Chapter 34
Charlotte's in the kitchen finishing up boiling the lobsters while Cooper's out back grilling the steaks. Mark and Monica come into the kitchen. "I guess I should say thank you for inviting me to dinner at my own house" Mark grins.
What's on the menu?" Monica asks.
"Surf and Turf" Cooper says as carries in a plate of freshly grilled steaks.
"Yum, what's the occasion?" Monica asks eyeing the lobsters Charlotte's just pulling out of the pot.
"It's our way of thanking you and Mark for letting us stay here and everything you've both done for Charlotte." Cooper puts the steak on the table.
"I can't wait to dig in. Mark said you were an excellent cook." Monica says looking at Charlotte.
"Me?" Charlotte questions in surprise. "Mark's the one who taught me how to cook lobster. He was the cook when we were married."
Monica looks at Mark "Mark you told me your ex wife was an incredible cook."
"That was Julia not Charlotte." Mark answers and tosses Cooper a beer.
"You got married again after me?" Charlotte's mouth is open and she stares at him waiting for an answer.
"Maybe he was married before you and didn't tell you... Wouldn't that be ironic?" Cooper gives Charlotte a devilish grin. Charlotte glares at Cooper and puts a plate down on the table heavy handed; she's about to say something to Cooper.
Mark interrupts before Charlotte can get any words out. "I remarried after I signed our divorce papers." Mark reassures Charlotte.
"I'm surprised Amy never mentioned it." Charlotte puts the lobster on the table feeling pretty shocked by the news.
"Amy and I haven't been on speaking terms since you divorced me. I doubt Amy even knows." Mark sits down at the table with his beer.
"You see each other at the hospital she must have heard." Charlotte questions.
"It's a big hospital Charlotte. I don't run into Amy much. We have different specialties and besides I eloped in Vegas. We didn't have a big wedding. It was low key and we divorced less than a year later so I doubt Amy knew. Pass the lobster please." Mark tells Cooper.
"You eloped in Vegas?" Cooper passes the lobster and thinks about the time he almost eloped in Vegas with Charlotte.
"Yup, big mistake. We jumped into it too fast." Mark cracks open his lobster.
"If you don't mind my asking, why did you get divorced?" Cooper asks.
"Because he met me." Monica boasts and smiles holding up her fork.
"Tell me you didn't cheat on your second wife too?" Charlotte looks at Mark.
"Then I won't tell you." Mark answers. "I haven't advanced you to a regular diet yet, what are you eating over there?" Mark asks looking at Charlotte's plate.
"I'm tasting some lobster, it's soft and Cooper made me twice baked potatoes." Charlotte answers.
"I made the potatoes and vegetables ultra soft, like there's a baby in the house." Cooper says and everyone gets silent for a minute. Cooper tries to change the subject to cut the tension now in the air. "So, Mark's been divorced twice for cheating. That doesn't bode very well for you." He looks at Monica and jokes.
"Hey, hey, hey!" Mark holds his hand up to Cooper. "Not necessary man."
"I was just joking." Cooper answers but its true Mark did get divorced twice for cheating.
"Mark knows not to cheat on me or I'll castrate him. I told him after I caught him with Sara the dog walker a couple months ago." Monica looks at Mark. "Right honey?"
"Right. Now can we change the subject?" Mark asks as he puts a forkful of steak in his mouth.
Cooper begins "I'm leaving Monday. Charlotte wants to come home with me. We can give her TPN and everything she's getting here, in LA. She runs a hospital. We have access to everything she'll need for her care. Give me a list of what she needs." Cooper explains looking at Mark.
"That's fine. Charlotte's stable enough to travel now. I don't see any reason why she can't fly home with you Monday. You'll need to monitor her weight gain and wean her off the TPN as she gains weight. You know to keep an eye on the incision" Mark says as he enjoys his meal.
"That's right. Charlotte ripped her incision open a little last night I had to suture it back up." Cooper adds as he cuts his steak.
"Do you need me to take a look at it ?" Mark asks Cooper.
"No, I'm a pediatrician. I'm quite competent with sutures. I just checked it again this morning…."
Charlotte cuts him off "Can you two not talk about me as if I'm some invalid that's not sitting at the table with you!" Charlotte snaps. "I'm a doctor. I can mange my own heath care." She grumps and gives them both an annoyed look.
Cooper and Mark look at each other and decide to shut up.
After a few moments Cooper says "Charlotte and I were talking last night and there is something we would like to do if it's okay with you Mark." Cooper looks at Charlotte.
Charlotte looks a little nervous to say it but says "We want to paint Lili's room before Cooper and I leave. " Charlotte looks at her plate as she talks, not sure of how Mark will react. Mark says nothing just continues to chew his steak.
"I told you that would be a good idea Mark." Monica adds "You can't keep the room like that forever. It's been seven years. I think if we each paint one wall it will make it easier."
Mark swallows and looks at Charlotte. "Who paints over the pony mural? Who paints that wall?"
"I will." Cooper answers. If it makes it easier, I'll paint that wall. We'll take some pictures of the pony mural first maybe you can make a scrap book."
"I have one." Mark answers. "I have Lili's pictures in it along with her footprints and the baby hat she wore in the hospital."
"I'd like to see it." Charlotte tells him and she notices she's not tearing up this time. It's getting easier to talk about Lili without crying anymore.
"That'd be great" Mark smiles at her. "So we'll at meet tomorrow at noon in the nursery. Does that sound good?"
"Sounds good." Charlotte answers.