Charlotte grits her teeth, glaring at her mother's back as she walks away.
"Oh, don't let her get to you, sugar," Savannah pats Charlotte's knee. "You know your mama. She could start an argument in an empty house. Best just ignore it and carry on. You're doin' a fine job with that baby."
Charlotte attempts a grateful smile for her aunt, but it comes out as more of a grimace.
"She's gettin' on my last nerve," she says.
Savannah just raises her eyebrows in agreement.
This is the third time her mother has come and criticized her way of doing things. First Kati's bathwater was too warm, then Charlotte didn't use enough powder on her, and now she's apparently not feeding Kati enough.
At least this time Cooper was there to hear it, and assured Evaline as politely as he could that Kati was, in fact, perfectly healthy and her weight was ideal for a four-month-old. And he suggested Evaline show him the family library again, just to get her away from Charlotte.
He turns back and looks at his wife, giving her a wink as he ascends the staircase. She smiles, so glad he's here.
"Don't think another minute on it," Savannah says, as Charlotte lifts Kati up to burp her. "One look at that baby and it's clear as day that she's nothin' but perfect."
"She's gonna be a heartbreaker," Charlotte grins. "If she ever gets the opportunity to date."
"Ha," Savannah scoffs. "Between the two of you, I doubt it."
The official "reunion" began this morning. Charlotte was awake with Kati at 6:00, and Evaline was already up and ordering the housekeepers around. Tables of food are set out, chairs are everywhere, and there are family photos all over the place. The day is hot, but it's typical for Alabaman summers, so everyone is content to sit outside, fanning themselves. Kati's been passed around to almost everyone who has wanted to hold her, and Charlotte's glad to have her back in her own arms, now falling asleep, full and happy.
It's not as bad as Charlotte thought it would be. Sure, she has to make polite conversation with family she barely knows, but she also gets to see her cousins. Mabry, Jett's daughter, is a year older than her, and they used to spend a lot of time together when they were growing up, since Jett's ranch is only a couple miles away. Mabry's married now with two little girls of her own, who have spent most of their time in the pool with the other younger family members.
"You're already back to your normal size," Mabry shakes her head, sipping lemonade. "Took me 'bout a year to lose my weight from Julianna."
"I am not," Charlotte frowns, waving off the comment. "I still don't fit into some of my pants."
Mabry just rolls her eyes. "You've got nothin' to worry about, I'm tellin' you."
They look over as a scream erupts from the pool area, and watch as one of Wilder's grandsons dives into the pool, splashing Mabry's other daughter, Ashley.
"Where'd my husband get to?" Mabry glances around.
"I think he went out front," Charlotte replies. "Probably with Big Daddy to the stables. He's got some new Arabians to show off."
She gets up from her seat.
"I'm gonna go lay her down," she tells Mabry.
"Oh, I'll come with you. Then we can go have a look at those horses."
Charlotte smiles at her aunts sitting nearby and excuses herself.
"Can you believe Scarlett?" Mabry whispers as they walk up the stairs. "Scowlin' at all of the kids like they're diseased or somethin',"
"It's Scarlett," Charlotte replies quietly. "What else would you expect?"
Mabry shakes her head.
"I never did understand Daddy's side of the family," she goes on. "I don't think either one of us has ever heard an 'I love you' from our daddies."
"Just the way it is," Charlotte replies.
She learned to deal with this fact years ago. It doesn't bother her anymore.
"Not one member of the King family is very pleasant," Mabry adds. "Daisy and Savannah are sweet as pie, and they both married surly King men. I'll never understand it."
"Well I'm not surprised that neither Shelby nor Scarlett held Kati," Charlotte says, entering the bedroom.
"Has Big Daddy even held her?"
"No," Charlotte replies, lying Kati in the crib. "But lo and behold, I saw a smile try to wiggle it's way out of his lips when he saw her."
"No," Mabry stares at her.
Charlotte nods. "Pretty shocked myself," she answers. "But he just might soften up a bit for his granddaughter."
"She does have that affect on people," Mabry smiles, as Charlotte covers Kati up and picks up the portable baby monitor.
They leave the room and head for the stairs again, passing the library.
"Well most of these are just for decoration," they hear Evaline say.
They glance in and see Cooper, nodding at Evaline, whom they can't see from the doorway. Cooper just grins, a look of slight exhaustion.
They stifle laughter and go downstairs.
"How many horses are your parents raisin' these days?" Mabry asks, as they walk towards the stables.
