Chapter 37-A Little Misunderstanding.
Charlotte and Cooper wake up to the captivating sounds of Andie vocalizing over the baby monitor. She's chirping and squealing in delight to her baby Ernesta doll. They watch in awe through the baby monitor screen. " Would ya' look at that?" Charlotte says as they watch Andie smiling and blowing little spit bubbles out of her mouth while babbling to her Mr. Bear and baby Ernesta.
"She's talking to Mr. Bear." Cooper laughs while watching the monitor. They watch Andie grab Mr. Bear by the arm and wave him around in her crib. The six month old rolls over then and pushes herself up on her arms into a crawling position. She puts her arms against the side rail and tries to pull herself up. She slips against it and bangs her mouth into the side rail. "Ahha ahha hah aaaaaaah!" She wails. She's crying loud enough they could hear her in their room without the monitor. "I'll go get her." Cooper hops up out of the bed.
Charlotte pads into the bathroom to get ready for the day. Today's her 35th birthday. She studies her face in the mirror looking for any signs of wrinkles. She wonders what Cooper has planned for the day. It's a Sunday so it should be something fun. He hasn't mentioned her birthday all week and neither has she. Her momma taught her it's not polite to go around telling everyone it's your birthday. She knows he wouldn't forget. He hasn't forgotten in the five years she's been with him. But then again, it's always been just the two of them, now he's got his Andie Candy to fuss over.
Cooper sails into the bedroom carrying Andie. She's wearing pink jammies's with little white bunnies on them. Cooper's holding a boo-boo bunny ice pack over her mouth.
"Did she get hurt?" Charlotte comes out of the bathroom.
"No. She just hit her mouth against the crib. It's not even bleeding." Cooper sits on the bed holding six month old Andie on his lap.
"Then why the ice?" Charlotte sits next to them.
"Ice makes everything better, especially boo boo bunny ice." Cooper smiles at Andie. "Right Andie Candy? Ice makes all your boo-boo's better."
Andie babbles and coo's at Cooper.
"That's my girl. "All better." He holds Andie up it the air over him like an airplane and flies her around earning himself some giggles. He laughs with the baby.
Charlotte watches. "I don't know who's havin' more fun you or Andie Candy?" It's infectious and Charlotte can't help laughing and smiling too.
Cooper gently lifts Andie up and down like she's a weight. He kisses her nose each time she gets close to his face. Andie giggles each time he kisses her nose. He looks at Charlotte. "I don't need to go to the gym anymore," he jokes.
Charlotte smiles at the two of them. "She's gonna barf on you any minute," she warns.
Cooper ignores her and talks while he lifts Andie up and down. "I forgot to tell you Addison's having a little get together at the park today to celebrate Danielle's adoption being approved." Cooper informs her.
"It's today and you're just telling me about it now? Charlotte wonders.
"Addison told me yesterday as she was leaving the office. It's nothing big. It's just going to be the work crowd, a few neighbors and Robin." Cooper's still lifting Andie up and down. The baby burps up some curdled formula. It lands on Cooper's mouth.
Cooper wipes his mouth with his hand. Charlotte turns to him with a smirk. "Can't say I didn't warn ya'"
Cooper laughs. "Go take your shower, momma."
Charlotte turns on the shower water while she undresses. She wonders if Addison's little get together at the park could be an excuse for a surprise party. She didn't expect Cooper to go all out and do something like that for her 35th birthday. She doesn't even want him to. She'd be happy with flowers and dinner at her favorite restaurant. But maybe Cooper wanted to have a party at the park so he can bring Andie along instead of hire a babysitter while they went out, she thinks.
After her shower, Charlotte puts on her little red dress. It still fits even though she's three months pregnant. She's barely showing, yet. She blow dries her long curly hair. Her extensions are still looking good. She applies her make up perfectly in case it is her party; all eyes will be on her. When she's finished she walks down to the kitchen where Cooper's feeding Andie her rice cereal.
Andie has rice cereal smeared over her face and highchair. "Did you manage to get any in her mouth?" Charlotte smirks.
Cooper looks up. "Wow! Why so fancy?"
"You said we were going to a party today."
"Yep! Can you take over here while I take my shower?"
"Go ahead." Charlotte wipes Andie's face with a wash cloth. "Let's do this the right way, kiddo." Charlotte takes a spoonful of rice cereal and opens her mouth instinctively as she feeds her daughter. "It goes in your mouth, not all over your face." Andie opens wide so Charlotte can feed her. "There we go, baby girl."
After breakfast Charlotte dresses Andie in a pretty fushia dress with lace trim. She puts white tights and matching little shoes on her baby.
She clips a fushia bow into Andies's red hair.
Cooper comes in the room wearing jeans and a t shirt. He looks at Andie. "Now both my girls are all dressed up for an afternoon in the park."
"Should we change?" Charlotte asks.
"No. I'll change to match you two." He leaves and Charlotte sits in the rocking chair feeding Andie a bottle before they leave. She stopped nursing when she found out she was pregnant again.
