handed over the money and the two went to sit down, chatting until their drinks arrived. Charlotte sucked at the straw of her milkshake thirstily. Mary smiled at her.

"Chocolate, right?" she asked.

Charlotte nodded, "Chocolate is the best."

Mary touched her daughters' cheek, "Thank you, Charlotte."

Charlotte tilted her head, "For what?"

"Just being here. Spending time with me," Mary smiled.

Charlotte sucked on her straw again, thinking before pulling away, "It's okay. It's been nice, really. I like you."

Mary chuckled, "I like you too. I love you, Charlotte. I hope you know that."

"I do," Charlotte whispered, "It's just… I don't want.."

"It's okay," Mary shook her head, "You don't need to say it, especially if you don't mean it. I know we're still getting to know each other and all of this is… not easy."

Charlotte smiled, "I was scared at first," she admitted, "I didn't know what you would be like or if you would accept me… or like me. But I'm glad I got to meet you. You're nice."

Mary returned the smile, "Of course I like you. You're bright, you're witty, you're kind. You're my daughter. What's not to like?"

"I don't know," Charlotte nibbled on her lip, "I guess I thought you might think I betrayed you or something because I stayed with mom and I love her so much."

Mary sighed, "She raised you, Charlotte. Of course you love her. The other kind of love, well… I'll admit I'm still wrapping my head around that. But I suppose that's something I'll have to get used to."

Charlotte nodded, "I suppose it is. Do you think you and mom could ever get along again?"

Mary noted the pleading look in her daughters' eyes, "Oh, Charlie," she sighed, "I…I don't know. I hope so, at least for your sake."

Charlotte nodded quietly, pondering.

Mary watched her for a moment, "What is it, Charlotte?"

Charlotte looked at her and took a deep breath, "Um, it's just… next week is my birthday… I thought it might be nice to have all the people I care about in one room for dinner or something. It's just I don't have that many people in my life and – "

Mary touched her daughters' hand, "Hey, stop," she said gently, "You talk a lot when you're nervous," she smiled, "If it's okay with everyone else going, then I will come."

Charlotte's eyes lit up, "Really? You will?"

"Only if it's okay with Jessica and Alison… I don't want to cause any fights…"

Charlotte grinned, "It will be! This is great, thank you!" she wrapped her arms around Mary tightly as her mom returned the hug happily.

"You're really okay with that?" Alison asked, "With her coming here?"

Jessica shrugged, "It was bound to happen sooner or later," she supposed, "Plus, it's Charlie's birthday so whatever she wants…"

"Sure," Alison nodded, "Fair enough… it's just weird. I mean, I guess she's my aunt, right?"

"She is, yes," Jessica agreed, "Are you okay, Ali? All of this affects you too."

Alison smiled, "Yeah, I'm okay. A little nervous. I haven't even met her yet."

"I'm sure everyone will be on their best behaviour," Jessica reassured her youngest daughter.

"Even you?" Alison grinned.

"Of course," Jessica smiled, "She, Mary, she really isn't a bad person," she said quietly, "We had some good times. We were close when we were younger," she remembered, "We used to share everything. Our clothes, our makeup… our secrets. We weren't just sisters, we were best friends. Like you and Emily."

"That sounds nice," Alison smiled, "I don't even know, is she older or younger?"

"Oh, she's six months older than me," Jessica explained, "So we were always in the same year at school. Had all the same friends but mostly we hung out together. At least until we got to high school and started going to parties and such."

Alison nodded thoughtfully, "Did your friends know you were adopted? Or was that like… a secret?"

Jessica pondered for a moment, "It wasn't that it was a secret… it just wasn't something that we talked about. We were sisters', that was that. I think some of our friends figured it out as we got older, the age gap was so slight… but it wasn't until we started to fight a lot that it ever really cropped up."

"Mom," Alison nibbled on her lip nervously, "Do you think… you know you said you were like best friends but what if…" she trailed off.

"What is it, Ali?" Jessica asked, watching her nervous daughter with concern.

"I don't know," Alison mumbled, "It's just like… all the girls are my best friends. I love them all. It's just sometimes when it's just Emily and me… things are… " she sighed.

"Different?" Jessica asked.

Alison shrugged, "I guess."

"Alison… it's okay," Jessica said gently.

"What do you mean?" Alison asked, a tad defensively.

Jessica smiled, "If you like her… as more than a friend."

Alison bit her lip, looking down, "It's just…before she was with Maya, she kissed me and I rejected her. All my feelings were…" she gestured with her hands, "confusing."

"And now?" Jessica asked.

Alison looked at her mom, "I really like her," she said quietly.

Jessica grinned.

"Why are you smiling like that?" Alison asked, bewildered.

"It's just nice to hear you finally say it," Jessica hugged her daughter, "Now, don't wait too long before you tell her."