Charlie and Kathleen waited nervously for the ultrasound technician to come in. Kathleen was there for Dr. Levine to check the cerclage and to get another ultrasound. She hoped all was well so she could move back home. While things were not as tense, she needed to move out. It was best for everyone.
"Good afternoon." Elizabeth said cheerfully as she walked in the room, "How are you Kathleen?"
"I'll be okay once I know the baby's alright." She said with Charlie standing beside her holding her hand
She smiled sympathetically, "Well, let's get right to it." She fired up the machine coating the transducer with gel and in a few minutes the screen came to life and their before them was there baby girl, "There she is."
"Is she alright?" Kathleen asked
"Well, she's moving around so that's a good sign and you can see her spine now and her arms and legs. It looks good but we leave the final verdict up to the doctor. She'll be here any minute."
Kathleen stared at the screen in awe, "Look Charlie, that's our baby. That's Diana."
Elizabeth smiled, "You've named her?"
Kathleen wiped her eyes, "Yeah, after our mothers."
"She's sucking her thumb, look at that." Charlie said squeezing her hand tighter
"So, how are you Kathleen?" Dr. Levine asked
"I'm fine." She said still not able to stop looking at the screen
"Well, let me take a look at this baby of yours." Dr. Levine took over from Elizabeth, "Everything looks good. So now all I need to do is check the cerclage and if it's still in tact then you should be able to go home. Have you had any discomfort?"
"No, none." She said
"Okay, just meet me in the exam room next door and we'll get you out of here as soon as possible." Dr. Levine said
/
Charlie and Bailey were at Kathleen's attempting to put the crib together. Before she realized it she was twenty four weeks and hadn't even begun to think about getting the nursery ready, having sectioned off a area of her loft style apartment for it. She was going out later with Kirsten, Julia and Claudia to do some baby shopping. It had been a month since she had been taken to the hospital and thankfully the baby was still doing fine and she could resume most of her normal routine.
"I thought you guys could use something cold to drink." She walked in to the large loft space from the kitchen with two glasses of soda
"Thanks." Bailey took the glass took a sip
"You need to sit down." Charlie insisted
"Charlie, I'm fine." She insisted caressing her belly
He took the drink from her other hand, "The doctor said to still take it easy and you're going out later and will be walking all over the place."
"Charlie, come on, Man." Bailey said, "She's fine."
"Hey, this is my kid we're talking about." He reached out and caressed her belly, "I just want her to be safe."
She placed her hand over his, "She's fine." She pressed his hand more firmly against her belly, "See, she's kicking up a storm." Charlie smiled and their eyes locked for a moment which didn't go unnoticed by Bailey
"Hey Charlie, we should probably get back to work here." Bailey suggested
"Uh yeah." He agreed and went back to helping build the crib
Kathleen took a seat on the couch and began reading one of the baby books suggested to her by Doctor Levine. She leaned back against the pillow on the arm of the couch and it was then she realized how much he back was hurting. She reached around to rub it.
"Are you okay?" Charlie asked upon noticing her discomfort
She smiled, "Yeah, just my back."
"Are you still having trouble getting comfortable at night to sleep?" He asked
"I've tried everything the doctor suggests but it's still hard. I'm used to sleeping on my stomach so it's hard to get used to something else."
He walked over to her, "Here, let me."
"What?" She asked, "Oh no. I'm okay.
"Kathleen." He said
She signed and moved to make room behind her and he began to massage her lower back, "Is that better?"
"Yeah." She said uncomfortably, "Thanks."
"Charlie, I thought we were here to put crib together." Bailey said getting irritated at his behavior
"Bailey, what's your problem?" Charlie asked still massaging Kathleen's back then her shoulders
"Nothing." He snapped
"Excuse me." Kathleen said getting up
"Are you alright?" Charlie asked
"Yeah, bathroom break...you know." She lied as she walked out of the room
Charlie got up and went back to helping Bailey with the crib, "What do you think you're doing?" Baliey asked
"Putting a crib together?" Charlie replied, "If you didn't want to help you should have just said so."
"No, what are you doing with her?" He asked
"Bailey, she's carrying my child. I'm trying to make sure she's okay."
"Is that all it is?" Bailey asked
"What is that supposed to mean?" Charlie asked
"I see how cozy you two are getting." He explained
"You're being ridiculous." Charlie insisted
"Am I?" He asked
"Bailey, what do you want me to do?" He asked exasperated, "I'm taking responsibility. I'm trying to be here for her. She didn't make this baby alone."
"Yeah and while you two are bonding over your baby, you've got a girlfriend at home who believes you love her."
"I do love Kirsten." Charlie said, "But I can't abandon Kathleen and our daughter."
"Yeah well, I think you're playing with fire Charlie." Bailey said, "And I don't want to end up cleaning up another one of your messes."
"Well, this is really none of your business." He responded, "So why don't we just get back to work."
