Chapter 19
I was cleaning the house, while Charlie went to the store for us. In the middle of cleaning there was a knock at the door.
"Just a sec!"
I put the broom away and went to the front door. I looked through the viewfinder in the peep hole. It was Ray. I looked confused at first then unlocked the door.
"Mr. LeMay, what can I do for you? Charlie's not here and-"
"That's okay...I don't need to see Charles right now...I came to see you."
"Me?"
"Yes...can I come in?"
"I don't know if Charlie would like that."
"Please...I won't be long."
I let him in. He sat on the couch in the living room. I brought us some lemonade. I took a seat in the recliner.
"Okay...what's up Mr. LeMay?"
"Harmione...I know I was out of line...I...I just have this anger deep inside of me...I know that's no excuse, and saying I'm sorry isn't going to fix anything..."
"Charlie said you hit Dana once."
"He told you about that?"
"Not everything...Mr. LeMay, I want to respect you as Charlie's father...love you as a father, but there's still so much I don't know about your family, and I feel like the harder I try the more you hate me."
"It's not you...and it wasn't Dana either it..."
He sighed.
"28 years ago, Dana and I tried for children...we tried for eight years...eight years Harmione."
He turned away.
"Anyway...just when we thought we were done trying, along came Charles...4 months early. He was sick from Day 1. Dana almost killed herself sleeping in the floor of the hospital...he...he got better...until one night when he was two years old...I heard him crying. I saw the pain in his face. He was scared. I was scared. We were all scared...and when the doctor told us he had diabetes, I just knew his problems would get worse from here on out, and they did...we changed schools so much just to keep him healthy he hardly had any friends. He hit puberty late...His mother was afraid he'd have complications from the insulin, made the wrong choice one day and didn't give it to him...I hit her over it... He saw me do it...He lost his pen once when he was in 7th grade...couldn't find it...he had another episode...he was teased a lot...the point is my boy has had it pretty rough."
"Then why make it worse Mr. LeMay?"
"His mother thinks she's too obsessive over his health and his safety... the reality of it is...I'm the obsessive one...I just...something inside me snaps when I feel like he's heading for trouble...or if...if he's hurt...or sick I..."
Ray looked down. He had tears in his eyes.
"I have sat by hospital bed after hospital bed, I don't want to see him there anymore...I'm not strong enough to see my little Charlie like that anymore...I'd do everything in my power to not see him there ever again...I'd give anything for that...Harmione, I never should have struck you...and I can't believe I struck him across the face like that I...I'm such a monster to him..."
"I don't think you're a monster Mr. LeMay, you sound a lot like my Daddy...you just want what's best for your kid...and what parent wouldn't want that...I want you to know that I feel the same way about Charlie...you're right he could have died...he did I was there...until his heart started again I lost him...we both lost him Mr. LeMay, and I never want to see that again.
"Harmione...I didn't mean to pour my heart out to you...that wasn't my intent...I just want you to understand...and I want you to understand how sorry I am for hitting you...I'm going to take some classes to work on that but I...anyway..."
He stood and started to leave. I stood with him.
"Ray?"
He looked at me.
"Does Charlie know all of that?"
"No...I never wanted him to see how scared or how worried I am...I...I didn't want to say anything."
"I think Charlie really needs to know...he might not be ready to forgive you...but it's something for him to think about?"
"Yeah...I'll be seeing ya."
Ray left. I sighed and pulled my hair up into a ponytail. I continued to clean. I thought about Ray's words. I thought about Charlie. It really wouldn't hurt Charlie to be selfish sometimes. He needs to really think about his actions as I do mine when it involves hero work. I have to agree that I hate the risk his taking being with me. I know he said he doesn't care, and that he's not afraid but that's just not good enough. If I'm to never see him in the hospital again, I need him to care more about himself. I pondered how in the world am I supposed to get Charlie to do that?
There was another knock at the door, then a few loud bangs.
"Har, it's me let me in!" Charlie called. I ran to the door and opened it for him. He had several bags in his hands and was using his foot to knock on the door.
"Are there anymore?"
