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Chapter 120 — Charlie Pepperidge
Not looking in the direction of his oldest son, CC immediately stepped to the youngest one.
"Charlie Capwell?" he sternly asked.
"Charles Quentin Pepperidge, sir," the boy drew himself to attention.
CC slightly frowned but then smiled.
"Well, hello, son," he said and squatted down. "Did mom give you the letter for me?"
Charlie nod and pulled the folded envelope out from the pocket of the school jacket. Hands to his father.
CC took the letter, opened it and began reading. A few minutes later he looked before him as if deep in thought, and then again turned to the boy.
"Charlie, I even did not aware that I have more one son. I feel sorry about. But did you know it, right?"
"Yes, sir."
"No, you can just call me "dad".
"Well... Sir."
CC sighed.
"Okay, not all at once. So, Charlie. I hope that we still are not too late to recover our relations despite the fact that we have lost so much time. More than twelve years old, dammit! However, you're not to blame. Just try to get used to the fact that it is your home and your family now. Soon you will get meet with their older brothers and sisters, they are already very adult. And this is my second wife, Sophia."
"We already met," Sophia said, seeing that Charlie is not going to answer.
"Do you not send me at home?" he asked his father.
"Of course, I do not, son! My house is always open for my children."
"Especially for Pamela's children," Mason could not resist. "Really, Dad?"
CC threw him the angry glance and smiled again to his youngest son.
"Now Rosa will take you upstairs and show your room. Rosa!" he shouted so loud that Charlie jumped back.
"I'm here, CC," Rosa appeared.
"Rose, it's my son Charlie. He'll live in the corner room, next room for Ted's. Show him my house."
"Yes, sir. Come with me, Charlie," Rose took his hand, and the boy looked at Mason. He nodded encouragingly to him, and Charlie went for Rosa.
As soon as they were out of sight as CC Capwell's mask of goodwill fell off.
"Damn it!" he swore. "How she dare!"
"It seems that Pamela did not take many words to convince you in his fatherhood."
"Yes, I also noticed it," Sophia said. "CC, are you sure--"
"I am sure!" He yelled louder than he should. "It's clear because his date of birth."
"Oh?" Mason surprised.
"Eleven years ago I spent the week in London with your mother. Nine months later Charlie was born," CC reluctantly explained.
"However," Mason slow said and become pale. "I did not know what you have met with my mother."
"It's not your business," CC barked. "But enough about Charlie. He is my son, and that's it. What actually interests me now — what is the scheme you're up? I've saw today's newspapers. Do you want to break up my talks with Braxton? Now I have enough even without the more one scandal!"
"CC, stop it."
"Do not interfere, Sophia. I'm waiting for the explanation, Mason."
He forced shrugged.
"Looks like someone wants to make public the dirty story that happened to me in the first private school. Do you remember, father? I was nearly canned for alleged theft, and one of the boys got the severe injury when he falls from the third floor."
CC stared at him, obviously not expecting such the explanation.
"It seems that I can something remember," he finally said. "But where does... do not tell that you really stole that vase!"
"Of course, I did not!" jerk up Mason. "Although it was not the vase."
"Then what it's up? I do not understand."
"I think the guy who after the fall was disabled for life thinks that I'm to blame for his fall."
"Do you blame?"
"CC, how you dare! I must remind you that it's your fault that Mason got into this horrible place!"
"This does not negate my question. Mason..?"
"No, father. I did not push Colin out and didn't help him to fall."
"Then why he thinks so?"
"I do not know.
"Are you sure?"
"Absolutely.
"Then I advise you find out sooner because otherwise--"
"Enough, CC!" Sophia's voice soared to the heavens. "You went all the conceivable boundaries! Stop venting at Mason your anger at Pamela!"
"Sophia--"
But the answer to him was just a quick tap of heels.
"I would not want today to be in your place, my father. Sophia not quickly forgives you having more one son of my mother who was passed on her for upbringing."
"Look yourself, Mason," CC parried.
"Are you going take Charlie from the mother also? And what will happen when she'll want to take him back?"
CC looked at him with long look.
"Son, I thought you knew that your mother does not going to taking Charlie back."
"Where you get this idea?" Mason turned white.
"It's obvious. Otherwise she would not hide from me of his existence. Once she sent him to me so she aware that she cannot take him back."
"It's your speculation."
"Let's look, Mason. By the way, you must to bring his things here. Oddly, Pamela is not sent Charlie directly to me."
"Maybe she was afraid that you'll shut door in his face.
CC did not have time to answer because at that moment the doorbell rang. Rose run downstairs and opened the door. It's Mary. With Mickey in the baby sling and both hands with Chip and Samantha.
"Grandpa!" older children ecstatically cried and ran to CC.
Mason went to Mary.
"What are you doing here?" his voice sounded relieved and irritated at the same time. "Do not tell me that you are driving," he pointed to the sling.
"No, I took the taxi. Mason, are you OK?"
"Fine.
"Did you talk to CC?"
"He did, and I did not eat him. Mary, do you really have such a terrible opinion about me?" CC walked up having Sammy in his arms, and hugged her. Chip, almost crying, tugging his jacket. Mason picked up his son, thinking that is not the first time when she notices that Mason's father prefers Samantha then son of Cruz and Victoria.
"Only occasionally, CC," Mary admitted, hugging her father-in-law.
While they talked, Mason pulled Mickey out from Mary and went to the belvedere. Peering inside he saw that there was sitting Sophia alone.
"My father is in the living room," he said and sat in the wicker chair.
"I'm not hiding from him, Mason."
"OK, then I'm Pope. Is the Charlie's appearance such the blow for you? The father thought you were dead when he was with my mother--"
"I do not want to talk about it, Mason."
"Well," he said wearily. "How you know. But Charlie in any case not is left alone. He has me."
"Mason, does you actually remembering me as so terrible step-mother that you are ready to save your younger brother from me?"
He momentarily confused.
"No, of course," he replied after a pause. "I'm meaning the different thing."
"Is it?"
"Yes. Just I know too well that he's feeling now. And I see that you unpleasant to his appearance. He has no time to wait until you coping. I just want to protect him."
"No, Mason. I'll not hurt your brother."
"I know. But my father can. How much you could do when he directed his anger at me when I was a boy?"
Sophia paused, looked thoughtfully at him.
"Do you think your mother... going to visit Santa Barbara?"
Mason's first impulse was to say "It's none of your business", but Charlie's fate now depended from Sophia.
"I do not think so," he honestly said, remembering his father's words that the mother never appears in the life of his brother. It was the worst nightmare of his childhood. And in his heart he knew that this nightmare could easily become alive. "Father believes that she gave him Charlie forever. Even if she does not, he will do everything to keep him. Like he did to me."
"Charlie is not you, Mason. No need to transfer your feelings to him. He had the very different childhood, and probably other nightmares."
"Do you think that its make me feel better?" Mason looked at her. Mickey in his arms sleepily moved.
"In any case, it cannot be the things that you fear."
"And what's afraid you?"
Sophia left the question unanswered, and he did not insist. He has enough his demons.
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