Sanditon Transmedia Project

Backstory - This is a present day "Lost Chapter" about Charlotte Heywood asking her mother if she can go to Sanditon with the Parkers. I've taken some creative liberties when it comes to Mrs. Heywood's personality as well as the age and number of children in the family.

Charlotte Heywood has always been a "good girl." When she was a child, adults would praise her patience and kindness toward others. Teachers loved how polite and respectful she was. No one appreciated her behavior more than her parents. After her younger sister was born, Charlotte was only five years old but she did whatever she could to make things easier for her mother. When her baby brother was born, however, she became a sort of second mother to him, even though she was only twelve.

Eleven years later, her mother still relied on her to help with Samuel and Alison, driving them to school, making them lunch, keeping them in line. She was essentially used as a free babysitter. College wasn't an option for Charlotte, she always had good grades but between tuition and moving away from her family, it just wasn't possible.

Other people her age felt sorry for Charlotte, always taking on more responsibilities and never having any time for friends or relationships. She was twenty-three and her best friend was her eighteen-year-old sister. But the truth was, Charlotte liked her life. She didn't care much that she didn't experience life the same way as others. At least this way she wasn't making mistakes like others her age. Any time a girl got pregnant or a boy was caught smoking, Charlotte's mother would say something like "My daughter doesn't make mistakes like that."

When the Parker's crashed their car right outside the Heywood residence, Charlotte thought they must be insane. Then her parents offered to let them stay in their house until they found a way back home and she realized they were the crazy ones. Yes, they had an extra room and Mr. Parker was in no shape to drive but these were strangers. She remained as polite and respectful as ever but inside, Charlotte was not happy about their new arrangement.

That was until one afternoon, about a week after the accident, when Mrs. Parker found Charlotte in the kitchen.

"Oh," she startled at the sudden movement. "Hello, Mrs. Parker, I didn't see you there. Do you need anything?"

"Oh, no, I'm alright," Mrs. Parker responded, pouring herself a cup of coffee. "I was just thinking of home. You and your family have been wonderful hosts and I'll never be able to repay your kindness, but nothing will make me happier than being home again."

Charlotte knew from Mr. Parker's constant chatter about Sanditon that it was an up and coming beach town, promising to be the newest tourist destination. "Willingden must be pretty bland in comparison."

"Oh no, it's beautiful here," she said earnestly. "Sanditon...it's more than what my husband makes it out to be. Sure, the tourist numbers are steadily increasing, but to me, Sanditon will always be home, not some economics project."

"What do you mean?" Charlotte asked. "That it's more than he makes it out to be?"

"Well, my family has been there for generations. It's where I grew up, where I met my husband, where I raised my children. Everyone in Sanditon knows my name, and I know theirs. I know it's silly but as much as I want everyone to love Sanditon as much as I do, I don't want it to change." She took a deep breath and a sip from her coffee. "It's already changing though, so much has changed since I was your age."

"Tell me about it," Charlotte said before she could catch herself. "About Sanditon when you were young. If you don't mind."

As it turned out, Mrs. Parker didn't mind. They spent the next few hours talking about the adventures she and her friends went on, about the many failed, and finally the one successful, romances. They talked and shared stories until the sun set, but even after Mrs. Parker went to find her husband and Charlotte began helping her mother with dinner, she found herself thinking of Sanditon.

Days passed and the idea of Sanditon remained in Charlotte's head. Finally, on Thursday, a week and a half after the accident, she decided to talk to her mother about her newfound obsession.

"Mom? Can I ask you something?"

"Of course, what is it?" her mother responded without looking up from the scarf she was knitting. Charlotte was used to her mother not looking at her when she spoke but this felt important.

"Can you stop for second? I want to have a conversation."

Mrs. Heywood looked up, puzzled. "Is everything okay?"

"Everything's fine. Can you...can you tell me about your life when you were my age?" Charlotte couldn't remember her mother ever telling stories like the ones she heard from Mrs. Parker. Surely, she has some adventures to share.

"Well, you're twenty-three. I was married when I was twenty and had you at twenty-one, so...when I was your age, I was chasing around a toddler and struggling with the loneliness of being a stay-at-home mom." She looked back at her knitting and took a breath. "Why do you ask?"

Charlotte knew what she wanted. She knew what she wanted to say and what she wanted to happen but she also knew telling her mother what she was thinking would crush her.

"I was just wondering..." she considered her next words carefully. "I guess I was just wondering if you ever wished things were different? Like that you waited a few more years to get married and have kids, or that you went to college or moved away?"

"I mean, I guess I've thought about it. I like my life the way it is. Don't you?" She looked at Charlotte for a long moment but raised her hand when she started to speak. "I already know your answer."

"I don't want to upset you," Charlotte started. "I've just been thinking that maybe I'm missing out on things. I'm twenty-three and I've never had a boyfriend or close friends. I know you always say it's good I don't make mistakes, but if I never make any mistakes, I'm never going to have any stories to tell."

"Go get your dad. Let's talk."

By the next day Charlotte was packing for her trip, And by the next week she had already begun her life in Sanditon. After a very long conversation with her parents about missing out on life, a decision had been made that Charlotte would drive back to Sanditon with the Parkers and she would stay with them for the remainder of the summer.