"No that's it."
I helped him put the groceries away.
"You smell nice." He said and kissed my cheek.
"Thank you...Charlie we need to talk...your Dad came by and-"
"Did he hurt you?"
"Charlie no..."
I was beginning to see that Charlie was a little like Ray. The way Ray cared for Charlie, was the same way Charlie cared for me. He did threaten to kill his Dad over me.
"No...but I think you should talk to him."
"Har...I-"
"Please...for me."
"Okay but I don't know what good it will do."
We went out to dinner with Charlie's parents. Ray explained to Charlie everything he had told me, even the part about his anger management classes.
"I just...my over protective nature over you has turned to over protective madness...but I've always been this way...but even though I have; doesn't mean what I do and say is right...I'm a terrible father."
"Dad...you and mom are the two greatest parents a guy could have...I don't know of better ones...you've always been there for me...and while that hasn't changed I just can't forgive you right now Dad."
"I understand son."
"But I will try to make a better effort to take care of myself for you, I haven't tried nearly as hard to fend for myself because the way you feel about me Dad...is the way I feel about Harmione..She comes first to me." Charlie grabbed my hand.
"And, I'm sorry I said what I said...I'm sorry for always worrying you both..."
"Charlie...just call home more often...let us know you're okay...and try not to go on too many dangerous missions with Harmione okay?" His mom spoke out. "Maybe one a year...or every 5 years or something go on a mission."
"Mom...okay...I promise."
Charlie and Ray looked at one another.
"Dad...I also promise to try harder to be careful...I...I really should be concerned that I did die...and it could happen again...
"And I promise I'll try to be a better father...and father-in-law."
He looked at me. I smiled at him.
Charlie stood up from the table.
"What?" Ray asked.
Charlie hugs him out of nowhere.
"Thanks Dad."
Ray slowly wrapped Charlie in a hug. I felt that they hadn't done that in years. Ray stroked the back of Charlie's head.
"I love you Charlie."
"I love you too Dad."
I had a lining of tears in my eyes as Charlie sat back down next to me. Dana blew her nose killing the mood.
"Oh, where is our waiter with the food!?" She announced.
After dinner Charlie and I came home in all smiles. We had a lovely beautiful dinner with his parents and I'll cherish that memory always. Since we were all opening up at the table we also told them about the miscarriage. They were concerned at first, but we told them we were trying again. I've been off my birth control pills for a month.
Speaking of pregnancy, even though Deanna was almost 3 months into hers. We were going to have a baby shower and gender reveal party for her. It was another hot summer day, and the girls and I were going to have a BBQ/pool party for her and Rodney. We had it at Sierra's house. Sierra had the biggest house and she was cool with us using her it and her pool for the big event. Deanna helped set up most of the gender reveal because only she and Rodney knew the true gender of their baby. Kim, Irene, Jaynie, Lacey, Sierra, and Celestia were all there. Our old cheer coach Mrs. Tina even stopped by. She brought her two year old daughter Ashlyn with her, and a bag of chips.
"Future cheerleader in the making right there!" Jaynie said with a laugh. Jaynie normally had her hair dyed, so she had it half blue and half pink for the party. Deanna's boyfriend Rodney came in with a bag of ice as we all sat around the living room with baby Ashlyn toddling everywhere. Charlie took a seat next to me on the couch, drinking some punch out of a paper cup. Ashlyn came our way. I put my hands out to her.
"Ashlyn...Hi baby, come here sweetie!" I said with a smile. She grinned and reached for my arms. I laughed slightly and put her in my lap. She stared up at me.
"Say Harmione."
Nothing.
"Harmione." I repeated. She looked at Charlie. I bumped Charlie's knee. He looked at Ashlyn as he ate some ice from his cup. Ashlyn blushed and turned away. Everyone laughed.
"She's got a crush on you Charlie." Mrs. Tina said. "Ashlyn, sweetheart...he's too old for you!" She said with a laugh.
Ashlyn contiued to stare at Charlie. Everyone laughed again. The look on her face was priceless. I didn't blame her. Charlie made me feel about her age, and gave me butterflies everytime I looked at him.
