Week later
Trenton had been discharged yesterday and was already back to playing and goofing off with Mason like he'd never fallen out of a tree. Of course his nice scar on the corner of his head and the hair that was taking forever to grow back was evidence that he really had fallen out of that tree. His broken arm wasn't stopping him from spending countless hours playing Pokemon video games with Mason. Cooper was trying to convince me to continue on leave until the baby was born but I was only twenty three weeks, the hospital wouldn't last that long without me, but when my alarm clock woke me up at five-thirty I almost regretted not taking leave. I dragged myself out of bed and slowly made my way into the bathroom. Mason ran in while I was brushing my teeth.
"Charlotte can we get McDonald's for breakfast before you drop us off at school? Please?" Mason begged.
"Mason, I'm busy." I said. Mason huffed and hung his head.
"Fine." He muttered and started to walk out of the bathroom.
"I didn't say no." I called after him. Mason turned quickly and flashed a smile at me.
"Thanks Charlotte!" He exclaimed and turned to leave again. I rolled my eyes and spit into the sink. I pulled my hair up into a ponytail and combed out my bangs. Then I pulled on my boots and walked out of the bathroom. I found Mason and Trenton jumping on their twin beds. Mason's half of the room was painted blue with posters of his favorite water type Pokemon and his bead sheets had some sort of turtle Pokemon on it. Trenton's half of the room was green and his walls were lined with posters of Pokemon and places like Seattle and Alaska and New York. Unlike Mason his bed sheets were just camouflage. I have to admit that Trenton was definitely different from Mason. Trenton dreamed a lot of seeing the world and becoming a doctor, of course he liked Pokemon too, but he thought a lot of the future. He was way to young to think about his future. I mean he was only eight. But I guess he used to spend his time laying in the hospital thinking he didn't have the possibility of a future.
"Trenton Christopher Freedman-King! What on earth do you think you are doing?" I yelled. Trenton abruptly stopped jumping. Mason flopped down on his bed and didn't move.
"Jumping." He said and hung his head.
"Do you really think that's wise? Do you want to mess up your elbow even more?" I asked. Trenton shook his head.
"No ma'am." He said shamefully.
"That's right. Now both of you go get your shoes and backpacks. We have to leave now if you want McDonald's." I said. Mason sprang up and grabbed his blue Pokemon backpack off the floor, then he disappeared outside the room to put his shoes on. Trenton grabbed his plaid backpack and walked slowly after Mason. I followed him with my arms crossed. He grabbed his skate shoes and handed them to me.
"You have to tie them remember?" He asked. I smiled and grabbed his shoes from him.
"Yes I know kiddo. Come on sit down and I'll tie them." I said. Trenton sat down on the floor careful not to hit his arm. I slipped his shoes on his feet and started to tie them. Mason impatiently stood by the door tapping his foot.
"Come on Charlotte, I'm hungry." He whined. Trenton got to his feet.
"Don't be annoying." He said angrily.
"I'm not." Mason said. Trenton shrugged and walked past him out the door.
"Come on bud. You said you were hungry right?" I asked and walked past Mason out the door after Trenton. Mason ran out after me. They pilled into the backseat and buckled in.
"Okay we're ready." Mason announced. I rolled my eyes and climbed into the driver's seat.
"You two, how can you be so much like Cooper?" I asked and pulled out of the driveway.
"He doesn't have to be our biological father for us to act like him." Trenton said. I smiled.
"You're too smart, yet somehow you like to do what you're not supposed to." I said.
"I'm sorry." He said shamefully. I smiled and pulled out of the neighborhood. I liked our new house, but it was still hard getting used to changing up the drive to work. I was still getting the hang of some of the back roads. Cooper had insisted we get a bigger house after we adopted Trenton.
"Can we go inside and play?" Mason asked when we pulled into McDonald's.
"Not now, you have to go to school." I said and pulled in the drive-thru line behind some beat up Chevy. The Chevy was packed with kids. I sighed and leaned back slightly in my seat. We were going to be here forever. Eventually I dropped Mason and Trenton off at school and drove to the practice. Cooper was waiting for me at the front desk.
"Hey beautiful. Long morning?" He asked.
"You have no idea." I said and grabbed my charts.
"What took you so long?" Cooper asked.
"Mason and Trenton wanted McDonald's for breakfast. We got stuck behind this Chevy with I swear like ten kids pilled in it. I barely got them to school before they were late. You need to have a talk with Trenton next time you see him, I caught him jumping on the bed this morning." I said and started to walk toward the kitchen to grab some coffee. Cooper followed me.
"Yes ma'am. That is one big ball of energy." Cooper laughed and grabbed a soda out of the fridge. I poured a cup of coffee. Cooper took it from me before I could take a drink.
"Hey!" I said and snatched it back.
"Charlotte. You know you aren't supposed to have coffee." Cooper said. I took a sip.
"I can have one cup a day. Just ask Addison!" I said. Cooper rolled his eyes and pulled me in closer. He kissed me on the cheek and walked out of the kitchen. Addison came in looking slightly aggravated with Jake hot on her heels.
"Come on Addison they are my kids." Jake begged.
"Look Jake, I said you could be a part of their lives but I am with Mark now." Addison said and poured a cup of coffee.
"Addison, Mark is the reason you aren't with Derek anymore and you still want him?" Jake asked. Addison slapped Jake.
"Don't you dare bring up Derek. Okay? You have absolutely no business using that against Mark." Addison said. I grabbed the paper off the counter and opened it so I didn't look like I was eavesdropping.
"Fine, you know what Addison forget it. I'm leaving. You just lost your fertility specialist. I quit." Jake said and threw his charts down on the island before walking out. Addison flopped down on a bar stool and put her head on the island. She rubbed circles on the swell of her stomach.
"Sorry you had to hear that. On top of everything else." She said not lifting her head from the island. I sat down next to her.
"It's okay. You've had a rough time lately. We all have. With Amelia and everything else." I said understandingly. Addison propped her head up with her right arm and turned her head to face me. Her eyes were wet and I figured she was about to start crying.
"I hate hormones." She said and whipped her eyes. I smiled.
"Maybe you should go home for the day?" I suggested. Addison shook her head.
"No, I need to be here." Addison said.
"Okay if you're sure. I'm no OB but I've heard from a really great one that stress isn't good for the baby." I said. Addison smiled.
"I need to find someone to fill Jake's spot." Addison said.
"Why not hire Mark? Everyone loves plastics." I suggested. Addison cracked a smile.
"Yeah, I could do that. Thanks Charlotte." Addison said.
"Anytime." I said and stood up. "I'll see you later." I said and walked out of the kitchen.