"Nine, last time I checked," Charlotte replies. "Dorothy just gave birth. Daddy named her Dixie. And Belle is pregnant now, too, so that'll make 10."
"You watch," Mabry glances at Charlotte with a grin. "Your daddy's gonna buy your girl a horse as soon as she's able to ride it."
Charlotte gives a breathy laugh.
That was probably true. Big Daddy bought her her first horse when she was six. Her name was Georgia and she died only a couple years ago. Charlotte had been heartbroken. A few years before that her favourite cow, Marjorie, had died, too.
They reach the barn and sure enough Big Daddy is showing off his two new horses to a small group of men. Wilder, Jett, Mabry's husband Brody, Scarlett's husband Grant, and several cousins Charlotte doesn't know very well are standing around the two stalls as Big Daddy brags about pedigree.
Charlotte meets her father's eye but he goes on talking, and she and Mabry step over to Belle's stall. She's not very far along yet, so she's comfortable, munching on oats as she looks over at them with fluid, chocolate-coloured eyes.
She runs her hand over Belle's velvety soft nose.
"Didn't you just get your girls some horses?" she asks.
"Mmhmm," Mabry hums, petting Belle's other side. "Beautiful Quarter Horses. Gonna be great for horse shows."
They wander over and have a look at the two new Arabians. Big Daddy will only buy the best horses, so most of his are Arabians, while Belle and Hiccup are Quarter Horses. Hiccup is his pride and joy, winning races all the time. That's why he got his name; he's quicker than a hiccup.
"Miss Mabry," Jorge, one of the groundskeepers, calls from the stable doors. "Please come."
He looks concerned, and Charlotte and Mabry hurry to follow him. They hear crying as they get nearer the house and Charlotte listens but then doesn't bother checking the baby monitor. That's not Kati's cry.
They hurry around the outside of the house to the backyard, where a small crowd stands.
"Julianna?" Mabry calls, scared.
She pushes through the crowd of family members and finds her youngest daughter, Julianna, cradled in Daisy's arms.
"I think she broke it," Daisy says, her forehead creased as she looks to Charlotte for answers.
Charlotte steps forward after Mabry and sees the little girl's wrist, clearly broken.
She moves in, pushing aside people and kneeling beside Mabry.
"Yeah, it's broken," Charlotte supplies, as Mabry reaches to take her daughter. She cries out when she starts to move.
"Careful, Mabry," Charlotte says. "Don't move it around. Someone go get me a hardcover book."
No one moves.
"Now!" Charlotte orders loudly, and Shelby's husband, Harley, jumps, hurrying inside.
"Shelby, Mama's first aid kit. Should be in the kitchen. Ask Maggie," she says firmly.
Shelby looks put-out at taking the order, but moves for the door anyway.
As Mabry soothes her crying daughter and Charlotte makes sure she doesn't move too much, the family begins to move back and sit down. Shelby and Harley arrive at the same time, bearing the supplies Charlotte asked for.
"This is gonna hurt a little, alright?" she says gently to Julianna.
She moves the book underneath her and the little girls cries loudly.
"I'm sorry," Charlotte says, taking some gauze and gently wrapping it around the book and Julianna's arm.
Brody runs into the backyard then, followed by Ashley, and hurries over to his wife and daughter.
"What happened? Ashley said-" he begins, but sees Julianna.
"I'll start the car," he says, and jogs back out front.
"She'll be fine," Charlotte assures Mabry, as she worriedly clutches her daughter. "Get her to the hospital and they'll get a cast on her. I don't think it's a bad break."
Mabry nods and lifts up Julianna. Charlotte stands up too and sees Cooper and Evaline come out the backdoor.
"What's happened?" Evaline asks, looking around.
"Julianna broke her wrist," Charlotte replies, walking over to her husband.
"Well is she alright?" Evaline asks, wide-eyed.
"She'll be fine," Charlotte replies, as Cooper's arm slides around her. "I'm goin' in to check on Kati."
"Oh she's sleepin'," Evaline responds.
Charlotte holds back an eye roll and just continues going inside.
Twenty-four more hours, she tells herself, sighing.
Cooper says he's going to go get a drink, so Charlotte heads upstairs alone. As she gets closer to the bedroom she inhales sharply as she sees someone standing over Kati's crib. But her chest relaxes again when she gets closer, and instead she's completely surprised. Standing above her daughter, watching her sleep, is Big Daddy. Slowly, Charlotte walks into the room.
"Daddy," she says quietly.
John King looks up, a little surprised.
"Charlotte," he replies in his deep voice.
She steps up to the other side of the crib and looks down at Kati, who is still fast asleep.
