Why Me?

30. The meeting

Finally, Monday evening came around, and it was time for everyone to gather in the office for the dreaded meeting. Mia stood next to Charlotte, outside of the office, gripping her hand tightly. "Hey, it's okay, im right here." Charlotte whispered before pulling Mia into the office with her. They made their way over to where reece was sitting. Charlotte thought carefully about where they sat and made sure to put Mia in between herself and Reece, knowing that's where she would find the most comfort. The three of them sat on the couch that was in the office.

It wasn't long till Carly walked in. Mia gripped hold of Charlottes had tighter. "It's okay." Charlotte whispered softly as the office door shut. "Carly, we aren't here to mess around. We all know that you are still telling our father everything even after we forgave you the first time, so now all we ask is that you stop. Block his number and ignore him. The rest we will handle." Autumn told the girl, but Carly quickly shook her head. "It's not that easy, Mia will tell you that." Carly told her sternly while looking directly at mia. "It really isn't. What has he threatened you with?" Mia asked as she looked at Carly.

"Well, he knows how much you all mean to me. So he has threatened to hurt one of you every time i dont do as im asked. I tried to stop, but he threatened Marjories safety, and i just could risk it. That was the day that i came in here and asked for a hug." She mumbled the last part as she looked at Marjorie and then away again. "Carly, i put up with him for 20 years, get a grip." Mia snapped slightly, but Charlotte placed her hand on her knee gently. "It's okay, babe," Charlotte whispered.

"Carly, this has to stop now, you cant keep telling him all of our secrets, and I think it's all okay." Reece scolded her. He had never spoken to Carly like that before, and his sudden change made her jump slightly, tears formed on her eyes. "Reece enough!" Marjorie scolded him quickly before sighing slightly. Charlotte kissed Mias hand before standing up and wrapping her arms around Carly tightly. "Okay, sweetie, I've got you." Charlotte whispered as Carly broke down in her arms. "Okay, okay, we will protect you." Charlotte spoke calmly.

Reece, Autumn, and Mia all left the room, leaving Marjorie and Charlotte with Carly. Charlotte slowly pulled Carly to sit back on the couch with her. She rested her head on the older woman's shoulder. "Im so sorry, it wasn't meant to go this far, ever." She whispered as Marjorie sat the other side of her, rubbing her arm gently. "Shh, my love, you are going to be okay."

*
An hour had passed when the other three walked back into the office by this point, Carly was asleep with her head on Charlottes shoulder and holding Marjories hand. "Shhh, let her sleep," Marjorie whispered as she spotted them. They nodded slowly before taking a seat with smirks all over their faces. "I know that mischievous look Amelia what have you three done?"

"Well, we are all free, and he wong bother anyone anymore. But font panic, no one can trace it to us." Autumn told them. Marjorie moved herself away from Carly, wrapping her arms tightly around Reeces neck tightly. "Hes gone now baby, long gone." He told softly. "What did you do?" She asked. "Baby, you font need to worry. He's dead. Now, what do we do with her? She's not going to want to go home like this." Autumn whispered quietly. "We will take her home with us." Marjorie told them as he nodded. With that, Carly stired awake.

"Sorry, im sorry. I didn't mean it." She told them all quickly. "Come here, kiddo." Reece whispered as he held out his arms to her. She slowly stood up and walked into Reeces embrace, sobbing into his chest. "Carly, the battle is over now. You are free." Autumn told her softly. "We all are," Mia added before joining Charlotte on the couch.

"He's dead now." Mia whispered calmly to Charlotte, but Carly heard and flinched away from Reece, moving closer to Marjorie. She shook her head quickly while backing up. "Hey, Carly, come here." Charlotte whispered as she stood and reached out to Carly. "Y-you killed him?" She asked quietly while shaking in Charlottes arms. "Hes gone, yes we killed him. He's gone, and we are all free." Autumn told her simply.

Panic washed over Carlys face as she went to stand up, but Charlotte kept hold  of her. "Charlotte, let me go!" She shouted, but she shook her head. "Just calm down, sweetheart." She whispered, but Carly raised her hand, slapping Charlotte across the face. Mia quickly grabbed Carlys wrists and pulled her back away from Charlotte.

"Let me go. I need to go." the young girl shouted as tears formed in her eyes. Mia kept hold of her. "How dare you! She's trying to help you!" Mia shouted at her. "Mia enough!" Charlotte snapped at Mia while holding her now red cheek. Autumn noticed how worked up Carly had got. "Let go of her Mia." Autumn whispered quietly while moving to wrap her arms around Carly. "Dont kill me, please dont hurt me." She sobbed to Autumn as she gently swayed them both.

"Hey, is that what this is all about?" Autumn asked as the young girl nodded. Mia moved and wrapped her arms around both Autumn and Carly, shortly followed by everyone else. "Oh kiddo, we are all here for you. We were thinking about you coming home with me and Marjorie, so you have us with you, but we all need to head home and rest. We are all safe. He is gone." Reece whispered

*

Only a couple of hours had passed, and everyone had gone home. Marjorie and Reece were comforting Carly as the three of them curled up on the couch together under blankets. "Thank you for freeing me," she whispered as Reece kissed the top of her head. "Everything is okay now, dont worry about it no more." He whispered softly.