CHAPTER 25

Charlotte's sitting in Cooper's hospital room going over some paperwork while he naps. Violet pokes her head in the room. "Can I speak to you, Charlotte?"

"Sure." Charlotte gets up and meets Violet outside of Cooper's room.

"What's going on?"

"I'm going to tell you something, Charlotte, and you're not going to like it, but please don't kill me."

"What are you talking about?"

"It's Noah."

Charlotte panics a little. "Is he hurt? What's wrong with Noah?"

"He's fine."

"Then what is it?"

"The school principal called me since you notified her he's staying with me and Pete while Cooper's in the hospital."

"Spit it out, Violet. What did the principal say?"

"Noah cut out of English and Math today."

"Why would he do that? English is his favorite subject and he loves math."

"He cut out to go to the beach with some other kids. They were caught with beer. Some kids were smoking marijauna but the principal said Noah wasn't one of them."

Charlotte's mouth drops open. "Oh my God, my son's a hooligan. I raised him to be a hooligan."

"Noah's a good kid, Charlotte. He's not a hooligan. He was only drinking beer. He wasn't one of the kids caught smoking the marijuana."

"He was only drinking beer, Violet? He's fourteen. Good kids don't cut school to drink beer on the beach. I screwed him up somehow." Charlotte runs her fingers through her hair.

"You didn't screw him up and if it's any conciliation, Lila cut out of class too. She was one of the other kids that were caught drinking beer at the beach."

"That doesn't surprise me." Charlotte says.

"What's that supposed to mean?" Violet asks.

"Never mind. Where are they now?"

"They're at in school suspension."

"You know what, Violet. Send the boys home tonight."

"I knew you'd blame me for this." Violet says.

"I don't blame you. The kids haven't been home in almost two weeks since Cooper's been at the hospital. Cooper's doing better; I should really stay at my house now with the kids. They need me at home more now than Cooper needs me at his bedside. Send 'em home tonight and Scout too."

"I'll have Pete drop them off when he gets home from work tonight."

"Thanks, Violet. I really do appreciate you taking care of them while Coop was in the hospital."

"That's what friends are for." Violet smiles and walks away.

Charlotte turns to walk back in Cooper's room when her phone buzzes. She notices it's Drew's kindergarten teacher so she answers. "Is Drew okay?"

"Drew's fine but I'd like to set up a conference with you to talk about how Drew's been doing in class." The teacher says.

"Is there a problem or is this a standard conference." Charlotte asks.

"I'd like to discuss some issues I'm having in the classroom with Drew."

"What kind of issues?"

"He's extremely active to the point the point where he's disruptive to the other children, I'd like to discuss some behavior strategies with you that I think will help Drew."

"I can come in today around four." Charlotte suggests.

"That's perfect, Dr. King. I'll see you at four."

Charlotte goes back in Cooper's room and gets back to her paper work. Jolie waltzes in a few minutes later. "Do you still need me and Cole to keep Drew? I know Sheldon and Amelia had a hard time with him but give him one week at my house and he'll be a new kid."

"As a matter of fact, I'm going to go home tonight. I want all the kids to be home with me."

"Is that because of what happened at the middle school today? I heard a group of kids cut out of class and were drinking beer at the beach. Was Noah one of them?" Jolie asks.

Charlotte nods but doesn't say anything. She's glad Cooper's still asleep and didn't hear about it. Jolie tells Charlotte, "I'm so glad Cole Jr. and Marley didn't get involved with that. They know better."

Cooper wakes up.

"Good afternoon." Jolie smiles at him.

"So, I hear Drew is going to be staying with you for a while." Cooper says to Jolie.

"There's been a change of plans. I'm going to stay home tonight with the kids." Charlotte tells Cooper.

"Why?"

"They haven't been home in two weeks, Coop. You're doing much better. I need to get the kids home so they can sleep in their own beds again."

"I'll miss you." Cooper makes a pout face "But, the kids need you."

"Kids need structure." Jolie tells Cooper." Once you break their routine all chaos happens like what happened today at the beach."

"What happened at the beach?" Cooper asks.

Charlotte answers. "Some kids from the middle school cut class and were caught drinking beer and smoking weed on the beach."

"Any kids we know?" Cooper asks. Charlotte shoots Jolie a warning glare, Jolie picks up on it.

"Lila Wilder." Jolie answers.

"That doesn't surprise me." Cooper chuckles.

