The luckiest

Chapter 17

"So, I'll see you this afternoon.  Wanna come for lunch?  Gives me reason to sneak off a bit early and I know the girls will love it."  Charlie is chatting away as he gets ready to leave for the pub.  I'm sitting in bed, still in PJ's, with baby Charlie in my arms, while he feeds.  The girls are in their room, playing something or the other with dolls and teddies.

"Uh, no, I think we're good for today."

"OK, then I'll bring home a late lunch for you guys, so I'll see you at about two.  That OK?"

"Sure." I smile at him.  I am trying hard not to let what was hurt and has now become rage, show.  I know there must be a perfectly logical reason she who shall not be named is coming to see my husband, but he knows how she makes me feel and how it stirs up the feelings I had before we had moved into a good space.

"I love you, Gin.  See you later."

"Love you too." He kisses me on the mouth and I feel my stomach knot.

Damn that b***h if she thought she was going to wreak havoc in my marriage.  

I'm outside with the girls, while baby Charlie is in the kitchen in his rocker, lights out after a feed and burp.  Cara is flinging sand from the sandbox every which way and it makes Caitlin howl with laughter.  Their little faces are still almost completely identical.  Caitlin's eyes are more grey than the bright blues Cara has.  I always catch my dad checking their eyes before he says their names.  It's sweet.  My mom swears she knows the apart, but whenever I collect them from her or she's been sitting for us, I notice the hair bands are different colours or one has a hair clip and the other doesn't.

I try my best not to think of Charlie at that moment and just enjoy my kids, but the fact that all three are his mini-me's does not help.  Just as I'm about to go down that dark lane, the sniffling and small cries from inside demand my attention.  

The girls are not keen to leave their outside time behind just yet, so I bring their baby brother outside and watch them from the grass.  Cara comes bounding over, her hands still full of sand.  "Baby!" She squeals as she stretches out the offending little meat hooks and I quickly pick Charlie up and hold out a hand, gently stopping her, "Not now big girl.  Mommy needs to burp him."

"I can help." She offers.

"Let's clean your hand first, OK?"  She dashes off to wash her hands in the bucket of water next to the sand box and comes bouncing back.  I hand her a wipe and after she does a thorough job of cleaning her hands, she gently pats his back.

"All done Momma."

Once we get the pretend-burping out of the way, she is back in the sand box, her and Caitlin focused on constructing and my thoughts on my plan or lack thereof.

With it only being Saturday, I'm not sure if I can keep up the act I have going.  I breathe in deeply, taking in baby Charlie's soft, sweet scent.  God, I love my family and I won't let my husband go.  I was reaching, I knew that because I knew Charlie, but I was pissed he wasn't speaking to me about this.

Could we ever catch a break?  I thought of calling up Holly, but decided this was best discussed between the parties concerned. Perhaps I should speak to one certain party.

Charlie is home earlier than expected and immediately takes over with lunch time for the girls.  I watch him as he dutifully gets them seated at the table and plates them some Shepherd's pie with greens (which they're most likely to abandon).

"Eat the green stuff too and there may be a trip to get ice cream after."  He is using bribery; clever, but not ideal.  I shake my head with a smile.

Baby Charlie is in his rocker, his eyes shut tight as he snoozes away.

"Gin, you want something to eat?" He asks, pointing at the meal he's brought home from the pub.

"I guess I should while he sleeps." I answer, motioning to our little boy with a nod.

"I'll dish you a plate."  I watch him attentively plate me some food and pour me a glass of pink lemonade he's also brought home.  I see he's spoilt the girls with some as well and as if sensing my apprehension, he raises a hand, "Quarter cups full. I swear!"

"How was the pub?"

"Good.  I know I don't need to be in all the time, but I like helping out on the odd weekend.  I see why your Dad was so passionate about it."

I love that he loves RiRa's the way my family does and understands the attachment we all have to it. "I know.  You've done so well with it.  I know Dad thinks you're a freaking rock star."

"I just like being a part of something everyday, you know?"

I stroke his hand, "I know, baby."

He pulls my hand to his lips and kisses it, "Thank you."

I manage to make it to Monday afternoon without snapping and throwing a fit.  I've taken the girls to the park around the corner from home.  They're in absolute heaven playing with the other kids.  I'm sitting on a bench, baby Charlie in his stroller, a light muslin over the top.

A young woman, plops herself down next to me and extends a hand, "Hey.  I'm Millie.  My kids are the two boys terrorising your girls over there."

