The Arrangement

Chapter 16

Chapter 16

It's been a month since my meltdown and things with me and Happy are great. I am feeling better about myself and we can't get enough of each other. I pull onto the lot and get out of the car when I see Happy arguing with a woman. I walk over and he pulls me into his side. "Everything okay?" I ask. "Yeah." he says at the same time she says "No." I look at her and ask "What's the problem?" She looks at me and says "Not that it's your business but I came to him for help." she says. "What do you need?" I ask. "She says she's my sister. That my Old Man is hers." he tells me. "Happy, is that possible?" I ask. "I don't know." he tells me. "Look, let's go to St Thomas, get the DNA test and see if she is. If she is, she's family." I tell him and he nods. "Who are you?" she asks. "I'm his wife, Harlow." I tell her and reach my hand out to shake. She shakes it and says "Lanie." She looks at Happy and says "I'm not trying to start trouble. I don't have any family left and just want to know my brother." she says and he nods.

Walking into St Thomas, we walk into Tara's office. I had called her on the way and told her what we needed. She does the cheek swabs and then we wait. "I put a rush on it so it shouldn't be long." she tells us. We all go to the cafeteria to eat and talk and when we get back to Tara's office, she has the results. "Happy, test shows she's your sister." Tara says. He nods and I say "Thanks T." She nods and leaves us alone to talk. "Sorry kid." he tells her. "How old are you sweetheart?" I ask. "Eighteen." she says. I look at Happy and he asks "You got a place to stay?" She shakes her head no and he says "We got a room. Ain't leaving family out on their ass." I look at him and smile.

A little later, we are sitting in the living room and she asks "How far along are you?" I look at my stomach and say Eight months but seems like Eighty." I tell her laughing. "You wanna feel her kick?" I ask and she nods. I put her hand on my stomach and say "Watch this. Happy, talk to her." Happy moves close to my stomach and says "Say hello to your Aunt Lanie, Princess." She starts kicking up a storm and Lanie laughs. "She loves hearing your voice doesn't she?" she asks. "Yeah. Look. I'm sorry about how I reacted. It pissed me off that he bailed on me and Ma and started a whole new family but that ain't your fault." he tells her. "It's okay. I didn't know about you until right before he died. Said that I needed to find you, that you would take care of me." she says. "Well, you're family and you're home now." I tell her and she smiles softly. "Thank you." she says.

A little later, she heads to the shower and Happy walks out to the back deck. I follow him out and sit beside him on the steps. "Talk to me." I say. "He ditched us and started another fucking family." he tells me. "I'm sorry." I tell him. He looks at me and says "You know I would never do that to you right?" he asks. "I know baby. We've been together ten years. I know you ain't going anywhere." I tell him. He kisses me softly and says "She looks so lost." I sigh and say "I know. I'll talk to her while you're at work tomorrow and see if I can figure what's going on." I tell him. "Thank you baby." he says. A few minutes later, the back door opens and Lanie walks out. I decide we need to find out now. She sits on the steps on the other side of Happy and I say "Can we talk to you about something?" She nods her head. "You just seem kind of lost. You can talk to us, you know." I tell her. "I just feel like my entire life was a lie. Mom died when I was three and he always said it was just us. He found out he had cancer about six months ago and I didn't know about you until about a week before he died. He told me to find you and that you would take care of me because I was family. He didn't tell me who you were to me. I found that out from the lawyer when he read the will. He left you some things too." she tells Happy. He looks at her and says "He left you the house in San Diego." He looks out at the yard and says "We'll sell it. Help you get set up here in Charming. I can help you find a job and you can go to school or some shit if that's what you want." he tells her. "Happy, you don't have to do that." she says. "I know but I don't want it. Made it this long without him. Don't need his shit now. You do." he says. He puts his arm around her and she leans into him. "Thank you." she says. I stand up and they look at me. "I'm gonna let you two talk." I say as I lean down and kiss his lips softly. "I love you." I tell him. "Love you too." he says before I walk in the door.

Pulling out my phone, I call Luann. "Hey Aunt Lu. I need a favor." I tell her. "What's that baby?" she asks. "You still looking for an assistant?" I ask. "Yeah. Why?" she asks. "My sister-in-law needs a job. Thought you could help her out?" I ask. "Tell her she starts Monday." she tells me. "Thanks Aunt Lu. I owe you." I tell her. "No problem Sweetheart. Love you." she tells me. "Love you too." I say before ending the call. I walk back out to the back deck and they look up at me. "You start working Luann on Monday. She runs the porn studio. She's been looking for someone to help in the office and work the books so I called in a favor." I tell them. "Really? Thank you." she tells me, standing to hug me. "You're welcome." she says. "Well, I'm gonna head to bed. Night guys." she tells us as she heads inside. I sit beside Happy and ask "You okay?" He looks at me and smiles and says "Yeah. Just still wrapping my head around shit. I know she is too. Thanks you for all this little girl." he says. "She's family baby." I tell him. He kisses me softly and pulls me close, putting his hand on my stomach, feeling our daughter kick.