C&A Novella (Marked Heart #2.5) by M. Sembera Read Free Book Online Page A
Authors: M. Sembera
until the I do's and Auggie's youngest brother Ailin and his wife Sophia down for the wedding, Charlotte could feel herself cracking under the pressure of the upcoming event and the stress of everything that was going on around her as she stood in the kitchen at Ren's house.
Charlotte made sure there was as much distance between her and Sophia as possible. She still couldn't stand her, so while Sophia sat on the couch in the living room with Penny, no doubt making her feel worse than she already was, Charlotte stayed in the kitchen watching the clock until it was time to go.
She only had thirty minutes left to endure when she turned and saw Auggie walking into the kitchen, carrying his niece Keylee.
It occurred to her she was fixing to be her niece too as Auggie said, "There's Aunt Charlotte," with a smile.
Forcing a smile, Charlotte replied, "She really seems to like you."
Happily nodding, he coaxed, "Say 'hi' to Aunt Charlotte."
Giving her a little wave, Charlotte started to smile when Jackson stepped in the room.
"Hey, can you give me a hand?"
Auggie answered, "Sure," before handing Keylee over to Charlotte.
It happened so fast, she didn't even have a chance to protest.
Bracing herself against the counter, Keylee was a little heavier than she appeared and the way she was squirming made Charlotte afraid that she would drop her.
"No, no, he'll be right back. Okay?" She tried reasoning with the almost one year old who seemed insistent on flailing her arms and legs around.
Looking around for assistance, no one was even paying attention.
"Keylee, please." She begged trying to get her under control.
At that moment, Keylee must have realized Auggie was nowhere to be found and she was stuck with Charlotte.
Scrunching her entire face up as if she was going to cry, Charlotte couldn't help laughing as she shared, "Well that's an ugly little expression."
Keylee's expression instantly went blank and then a little baby scowl formed between her light brown eyebrows.
"Oh, no. You are going to be all kinds of trouble aren't you." She laughed, curling the side of her mouth into a smile.
Charlotte's smile earned her a wide giggly one from Keylee.
"I bet you're going to be somethin' else when you grow up." She continued, smiling wider at her.
Another giggle from Keylee and Charlotte couldn't help giving her a little squeeze.
As she reached out, grabbing strands of Charlotte's hair off of her shoulder, Charlotte thought she inherited the best Caffrey traits. She looked just like Ailin, scowled like Auggie, smiled just like Braden and there was no doubt she would be beautiful just like Penny. Then laughing to herself, she mentally cautioned, 'I hope you don't act like your mother.'
Keylee started to squirm again, causing Charlotte to turn around. An unusual feeling settled in the pit of her stomach when she realized Auggie had been standing there watching them with a smile on his face. When she saw the look in his eyes, whatever the feeling had been, changed. She was certain he wanted something that she couldn't give him.
Auggie was in such a good mood, it was actually starting to make Charlotte sick. It wasn't as if she wanted him to be in a bad mood, but his happiness was making her feel bad.
As soon as they walked in the back door of The Dog House, he pulled her to him, saying, "Two days."
All of the sudden Charlotte felt like she was about to cry. Holding onto him tight, she nodded against his shoulder.
His hold tightened also as he asked, "What's wrong?"
Taking a deep breath, Charlotte pulled away, stating, "I have been up front with you from the beginning."
Concern immediately spread across Auggie's face as he replied, "Okay?"
"So I would appreciate it if you would be upfront with me."
"Okay?" He repeated a bit slower as confusion took over his concern.
He always had to be so damn frustrating.
"Okay? That's all you have to say?"
"Was there a question somewhere in
Charlotte made sure there was as much distance between her and Sophia as possible. She still couldn't stand her, so while Sophia sat on the couch in the living room with Penny, no doubt making her feel worse than she already was, Charlotte stayed in the kitchen watching the clock until it was time to go.
She only had thirty minutes left to endure when she turned and saw Auggie walking into the kitchen, carrying his niece Keylee.
It occurred to her she was fixing to be her niece too as Auggie said, "There's Aunt Charlotte," with a smile.
Forcing a smile, Charlotte replied, "She really seems to like you."
Happily nodding, he coaxed, "Say 'hi' to Aunt Charlotte."
Giving her a little wave, Charlotte started to smile when Jackson stepped in the room.
"Hey, can you give me a hand?"
Auggie answered, "Sure," before handing Keylee over to Charlotte.
It happened so fast, she didn't even have a chance to protest.
Bracing herself against the counter, Keylee was a little heavier than she appeared and the way she was squirming made Charlotte afraid that she would drop her.
"No, no, he'll be right back. Okay?" She tried reasoning with the almost one year old who seemed insistent on flailing her arms and legs around.
Looking around for assistance, no one was even paying attention.
"Keylee, please." She begged trying to get her under control.
At that moment, Keylee must have realized Auggie was nowhere to be found and she was stuck with Charlotte.
Scrunching her entire face up as if she was going to cry, Charlotte couldn't help laughing as she shared, "Well that's an ugly little expression."
Keylee's expression instantly went blank and then a little baby scowl formed between her light brown eyebrows.
"Oh, no. You are going to be all kinds of trouble aren't you." She laughed, curling the side of her mouth into a smile.
Charlotte's smile earned her a wide giggly one from Keylee.
"I bet you're going to be somethin' else when you grow up." She continued, smiling wider at her.
Another giggle from Keylee and Charlotte couldn't help giving her a little squeeze.
As she reached out, grabbing strands of Charlotte's hair off of her shoulder, Charlotte thought she inherited the best Caffrey traits. She looked just like Ailin, scowled like Auggie, smiled just like Braden and there was no doubt she would be beautiful just like Penny. Then laughing to herself, she mentally cautioned, 'I hope you don't act like your mother.'
Keylee started to squirm again, causing Charlotte to turn around. An unusual feeling settled in the pit of her stomach when she realized Auggie had been standing there watching them with a smile on his face. When she saw the look in his eyes, whatever the feeling had been, changed. She was certain he wanted something that she couldn't give him.
Auggie was in such a good mood, it was actually starting to make Charlotte sick. It wasn't as if she wanted him to be in a bad mood, but his happiness was making her feel bad.
As soon as they walked in the back door of The Dog House, he pulled her to him, saying, "Two days."
All of the sudden Charlotte felt like she was about to cry. Holding onto him tight, she nodded against his shoulder.
His hold tightened also as he asked, "What's wrong?"
Taking a deep breath, Charlotte pulled away, stating, "I have been up front with you from the beginning."
Concern immediately spread across Auggie's face as he replied, "Okay?"
"So I would appreciate it if you would be upfront with me."
"Okay?" He repeated a bit slower as confusion took over his concern.
He always had to be so damn frustrating.
"Okay? That's all you have to say?"
"Was there a question somewhere in
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