The Real Story of What will Be

Scene 14

May 2018 Charlotte and Cooper's Seventh Anniversary

CJ(Cooper Junior) 6

Ella(Charlotte Elizabeth) Almost 5

Carter King Freedman 2 years old

Setting:Kitchen

Charlotte strolls in the kitchen ready for work. Cooper's flipping pancakes for the three kids.

"Happy Anniversary." He calls out to her across the room.

She sails up to him and kisses his cheek. "Happy Anniversary. Wanna meet for lunch?"

"Okay. Where?" Cooper asks.

"How 'bout somewhere real quiet and intimate?" She licks her bottom lip.

"Where would that be? Cooper wonders.

She tells him in his ear. "Let's come back here and meet in the bedroom. You bring the food. I'll take care of dessert."

Cooper laughs. "Okay, but we're still going out tonight. I already lined up Violet to babysit."

"Think you can still handle it twice in one day?" Charlotte jokes.

"Are you kidding? I've got just as much stamina as on our first date."

CJ overhears and asks "What's stamina dad?"

Charlotte and Cooper look at each other. Charlotte tells her son, "it means you can keep running without getting tired."

"Why are you running today, dad?" CJ asks.

"I'm not. We were talking about something else." Cooper answers.

"What were you talking about?"

Cooper thinks quick. "We were talking about whether I have enough stamina to stand here and flip these pancakes all day."

Charlotte chuckles. "Make sure you save some of that stamina for me."

"Why momma?" CJ asks.

"You never mind, CJ. Some things are just between me and daddy."

"Are you going to have another baby?" CJ asks.

Charlotte nearly chokes on her coffee. "No. Whatever gave you that idea?"

"When Brenden's parents were talking to each other in secret code it was about them having a new baby." CJ explains.

"Not the case here." Charlotte tells him. "The three of you are enough."

Cooper dishes out the pancakes. "Ella! Carter! The pancakes are ready!"

"Yay!" Ella runs into the kitchen and sits next to Charlotte. "You smell good, momma."

"Thank you, baby." Charlotte cuts up the kids pancakes for them.

"Is it a new perfume?" Ella asks.

"It's not new. It's my special perfume. I only wear it on special occassions." Charlotte tells her.

"Why are you wearing it today?" CJ asks.

"Because it's a special day." Cooper tells them. "It's mommy and daddy's Anniversary."

"What's anna ver sity?" Ella asks.

"It's anni-ver-sary." Charlotte corrects. "Daddy and I were married seven years ago today."

"Wow!" Ella answers. "I bet you looked like a princess at your wedding."

"She did." Cooper tells them. "Mommy was the most beautiful bride."

"I'm happy you got married seven years ago." CJ says munching on his pancake.

"Why's that?" Cooper asks pouring syrup on Carter's pancake for him.

"Because if you didn't get married then you wouldn't have had me." CJ answers as if they should have known the answer already.

"And what would we do without you?" Cooper smiles and tickles CJ.

"Tickle me daddy! Tickle me!" Ella calls out.

"Me daddy. Me!" Carter yells.

"I'm gonna get you." Charlotte grabs her youngest and tickles him earning herself squeals of delight.

Charlotte holds onto Carter tickling him and watches Cooper play with the other two. She couldn't ask for a better anniversary gift. They're still going strongafter all these years!

END OF SCENE 14