All the Money in the World

Chapter 2

Once Tara swung by to pick up her boys, Katie gave Charlotte a bath and put her to bed, excited to have some quiet time to herself. Sitting up in bed with a large glass of wine she flicked on the TV and settled in for a few hours of Netflix. Those few hours ended up being only about forty five minutes, though. Katie passed out with half a glass of wine on her nightstand and the TV on for a much needed full night's sleep.

When she opened her eyes the next morning there was a bounce in her step from the solid sleep and seeing Happy the day before. Charlotte came down to the kitchen soon after Katie did.

"Hey sleepy head. You want a Spider-Man waffle?" Katie asked as she kissed Charlotte good morning.

"Mm hmm," she said sleepily. "Chocolate milk?"

"Chocolate milk," Katie nodded. "Sounds good. I think I'll have some too."

"Morning girls," Alec said loudly as he knocked on the kitchen door.

A pit formed in Katie's stomach. "Hey," she opened the door for him. "What's up?"

"Grandpop!" Charlotte waved excitedly and opened her arms for a hug.

"Sweetie," he smiled and hugged her tight. "Sorry, no donuts today."

"I want waffles," she informed him.

"Lucky for us then," he laughed

"Hey," Katie called Alec's attention. "What's going on?"

"You sound like you already know something," he remarked.

"I saw Hap yesterday," she said sadly, quickly slicing an orange for Charlotte. "Said his parole hearing was pushed up."

"It was," Alec nodded. "Federal request."

"Stahl," Katie hissed.

"I'm assuming," he shrugged.

"Why?" She snapped. "How does that do anything?"

"Closer to the fight," he mused. "It'll hold more weight with the board then it's at least a whole year before he's up again."

"A year?" Katie gasped. "So she wants to make sure he misses his first chance to keep him in longer."

"That's my guess," he reminded her. "I don't know anything for sure."

"Can we push it back?" She asked, pulling the waffle out of the toaster oven.

"No," he said disappointedly.  "Not by me, at least."

"Really?" She was intrigued. "Then by who? How?"

"Sicknesses, injury," he said casually.

Katie sighed, handing Charlotte her place, not as thrilled by the options as she expected to be. "Great," she huffed.

"It's something," he added. "I can look into it a little more but I'm afraid my hands are tied."

"Grandpop?" Charlotte asked from the table.

"Never felt like an old man until you," he glared at Katie playfully.

"What would you rather I tell people?" Katie laughed. "That we met when I was an escort and pregnant? You paid for a few dates, oh but no we never slept together, really. The play group moms would love that and I'm sure your firm would be thrilled with it getting out, Mr. High Profile Attorney."

"Yes, honey?" He ignored her and turned to Charlotte with a smile.

"Are you going to see my daddy?"

"Not today," he frowned. "But you'll see him again soon." She pouted and turned back to her waffle and fruit.

"Hopefully Daddy calls today," Katie said as a consolation. "You love it," Katie reminded Alec, as she kissed Charlotte's head knowing she was disappointed. "Plus it was easier for her at the time, Alec. People just kind of assumed and I didn't correct them. Now she has a regular family, kind of."