Chapter Ten
Charlotte
Iam sitting on the bed when I hear a lot of commotion.
It sounded like a bomb went off, then I heard gunshots.
I couldn’t figure out how many or what was going on.
Then the lady opens the door, walks in with her hands over her head, and behind her is an FBI agent and two other people. The cavalry has arrived, and I am free!
“Mrs. Fitz, I am Agent Sparks with the FBI, and this is Ava and Derrick with Seals and Bounty out of Las Vegas,” the FBI agent said, and I immediately knew that Cliff had contacted them for help.
“Thank you so much for rescuing me. I had no idea the FBI would get involved in a kidnapping unless it crossed state lines. Cliff must have called in some favors,” I said as I shook his hand.
“Someone called in some favors for sure. Are you okay? Are you hurt?” Agent Sparks asked.
“I am fine. I just want to get out of here and see my family,” I said.
“They are all outside waiting on you. Derrick and Ava will walk out with you while we search the house,” Agent Sparks replied.
“Okay,” I said and followed Ava out of the house with Derrick behind me.
As soon as we walked out the door, my heart dropped.
Not only were Charles and Thomas there, but there was Cliff.
A part of me knew he was out there, but it still shocked me to see him standing beside Thomas.
They looked so much alike, and I wondered if they had time to realize the similarities yet.
I knew that I had a lot of explaining to do, but right now, I just wanted to hug them.
When I went to the car, they were standing in front of me. Thomas was the first to grab me. He hugged me so tight that I almost couldn’t breathe.
“Ugh, baby, you are choking me!” I laughed!
“Sorry, Mom,” Thomas said. “I am so sorry about everything.”
“We can talk about all of that at home. There is something that I need to tell you, too,” I said. Then hugged Charles and kissed him on the cheek.
“I am so glad you are okay. Sue is at the house. She just couldn’t come,” Charles said as he kissed the top of my head.
I turned then and looked at Cliff. I walked up and threw my arms around him.
“I am so happy to see you here,” I told him.
“I wouldn’t be anywhere else. Now let’s get you home,” Cliff replied as he kept his arm around my shoulder and walked over to Charles’ car and got in. Cliff had put me in the front passenger’s seat while Charles drove, and he and Thomas got in the back.
When we got back to the house, Sue opens the door and with tears running down her face, she gives me a huge hug. Then she looks up at the guys, nods her head at them. We follow her inside, and she grabs Charles’ hand, and they walk upstairs. The other three of us head into the living room.
“I need to talk to you both,” I said, but Thomas interrupted and said that he needed to tell me something first.
“Go ahead,” I tell him.
“First, I need you to know that I never expected anything to happen to you, and I cannot tell you about the assignment itself. What I do need to tell you is that a few years ago, I left the Marine Corps because I was approached by the CIA with a job offer. After a lot of debating about it, I took the job. The assignment I am currently involved in is highly classified, but it is because of that assignment that you got kidnapped. I am so sorry, Mom, I really am. I would never intentionally put you in danger,” Thomas said with tears in his eyes.
“Thomas…I….um… I don’t know what to say.
First, let’s start with me being kidnapped is not your fault.
You couldn’t have known someone was going to kidnap me.
Second, I am disappointed that you didn’t tell me about leaving the Corps for the CIA, but I am very proud of you.
You have always wanted to protect others.
I honestly can’t be mad at you. After what I am about to say, you may hate me,” I tell him, and look down at my hands.
“Mom, there is nothing you could ever say that would cause me to hate you. And thank you so much for understanding,” Thomas said.
Cliff said, “This all seems like some personal family conversations, and I should leave.”
I put my hand on his knee and tell him, “It is personal family business, and that is exactly why you are here. Cliff, I have been in love with you my whole life. That has never changed. Unfortunately, Ryan knew that, too, and I always felt guilty about that. You are the love of my life. Thomas, this may be hard for you to hear and understand, but please listen to me. Cliff, when Charles caught us on graduation night and forbade us to see each other, a decision I know he regrets still today, and you two have worked past it, it tore me apart. We all went off to college, and that was it. I never saw you again until today. But it wasn’t because I didn’t love you. ”
“Charles’ reaction to us being together was not what I thought it would be.
He should have known that I would cherish you, protect you, and love you for the rest of our lives.
I still feel that same way today. That has never changed for me either.
But you moved on. You went off to college and met Ryan, got pregnant, and that was the end of my dreams. I never married because no one holds a candle to you,” Cliff said.
“All of what you just said is not completely true,” I said, looking back and forth between Thomas and Cliff, then continued.
“I was pregnant when I met Ryan. He and I were good friends. He knew about the pregnancy and said that if I would give him a chance to love me, he would raise the baby as his own. I didn’t tell Charles any different until years later, as Thomas started to get older, and Charles saw the resemblances.
I know you have to see them too.” I grab hold of Cliff’s hand with one hand and Thomas with the other, take a deep breath, and say, “Thomas is your son, Cliff.”
It was dead silent for a good two minutes as they both let that knowledge settle in. Then Thomas got up, looked at me, and left the room without saying a word. I knew he needed time. I just ripped his whole world apart and I am sure he is pissed off at me.
I turned to face Cliff completely, and he just stared at me a few minutes before saying, “Charlotte, how could you not tell me? I missed my son’s whole life.
I missed his first steps, his first time saying daddy, sporting events, proms, and so much more.
I am so pissed at you and Charles knew. I need some air. ”
Cliff got up and walked out of the house.
I had no idea if he would ever forgive me, or Thomas, for that matter.
Charles walks in and sits with me without saying a word at first. Then said, “Sue went after Cliff. I spoke with Thomas and told him how sorry I was that this was all my fault, and he should forgive you. He said that he just needed a few minutes alone and would be back. I am so sorry, Charlotte. This really is my fault.”
“Charles, in the beginning, it was your fault, but I am the one who kept it a secret for all of these years. I just hope they can both forgive me one day,” I said with tears flowing.
Thomas walked back in and sat down. “Mom, I love you, and I am so mad at you. It will take me time to come to terms with all of this, but I can’t stay mad at you. I just ask that you bear with me as I process.”
“Of course, son,” I said. “I love you so much.”
Cliff and Sue walk in, and he looks at me and Charles, then at Thomas and tells Thomas, “I had no idea. If I had known, I would never have stayed away. I hope we can get to know each other and build a relationship, no matter what that is.”
“I am not mad at you at all. I think we have a lot to catch up on and would like to take the time to build a relationship as well. I have to get back to DC soon, but I will make plans for us to spend some time together,” Thomas said.
“Charlotte, you are the love of my life. I can’t believe you kept this from me, but I will not shut you out of my life. I know what it is like to live without you, and I can’t do that again. I, too, need time to process, though, so bear with me,” I said, then walked back out of the house.