Charlotte “Charlie” Monroe hummed to herself as she slathered frosting on the last batch of cupcakes she had spent most of the morning baking. She carefully placed the lid on the container and sat the batch on the table with the rest. Somewhere in the house, she heard the usual whining and fighting of her two kids, 6 year old Amelia and 8 year old Miles.
“Hey! Slow it down!” She yelled as the two of them chased each other through the kitchen, nearly knocking over the stack of cupcakes on the table.
Charlie sighed. Those two were good kids but they could be a handful. And now she had a third on the way. She and her husband Eric had decided to have no more children after Amelia. They’d been extremely careful, always using protection when she wasn’t on the pill. She could have gotten a more permanent solution but something always held her back.
And here she was, at 38, pregnant again. It had been an honest slip up and Eric had tried to convince her to abort the child. But the more she thought about it, the more she knew she wanted this child. Besides, Eric was away a lot with work, she welcomed more company, and the other two were old enough to help her with the baby. Of course, her online baking business that she ran out of their home would probably suffer with her having less time to devote to it. But that was something she was willing to take.
Charlie relaxed into a chair at the kitchen table, hands resting on her extended belly. She was almost 6 months along and getting bigger every day. Glancing out the window, she took in the beauty of the day. The sun was shining brightly, the sky was a brilliant blue. A gorgeous summer day. Perfect for the cookout her best friend and neighbor Gabrielle’s family would be having later that afternoon.
Gabi’s son would be returning from his first year at college and they were welcoming him home as well as celebrating his completion and success of his first year. She had been close friends with Gabi since they’d moved in, nearly 10 years ago. Other than Gabi’s oldest, they’d been there for each other through the births of each child and their children had basically grown up together.
Charlie knew that cupcakes might seem juvenile for an almost 19 year old college guy, but who didn’t love sweets? And he’d always been a fan of her baking. Plus there would be plenty of sugar hungry kids around too. He was due to arrive home around 4pm that afternoon. Gabi had invited several family members and friends as well as some of his old high school friends that were in town. It would be a surprise.
Around 2, Charlie gathered up her cupcakes, and she and Eric and the kids joined Gabi and her family next door. Charlie helped Gabi set up while the kids played and the men started up the grill. Soon, the yard was full of guests, all awaiting the honored guest’s arrival.
“Hey! Slow it down!” She yelled as the two of them chased each other through the kitchen, nearly knocking over the stack of cupcakes on the table.
Charlie sighed. Those two were good kids but they could be a handful. And now she had a third on the way. She and her husband Eric had decided to have no more children after Amelia. They’d been extremely careful, always using protection when she wasn’t on the pill. She could have gotten a more permanent solution but something always held her back.
And here she was, at 38, pregnant again. It had been an honest slip up and Eric had tried to convince her to abort the child. But the more she thought about it, the more she knew she wanted this child. Besides, Eric was away a lot with work, she welcomed more company, and the other two were old enough to help her with the baby. Of course, her online baking business that she ran out of their home would probably suffer with her having less time to devote to it. But that was something she was willing to take.
Charlie relaxed into a chair at the kitchen table, hands resting on her extended belly. She was almost 6 months along and getting bigger every day. Glancing out the window, she took in the beauty of the day. The sun was shining brightly, the sky was a brilliant blue. A gorgeous summer day. Perfect for the cookout her best friend and neighbor Gabrielle’s family would be having later that afternoon.
Gabi’s son would be returning from his first year at college and they were welcoming him home as well as celebrating his completion and success of his first year. She had been close friends with Gabi since they’d moved in, nearly 10 years ago. Other than Gabi’s oldest, they’d been there for each other through the births of each child and their children had basically grown up together.
Charlie knew that cupcakes might seem juvenile for an almost 19 year old college guy, but who didn’t love sweets? And he’d always been a fan of her baking. Plus there would be plenty of sugar hungry kids around too. He was due to arrive home around 4pm that afternoon. Gabi had invited several family members and friends as well as some of his old high school friends that were in town. It would be a surprise.
Around 2, Charlie gathered up her cupcakes, and she and Eric and the kids joined Gabi and her family next door. Charlie helped Gabi set up while the kids played and the men started up the grill. Soon, the yard was full of guests, all awaiting the honored guest’s arrival.
