Part 11

The nurse popped into Jenny's room, "Time for xrays."

Charlotte drew in a deep breath and looked towards Sam, who had Lovie on his lap and Sarah sitting on the floor leaning up against his legs. She had filled him in on Jenny's wish not to go to xray alone. He knew the conflict that was severing Charlotte's brain from her heart. "Lovie," he said, easing her off his lap, "you've been wiggling like a worm. You go with mommy to the bathroom and I'm going to hold Jenny's hand in xray."

"But..." started in Jenny, "I want mommy."

Sam leaned over with a kiss to her forehead. "Well, I've never had an xray here, so why do you let me go with you." And then he added, "I hear you go by a snack machine... maybe on the way back we can stop, pick up some skittles." Skittles were Jenny's favorite.

"I want some candy too," interjected Lovie, too young to grasp what was going on.

Jenny, ignoring her sister's plea wouldn't let go of her mother's hand. "Mom, come with me. You promised."

"I know, sweetheart, but daddy is here, and Lovie has to go to the bathroom."

"You always take care of Laverne." Jenny's voice was getting shrill. "Her name is Laverne. You named her that. She's not really Lovie. You don't love me. You only love her."

"That's not true," insisted Charlotte.

"Yes it is," cried Jenny.

Sam stepping between his wife and hysterical daughter, pried their hands apart and then eased Charlotte and Lovie out of the room. "Just take her to the bathroom. Everything will be okay."

Tears flowed down Charlotte's face like a stream in spring. Shaking her head, her shoulders heaving she escorted her youngest to the rest room. As they turned the corner, Sarah yelling over the commotion, "Can I stay here?", and Charlotte realized that two parents can't keep track of three children when the shit is hitting the fan. What were they going to do about four?