Finding Charlie Rose

Charlie fought going to sleep all the way to her house. She wanted to see her mummy. When they pulled up to the cottage she was tired and just wanted to sleep in her mummy's bed. Liam got Charlie out of the car and then followed Sam and Officer Jones to the house. When they got to the door Charlie called out "Mummy, mummy you awake now".

Sam looked at Charlie and knew he had to tell her. "Charlie baby, mummy didn't wake up. Mummy is now sleeping with the angels. I'm sorry baby" he told his sister. "I want mummy" Charlie cried. She began to sob hard. "I know baby I know. Mummy is watching from up there though" Liam said to Charlie while pointing to the sky. Charlie was crying hard and Liam was struggling not to cry with her so Sam stepped in taking Charlie and holding her. Charlie held her worm close so Sam pushed its tummy. The thing turned on and started playing music. Charlie couldn't fight it anymore with her worm playing and the crying she had done. She drifted off to sleep laying her head on Sam's shoulders.

The boys headed into the house with Sam carrying Charlie. He wasn't going to put her down at all. He was going to hold onto this little girl for as long as she let him. Sam knew how much his father had wanted a girl and he finally had one but his behaviour had caused him to miss out on being in Charlie's life. They all caused their mother to leave with what they did, but Sam vowed to protect Charlie at all costs. He would shower her with the love their mum had showered the boys with when they were little.

Sam and Liam split up looking for things to bring home. Sam took the front room and the kitchen. Liam took Charlie's room and then they would do their mum's room together. Liam packed all Charlie's clothes and her teddy bears. She didn't have much not even enough to fill one bag. He packed the tea set that was laid out as well. He packed all the photos he could find after he studied each one. Sam packed the blanket he found that was thrown over the lounge he also packed some of the Christmas ornaments that Charlie and his mum had clearly made. He packed the presents that were behind the tree and also looked through the kitchen. He found cookies that his mother had made and took an airtight container packing them up. He would share them with his brothers and Charlie when they got home. He had missed his mother's cooking and baking when she left. The house wasn't big at all so the boys quickly met in their mother's room looking around for things they would keep.

Sam pulled out a box from the top of his mum's cupboard. In the box, there were letters addressed to each of her children. She always wrote letters for birthdays and Christmas to her children and she obviously continued to do it when she left. He ran his hand over the letters and traced the names on the envelope. He finally let a tear spill for his mum. Liam came to see what had upset Sam and saw the letters. "She still wrote us?" He asked. Sam nodded his head adding "And Charlie". Both boys sat on the bed looking at the letters letting guilt consume them for the part they played causing their mum to leave.

Officer Jones came to check if they were nearly done as he had to get back to work. The boys quickly finished packing two suitcases full of stuff including the three spare glow worms they found hidden, before looking around the house one last time. They saw their mum didn't have a lot but she did have a home for her Charlie. They made sure to grab the photos around the house to take home. Officer Jones handed over Sally's mobile phone to Sam in case there was something on there the boys wanted. The boys thanked the officer before buckling Charlie in her seat. She immediately woke up when she was no longer in Sam's arms.

"Hey, baby girl. Did you have a good sleep?" Sam asked his sister. She nodded her head yes. "I Charlie, you?" She pointed at Sam. Sam realised he and Liam hadn't introduced themselves to Charlie. "I'm Samual your big brother. You can call me Sam. This is Liam your other brother" Sam introduced. Charlie smiled "Sammy and Lee Lee. Brothers" she said. Both Sam and Liam laughed, they were ok with the names Charlie gave them as long as she was happy. "Charlie hungry," Charlie told them. "Ok, baby girl what would you like to eat?" Sam asked. "Strawberry" Charlie called excitedly. She loved strawberries and could eat them every day. Liam looked at Sam "Strawberries? Seriously she could have anything and she wants strawberries?" Liam said. Charlie just nodded her head. "OK, we will head to the hotel and get you some strawberries. Can you wait a little bit?" Sam asked. Charlie nodded her head.

They took off to the Hotel near Gold Coast Airport. They would stay there the night and fly home in the morning. They hadn't known how long they would be so they had thought it best to stay the night so they didn't miss their flight. Once they arrived at the hotel they checked in and ordered strawberries to be sent up to the room for Charlie along with some dinner for themselves. They headed up to the room with the bags and waited for the food to arrive. "Charlie, do you need nappies?" Sam asked his sister. He had remembered that when Byron was three he wore a nappy to bed and had forgotten to ask earlier. He would be sharing a bed with her tonight and didn't want to be weed on. "No silly. I big girl. I do wee in toilet" Charlie laughed.

There dinner arrived and Charlie happily ate her strawberries. The boys offered her some of their food but she didn't want it. When she was done with her strawberries the boys bathed her and got her ready for bed. Charlie didn't like to sleep by herself and became upset. She cried holding onto her worm. She was tired but she wanted her mummy to sleep with her. Liam took Charlie after he showered so Sam could shower and then he was going to try to get Charlie to sleep as she had slept on him before.

Liam lay on his bed with Charlie on his chest. She snuggled in and turned her worm on sucking her thumb. She was still crying softly but soon that just turned to sniffles and she was out like a light within a few minutes of laying on Liam. He couldn't help but smile at his sister. He snapped a few photos before Sam came out of the bathroom. He looked at Charlie sleeping on his brother's chest and was a little jealous. He had wanted to sleep with Charlie but didn't have the heart to move her now she was sleeping. "Ah, Sam we forgot to ring the others and let them know Charlie is our sister, not our brother. They were setting up a room today" Liam said. "Well they will be just as surprised as we were tomorrow when Charlie arrives" Sam replied. Both boys fell asleep quickly after setting their alarm. They were so happy to have Charlie in their lives now.