In Randy’s fourth month in recording she was nearly finished. She had one song left to do and her first single ‘Got it Right’ had been number one the first two weeks it was out. And it was still getting more and more popular, with Randy herself was getting a lot of attention from TV now and radio too.
It was there at the studio that Dahven received the news. Have to come home, mom's dead, heart attack they said. She didn’t hear much more, she was already thinking too much about what was going o happen. How could she leave unfinished work here, when they were so damn close to being done.
“The funeral will be here in Tulsa, Charm.” Arie’s voice crackled over the phone line.
Slowly, Dahven placed the phone back on its cradle and walked out of the office in which she and Arie had been talking over the phone.
Mechanically, she just went through the rest of the day’s business as she usually would. Only dragging through it this time.
When they got to the hotel Randy was growing more and more concerned about Dahven being so silent. But she kept it to herself.
When the phone rang, Dahven jumped three feet in the air and stared at it as if it were going to attack her. Reluctantly she picked it up. “Yes, I know. I know that too. I’m not going.” She stated flatly.
“Because I don’t know who she was!” She said heatedly, her eyes flashing as a flush crept up her neck and fanned out over her cheeks. She was getting beyond mad. “Isaac, listen to me. You hear me, but you aren’t listening. I-am-not- going.”
After a few more minutes of refusal Dahven finally caved in. She quietly hung up the phone and stared at her hands. Which she fidgeted with in front her. “I need to go do a few things Monday. I’ll be back by Wednesday though. Okay?” She asked looking up.
Randy stared at her. “Why? What’s wrong?” Nerves were making her jumpy and worried.
Dahven shrugged her shoulders. “My mother died yesterday. And I need to go to her funeral. It seems I’m giving the eulogy.”
The gasp of horror from Randy filled the room. Then Randy set into action. She started packing some of her stuff.
Dahven watched in confusion. “Umm, you do know that I said my mother and not yours right?” She asked just to make sure.
Randy nodded. “You are my friend and I am coming with you.” She replied as she continued packing.
Sighing, Dahven didn’t want to fight Randy. “Randy you have to finish your album.” She said reasonably.
“So? My friend needs a friend. I think I’m going to honor her right now.” She said as she finished packing.
Wandering in amazement and slight confusion Dahven started packing herself as Randy made reservations for their flight. There was one going out that evening. Two tickets for a non-stop flight to Tulsa Oklahoma.
Dahven fidgeted all the way to Tulsa. Which was actually quite a sight because it was usually her that told Randy to sit still and now Randy was telling it to her. Though she had to hand it to her, Randy didn't get impatient as she did.
After the seemingly endless plane trip ended, Dahven bolted for the exit. Dragging Randy behind her like a rag doll. Quickly, she had her bags and Randy’s bags all collected.
It was then that she saw Isaac sitting in the front seat of Arie’s Porsche. Hiding behind some shades and a baseball cap. She had to laugh. Normally no one chased or screamed or mobbed him and his brothers in T-town but the airport was always a dangerous place for them anywhere.
Ignoring Arie, as he held the door open for her and for Randy, she slid into the low car and grinned wryly at Isaac. “It’s good to see you again.” She said softly.
He nodded in agreement. He was happy to see her again too. “I just wish it was under better circumstances, D.”
Waving off his comment, Dahven looked at Randy. “Well, it seems you get to spend more glorious times in our now famous Tulsa Oklahoma.” She said motioning to the city outside her window.
Randy forced herself to smile brightly. She would also get to spend more glorious time with Taylor too.
“Or as we call it T-town.” Isaac said trying to lighten the heavy mood.
“Kasha’s lawyer has some urgent news for us, Charm. We have to go see them as soon as possible. Syrus is already waiting there.” Arie said this calmly and rationally,
But Dahven’s reaction was neither calm nor rationalize. It was frenzied and disgusted. “I don’t wanna.” She said crossing her arms in front of her. “Syrus deserves nothing from Kasha. He already took most of what she had. He doesn’t deserve any more.”
“I think that there is more to mom’s death than what we think and what we are being told.” Arie commented softly, his grip on the steering wheel tightening.
Dahven shrugged and Randy placed her hand on her shoulder. She flinched as if Randy’s hand had scorched her. But she smiled gratefully at her and at Isaac who kept looking back at her.
