As he escorted her outside the building, he missed seeing June’s Bible buddies walking down the sidewalk. Stefan pulled Lisa into an ardent embrace, his back to the approaching women.
Lisa, however, picked up on the women’s interest in her. Or was it Stefan? She wondered if she would be recognized as the woman with the murder victim that night then remembered her appearance had been drastically altered.
Lisa longed to make out what the women were saying but the distance was too great.
“Isn’t that June’s son-in-law?” one of the women asked as they neared the couple gripped in a passionate display.
“It certainly is,” responded another.
“And that’s not Charlotte,” said the other.
“What do we do?”
“Pray,” the other two simultaneously answered.
As the women passed by, Stefan was overwhelmed with an uncomfortable sensation.
“Do you feel that?” he asked Lisa.
“It’s those ladies,” she said. “People of the light.”
“Creepy,” he stated with an external shiver.
* ~ *
Chapter Twenty-One: More in Debt
Weeks passed. The inevitable time had come when the margin of error was no longer a margin but a reality. It had become an unspoken topic of discussion so rather than address the situation with Stefan, Charlotte took it upon herself to approach her dad about a loan.
Her dad was a practical man when it came to business matters. When Charlotte had wanted to start her own business, she had lived at home and worked two jobs. Her father had helped some but only after Charlotte had made the necessary sacrifices to build her capital nest egg.
Now she found herself sitting in his home office to ask for a loan to complete Stefan’s dream business.
“I hate asking but it’s only until I get more business and the club starts generating revenue. We’ve almost exhausted the home equity loan that we thought would cover us until he opens,” Charlotte explained.
“You took a home equity loan?” Her father sounded surprised and displeased.
Charlotte hadn’t meant to offer that bit of information.
“You know I don’t like to say no to you, but I don’t think money’s the only problem. He’s way behind. How long is it going to take him to finish?”
She knew her dad was right. Stefan operated as if time had no meaning although the meaning in this situation was money and now their home. A lot of money had gone out and she wasn’t exactly sure when it would be coming in so she fell back on Stefan’s logic.
“Daddy, the contractors messed up and didn’t get the right lighting installed. When you’re doing an upscale club, everything has to be precise.”
“June and I’ve talked it over. We’d like to keep Stephanie while you take some time to work things out with Stefan. Maybe help him get the club open sooner like finalizing the permits you mentioned.
“What about the shop?”
“I’ll work it with Tammy,” he said.
It was as though her dad had already figured out how bad things were.
Charlotte resigned easily. Her checkbook and calendar told her that the time for change had arrived.
“Okay, a few days would be nice. I’ll bring the baby back tomorrow after her doctor’s appointment.”
* ~ *
Chapter Twenty-Two: Picture This
Parking was easy to find in the old shopping strip center where Stefan’s club was located. On the outer fringe of the South Park area, the traffic was steady with the same demographic that patronized Victor’s. Charlotte’s acerbic thoughts dominated her mind. Not a demographic that’s likely to snub light fixtures or dine only on late-night appetizers.
After the visit with her father, she had hoped to present Stefan with a check for more money. Instead, perhaps her dad’s offer of time would force them to find creative ways to open the business.
The club was bustling with activity as Charlotte cautiously carried Stephanie down the metal stairwell to the basement level space. Stefan was preoccupied with giving orders to the various contractors and motioned her to wait for him in his office.
Unlike the rest of the club, which was largely unfinished, Stefan’s office was complete and decorated with new contemporary-style furnishings. Charlotte placed the carrier snugly between the onyx-colored leather sofa cushions before sitting in the matching leather chair behind the desk. Dozing soundly, Stephanie’s rosebud lips pursed into an idyllic-shaped pout – a feature like her dad’s, Charlotte mused.
As she ran her hand across the smooth cherry wood finish, she instinctively opened up the top drawers to look inside. She discovered the digital camera and thought she’d peruse through the construction pictures. It would be interesting to see how the club had progressed from start to present – especially since the progression, other than Stefan’s office, seemed stagnant.
The first picture on the camera’s viewfinder was the barren space, the next Stefan’s empty office and then another with Stefan’s new desk. However, the fourth picture of a woman’s bare backside to the camera caught Charlotte off guard. Her hair was short and dark, and the way she leaned her arm back against the surface indicated a seductive pose. The next one was even more scandalous. Now the woman was lying across Stefan’s desk. Again, her pale-skinned back faced the camera’s lens.
“Can you believe how much we’ve accomplished?”
Stefan’s voice halted the slide show.
Charlotte was shaking “Who is this?”
Stefan coolly walked over and took the camera to view for himself. He clicked forward to the next picture with Lisa looking straight at the camera. With a tap of the delete button, he shrugged. “I don’t know.”
“It’s your camera. How could you not know?”
Out of the corner of his eye, Stefan saw one of the contractors walk by.
“You know these guys that work here. Someone’s playing a joke on me.”
“It’s not funny. Don’t they know you’re married and have a baby girl?”
