A House Divided Read Online Free PDF Page B

and he seemed to be resting peacefully.
    A bit more time passed, but when Charlotte looked to her side and through the glass, she saw Vanessa and Racquel and quickly turned her attention back to the baby, pretending they weren’t there. At first she wondered why they hadn’t come inside the unit yet, but then she realized maybe they were waiting for her and Neil to come out. But she wouldn’t leave her grandson until someone made her. She wasn’t planning to move until she was forced. To her regret, though, only seconds passed before they heard a knock on the door.
    Neil turned around, as did all three nurses, and Neil said, “Oh, Racquel and Vanessa are here.”
    Charlotte kept her eyes on the baby. She’d heard Neil very clearly, but she didn’t let on.
    “I’m sorry to have to end your visit, but I know Racquel can’t wait to see her little one,” he said.
    Charlotte still didn’t respond to him but told the baby, “Nana loves you, little MJ. I love you with all my heart, and I’ll be back to see you soon, okay? I love you.”
    Charlotte released the baby’s hand and stepped away from the incubator. She so wished she didn’t have to leave him, but she also knew it wouldn’t be long before Vanessa called in a firing squad if she didn’t. Even now, as Charlotte turned and looked at her again, she saw how disgusted she was—although, this actually made Charlotte happy. Not only was Vanessa fuming because Charlotte was spending quality time with the baby but also because seeing Charlotte with her husband was likely making her psycho. It was the reason Charlotte rubbed the side of Neil’s arm right in front of her and said, “Thank you for bringing me in to see our grandson. You have truly made my day.”
    “You’re quite welcome,” he said.
    Charlotte and Neil exited the room, and Charlotte smiled at Racquel, who was sitting in a wheelchair. “He’s the most precious thing in the world, Racquel, and Matthew is going to be beside himself.”
    “I know. I can’t wait for him to get here.”
    “I’m going to call him shortly, but if there’s anything you need, anything at all, just let me know.”
    Vanessa pushed Racquel’s wheelchair forward so that she stood directly in front of Charlotte. “I want you to hear me and hear me good. If our daughter needs anything at all , her father and I will get it for her.”
    Charlotte stared at her like she was crazy, but since Neil and Racquel were witnessing this madness, Charlotte forced a smile and said, “I was only trying to be helpful, Vanessa. I know you don’t like me, but I really do care about Racquel and the baby. And I hope you and I can eventually become friends.”
    “Ha!” Vanessa said. “Please. That will never happen. And I do mean never .”
    Charlotte feigned another smile, mostly to appease Racquel and Neil, but thought, You got that right. Not only will it never happen, but it’s only a matter of time before you become my worst enemy. And sweetheart, it won’t be pretty.

Chapter 6
    T hank God little MJ’s breathing tube had been removed as planned. Not yesterday, the way Dr. Koster had anticipated, but about an hour ago. Charlotte was glad she’d decided to call Racquel to see how things were going this morning, because if she hadn’t, there was no telling when she and Curtis would have found out. There was a chance Matthew would have told them, but since he had class this morning, he likely would have waited until this afternoon.
    “You know,” Curtis said, drinking the cup of coffee Agnes had just set on the table in front of him, “little MJ is very blessed, and so are we. The entire congregation was praying for him, and you know how I feel about the power of prayer.”
    “It really is wonderful to have so many people that care about us,” Charlotte agreed.
    “We need prayer because the devil is always busy. But the good news is that we serve not just a sometimes or every-now-and-then God, we serve an every-hour,