The odd crazy day went by quickly. Margaret worked on the party while Charity worked on ideas to get around Hal. Jamie entertained them throughout the day, happy to have both of them there to cause mischief. Jamie’s new bed was delivered and they set her room up too.
Before she realized, Margaret headed out to make dinner for Scott and Charity decided to prepare dinner for her and Elijah. He had called to say he would be home from the hospital at a reasonable hour. The Bennet’s were going to pretend for a night they were a normal couple working a 9-5 schedule. Elijah and Charity were anything but normal, which was a good thing most of the time. Elijah promised they were going to be like June and Ward Cleaver for the night, at least until it was time to go to bed. Then they would portray a different couple. Maybe Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt, whomever it was, they would be “R” rated.
Her cell rang and Charity saw Elijah’s cell. She flipped her phone to speaker as she bustled around the kitchen. “Hey handsome. You running late? Just saw the traffic on the news. Can you channel your inner Vin Diesel and put the pedal to the metal? I’m making Chicken Picante with steamed veggies.”
“Sorry, babe. I’m gonna be probably an hour. Hold dinner for me if you can.”
Charity turned everything on low. “Traffic’s that bad?”
“No. There’s an emergency at the hospital and I have to handle some sutures.”
“Sutures?! Have a resident do it. Since when do you stitch up patients?”
“Since it’s Simon. He has a gash on his head and he wants to keep it on the down low. I’m sorry Charity. I’ve been covering for this guy for months and I can’t cut him loose now.”
What the hell? “Is he okay?”
“He’ll be fine.”
“Do you need me to call Julie?”
“No! Please don’t! Let Simon tell her.”
Charity shook her head. “You know what? I’m tired of Simon, and you covering up for him. Or whatever the he—heck it is.” Jamie came wobbling into the kitchen. Still a little unsure on her legs as the left leg was slightly shorter and it would take time to get used to. Charity caught herself from swearing just in time. “Dinner’ll be warm in the oven for you if you make it home. I’m going to eat with Jamie. Remember her? She’s our two-year-old daughter who misses her daddy.”
“Daddy home. Daddy home now. I need Prince Charming.” Jamie frowned. She was dressed as Cinderella in a blue dress. Her blonde curls made it her best role yet. She had been half running around the house waving her wand as she knocked over anything in her path. Charity could not help but crack a smile despite her foul mood. She was becoming a reluctant authority on all Disney princesses. “Hear that? Jamie wants her prince home and so do I.” She hit end on the phone before Elijah could reply.
She collapsed in front of the T.V. with Jamie and a plate of spicy chicken. She couldn’t get enough spicy food and when she was done, Jamie’s mac & cheese soothed her burning mouth.
****
Elijah entered an examine room in the emergency department. He made sure the location was far from the action and luckily it was a slow night in emergency. He didn’t want to be noticed sewing up a gash on Simon’s forehead. A job a skilled seamstress could handle with no problem.
“You’re a godsend Elijah. Julie’s going to be furious. I need a decent cover story. Think on it while you’re doing your handiwork,” Simon said as he sat on the table in a blue smock and bloodstained jeans.
“I’m going to stitch you up, mate, but the rest is up to you. I just received a tongue-lashing from my wife and I don’t blame her. She’s furious and thinks I’m the one up to something. I can just tell.” Elijah shook his head. “You’re lucky there was no alcohol in your system when you hit the windshield. I couldn’t fudge any blood tests because I’m not losing my license for you. As far as an excuse as to why you have ten stiches on your head; come up with one on your own.”
“Car wreck won’t work when my vehicle is sitting pretty and undamaged in the parking lot. Pam’s car has front-end damage but what am I gonna say? Pam and I were running errands together. Pam’s twenty-five and a knock-out. Ouch.”
Elijah injected Simon’s cut with Lidocaine after cleaning it out but he didn’t wait long enough for the area to numb completely. “You play, you pay Simon. Don’t be such a baby over a few stitches. You’re lucky I gave you Lidocaine at all because you deserve a little pain for what you’re doing to your wife.”
“Is it going to leave much of a scar?” Simon asked.
“I hope so.”
“What?” Simon snapped.
“Questioning my work while I’m holding a needle is a bad idea. I’m using a single filament and the tissue doesn’t look bad. It was a deep slash and not a jagged cut, so it will heal nicely. The stitches will dissolve in about two weeks. Nothing compared to what you’re doing to Julie’s heart.”
“Stop bringing up, Julie. I’m in pain man.”
“Can’t help you. But I can give you some advice. Stop telling lies, tell the truth for once. Julie has a solid heart and in case you haven’t noticed, though I’m sure you have, Pam’s tits are fake. The girl has so much silicone in her face that I worry she might explode on you, and then you’ll be stuck with another hospital visit to explain.”
Elijah walked out of the exam room when he finished without saying another word to Simon. He was mad at himself for not being honest with Charity. He’d covered Simon’s affair with Pam. He threw his instruments into the metal receptacle and ripped off his white coat. Elijah misjudged how much lying for Simon would affect his relationship with Charity.
He called home, but this time Charity didn’t answer and he couldn’t blame her. He left a message.
