The accomplishment of light

46

    I roll my eyes at Penny.
   
    "Penny you know fine rightly they took the girl in"
   
    Isla scolds
   
    "No I thought they were looking after a girl who was really sick? She doesn't look sick and it looks like they are her parents not careers"
   
    I roll my eyes at the snarky bitch
   
    "They are my parents and I am sick. And your very rude. I'm going to die and your always going to remember that the first thing you said to me was rude"
   
    I flinch at the word die and I hug her closer and glare at Penny. Her eyes were wide and her gob was wide open.
   
    My parents grin at her but I can't seem to get over that damn word as it floats around my brain trying to connect to the little girl in my arms who held a huge chunk of my heart.
   
    "I'm sorry what's your name"
   
    She asks looking around the table for help but everyone obviously felt the same as me. They silently waited for her to wind her neck in.
   
    "Adlai"
   
    She nods
   
    "Well I'm very sorry Adlai, I'll remember that in the future"
   
    Adlai takes a drink of her milk and starts to eat her pancakes, she smiles at mum
   
    "Nana these are the best ones yet!"
   
    She gave her a big toothy grin making mum sit up proudly.
   
    "So what's it like to be parents?"
   
    Ella asks me, more excited than usual. Carter freezes underneath me. I look at him as his grip on my waist tightens. I clear my throat, dragging my eyes away from Carter and back to ella
   
    "Good, actually it's a lot of fun isn't it princess"
   
   "Yes we have tea parties and negotiations when I want something"
   
    I snort and laugh with dads and Carter.
   
    "What did you negotiate?"
   
    Drake asks sitting forwards interested
   
    "I want a play castle and daddy wanted to get a small one but I wanted the big one so we had a tea party with daddy and granddads and we negotiated that I get the big one"
   
    "Is that so, and what's the terms?"
   
    "Da terms is I got granddads on my side and daddy lost"
   
    We laugh at her as Carter kisses her little head
   
    "I still think you bribed them so they would vote for you"
   
    He tells her amused, she gasps looking absolutely appalled by this
   
    "I so did not, I'm an honest business woman"
   
    "You tell him sweety"
   
    Scott tells her proudly
   
    "Well she did promise me that she would ask nana for white chocolate chips instead of normal chocolate ones in our pancakes if I voted in her favour"
   
    I nearly choke laughing as Carter gasps
   
    "You big fibber"
   
    "Grandad, why did you tell you big lanky tell tit!"
   
    I laugh my ass off at her face!
   
    "I thought you were an honest business woman?"
   
    Carter asks her with a huge grin on his face she puts her nose in the air
   
    "It was honest, sell the problem you solve, not the product. He wanted white chocolate chip pancakes and I wanted a playhouse. nana wouldn't make them for anyone but me so I solved his problem and he solved mine"
   
    I stop laughing to look at her, where the hell did that wisdom come from.
   
    "I taught you that you little shite! You used my own lesson against me"
   
    Carter tells her shaking his head, She grins at him and shrugs her shoulders then eats more.
   
    "I feel like I'm in another universe, since when do you tolerate anyone but Carly?"
   
    Desmond asks Carter with his nose screwed up. Carter glares at him
   
    "Since we had a daughter"
   
    He snaps, clearly pissed
   
    "Can I go play with ghost now?"
   
    "Only on the decking"
   
    Carter tells her, She climbs off and runs outside with ghost as Carter pulls me tight to his chest, using me as a shield from our family.
   
    ''Be prepared Carly''
   
    He links me
   
    ''For what''
   
    I ask back looking up at him
   
    ''Ella, she's got news''
   
    My stomach drops as I look at Carter, he pulls my head around to his and he kisses me softly just as Ella clears her throat behind us. I close my eyes trying to keep my thoughts pure.
   
    "So it turns out I'm pregnant"
   
    She tells everyone, the table erupts in cheers and I push my feelings deep down inside myself and I smile, reaching across the table and I squeeze her hand
   
    "I'm so happy for you Ella, congratulations"
   
    She smiles at me briefly before moving onto the many others who were congratulating her. I thank the heavens it's not just me alone or it would be difficult to keep up appearances. They all start to ask them questions as I sit back and take some coffee.
   
    "Have you picked any names?
   
    Arabella asks the happy couple
   
    "It's a boy, I've seen it. we are naming him Branson"
   
    my entire body goes rigid as does Carter's, Ella subtly glances in our direction as all the words i've heard over the years finally make sense. I gasp trying to breathe
   
    "I think I need air"
   
    I climb off carter and rush outside catching my chest.
   
    "It's ok, it's going to be ok?"
   
    Carter rushes out after me closing the door behind him and coming to my side
   
    "How Carter? He already has a claim on her and she hasn't even been born yet. She will be created to rule all kinds. What if he tries to take her?"
   
    I was probably being irrational but tell that to my heart
   
    "Carly calm down, that won't ever happen. I promise you we can leave right now. We can take Adlai and leave and never come back. Fuck the pack, fuck the family. They won't take her until she is of age and ready to go"
   
    He says trying to calm me
   
    "Mummy what's wrong?"
   
    Adlai comes running over, she throws her little arms around my neck and hugs me. Carter falls beside us and pulls us both against his chest.
   
    "Mummy just had a shock, I'll be fine, I just need a little minute"
   
    She hugs me tighter as mum comes outside and she cautiously walks towards us
   
    "Am I allowed to know?"
   
    "Not now, not when there are so many ears around"
   
    She nods her head then puts her hand out to Adlai
   
    "Come get dressed princess, we have an appointment with the hairdresser after breakfast"
   
    She shakes her head
   
    "No I want to stay with mummy, I don't want to go with all them people"
   
    she snaps nervously
   
    "Are you sure, I'll be by your side the entire time"
   
    She shakes her head
   
    "No nana"
   
    "If fine, I like doing her hair"
   
    I tell mum, wiping my face and sitting up a little straighter. Mum smiles then nods
   
    "That's fine, all the girls will be gone and the boys will make themselves busy"
   
    She tells me