Cooper comes back fifteen minutes later wearing a suit and tie.
"Now, look who's overdressed for an afternoon in the park?" Charlotte's convinced now it's her surprise party. He hasn't even wished her a happy birthday yet. Something's up. He would never wear a suit and tie to the park.
"I just wanted to match my two girls. I can't go looking like a bum if you two are all dressed up. Think we should pick up a gift?" He asks.
"A gift for what?" Charlotte's still feeding Andie.
"For Addison and Danielle. What do you give for a congratulations on your adoption gift?" Cooper asks.
"Some type of savings bond but it's Sunday. The banks are closed. We could write a check or pick up a toy for Danielle on the way." Charlotte's not sure anymore, maybe this is really a party for Danielle's adoption.
They stop on the way and Charlotte picks up a gift certificate for a year long *Mommy N Me* class for Addison and Danielle to take together.
When they pull up to the party Charlotte spots a clown making balloon animals for the kids. This probably isn't her surprise party afterall.
They get out of the car and Addison walks up to them. "You look beautiful Charlotte and Andie looks like a little doll in that outfit. Why so fancy?"
Charlotte doesn't know how to answer looking at Addison in a purple top and jeans. She feels like a fool. "Cooper and I are going out to dinner after this." She lies and shoots Cooper a warning look. She congratulates Addison on the adoption.
Addison takes Andie out of Charlotte's arms. "Come on Andie, I'll take you to see Danielle."
Cooper smirks. "We're going out to dinner? What's the occasion?"
She glares at him. Sam comes over. "Hey Coop! Hi Charlotte. C'mon, we're playing shuffle board over here." He points at Sheldon, Pete and Violet.
"Sure." Cooper says. "I'm up for it."
"I'll pass." Charlotte says. "I'm going to hang with the girls." She stalks over to the picnic bench. Addison is sitting with Andie on her lap and Danielle next to her. She's talking to Robin. There are some other women there Charlotte recognizes as Addison's neighbors.
Charlotte sits down and Andie reaches out for her momma. Charlotte takes Andie from Addison and holds her tight. She listens to Addison, Robin and the other women all talk. It's background noise to Charlotte.
She can't believe Cooper forgot her birthday. She wants to march over to the shuffle board court right now and tell him it's her birthday. She wants to call him an inconsiderate, selfish freak for forgettin' it. She also feels guilty for wishing this was her surprise party and instead of Danielle's adoption party. She's feels like a selfish fool. She has all these emotions stirring inside. She wants to leave. "Addison can you take Andie a minute for me? I have to use the ladies room."
"No problem." Addison pulls Andie back onto her lap.
Charlotte walks off to the bathroom alone. It's empty so she lets herself cry. Must be those damn pregnancy hormones, she figures. She cries for a good ten minutes until she's satisfied she's let it all out. She washes her face so there's no tell tale mascara stains. She sits on a bench by the ocean all by herself for half an hour waiting for her eyes to feel normal again. She doesn't want anyone to see that they're red from her crying fit in the bathroom. *What a way to spend my 35th birthday!* She thinks to herself.
Addison approaches the bench. "We've been looking for you. It's time for the cake."
"I'm not in the mood for cake." Charlotte feels her eyes with her finger making sure they're cool and dry so as not to leave any tell-tale signs.
Addison gives a sympathetic smile. "Come on, Charlotte. You're going to love this cake."
"I said I don't want cake, Montgomery!"
Addison tells her firmly. "Get your butt up now Charlotte or I'll bring everyone down here to you!"
Charlotte scowls. Why can't Montgomery leave her alone? She gets up and follows her. When she approaches the crowd she notices two cakes on the table. One that says *Congratulations Addison/Danielle* and the other that says* Happy 35th Birthday Charlotte.* So, Cooper didn't forget afterall but still this isn't how she pictured her party. She spent the afternoon crying alone in the ladies room and then sitting alone on a bench for half an hour.
*Happy Birthday!* They shout out. Lucas and some other children blow party horns.
Charlotte looks at Cooper. "I thought you forgot."
He hugs her in front of everyone. "I wanted to surprise you."
A white limosine pulls up along side the park. "Grab a piece of cake Chief, Our ride is here."
"What ride?" Charlotte asks him.
"I booked a limosine for the evening. We're going to a show and then dinner and after dinner I booked us…" He whispers in her ear, "the honeymoon suite at the Hyatt"
"You're kidding?"
"Nope!"
"What about Andie?"
"Addison's taking her overnight. I packed Andie's bag and gave it to Addison yesterday. I packed us each an overnight bag. Our bags are already at the hotel." Cooper boasts proud.
"How long have you had this planned?"
"A long time."
"I taught you well." She grins.
They kiss Andie goodbye and thank Addison before climbing into the limosine.
Charlotte rests her head against Cooper in the limo. This is turning out to be a great birthday afterall.