Surprises

Part Twenty-three

"Grampa!"

Michael hurled himself into Mike's waiting arms. Bobbie closed the door as Mike and Carly stepped down into the living room. A bag containing the toddler's things sat on the floor near the sofa. Carly grabbed it and held on tightly. She was beginning to wonder if she made the right decision about moving back into the penthouse. What if things didn't work out the way she wanted them to? What if she never had the family she always wanted?

Bobbie touched her hand. "Are you okay?"

Carly shrugged, unable to voice her doubts to her mother. "Yeah, sure. Is all of Mikey's stuff in here?"

"Everything that you brought with you," Bobbie answered. "You know you don't have to leave."

"I know, Bobbie," Carly said with a tight smile.

Carly, Mike, and Michael prepared to leave. Bobbie asked Carly to speak with her for a moment. Mike took Michael out to the car while mother and daughter conversed.

"What is it?" Carly asked.

"Are you sure about this? You don't seem happy about moving back in with Sonny."

Biting her lip, Carly looked away. "I don't jump up and down for joy. That's not my style. Besides, keeping Michael away from his father is wrong. This is the right thing to do."

"You're moving back because of Michael?" Bobbie asked, her eyebrows lifted in disbelief. "That's not a good reason, Carly. Children can sense when things aren't right between their parents."

"Things will be right between us," Carly argued. "Sonny loves me and I love him. We're a family. We belong together."

Bobbie nodded. "Right, and who are you trying to convince? Me or yourself?"

# # #

Lois and Dara were in the living room on the sofa while Lucky was in the kitchen. He said that he wanted to wash the plates and glasses they used, but the women believed he left them alone so that they could talk.

Lois reached for her friend's hand. "How are you holding up?"

Dara squeezed her hand. "Every minute that ticks by...is excruciatingly painful. They haven't even been gone that long, but it's driving me crazy. If Sorel has her..."

"If Sorel has her," Lois finished for Dara, "Sonny, Marcus, Jason, and Keesha will find her. Sonny will bring your daughter back. You have to believe that."

Dara leaned back against the sofa and closed her eyes. "I'm trying to, but I can't help being scared. This life he's chosen... I know that we don't live in a safe world. Kids are abducted all the time, but this... How does he do it, Lois? Why does he do it?"

Lois looked at her friend, wondering if Dara realized how her voice changed as she talked about Sonny. There were emotions there, just below the surface that begged to be explored. Lois didn't know whether to say something or just ignore it.

"You know why he does it," Lois finally said. "It's his safety net."

Dara's eyes shot open, and she frowned. "Now, that's an oxymoron if ever I heard one. A safety net? He's been shot, his first wife killed, and he has to live with guards 24/7. There's nothing safe about his chosen profession."

"That's not what I mean," Lois said patiently, "and you know it."

"He's afraid to live in the real world, isn't he?" Dara said quietly. "Because of his father leaving and what happened to his mother... Scully sucked him in and now, he can't let go of it." Her voice broke. "It's not fair."

Lois wrapped her arm around Dara and hugged her. "No, it isn't. What happened between you and him all those years ago wasn't fair. You deserved your chance together."