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Chapter 122 — The Family Dinner
"Charlie! How long you have listening us here?" Mary said indignantly.
"Enough long time and I heard everything! We'll need to investigate it or everyone would think that Mason is the killer!"
"Do not worry about Mason; he'll all right," Sophia said. "But please do not doing like that anymore. Eavesdrop on conversations of adults is not good thing."
"If you do not listen, you do know nothing!" Charlie frowned. After the past couple of hours he seemed to be transformed from a young adult in a normal boy.
At this point Mike wake up and Mary take him in the house to change and feed.
"Come here," Sophia said to Charlie.
He reluctantly approached, his eyes became alert again. Sophia corrected his collar and pulled down his shirt.
"You do not fuss with me," he said defiantly. "I can do everything alone."
"I have no doubt. But even the big boys sometimes have to correct their collars."
Charlie paused then with black shining eyes looked at Sophia.
"Did you steal my father from my mother?"
"Charlie... No, I did not steal your father. I loved your father and married him."
"My mama said it!"
"Probably she's still hurt because your father divorced with her. Do not think about it."
"I can not--"
* * *
Mary nervously has glancing at her watch. The whole family was already gathering and Mason becomes late. Kelly, Ted and Eden gleefully shook her and asked about everything, but Mary kept looking at the door.
"Do not worry, Mason soon will be here," Eden said smiling. "He never does miss family gatherings."
Mary forced herself to smile and then resolutely went to CC. However, at this moment the door flew open and Mason came with quick step in the hall.
"Finally!" Mary sighs of relief. She run and embraced him.
"Well, it seems everyone is here," CC disapprovingly looked at his oldest son. "Listen to me, please!"
Everyone looked at him with a question, but Mary — at Mason. Oddly he seemed to her a sort of peaceful. As if he adopted some kind of solution.
"I want to introduce my youngest son," patriarch's voice boomed. "Charles Quentin Pepperidge Capwell!"
Dressed in the tuxedo little Charlie came from somewhere in the side and with the solemn look went to CC.
However the joyous reception failed. Puzzled Eden exchanged glances with Cruz, and Kelly with Ted, and they said nothing. An awkward silence was interrupted by Sophia.
"Charlie arrived yesterday from England, I am sure you welcome him here."
"Yes, of course," Eden finally said. Like others now she worried about only one question — who is Charlie's mother and whether or not he is CC's son.
"I beg to table," CC Capwell said seemed to notice tension arose. "Rosa prepared a kind of special dinner in honor Charlie's welcoming."
All went into the dining room, Eden quickly came to Mason.
"It looks like you're not too surprised. Do you know who his mother?"
"He is my brother," Mason quietly replied.
"Is he Pamela's son??" by surprise Eden forgot that she must whisper.
"Is it true, dad?" escaped from Ted. "Is Charlie son of Pamela?"
Mason looked at Charlie. He stood with a look that seemed on the verge of tears.
"This is not the time or the place to talk about it!" CC yelled. "Charlie is my son, and now he will live in my house."
"Yes, of course. Charlie, welcome to the family," Eden stiffly said.
"You're lying! You do not want me to be part of your family!" the boy tearfully shouted and ran out of room.
"Charlie, come back!" CC yelled and wanted to go after him but Sophia stopped him: "No, I'd better."
All were looked after her and then turned their eyes to CC.
"Dad, do you want to explain us?" Kelly asked. "Is it true that Charlie is Pamela's child?"
"Yes, it's true," CC answered calmly.
"Why did you never say that you have more one son?" Eden's voice rang with indignation.
"He did not know about Charlie," Mason said. "The mother did not tell him."
"However without your moving he would never be born. Father, how much your children scattered in the wide world?" Ted ironically asked.
"Are you sure he's your son?" Kelly inserted and guiltily looked at Mason.
"I'm sure and enough of this!" CC yelled. "You like it or not but he's yours brother and you will well treat him!"
"We do not mind, dad," Ted chuckled. "Just wanted to know for the future."
CC pierced Ted with his dark eyes and walked into the dining room. Others followed him.
* * *
Sophia would never guess to look for Charlie in the dark corner of the library but his whereabouts was gladly betrayed by Chip with Samantha eating Rose's biscuits.
"Charlie, you upset for nothing, we are all glad to see you."
"Yeah especially you were so happy," she gloomily heard behind the racks. "And these... also would like to see I was not here."
"They're just surprised. Not every day they get the new younger brother."
"Especially from my mom, huh?"
"Yes, it was the surprise also."
"The unpleasant surprise," Charlie appeared from the darkness and looked at her stepmother with the pained expression on his face. "Even why all you would be want me here? I'm just a hindrance."
"My God, why do you think like this?"
"It's too clear."
"Nothing of the sort. Of course, we all are a bit shocked. But soon everything returns to normal. I think you quickly see what your brother and sisters well treat you. And your father will not allow you to be hurt. And you've still have Mason. And me."
"I want my mother," the boy suddenly burst into tears because all the tension of the last hours. "I want my mom! Please let her come in and takes me away!"
Sophia hugged him, feeling completely helpless.
"Now it does not work but then we'll see. Everything will be fine. Do you just miss my mother, do you?"
"Yes..." Charlie burst through his sobs. "I waited at the school that she was coming, I waited and waited... then she came and the next day sent me here. I almost did not see her at all--"
"Perhaps she had some circumstances... Maybe she'll call you soon."
"No," Charlie unstuck from Sophia and angrily wiping his face with his sleeve. "She always promises but never calls."
Sophia wiped his face and then held out her hand.
"Come on, your father and siblings already tired of waiting for us. Do not worry, we will not allow you to be hurt."
Charlie sighed... and took her hand. Sophia smiled and patted his head.
"Everything will be alright. Just imagine that you arrived to your father on school vacations."
Charlie said nothing and went with her into the dining room at Capwell's house.
Sophia and Charlie's appearance was welcoming quite calmly. The boy was seated at the table between Mason and Ted. CC Capwell stood up and lengthy toasted his youngest son whom he never aware for eleven years but who finally found his rightful place in the Capwell family.
Charlie slowly has relaxed and by the end of the dinner becomes chatting with Kelly who promised to take him to ride on the yacht. Mason with surprise watched him. The younger brother was much more well-balanced and easily appeased than himself. Maybe it's because he spent almost all his childhood with his mother? Mason involuntarily clenched in his hand cutlery because the painful prick of jealousy.
At the end of dinner all moved into the living room. CC calmly but firmly shoved Charlie out the door and then sat on the couch.
"Well, Mason. Tell us what you got involved in this time," he declared.
Mason stared at his father.
"What is happened?" Eden suspiciously and anxiously looked at her older brother.
"Why, father?" Mason just asked.
"Believe it or not, but we are one family," Sophia said. "We want to help you."
"You found yourself in the difficult situation, son," CC said. "Do not deny."
"What are you talking about?" Ted moving his eyes from one to another. "Mason, what is have you done? Lost all your money in the casino?"
"Thank you for the trust," Mason grunted. "No, it's about one incident from my childhood. My ex-playmate suffered during the accident and now accuses me of attempting to kill him--"
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