Chapter 8

"Here comes Cooper with the food." Violet called peeking out the window.

"I don't know why he invited my family over to eat." Charlotte gripes

"They're in town. Charlotte . They want to spend time with you and Cooper wants to get to know them."

"We're broken up." Charlotte reminds.

"You're pregnant Charlotte. You're tied to Cooper for life now."

Cooper walks in the door carrying a large box of food.

"Hey. I've got steaks, potatoes, salad some veggies and even desert..' Coopers proud. "And it's all cooked already. We just need to heat it up" Cooper heads to the kitchen and turns on the oven.

"Your're a real Betty Crocker heatin' up that food. Sure you can handle it?" Charlotte insults.

"Charlotte Be nice." Violet reminds. "I'll leave you two alone. But get along!"

"Really Charlotte? I'm trying to do a good thing here. I want to get to know your family. They're going to be my child's relatives." Cooper explains.

"So I was right. You're just around cos I'm pregnant."

"No Charlotte. That's not true." Coopers putting the steaks and potatoes in the oven.

The doorbell chimes and they walk out to greet Charlotte's Momma and brothers.

"Everyone sit down. Dinner is in the oven." Cooper tries to play the host.

Momma, Duke and Landry all give Charlotte a hug and shake Cooper and Violets hands before taking a seat in the living room. "Can I get anyone a drink?" Violet asks.

They all give Violet their drink orders. Charlotte passes.

"Why aren't you having a drink tonight Char? I thought you'd need a double martini after your ordeal" Duke asks.

Charlotte just looks trying to think up an explanation they may believe.

"Uh Charlotte's pregnant so she can't drink." Cooper informs.

Charlotte shoots Cooper a glare. She wasn't ready to make the announcement just yet.

Everyone seems surprised but offer their congratulations and more hugs for Charlotte and Cooper.

"So your're finally gonna make me a grandmother. I was starting to think this day would never come." Momma smiles.

"Yup This will be the first grandchild for my parents too." Cooper tells and Charlotte rolls her eyes.

"Are you planning on marrying?" Landry asks.

"No. We're broken up." Charlotte rushes to say before Cooper can open his mouth.

"I had no idea." Landry's surprised. "I thought you were a happy couple."

Charlotte gives a little sarcastic laugh. "Far from it" she snips .

"I think the food is ready in the kitchen. Can you give me a hand Charlotte?" Cooper asks.

Once is the kitchen Cooper turns to Charlotte. "What the hell are you doing?"

"I'm telling the truth. We're broken up. No point in lyin' about it to my family."

"Charlotte I told you I love you and I want to work things out."

"You wouldn't be sayin' it if I wasn't pregnant and I'm not getting back together cos of it." Charlotte pulled the steaks out of the oven. "They're done."

"Charlotte. It's not because you're pregnant. Ask Violet ask Addison how worried I was about you before I even knew you were pregnant."

"You called the wedding sex a mistake."

"I lied. I just wanted to hurt you." Cooper confesses.

"You sure did a good job." Charlotte snaps

"I'm sorry Charlotte."

"You think that's it after all the things you said to me. After the way you've treated me these past months. You think you can say I'm sorry and it's all forgotten. It's all erased.?" Charlotte was getting louder.

"I know I know Charlotte but let me try. Let me try at least to make it up. To show you how much I really do care." Cooper tried to touch her face.

Charlotte pushed his hand away. Maybe it was the hormones. Maybe it was seeing Matthew again. Maybe it was the memory of how hurtful Cooper had been recently but she didn't want him to touch her. She didn't want him near her.

"Please Charlotte? You have to give me another chance" Cooper pleads.

Charlotte almost feels sorry for him and she feels herself giving in.

" I'll be open to it. You do realize it's never gonna be the same. I may forgive you one day for everything you said but I'll never forget it.

"So You'll give us a chance?"

"I said I'll try but I'm not promisin' anything. We can see each other for now. But I' m gonna stay at Violets house."

"So we'll be dating.?" Cooper asks.

" Something like that. But we can see other people if we want to. Like we're newly dating. Getting to know each other. Nothing exclusive and we'll take it from there."

Cooper didn't like this idea of being able to date other people. He wasn't interested in dating anyone else but he got the feeling Charlotte was.

Charlotte's cell phone rang. "Excuse me Cooper I got to take this call."

Charlotte went outside for some privacy.

"Hey Bama. I was just calling to check on you. Did everything turn out okay with our plan?"

"Hi Matthew. It did. My family is here tonight so I'm having dinner with them and Coopert. But I miss you."

"Right back at ya."

"So when can I see you again?"

"Charlotte The food is ready. Everyone is at the table waiting for you." Cooper calls out the door to her.

"I gotta go but I want to see you again and talk." Charlotte whispers into the phone.

"Call me when you can and we'll work out the details." They hang up.

"So who was on the phone Charlotte?" Cooper's curious.

Charlotte just looks at the food. Decides to ignore Cooper's question.

"Charlotte and I are going to give it another try. We're dating again" Cooper informs the family.

"That's great!" Momma is excited. "The baby needs it's mother and father together. I'm so happy for you."

Cooper grabs Charlotte's hand and smiles.

"Damn! Why's he have to smile at me like that?" Charlotte thinks to her self. She can't resist his smile. She smiles back and decides to just enjoy dinner with Coop, Violet and her family tonight.