"I'm not going back in there," Shannon, the day nurse, raises an eyebrow at Addison.
Addison frowns, confused.
"She doesn't need a nurse, Dr. Montgomery," Shannon continues, finishing her paperwork. "She doesn't even let anyone touch the baby, let alone take her to the nursery. Dr. King said she wants to be discharged, and if you don't do it, she'll do it herself."
Addison attempts a smile and nods once.
"Thanks Shannon," she says, taking Charlotte and the baby's charts. "Have a good night."
Shannon raises her eyebrows and gives a wave before turning and walking down the hallway. Letting out a breath, Addison enters Charlotte's hospital room.
Katelyn is asleep on Charlotte's chest, while Charlotte herself lies with her eyes closed. But she wakes up and looks over as Addison gets nearer to the bed; looking up like a disturbed grizzly.
"Y'know, the nurses are just trying to do their jobs," Addison says, raising an eyebrow at Charlotte.
"I should like to think I'm perfectly capable of takin' care of my own child," Charlotte replies, unbothered.
"Would it be the worst thing if the nurses took her to the nursery for a couple hours, so you could get some sleep?"
"It would be unnecessary," Charlotte replies. "I don't want her thrown into a pile of newborns where some incompetent nurse gets her mixed up with someone else's baby."
"Because that's likely," Addison gives her a look.
"She's fine right where she is," Charlotte repeats, and Addison chuckles.
"And you thought you wouldn't be a good mother," she teases.
Charlotte doesn't reply. She's busy lifting Katelyn so she can lie on her back and Charlotte can check her diaper.
"How's Miss Katelyn doing today?" Addison asks, coming to stand beside Charlotte. "I'd ask the nurses but they'd have no idea, would they."
"She's just fine," Charlotte replies, ignoring the second comment. "Barely makes a sound unless she's hungry or needs a fresh diaper."
"Well that can't be right," Addison frowns, and Charlotte's head snaps up to look at her. "Any kid of yours definitely can't be quiet and laid back."
Charlotte tilts her head, giving Addison a dry look.
"I had no idea you were so hilarious," she says dryly.
Addison laughs, bending down to pick up Katelyn. It's a testament to their friendship now that Charlotte even lets her. But over the last seven months, the two of them have become friends.
"I gotta admit," she says, shaking her head at the baby. "You two have made a seriously beautiful baby."
"You're telling' me," Charlotte replies, pride seeping from her words like syrup, as she smiles at her daughter.
"I was so sure she'd have blonde hair," Addison says, running a hand over Katelyn's thick dark curls. "Guess those Freedman genes are strong."
"Dark hair and blue eyes," Charlotte grins. "She's gonna be a heartbreaker."
"And that," Cooper says, announcing his entrance into the room. "Is why I'll be purchasing weaponry in the near future."
Addison laughs and Charlotte smiles at her husband.
"Oh, I feel sorry for the man that wants to marry you, little one," Addison says to Katelyn, still stroking her hair. "Between your mom and your dad, he hasn't got a hope in hell."
"Do not say 'hell' to my child, Addison," Charlotte says, mocking a stern tone.
"Right," Addison scoffs, handing over Katelyn when Charlotte puts her hands out. "Because that's the worst thing she'll hear in her life, living with Charlotte King."
Charlotte just rolls her eyes and Addison goes back to their charts.
"How are my girls?" Cooper asks, bending down to kiss his daughter.
"In the last three hours since you were here?" Addison teases.
Cooper just smiles.
"I had a nurse ready to quit your wife's service 10 minutes ago," Addison informs him.
Cooper doesn't seem very surprised, but Charlotte rolls her eyes. "Because I don't need some inexperienced teenager handling my child? Let her quit."
"She's 26, Charlotte," Addison shakes her head.
"Sure don't look like it," comes Charlotte's quick rebuttal.
Addison laughs. Charlotte will always be Charlotte.
"Well, I'm afraid if I don't discharge you I'll come in to find an empty room anyways, so," she says, eyeing Charlotte. "You both are free to go."
"You might change your mind on that," Cooper says to Charlotte.
She looks up, puzzled.
"Your mother called," Cooper responds. "Several hours ago."
Charlotte tilts her head, already annoyed.
"Something tells me there's more to this story," she says.
"And she's at our house," Cooper finishes.
"Dammit, Cooper," Charlotte frowns.
"I'm sorry! But the time I talked to her, she was at the airport. And you know her! She's about as easily persuaded as you are."
Charlotte scowls, peeling off Katelyn's clothes and reaching over for one of the onesies she had packed in her bag.
"Well," she sighs, buttoning up the purple pyjamas. "I suppose the sooner she comes, the sooner she'll leave. No use tryin' to talk to her. She could start an argument in an empty house."
Cooper raises his eyebrows in agreement.
"Let's go and get it over with," Charlotte says, moving slowly to get off the bed, wincing. "I don't need a house full of visitors when we've got a new baby to take care of."
"Oh, let me see her!" comes an excited demand, as Charlotte enters the house, followed by Cooper who's carrying Katelyn in her car seat.
Charlotte rolls her eyes so hard she almost throws her back out.
Evaline King comes around the corner, hurrying toward the baby, barely acknowledging her daughter.
Cooper helps Charlotte with her jacket as Evaline helps herself to her granddaughter.
"Be careful, Mama," Charlotte demands.
Her mother gives her a disdainful look as she lifts Katelyn up. "Oh, please. I raised three babies myself; you included. I think I can handle my grand baby."
