Project GoldCrest ✓

Chapter 17

Charlotte

I stood up from the sofa, and switched off the tv. I'd been watching a few episodes of Teen Titans and Adventure time, but truth be told, I wasn't really paying attention. I just wanted to look busy, in case my mother wanted to talk to me. Perhaps, ask me about my progress with my ex friends reunion.

I heard Maddie descend down the stairs. She looked at me with an amused expression. I wanted to ask her why she was looking at me like that, but at the same time, I didn't want to talk. Besides, I felt like I'd just end up fighting with her, as I've done the past few weeks.

Wordlessly, we walked to the dining room and took our seats next to each other. My dad often sat at the front, then on his side sat my mother. On his other side, sat us, his two weird daughters who barely got along.

Minutes later, we were all seated. Dad said grace and we started eating. This was normal for us. My mother preferred silence at this time, but she could tolerate us talking as softly as we could. Which we ended up totally not doing, as we would be listening to dad's stories. That was one of the few times I would enjoy watching my mom getting pissed. Good times.

My mother left the table to go get dessert. She returned with four glasses and a carton of vanilla custard along with a tub of ice cream. After dishing for us, we started eating.

Well, Maddie and I did, because my mother rarely ate much of dessert as it's not part of her diet. My dad would have already wolfed down the dish, except the glass was still in front of him, untouched.

Maddie seemed to be following my train of thought, and asked him, "Why aren't you eating, dad?"

"I'm just thinking, Maddie. Soon, maybe next week or a few days from now, your mother and I will have to leave to attend a conference. But it's been a while since we left you kids alone, and I'm not sure if you'll need a babysitter." That's what he was mulling over?

"I'm almost 18, dad. I'm pretty sure we can handle it." I said in what I hoped was a calm voice.

"We should hire a babysitter," my mother voiced quietly.

Her opinion mattered a lot in my dad's eyes. Like a lot. He'd always appreciated my mother, and they rarely ever fought. At least, not in front of us. My dad cherished my mother, and everyone could see that. It was like he'd been given a love potion.

"Maybe we should hire one. I have someone in mind," he said and looked at her with those caring brown eyes we inherited.

"Dad!" Maddie protested. "You heard what Charlie said, we can handle ourselves for a few days. She's almost 18," she said. I was taken aback a bit. It had been a while since I'd heard her defend me. Or call me Charlie, for that matter.

I offered her a grateful smile, and surprisingly enough, she smiled back. Dad saw this and smiled too, "I see that you're not angry at each other anymore, that's good. But I haven't made a decision yet so I'll tell you what I've decided before we leave."

"Okay," we both replied at the same time.

When I looked at my mother, I found her looking into space. I wondered why she, of all people would zone out. "Hey, mother!"

She moved her head slightly towards me. "Yes?"

"Anything you'd like to add?"

"No," she replied.

Then dad started on his dessert. He became joyous again. He made jokes about his colleagues and we were finally back to normal.

Except, my mother had to ask, "So how did it go with Henry?"