Charlotte looked at him and blinked. "Sam."
"You're pregnant?"
"What does it look like, genius?"
"That you're pregnant."
"Oh my gosh, get this man a gold star." She rolled her eyes. "Listen, keep your damn trap shut, ya hear?"
"My lips are sealed."
"Good."
Addison looked at him. "So you need a consult?"
"Yes. She's in exam room three. She has a heart defect, and she found out she's pregnant."
"Ok. I'll be right there." Sam disappeared down the hallway and Addison turned back to Charlotte. "Do you want a picture?" She nodded. Addison printed the picture and handed it to Charlotte. "Remember your vitamins and if you need anything, just let me know." She paused. "How's the morning sickness?" Charlotte pursed her lips into a line and her eyes went dead. "By the look on your face, I'm guessing it's not good?"
"You guessed right."
"On a scale of 1-10, how bad is it?" She noticed Charlotte's hesitation. "I'm your doctor, remember? I need to understand your pregnancy."
"Fine, 8.4. I can live with it, but it's kinda all day sickness. Some days are worse than others."
"Pete…"
"No. I don't need anyone else here knowin' my business."
"He can help."
"I don't need the quack."
"Ok. Do you have any questions?"
"So the baby is fine?"
"The baby's perfect."
"Ok. Thanks." Charlotte wiped the goop off of her stomach and stood up. "I was never here, got that?"
"Got it, but you're gonna have to tell someone eventually."
"Eventually, yes. Right now, no." She walked out of the room and went into her office. Thankfully no one saw her.
Cooper was sitting on Violet's couch in her office, while she was at her desk looking at her computer screen. She looked up and saw him there. "Hey, Coop."
"Hey."
"So did you spend another night with Monica?"
"Yeah." He sighed.
"What?"
"I called her Charlotte."
"The name flub, nice." She paused. "What'd you tell her?"
"Well we were licking whipped cream and chocolate syrup off of each other," Violet made a face, but he continued, "so I told her I was thinking about this sundae I had in Charlotte, North Carolina when I was a kid."
Violet laughed. "Nice save."
"I thought so." He looked at his hands.
"You know what that means, don't you?"
"Don't even say it, Vi."
"You're not over her."
"I'm trying to get my life back."
"Do you love her?"
"Her as in Charlotte?"
"Yes."
"I did, but I can't trust her. She lied to me…more than once."
"You have to give her credit, though. She told you."
"Too late."
"Isn't late better than never?"
"Why are you taking her side in this?"
"I'm not taking sides."
"Sure looks that way." He paused. "She doesn't want the same things I want."
"I'm going to tell you something. The other day I was at the hospital and I passed by Charlotte's office. She was surrounded by boxes and throwing her shoe across the room. She told me that she sold her place when she moved in with you. She moved into the practice to be closer to you. She went all in. She loves you, Cooper."
He thought for a second. "That doesn't matter now." Cooper stood up. "You're my best friend. You're supposed to be on my side." He walked out of the room. He passed Charlotte on the way. He scowled and walked to his office.
Two weeks later, Charlotte was sitting in the kitchen at OWG, sipping from a water bottle. Cooper walked in and opened the fridge. He took out a strawberry yogurt and grabbed a banana from the fruit bowl in the center of the island. He walked out without saying a word to Charlotte. She put her hand on her stomach and a single tear fell from the corner of her left eye. She stood up and walked to Addison's office. She knocked and walked in. Addison looked up from her desk and stared at the blonde. "Charlotte?"
"How many abortions have you done?"
Addison was taken aback by Charlotte's question. She almost fell backwards on her chair. "Too many to count."
"Without complications?"
"All of them were successful."
"Ok."
"Charlotte, are you asking me to give you an abortion?" She paused, seeing Charlotte's annoyed expression. "No judgments. What you do with your body is your choice."
"Uh, I don't know." She looked down at her feet and she heard herself say, "Yes."
"Are you sure?" She nodded. The truth was she wasn't sure, but she knew she couldn't raise this baby alone. "Ok. I have an opening at two." Charlotte half smiled and walked out of the room.
Charlotte was sitting on an exam table with her feet in the stirrups. Her hands were shaking and she had tears in her eyes. Addison walked in and sat on the rolling stool. She opened her mouth to explain the procedure to Charlotte, but Charlotte stopped her. "Just do it." She leaned back on the bed and clutched the sheet. So many thoughts went through her head and she began to feel dizzy. She blinked and took a deep breath. Addison was about a half centimeter from pushing the equipment into Charlotte when Charlotte abruptly sat up. "Stop!" Addison slid away from the table. "I can't do this." She took her legs out of the stirrups and stood up from the table. She sucked in a puff of air and breathed out slowly. She put her hand on the handle and turned back to Addison. "This never happened." She opened the door and slinked away to her office.
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