All My Life

Chapter 7

"How did you two get all the way here?" Meryl asked as she let her godchildren in. "It's snowing out. Surely you didn't walk here."

Charlie shook his head as he and his sister sat their backpacks down. "We took a cab."

"I know where Mommy kept special money." Charlotte said proudly.

Meryl nodded with a sad face. "Her rainy day fund."

"We knew it wasn't safe to take the subway." Charlie said. "We didn't know where to go, Aunt Meryl."

Charlotte sadly nodded as she and her brother took their coats and boots off. "You and Uncle Don always say if we need anything to come here."

"Of course; ALWAYS." Meryl said as she held her daughter in her arms. "Does your father know you're here?" She noticed how they just looked at each other. "Charlie? Charlotte?"

Charlotte started crying. "He doesn't believe us."

"She's so mean, Aunt Meryl." Charlie said. "Dad just says were lying."

Charlotte wiped her tears. "It doesn't feel like Mom's house anymore. We're so scared."

"Come on." Meryl said as she kissed the top of both of their heads; figuring out they were talking about their father's new girlfriend. "Let's go see Uncle Don and Brady."

***

Don was flipping through the channels when he saw his wife walk back in holding Mags followed by their youngest godchildren who were carrying backpack. "Look whose here."

"Uncle Don!" Charlie said running over to his uncle, dropping his backpack on the floor, and hugging him. "Your leg is so cool with that brace."

Don laughed as he ruffled Charlie's hair. "Thanks, buddy; hey, beautiful blue eyes. No hug for your Uncle Don?"

"Hi Uncle." Charlotte smiled as she carefully hugged him after placing her backpack down.

Don looked at Meryl and then the kids. "Where's your dad?"

"They took a taxi." Meryl said sitting on the arm of the couch next to Don; trying to communicate with him through her eyes. "He doesn't know they're here."

Don nodded. "What's going on guys? You know it's pretty dangerous to come all the way out to Tribecca from the Upper East Side. We just want you safe."

"We didn't know where to go." Charlotte said.

Charlie nodded. "This is where we feel safe."

"And you are; always." Meryl assured them. "Uncle Don and I are just worried that your dad doesn't know where you are."

Charlie looked down. "She made us leave. It's not our house anymore. She's going to ship us off."

"We heard her on the phone to her boyfriend saying how she was going to send us to boarding school. that she was going to take all of Daddy's money." Charlotte whispered. "That daddy was stupid because she doesn't love him. She also said really bad things about Mommy."

Don looked at Meryl knowing that wouldn't go well with her. "Who? Who is she? Rebecca?"

"Your dad told us that you liked her." Meryl said after the kids confirmed it was indeed their father's new girlfriend, Rebecca. "That she was really nice to you; and that you got along with her kids that are your age."

Charlie shook his head. "Only when Dad's around. When he's not she and her kids are bullies, Aunt Meryl."

"Have you talked to your dad?" Don asked their godchildren. Like Don told Meryl the week before, there was no way he could move on with someone else had he lost her; but if he actually did he knew that if his kids weren't treated right then that person would be kicked to the curb. He also reminded himself that they were kids; and they hadn't really heard Tom's side from whatever happened. "Tell him how you are feeling?"