| �Ethan? Did you hear what I just told you?�
�Yeah, I heard you. I was just wondering how we were going to afford it.� Charlotte stared at her husband and disappointment came over her. Why was Ethan acting like this? She had seen how other couples reacted to this type of news, and it was nothing like this. They kissed and hugged and laughed. They didn�t ask right away how the would be able to afford it. They were just happy that their love had created a new life. Now her husband was worrying about money when he should be sharing her joy. What was he worried about anyway? Since they had gotten married he hadn�t been able to keep a stable job and Charlotte usually had to work overtime to make ends meet. As far as she was concerned she was the one who should be worrying about the money. She unconsciously rubbed her belly and promised whispered. �Don�t you worry little one. You�re mama�s got enough love for you and anyone else that comes along.� She hoped that once the baby was born Ethan would change his attitude, but she was dead wrong. With each day that passed he became more and more irritable. It had gotten to the point where he would stay out as long as he could and leave at the crack of dawn. Then just when things seemed to be getting back to normal Charlotte found out she was pregnant again, and they went through the whole ordeal all over. Then she became pregnant with Brian. By that time Charlotte and Ethan�s relationship was virtually non-existent. They slept in the same bed, but that was it. Charlotte sensed there was something else going wrong and her suspicions were proven to be correct. She was gathering the laundry one day and when she picked one of Ethan�s shirts up a note fell from the pocket. She picked it up and was going to put it on top of his nightstand, but curiosity got the better of her and she read it. Her face turned pale and her jaw dropped open. She couldn�t believe what she had just read. Her husband, the one she had been loyal to had been having an affair. She wanted to find Ethan and confront him, but he was out of town. She was going to have to wait until later that evening when he returned. She was dressing the kids so they could head to pick Ethan up at the airport when the phone rang. �Hello?� �Good evening, is this Mrs. Charlotte Cooper?� �Yes, this is her.� �This is Tom with American Airlines and I�m afraid I have some bad news.� Charlotte�s heart skipped a beat, and her mouth went dry. �What kind of bad news?� �There�s been an accident. The flight that was heading from San Diego to Colorado crashed and we�ve been told there were no survivors.� Charlotte couldn�t believe what she was hearing. Was this man really telling her that her husband was dead? Or was she just imagining it? �Are you sure?� �I�m afraid so. I�m so sorry.� �Thank you for letting me know.� Charlotte softly placed the phone down and swiped away her tears. She had really hoped that they could turn things around in their relationship, but now they were never going to get the chance. She was brought out of her daydream when she heard Brian crying. �What happened?� �Matthew told me Sully doesn�t really like me he just talks to me because he doesn�t want to hurt my feelings.� �Oh Brian, I�m sure that�s not true at all. From what I�ve heard Sully thinks a lot of you.� Brian wiped away his tears and ran into Charlotte�s open arms. �Shh� It�s all right .� She rocked him back and forth and gave Matthew the look. It was that special look all mothers have to let their kids know they�ll take care of them later. |