“I’m on my way home. Looking forward to playing Prince Charming to both of my girls. See you soon. I love you Charity.”
On the way to his car, Elijah stopped at the gift shop to pick something up for the girls. He grabbed a couple of bunches of cellophane wrapped roses. They were what you’d expect from a hospital gift shop but it was the thought that would hopefully count.
Charity was sleeping on the couch with Cinderella in her arms. The glow from the television cast an angelic light on them. Elijah stood above them holding the flowers for several minutes. He thought of pulling his phone out of his pocket to snap the photo but decided a mental snapshot enough. He remained in place until Charity’s eyes fluttered.
“Hey, how long have you been standing there?” Charity mumbled in her sleepy voice.
“Long enough to realize how lucky I am to have the two of you in my life.” Elijah placed the roses on the coffee table.
Charity smiled sleepily. “Thanks. Jamie will be thrilled that her charming prince was thinking of her.”
“Always. Let me help you put the Peanut down.”
“I would love that. We have made some big changes to Jamie’s room. She’ll be proud to tell you in detail what we have done.”
Elijah pried Jamie off Charity’s body and together they padded to Jamie’s pink palace. Elijah’s jaw dropped. In the center of her room was her big-girl bed, complete with canopy. Pink tulle with butterfly appliques came down from the sides of the canopy and it was only inches off the ground. Falls out of bed would only result in a bump, which would make everyone sleep easier. Another milestone meant another teary-eyed Elijah.
Charity spoke in a whisper. “Jamie’s so proud of her new bed. No more baby Jamie Lynn. She’s a little girl now. You’ll have to take apart the crib in the next couple of days and put it in storage I suppose.”
“You suppose? We’re pretty good at this baby thing so I think we should give it another shot; and another, and another.”
“Stop. I have to finish this project at work, which can last up to two years. It doesn’t mean that practice is out of the question.” Charity smiled. When they were together, things were so much easier. She was tired of the fighting.
“I know. I won’t pressure you, so we can just practice.” He grinned wickedly, obviously happy she wasn’t mad. “What do you say we get going?” Elijah flashed his bedroom eyes.
Charity batted her eyes back. “I have to make a pit-stop in the bathroom. I’ll meet you there.”
She slipped into the bathroom and stared at herself in the mirror. She was a physician and knew how things worked. She’d been so busy with everything she hadn’t been paying attention to her body. Except… Her appetite seemed to be out of control, her moods were wobbly and obvious, her boobs were tender and she was late.
Could she be pregnant?
Her hand came to her mouth. Was it something she wanted? It could all be stress related. It didn’t mean she was. She shook her head and brushed her teeth. She wasn’t going to worry until she took a test. And that wasn’t going to happen tonight.
Charity slinked into the bedroom with a peach lace bra and matching panties. Sex while she was pregnant with Jamie had been spectacular. Charity would get an idea whether or not she was carrying her second child. It wasn’t a perfect test but it was more fun than peeing on a stick.
Elijah lay naked while he waited for Charity. The white cotton sheets were a perfect contrast to his tanned skin. She slowly pulled the sheet away, showing his ripped lean body. He was hard and throbbing as soon as Charity positioned herself next to the bed. She slowly removed her bra one strap at a time and stepped out of her panties. She tossed them to Elijah, who inhaled their sweet scent. Charity extended her dainty hand; he met it with his and pulled her in tight. His hands were soon tangled in her long blonde hair. He kissed her lips wildly as she pushed him inside of her and moaned loudly. Elijah and Charity didn’t always climax simultaneously but when they did it sent both of them into the stratosphere. This was one of those times. Their juices flowed together and at the same time, they experienced nirvana.
Words were not spoken as they lingered in the afterglow. It was at that moment that Charity realized unexpectedly that she was pregnant. A tiny Bennet was swimming around in her belly. She wouldn’t tell till a test confirmed.
“I’m always amazed when you make me feel better. I love you, Charity. I thought I was coming home to trouble, and yet, you always leave me breathless. I don’t know how I got so lucky.” Elijah ran his forefinger over her abdomen and then gently kissed her navel. He had no idea there was someone in there anxious to meet him. “Do you want me to tell you about Simon now?”
She didn’t want the moment ruined by whatever Simon was doing. It couldn’t be good. “It can wait till morning. It’s not a priority. Tomorrow is another day in which I’m going to start checking things off my list. I have a lot to accomplish before…” Charity stopped. Keeping good news from Elijah was not easy.
“Before what, Charity?”
“Before my dad’s party. Did your mom tell you what she’s planning? I’m still trying to envision classical music mixed with hotdogs and red wine at a baseball field.”
“I’m looking forward to it. A true celebration of all that this family has accomplished and endured. It hasn’t always been easy but we’ve managed. I think my mother is just crazy in love with Scott. Emphasis on the crazy,” Elijah joked.
It was just a little sprout growing inside of her and Charity was already bursting with joy. She thought she would be disappointed or stressed. She had so much to do and she had her job with Pinnacle. Instead of feeling anxious, she felt excited. She’d confirm with a test and then tell Elijah. Maybe after her dad’s birthday. Let him have his moment, he deserved it.
She smiled as Elijah rolled over to spoon her. Hopefully she could keep the secret long enough.