Chapter 10 - Charlotte's Web

Today was Charlotte Kings first day back at work after being out for about six weeks. She spent the first three weeks visiting her family in Alabama. The fourth week she spent as a patient at St. Ambrose with hyperemesis (excessive vomiting). The next two weeks she spent home on bed rest as ordered by her doctor Addison Montgomery. But now Charlotte was finally back at work. She was about 14 weeks pregnant and feeling much better. If you saw her you wouldn't be able to tell she was pregnant. She was thin to start out and lost quite a bit of weight with all the vomiting last month. She had a small baby bump you couldn't see unless she wore something form fitting.

"Hey Alabama! How's your first day back going for you?" Scott asked as he entered Charlottes' office at St. Ambrose.

"Ugh!" Charlotte replied. I have tons of paperwork to fill out, and meetings scheduled all day. My phone doesn't stop ringing. I'm not going to be able to go back to work at OWG until next week, so I could catch up with things here" she said frustrated.

"Maybe I'll come over tonight and give you a relaxing massage. Would you like that?" Scott asked.

"Sounds nice but I doubt I'll be home before 10 with everything I have to catch up on. Besides don't I owe you that backrub?" Charlotte reminded him.

"That's okay, it sounds like you need it more than me." Scott told her.

"How's your father doing?" Charlotte asked. She remembered he had gone to Canada to see his father who had heart surgery two weeks ago, She spoke to him on the phone almost every day he was there while she was home on bed rest.

"He's doing much better. Thank you" Scott replied.

Charlotte didn't have to deal with telling Scott and Cooper she wanted to see both of them since Scott was away anyhow.

"I've got to get back to my patients. Scott told her as he popped two pills in his mouth"

"Why are you still taking that stuff?" Charlotte asked.

"Back pain." Scott said as left her office. He passed Violet who also was coming to check in on Charlotte's first day back to work.

Violet slumped down in a chair. "So when are you going to tell them that you want to date both of them?" Violet asked.

"When the time is right and it is certainly not going to be today." Charlotte told her.

"You better be careful Charlotte. 'It's a tangled web we do weave when we practice to deceive'." Violet advised her.

"Gee, thanks Violet for implying I'm trying to deceive them!" Charlotte scoffed at her.

"The longer you wait to tell them that you want to date them both the worse it will be. You just got lucky that Scott has been out of town for the past two weeks but Cooper has been coming over almost every day for dinner." Violet said to her.

"Can you just drop it?" Charlotte asked getting frustrated

"I'm just watching you spin your web Charlotte." Violet told her.

Addison poked her head in to check on Charlotte. "Remember to try and use your stress management skills Charlotte, the minute your blood pressure rises I'm putting you out of work on disability" Addison warned her.

"My blood pressure is fine Montgomery!" Charlotte called out to her.

"Okay, but I'm keeping my eye on you. I've got to keep up my tract record for delivering the most high risk pregnancies successfully. I'm not going to let you spoil it for me. Addison teased Charlotte smiling as she said it.

Violet rolled her eyes as Addison left them to do her morning rounds.

"What's that face for?" Charlotte was curious.

"She's seeing Pete" Violet said. "They're trying to be discreet but I know they're seeing each other."

"So why should that bother you? I thought you were over Pete?" Charlotte asked.

"I don't know. I just have a feeling that since Addison can't have kids of her own she is going to try and be a mother to Lucas and that makes me crazy." " She probably figures Lucas can't have a mother and she can't have a kid so they'd be perfect for each other." Violet told her.

"So you're telling me that Montgomery is using Pete so she could have Lucas?" Charlotte asked in a tone of voice to make Violet see how ridiculous it sounded.

"Yeah. I don't see why that is so hard to believe. Addison wants a baby." Violet responded.

"I wouldn't worry about it. Montgomery hasn't had a relationship that's lasted more than a couple months anyway. Let them have their little fling. Charlotte tried to reassure Violet.

"I think she will try to make it work with Pete just so she could have Lucas". Violet worried out loud to Charlotte.

"Well do you want to be a mother to Lucas, Violet?" Charlotte asked.

"I do but I don't know when I'll be ready to take that step" Violet confided to Charlotte.

