CHAPTER 7
HOPE'S AROUND THE CORNER?
Two weeks later Charlotte's still squeezes Cooper's hand in response to his voice. She still hasn't opened her eyes yet. Her progress has amounted to lots of hand squeezing. She squeezes his hand as he reads her favorite books to her. She squeezes his hand when he plays her favorite songs. Charlotte's momma, Augusta, and brother, Duke, have come to town to visit . Charlotte squeezes both their hands in response to tales of her youth that momma and Duke tell Cooper.
Duke laughs after his momma Augusta tells a particularly embarrassing tale of Charlotte falling off the stage during her fifth grade band concert. The band stopped playing and all eyes were on Charlotte sprawled out on the auditorium floor sobbing in pain. "Charlotte's gonna be mad you told Cooper that story. She doesn't like anyone reminding her of that day. She was publicly humiliated. She heard about it for weeks from the kids at school. She told me she would never let anyone see her cry again. She promised herself to buck up and stay strong at all times after that. She told me to do the same if I knew what was good for me. I was only seven, I listened to her. She's my big sister." Duke tells Cooper
Augusta continues "...And that's how Charlotte broke her collar bone when she was ten years old." Augusta turns to Cooper and Duke, "She's squeezing my hand real tight now. I think she's trying to break it." She turns to Charlotte and says, "I didn't mean to ruffle your tails feathers baby girl."
Cooper places his hand over Charlotte's to check the grip she has on Augusta. That's his Charlotte, the fighter. He knows she's still in there. The fight in her hasn't left through all this.
Addison knocks on the door to Charlotte's hospital room before she pokes her head in "Hello everybody," she says as she makes her weekly entrance with the ultrasound machine in tote. She smears gel on Charlotte's lower abdomen and slowly moves the wand around until she finds the heartbeat. They all gather around the monitor to watch. "The baby's developing nicely." Addison informs them. "It's almost nine weeks into the pregnancy. The heart beat is strong and regular. We're almost out of the woods."
"Is it a girl or boy?" Duke asks.
"It's too soon to tell. "Addison explains. "We can't distinguish the sex accurately until the fetus is in the 16th week of development. It's almost nine weeks now."
"Do you have names picked out Cooper?" Duke asks.
"Um no," is all Cooper will say.
Augusta tells him rather sternly, "I must tell you something. It's important you know this."
"What?" Cooper asks.
"All the females in our family have been named after a southern city or state for the past 100 years. I'm named after the city Augusta in the state of Georgia. Charlotte's name comes from Charlotte, North Carolina. My mother's name was Georgia." Augusta informs him. "My grandmother was named Caroline after the Carolina's...My great gandmother was..."
"I get it." Cooper stops her from talking holding his hand in front of him with his palm facing her. He pauses a moment and then asks. "Is Charlotte aware of this tradition?"
"Of course she is darlin'." Augusta responds. "Why?"
"We talked about names a while back and Charlotte mentioned she liked the name Marjorie. I'm not aware of any southern cities named Marjorie." He smirks.
"Well if that don't dill my pickle!" Duke bursts out in laughter.
"Good god. That was her horses' name." Augusta tells Cooper. Her eyes looking up to the ceiling. "Ya don't name yur child after a horse. Ya got it all backwards darlin'. "
"It was Charlotte's idea. She told me about her horse. " Cooper remembers back to that day over two years ago in the bathroom of Pacific Wellcare when they thought she might be pregnant. Now it's reality.
"I think my sister was just joshin' ya about the name, Cooper." Duke's smiling.
"Maybe," Cooper agrees. "But I'm not coming up with any names without Charlotte." Cooper tells them.
"Boy has she got you whipped!" Duke smirks.
"You may not have a choice darlin'." Augusta tells Cooper. "I'll give you a list of nice southern names."
"I don't want to think about names yet. I'm taking it one day at a time." Cooper tells Duke and Augusta.
Augusta turns to Addison who's finishing wiping the gel off of Charlotte's belly. "May I have one of those ultrasound pictures that you doctors give away to pregnant mommas?" Augusta asks Addison.
"Sure. I can print one out right now for you." Addison pushes buttons on the machine.
"Don't you want one Cooper?" Augusta asks.
"No." Cooper answers.
"Suit yourself darlin' but I want a momento of my grandbaby." Augusta takes the pictures from Addison.
As soon as Addison exits the room Amelia Shepard comes in to examine Charlotte.
"What is this Grand Central Station in here today?" Augusta asks joking.
"If you all don't mind I'd like to examine Charlotte in private." Amelia tells them.
