Shattered

Dinners and Duels

I look at her. Half smirking to show her that I agree with what she said but also my eyes say that she could have been a bit nicer. For Nathan of course.

Elizabeth ignores Charlotte's comment. She goes on and speaks.

"You could help with carrying the crib and the other stuff. Oh and you could help with the clothes!" She says excitedly.

"That's the job for the father of the baby." Char says.

Amen!

Elizabeth now looks annoyed. And Nathan looks shocked, just plain shocked. I put my hand over his lap to comfort him, his rigid stance turns gentle again.

"Okay Charlotte what is your problem?" Elizabeth bites out.

I can clearly see the frustration in Charlotte's eyes.

"What is my problem? What is my problem!" She shouts.

"Calm down." My gentle voice says.

The two barely hear me but it's now Nathan's turn to comfort me. I can already see the thunder that is about to storm from their ocean eyes.

"Yes Charlotte! What the hell is your problem!? Because you definitely have something bothering you!" Elizabeth snarls.

"My problem Elizabeth is you! Why are you here? Why are you pretending like nothing happened! Why!" Charlotte yells.

"This is Nathan's house, if he doesnt want me here he'll tell me!" She yells back.

At this point Charlotte has turned her whole body to face her.

"My problem Elizabeth  is that you think you're entitled to all of this! You think you deserve this when in truth you deserve absolutely nothing!

You left Elizabeth and you just cant come back! It's not supposed to be that easy for you!" Charlotte exclaims.

"If Nathan–" she begins.

"Shut up! My problem Elizabeth is that you want to pretend like you care now that you see that Nathan is finally happy. You are selfish Elizabeth Hart! You are God damned selfish!

When you saw that Usher had more than Nathan you left him and now that you see that Nathan has more you leave Usher? What the hell is your problem!" Charlotte shouts. Shes almost at her feet.

"The fucking problem Elizabeth is that you are not a good enough sister to me. Nathan has been a such a good sibling to me for the past five years more than you have in the twenty one years!"  She says with tears.

"Oh! You want to go there? Was Nathan a sibling to you when I had to leave school just to get a job so that I can put you into a good one? Was he there? Huh!" She yells back.

"That doesnt matter Elizabeth! That does not matter! You did that because you had to! Not that you wanted to! Gemima has been more of a sister in the past ten months than you have ever been!

My problem Elizabeth is you. You were not there. For me, for mom and for Nathan!

When you left him! You left him broken, he hit rock bottom! Where were you? He found solace in alcohol, where the hell were you? He broke everything in his apartment! He got into a God damned accident and you only came because you we his next of keen.

Not that you wanted to! Mom had to practically drag you to the ward! You were not there!

And now that he is seeing a glimpse of happy in Gemima you want to sneak back into his life?

I'm not going to sit back and watch like this is some Whoopi Goldberg movie.

You can quit the sister act with me Elizabeth because it is not working!" She yells.

"Nathan doesnt have a problem with my being here. He forgave me! You have no say in this!" She bites back.

"Of course he doesnt. Because he is kind and considerate.

But Elizabeth did you ever stop to think? Nathan was the reason you, mom and I had a roof over our heads a place to call home! Without him we'd still be under a bridge and I'd not be working and a qualified lawyer! No!

When you left him, he had every right to throw mom and I out of his life! But he didnt! Because he cared about us. More than you ever have in your miserable life!

He took care us and he got me where I am! So dont you come back here and act like a saint. Nathan might be falling back for it I'm not!

Pack you shit and leave!" She yells.

"What!?" She stands now. Her belly is poking at Charlotte.

"I said pack your fucking shit and leave Elizabeth!" Charlotte pressed.

"That's enough!" Nathan yells. He stands.

"Elizabeth will stay here until she gives birth." He says matter-of-factly.

What?

"What!?" Charlotte asks.

"Its my house and it'll be my rules! I said she stays." He presses.

Charlotte scoffs and walks upstairs.

Before I can say anything to Nathan or Elizabeth,  Nathan also storms up.

I stare at Elizabeth.

"Thanks alot." I tell her sarcastically.

She smirks.

I run up the stairs, I first find Charlotte with Ethan. She is watching him build a house with his Legos.

She is smiling as if she didnt go wild like she is one of Ethan's stuffed Dinosaurs.

I walk to Nathan's bedroom. I try to open the door but its locked.

"Nathan!" I yell but there is not reply.

I knock and yell his name a few more times until I give in.

I walk back downstairs.

I begin to clear the table before washing the dishes.

"You heard that? I'm staying here for two months." A voice suddenly says.

"Congratulations. " I say monotonously.

"That means this will be home sweet home. And two months? That gives me enough time to get my man back. " she spits.

"Good luck Elizabeth." I tell her. My tone is so bored that if I were one of those dolls I'd be looking at my nails with a bored expression.

I head back to the room but it's still locked. So I head to Ethan's room. And I get into bed with him.

It's been a while since I slept with my son.

I cuddle him closer.

"Goodnight baby."