"Roger, I'm not going to Atlantic City to get married." Charlie argued as Roger got a bag of chips out of the cabinet.
"Well I don't want a circus wedding." he told her opening the bag.
"All you have to do is rent a tux and show up. Me, Maureen and Joanne are planning everything." she said looking back at him.
"I'm not wearing a tux. Forget it." he told her before shoving a handful of chips in his mouth.
"Oh you are so wearing a tux." she yelled getting up off of the couch.
"Yeah, imagine that." he said leaning against the kitchen counter.
"I'll do you one better. I'm gonna see it. Because you are so not wearing jeans and a t-shirt to our wedding." she said standing in front of him.
"Baby, you know tux's aren't me." he said closing the bag of chips and flinging it on the counter.
"But it's for our wedding Roger. What did you think, you were just gonna wear your torn jeans and your Metallica t-shirt?" she yelled looking up at him.
"No, but I didn't think I would have to wear a tux. I mean, God Charlie. I didn't think you were the traditional type." he yelled back walking away.
"Well I am, OK? I'm a girl. Sue me. I want to wear the long white dress with a veil and I want my husband to be, the man I love to wear a tuxedo as he waits for me to walk down the aisle to marry him." she yelled chasing after him.
"I know you're a girl Charlie. It's one of the things I love about you, but why do you have to have the long white dress and me in a tux? Why can't I just wear a suit? I'll even wear a tie." he told her turning around.
"You are so frustrating." she screamed going into the bedroom slamming the door.
"Yeah well... I love you too." he said plopping on the couch and putting on the tv as the phone rang. "Hello." he asked in a hostile tone.
"Um, is this Charlene Spade's phone number?" the voice on the other end asked.
"Yes it is. Can I ask who's calling?" he asked calmer.
"My name is Michelle Gray. I just need to speak to her. It's personal." she told him nervously.
"One minute, I'll get her." he said getting up to go to the bedroom. "Baby, you have a phone call. It's someone named Michelle Gray." he said quietly as she sat up on the bed.
"Who?" she asked looking up at him confused.
"Michelle Gray. She sounds young." he said handing her the phone.
"Hello?" she asked holding the phone to her ear.
"Hi, is this Charlene Spade? Charlene Marie Spade?" she asked nervously.
"Yes it is, can I help you?" she asked as Roger sat on the bed next to her.
"Did you give up a baby girl for adoption 13 and a half years ago?" she asked curiously.
"Um, yes I did." she answered quietly reaching for Roger's hand as tears came to her eyes.
"I'm Michelle Gray and I'm your daughter." she blurted out unsure.
"Hi Michelle. How are you?" she asked trying to maintain her composure.
"I'm OK, but I want to meet you. There are so many things I want to ask you." she said excitedly as Roger moved closer to her.
"Michelle, do your parents know you're calling me?" she asked trying not to get her hopes up.
"My parents died in a car accident. Last week. I'm in a group home at DCF and I don't want to live in a foster home or a group home. They said if they could find you and you can take care of me I can go live with you." the young girl said hopeful.
"Honey, why don't you give me your phone number. I can talk to you back and we can talk more. I promise I'll call you back today. Just give me a little while, OK?" she asked reaching over to the night stand for a pen but not finding any paper. "Hang on sweetie, I'm looking for a piece of paper." she said frantically as Roger gave her his hand to write on. "OK go ahead sweetie." she said holding Roger's hand trying to blink the tears out of her eyes.
"OK, it's 516-555-0197." she told her happily.
"OK sweetie, I'll call you back soon. I promise, OK?" she told her hanging up the phone.
"Was that who I think it was?" he asked as Charlie broke down in his arms.
"Yeah, it was my daughter. Her parents died in a car accident last week and she'll be a ward of the state unless I can take care of her." she cried into his chest.
"Oh Baby, it's OK." he told her caressing her back as she cried.
"What are we gonna do Roger? Her parents died and she'll have to live in a foster home or a group home if we can't take her." she asked looking up at him.
"Baby, of course we get her. She's your little girl. I wanna get her back for you." he whispered kissing her head.
"But Roger, we only have a one bedroom apartment and we're not married yet. They might not let me have her." she told him crying more.
"Charlie, let's take it one step at a time, OK? We can sleep on the pull out couch until we get a bigger place and we're getting married soon, so I don't think they'll stop you from getting her back because of that. Do you want to get her back?" he asked sweeping her hair out of her face.
"Yeah I do." she said as he wiped her tears from her face.
"So let's call her back and we'll find out what we need to do to get her back." he told her smiling down at her.
"Roger, I love you so much." she said leaning up to kiss him.
"I love you too Charlie." he said smiling down at her as she picked up the phone and he held his hand out for her to dial the phone.