Augusta announces, "I'm so so hungry, I can see bow-legged biscuits walking on corn bread crutches. You comin' Cooper?... My treat." Augusta asks.
"No. I'm going to wait outside the room." Cooper tells her.
"Suit yourself darlin'." Augusta and Duke go downstairs to the cafeteria while Cooper waits. After Amelia is done she steps out into the hall to talk to Cooper.
Cooper sighs and asks Amelia the same question he asks every day. "Did you see any signs of progress?"
Amelia gives him the same answer she gives him every day. "Nothing besides the hand squeezing. She's aware on some level of what's going on. I'm sure it's frustrating for her."
"She lets us know that." Cooper tells Amelia, "Her grip is stronger each day."
"That's great..." Amelia shakes her head. "But I'd like to see her progress faster Cooper. She's been squeezing your hand for over two weeks."
Cooper tilts his head. "What are you thinking?"
"There is an option." Amelia tells him "There's a new experimental drug that's beneficial in the treatment of coma patients like Charlotte. It may give Charlotte the jolt she needs to wake up."
"So what are we waiting for?" Cooper asks.
"I was waiting to see if Charlotte would wake up on her own but her progress is too slow. I'd like your permission to try the drug on Charlotte."
"You've got it." Cooper's willing to try anything to get Charlotte back.
"Since it's a new drug and in the experimental phases it hasn't been used on any pregnant women yet. Worst case scenario is Charlotte could lose the baby and I can't guarantee that the drug will even work on her."
Cooper's face is sullen.
"What do you want to do Cooper?" Amelia waits for an answer.
"Can you give time to research this drug and discuss it with Charlotte's mother and Duke?"
"One day Cooper. That's all I can give you. There's a window of opportunity between the timing of the head injury and the effectiveness of this drug. Charlotte's at the end of the window. I only waited this long because of the pregnancy but if we're going to give it to her the sooner we administer it the better."
"Let me research it and talk with Augusta and Duke. I'll give you an answer this afternoon."
"Call me which ever way you decide." Amelia walks off.
Cooper's uses Charlotte's office computer to research the new drug on the internet. He studies the information while sitting at Charlottes' desk. He's startled when the door suddenly opens.
"Mom, Dad, what are you doing here?" Cooper's surprised by their sudden appearance in Charlottes office.
"Violet called us. She told us we could find you here." His parents each give Cooper a big bear hug. "It's good to see you again son." Mr. Freedman tells him.
"Violet has a big mouth." Cooper responds hugging them back.
"Someone has to keep us informed, dear, since you don't anymore." His mom lectures. "Why didn't you tell us Charlotte was hurt in the earthquake? You told Augusta."
"Can you blame me after how you treated Charlotte before our wedding?"
"Your father and I are sorry." Mrs. Freedman seems sincere with her apology.
"Charlotte's the one you need to apologize to, not me."
"And we will do that dear as soon as she wakes up."
"Well if this new drug works on Charlotte she'll be waking up soon." Cooper's excited about the results of the studies he just read about the new drug.
"We don't think the drug is a good idea Cooper. Violet said there's a chance it could harm the baby." Mr. Freedman tells him.
"Violet told you Charlotte was pregnant?" Cooper scratches his head.
"And it's a good thing Violet told us since you didn't." Mrs. Freedmans scolds. "Anyway I don't think the drug is a good idea at this time. You should wait."
"We can't wait mom. If this drug is going to work we need to give it to her now." Cooper resonds.
"We understand how you feel son." Cooper's father explains. "But it puts your child at risk."
"Charlotte comes first." Cooper's annoyed at his parents.
"It's your first child Cooper." Mrs. Freedman urges.
"I need to do what's best for Charlotte." Cooper doesn't make eye contact with his parents.
"What does Augusta think about it? It's her grandchild too." Mrs. Freedman asks.
"Augusta wants what's best for her daughter as any mother would." Cooper tells.
Mrs. Freedman continues talking, "Augusta told us at your wedding she has two grandchildren from her oldest son. You know how much we've always wanted a grandchild Cooper."
"It's likely the baby will do fine with the drug. It's thrived through everything else." Cooper tells them.
"Do you want to take that chance son?" Mr. Freedman asks.
Cooper's had enough. "This conversation's over." Cooper picks up the phone and calls Amelia. "Do it Amelia. I want you to give Charlotte the drug."
Cooper's parents walk out of the office in a huff.
Cooper puts his head down on Charlotte's desk between his arms. "This better work." He says to himself before falling asleep out of pure exhaustion.
Okay. I want to hear your opinions! Do you agree with Coopers' decision to give Charlotte the experimental drug?
Please tell me in your reviews!
