Chapter 23
Chapter Twenty-Three
“ A ddy?”
“Hmm?” Addison propped Charlotte’s feet up on the seat and paused to fluff up her pillows. “What’s up?”
“You do know the doctor said I should take it easy, not that I’m to be treated like an invalid, right?”
Addison stopped fluffing the pillows and gave her a smile. “I know that, but I don’t think there’s anything wrong with helping out.”
Except Addison had already done a lot for her.
Since being discharged from the hospital, Addison and Mason had taken turns checking in on her and bringing her things throughout the day. As appreciative as Charlotte was, she also wanted her life to go back to normal.
Yeah, that’s not going to happen. This is your new normal, so I’d suggest you get used to it.
Addison and Mason weren’t going anywhere anytime soon.
And with Savannah now on board and trying to compensate for her behavior, Charlotte had one more person looking out for her.
Her smile didn’t leave her face as Addison lowered herself onto the couch next to Charlotte. Then, she leaned sideways and brought her head to rest against Charlotte’s shoulders.
“I appreciate everything you’re doing, but I don’t want you to spread yourself thin,” Charlotte murmured, pausing to drape an arm over Addison’s shoulders. “I know what my limits are now, and I know what to avoid.”
Addison snorted. “Yeah, but I know you. You don’t like feeling limited. That’s why we made the schedule.”
Charlotte leaned back and raised an eyebrow. “The schedule?”
Addison stood up and brought Charlotte’s laptop in from the kitchen. “Mason and I created a schedule so we could swap and take turns bringing you food, helping you out around the apartment with chores, etc.”
Charlotte choked back a laugh. “You needed a schedule for that?”
Addison nodded and carried the laptop over to set it on the coffee table. She used the mouse to maximize the screen and highlighted a few parts. “Yeah, see, this part here is where we put in notes and comments for the other person, so we’re keeping track of how you like things done.”
Charlotte blinked. “I’m not that picky, am I?”
Addison laughed. “Not at all, but this is still helpful. Especially now that your mom and Savannah are going to be added to the schedule.”
Charlotte sat up straighter and frowned. “What?”
Addison moved on to another row. “Yeah, they got in touch with me the other day and asked to be added to the schedule.”
It was too much, all of it.
The last thing she wanted was to make everyone feel like they had to build their lives around her. And it didn’t seem fair that they all had to adjust to her schedule when she was the one who had pushed herself in the first place. A part of Charlotte was relieved and grateful for all of the help being offered, but the other part of her still held on to the guilt and fear that had been taking root inside her stomach since that day at the auditorium.
No matter how hard she tried to avoid it, she kept reliving the ambulance ride and how it felt to lie in that hospital bed, waiting to hear the baby’s heartbeat. All she knew was she never wanted to be in that position again, and she was going to do everything within her power to ensure she wasn’t.
Even if it meant having to loosen the reins and handing over control once in a while.
For the sake of the baby, Charlotte was going to find a way to make her peace with that.
Sighing, Charlotte sank back against the couch and let Addison show her the rest of the schedule and how it was shared with everyone via email. When Addison’s phone rang, she snatched it off the coffee table and stood up. Then, she went over to the door, undid the latch, and threw it open. Patrick appeared in the doorway in a pair of jeans and a T-shirt and with a toolbox in hand.
He nodded at Charlotte on the way past. “How’s it going?”
Charlotte’s stomach dipped. “Um, fine. What are you doing here?”
“Addison asked me to take a look at a few things in your bedroom and bathroom.”
Charlotte’s mouth fell open as she swung her gaze over to Addison, who was looking everywhere but at her. “Addy?”
“I just wanted to make sure everything was safe,” Addison replied, her voice rising toward the end. “Come on, you can’t blame me for that.”
Charlotte snapped her mouth shut and sighed. “No, but you could’ve at least told me you were going to do that. Patrick is my…well, we’re dating. He’s not the handyman.”
“But he is very handy,” Addison protested before finally meeting her gaze. “I figured it’s a good chance for you two to spend some time together too. Two birds, one stone.”
Charlotte threw the covers off and stood up. She filled up a glass of water and downed it all, trying to ignore the butterflies in her stomach. Then she filled up another glass of water and took it inside to Patrick, who was lying on the tile floors of her bathroom, shirtless and sweating. Her stomach gave an odd little dip, and when he looked at her and smiled, her heart was doing cartwheels.
Why had she forgotten what she went in there to say?
Patrick used a rag in his back pocket to wipe the sweat away. “You don’t get proper ventilation in your room. Did you know that?”
Charlotte placed the glass of water down on the table behind her. “No, I didn’t, but it’s fine. It keeps me warm in the winter.”
Patrick frowned and stood up. He gestured to the glass of water, which she hastily handed him. “Yeah, but overheating isn’t good for the baby or you. We don’t want you to be dehydrated.”
Charlotte raised an eyebrow. “When did you become such an expert?”
Patrick took a long sip of his drink and exhaled. “I did some research, and Addison sent me all sorts of links.”
Charlotte folded her arms over her chest. “Okay, I’m not sure I’m a fan of this unholy alliance. Next thing you know, you’ll be conspiring to help me move out of this apartment.”
Patrick chuckled and stepped forward to brush a wisp of hair out of her face. “That’s not one of our short-term plans, but there’s no denying that it did come up.”
