As Mary Margret sat down in the living room , I made her a cup of coffee. After that, I thought that I should probably leave the two of them alone, so I went upstairs to my room.

Not feeling like watching TV, or playing a video game like I usually like to do, I just layed on my bed, staring at he ceiling.

Suddenly, my phone buzzed. I rolled over and grabbed it.

A message from Charlotte-

'I'm at the docks. Wanna talk?'

I couldn't believe she was initiating this. The past few weeks I hadn't heard a peep from her and I felt terrible. The night of Aunt Emma's accident, my parents had just had a HUGE fight, so I was pretty bummed out. Then we had to go to the hospital, and she almost died, and only one of the babies survived, and the mood I was in made me a complete jerk.

I had wanted to apologize before this, but my mom said to just let her spend some time with her family. I was so glad she's finally reaching out again.

"Sure, be there soon." I responded.

I grabbed my coat and a hat from my closet and hurried downstairs.

"Mom, I'm going to go hang out with Charlotte."

"OK," she said, closing her eyes. Usually, she would be more protective and curious, but I think she had bigger things to think about right now.

I grabbed my bike and rode the 10 minutes to the dock in the crisp air. When I got there, I left my bike leaning against a tree and headed up the stairs. Charlotte was on the very end of the dock, her bare feet hanging into the water. I don't know how she does it – the water is freezing. Everyone says she inherited her dad's love of the sea, I guess it was true. "Hey" I said, sitting down crisscross applesauce next to her.

"Hi. Thanks for coming"

"Sure."

We sat there awkwardly for a few seconds, neither of us talking. I finally broke the silence.

"My dad left this morning," I said, looking down at the blue water.

She turned to look at me in disbelief.

"What!? Like for real!?" I nodded.

"I think so."

"Oh Jason! I'm so sorry! How was your mom?"

"She's OK. Pretty devastated, but Mary Margaret is with her at the house right now."

Again, we sat there in silence, and again, I broke it.

"How are you? You look tired."

She gave me a playful glare and then chuckled.

"That's because a newborn infant sleeps 20 feet away for me. Correction – stays up crying all night. Not 'sleeps'."

I laughed. I missed having her around. Charlotte was the loyal one that all of us turn to if we had a problem.

"How's your mom?" I said.

"She's better. All of her stitches were taken out yesterday. She has a really close bond with Layla – that's what's getting her through."

Another pause.

"Lottie, I'm really, really sorry. I was such a jerk that night. You have been nothing but loyal to me when I'm going through a tough time, and I completely did the opposite."

"Jason, it's okay. Now I know you were going through a tough time, too. It's just annoying that our tough times were at the same time."

"Yeah."

Charlotte's phone buzzed and she looked down at it.

"Oh great." She looked up at me as she took her feet out of the water and begin to pull on her socks.

"My dad fell asleep, and my mom doesn't want to wake him, but Layla puked on her, and she needs to take a shower, so she needs me to watch the baby."

She go to her feet.

"I'm glad we got to talk to Jason. Friendly cousins again?" She asked, smiling and sticking out her hand.

"Friendly cousins," I confirmed, and we sealed it with our Secret handshake that we've had since we were six. She started to jog back up the dock.

"Oh, and Lottie? If you ever need a good nights sleep… We have a guestroom." I shouted.

She smiled before turning again and heading towards shore. I walked back, and rode my bike home.

When I got in the driveway, Mary Margaret's car wasn't there.

"That's weird, she was just here," I thought.

I put my bike in the garage and walked up the front path. Through the window, I saw something I really wasn't expecting, and something that completely ruined everything I thought about my own mother. Through the window, I saw my mom passionately kissing a Robin Hood.

Dun dun duuun. Hope everyone enjoyed this chapter, I really liked writing the cousins part! Also, while I was editing, I noticed that I said 'criss cross applesauce'

Does anyone else say that or is it just a thing where I'm from? Btw, if you or any family member live in Texas or were affected by Hurricane Harvey, I have you in my prayers. Please review and tweet me at @EllaHill_Crouch

Xoxo Ella