Finding Her Joy

Reecey's Here

(MIA POV)
"Sweetheart, what do you want for dinner? I'm starting to get a little peckish." I said, turning the corner to see her. She was standing at the door with her hand on the knob looking very guilty of something. "What are you doing?"

"Mia! Nothing!" She turned around and let go of the know quickly. Her voice was high-pitched, so I knew she was lying.

I focused my gaze on her eyes, "Were you trying to sneak out? If you wanted to go home, you could've just said so. I'm a big girl, so I can handle it."

"What? No, no! I'm not sneaking out! Our weekend isn't over till tomorrow morning." She bit her lip and turned to open the door. "I was trying to sneak someone in..."

"Hey, Mia." Reecey said, stepping in the house. "We need to talk, apparently."

"Charlotte, Sweetheart. What is he doing here?" I asked, walking over to her and grabbing her hand.

She contorted her face and said, "You wouldn't talk to me... so I thought..." She was acting like I was going to yell at her. "I thought you might talk to him."

"I really don't think -" I started, but she didn't let me finish.

"Amelia. You need to talk to someone, so if you're not comfortable enough to tell me, you're going to tell him. Now." She was very serious, looking at me with her mum glare. I knew I couldn't fight it.

"Fine, but I'm not going to enjoy it." I said, crossing my arms and rolling my eyes.

"Good girl." She kissed my cheek. "I'm going to take a bath so you can have some privacy." Char leaned in close to my ear and whispered, "Come join me when you're done."

I couldn't help but watch her walk all the way up the stairs. My eyes fixated on her hips and my mind wandering to thoughts of her just sitting in the bubbles. I only stopped when Reece coughed, "You done yet?"

"Oh, hush. I know you do the same thing with Marjorie." I led him to the sofa and sat down on opposite side. "So... how's life?"

He glared, "That's not what I'm here for, and you know it. What's been going on? Char said you came home and were throwing things, practically in tears."

I laughed. "Nothing. Just got some news is all and didn't take it well."

"Mia." He raised his eyebrows, "Is it about what I think it's about?"

"It might be about what you think it's about, or it might be about what you don't think it's about. Have you figured it out?"

"Would you stop talking in circles?" He was mad. "Did you find them? Our parents?"

I went to speak but stopped myself. He needed to know. I had to tell him, but did I have to tell him all of it?

"I have a lead on them. Technically, I already had one, and then something happened making the trail go cold, but I do have a new one, and that means I'm going to be gone for a while longer." I started messing with my nails to avoid eye contact.

Reecey took a moment to process before saying, "Is that why you were so upset? That doesn't seem like a good enough 'Mia reason' to throw things. Spill the rest." Damn him and his observational skills.

"Ugh!" I groaned, "I also went to see my mum today, and she's not doing great. Are you happy now?" I yelled and stood up from my seat. "It irritates me that I'm having to leave Char again, and I don't even know for how long this time! I'm angry that this puzzle that is our lives has so many pieces. I'm just tired of all of it!" I turned away from him and put my hands on my hips, trying to catch my breath before saying anything else. "I want to quit and just be here with her, maybe fix my relationship with you and your sister. But I made a promise to you and Autumn and myself that I was going to find them. I have to keep going for you guys."

"If you can't do it anymore, then we'll understand. I can always find another way."

"I made a promise to you, and I have to keep it. I've broken enough between us, I can't break this too."

He leaned forward and rested his arms on his knees. "Well, maybe I should come with you. At least then you won't be doing it alone."

I turned back to him, "You have a nursery to run, and you know just as well as I do if Roger finds out, then we're screwed." I was sure Roger already knew from what my mum had said earlier. I just didn't want him to go after Reecey, too. He'd been through enough with his dad.

"You're right... and it's not like I have a deputy anymore to take over while I'm gone." He gestured to me.

"Not my fault." I sat down next to him as I could see the gears turning in his head. He couldn't come with me, and he knew it, but his inner people pleaser would still try to find a way. "Reecey, don't worry. I can do it on my own. We're closer than we were, so maybe I'll have everything solved sooner than I think."

"Are you sure? I don't want you making any sacrifices for me. You deserve to be happy just like the rest of us." He placed a hand on my knee.

"I won't be completely happy until I find them." He frowned at me. "Don't look at me like that. I'm working on it."

He rolled his eyes, "You really don't see it, do you?"

I laughed and looked at him confused. "See what?"

"I don't think I should tell you. You're clueless when it comes to your own feelings, but you'll figure it out." His phone went off, and he checked to see who it was, smiling as he read the name. "Time to go. Duty calls."

"Tell Marjorie I said hello." I said, smirking at him.

"Better get up to Charlotte before all the bubbles are gone." He said, laughing as he left.

What did he mean when he said I'd "figure it out" and that I was clueless? Clueless to what?

"Amelia, are you coming?" I heard Charlotte call from upstairs.

I walked up and stood leaning against the door frame facing into the bathroom. "Did you hear Reecey leave or something?" I laughed.

She had her arms wading in the water. "Not intentionally. I swear I didn't hear your conversation, though. I only listened for the door." I walked in and sat on the edge of the tub. "Are you coming in?"

"I'm not sure." I put my phone and watch on the sink. "I'd hate to ruin your relaxation." I said, splashing a little water at her.

She gasped and laughed. "You're in for it now, Amelia." She cupped both hands and threw water up at me, laughing so hard as it all hit my face.

"Charlotte! What the hell?" I was laughing so hard that I slipped and almost fell into the tub. Char got an evil grin and reached for me. "Don't you dare!" I went to stand up, but she already had a hold of me and was pulling down.

I screamed as I splashed into the tub on top of her. My clothes were soaked, and she was laughing hysterically. "You realize there's now water everywhere, and my clothes are completely soaked. I'm going to have to change now." I said playfully, glaring at her.

She wrapped her arms around me and pulled me closer, "Why change? I prefer you without clothing anyway." I knew my cheeks were bright red. Only she could do that to me.

"Oh, you're being cheeky now." She winked at me. "You're evil, you know that?"

"You love it." She said, slowly leaning in to kiss me. A soft kiss at first, but as she went to pull away, I grabbed the back of her head and pulled her back in to kiss her harder. I could feel her hands traveling my body and pulling me back in for more. I wouldn't let her, and she was not happy.

Instead, I got out of the tub and threw off my clothes in a pile. I felt her eyes on me the whole time. I turned around to face her, and she tried to cover her mouth with her hands. "This is what you wanted, right?" I said, smirking. "Come on, let's go to the bedroom and finish what we started."

She quickly hopped out and dried herself off before following me to the room.

I hated that I was leaving tomorrow, but if I was going to be gone for a while, I had to leave her with a more... fond memory of me. This way, she wouldn't forget about me while I was gone.