Kathleen stood in the hall hearing every word then wiped her eyes, gathering herself, she walked into the room, "Hey, you know, I am kinda tired and I do have a busy afternoon. I'd like to lie down before I go. Would you guys mind finishing this another time?"
"Sure." Charlie said, "Are you sure you're alright?"
She nodded and forced a smile, "Yeah, I'm fine." She said then looked at Bailey, "I'm sorry, Bailey. I really do appreciate you helping Charlie."
"Hey, no problem." He said, "Always happy to help Charlie." He said with more than a little sarcasm
Charlie sighed and rested his hands on hers shoulders, "I'll call you later." He said kissing her on the forehead
"Okay." She said as she walked them to the door
"Lock the door behind us." He said as they headed to the door
"Aye aye, captain." She gave him a mock salute as she closed the door behind them
It was only then the tears fell again as she leaned against the door.
/
Kirsten, Julia, Claudia and Kathleen sat at the food court at the mall. The others ate and chatted happily as Kathleen pushed her food around her plate.
"So will you come Kathleen?" Claudia asked
She looked up from her plate, "Huh?"
"My concert." Claudia said, "Well, the orchestra's concert. This Friday. Please say you'll come."
Kathleen smiled, "What time is it?"
"Seven." Claudia said, "Are you alright?"
"Yes, why?" Kathleen asked
"Because we've talking about the concert for ten minutes and you didn't hear a word." She said
"I'm sorry. Of course I'll come." Kathleen assured her and Claudia smiled gratefully
"Hey, why don't you guys get us some ice cream?" Kirsten suggested, "Double chocolate chip?" She asked Kathleen who nodded, "For me, too."
"Okay." Julia said, "Come on, Claude. The grown ups want to talk."
Kirsten watched them walk away, "Okay, what's going on?"
She forced another smile, "Nothing. I guess I'm just tired."
"That's what Charlie said and that you asked them to come back to finish the crib." Kirsten said in a way that said she wasn't buying it
"I'm fine. I promise." She rested her hand on her belly
"Okay. Double chocolate chip for two." Julia said a she and Claudia returned to the table, "Well, make that three." She quipped
/
Later that night Kathleen was going through all the stuff she'd bought, clothes, accessories for the crib. Even a mobile for the crib. As she was folding the little onesies and little socks the tears came again. She felt the baby move.
She sighed heavily, "Well, little girl. It looks like you're stuck with me. I'm so sorry. You deserve better. You deserve a mommy and daddy who love each other and are together. I have never been so scared. The truth is I love your daddy very much but he loves someone else. When you meet him you'll see why I love him. He's so handsome and a real charmer. He almost has this adorable little boy way about him. Plus the cutest dimples." She laughed, "He'll be a good daddy. I just wish things were different." She continued but the phone interrupted her.
"Hello." She answered after gathering herself
"Hi." Charlie said, "Are you alright?"
"Fine." She said
"Well, they said you seemed bothered by something when you were shopping. Are you sure you're okay."
Kirsten and your sisters have big mouths, she thought, "I was just tired, Charlie. I probably should rest more, like you said."
"How's your back?" He asked
"Not too bad right now. I'm going to put a heating pad on it in a minute." She explained
"Good." He said, "So would it be alright if Bailey and I come over tomorrow to finish the crib?"
"Uh, yeah that's fine." She said
"Okay, I'll call you in the morning." He said pausing for a moment, "And tell Diana goodnight for me."
She almost couldn't answer, "I will. Goodnight Charlie."
"Bye."
/
"Well, I think we've got it." Charlie said
Kathleen looked up from the book she was reading and smiled, "It looks great." She got up and came over to them
"So you want it behind that partition?" He asked
"Yeah." She said and went over to pull back the partition to make room for them to put there
"Alright, Bay. Let's get her moved." he said and they picked it up put it in it's place
"Thank you, both." She said, "How about I make you lunch for the trouble?"
"No, no. I'll go get us something to eat." Charlie insisted, "Is Chinese okay?"
"Sure." She said and Bailey nodded in agreement
"Okay, I'll be back in a flash." He said and headed out the door
"So do you want something to drink?" Kathleen offered Bailey
"Yeah, water's fine." he said
"Coming up." She said
Bailey followed her to the kitchen and sat down at the bar, "Thanks." he said when she handed him the glass
"Bailey, I do appreciate you helping Charlie." She said, "I know he does, too."
"Well, I've got plenty of experience 'helping' Charlie." He said taking a drink, "Just how I wanted to spend my weekend."
"You didn't have to do this." she said, "You could have said no. So what's with the attitude? Do you have a problem with me?"
"You?" he said, "No, I feel sorry for you."
She was perplexed by his answer, "Why?"
"Never mind." He said
"No, you and I have never really talked. You always seemed to avoid me when I was at the house."
"Look, I'm sorry. It's not you. It's just..."
"Just what?" she asked
"I don't want to see you or Kirsten get hurt." He admitted, "And one of you will."