“And you want me to come with you guys; why exactly?” Charlie asked at slightly annoyed tone. “Because you need to learn how to handle a buisness situation. You only know how to make a mess, not how to clean it up.” Mika said; clenching her jaws to prevent herself from getting mad. “You're coming with us to observe and learn. That's it.” Charlie sighed and got up from her chair; rubbing her hands over her lower back. “I could use a stretch anyway.”
After a short walk the group stood in front of a a shelter made of light weathered bricks. Mika knocked on the door. “Coming!” a warm female voice shouted. The door opened and in the doorway stood a woman with gorgeous brown eyes and blonde hair up in a bun. She was wearing a simple yet elegant black dress and she started to smile when she recognized Mika's face.
“Mika!? Oh my It's been so long!” She embraced her tightly. Chuckling, Mika hugged back. “It's always a pleasure to see you Lily. How's Victor?” The younger woman's face lighted up at the mention of her husband. “He's been doing great! Since he stepped down he has been so much more relaxed!”
Lily looked over Mika's shoulder and noticed Leonard and Charlie standing in the doorway. “Mika, who are the young people you have with you?” Her smile faded. “This isn't just a fun visit is it?” Mika's smile faded. “I am afraid not. They aren't dangerous though. Leonard is in a bit of trouble and Charlie is merely here to observe.” Charlie smiled politely and Leonard extended his hand. Lily took it. “Pleasure to meet you ma'am!” Leonard exclaimed nervously. Lily nodded politely and turned her attention to Charlie who was still awkwardly standing in the door opening. Lily smiled at Charlie like she had known her for ages. “You're Corleonesi’s girl aren't you? It's those big blues that give you away. You look so much like Esmeralda! Oh if only she'd she were still among us.” With that Lily turned around and invited them to the living room. On one of the couches sat a somewhat older man of Asian descent. He smiled politely when he saw Mika enter the room. “Mika, what a pleasant surprise.” He gestured for everyone to take a seat. He and Lily sat on one side, Mika and Leonard on the other. Charlie stood next to the couch with Mika and Leonard on it while still processing what Lily had said to her only moments before. Had Lily known her mother?
Mika scratched her neck. “Let’s get down to business shall we? We have a bit of a registration problem. For the past seven years Leonard here has lived with me. His parents were minor criminals. Town center inhabitants. They were killed in a cleanout. I want him to have a good future, so he needs to get a tag. He doesn’t look anything like me, so I can’t register him as my kid. However, He looks a lot like Lily and he would be able to pass as your son. It would be a five year arrangement. He lives here, you feed him and make sure he is okay. He can still visit me for his training sessions and he is good friends with my kids. When he turns eighteen he’s out if here.” After a few seconds of silence Victor cleared his throat. “Mika, I’m not sure if we can-“ ”We’ll do it.” Lily cut him off. She turned her attention to Leonard. “I’ve always wanted children and you seem like a nice boy. Why don’t you check out the basement? It would be your room if you moved in.”
Leonard, still stunned by how quickly Mika’s offer was accepted nodded and walked in the direction of the stairs leading down. Taking the hint Charlie followed. “What the plum Lily?! How could we possibly take in a kid that isn’t ours!?” Victor yelled at his wife in anger. “Because the boy needs help! Besides, you owe her your career; plum, I owe her my life!” Lily snapped. “We’re taking in the boy. It’s the least we can do.” Victor tried to say something, but the look on his wife’s face made him abandon the idea. Mika smiled. “I assure you, he is a great kid. A bit of a hothead sometimes, but he has a good heart underneath.”
Leonard looked around the giant room. It was filled with the most amazing stuff. It was more than he had ever possessed in his entire life. He barely heard Charlie enter behind him. “Nice place.” She said. Leonard turned around and sighed. “Do you think I should do it? Move here?” Charlie raised an eyebrow at him. “There’s two people who want a kid and a kid that needs a place to stay. You get an awesome place with it. I would call you and plum if you didn’t take the opportunity.” Leonard smiled at Charlie’s unexpected wisdom. “Yeah, you’re right.” Charlie chuckled as she walked back up the stairs “I always am, kid.”
The sun was starting to set as Mika and Charlie walked back home. “So why did you really want me to come along?” Charlie asked. Mika stopped walking. “Sit down with me girl, I need you to listen carefully.” They sat down on a nearby bench.
“I was younger then you are now when I had to take charge of a household, a corporation, care for my pregnant teenage sister and my son. We were nothing. What you are about to have is the greatness I have built up from a pile of sand and bricks. In both family and work. You need connections to keep them afloat. Lily and Victor Feng are a great place to start. Don’t underestimate the fame our family has acquired among the normal people of Glassbolt. They all want our money and wealth. The safety that comes with being a Coleson. Watch out for my family. And make sure no one takes advantage of my children.” With a twinkle in her eye she motioned towards Charlie’s stomach. “And my grandchildren.”
Charlie blinked in surprise. “How did you know?” Mika got up and chucked. “There are only three women in this house that can still have children and I clean the bathrooms.” The two women walked the rest of the way in silence.
That night when Mika was getting ready for bed she felt complete. Her task on this earth has been finished. She established a foundation her descendants would build upon.
When she got into bed she knew that when she closed her eyes there was no waking up. “She looked to her left where James was already snoring. “Take your time love. Don’t join me too soon.” Mika closed her eyes and felt her life slipping away. And for the first time ever she felt at peace.