Two weeks later
My phone starting ringing and I shot up in bed. Cooper sat up suddenly when I moved.
"Char? Everything okay?" Cooper asked. I grabbed my phone and looked to see who was calling me at four in the morning.
"Yeah. The hospital is calling me." I said and pressed the green button. "Dr. King speaking." I said.
"Charlotte we have a situation and we need you." Sam said.
"Okay. I'll be right there." I said and hung up. "Sorry Coop. You need to handle the kids this morning. I have to go in." I said and kissed him on the cheek before climbing out of bed. I pulled on some slacks and a flowing shirt. Then I went out to my car and drove through the darkness to St. Ambrose. When I got there Addison was waiting for me with two coffees she gave me one and started walking with me to find Sam. "What's the emergency?" I asked and took a sip of my coffee.
"A patient of mine originally wanted to put the baby up for adoption and now she wants the kid and the adoptive parents won't back... Excuse me." Addison said and had to stop to brace herself on the wall.
"Addison?" I asked.
"It's nothing they're just fighting for the first time." Addison said.
"Do you need to sit down?" I asked.
"No, no I'm fine. Just give me a second." Addison said. I waited and eventually she straightened and started to walk with me again. "Like I was saying the adoptive family won't back down." Addison said finishing her statement from earlier.
"Great. Now I have to go be the heartless witch who tells them the child was never legally theirs and to sue the hospital would get them no where because they wouldn't win. What's worse is I'm pregnant. So that makes them automatically hate me." I said. Addison laughed.
"I know the feeling." She said. I sighed and pushed open the door into the room Addison had directed me too. The adoptive parents were in a heated argument with a girl who looked to be seventeen in a wheelchair.
"She's rightfully mine! I gave birth to her." The girl said annoyed.
"But you promised her to us." The older woman said angrily.
"Excuse me, I'm Dr. King chief of staff at St. Ambrose." I said and shook hands with everyone.
"Dr. King you know that she promised the kid to us." The older woman said angrily.
"Look ma'am I really am sorry but Miss Fennimore gave birth to the girl and according to law has the ability and the right to break off the adoption process and keep her child now I'm sorry for the inconvenience but this is policy." I said and stuffed my hands into my lab coat pocket.
"This is absurd." The man said and led his wife out of the room. Miss Fennimore but her head in her hands.
"I'm such an awful person." She sobbed. Addison walked over to her and rubbed her back.
"It's okay. You didn't know how much you would love her." Addison soothed. I stood awkwardly by the door until Addison was done and had wheeled her out of the room to rest. I flopped down in an office chair and stared up at the ceiling. I had just gotten to work and already my back hurt. I took a sip of coffee and laid back in my chair. This was going to be a long day. Addison came looking for me a few hours later. I was awaken from my nap when the door opened. I turned around to see who it was.
"Oh, hi Addison." I said.
"Hey Charlotte, you haven't moved yet?" She asked.
"No. Not yet. Unless anyone needs me again I think I'll just stay here." I said. Addison laughed.
"You okay?" She asked and sat down in a chair next to mine.
"Yeah, my back just hurts." I said. Addison nodded.
"Anthony is really putting a strain on you isn't he?" Addison asked.
"Oh yeah, you have no idea." I said.
"I will soon." Addison remarked. I nodded.
"Yeah, that's true."
"And it will be twice as bad." Addison said. I nodded.
"I'm sorry." I said.
"Me too," Addison said. I smiled and leaned back farther in my chair. "Work must be your escape these days." Addison commented.
"Yeah, Trenton and Mason are pretty wild." I agreed. Addison smiled.
"Hang in there. Trenton turns nine in a week right?" Addison asked.
"Yes. He does." I said.
"And Mason turns nine in three months?" Addison asked.
"Yes."
"Well then they get better around ten so you only have to deal with them being crazy for another year." Addison said brightly.
"And Anthony." I reminded her.
"Well they don't get real bad until around six." Addison said trying to bring in a bright side.
"I just want a girl." I said. Addison laughed.
"You sure you want to have another one after this one?" Addison asked.
"Yes. I need someone on my side. I think I'll die with boys running around." I said.
"Four?" Addison asked.
"Cooper." I said. Addison laughed.
"Um Charlotte, he's a man." Addison said. I laughed.
"He acts so much like a kid sometimes." I said. Addison smiled. My pager went off and I unclipped it from my lab coat pocket to look at it. Cooper flashed on the screen. "I have to go. Cooper wants me." I said and left the room. I met Cooper in the Pediatric Ward at the nurse's station.
"Hey Charlotte, I brought your favorite." Cooper said and handed me a paper bag and some coffee. I looked inside and found two raspberry filled doughnuts.
"Cooper you didn't have to." I said.
"I know, but I wanted to." Cooper said and kissed me on the cheek. " I have a patient but the boys are going to be at Amelia and Sheldon's tonight so I was thinking we could go out for some Chinese later?" Cooper suggested. I nodded.
"Okay. I'll see you at eight." I said. Cooper smiled and left. I smiled and pulled out one of the doughnuts. I bit into one and closed my eyes in enjoyment. God they were so good.