Companionship

Chapter 22

Carly had just celebrated her birthday in LA (she lived in Portland) with her friends when a storm approached. Grandparents and soon-to-be grandparents were alerted through missive that they'd be adding to their family.

It didn't go well...

Parents flocked to California in droves, irate.

It was a mess as none of the kids wanted to deal with it. Some parents were hurt to be excluded while others were flat-out angry.

Anna was overjoyed that her father was neither. He was so happy for his little girl. He didn't care that she hadn't called him or flown out to see him to tell him the news in person. He was just so happy she could have this.

M-A-P

Mari sat with Sarah, holding her hand tightly as their police detective father paced in front of them.

Their mother sat on Sarah's other side, trying to keep her joy to a minimum.

Finally Detective Dick Grayson stopped. "What's done is done."

Sarah lifted her face. "I'm keeping my baby."

His heart broke at her standing up to him. She thought he'd try to make her get rid of it? "Sarah,-"

"I love my baby and Billy."

"Billy?" That threw him.

"Williams, Daddy." Mari rolled her eyes exactly like his.

He scowled. "That boy is too old and no good!"

"Why?!" Sarah felt strongly about this. "Because he doesn't fit what you think a good boy is?!"

"Sarah." He frowned.

"You don't have to accept him!" Sarah shot up. "I love him and we're getting married!"

Dick almost died. "Oh no, you're not!"

"Yes, I am!"

"Over my dead body!"

"Stop!" Kori Grayson stood, hating conflict. "No talk of dead bodies!"

"Kori!"

"No! You have been very unpleasant about this boy and we have never met him. We will now. He is the father of our grandchild. He is family now."

Dick sneered. "Family?!"

"Yes! Family! My father did not approve of you but you are a wonderful man."

"Your father was a king looking out for his entire country. I'm trying to protect my family."

Kori raised a red eyebrow.

Mari knew what that meant. Her passionate mother was going to yell. "Come now, Sarah. We should go invite Billy over."

"He's not invited!" Dick yelled as the two scurried out.

Kori started yelling.

M-A-P

"Lotus, Sunflower." Calvin Beecher Sr. sighed lightly.

Both girls gulped.

"Will you name at least one of your children after me?"

"Calvin!" Brooke Beecher slapped his shoulder. "They're having girls and they're going to name them after me!"

Karen's and Nancy's mouths fell open as their parents argued.

M-A-P