Chapter 3

"Mummy, I am hungry" Liam whined.
"I will make you some pancakes," Charlotte answered. "But I have to clean up this kitchen first, Liam. Do you want some warm milk?"
Liam nodded. Charlotte poured some milk into a bowl and then warmed it up before pouring it into Liam's cup. She made him sit some distance away from her.
"Mummy will clean up the kitchen and make some pancakes for you, okay?"
Liam nodded. "Okay, mummy."
Charlotte began to clean up the kitchen so she could make pancakes for Liam. Her mind drifted back to her conversation with Melvin the night before.
He can't even take care of Liam without the help of Hannah or her. Why would he think of having another baby? She scoffed. He must be joking.
It took a while before she was done cleaning the kitchen. She began to make some pancakes. By the time she was done, it was past eight already.
She poured the rest of the milk from the bowl into Liam's cup and took him to the dining room to feed him. Before she began, she sent a message to Gina, informing her she would be late to work.
She still needs to drop Liam at his daycare and then drop by to speak to her mother-in-law.
"Mummy?" Liam called. "I am hungry."
Charlotte dropped her phone and began to attend to Liam's needs. When she was done, she took Liam to her room and made him sit on the bed.
"You can play with this, while mummy goes to take her bath," she told him.
Liam nodded, taking the iPad from her. She left him to take her bath and then got dressed quickly.
"Time to go, Liam," Charlotte announced.
Liam handed the iPad to her and they left the house. The drive to Liam's daycare wasn't a completely quiet one. She had one or two calls to attend to.
The car finally stopped in front of Liam's daycare. Charlotte stepped out and took Liam to meet his teacher.
"Good morning, Mrs. Miller," Miss Alicia, Liam's teacher greeted.
Charlotte waved. "Good morning."
She stared at her wristwatch and then at the teacher.
"You seem to be in a haste," Miss Alicia said.
Charlotte nodded. "I am. I did not bring him any lunch today. His Aunt, Mira would drop by before noon."
Miss Alicia nodded. "Are you coming to pick him up or will his dad do that?"
Melvin will not come to pick him up. She was certain of that.
She shook her head. "I will drop by to pick him up but if I can't, his Aunt will have to do that."
Miss Alicia nodded. "Liam, say goodbye to mummy."
"Goodbye, mummy." Liam waved.
Charlotte gave him a quick goodbye kiss before returning to the car. She waved at him through the window and then drove off. Charlotte headed to the old family house. Her mother-in-law moved there a week ago.
"Look who is here," Charlotte heard Mira's voice.
"Hi, Mira." She waved.
Mira peeped into the car. "I have been waiting for you forever. I thought you were not coming anymore."
"I am so sorry I am late. I had to take care of Liam and then drop him off at his daycare. I..."
Mira furrowed her brows. "And my brother?"
Charlotte sighed. "He left," Mira mumbled some words Charlotte could not hear. "What did you say, Mira?"
Mira shook her head. "Nothing. Let's go in. My mom is waiting."
Charlotte came down from the car and followed Mira into the house. Mrs. Miller, her mother-in-law was seated on the couch, with a newspaper in her hand.
"Mom, Charlotte is here," Mira announced.
"Good morning, Mom," Charlotte mumbled.
"How are you today? Have you dropped Liam in his daycare already?" Mrs. Miller asked and Charlotte nodded. "I thought you would be here earlier so I could spend some time with him"
"I did not know that. I would have brought him," Charlotte answered. "Mira can pick him up after school."
Mira smiled. "I can?"
Charlotte nodded. "Please do. You also need to help me take his lunch to school. I did not prepare anything."
Mira smiled. "That will not be a problem. I'm going to make him his favorite."
Mira left for the kitchen and Charlotte sighed. At least with Mira helping out, she doesn't have to worry much about Melvin.
"Come sit, Charlotte." Her mother-in-law gestured.
Charlotte sat beside her, wondering what she had called her for.
"I don't want to take much of your time," her mother-in-law began and Charlotte nodded.
She wouldn't want that either. She has a lot to do at the office.
"When is Liam getting a baby brother or sister?" Her mother in law asked.
Charlotte stared at her both in surprise and also in confusion.
Did Melvin make her say this? Or was she the reason Melvin wanted a child out of the blue?
Charlotte did not say a word. She needed to plan out her words carefully so she wouldn't anger her mother-in-law or put herself in an awkward position.
"Very soon, Mom," she mumbled.
"How soon?" Her mother in law asked. "Liam will be four in a few months. I think it's time to start planning to have a baby."
Charlotte sighed. She also wanted a baby. But not now. There are a lot of things for her to do and dealing with pregnancy morning sickness is not one of them.
But how is she supposed to tell her mother-in-law that taking care of Liam at this time of the year when there is a lot of work at the office was already a lot for her?
She wasn't going to tell her that and she won't promise her a baby either.
She smiled. "Mom, we will try our best."
Mrs. Miller nodded. "I'm not trying to pressure you Charlotte. I know how busy you are. But I want you to have that in mind."
She nodded. "I will."
Charlotte stared at her wristwatch and sighed. She is supposed to have a meeting by eleven and now it's almost ten already.
Would she make it to work before the meeting starts? She wondered.
Mira walked out to the kitchen with a cup of orange juice. "I made this for you. It's cold."
Charlotte smiled. That is what she needed right now.
She drank the juice and handed over the cup back to Mira.
Charlotte stood up. "Mom, I have to go. I have a meeting by eleven."
Mrs. Miller nodded. "Sure you can. But don't forget what we spoke about."
Charlotte nodded. "I won't. Goodbye mom. Mira, I..."
Mira dropped the cup in her hand on the table and moved closer to Charlotte. She held her hand. "I will see you off."
Mira followed her out of the house and to her car.
"Did my mother ask you to have a baby soon?" Mira asked and Charlotte nodded.
"But how did you know that?" Charlotte asked.
"I overheard your conversation with her. Do you want to have a baby now?"
Charlotte shook her head. "Not anytime soon."
"How about you speak to my brother about it? He..."
Charlotte scoffed. "He wanted one too."
Mira furrowed her brows. "He does? He is not even helping you to take care of Liam and he wants a baby? Look at you! You look stressed out. I think you should leave the house."
Charlotte busted into laughter. Where is she supposed to go?
"Come on, Mira. I can't..."
"If you are worried about Liam, I can help you take care of him. You just need to take a break. I..."
Charlotte patted Mira on her shoulder. "I don't need to leave the house."
"But..."
"I have to go, Mira."
Mira waved. "Bye."