Another Fourth of July spent at the Carter's. Every year it gets worse and worse. Happy and in love one year. Sad, angry, and alone the next. And now, Nick and I hate each other so much that we're not even speaking to one another. I honestly think that I might have been in a better mood last year.
I was in my room finishing my makeup when Nick walked in holding Aaron:
"You ready?" I stopped applying my mascara and glanced at him:
"I am capable of driving myself over there, you know. You and Aaron can leave whenever." He rolled his eyes at me:
"Can you at least put a smile on your face for one day? For my parents sake?" I grabbed my purse and followed Nick out of my room:
"I don't see the reason why we have to pretend we're one big happy family when everyone knows that we're not."
"Aaron, when you're friends ask why you don't have a real family, blame your mother," Nick said, nodding his head towards me. Oh, how I wanted to punch him so badly right then. But I restrained myself for my son's sake and got in the front seat of his Durango.
Fifteen minutes later, we pulled into his parent's driveway. It seemed as though everyone was already there. Brian met us in the front hall and grabbed Aaron from my arms:
"Brian, be careful. He's been really fussy all day." Brian patted my head:
"Don't worry , Katie. He's in good hands."
"Yeah, as long as they're not Nick's," I mumbled under my breath. Nick elbowed me hard and I smiled sweetly, but fake, at him:
"Kidding, honey." I walked outside to say hi to Jane, Bob, and the girls.
I was sitting by the pool talking with Leslie about an hour later when Brian walked up with Aaron who was crying:
"I think someone wants his mommy." I took him out of Brian's arms:
"Aw, is someone tired?" I turned to Les and Bri:
"I think I'm going to put him down for awhile before the fireworks start." They nodded and I walked away.
The fireworks were beginning to start and I realized that Aaron had not woken up yet:
'That's odd. He slept right through his evening bottle. He never does that.'
I went up and tapped Nick on the shoulder. He stopped his conversation with Kevin and turned around:
"Can I help you?"
"Could you please go wake your son up?" I asked. He nodded and ran inside. Kev put his arm around me:
"So, how you holding up?" I shrugged:
"I honestly think that I was doing better last year at this time." He laughed:
"You do know that he's not going to give up until you come back to him, don't you?" I rolled my eyes but before I got a chance to respond, I heard Nick frantically screaming my name from the upstairs window:
"Katelin! Get up here! Quick!" Without a second thought, I ran through the house and upstairs. I heard Aaron's screaming and I saw Nick walking around the room with him, trying to calm him down:
"He's burning up, Kate." I put my hand on Aaron's forehead:
"Something's not right. He's way too warm." Jane appeared in the doorway:
"What's going on?" I grabbed Aaron from Nick and started rubbing his back:
"He's burning up. He's never had a fever like this. Something's wrong." Jane felt his forehead:
"We need to get him to the hospital."
"The hospital?" I whispered. I felt really lightheaded like I was going to pass out. I think Nick noticed because he quickly took Aaron:
"Come on, Kate. Everything will be okay. Let's just get him to the hospital to make sure." He turned to his mother:
"We'll call you as soon as we know anything."