Lions and a Lamb

Charlie -

I pull out my carry on backpack from the back seat of the car while Dad grabs my suitcases from the trunk. I sling the strap over my shoulder and sigh looking across the lot at the airport and the roar of a plane taking off fills the air around me and I look back to my father with a pout. He gives me another smile and shakes his head when my chin wobbles.

Putting down the suitcases he comes over to me and wraps me in a fatherly embrace as I fight the tears ready to spring free.

"I'm sorry about Nanna." He mumbles and I nod against his chest, a few tears wetting his shirt. I pull back and wipe at my eyes taking a small trembling breath and straighten myself up as best as I can. He smoothes my hair back down and gives my shoulders a squeeze in his calloused hands. I nod reassuring him and he nods back and goes to the trunk to grab my last bag.

I take the one that has wheels and we walk across the parking lot to the airport doors. I give a final look at the Colorado scenery for the last time before drawing in a deep breath and forcing myself to keep walking.

I clip my seatbelt into place and pull the strap tight and stare out at the tarmac runway and other planes being carted around into position for unloading. I envy the people getting off the planes.

My Dad reaches across and gives my hand a small squeeze and I try to smile for him before he retreats and goes back to getting himself settled in his seat.

The safety announcements start and I zone out continuing to look out at the final glimpses of the only home I've ever known.

A few years after my mother passed away my Dad got offered a job in California. He was a music producer back home and a pretty damn good one. I was still young and in school and at the time had refused to move with him. Thankfully he had reluctantly agreed to let me stay and I moved in with my grandmother. She had some health issues so it made sense for me to stay behind with her and take care of her as best as I could. Dad would send us money to help us get by and everything was great... until he got remarried.

Don't get me wrong, Tracy was nice enough, a little younger than him for what I would of likes but hey, it wasn't my life or my choices to make. I had met her a few times when they came by to visit on the holidays and she was always nice to me and never tried to replace my mother in any kind of way, which I did appreciate. I had a mom and she was the best and only one I ever needed... of course until she passed...

The only real downside aside from moving was that she had 3 sons...! 3!

Them I hadn't met. They were usually with their own Father for the holidays or were working and apparently didn't have the time to travel.

I had never minded before that I hadn't met them but now I was regretting that. I was about to move in with these people and I didn't know them in any kind of way.

Not even what they looked like. I'd never bothered to look at any pictures of them because I doubted they'd ever do me the same curtesy anyway. I didn't know a single thing about them, what they liked? What they disliked? What were their jobs? Did they like living with their mother or wish they lived with their father?

I had so many questions but no answers to any of them.

I know I could ask my Dad but that would just seem weird to me. He'd say I should of taken more time to try and get to know them as they were my "brothers" after all.

I sigh and hold my stomach as it drops and we take off, heading for my new home.

God help me...

As we deplane, the dry Californian heat hits me like a brick wall and instantly dries my throat in an attempt to suffocate me. My hand absentmindedly strokes the front of my throat and my fathers arm hooks over my shoulder.

"You get used to it sweetheart." He assures and I nod silently as he leads me into the cool airport and we wait for our luggage.

"Darling!" I hear the telltale call of my stepmother as she jogs over to my father in her heeled sandals and wraps her arms around his neck and he scoops her up to swing her around. I force a smile, it's still weird for me to see him with someone that's not mom. He puts her down and plants a swift kiss to the side of her cheek so not to ruin her perfectly applied makeup. She turns to me with a small smile that I make sure I return as sweetly as I can. "Charlie, it's good to see you again."

"You too."

She smiles and looks back to my Dad.

"We're just waiting on one more bag." He tells her and she nods, looping an arm around his waist and resting her head aside his chest while we wait.

"So Charlie, me and your Dad have a room made up for you at home and please do feel at home. I'm not strict in the house so please do what you'd like to it and go wherever you'd like to, although you may want to avoid the boys rooms on the third floor." She chuckles from the passenger seat and I smile at her from the back and nod. It's only the first mention of her sons and I'm already cringing and trying to think of any way I could get out of this.

Maybe if I stay for a while and make sure that Dad sees how unhappy I am that maybe he'll help me rent an apartment for myself. At least I'd still be in California. Surely that's better than nothing right?

"Do you have any plans or anything you want to do or see?" She asks hopefully and I shrug quietly. Her smile drops a little and I take pity. I know she's trying.

"I'm not sure... do you have any recommendations?" I murmer and her face lights up a little as she smiles at my Dad who squeezes her hand and smiles back, with a glance in the rear view at me he gives me a wink and mouths a silent 'thank you' as Tracy begins to list off some of the best 'must see' places around Malibu.