Saturday.

Leah sat happily in the backseat of her parent's car. They were headed over to the Swan house for lunch and Unca Charlie had promised that he would show them how to paint the special flowers. Just in time too. Rach and Becca's birthday was tomorrow, and Leah had to make sure that they liked her card more than they liked Jake's. At least Jake didn't know that their favorite color was yellow. He had painted PURPLE flowers. Leah leaned forward to tell Mommy and Daddy about Jake's silly flowers.

'Mommy, do-'

'Not now, Leah. I'm tired.'

Leah leaned back into her seat. Mommy was always tired. And Daddy didn't read her bedtime stories anymore. She liked it at Unca Charlie's, who read them as many stories as they wanted. And he always wanted to listen to what she and Bella said.

'What were you saying, Leah?' Daddy asked.

'Oh, now you're making me look like the bad parent. ' Mommy snapped.

'Christ Sue, stop making everything about you. This is about being a good parent to our current child.'

'Are you implying-'

Leah tuned them out. She wished they would reach Bella's house soon. Unca Charlie never raised his voice.

Charlie had noticed the frostiness between Sue and Harry almost immediately. Lunch had been tense, and he noticed Leah was only picking at her food. Surprisingly, Bella had picked up on Leah's mood and was quiet as well. He shooed Harry and Sue to the back deck and turned to the girls.

'Ready for the special flowers, girls?'

He was met with a chorus of 'Yes.'

A few minutes later, Charlie was sitting cross legged on the floor, with one girl on each side. He cut the stems of a few Okras and handed one to each girl.

'Now dip the stem in the paint and press it hard on the paper.'

'Oooh' the girls were impressed.

Bella dipped the stem in the paint again and pressed it on Charlie's wrist. 'Flower for you, Daddy.'

Leah was busily printing flowers on her own wrist. 'Look Bella, I made a flower bracelet'

Charlie stared at them in horror, suddenly recalling that he had forgotten about the lecture.

After the girls had been informed about 'no-paint-on-skin-rule' and sent to the bathroom to wash the paint off Leah's hands, Charlie got up, groaning when his knees protested. He made a mental note to start working out, and chuckled to himself when he realized that he had been making a lot of mental notes lately. Heading to the back deck, he heard Harry's exasperated voice.

'All I said is that it would be nice-'

'Don't patronize me, Harry. I know what you meant.' Sue snapped.

Charlie had had enough. 'Will both of you shut up?' He said, closing the door behind him. No need to let the girls overhear them. 'When I invited you for lunch, I was hoping it would help you spend time with Leah. Instead you glowered at each other, and made the poor child miserable. I know both of you are tired but nurturing Leah is important.'

Harry and Sue were silent for a moment. Then Sue spoke up.

'I know you're right Charlie, I feel so awful foisting Leah off on you or Sarah. I have got so much on my plate, it's overwhelming.'

Harry reached over and held Sue's hand. 'I'm sorry I have been acting like a jerk, baby. The double shifts are getting to me. I know it's a poor excuse, but I just- I know it's hard for you but I'm trying, I'm trying so hard, Sue.'

Sue's eyes filled with tears. 'It feels like you don't care more for me anymore, Harry.'

'Oh no, Sue, I do, I care so fucking much-'

Charlie let them talk it out for a while. He knew that airing their grievances was what they needed right now. The baby had been a surprise, and the couple was at their wits ends trying to manage the house, Leah and their jobs along with preparing for the baby. No wonder tempers were running high. Maybe-

'Sue, tell you what, why don't you two head down to my riverfront cabin for a few days? A complete break from everything is just what you need.'

'Oh Charlie, that sounds wonderful.' Sue exclaimed. After all, one should never say no when one wanted to say yes.