Chapter 31

Claudia’s POV
“What did you two get up to?” I yawn, rolling over in bed. “We visited Aunty Cyndy and Uncle Brett” Danny says in a playful tone, pulling Sophia out of her stroller. “Did you have a rest?” he asks me. “Yes; thank you for taking her for a walk. I needed a nap” I smile at him.
“Dad wants us to meet up with him, Jason and Simon to discuss how we can get this book from Grandma Nelly’s. I told him; I will let him know when you wake up from your nap” he tells me. “Let me feed Sophia first and then we can head up to his office. Did you want to link him, or shall I?” I ask him, taking Sophia and sitting down on the sofa to feed her. “I’ll do it” he answers.
“Maybe there’s something to say for bottle feeding; my nipples are so cracked and sore” I huff; placing Sophia on to feed. “We can if you want to; then I can take over some of the feedings” he answers me. “Breast milk is the best thing for her, according to Xanthe and Doctor Elliot” I tell him. I really need to look at something; I don’t know how much longer I can take feeding her; I feel like she is always hungry.
“I was formula fed and turned out fine” Danny says answering my thought. “I suppose so; I know they said it gets better. I’ll see how I go” I tell him, giving a half smile. “I linked Dad, I told him we’ll meet in his office, in an hour” he informs me.
“That’s fine” I sigh my answer to him. **“What do you think we should do regarding the book?”** I ask Amanda. **“I’ve been thinking about it. Easiest way to get over there, is ask James if we can retrieve some items from Luna Janelle’s. He is supposed to be acting civil towards Danny”** she informs me. I contemplate her answer for a moment.
**“Good idea; if he thinks we are just getting other items, he won’t suspect a thing”** I exclaim, looking down at Sophia who is now sleeping and sucking on my boob. “We also need to get a pacifier; she is using my boob as one. And I seriously think we need to look at bottle feeding her” I sigh again, as he puts her in her carry pouch and we head up to dad’s office.
“Hi Dad” I say coming through the door of the office. “There’s my baby girl?” he answers heading to Sophia and taking the carry pouch off of Danny and putting it on himself. “I can see I’m no longer the important one” I giggle, sitting on the sofa.
“Sorry; how’s my second favourite girl?” he chuckles, giving me a peck on the cheek. “Hey?” mum says, faking her hurt. “I think I need to stay quiet before I get myself into more trouble” he laughs. “Safe action to take” Simon chuckles.
“What do you think we should do to get this safe from Grandma Nelly’s?” Danny asks the group in Dad’s office. “Has anyone thought of asking James if we can get some items from her house?” I ask them. “No” Jason chuckles and Danny lets off a growl. “He is supposed to be trying to make amends with Danny. We can use that to our advantage” I tell them.
“Is there anything else you want from the house?” Mum asks Danny. “I wouldn’t mind some photos of her and I and there may be some toys I had growing up; we can get for Sophia” Danny answers her. “We can tell him we are getting those items” Mum exclaims.
“Simon, how bad was the fire?” Dad asks, looking at Simon. “It was mainly in the kitchen. They did an investigation; as much as James allowed, anyway. It looks as though Luna Janelle was cooking dinner and somehow, something caught on fire. It was deemed an accident” he answers us. “I was ordered to board the house up and to my knowledge; no one has been back since” he adds.
“All items should still be there?” I ask, mainly to confirm the answer. “As far as I know, yes” Simon answers.
“I can call and ask James now” Dad says to everyone. “I don’t want to see him. I don’t even want him to know we are going there” Danny spits. “It’s better to get the permission, than sneak around. He won’t know, what we are really going to get and you don’t have to come” I tell him; sensing his apprehension.
“Claudia is right Danny; it’s best to ask him. If he says no, then we can look at a different angle” Dad says to him. “I’ll call him; I have an idea” I inform everyone. “Do you mind sharing before we make a call to him?” Jason asks me. “I call James and inform him of Sophia’s birth. Tell him Danny has been saying he wouldn’t mind getting some of the photos Luna Janelle has of him and her for Sophia and if is it possible can I go and get them” I tell them. “With your father, Jason and I. We can tell him it’s a surprise for Danny, that way you don’t have to go” mum adds, looking at Danny.
“Sophia can stay here with you” Dad tells him. “And he won’t get any ideas, if you are with others” Mum includes.
“I want Cynthia to go too” Danny says fuming. “Done” I smile at him as I walk over to Dad’s desk to get his phone. “I’ll put it on speaker, so you can hear the conversation” I tell him.
I scroll through the phone contacts and bring up James’ number and hit call; placing it on speaker. “Hello” “Hi James, it’s Claudia.” I say to him. “Claudia; how’s my favourite daughter in law?” he answers me.
“I’m ok. I’m calling to inform you; Sophia was born two weekss ago” “I’m a grandfather?” he asks me; enthusiasm in his voice. “Yes, you are” I giggle; not wanting to go any further into a conversation about Sophia.
“There was another thing; I wanted to know. Am I able to go to Luna Janelle’s old house and get some photos Danny was mentioning to me?” I ask him.
“Her house was destroyed in a fire, I am not sure if there is anything left” he answers, his tone becoming a little sinister. “Oh; Mum, Dad, Jason, Cyndy and I were hoping to surprise him with them. If they have been destroyed, we will have to think of something else to get for him” I say, feigning disappointment.
“The house was boarded up after the fire. You can come and have a look, but don’t be surprised if you find it all destroyed” he tells me. “Great; we can come tomorrow. I’ll have my crowbar ready” I giggle. “Will you be bringing Sophia? I wouldn’t mind meeting her” he asks, optimistically.
“We are still trying to get her into a routine. Maybe next time” I answer him. “Ok” he answers, disappointed. “I best be going so I can tell Dad we are able to go see, if we can surprise Danny” “Bye” he conludes as I hang up the phone.
“We ready to go?” I ask everyone. “What?” Danny asks me, surprised at my question. “I got permission; we just need to go and I don’t want James thinking he can destroy anything in there. His not expecting us to go until tomorrow. Are you coming?” I answer him.
“Jade can stay here and look after Sophia. Jason, can you link Rick, Tim and Cynthia to meet us out the front in 10 minutes. Let’s go get a safe” Dad smiles at me. “We can take a chain with us; if we run into James or Todd; you can rattle it to scare them” Jason laughs.
“Fine. Any sign of Todd or James; we are to leave immediately” Danny growls at us. “Let’s get going then” I yell, giving Sophia a kiss on the top of her head and walking out of the office door. “We’ll take my van” Jason calls out to everyone. “Simon, you drive. You know where the house is” Dad adds.
“It’s not too far. It’s near our western border. Should be easy to get to and if Todd or James come near the house; we can get back here quickly” Simon informs us as I hop in the back and sit next to Danny.
“I didn’t realise it was so close to our border. I knew it was away from the River Moon packhouse, I shouldn’t be surprised” Danny says giving a half smile. “Are you ok?” I ask him. “Nervous, it’s been a while since I have been there” he answers, picking up my hand and kissing the back of it. I lean my head on his shoulder.
“Danny, do you know what picture Rachael was telling us about?” Cynthia asks him “Yes; there is only one. It’s above the fire place” he tells us. “Here we are” Simon says parking the van in front of the boarded-up house. “That was quicker, than I thought” Dad exclaims. “We probably could have walked here” Jason includes.
“If you don’t want to go in, you can stay in the van” I whisper to Danny as everyone else gets out. “No; I’ll be fine” he says, taking a deep breath. “I’m here if you need me” I smile; taking his hand. “Let’s go” he says; smiling back at me as we hop out of the car.