I laugh and shake her hand, "Hi.  Ginny and I'm quite sure the terrorising is going both ways."

"I've seen your girls before, with Mrs C."

"Ah, you've met her."

"Yeah.  She's great.  I know she's been approached by several parents, trying to poach her.  She's great with your girls."

"Right?  She's everything to us."

"And you guys clearly mean the world to her.  She can't stop raving about you all.  I'd meant to ask her for your details before to arrange a playdate, but then I figured she'd gone on vacation already when I didn't see her the next few weeks after."

Millie smiles warmly.  Her short, brown hair cropped close to her head in a stylish pixie-cut.  Her light brown eyes light up when she smiles.  She pulls out a card, "Here."  It's her details.

"I work from home, so I am able to adjust my schedule should you wish to set something up."

"Thanks!  I'd love that and I'm sure the kids would too.  How old are your boys?"

She points at the taller one, his light brown curls bouncing about on his head as he jumps around, "That's Luke, he's five and Matthew is three."

"They're gorgeous. Matthew at nursery yet?"

"He's starting in the Fall.  Mrs C mentioned your girls are too."

Yeah.  I'm nervous, but I know they need it."

"They'll be fine.  It may take 'em a while to adjust or they may just fall right in, but they'll survive and so will you."  she's kind and straightforward.  I like Millie.

"Thank you.  Yeah, I think its more me I'm worried about."

She playfully nudges me with her elbow, "You've got this."

Baby Charlie fusses a bit and I lift the muslin to check on him.  Millie peeks over too.  "Who is this little cherub?"

"This is baby Charlie.  Sorry, just Charlie.  My husband is Charlie too and everyone's leaned into 'Baby Charlie', so it's kind of habit now."

She coos, "He's beautiful.  Hats off to you and Charlie Senior.  Three is a full-time job."

"Yeah, tell me about it!  But we have so much help, it lessens the load quite a bit."

"I'm sure.  My husband, Alex and I, we had three in the house at one point, but the eldest, Jade, she's back with her mom since she finished middle school in June."

"I see.  Are they close by?"

"Yeah, in Portland too.  We actually moved here from Augusta to be closer to her."  She doesn't offer much more and I assume by the curt answer and slightly forced smile on her face, its not an easy topic to discuss.

"Sorry, I didn't mean to pry."

"Oh, no, please don't feel bad.  I'm an open book.  It's been a rough summer, but that's a story to tell over some drinks."

"I like you, Millie." I laugh.

"I like you too, Ginny." She gets up, readying to leave, "Now, make sure you call me to set up that play date and then we could perhaps plan that mom-date too."

I wave the card I still have in hand at her, "Definitely!"

By time dinner rolls around, I realise my day has kept me pre-occupied and my mind off the task at hand, which is both good and bad.  I think back to the last time I walked in on Charlie and Lily.  My blood boils at the thought and I try to shake it off.  "Focus, Gin!" I chastise myself.

While I put the final touches on my bolognaise, I wait for Charlie to come bounding in, but by the time the table is set, he isn't there yet.  I check my phone to see if he's messaged.  He has.

* David popped in at pub.  We're going over plans for extending outside bar. Please keep me some dinner.  Be home by 7. Love you* 

I feel a bit annoyed, but maybe it's good he isn't home yet, because I might burst regarding Lily-gate.  My mind goes into planning mode again.  I know I need to confront this head on and I decide to call up my Mom.

She agrees to come through to watch the kids for the afternoon.  I am dying to know what could be so urgent that Lily needs to speak to Charlie in person.  I plan on finding out and I also plan on looking f*****g amazing while doing it.

My stomach turns slightly at the thought of the worst thing I could discover and I quickly push the thought of my husband cheating out of my head.

Charlie, as mad as I want to be at him, looks absolutely delicious in just a plain worn out grey t-shirt and black jeans.  His beard is growing out and it makes him look rugged.  I like it.  His eyes rake over me as I sit across from him while he eats dinner on his own.  I bite my lip appreciatively and he smiles, "I'm still eating, Ginny."

Shit.  I was putty in this man's hands and he bloody knew it.  He was so good at distraction-s*x, damn him! "I didn't say a thing."

"You don't have to." He states the obvious.  "Your eyes never lie and you're doing that thing with your mouth, like you're eating something sinful."

"Charlie!" I snap, my face feeling hot.

"Am I lying though?"

"No comment.  Now, finish your dinner and then tell me about the bar extension while I get the girls ready for bed."  'No s****l distractions tonight.' I think to myself.  I needed a clear head for the next day.