The office building was large and cold, and the conference room was worse.
Dahven struggled hard not to squirm in her chair too much; knowing any kind of emotion would be marked against her.
“Okay, all in all Arie gets half the house. While Dahven gets the other half when she turns eighteen.” His name was Jim Reeves and he was Kasha’s lawyer. Was being the keyword.
Slowly, she began to fidget. So far she had gotten most of Kasha’s things. And she didn’t know why she had, but she really didn’t want them. They would just be more painful reminders of her harsh past. Of her family’s harsh past.
“And the law firm is Dahven’s now too. She can control it, destroy it, or even sell it. And she can do it all right now if she wants to.” Jim said as he continued looking over the paperwork in front of him.
Syrus spoke up right then. “Charm, I want that firm.” He told her sternly.
Dahven’s head snapped up from looking at the table. She wasn’t sure she heard right. But when she looked at her father she knew that she had. “No.” She said simply.
She knew she made Syrus mad. He stiffened slightly and gave her a cold gaze. “I want that firm, Charm.”
“He’s says as coldly as his heart.” Dahven taunted, staring at him angrily. “Shut up, Syrus. I’m not selling it or destroying it. Please... continue.” She said encouragingly to Jim.
Jim Reeves nodded his head. But before he could get the words out of his next sentence Syrus had exploded with anger. “Damn it, Dahven. Give me that firm.”
“No.” Dahven said just as calmly as possible. “I won’t give in to you.” She said quietly. "You've mistaken me for Kasha."
She noticed that the Hanson’s and Randy were staring at Syrus. They had never seen him get angry before. But she and Arie never flinched. They were so used to it. In fact they were waiting for the threat that he was going to use this time.
But none came. He sat in his chair and silently glowered at Dahven. Mumbling inaudible curses and threats to himself.
“The next is a big surprise.” Jim said as he stood up. “And under no circumstances can Mister Christian doing anything about taking control over this matter. Understand?” He asked looking pointedly at Syrus.
Dahven smirked at this and bit back her laughter. Jim left for a few seconds then came back in with a tiny bundle in his arms. “Arie, Dahven, everyone, I want you to meet Charisma Dahven Christian.” He said handing the tiny baby girl to Dahven.
Dahven stared at the tiny creature. “Wait.” She whispered. “Explain this one to me please.”
“Yeah.” Arie and Isaac said at the same time.
Jim smiled. “Well, Kasha did not have a strong heart. And she knew that she was pregnant again a few weeks after the divorce was final. She was so consumed with guilt over what she had put you and Dahven through that she made sure that you got what she had..." He trailed off thinking Dahven may comment.
She didn't.
"And when she found out that she was having a girl she wanted her to be named a little differently than Dahven..." He continued. "And so she was. But no one thought that she would die giving birth. Her heart couldn’t handle the pressure or the stress. Once Charisma was out and being taken care of, she gave up.”
Dahven held Charisma closer to her. “So who gets her?” She asked softly.
Jim smiled brightly. “You get temporary custody.” He said as if he was the proud papa.
“What?!” Dahven asked in shock.
She stared at the tiny infant in her arms, stunned. “There has to be a mistake. I can’t take care of her. I don’t know anything about children. I’m scared to death that she’s going to fall apart in my arms.” She shot out quickly and nervously.
Jim smiled confidently at her. “Your mother thought and knew that you would care for Charisma more than anyone else could in this world. She wanted you to have someone to love and love you back.”
“Oh my, Lord.” Dahven said softly as she gazed into the soft grey eyes of her baby sister. Charisma smiled up at her. Laughing Dahven kissed the tiny girl softly on her forehead. “Then it shall be done.” She said gently. “I’ll fulfill my mother’s wishes.”
Syrus stood up. “The hell you will. You are a child yourself. You cannot raise a child. Let alone run a law firm.” He said testily.
“Back down, Syrus. I swear if you don’t I’ll sell MY firm off in shares. Bit by bit.” Dahven said calmly. "I'll break it down so much you're gonna need a magnify glass to find all the pieces!"
Glowering, Syrus sat in his chair.
Arie stood up. “Syrus is right. Charm is yet a child herself. She can't raise a child on her own.”
