I Knew I Loved You

Chapter Eighteen: Home Alone

Charlene couldn't help the smile off her face as she hurried into her home out of the rain, she was relieved to be home after spending the evening with some friends and she couldn't believe how bad the weather had been as of late. 

It certainly didn't help that Manuel was currently away for a match, she missed him and she wished that he could be here; it was always strange now to come home to an empty house. 

The new season was fully underway and Manuel was often away at training or traveling for matches, it was never easy for them and he even had international matches coming up in September. 

Manuel had promised her that he would be home for when Abigail started school, he didn't dare miss such an important occasion in their daughter's life and wanted to be there just as much as she did. 

The adoption was still being dragged out by Yolanda, even if Karen phoned them every week to make sure that everything was going well and to give them updates on how their case was going. 

Taking off her muddy boots, Charlene hummed to herself knowing that Abigail was spending the evening with Manuel's parents; it had been hard to let her go but Catherine had encouraged her to take some time for herself. 

It was strange coming home to a dark empty house and Charlene was doubtful that she would get much sleep tonight with both Manuel and Abigail away. 

The house had been filled with laughter and happiness since Abigail had come to live with them, it was another reason why Charlene had loved her from the very start. 

Removing her coat, Charlene paused when she thought she heard a sound coming from the kitchen; she carefully hung the coat up wondering if she was hearing things. 

Shaking her head when she heard nothing, Charlene dismissed it as she had imagined it since she was home alone; she couldn't even remember the last time she had been home alone like this since it had been months since Abigail had come to stay with them. 

The time just seemed to flyby and Charlene revelled in having a daughter, there was so much to experience and she was looking forward to so many firsts. 

Heading towards the kitchen, Charlene decided to make herself something to eat before she would curl up on the couch and watch the match; she knew that Manuel would call her once he was done and she looked forward to it. 

Stepping into the kitchen, Charlene came to a complete halt as she turned on the kitchen light and came face to face with a masked man in her home. 

Screaming she stumbled back and quickly turned on her heel to make a run for the front door only to find herself confronted by another man who quickly grabbed her before she could make it another step. 

Struggling against their hold, Charlene panicked as they dragged her into the living room; she felt sick not sure what they wanted with her. 

The second man threw her to the floor while the other stood to the side, they watched as she pushed herself up; she stared at them terrified with tears in her eyes as she realised that they were both armed. 

"Where is the money?" one man demanded appearing from the hallway, his gun pointed at Charlene as she curled up on the floor trying to make herself as small as possible. 

Tears trailed down her face as she stared up at them, they didn't keep any money in the house and she wasn't sure that they would believe her if she told them that. 

"Please take whatever you want... please don't kill me," Charlene begged, she couldn't begin to even consider who would be the one to find her if this was how she died.