Charlotte just sits there on the edge of the bed, her hands finding their way together. She takes in a deep breath and blinks. She couldn't have possibly heard him correctly, so she looks up at him and raises an eyebrow. "Excuse me?"
Cooper shifts his weight and fiddles with the buttons on his shirt. "He's eight."
That gives her some relief—some being the keyword. She's about to interrupt him, but then she hears Betsey's hushed 'Momma'. She stands up and looks at Cooper. "We'll get back to this conversation in a minute." She pushes past him and walks over to the couch. "Hey, sleepyhead."
Betsey sits up slowly and coughs.
Charlotte presses her hand against the little girl's forehead and then her cheek. "Sit tight. I'm gonna go get the thermometer." She breezes past Cooper again and grabs the thermometer from the bathroom. She comes back out, heading over to the couch again. She slips the tip under Betsey's tongue. "Now, don't move, don't talk, and try not to move your tongue." She pauses and adds, "Please." After hearing the double beep, she pulls the thermometer out and reads the display. "101.3. That's a good sign."
Betsey blinks slowly, unable to keep her eyes open for longer than a few seconds.
"I'll go get you a freezer pop." Charlotte walks into the kitchen and opens the freezer.
Cooper follows her and stands at the counter, watching her. "Char—."
Charlotte holds up her hand as she walks towards the living room. "Not now, Cooper." She pads over to the couch and sits down beside Betsey, pushing up on the cherry flavored ice and handing it to the child. "Suck on this. You'll feel better, I promise."
Betsey adjusts the napkin around the plastic wrapper and sucks on the ice. She smiles. "Thanks, momma."
Charlotte pulls Betsey's hair out of her face and smiles. "You're welcome, sweet pea." She glances behind her and notices Cooper standing in the opening to the bedroom. She pats Betsey on the top of her head and stands up. She walks around the couch and heads into the bedroom, yanking Cooper with her.
Charlotte shuts the partition and blinks. "Did you at least take a paternity test?"
He sits on the edge of the bed and twists his mouth.
She swallows and rolls her eyes. "So a woman shows up tellin' you that you're the father of her eight year-old child, and you," she shifts, "just take her word for it?"
He looks away from her.
"You're an idiot."
He blinks.
"You didn't think things through when you brought up the idea of adoptin' Betsey, and today you came home to tell me that you ran into a woman who claims you're her son's daddy and you believed her without takin' a paternity test. I married an idiot."
He grunts.
She shakes her head and goes into the living room.
Cooper sighs and follows his wife.
"Cooper!" Betsey sits up and smiles. "Hi."
He smiles back. "Hey, there, kiddo. How're you feeling?"
"I don't feel good."
"Still?"
Betsey nods. "But momma's good company."
He smiles, looking towards Charlotte. "I'm sure she's taking real good care of you." He pauses. "Well, I have to get back to work, but I'll be home later."
"Ok."
He gives her a kiss on the top of her head and steps closer to Charlotte. He smiles and lets out a breath. "I'll do the test," he whispers and leaves the loft, heading back to work.
"What test does he have to do? Like a math test?"
Charlotte shakes her head. "More like science." She scoots closer to the eight year-old and smiles. "How's your ice pop?"
"Delicious." Betsey licks her lips and sucks on the flavored ice. She shivers and wraps herself in the blanket. She yawns and continues to eat.
"Use your napkin, sweet pea."
Betsey nods and wipes her mouth.
Charlotte spends the rest of the afternoon sitting with Betsey on the couch, trying to think of something other than the very likely possibility of her husband having a kid with another woman.
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