"Why doesn't that surprise you?" Jolie asks.

"She's Violet and Pete's daughter. What do you expect? Pete used to smoke weed."

"I'm glad my kids weren't involved with that." Jolie tells Cooper.

Cooper smiles and says, "I'm glad Noah wasn't involved either. We have good kids. We must be doing something right."

Jolie shoots Charlotte a look. Charlotte rolls her eyes. "I better get things ready if the kids are all coming home tonight. Charlotte kisses Cooper goodbye but doesn't say anything to Jolie as she leaves.

Charlotte fixes chicken cutlet for dinner and the kids all sit around the table to eat. "Why did we have to come home tonight if dad's still in the hospital? Shouldn't you stay with daddy, momma?" Andie asks.

"Your father is doing much better. He's stabile. They're just keeping him in the hospital now to monitor him while his heart gets stronger. I wanted to have a talk with you kids before your father comes home from the hospital."

"What did you want to talk about?" Andie asks.

"Your father cannot be stressed out when he comes home. We need to keep this house quiet and in order. That means you all have to help out. I don't want to hear you bickering or fighting with each other and I don't want any more phone calls from the principal," she looks at Noah, "or the teacher," she looks at Drew.

"I'm sorry about that, momma." Noah explains. "I didn't know they were going to bring beer or weed."

"Then, why did you drink it?"

"I would have looked like a nerdy loser if I was the only one not drinking it, but I didn't smoke the weed, I said I'd pass."

Charlotte lectures him. "You shouldn't have cut out of class and went to the beach in the first place. If you weren't there you couldn't have looked like a loser for not drinking beer. Why would you cut class and go with them to the beach?"

Chase answers. "Because, Noah has a crush on Lila and he was trying to impress her."

"Shut up!" Noah yells at Chase.

"Whatsa' matter little bro did I hit a nerve? You know I'm right. You're in love with Lila."

"Shut up moron!" Noah yells at Chase.

"Enough!" Charlotte raises her voice. "This bickering can't happen when your father gets home from the hospital, so y'all better figure out a way to get along."

Drew bounces back and forth in his seat. He falls forward and hits his mouth on the table. "Are you okay, Squirt?"

"Yes, momma."

"No you're not." Andie says. "Your mouth is bleeding, Drew."

Charlotte takes a look. "You have a little cut on your lip." Charlotte gives Drew a cold wet washcloth to hold against his lip.

"Does he need stitches, momma?" Noah asks concerned.

"He doesn't need stitches, he needs to calm down and sit still." Charlotte tells Drew. "I spoke to your teacher, Drew; she says you keep getting up out of your seat when you're supposed to be practicing writing your letters."

"I don't like writing my letters. It's hard."

"Your big sister will help you with that. Andie's got excellent handwriting."

"Thank you, momma," Andie smiles. "I'll help the squirt learn to write his letters."

Charlotte tells Drew, "you have to listen to your teacher and you have to try and sit still."

Chase tells Charlotte. "I don't think he can help it, momma, he's hyperactive."

"He's not hyperactive." Charlotte answers. "He's just a rambunctious five year old boy."

Chase rolls his eyes. "Whatever you need to think to make it through the day, momma."

"What's that supposed to mean?" Charlotte asks Chase.

"It means Drew's hyper, momma." Andie answers. "You're in denial."

"And where did you get your medical degree from, smart ass?" Charlotte says to Andie.

"Ooh! Momma said a bad word. She said smart ass! " Drew yells out.

"I'm sorry. I shouldn't have said that." Charlotte apologizes. "I'm under a lot of stress with work and with your father being in the hospital. I just want you kids to help me out and behave. I don't need anything else on my plate right now."

"We'll help out, momma." Chase gives Charlotte a little kiss on the head.

"Thanks Chase I needed that." Charlotte smiles.

"K, then," Andie gives Charlotte a hug and a kiss on the cheek followed by Noah. "I promise I won't cut class anymore, momma. I'll be the perfect student."

"Thank you," Charlotte has tears in her eyes.

"I'll be good too, momma." Drew jumps up on Charlotte's lap and gives her a big hug and kiss.

Charlotte wipes a tear from her cheek. "How did I get so lucky?" Charlotte asks them.

"What do you mean, momma?" Noah asks.

"I'm lucky to have the four best kids in the world." She hugs Drew tight and smiles at her other three children.