Dahven stared angrily at her father and brother. “But what about all the teenaged mothers. They take care of their children just fine. I’m sure I can take care of Charisma. Besides,” she said shrugging. “Who says I’ll be doing it alone?”
“That’s right, we’ll be there for her.” Isaac said as he gripped Dahven’s shoulder tightly.
Mrs. Hanson nodded. “If she has any questions or anything she can come and talk to me anytime.”
Randy nodded also. “Plus her and I always normally together a lot anyway. So I can help too. I've held far more babysitting jobs than any normal teenager.”
Dahven smiled gratefully at her friends. At least they loved her. Then she clutched Charisma a little more tightly. A surge of protection ran through her veins like fire.
Soon the whole meeting was over and Dahven and everyone else had to get ready for the services at the church. And then they were going to the graveyard for the burial rites.
“Are you ready?” Isaac asked her softly.
Dahven nodded numbly. She was losing feeling in her arms and she was afraid that she was going to drop Charisma. So she handed her gently over to Isaac as she slowly started to get up.
It was time for her to give the eulogy anyway.
Standing in front of everyone that knew her mother was strange. Some of them might have known her better than I did. She thought with a wave of anger and hurt coursing over her.
“We came here today because my mother died while giving birth to my baby sister Charisma.” Dahven needed to take a deep breath or she was going to faint. “I was told to give her eulogy. But I don’t know what to say about her. I mean as far as I have known, and thought, I wasn’t part of her life. She would drop me off at a friend’s house because I was in her way constantly. I don’t know if I ever had the chance to love my mother. But I think the most thing that I’ll have for my mom is respect. It’s not a lot, but I respect her because every time that I made a mistake or when I messed something up she would told me to get up and fix it.”
Again Dahven took a deep breath. “I cannot love her. I respect her for telling me that I had to fix what I had wronged. But that is all I have for her. And it may be wrong. You might say that she deserves more. I'm sorry, but I cannot give what I was never given.” She said quietly before she went to her chair and sat down slowly.
Soon the room was cleared. Except for Isaac, her, and Charisma.
Dahven looked up at him. “Take me to ‘Christian Courts.’” She said. Referring to the new name that Arie had already declared the house now that he was going to re-model it.
Isaac nodded his head and they left.
Laying Charisma in her bed and blockading her in with her pillows, Dahven went in to take a shower.
Isaac came in and noticed that the water in her bathroom was running and that Charisma was sleeping in Dahven’s bed. He smiled and sat down on the edge of the bed. He watched as Charisma’s eyes fluttered opened, stared at him, then closed again. He grinned and chuckled softly.
Then he stopped when he heard Dahven sobbing in her shower. It was painful wracking sobs that tugged at his heart and started to break it, bit by bit.
After about twenty minutes Dahven came out and saw Isaac watching Charisma. She smiled and sat down next to him. “She is an angel.” She said softly.
“She looks exactly like you. Grey eyes and dark blond hair.” He said running his hand gently over her hair.
Dahven turned away and faced Charisma. “Her hair is lighter than mine.” She said shrugging.
Suddenly Dahven got up, grabbed Isaac’s wrist, and started walking straight for the library downstairs.
Arie and Essence were in there. Along with Zac, Taylor, and Randy. Nodding to them Dahven got straight to business.
“Have you two figured out what you are going to do?” She asked a bit harshly to Arie and Essence.
Arie nodded. “We are getting re-married. I want to have this baby too.” He said hugging Essence to him.
Essence couldn’t look any happier or any more pregnant.
Dahven nodded stiffly. “Then you'll need a good job.”
“Yeah, I know. I may even have to move out of state to get one.” Arie said hanging his head lowly.
“Go to Washington.” She said simply.
“What?!” Arie asked in shock.
Arie just nodded. Fascinated by what Dahven was thinking.
“What about 'Christian Courts?” Essence asked carefully.
Glancing at her Dahven replied, “I’ll make sure everything will be fine with this house.” Covering her yawn Dahven excused herself and went up stairs to sleep.
Not wanting to wake Charisma on her bed, she slid the trundle bed out form under it. Smiling, she kissed Charisma’s cheek and lay in her bed. “G’night Charm.” She whispered. “I promise that I will love you.”
