In another life

24

Reece pulls up outside Mia's home and stops the car,
"You okay?" The red head looks back to him,
"There's something else"
"Is this about Charlotte?" Mia nodded, she knew Charlotte would never talk to her again. But Mia needed help. She couldn't stand to watch Charlotte fall apart in front of her.

"I met Charlotte before I started working at the nursery. I didn't expect us to become friends"
"Friends?" Mia nodded,
"At first it was amazing, we were so close so quickly. Then he found out"
"My dad" he sighed, "What did he do?"
"He wanted me at the nursery to get between you and Autumn and he threatened her to get me there"

"She found out who I was that day you ran into her and now she hates me. That's why she's been acting different. It's my fault" the woman wiped her tears,
"Wait, were you just friends?" She looks at him, was she about to tell him everything? Could she do that? Could she trust him?

"I didn't expect to fall in love with her" Reece sighs. He cared about Charlotte a lot. She's a pure, kind heart who deserved the world.
"Did you two ever?..." Reece knew what Mia could be like, one night stands and meaningless flings over the years. He needed to know that wasn't the same with Charlotte. She didn't deserve to be treated like a toy.

"It wasn't like that Reece. It was sweet and wholesome. I've never felt that way before. She's different. She was everything and I lost her"
"Charlotte is clearly hurting. But it means she hasn't moved on Mia. You haven't lost her yet"
"I should never have had her to lose. I don't deserve her. I don't deserve to be happy"
"Yes you do Mia. You've been through hell and back, we all have. But you deserve to be free. You deserve happiness just like me and Aut" Reece was right about one thing. He did deserve happiness. And Autumn. They deserved it more than anyone.

Mia thought back to what Roger told her she had to do for him. And how it was going to hurt Autumn.
"I need your help though Reece, there's something Roger said I have to do. And he's going to hurt Charlotte if I don't"
"Well whatever it is I'll do it, I'll help you"
"No you don't understand" she shakes her head,
"He wants me to get rid of Winter" Reece was shook. Winter? He couldn't do that. He couldn't take away his sisters happiness.

In a situation like this, there is only two ways out. Either Mia looses Charlotte for good. Or Reece helps her get rid of his sisters final chance of happiness. It all comes down to love. But will it be Mia's, or Autumn's?

...

After the conversation Reece had with Mia last night, Reece decided he needed to talk to his sister.

"I do understand why, if you really think about it. You and I both know what it's like to want a parent"
"I know, I just wish she told us sooner. I can't imagine what that's been like for her" Reece agreed, "She said something else to me after we left"
"What was is?"
"You're not gonna like this"
"Spit it out brother" the woman rolled her eyes.
"He wants to get rid of Winter Aut. And if Mia doesn't do it, he will himself. And Mia doesn't think he just means firing him" Autumn stepped back. What? No. That was ridiculous, right?

"Our father is a lot Reece but he's not capable of that"
"According to Mia, we don't know the half of what he's capable off"

...

After Isabella and Elsie ended their call with Charlotte, they ran into the kitchen to their dad,
"Daddy we're done!"
"Mum said she'll talk to you later" Izzy added and handed the phone back to Jason,
"Okay, thank you. Now go wash your hands for dinner, okay?"

Elsie runs off but Izzy stays,
"Daddy? Can we go to the park tomorrow? Please?"
"I don't see why not"
"Can we invite mummy too?"
"Sure we can. Are you okay princess?" Izzy pauses for a moment before replying,
"I think mummy is a bit sad"
"Why do you think that?"
"She's not friends with Mia anymore and I think she misses her. I heard her crying in the night" Jason smiles softly at his daughter despite the worry,
"I'll talk to mummy, okay? You don't have to worry about a thing"
"Okay, thanks dad" Izzy runs off and Jason begins to think about Charlotte.

He had met Mia briefly at Elsie's party but didn't know much about her. The girls have told him a few things and she seems alright. Although now, he couldn't help but wonder what had happened. At least he could maybe talk to Charlotte tomorrow.

Charlotte happily agreed to meet the next morning and met the three at the park. The girls were now running around while Jason and Charlotte sat on one of the benches,
"So how have you been?"
"Alright, and you?" Jason had known Charlotte for years, he had woken up and went to sleep next to her every day for years. He knew all her flaws and when she was lying and when something was wrong. And he knew now that something was so off with her. Despite her impressive act.

"Char, how long have I known you? What's really up?" Charlotte rolled her eyes,
"I'm fine honestly, just tired"
"Izzy told me about Mia"
"She did?" Jason nodded,
"Do you wanna talk about it?"

Charlotte did want to talk about it. She needed to let it all out but she knew she couldn't. Because who could she talk to? Marjorie didn't like Mia. No one at the nursery liked Mia. Could she really talk to her ex husband about the woman she thought she loved?

"Turned out she wasn't who I thought she was"
"What do you mean?"
"I thought she cared about me. But she was just using me for some game. She works with the owner of the nursery" Charlotte explained,
"That cunt?"
"Mhm. She's basically like some sort of spy and she used me to get the information" Charlotte tried to keep her walls up despite telling Jason what happened and looked back at the girls playing on the slide,
"I'm so sorry Char"
"It's alright. I guess I let myself get a little to involved. But now I need to move on"

"You sure you're okay?"
"Yep. So how are you? And Maddison?"
"We're great actually" he smiles. Charlotte could see how his eyes brightened and she was happy for him, she still cared about Jason a lot. She always will. And she was so glad he was happy.
"That's good, you seem really happy"
"You will be too Char, you just need to find the right person" but what if she did? What if that person was supposed to be Mia? What if she never gets her happy ending?