Generations: The Long Game

Girls Night Out

While Marjorie, Siobhan, Autumn, and Mia went on a girl's night out, Charlotte decided to stay back with Reece since they hadn't had much time together in a while. Both groups had invited Vivian, but she opted to take Jamey and go and visit the Doyle's. They were still on maternity leave and although she only had Jamey, she could imagine the struggle of two children. Her friendship with Sorscha had grown too over the last year, so this just felt more comfortable to her.

Charlotte and Reece

The two girls had decided to stay at the country house with Carly, so Reece and Charlotte just had the four boys for the evening. Although he was the youngest of the four Reed was nearly as tall as Emery. Aki and Carson were always slightly smaller, but they were louder and stronger, so they took no crap from the younger of the three. Charlotte and Reece loved watching them together. In some ways you would think all four boys were siblings. When they were together, they were inseparable. That wasn't to say they didn't get in their little scraps. Because did they ever. Even gentle Reed at times would get involved.

Charlotte only ever had the one brother growing up, so the boy's dynamic was something she had only really seen in the nursery. Boys banded together like a little pack. At times it was adorable, but she often had to remind them to be kind or use gentle hands. Reed and Emery were softer than Aki and Carson, so the dynamic could go topsy turvy really quick if you didn't keep a close eye on them.

Char and Reece laughed at them as they played, but it would soon be time for them to go down for the night. There were already signs that they were trying to self soothe so the grownups took that as a hint and started to settle them in for the night.

Char got all three boys down and went to the kitchen for some tea. It took Reece significantly longer, but Charlotte knew Reece like to soak in the moments, so she didn't mind. Too many moments were lost due to the obligations of life, so she never minded waiting for Reece to soak up as much as possible.

When he returned, they started chatting about anything and everything. The restaurant, the nursery, and all the things the children did now. This was small talk for them, and he could tell something was on her mind.

"What's up, Char? You've got that look."

"Oh, what look? Where is Winter tonight?"

"Liliana was ill, so he stayed in with her. Can't say it surprised me though. That man really loves to stay at home. But don't change the subject. What is going on in your head?"

"Mia and I never really talked about everything that happened after the boys were born with you guys."

She took her time and tried to explain things fully. She didn't want him to get the wrong idea. Or to blame anyone, but she could see him balling his fist until his knuckles turned white.

"Reece, it is not like that. We had agreements, and she didn't break any of them."

"It obviously is like that, Char, or you wouldn't be this worked up about tonight. She of all people should understand the importance of consent."

"What do you mean?"

He had said too much and had to back peddle. "Um, nothing really. Just that consent was always important to her."

Charlotte knew that wasn't all, but she wasn't going to press. "Reece, I am just worried about it because it is the first time she has been out since then. I am worried about how we might feel when we see each other tonight. We have worked so hard in therapy, but for this scenario tonight will be the first. What if all the feelings of that night come back and all that work really didn't help anything?"

He stared down at the counter for a second before he spoke. "You have both grown so much this past year. I have seen so much of the old Mia resurface. I am gonna go out on a limb and say you two will do just fine tonight. Me on the other hand, will probably have to drag Marjorie in from the taxi. After Emery was born and she wasn't drinking all that time she became even more of a light weight. If she tried to keep up with the other three, this night will not be fun. Funny, but not fun." They both laughed and she gave him a hug. He always knew how to reassure her.