Page 66 of Second Round

I debated getting Noelle on the phone and telling her to stop making Charlotte do physical activities if she clearly didn’t want to do them. Then I looked at my watch. I’d be here another thirty to forty minutes, and I’d go right home, and we could straightenthingsout.

“Okay. I’m in a meeting now. But I’ll be there as soon asIcan.”

I could hear sniffling on the other end of thephone.

“Are you crying? What’s wrong,mon p’titchaton?”

“You always say that, but then you take hours togethere.”

Then shehungup.

Charlotte sounded so desperate that I called Jackie. “I’m sorry to bother you, but I’m in a meeting right now and Charlotte’sfreakingout.”

“Oh no, what’swrong?”

“She doesn’t like Noelle. I’m not even sure why, but she’s in her room crying. I can’t get home for at least an hour. Do you think you could go there and calmthingsdown?”

About half an hour later, I got a message from Jackie that she had taken Charlotte back to her place and everything was fine. As soon as the meeting was done, I sped overthere.

Jackie met me atthedoor.

“How’s Charlotte?” Idemanded.

“Fine.” Jackie looked completely calm. “Hannah showed her Minx, and they played some computer game. When Tristan got back from his friend’s place, they all started playing withLegos.”

She led me to the playroom. Tristan and Charlotte were both building structures on opposite corners of the rug, and Hannah was stretched out on the couch beside them doing something on herphone.

“Hey, honey,” Icalledout.

“Papa!” She ran over and hugged me. Then she pulled me over. “We’re making new planets. I’m making one with all animals, and Tristan’s has mutantsoldiers.”

I crouched down and admired both their planets. She resumed working on it, and Istoodup.

“I’m just going to talk to Jackie for a minute,” I said. Charlotte barelynodded.

Jackie and I went to the kitchen, where she was makinglunch.

“Thank you so much for taking care of Charlotte. I came as soon as Icould.”

“I texted you that she was fine and you could stayatwork.”

“I know—but I didn’t believe you. She was almost hysterical on the phone, and now she’s fine. It’s like amiracle.”

Jackie rubbed my arm. “She had a meltdown. That’s only natural. Think about everything she’s been through in the past few days: the wedding, getting a new stepdad, flying across the country, saying goodbye to her mom for a month, and staying in a brand newplace.”

“Yeah, I guess. It makes sense when you put it like that, but it’s never happenedbefore.”

“I suspect that when you left her to work before, your mom or one of her aunts looked after her. Never someone completely new. Noelle was horrified to find out that Charlotte was in her room crying. Your daughter told her that she wanted to take a nap because of ‘jet lag.’” Jackie laughed. “She’s a smart one—just likeherdad.”

“What happened toNoelle?”

“Well, you’re paying for her day, so I got her to do the things on my to-do list. She’s out getting packing supplies and boxes.” Jackie walked over to the sink and rinsed some carrots. “Look, here’s my suggestion. For this week, Charlotte and Noelle can both come over here. Charlotte can play with my kids and get used to Noelle. I figure by next week, everything should be okay, but if not, that’s fine. We’ll let Charlotte be in charge of the process since she probably feels pretty powerlessrightnow.”

“Is that okaywithyou?”

“Yeah, I’m kind of housebound anyway. I have to pack everything up so we can move out at the endofJuly.”

She began chopping carrot sticks. I walked up behind her and wrapped my arms around herwaist.

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