in a pinch

All of Charlie's things were gone. She didn't leave the shampoo and the toothpaste was gone too.

Csrson slammed shut the medicine cabinet. There was only some aspirin.

Of course, the bed and livingroom furniture and kitchen were still in tact. She did take her favorite travel pillow. A part of him realized he'd miss how she held it at night like a teddy bear. Usually, he hugged her when they slept. Now he couldn't sleep.

A shiver ran through him. He was alone. So alone.

He took a look in Lily's room. It was bare, but they'd left the My Little Pony curtains and sheets. Why hadn't they took the bed? Her little princess desk was gone along with the pink laptop her grandparents bought her.

Sometimes, he'd find Charlie on Lily's laptop. He'd promised he was going to get her, one of her own, but he never did.

He wanted to sink his mind into these sort thoughts, than the idea that Charlie might be right about Essie's baby. He couldn't let himself dwell on the notion that he had a daughter. Besides, his mother said their family always had boys. Now it felt like a big joke to him. Listening to his mother and all her haphazard wisdom.

He reached for his cell and plopped himself down on the couch. He just might sleep here tonight. He thought about  finding the remote, but after two rings Britney picked up.

"Hey, what's up?" There was a chill in the air. He noticed the the furnace wasn't even on. It hadn't been for days.

"Just giving Theo a bath." He could hear water sloshing in the background.

"Theo?" He winced. He hadn't really listened to her all that much when they went out on their accidental lunches. Usually, they'd order street tacos from the foodtruck near the park. That was actually how they'd met. In line at the foodtruck.

She was so happy to be around. And they'd talked about fun moments from their past. Going to the beach. Places they'd been. She'd never mentioned Theo.

"My two year old." She explained.

"Oh."

"Sorry, I shouldn't have called." Carson wanted to make this quick. Maybe he was causing more trouble than he knew.

"What do you have to be sorry, about?" Her laugh was light, yet her voice was ever so caring. "I gave you my phone number, Remember?"

"Yeah, right." Carson's words came quick, yet he felt so slow to realize she was somebody's mother. His face tensed.

"Do you want to come over?" She wanted to know.

"I dunno." He told her she sounded busy.

"I don't live that far from you. You, wouldn't even have to drive." She told him. But the fact remained, he'd have to go to her. She couldn't come to him. Her arms were full.