Fenton miraculously started recovering. It baffled the doctors. It baffled the adults, but the children believed he would get better. One day, the whole family gathered at Laura and Fenton's to celebrate. Snow had started to fall and Ben and Charlotte were playing outside. Margaret stayed inside and helped make cookies.
The two young Hardy's were playing near the porch when they saw someone running towards the woods. Curiosity got the best of them and they followed.
"Who do you think it was, Ben?" asked Charlotte.
"I'm not sure, but look!" he said.
Charlotte followed his finger to the same river where Charlotte almost drowned. A woman with blonde hair stood on the log looking down at the water.
"Wait! Don't jump!" Charlotte exclaimed.
The woman looked over at the children. Her eyes were red and puffy from crying and dark mascara lined her face in streams.
" Who are you?" the woman asked.
"I'm Charlotte Hardy. This is my cousin, Ben Hardy. Now tell us why you are wanting to jump?"
" I lost my husband and daughter. There's nothing left!"
"Don't say that! Please don't jump, let us help you! I don't really understand suicide, but I know about pain. Don't jump, please!" Charlotte pleaded.
The woman looked at the water again before looking back at the children.
"Can you help me get across?" she asked.
Charlotte climbed up on the log and grabbed the woman's hand.
" What is your name, Ma'am? "
"Patricia, and it is good to see you again Gianna!" she said.
Charlotte turned and yelled, "Ben, get your dad and my dad! Now!"
Ben made a mad dash back to the house while Charlotte tried to pull her hands away.
"Let me go!" she screamed.
"No, Gianna! We can finally be together!"
"Let Charlotte go!" a small voice said.
Margaret stood on a log next to the two of them. Panic struck Charlotte while a smile etched on Patricia's grim face.
XXXXXXXXXX
Ben's lungs were burning from sprinting, but he had to keep going if he was going to save her in time. The back porch came into view and h bursted through the door.
"Dad! Uncle Frank!" he exclaimed.
"Have you seen Margaret? We can't find her anywhere. She was outside." Joe said.
" Dad! Patricia has Charlotte by the river! I think Margaret must be there too!"
Frank and Joe quickly turned on their heels and ran into the woods as snow nipped at their cheeks. The log came into slight view and they used it as a focal point. Finally, they saw all three of them.
"Let the girls go, Patricia!" Frank yelled over the rushing water.
Patricia was holding Margaret on one side and Charlotte on the other. Sent looked at Joe and Frank and the boy noticed a gun in her back pocket.
" I won't let you take my little girls from me! One false move and you'll never see us again."
Margaret whimpered while Charlotte thought of something to say.
"Get down from the logs. You're going to hurt them!" Joe said.
"Daddy! Make her let me go!" Margaret cried.
"It's alright. Don't be scared." Joe told her.
" Yes, we will all be together again."
"I want daddy!" she cried.
"We will be with daddy again soon." Patricia said.
Patricia let go of Margaret and she slipped. Margaret fell into the water screaming on her way down. Charlotte fought with Patricia to get her hands free again. Then, Patricia hit Charlotte with the gun and she fell in with Margaret.
"No!" Joe and Frank cried.
Joe dove into the water. A few seconds passed and he resurfaced with a coughing Margaret. She was cold, but alive.
"I didn't see her," Joe said.
Frank jumped in and swam around. He was a swimmer in high school, so he knew how to properly store his breath and energy. He felt around and rubbed against a coat and face. Wrapping his arms tightly around her, he pulled Charlotte up to shore.
"Is she okay?" asked Joe.
" She jut got knocked out. I think she's okay." he said kissing hr forehead.
They heard the click of a gun and looked up to see Patricia aiming a pistol at them.
"Let my little girls go! I'll shoot." she exclaimed.
" They aren't your little girls! Gianna didn't die, your husband gave her up for adoption after her birth. Ever wondered how you got the scar on your stomach? You weren't cut during a gang operation." Fenton said with a couple of policemen behind him.
She shared a look of shock and realization. She touched the scar on her abdomen and a tear fell down her cheek.
"All these years? My Gia was alive?" she asked in shock.
" Yes. She is actually in Bayport now. You are allowed to have her back. Gianna was given to a friend in Denmark, but we were able to get her back. She wants to meet you."
Patricia walked down from the log and over to the policemen. While this was going on, Joe held Margaret still while Charlotte stayed unconscious.
"Take the girls back to the house, boys." Fenton said.
"You sure you and the cops will be alright?" asked Frank.
"Yeah, now go on."
Frank and Joe walked back into the warm house. Margaret rubbed her eyes before falling asleep on Joe's shoulder. Laura and Callie moved off the couch and Frank set Charlotte down.
"Is she alright, Callie?" asked Frank.
"Yes. Are you alright?" Callie said taking a sip of cocoa.
" Me?" he chuckled lightly running his finger around the mug of cocoa. " I couldn't be any better. My dad is so much better and my family is safe. I couldn't ask for any better."
Just then, Charlotte stirred on the couch and woke up. She smiled and hugged her parents.
" Did Patricia get to see Gianna?" she muttered still tired.
" Yes she did, how do you feel?" Frank said.
" I feel better. My head is a little sore."
"We can give you medicine for that," Callie said.
Fenton walked back inside and hugged all of them.
When he got to hug Charlotte, he whispered, " Thank you for believing I could last a year of change."
The same thing had been whispered to Ben and Margaret, Frank and Joe, and the rest of the family. Even when the worst happened, as long as they were together, the could handle a year of change.
