Together forever: adopted by pentatonix book 4

10:

Gracie:

I cuddle Charlotte close as we head home, "I'm sorry princess" I whisper softly. Charlotte smiles and kisses my cheek, "it's okay auntie Gracie you didn't know" she chuckles, I smile as we pull up outside the house. We head in and I help the twins get their dolls into their pyjamas and we set them up for a sleepover, Kirstie is making some hot chocolate for us. Charlotte still seems a little off so I hold her on my lap, "Charlotte are you okay?" I ask her. She let's out a little whimper "I wanna go to bed I don't feel good" she whines, I pick her up and carry her up to mine and Kirstie's room. I settle her on Kirstie's bed and let her sleep, I head back down to find Kirstie and Taylor snuggled up with mugs of hot chocolate. "Where's Charlotte gone?" Kirstie asks, "she went to bed, she doesn't feel great" I say gently. Kirstie nods and I join the girls on the couch, I notice Charlotte has left her doll down here and I know she sleeps with it.

I pick it up and take it up for her, when I head in I find Charlotte sat up in bed with her hands around her throat. I set the doll on the bed and run to her, "what's wrong princess, can you talk to me?" I ask. Charlotte shakes her head and claws at her throat, "are you choking?" I ask her. She shakes her head again and taps her chest, "you can't breathe?" I ask. She nods and I rub her back, "I've got you" I whisper. Charlotte is desperately trying to breathe, I quickly dart out of the room and hang over the hallway bannister. "Kirstie!" I scream, Kirstie comes halfway up the stairs "what's wrong Gracie?" She asks. "Charlotte can't breathe" I say desperately, Kirstie takes a sharp breath inwards. "Go back in and try to comfort her, I'll go get something to help her" she says gently. I nod and run back to Charlotte, I rub her back gently and try to keep her calm. Kirstie comes running back with Taylor this time, Taylor takes Charlotte's hands and does what Kirstie calls their "eye communication". Taylor gently strokes Charlotte's hair, "I know it was scary sissy but mommy is going to help you" she soothes. I look over at Taylor, "what happened?" I ask her. She looks sad, "when you put her to bed she says her chest felt a bit tight. She had woken up completely unable to breathe, you found her about five minutes later" she explains.

I sigh and rub Charlotte's back, Kirstie has an inhaler set up with one of the kids masks. "Charlotte baby this is an inhaler, it has special medicine that is going to help your chest. Remember I'm a doctor and I'm going to help you, not like what happened with your daddy" Kirstie explains. Charlotte nods and Taylor takes her hand, Kirstie places the mask over Charlotte's mouth and nose. "When I push this to do the medicine I need you to try and take a big breath for me sweetie" Kirstie says gently, Charlotte gives her a thumbs up and Kirstie counts back from three. When she presses the inhaler top Charlotte takes the deepest breath she can, Kirstie smiles and she gently exhales. We do this a few more times until Charlotte can breathe, When she's done Kirstie packs up the inhaler and gives Charlotte a cuddle. "Mommy why did that happen?" Charlotte asks, Kirstie smiles "baby you have something called asthma it makes your chest tight and sometimes you can't breathe, you know like your dolly has her asthma and allergy kit. You have one like that too" Kirstie says happily.

Charlotte smiles "can you show me how to do my asthma kit with my dolly tomorrow?" She asks, Kirstie nods and we tuck Charlotte and Taylor into bed. It's actually quite late so we finish our hot chocolate and head up to bed...