"Wouldn't be so sure about that," Charlotte mutters so quietly only Cooper hears.
But as soon as Evaline has Katelyn settled in her arms, the baby starts to cry.
"Oh," Evaline frowns, trying to soothe her. "What's wrong? Is she colic?"
"No, she is not colic, Mama," Charlotte retorts, taking her daughter.
"Well I can calm her down," Evaline protests, but as soon as Katelyn is in her mother's arms, she quiets down, settling against her. Evaline clamps her mouth shut, and Charlotte hides her pleasure at having her baby feel better just by being in her arms.
"Tea?" Cooper announces loudly, hoping to dispel the tension a bit.
"That would be lovely, Cooper," Evaline replies politely, and Cooper kisses Charlotte and heads for the kitchen.
Evaline follows Charlotte into the bedroom area.
She and Cooper are still living in their loft, and the baby doesn't officially have a room yet. Just an area of the large open space where her crib, dresser, and change table are set up.
"I should hope you're plannin' on movin' into a real house now," Evaline says, eyeing the apartment with an air of scorn.
"No, Mama. We're staying here and all living in one bedroom, until Kati goes off to college," Charlotte retorts.
Evaline just rolls her eyes. She follows Charlotte over to where the change table and baby's dresser are.
"Well, I picked her up a few things," she tells Charlotte, starting to unload the bag.
Charlotte softens, watching as her mother sets out one item of clothing after another.
"Thanks, Mama," she says quietly, touching a pair of pyjamas with a giraffe on the front.
"And I was thinkin' she could wear this for her first photographs," Evaline says, holding up a pink dress.
Charlotte stares at it in horror.
"Isn't it darlin'?" Evaline smiles.
"No," Charlotte replies bluntly.
"What are you talkin' about? You wore almost the same one when you were born."
"And I've never gotten over it," Charlotte replies, giving her mother a sarcastic smile.
Evaline stares, offended.
"I'm sorry, Mama, but I'm not puttin' that sort of thing on my child."
"Well," Evaline scoffs, offended, stashing it back in the bag, and starting to put back the other stuff.
In a moment of guilt, Charlotte sighs and reaches over, picking up the giraffe pyjamas before her mother can.
"This one's nice," she offers.
Evaline's air of irritation dissipates.
"Well, I know you always liked giraffes," she responds quietly.
Charlotte offers her a rare, small smile.
Things like this take her by surprise. It's like when she was 14 and her mother came home with a bag, and Charlotte was poised for an argument, figuring it was another ridiculous dress that her mother would try and make her wear to some ridiculous dinner. Only it was a dress that Charlotte actually liked, and she'd stared at it, in shock, almost unable to thank her mother. She was usually all about what she wanted, never caring what Charlotte wanted. It's one of the things Charlotte vowed to never do to Kati.
"Well," Evaline says, smoothing the front of her dress; always dressed for a garden party. "Let's go see about that tea."
"Turn her head, Charlotte," Evaline orders, watching as Charlotte attempts to breastfeed.
"I am, Mama," Charlotte replies, exasperated.
"Well she's not latchin' on, now, is she?" Evaline replies.
"She has every time before this!" Charlotte retorts.
Cooper gives his wife a sympathetic look, even though she can't see. It's been two days of Evaline and Charlotte bickering. Every night, Evaline goes to her hotel, and every morning, at 7:00 sharp, she's back. He doesn't want to tell his mother-in-law to leave, but he can see his wife growing more and more weary.
As Kati finally latches on, Charlotte closes her eyes with relief. Now her mother can't pick at her. For this, at least.
"Now," Evaline says, already on to her next project. "I've printed off some real estate in the nicer areas. You two need somethin' with space, and at least three bedrooms."
Charlotte looks up at Cooper, her eyes hard and fed up.
"Oh, thanks, Evaline," Cooper says kindly. "We've actually got a few places lined up to look at."
Charlotte looks at him, surprised.
"Oh?" Evaline says, sure that her suggestions are better. "Where?"
Cooper produces a small pile of papers, and Charlotte silently thanks him. Bless my husband, she thinks to herself.
Evaline takes the papers and looks through them, one eyebrow raised as she hums at some of them.
"Well," she says, straightening the sheets of paper. "I should think some of those would be just perfect for the three of you."
Charlotte exhales, relieved that her mother has no ammo from this.
"Well," she suddenly stands up, straightening her dress. "I suppose I'll be going home, then. Everything here seems to be alright."
Charlotte eyes her, careful, waiting for a hit.
"Although if she doesn't start eating better, I'd like to think a paediatrician would step in," she gives Cooper a stern look.
And there it is, Charlotte shakes her head.
"She's fine, Evaline," Cooper replies patiently. "She's already gained a pound since we've been home, and she's clearing out Charlotte's reserves every day."
"Reserves," Evaline frowns, unimpressed with his humour. "I say."
She shakes her head, walking over to Charlotte and Kati. She bends down and kisses the baby.
"You take care of her," she tells Charlotte. "And yourselves."
She adds it as an afterthought.
She doesn't attempt to kiss or hug Charlotte goodbye, and Charlotte wouldn't expect her to.
Instead, she walks to the door and takes her jacket off the hook. She looks back and gives them her signature half smile, says goodbye, and leaves.
They're silent for a few moments after she closes the door, and then Cooper slowly turns and meets Charlotte's eyes. They look at each other and then Cooper rolls his eyes backwards with intense relief, falling into the couch dramatically.
"Evaline King, ladies and gentlemen," Charlotte says under her breath.