When it came to school, Abi had a plan in her head. She would teach, and hopefully Hem would also teach Charlie as much as they could and they would pass children around different families to learn different things. Bruce could teach him science as much as she could eventually teach Bruce's son English and math. "You're getting to be a big boy now, huh?" she said, a tiny tinge of sadness at the end of her sentence. She'd miss his younger days like crazy and was starting to feel broody for another baby.
Charlie, oblivious this time, laughed and wriggled a little as Mama set him down again. He lay flat on her stomach for a minute laughing before comically rolling off her to the blanket. "Okaaaaay deal!" he said, holding out a hand to Papa for him to shake like people did when they said that word.