The luckiest

Chapter 14

 April 2017

Lake Champlain, Vermont 

I look out onto the lake, a smile spreading across my face; the spring air fresh and full of promise. My feet are resting on a little stool in front of me, while I watch the sunset. The glass doors are folded up against the wall and the sheer white curtains are gently blowing to and fro. 

Charlie joins me, in the seat next to mine and casually rests his hand on my massive belly. “Hmm. Not long to go until we get to meet our little guy.” I smile, albeit nervously. My due date is the end of May, but my doctor has suggested a scheduled C-section for mid-May. 

“Yeah. Literally a month.” 

“You OK, honey?” I decide not to tell Charlie about the nightmares I have been having because they are downright ridiculous. Dreaming of being operated on and then stitched up with the baby still inside or the doctor harvesting organs while he’s down there. 

“I’m good.” 

“OK but you’ll tell me if you’re not, right?” 

“Right.” Charlie shakes his head, “I still can’t believe that we’re having a little boy.  Poor kid is going to have it tough with the girls.” 

“Believe it. I’m just excited we’re having a boy this time and if Cait and Cara carry on they way they do, you can bet he's going to have it tough.” 

Charlie shrugs, “I guess, but at least he’ll have some sort of support in the form of Liam and Roan.” 

Roan was Jamie and Emma’s newborn son. He looked so much like my big brother. Carol, Mom and Dad have officially sat David and Holly down since they’d announced they were expecting again, with their baby being due in November. Three down and still living in sin, as my parents put it, but I think they really don’t care, just as long as Holly keeps popping out grandkids. 

“So, we’re settled on Charlie Jr ?” I ask my husband. We chose to name our son after him, seeing as this would definitely be my last pregnancy. 

“Done.” 

“I’m glad we did this.” I smile at him. 

His beautiful face breaks into a grin, “Yeah, me too. Think the house’ll be full enough now?” 

I laugh, “More than enough. Poor Mrs C will have her hands full until the girls start nursery in September.” 

“So, you’re still keen on staying at the school?” 

“Yeah, I am. It just works for me.” 

“You’re amazing, baby. I don’t know how you do it.” 

I lean over as far as I can and kiss him, “You’ve been my rock. I love you, Charlie.” 

“I love you too.  Now, let's go back in and I can show you just how much."

___________________________________________________________

July 2017:

I look down at the tiny version of  Charlie (they man's genes are ridiculous) in my arms while I nurse him at one of the outside tables at the pub.  His eyes are shut tight, but his little mouth is suckling away.  Boy, can this kid drink.  His sandy blond hair has started thickening and currently resembles a mohawk.  As much as I love him, I feel like a Walking Dead extra.

"Hey baby." Charlie plops himself down beside me at the table.

"Hey you.  Almost done?"

"Uh," He looks at his watch, "Gimme another half hour.  I just want to help with the bar crowd at half time and then I'll be ready to go."

"OK, I'll check in on the girls.  Mom must be about ready to hand them over."

"Cool.  I'll see ya in a bit." With that he kisses the top of baby Charlie's head and then my cheek.  The little one stirs a bit and I rock him gently.  He begins to suckle again and then stops, his little mouth agape.

" While you are in a milk-coma, I'll check in with your tormentors."  I whisper at him.

"Hey honey.  Girls are good, but Cara is quite fussy.  I think she may need a nap or she's missing you." My mom is too polite when it comes to the twins.

"Mom.  She's testing you.  It's the terrible two's."

"Here.  Say hello to Momma." Mom must be speaking to Cara.  I wait for her to come to the phone.

"Momma.  Home, pwease.  Can you bring my baby?" My heart melts.  The girls love little Charlie.  Cara, specifically thinks he belongs to her, except when he needs a diaper change.

"Momma will be home soon, baby.  Please be good for Grandma, OK?"

"Yes, Momma."

"OK.  Now, give the phone to Grandma.  Momma loves you."

"Wuv you!" She yells it as she probably toddles off.

Charlie squeezes my hand as we make our way through the Portland suburbs, back home. He seems so much more relaxed this summer.  He's taken on enough help to ensure he doesn't need to go in every day.  With the girls starting nursery school in the fall, we'll need to etch out more time for home life.

I peek to the back seat and smile at the sleeping baby, "I wish he'd stay like this this forever."

"I don't know about that.  I like sleeping through the night."

I clear my throat, "Is that a slight tone of regret there Mr King?"

"Not at all." He quickly adds.

"Need I remind you that you were the one eager to expand in the first place?"

"No, Ginny, you don't need to."

"Yeah, you know the deal." I get in my last jab.  He smiles at me and I blush a bit, thinking about how hard we tried to get pregnant with baby Charlie.

"You're thinking about us having s*x, huh?" He teases me and I feel caught out.

"Who says?"

"If you've got fifteen minutes for me later on; I'll make it worth your while."

"Charlie!"

"What?"

"Fine, but I want a bubble bath drawn for me first."

We're lying in the bath tub, Charlie behind me.  He is stroking his fingers up and down my arms.

"Hmmmm."

"Feel like heading into the bedroom yet?"

I shake my head from side to side, "Nope."

"You sure?"

My eyes feel droopy and I can barely formulate a sentence. "Uh-huh."

"OK.  Want me to make you some tea?"

"Just some water please."

"Sure.  I'll check on the kids on my way up."

"Thank you.  I love you."

"Yeah, yeah.  Love you too."

I lie there for a couple of minutes more and then make my way into the bedroom to get into the comfiest thing I can find to sleep in. I had hoped for a quick night time tryst, but my body was clearly protesting and just needed sleep.  I'd forgotten what it was like with a newborn.

The next day was a Sunday and had fast become our CE day.  David and Holly were always keen to host Sunday lunch.  I, however, was feeling more up to just being home with my little family.  I had planned on calling Holly the next day to let her know.  I knew Charlie wouldn't mind just staying in either.

By the time he was back, I was curled up in one of his old t-shirts and boxers, my body pillow tucked between my thighs.

"Yeah.  When that thing comes out, I know its tickets for what I had in mind."

"Sorry, baby.  Tomorrow morning, I promise!" I sat up and took the offered glass of gleaming iced water from him, "Thanks."

"I'm holding you to it."

"Oh, I'm hoping your do."

"There's my Ginny." and within seconds, his mouth is covering mine, both our hunger evident, but the bodies non-compliant. 

"Tomorrow." I whisper against his lips.

"Tomorrow. "He echoes.

________________________________________________________________________________