Chapter 5

Chapter 5

9 months and 4 days later Charlie stood next to a hospital bed, his sweaty hand being squeezed to death. He looked down at the brown haired girl laying in the bed, screaming, sweating, and pushing. She was only 23, and Charlie was still only 22. Charlie felt bad about what he had made her go through at such a young age, especially when he didn't even love her. It seemed so wrong to be with anyone else, but he couldn't be with her, even if he had wanted to.

A few minutes later Jamalee sat up in the bed, holding her son, Erik. Charlie looked on in amazement. He had a son! He was a father! He had always wanted this! He was still only 22! He had never wanted it this soon! Why did he ever even go into the bedroom? Charlie picked up Erik, named for one of his best friends, and held him gently.

There was no way that Charlie was going to be a bad father. He would not allow himself. Already the baby had no real father living with him, or even one married to his mom. He wasn't going to let that get in the way of being the best dad he could ever be. Charlie looked down at his son. He already loved him. How could he not? He had loved him before he was born.

Jody waited outside in the hospital waiting room/lobby. In just a few minutes she'd be seeing Erik. Charlie's baby Erik! Erik Sims. Erik Willkenson. Erik Sawyer. Erik. Charlie's son!

Jody held her boyfriend's son in her hands. It felt almost magical. This was Charlie's bay. It looked like him to. All of the same facial features, same beautiful eyes. She looked over and smiled at the very proud father.

*****

Charlie held his small son as he ran up the stairs to ABC. He greeted Jonathan and Juliette, who both cooed over Erik. He saw Jamalee and went over to her. He hugged her and kissed Erik on the head before handed the sleeping baby to her. She took him and the small baby bag. She said bye to Charlie and then headed home.

Charlie watched his son leave in his mother's arms and waved. Then he went into an empty rehearsal room and opened his backpack. He pulled out his ballet and clothes, regular clothes, a book, a baby blanket he had forgotten to give to Jamalee, and finally his cell phone.

He pressed speed dial number one and the phone rang 6 times before it clicked to an answering machine.

"Hi! You've reached Jody Sawyer! If you're calling about the ballet add, press 2 and leave a message, and that goes for all ballet calls as well! If not, just press 1 or just leave a message and I'll call you right back! Thank you! Bye!"

"Hey Jody, it's me. How things going in Chicago? Back at work yet? If so, how's Cooper's new ballet coming? I'm at ABC now, I just got here with Erik. Jamalee took him home and now I'm in an empty rehearsal room. I'm gonna have to go soon, class is going to start any minute now. Jonathan is working really hard on this new ballet, he says he's got a ton of ideas to try out. But I've got a few too, maybe next time you visit you can help work out steps with us? That would be fun, don't-"

"Hi! You've reached Jody Sawyer! If you're calling about the ballet add, press 2 and leave a message, and that goes for all ballet calls as well! If not, just press 1 or just leave a message and I'll call you right back! Thank you! Bye!"

"Hey, it's me again. Sorry, I guess my last message was to long. Any way, wouldn't it be fun? I bet Jonathan would like it, Kathleen doesn't really like to make ballets, just dance them. Haha. Oh well. I miss you. It's so lonely here with out you. Everyone says hi. I love you. Call me, ok? Love ya, bye!"

Charlie hung up and sighed. He leaned his head against the wall for a minute and closed his eyes, trying to picture her face. He blinked and shook his head and then got up. He grabbed his bag and sat it down on one of the chairs. He quickly got a small cup of coffee and waited for the dancers to arrive.

He couldn't believe Jonathan was letting him help choreograph a whole ballet. A real one, that the company would perform for the public. Usually he wouldn't do this. If he was going to let someone choreograph, it would be fore the student workshop, like Cooper.

Cooper. Charlie couldn't help but frown. Cooper had ruined his life one to many times, all because of Jody. He wasn't blaming Jody or anything, he just hated the fact that Jody and Cooper could even be in the same sentence. Now, they were working side by side, miles away. Cooper would be hitting on Jody, and Jody would be backing away. But Cooper would keep on hitting until she gave in. And Charlie was sure she would without him there to support her.

He knew he should have more faith in her, especially because he loved her. But he just couldn't help it. Besides, she had always given before, even when it mattered most not to give in, like just weeks before their wedding. Charlie sighed and frantically found his cell phone again.

"Hi! You've reached Jody Sawyer! If you're calling about the ballet add, press 2 and leave a message, and that goes for all ballet calls as well! If not, just press 1 or just leave a message and I'll call you right back! Thank you! Bye!"

"Hey! It's me! I, uh, just wanted to say hi………again. Well, don't do anything I wouldn't do, hint hint- Cooper, and bye. Sorry about that, I'm just scared I'll lose you again. Call me when you get home! I love you. Bye."

*****

Jody walked into her apartment and played Charlie's messages as she changed into a nice, short, red dress and put on make-up and stuff. She was just about to call Charlie when there was a knock on her door. She opened it and saw Cooper, decked out in a dark blue tux and loosely combed hair.

"Hey Sweets, am I late?"

"Nope." Jody said. She locked the door and they went down to Cooper's motorcycle and drove off, Jody holding Cooper's waist tightly.