Title: Separation Anxiety
Disclaimer: All characters except Charlotte belong to ABC.
Author's Note: This takes place some time in the future, and in this future, Phil has left the house on several occasions but only to get into the car and to go to Pizza Girl's house. Those are the only two places that Phil will go to. Doesn't mean anything in this chapter but will in future ones.
Charlotte was celebrating her three month birthday today and unfortunately her only present was her mother going back to work. Eddie had gone back to Best Friend Windows two months earlier at Janet's behest, assuring that she would be fine watching Charlotte alone. Not that she was ever really alone; Hannah dropped by almost everyday before work or after work, sometimes with Sam, sometimes without. Hannah loved having a new baby in the "family" and Sam was enamored with the new addition, so it was never a trial to get him to come over with her. Everyone was pitching in and it was great being a stay at home mom.
Now, however, money was getting tight, and besides that, Janet really missed working. She loved her daughter more than life, but she needed a break! And who knew that dealing with drunken frat boys and bar brawls would be a break. She had worked it out with Sully that she would take the night shifts so that Eddie would usually be home before she went to work. On the occasions that he would have to stay late on a job, they had a slew of baby-sitters lined up to watch Charlotte, number one on the list being Phil.
Phil was a treasure that Janet had come to count on in the months after Charlie (a nickname that Eddie insisted on calling her), was born. She and Eddie were still living in the house so they could save and get a place of their own, not that she minded. Phil was amazing with his little "niece", getting up with the parents when she cried, feeding her, rocking her to sleep, and he even sang to her. His voice softly crooning Journey put her to sleep faster than anything else. Janet had come to appreciate Phil so much and man, did she need him today.
Janet had been hoping that Eddie would be home in time for her to go to work, but he had gotten tied up. She really didn't want Charlotte to be without her dad the first night her mom was leaving, but she needn't have worried that Charlotte would be bothered. She walked through the house looking for Phil to ask him if he would watch Charlie until Eddie got home, and stopped when she heard his soft voice coming from Charlie's nursery. Journey had made way for Led Zeppelin and she smiled as she saw him holding her daughter, quietly singing the words to "Ramble On".
Janet hated to break such a scene up, but she needed to leave, so she knocked on the door to get Phil's attention. "Hey," she said when he looked up, "I have to get going and Eddie's gonna be a while. Do you mind—"
Phil shook his head. "Say no more. Of course I'll watch her. You know she's my favorite girl ever." Then faux whispering to Charlotte, "Just don't tell Pizza Girl."
Janet laughed. "That's ok, I think she'll understand. Charlie has that effect on the men of the Ridge. Just let me say good-bye to my girl. Come here, sweetie." She took her out of Phil's arms and cuddled her close, gently sweeping Charlie's hair back. "I still can't believe she has so much hair for three months."
Phil smiled. "Yep, definitely has Eddie's hair. Sticking up a thousand different ways, never staying down. I think it's safe to say she'll be a heartbreaker too."
"Just so long as no one breaks her heart or Eddie'll break their face." Janet and Phil shared a laugh at that and then Phil left the two Latekka women alone. Janet knew she had to go, but she hadn't realized until this moment how hard it was going to be. What was she thinking?! Charlotte was only three months old. And yes, Janet and Eddie trusted Phil implicitly, but still. What kind of mother was she to leave her child after only three months?! A horrible kind! "Oh, god, I can't do this. I can't leave! Phil!"
Phil came rushing back in at hearing her frantic cry. "Janet, what's wrong?" He already had the phone in his hand, ready to call the police, ambulance, National Guard; whoever was needed.
"Call Sully for me. Tell him I can't come in. Give him whatever excuse you need. Just tell him I can't be there tonight." With that final word, Janet sat down in the rocking chair beside the crib, shushing Charlotte's non-existent cries, while Phil backed out and closed the door.
Phil did as was requested but knew that no excuse was necessary. Sully had anticipated that Janet wouldn't be quite ready to leave Charlie and had asked Janet's temporary replacement to work that night. After hanging up with Sully, Phil dialed Best Friend Windows. He knew that no one would be able to talk Janet down but Eddie and work or no, he would come home to be with his girls.
TBC…