It's quiet, and she glances up. Big Daddy is just watching Kati. He doesn't have his usual gruff frown, but he's not smiling either. He just looks content.
In silence, he looks up and meets Charlotte's eyes. They look at each other for a moment and then he gives her a nod, a proud look in his eyes, before he walks out of the room. Charlotte watches his back as he leaves. She's surprised at herself to feel her eyes tingle, but she doesn't cry. Her father may have been softer with her than with her brothers, but they've never been very close. She knows he loves her, in his own way, and she doesn't expect him to be any other way. But the look he gave her was new. He looked so…pleased.
She smiles, watching her daughter sleep.
"Surely you can stay another few days," Evaline scolds. "I've barely spent any time with my only grandchild."
"We have to go, Mama," Charlotte replies. "I'm sorry."
She finishes packing her bag, and zips it up.
Almost everyone left this afternoon, with only Wilder and Daisy staying for another night. Charlotte is eager to get back home, into her own space.
She lifts the bag and heads for the door. Cooper has already taken the rest of the bags to the rental car.
"Well I expect we'll see you for Thanksgiving, then," Evaline says.
"We'll see, Mama," Charlotte replies.
Her fuse is getting shorter and shorter. She can't take one more insult or jab from her mother, especially since all of them are regarding Kati, and how Charlotte cares for her. She meets Cooper halfway down the stairs and he takes the bag, gives her a smile and carries the bag to the car.
As her mother starts to talk about home remedies for diaper rash, Charlotte looks out the front door to find Kati's carseat empty. She had been there a few minutes ago, with Cooper, and now she's gone. Ignoring her mother, Charlotte looks over into the kitchen, but it's empty. So she walks over to the sitting room, which is dimmed by the heavy curtains, keeping the heat out. Sitting in the corner, in his favourite chair, is Big Daddy. And he's holding Kati.
He doesn't look up, though he knows Charlotte and his wife are in the doorway. He just rocks his chair slowly, watching his granddaughter. Charlotte is shocked. She's never seen her father hold a baby. Ever. Except maybe one or two photos from when she was a baby. But he's held none of his nieces or nephews, or his brother's or sister's grandchildren.
Absently, Charlotte smiles, watching them. Of course Kati will have a warm and affectionate grandfather through Cooper's father, but she never wanted Kati to have to be afraid of her other grandpa. And now she knows that she won't be. She's already managed to charm a man as stoic and somber as her grandfather.
Quietly, Charlotte leaves and goes outside. Cooper closes the trunk of the car, having finished packing. He jogs back to the house and looks down at Kati's carseat.
"Where's Kati?" he frowns.
Charlotte raises her eyebrows. "You didn't notice someone taking your child?"
Cooper tilts his head, and Charlotte is too happy to rag him about it. Instead, she inclines her head and walks towards the sitting room. She lets Cooper see her father cradling their daughter, and then nudges him back to the door.
"Oh. My god," Cooper says, his brow raised.
"I know," Charlotte responds.
But then they just grin at each other.
"Give 'em a minute," she says softly. "We'll go say our goodbyes to everyone else."
They head out to the backyard where Wilder and Daisy and Evaline are seated around a table.
"Y'all are packed up, then?" Daisy smiles, getting up.
"Yeah," Charlotte replies.
She returns her aunt's hug.
"You sent me pictures of that baby, you hear?" Daisy says.
"I will," Charlotte promises.
She exchanges nods with her uncle, and accepts the stiff hug from her mother.
"I'll be expectin' pictures as well," she says, giving Charlotte a stern look.
"Yes, Mama," Charlotte replies, controlling her urge to shake her head.
She and Cooper go back inside and find Maggie in the kitchen. Maggie's the only person Charlotte actually misses. She gives her a hug and before Maggie can ask, Charlotte hands her a photo of Kati, taken a couple weeks ago.
"Oh, you knew I'd be askin'," Maggie chuckles.
It's the photo Charlotte keeps in her wallet, but she can replace it when they get home. She wants Maggie to have this one.
She squeezes her again.
"You take care of my girls, Cooper," Maggie says.
"I will," Cooper smiles, hugging her.
When they walk back towards the atrium, Big Daddy is walking out from the sitting room. Wordlessly, he gives Kati to Charlotte. He gives Charlotte that look again and shakes Cooper's hand. As Cooper opens the front door, Charlotte stands up on the tips of her toes and gives her father a kiss on the cheek.
"Bye Daddy," she says, and she gives him a small smile before she turns and follows her husband out the door.