"Babe...Babe look at her."
Charlie looked at her again. Charlie gasped at her and poked her stomach. Ashlyn giggled and stared at him. Charlie gasped and poked her again. She giggled louder.
"Ashlyn...say Charlie...Charlie...Hey go away Charlie and see what she does."
"Bye Ashlyn...bye bye."
Charlie stood up and pretended to leave. Ashlyn whimpered in my arms and tried to move. She got choked up on her spit as she began to cry.
"Awww...Charlie."
"Come here pumpkin." Charlie mumbled sweetly. He took Ashlyn from me and she stopped crying. She stared at him. Charlie kissed her cheek and she smiled.
"What now Ashlyn?" He asked. "Want to go get some more punch with me...yeah come on."
Charlie carried Ashlyn back into the kitchen with him. I smiled. That's my husband, and he'll be the father of my kids like that someday. Deanna and Rodney had a cake that when you cut into it, it would have either pink or blue icing to announce the gender. That chocolate cake bled blue icing all over the place. We were so ecstatic for her to be having a boy. I knew deep down Deanna had always wanted a boy. She always said girls were too dramatic. Can't blame her there. We sat outside on the patio eating the cake, and a few people jumped in the pool to swim. Ashlyn and Mrs. Tina waded in the shallow end, while Ashlyn wore the cutest swimsuit and water rings combo I had ever seen. Charlie sat down in a patio chair, I sat in his lap eating my cake. He wrapped his arms around my stomach and interlocked his fingers.
"Bite?" I said with my mouth half full.
"Is it sweet?"
"Not too sweet...icing is a little rich though."
He opened his mouth. I cut off a piece of my cake to feed to him.
"Just a small piece babe."
"That is a small piece."
He let go of my stomach and took hand and moved my fork to cut the piece in half.
"About like that."
"Okay...here."
I fed him the piece. He nodded.
"It's good."
"You want the other half?"
"Oh no, that's all I need...I really shouldn't have ate that piece."
I continued to eat my cake. Deanna walked over to us.
"You lazy love birds, why aren't you swimming?"
"We will in a minute Dee, let me finish my cake."
"Is it any good?" She asked.
"You didn't get a piece of your own cake?"
"Not with the morning sickness I've been having, and lately I've been craving pickle juice and cookie dough."
"That's gross..." Charlie replied.
"You're gross!" She teased. She started to flick him. Charlie laughed and grabbed her wrist.
"Nope, nope no fair I can't fight a pregnant woman...excuse me a gross pregnant woman!"
Deanna scoffed.
"You are such a kid...Harmione how do you put up with it?"
I shrugged.
"He's my gross kid, what can I say."
Deanna and I laughed.
"No fair don't tag team up on me!"
We laughed again. Later that night after dinner, and I did the dishes; it got quiet. I crawlled into bed next to Charlie to watch TV.
"Charlie?"
"Yeah."
"I had some problems growing up, you had problems growing up, and we got stuff sorted with both of our parents...I was just thinking...when we have a family of our own...is it going to be ten times worse for our baby?"
"I think...regardless of the life that baby will have, it will have me, and you, and your family...my family...our friends...good or bad that baby will be more loved and have more support than any other baby out there."
I smiled.
"Yeah...I love our charmed little life Charlie."
"I love our charmed little life more."
He smiled at me and kissed the top of my head. I smirked as Charlie rolled over on top of me kissing me. He brushed his nose against mine and ran his hand down the side of my leg as we kissed. I smiled into our next kiss, and felt his hand in my panties. I gasped and arched my neck. He nipped at my neck as he stroked me. I always loved how he would touch me. I pulled my shorts and panties down to my ankles. Charlie held himself up with one hand placing it on the pillow behind me head. He reached in his jeans, and pulled them down; along with his boxer shorts. I could feel how turned on he was. I fondled him as he fondled me. We made love again. It was the second time in a week. We were bound and determined to have the life Deanna and Rodney were going to have. To have our own Ashlyn would mean the world to us.