Chapter Fifteen
“Iknow. I know.” Charlotte ran a hand over her face and grimaced. “I’m not trying to avoid Patrick. Things have just been busy.”
“I don’t know how different dating is nowadays, but I’m pretty sure if you keep putting it off, he’s going to think you’re not interested,” Libby replied after a brief pause. “I know it’s none of my business, but is this because of—”
“No,” Charlotte interrupted with a shake of her head. “It has nothing to do with that. I’ve just been busy preparing for the play.”
With nothing to do but wait for news of a pregnancy, Charlotte had thrown herself into work. She spent her mornings in the auditorium, making changes to the script and playing the songs through her Bluetooth speaker. In the afternoon, she sat down in one of the seats to have her Addison-approved lunch. After lunch, she spent a few more hours at school, going over the drawings for the set.
In her mind, everything was coming together beautifully.
Except for not knowing if she was pregnant.
It had been two weeks, and although they had done everything within their power to time the procedure while shewas ovulating, the doctor had cautioned them against getting their hopes up. In most cases, it took a few tries before it worked, and Charlotte didn’t want to keep glancing longingly at her calendar.
Because it wasn’t going to do her any good.
She needed to focus on getting the play ready for when the kids came back. In the meantime, she tried not to think about what would happen if she didn’t get pregnant. More and more, she was beginning to imagine going through the experience and feeling her body transform with each growth, each heartbeat, each milestone. While a small part of her was still terrified and couldn’t quite believe she’d gone through with it, the other part of her was thrilled.
Going through with the implantation had given her life a whole new meaning.
Even though she knew she couldn’t keep the baby, she had nine months of nausea, mood swings, and food aversions to look forward to. Nine months of doctor visits, ultrasounds, and excited conversations with Addison, who had taken it upon herself to act as Charlotte’s guardian.
Every morning, Addison showed up with a cup of coffee and a bagel.
She insisted on walking Charlotte to work and waited till she was behind the glass double doors. When Addison walked off, Charlotte tried to ignore how her stomach dipped and fell with worry.
What if it didn’t work at all?
What was Charlotte going to do then?
With a slight shake of her head, Charlotte turned her attention back to the phone call, only to realize that Libby’s voice was disjointed. She hung up and tried to call her back, but she couldn’t get a signal. Sighing, Charlotte placed her phone on the stool and went back to work.
Patrick came in when she was on a ladder, trying to pin a sign to the wall.
He raced over to steady the ladder. “You sure you want to do that? It looks dangerous.”
Charlotte flashed him a grateful smile. “I’m okay, thanks.”
Patrick steadied the ladder as she climbed down and dusted herself off. “I’m sorry we haven’t had the chance to go on our date.”
“I’m the one who should be apologizing. I feel like I keep getting distracted. How does tonight sound?”
Charlotte’s heart missed a beat, and her stomach was doing odd little somersaults.
She couldn’t believe it was finally happening.
Now, of all times.
But she wasn’t about to miss her opening; otherwise, who knew when she’d have an opportunity like this again?
The butterflies in Charlotte’s stomach had erupted into a frenzy, and her mind was spinning, dizzy and elated with possibility and hope.
Go for it! You deserve to be happy. Worry about the rest later.
Charlotte finally smiled and let out a nervous breath. “Tonight sounds perfect.”
“I’ll pick you up at seven.” Patrick flashed her a smile on his way past, the kind that made her want to melt into a puddle at his feet. Charlotte waited until he was gone to do a little shimmy. Then, she straightened her shoulders and went back to work.
