ᵈᵒⁿ'ᵗ ˡᵉᵗ ⁱᵗ ᵇʳᵉᵃᵏ ʸᵒᵘʳ ʰᵉᵃʳᵗ♥︎

Chapter 5

Alana and Charlie strolled out of the hospital, hand in hand, making their way towards Pete's car. Alana kindly opened the car door, assisting Charlie in buckling his seatbelt. Pete, seated in the driver's seat, looked over at the little boy. "What's up, little man?" he greeted with a warm smile.

Charlie responded with a tired yet content smile, his energy depleted. Pete started the car and began driving, while Alana settled into the front passenger seat, closing the door. As Alana glanced at the rearview mirror, she noticed that Charlie had already dozed off. "So, my mom called earlier," Alana began, catching Pete's attention.

"She wants to have me and the kids over for dinner." Pete appeared puzzled. "Oh, do you want me to come along?" he asked, his tone growing distant. Alana shook her head, a bit taken aback by his sudden change in mood. "Oh no," she replied, "I just thought maybe you could give me some advice." She peered at him, furrowing her brow in confusion.

Pete glanced at her briefly and then shifted his focus back to the road. "Then why are you telling me?" he retorted coldly. Alana's surprise deepened. "I just wanted to share it with you," she replied, her voice tinged with disappointment.

Pete's demeanor softened as he glanced at her again, his previous tension dissipating. "Is Louis going to join you?" he inquired. Alana sighed, her voice tinged with resignation. "Probably not," she confessed. "My parents aren't fond of him, and I simply want this dinner to be over and done with." Alana observed Pete, noticing his visible calmness and relief.

In a barely audible mutter, he expressed his approval. "Okay, good," he said, assuming she hadn't heard him. Alana couldn't help but feel a mix of emotions, unsure of what Pete's reaction truly meant. As they continued driving, she silently hoped that their dinner with her parents would go smoothly, despite the absence of Louis.

Pete dropped Alana and Charlie off at her apartment before driving off on his own. Alana walked into her apartment, carefully carrying her sleeping son into the cozy confines of their home, making sure not to disturb his peaceful rest.

As she laid Charlie gently down on his bed, she couldn't help but feel a mix of exhaustion and anticipation for the upcoming dinner. Alana quickly freshened up and changed into a nice black dress outfit, her mind occupied with thoughts of how the evening would unfold.

Just as she finished putting on her favorite necklace, she heard a knock at the door. It was Louis. As Alana opened the door, Louis greeted her with a warm smile, holding Rhiannon, a hand. Alana returned the smile. Louis spoke gently,

"Alana, I'm here if you need me to come along-" His genuine concern. Alana mustered a small, grateful smile. "Thank you, Louis, but I think it's better if I handle this dinner alone. It's important for my parents to see that I can manage on my own," she explained.

"I completely respect your decision, Alana," he responded, "Just know that I'm here for you, no matter what." With a final goodbye Alana closed the door behind him.                                    
Alana carefully parked her car in the driveway of the imposing house that had once been her childhood home. As Charlie and Rhiannon stepped out of the car, their eyes widened in awe at the grandeur of the place. Alana couldn't help but notice their reaction, and a hint of sadness flickered across her face.

"Wow, Mommy this house is huge!" Rhiannon exclaimed, her voice filled with excitement. Charlie, a bit overwhelmed, clung closer to Alana's side, seeking comfort in her presence. Alana gently placed a reassuring hand on his shoulder, silently acknowledging his unease.

As they approached the front door, it swung open, revealing Alana's mother, Marie. Rhiannon instinctively moved behind Alana's leg, while Charlie instinctively sought refuge closer to his mother's body. Marie attempted to speak to the children, but their uneasiness was palpable.