Charlotte shook her head and groaned. “I knew it. I knew Addison was going to try to rope you into things. You know you can say no to her, right?”
Patrick covered the distance between them and took her into his arms. “I know, but she’s your best friend. I plan on trying to stay on her good side.”
Charlotte tilted her head back to look up at him. “I think you’re doing fine.”
Patrick smiled, and her breath hitched in her throat. “Good, because that means I get to do a lot more of this.”
He brushed his lips against hers, and Charlotte melted.
She leaned into his touch, and Patrick kept one arm on her waist, the other going to her shoulders. He was massaging her scalp and sending the butterflies in her stomach into a frenzy when Addison cleared her throat. Slowly, reluctantly, they drew back, and Charlotte tried to fan herself. With one last smile in his direction, Charlotte went into the living room to get herself something to drink.
When the doorbell rang, she was surprised to find Libby at the door, carrying a bag of groceries. “Hi, sorry I’m late. Annie and I were having a chat.”
She threw the door open the rest of the way. “I didn’t even know you were coming, but come on in. How are things with Annie?”
“Better,” Libby replied, pausing to set the bag down on the kitchen counter. “I hope it’s okay that we asked your roommates about some of the things you needed around the house.”
Charlotte sighed. “I suppose I should get used to all of this. I doubt Addison is going to ease up any time soon.”
But Charlotte loved her all the more for it.
Addison came out of the bedroom to greet Libby and peruse through the stuff. Then she shooed Charlotte and Libby out of the apartment, banishing them to her mom’s bakery for the day. Outside, the mid-afternoon sun was in the sky, set against a backdrop of clear blue skies. Libby looped her arm through Charlotte’s, and the two of them set off at an even pace.
It felt good to be out of the house, to feel like she wasn’t cooped up there.
Or a prisoner of her own design.
“How is the baby? Everything stable?”
“So far, so good. So, have you spoken to Annie about the adoption thing yet?”
Libby missed a step and nearly went sprawling. “I…no. I haven’t found the right time.”
Charlotte squeezed her hand. “Since you two are getting along and getting things out in the open, now is a good time to bring it up. It’s just my two cents, anyway.”
Libby stopped outside the bakery and peered through the glass. “Thanks, I’ll keep that in mind. I’ll let you know how it goes anyway.”
“You’re not going in?”
Libby removed her arm and gave Charlotte an apologetic smile. “I wish I could, but I have to get to work. I’ll call you later.”
“You might want to clear it with Addison’s schedule first,” Charlotte joked with a shake of her head. “How much of a hard time do you think Addison will give me about scheduling a date?”
Libby threw her head back and laughed. “I’d put in the request right now. It might take her weeks to adjust the schedule and review the necessary information.”
Charlotte’s lips twitched. “I’ll take that under advisement.”
With a smile, Libby waved and walked off, brushing past Savannah on the way. The two women stopped to greet each other, and Savannah quickened her pace. She reached Charlotte and gave her a quick hug before pushing her inside. Cold air blasted them in the face, and Charlotte smiled when she saw her mom sitting in a booth in the back, a stack of papers next to her.
Liam Alrich sat across from her in a crisp button-down shirt, his fingers curled around a mug of coffee. Next to him, a man with a buzz cut in a blazer and an expensive Rolex on his wrist was sitting down. Once they spotted Charlotte, the two of them stood up. Emily was the last to rise to her feet, and she hastily clutched the papers to her chest.
“Charlotte, you remember Liam? This is his friend and fellow lawyer, Mr. Grant.”
Charlotte stuck her hand out. “It’s nice to meet you, Mr. Grant.”
“Likewise.”
Emily inched closer to the wall, and Charlotte slid into the booth next to her. Savannah was the last to sit down, and she linked her fingers together as soon as she did. Emily glanced around and cleared her throat.
“I was just about to call you. Mr. Grant looked over the contract you signed, and he said it all looked good.”
Charlotte fixed her gaze on the lawyer and offered him a small smile. “I’m sorry about having to change the appointment a few times. Things have been hectic.”
Mr. Grant tore off a piece of his croissant and smiled. “Not a problem at all.”
Charlotte shifted from one side to the other. “So, everything is in order?”
She could hardly believe everything was finally falling into place.
“We can renegotiate if you decide to change your mind about being a part of the baby’s life, but for now, it’ll do.”
Emily rubbed her fingers together. “Good. Now that that’s settled, we can move on to other topics. Liam, dear, I heard you wanted to hire a wedding planner. You do know we’d all be happy to pitch in.”
Liam’s face broke out into a grin, and he scratched the back of his neck. “Oh, I know, but with Laura’s cast coming off in a few weeks, we’re just really excited to get started on everything…”
“And you’ve got the entire Wilson clan ready to jump in,” Emily pointed out with a shake of her head. “You don’t have to hire us, but I’m just saying it would be a lot easier if you did. We’re way more people.”
Everyone at the table erupted into laughter.
Charlotte relaxed against the booth and nibbled on a brownie while her mom and Liam discussed wedding details. When Mr. Grant got up to leave, Charlotte walked him to the door and promised to be in touch if she needed his services.
With any luck, this would be the last she saw of the surrogacy lawyer.