?No, sweetie. Mama has to leave now.?
Megan screamed even more loudly. Now a year old, Megan had begun to learn when Mama and Papa were leaving and was in that stage where such things were not acceptable. 24/7 she clung to Charlotte or Dakota, not wanting to be without one or the other.
It broke Charlotte?s heart to see her little sugar beside herself like this, but there comes a time in every mother?s life when you have to let your child just cry it out. If only that night was not this night. Charlotte crooned over the baby standing in her crib, heart breaking as she observed Megan?s hands shaking from gripping the crib railing so tightly. Tears streaked down the 1 year olds face, her nose was running, and her screams echoed in the nursery. Charlotte bent to place a kiss in those soft, auburn curls before turning briskly and heading for the door. ?Goodnight, baby.?
Once the door had closed, she leaned against it and sighed. It was tough, sometimes, being a mom. Better make that most of the time. High heels click-clicked against the hardwood floor as she made her way down the hallway, stopping to poke her head in the boys room to say goodbye.
?We shouldn?t be too late, guys. You?d better be in bed, though, when we get back.? Aiden and Thomas didn?t even look up from their video game, only making grunts of understanding. Charlotte chuckled and closed their door. Megan?s cries still echoed from the small room at the end of the hall, but that wasn?t what caused the sudden pain in Charlotte?s chest.
Elena?s room was on the other side of the boys room, still empty. She?d been gone from Rhy?din for so long now and it was beginning to take it?s toll on Charlotte. She was due anytime now that Brian and his family were back, but it wasn?t soon enough for the heartbroken mother. Charlotte was also hesitant about her eldest daughters arrival now that Dakota had returned home. She?d made sure Elena knew this information, but the child seemed disinterested, almost angry. There were many times Charlotte wondered if Elena had been hurt more than she had at Dakota?s leaving.
The sound of her name being called shook Charlotte from her reverie. Ignoring the cries from the baby, Charlotte hurried downstairs and into the kitchen where Dakota was waiting. They were finally going out, one on one. A chance to rekindle the dying flame that heated their marriage. She wore the dress he?d bought her and the pearl drop earrings he?d gotten her when they first started dating 4 years earlier. Feeling sexy wasn?t exactly something that Charlotte experienced much these days, but tonight was a different story. She felt exotic. Daring. Bold. She was ready for what the night had to offer, and hopefully for the after party in their bedroom. It was time? but first, she had to get through the date.
?Ready??
Megan screamed even more loudly. Now a year old, Megan had begun to learn when Mama and Papa were leaving and was in that stage where such things were not acceptable. 24/7 she clung to Charlotte or Dakota, not wanting to be without one or the other.
It broke Charlotte?s heart to see her little sugar beside herself like this, but there comes a time in every mother?s life when you have to let your child just cry it out. If only that night was not this night. Charlotte crooned over the baby standing in her crib, heart breaking as she observed Megan?s hands shaking from gripping the crib railing so tightly. Tears streaked down the 1 year olds face, her nose was running, and her screams echoed in the nursery. Charlotte bent to place a kiss in those soft, auburn curls before turning briskly and heading for the door. ?Goodnight, baby.?
Once the door had closed, she leaned against it and sighed. It was tough, sometimes, being a mom. Better make that most of the time. High heels click-clicked against the hardwood floor as she made her way down the hallway, stopping to poke her head in the boys room to say goodbye.
?We shouldn?t be too late, guys. You?d better be in bed, though, when we get back.? Aiden and Thomas didn?t even look up from their video game, only making grunts of understanding. Charlotte chuckled and closed their door. Megan?s cries still echoed from the small room at the end of the hall, but that wasn?t what caused the sudden pain in Charlotte?s chest.
Elena?s room was on the other side of the boys room, still empty. She?d been gone from Rhy?din for so long now and it was beginning to take it?s toll on Charlotte. She was due anytime now that Brian and his family were back, but it wasn?t soon enough for the heartbroken mother. Charlotte was also hesitant about her eldest daughters arrival now that Dakota had returned home. She?d made sure Elena knew this information, but the child seemed disinterested, almost angry. There were many times Charlotte wondered if Elena had been hurt more than she had at Dakota?s leaving.
The sound of her name being called shook Charlotte from her reverie. Ignoring the cries from the baby, Charlotte hurried downstairs and into the kitchen where Dakota was waiting. They were finally going out, one on one. A chance to rekindle the dying flame that heated their marriage. She wore the dress he?d bought her and the pearl drop earrings he?d gotten her when they first started dating 4 years earlier. Feeling sexy wasn?t exactly something that Charlotte experienced much these days, but tonight was a different story. She felt exotic. Daring. Bold. She was ready for what the night had to offer, and hopefully for the after party in their bedroom. It was time? but first, she had to get through the date.
?Ready??