Update of the week 😊
Charlie's POV:
Once we were all stuffed, and Grandad had slipped off to pay the bill, much to Mum and Kei's dismay, we all slowly left the restaurant. I watched as Mum and Keira glanced between each other, trying to get the other to do the honours of lifting Ellie out of her high chair, until Uncle Jorge decided to do it, just so we could leave. He let Ellie onto the ground and off she raced, clearly trying to enjoy her freedom for as long as possible. Mum grabbed a napkin and raced after her. I walked outside with Freddie and Kei, who chatted to us about dinner.
When we got back to our house, everyone started saying their goodbyes and getting into cars. Nana turned to me and said "tell Mum, me and Grandad will be around tomorrow if you guys need anything, we're staying in a hotel for the night, ok ?". I nodded and wrapped my arms around her waist "I love you Nana, thank you for tonight", I whispered. Nana tightly hugged me and whispered back "I love you to the moon and back Charlie". We separated and Nana headed over to her car, and I stood next to Keira on the front porch, both of us waving goodbye to everyone. When we couldn't see anyone, we both turned and headed inside, where we could hear the bath running, along with the sound of running feet. "I'd better go up and get that rascal into the bath, how she got beans in her hair, I don't know", Keira sighed. I laughed and went into the living room while she trudged slowly up the stairs. It wasn't long before Mum came racing down the stairs, clearly glad to be free of bath time duties, and plonked herself on the couch beside me and Narla. "I've never seen you run so quick in my life", I pretended to gasp. Mum scoffed and began to tickle me. "No, Mum stop !", I shrieked, but Mum just continued "take that back", she told me. I shook my head so Mum continued to tickle me until I crossed my fingers and replied "fine I take it back". Mum stopped and finally I could breathe again. "That's what I thought", Mum replied before grabbing the tv remote and flicking through the channels.
After about half an hour, Keira came down the stairs with Ellie clean and dry with her pyjamas on and bundled up in her blanket. "I'll make her bottle and get her up to bed", Kei told Mum as she headed into the kitchen. Mum just hummed a response and went back to the tv. No more than 3 minutes later, Ellie came running into the living room, and using Mum to climb onto the couch, holding her hands out for the bottle Kei came in carrying. Mum chuckled as Keira lifted Ellie up and sat back down with her on her chest. Mum fixed the blanket over the two of them and Keira handed the bottle to Ellie, who instantly settled in Keira's lap. I cuddled closer to Mum as we all watched the tv. "I think tonight should be an early night for all of us, we've got a big day ahead of us tomorrow", Keira softly said. Mum nodded and I just shuffled closer to Mum.
The minute Keira said that, it hit me that tomorrow is the ultimate decider of what my future will involve. Who I'll be living with, who will have custody of me, if I'll ever live in this house again. I didn't even realise the stray tears rolling down my cheeks, until Mum wiped them away and pulled me onto her chest. "It'll be okay Charlie, after court, we'll all come home and have fun, and we can start packing for our holiday to Barcelona", Mum whispered. I nodded and that reminded me to whisper back to Mum, "Nana said to tell you her and Grandad are staying in a hotel tonight if we need them tomorrow". Mum just nodded and then I heard the tv turn off and felt a weight lift from the couch. I glanced over as Keira stood up with Ellie against her chest, eyes closed and fast asleep. Mum then looked at me and asked "you want me to carry you to bed ?". I smiled and nodded and Mum stood up with me in her arms. As we headed upstairs Mum turned off the lights downstairs, and Narla followed us upstairs. Keira went into Ellie's room to put her into her bed and whispered a goodnight to me on her way. Mum headed for my room and let me down and said her good nights. I changed into my pjs and then looked around my room and frowned. 'Nope, I'm not sleeping here tonight', I thought to myself, and quietly opened my bedroom door, quietly walking down the hallway, I gently pushed Mum and Keira's door open to see Keira already sat in bed, the bathroom door was shut but the light was coming in under the door. "Hey", Keira whispered. I didn't reply and just climbed onto the bed, crawling up next to her. "Can I sleep here tonight ?", I whispered to Keira, who nodded and let me climb under the duvet. I lay down with my head resting on Keira's lap, as she combed her fingers through my hair. I faintly heard Mum come back into the room, switching off the bedroom light and climbing into bed beside me. I lifted my head off Keira's lap and rolled over into Mums chest. "Goodnight Charlie", Mum whispered, pressing a kiss to my head as I nestled closer to her. Someone turned off the light and Keira leaned over to kiss Mum goodnight and place a kiss to the back of my head, whispering "sweet dreams Blue", before settling behind me. Mum traced shapes on my arm, which was relaxing and I drifted into a deep sleep pretty quickly.
