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“Charl, when did they find out about Phoenix?” Baxter asks me.
“Well, Rebel’s known for a while now, but the others just found out today. Why?”
“And are you prepared to come clean?” he asks, ignoring my question completely.
“No! You know I can’t do that,” I gasp, horrified.
“Exactly. So I've helped you out. By hinting that I might be Phoenix’s father, they won’t waste time doing the math and trying to figure out which one of them is. I’ve done you a favour,” he points out. I sag with relief knowing he’s right, but I still can’t help how guilty that makes me feel.
“It’s for the best, babe,” Baxter tells me gently when he sees my face.
“I know. But how do we stop this from backfiring? Or worse, blowing up?”
“Don’t worry about it. I’m fully prepared to play the bad guy on this one; it’s a role I know well.” I smile sadly at him, knowing he's referring to his dark past. I’m just going to have to trust him on this one.
“Does that mean you’ll be around a bit more now then?”
“Whenever I can. Grandfather has me taking on more and more of the business, but I can work remotely a lot of the time. I have a suite at the local hotel. I’m hoping I can spend some time with Nix and give you a bit of a break.”
“Sounds great. But I don’t need a break. We’ll both be happy to have you around more. I could definitely use a friend right now,” I tell him.
After that we don’t talk much; Baxter puts the TV on, keeps the wine glasses filled, and gently rubs my shoulders until I relax. Soon my eyes start drooping and he carries me to my bed, tucking me in like a perfect gentleman and promising to let himself out and be in touch soon. I try to think about the way the events of the evening took a twist, to analyse the strange behaviours of the boys, but as soon as my head hits the pillow, I’m out like a light, in an almost peaceful, almost dreamless, sleep.
Charlotte’s Diary
16/10/19
I’m...Fuck. I can’t believe I was caught out. After working so hard to cover my tracks and stay hidden, somehow they managed to track me down. At the airport no less. That can’t have been a coincidence. But who would have tipped them off?
The one small mercy is that it was Ace who found me at the airport today. Shit. I hope he keeps his promise and doesn’t tell the others that he found me. I need to disappear again. But how? Where?
Is it time to go home and face my parents? Even the thought of that fills me with dread. We barely spoke after Lizzie died, even less so when I started seeing more of Cordelia and she agreed to help me with my plans for West Prep. I disappeared on them for a year and they’ve made no effort to get in touch with me or my grandma. How would they react if I turned up pregnant and alone?
No. That’s not the solution for me. I need to think of something else. Cordelia’s out. The parents are out. Is there anyone left?
I know Ace would help me in a heartbeat, but his loyalty doesn’t lie with me. No. He’s not an option. It would be too easy to welcome the four of them back into my life, to beg for forgiveness, to reveal the truth about the life I’m carrying inside of me. No.
There’s literally only one option left, and I’m loathe to take it. He’s already done so much for me. More than I can ever repay. But, I guess, needs must. Because this baby is coming soon whether I’m ready or not, and I don’t want to raise it on the streets.
I’ll contact him. I’ll have to.
Tomorrow.