"Let's try this. I'll ask Pete to drop Lucas off at the house for a couple hours this Saturday. I'll be there to take care of him. It'll be good practice for me anyway. I haven't taken care of a baby in years. I could use some refreshin at it. You could decide if and how much you want to participate with him. If you wanna run out the door when he gets there that's fine too. Baby steps Vi we'll take baby steps. Okay? Charlotte asked.

"I'd like that" Violet said. I better go to work now. Sam and Cooper are probably looking for me.

LATER THAT DAY

Charlotte was still in her office doing paper work when Cooper and Pete knocked.

"Mind if we talk to you?" Cooper asked.

"No come on in. What could I do for you boys?" Charlotte asked.

"We want to talk to you about Scott." Pete told her. "We suspect he may be abusing pills. Almost every time we see him he is popping them into his mouth. And if we notice it you can bet others do to." Pete continued. "We want you to be aware of this as chief of staff If he makes an error and it turns out he was under the influence, St. Ambrose will be liable."

" I'll talk to him about it" Charlotte said.

"You will?" Cooper asked surprised.

"Why does that surprise you Cooper? I'm chief of staff. If someone makes a complaint against one of my staff members I have to follow up on it, no matter who it is." Charlotte lectured him.

"That went easier than I expected" Cooper said

"Pete, would it be okay if you left Lucas with me for a couple hours on Saturday?" Charlotte asked.

"Why?" Cooper wanted to know.

"For one I'm a little rusty when it comes to babies and diapers and all that. It's been over five years, I could use a refresher. I also am trying to help Violet with Lucas. I already spoke with her about it and she agreed. I'll be responsible for Lucas and she can jump in and help me or just play with him or not." Charlotte explained.

"Wow this is perfect on so many levels." Pete said.

"Why?" asked Charlotte.

"First, I'm glad Violet is starting to show some interest in Lucas, second I need a babysitter Saturday night because I wanted to take my date somewhere special and spend the night and third it will be good practice for you. So we all win. Pete said. "Oh and Charlotte would you mind keeping him overnight? I'll bring his playpen and all the stuff you'll need along.

"That'd be fine Pete. Cooper told him. I'll stay at Violet's Saturday too and help Charlotte. I could use the daddy practice. This is going to be fun." Cooper said excited.

Later that night at Violet's house

"Charlotte, Scott is here to see you" Violet called up the stairs.

"Send him on up" Charlotte yelled down the stairs to Violet.

Scott went upstairs and met Charlotte in her room. Charlotte was getting ready for bed in a pretty purple nightgown. "So are you ready for that back massage now?' Scott asked her.

"Yes" Charlotte answered. "But I feel guilty. You deserve it first since you have back pain.'

"No don't worry about me. Let me take care of you tonight." Scott said as he started to massage Charlotte's shoulders with his strong surgical fingers.

"Mmmm you have great hands" Charlotte moaned as she laid on the bed and let him massage her back and arms and legs. I really needed this after the day I had at work" Charlotte told him. "Are you sure I can't return the favor?"

"Oh you can." Scott told her "but not with a massage." He gently turned her over so she was facing him. She was all slippery from the massage oil he used. He laid himself on top of her and looked her in the eyes." I love you princess Alabama" he said before he kissed her on the lips and massaged her body with his hands. Charlotte just melted underneath him. The next morning she woke up lying next to him. She marveled at what a fine looking man he was. She liked him a lot and she might even be in love with him but it was so confusing because she also loved Cooper. But she couldn't think about that now. Now she had to think about how she was going to approach him about this pill problem that Cooper and Pete brought to her attention. The pill problem that she already suspected before Pete and Cooper ever said anything to her.

"Good morning Princess Alabama." Scott said as he woke up and gave her a sweet peck on the lips. "So how was your night?"

"My night was amazing! Charlotte responded." How was your night?"

"My night was spectacular. I wish it never had to end" Scott answered smiling at her. "But unfortunately we both have to be back at the hospital early" Scott said as he got up and started to get dressed . "I've got to go home and get ready for work. I really should leave some spare clothes here."

"Wait Scott!" I need to talk to ya about something important." Charlotte told him.

"Is this going to be about Cooper?" Scott asked.

"No this has got nothing to do with Cooper. It's about work. I need to talk to you as the Chief of Staff right now." Charlotte hated having to do this to him.

"What do you need to talk about?" Scott asked her.

Review! How do you think Scott will react to Charlotte questioning his pain pill abuse? How will she discipline him?