Tony, the contractor, now lounged against the office door jamb. His oversized abdomen heaved over his stretched belt. “Yo, Stefan, we’re going over to T.J.’s tonight. Wanna go?”
Stefan grinned and waved him off. “You guys know I’m married to the prettiest woman in Charlotte.”
Tony shrugged as if he didn’t and left while Stefan circled around the chair wrapping his arms around Charlotte who was considerably tense.
“See, they’re always trying to get me in trouble because they’re jealous.”
He started to move both hands over her shoulders but Charlotte shoved his arms away.
“This is upsetting Stefan. We’re over our heads in debt and you’ve got contractors playing schoolboy pranks,” she snapped. “When is this club going to open so we can start seeing revenue?”
Stefan recoiled, “I don’t believe you. I’m working as hard as I can to fulfill our dream.”
Fatigued, Charlotte softened. “We don’t have much time before the next payment is due.” She stood up to hug him. Now it was his turn to stiffen. “Why don’t you come home early tonight so we can talk about it?”
What Charlotte didn’t see but Stefan did was Lisa’s fleeting appearance at the doorway with a devious lick to her lips before disappearing.
“No, I can’t. I’ve got something else to take care of.” Stefan’s rebuttal was abrupt until he saw her disappointment, then he begrudgingly offered a compromise. “We can talk tomorrow night.”
* ~ *
Chapter Twenty-Three: The Diagnosis
As Charlotte waded through the pediatrician’s reception area the next morning, she was reminded once more of her single parent day status. Anxious couples fidgeted and fussed over infants in carriers as they waited to hear about their progeny’s progress.
However, Charlotte’s mind stayed tormented by the pictures, her accusations, Stefan’s denial and then his rejection. She had barely slept and blam
ed herself for the initial attack.
Somehow, she had to fix things. Then she wondered how she would even gather the strength. The joy of what life should be with a new husband and baby was gone. The best she could do now was to plod through the routine and hope that they could find a way to open the club with the promise that the incoming revenues would lessen the heavy burden of debt.
Once Dr. Weintraub completed Stephanie’s monthly exam, he scrutinized Charlotte’s lackluster appearance.
“Baby checks out fine. What about mom?”
Charlotte gravitated to his kind eyes. She needed a sympathetic ear.
“Not so good,” she answered. “My husband has a sleeping disorder and I think it’s taking a toll on our relationship.”
“What kind of disorder?”
“It’s very rare. He’s been to every type of specialist in the world.”
The doctor put away his stethoscope and gave her his full attention. “Tell me the symptoms.”
“He has to be in a totally dark room before daylight and can’t come out until after sunset,” Charlotte said as she dressed Stephanie in her hat and sweater.
The doctor nodded his head as he carefully weighed Charlotte’s words.
“Oh, he’s a vampire,” he stated matter-of-factly.
“My therapist says narcissist.”
“Bad combo,” he noted.
“What’s that?” Charlotte asked with Stephanie now ready to tote.
“A narcissistic vampire.”
She didn’t respond.
Instead, she thought about their wedding vows and how much they’d meant to her. Because of her own parents, her desire was to prove her future otherwise.
She walked towards the door but not before she stated aloud, “I’m going to do everything I can to make our marriage work.”
Perplexed, Dr. Weintraub watched her leave as if she never heard a word that he’d said. How stupid is she, he wondered.
* ~ *
The rest of the day sailed by for Charlotte. She packed Stephanie’s things, wrote detailed instructions on her nap and feeding schedule, then spent a few more hours getting the infant settled in before leaving Providence Plantation.
Her next stop was Victor’s. After she and Stefan agreed to drop the picture incident, she told Stefan that she would work on getting the permit details so that wouldn’t be a barrier to opening.
Meanwhile, they were at a stalemate with the light fixtures, and since Stefan wouldn’t budge on other options, they were considerably short on cash.
* ~ *
For a change, Charlotte was enjoying a carefree evening at the restaurant as she met with Victor regarding the permit information. He’d been more than happy to trade his knowledge of ordinances for the latest photos and antics of Stephanie.
“I didn’t realize that you and Stefan knew each other before he came to Charlotte.” She thought it odd that Stefan had never mentioned this to her.
“Yeah, I never really knew him. Knew of him. You know, Stefan’s like me. Over the years our paths crossed since he spent a lot of his time in coastal towns, too.”
Charlotte had a sudden flashback to Charleston. “Coastal towns like Charleston?”
“Yeah, he lived there awhile.”
She remembered the boisterous voice at Celine’s the night of their wedding – the voices that called out Stefan’s name. Were they vampires, too? Was Victor? She studied him for a moment before answering her own question. No, not Victor.
“Stay as long as you’d like. House wine’s on me,” Victor offered as he stood to return to work.
Charlotte raised her iced tea glass in appreciation. “Thanks Victor but I’ve got somewhere to go.”
Victor nodded and gave her a hug before he headed down to the bar where Mickey held a tray to her hip.
Mickey nodded towards Charlotte. “You think she knows about Lisa?”
“Nah. Doesn’t matter now since she’s left town.” Victor appeared to shrug it off, however, underneath his stoic surface, he seethed about her murderous departure.
