The Bateman Residence, Main House, Grand Dr., Conyers County, District Of Colombia...
By the time Charley Bayler got back to The Bateman Residence, everyone else had been up and about. He had not had much to say to anyone aside from pleasant platitudes and mostly kept to himself waiting for Carter to get ready to head back to the auto shop and summon Diane for his check. He'd still been keen on leaving and seeing Tiffany with her son at the store had only made his anxiousness about leaving all the more focused. There was truly nothing left for him in D.C. and he had known it ever since his former girlfriend had turned her back on him.
Slowly, Charley entered the old house and scooped up his backpack wishing he'd stayed a bit longer inside and avoided the rather awkward encounter with Tiffany and her young son altogether. He could have dealt with not having to see her after all those years of being behind bars. He'd have been a lot better off not seeing her kid with his own eyes as well, it couldn't be helped now and he simply pushed the encounter down in favor of looking for his former employer so they could return to the shop and he could get his final check.
Charley mostly kept to himself, even as Carter came downstairs dressed and ready to head out after grabbing a quick bite to eat, Miss Edna had offered him more food and he politely declined treating the older woman who had been like a mother to him for one final hug before venturing toward the main door.
"You see either of the girls before you headed off?" asked Carter biting into the piece of toast he'd been carrying in his hand as they neared the front door. "I ain't heard a peep from them all morning."
"They're probably just tired," said Miss Edna before turning her attention back to straightening up her kitchen. "It was a long night and an even longer party."
Charley didn't say a word as he had known all too well just how long both Holly and Jen's night had been, he'd still been feeling the residual effects of having had both Bateman sisters back to back but he'd been focused on hitting the road, after seeing Tiffany in person, he knew getting out of D.C. was the best thing for him.
He followed Carter Bateman out of the house and out to the old man's 79' Buick where he climbed into the passenger side and closed the door after taking one last look at the only place that had been his home since he'd been cast into the street as a younger lad.
He recalled being cold and hungry following a particularly nasty argument between his mother and father before he'd been unceremoniously tossed out into the cold for defending his mother, who made no move to assist him once his father got started beating him and her before his back hit the pavement.
He scrambled to his feet and that was it, he wandered for he didn't know how long until he came across Bateman's shop and passed out in one of the empty cars desperate for a warm place to sleep for the night.
While Charley had made up his mind to leave D.C. for good, he had still been grateful to Carter Bateman for all he had done in the past for him, giving him a home and a job, making it possible for him to get his own place, even if he had lost everything years later due to Julian being a hateful son of a bitch.
As far as the other Batemans had gone, he wished them well but Julian had been another matter, never would be too soon not to have to see his lying face ever again.
Carter Bateman sighed looking over at Charley who stared out the window in silence as he started the engine and pulled away from the driveway. He'd been none too thrilled about Charley's decision and had hoped his daughters could have talked some sense into him, it was like he'd been losing a son all over again, and for the life of him, he couldn't bring himself to accept it.
The rather saddened older man didn't know if it was due to guilt or failure on his part to see the truth before Julian blurted it out, but he knew without being told that he had lost Charley the moment he'd been handcuffed, that there was no talking him out of his decision and he knew all too well that he might not ever see the sweet and formerly helpful young man ever again if the lad had his way.
They pulled away from the old house and headed down the rather familiar street where Charley noticed a few familiar landmarks as the breeze from the window blew his messy brown hair in every direction. He didn't seem to mind it, leaning back as relaxed as Carter had ever seen him and further steeled in his decision to leave D.C. behind.
CCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCC
Bateman Auto Motive Shop, 5th and Grand Street, Conyers County, District Of Colombia...
The 79' brown Buick pulled into the parking lot and already Charley could smell the grease and car parts as they came to a stop in Carter's stall. The older man seemed quite out of sorts but remained silent as he exited the car and shoved the keys into his pocket once he'd ensured the car had been shut off. He shuffled out of his seat, revealing a bit more of his age than ever before, Charley exited the Buick for the final time and headed toward the shop where word got to them that Diane cut Charley's final check and that it was waiting for him on Carter's desk.
The walk to get the check had been a silent one, filled with angst and a good deal of sadness as Carter stood beside his desk with the check-in hand, as he looked over at Charley Bayler, handed it over to the handsome younger lad, and sighed.
"I wish you nothing but the best Charley Bayler," he said with something of a sorrowful yet proud expression filed across his aged face. "And don't forget you can always come home when you need to."
Charley took his check and shook Carter's hand for the last time.
"Thanks, Mr. Bateman," he said meeting the older man's gaze full on. "You take care of your family."
Carter nodded.
"You do the same," he replied before letting Charley's hand go and moving back to sit at his desk.
Charley nodded and turned his attention toward putting one foot in front of the other as he left Carter Bateman's Auto Motive Shop for the last time. He knew right then that he'd never be back, not if it could help it, and that this was the last time he'd see Mr. Bateman or his family.
He finally rounded the corner and the shop had disappeared from his view as he set his sights on a check cashing place and the nearest bus station. When he went to finally cash his check he found that Bateman had given him more money than he actually earned on his final day at work and smiled. It had been the real reason his check took so long but the old man didn't want him to know it.
Charley Bayler had not looked back when he finally boarded a bus bound for New Jersey. Even as he climbed aboard and moved back until he found his seat, he would never again set foot in D.C. if he could help it.
Several Months Later...