“Why do I have this feeling that’s not the case?” Mickey ceased to let anything go too easily without debate when it came to Victor.
“You women think too much.”
“Or you men not enough.” Mickey watched Charlotte march out the door.
Victor scowled and walked off. Somehow, he knew Mickey was probably right about Lisa. West Coast coffin trash.
* ~ *
Chapter Twenty-Four: A Night of Truth
Maybe it was the fatigue of the past several weeks or the uncertainty about who Stefan really was – whatever the case, Charlotte decided to act upon a hunch. She would drive to Charleston to see whether Celine knew the people calling out Stefan’s name that night in the cafe.
Without the responsibility of Stephanie for a few days and Stefan preoccupied with the club, it gave Charlotte time alone to sort through the pieces of information.
She knew she should have told someone that she was leaving. However, the logic didn’t seem right. Hi Dad, I’m going to Charleston because Dr. Weintraub says Stefan’s a vampire, and I think he may have vampire friends there to help me confirm. Sleep deprivation produced bad results yet she forged ahead.
Her adrenalin revved by the outrageous thoughts caused the lengthy road trip to pass swiftly as she tormented herself with all the tell-tale signs like how he never ate or drank around her or the need for the specially designed sleeping chamber. Was it really so obvious? If so, why hadn’t anyone else said anything?
By the time she had arrived at Celine’s, she was in need of a steep brew to jar her senses. She hoped Celine would be there and even better, the man and woman she’d heard that night.
Jada, the nightshift waitress, raced past Charlotte upon her entry. “Have a seat anywhere,” she said practically throwing her an oversized, laminated menu.
The small café was sprinkled with regulars who sipped their coffee, talked in hush tones, or surfed the Internet on their laptops.
Charlotte found a chair near the center of the seating area and in view of the kitchen opposite the front door.
The quaintness of its interior that first evening with Stefan was more subdued tonight. Perhaps like Charlotte’s mood, more solemn in spirit.
Zipping her way back, Jada suddenly appeared at the table ready to take her order.
“Coffee, please. A little cream on the side.” Charlotte noticed her request met with Jada’s approval. “I’ve been here before, and I was hoping that Celine is working—”
“She doesn’t usually work nights but you’re in luck.” Jada turned her neck around with the precision of a construction crane and yelled loudly, “Celine! Someone’s here for you.” With that, she sped off before Charlotte could ask for a ginger crème croissant.
The kitchen’s double doors swung open as Celine barreled through with a carafe of coffee in each hand and a wide smile of recognition.
“Be right with ya,” Celine said as she went to deposit the pots at their station.
Charlotte feigned a smile of acknowledgement then quipped no hurry. There was no rush. She was there to find the truth about her husband. You know – the one who’s probably a vampire.
Celine shook her head. She felt Charlotte’s sorrow before she said a word. Sometimes God laid it on her heart to open her mouth and she hoped that tonight was one of those times that a fellow Believer took what was said not as a criticism but a concern. She knew that too many Believers were guilty of beating God’s Word like it was a switch.
“Hey, I remember you. Where’s Mr. Romance?” Celine asked. Better to sidestep formalities and get to the point.
The question caused Charlotte to quiver as she tried to speak. Self-conscious, she tried to stifle the tears and avoid curious gazes. Finally, she gave up and ran outside.
Celine followed her nonchalantly then gently herded her to a spot near the harbor waters praying silently for the right words and the peace of the Holy Spirit’s
presence.
Soon the sounds of the waves brushing against concrete walkway calmed Charlotte to a point where she could ask Celine questions about the people she was seeking.
“You’re a church girl,” Celine stated rather than asked.
“Yes, I’m a Christian.” Nevertheless, Charlotte’s reply had Celine shaking her head in disagreement.
“Not the same. Lots of people go to church and never see the light. They think that what they see is what it is.”
Sadly, Charlotte knew exactly what Celine said was true. She was guilty herself. She went through the motions but never committed herself totally. She acted as though she didn’t trust that God would or could help her. She had put God in her limited realm of human understanding and simply lacked faith.
He didn’t help me with my mother, why would he help me with my husband?
Enveloped by an unseen force, Charlotte suddenly recognized that nagging inner thought as a lie. A lie she wouldn't accept anymore. Her mother was an unanswered question for another day. This moment was about her husband and the truths she had uncovered so far.
Celine gently patted her on the back. She could see the young woman was grieving and prayed that God would provide her protection, wisdom and the strength to go forward.
“I know these people you’re looking for. The ones you think know your husband. They’re people of the night. They’re regulars who come for the scenery, not the coffee,” Celine shared.
“What does that mean?”
Celine glimpsed at Charlotte’s mix of mascara and tears. Her heart ached for her.
“Nothing good, honey. Nothing good.”
* ~ *
While Charlotte sat in Charleston, Stefan paced the office floor as Lisa stayed glued to the Internet.
Stefan was obsessed about getting the lighting that Barbie had recommended even though it meant more money. Everything had come together perfectly and now this roadblock agitated him.
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