by Carol Wyatt
“I don’t know… I mean, Jules is doing a great job. I probably will eventually, but I’m not worried about it right now.”
“Are you seeing anyone?”
“It’s complicated,” Charlie said with a sigh. “I think so… I don’t know.”
“How don’t you know?”
“We haven’t really talked about it yet.”
“The woman that was here earlier… That’s her?”
“Yes. Erica.”
“She seems lovely. Beautiful… I didn’t get to talk with her much. I could see the gears turning in her head. She knew that I looked a lot like you, but she wasn’t sure enough to say anything.”
Charlie nodded. “I don’t know if I ever mentioned you… I mean, what would I say? I didn’t know where you lived, if you ever got remarried, or had other kids…”
“I know Charlotte. I’m not blaming you. I’ve been a pretty self-centered mother, but I knew that I was leaving you in capable hands. Your father was always so good with you.”
Charlie was surprised to find tears pricking at her eyes, threatening to fall if this conversation continued.
“So, you’re in New York now…,” Charlie said. “How long are you staying for?”
“I didn’t book a return flight, so I don’t really know.”
“Will you go back to India?”
“I don’t know that either,” her mother said with a smile.
“I don’t know how you can live like that… I think it would drive me mad.”
“You’re so much like your father,” she said with a soft laugh.
“Let’s go out for some lunch and catch up,” Charlie said, surprised at how easy it was to talk to her. She might as well find out what she’d been up to all these years, the places she’d seen, the adventures she’d had.
“I’d like that.”
Chapter 39
Erica couldn’t remember the last time she’d slept so soundly. She’d woken up on Monday morning feeling refreshed now that she’d caught up on the sleep she’d missed Friday and Saturday night.
She hadn’t had a chance to catch up with Jenny yet though. She was working Saturday and Sunday, but Erica would see her when she started her shift at three o’clock today.
She’d been texting Charlie back and forth last night but now that she was at the office, Erica wasn’t expecting to hear back from her.
She’d been right. That was Charlie’s mother. As much as Erica wanted to see Charlie again some night this week, she knew she should leave her alone and let her spend time with her mother while she was in town.
Erica found it curious that Charlie never once mentioned her. Erica didn’t know where she lived or what she did.
Charlie will tell me when she’s ready.
Erica’s eyes found Jenny’s as she pushed through the doors of The Mezz, ready to start her shift in five minutes.
She went into the back and hung up her coat and bag before getting behind the bar beside Jenny.
“Hey,” Erica said with a smile. “Good weekend?”
“Yes… How about you? I didn’t hear you come in Saturday night.”
“Yeah… I was at Charlie’s.”
Jenny’s lips curved into a smile. “That’s going well?”
“Yeah. I just don’t know what we are… I’ve never been this okay with things happening so fast… But then we did know each other before… It’s still fast though… Maybe too fast.”
“Sometimes that’s just the way it is. When you know, you know.”
“I’m not saying she’s ‘The One.’”
“Whatever you say Erica,” Jenny said with a laugh. “That sounds exactly like what you’re saying.”
Erica lightly hit her on the arm. “Seriously, though… I’m afraid of losing myself in her. She’s got a whole other life with her work. I’ve seen her closet… It’s this massive walk in closet and some of the dresses she has… She must go to galas or something. That’s so far away from what my life is like.”
“It doesn’t matter.”
“I think it does,” Erica said sadly as she started drying glasses. “If not now… It will eventually. How can I fit into that lifestyle? And how can I expect her to come over and hang out at our place? It must be like a college dorm to her compared to her penthouse.”
“If she really cares about you, then it won’t matter.”
“I wish I believed you Jen.”
“Don’t let it get in the way of whatever’s happening between you two,” Jenny said with a serious look in her eyes. “If you have to deal with it, you will. But don’t make it an issue before it even is one.”
“I’ll try not to worry about it,” Erica said with a weak smile.
“Speak of the devil,” Jenny said with a soft laugh.
Erica looked up from what she was doing and saw Charlie walking in through the glass doors. She made her way over to a table at the far side of the room and Erica’s stomach dropped when she saw who Charlie was going to be sitting with.
Lara stood up to great Charlie giving her a hug and a kiss on the cheek. Erica tried not to stare but she couldn’t help it.
“I’ll make sure you don’t get stuck with their table,” Jenny said as she moved past Erica and out into the bar.
Erica tried to go back to what she was doing and thankfully it didn’t require much brain power. She couldn’t believe how jealous she was feeling. There was a knot in her stomach and a lump swelling up in her throat.
It wasn’t that she was possessive. It was just because it was Lara, and Lara was everything that Erica wasn’t. She looked like Charlie’s peer, well dressed and successful, having a few drinks in an expensive bar, not a waitress like her.
Lara also looked a few years older than Charlie and that was another thing that Erica was worrying about, their age difference.
Jenny came back behind the bar when she’d found a waiter to take care of their table.
“Do you want me to eavesdrop?” she asked her as she stood beside Erica, pouring out two glasses of red wine for another table.
“No… I trust her…”
Erica heard herself saying those words, but she didn’t believe them. She knew that if she were officially dating Charlie that she would be able to trust her, but they’d never actually talked about it.
Every time they were together, they ended up chatting easily about each other, about what they were passionate about and then it never took long for their lips to find one another’s again.
They’d never spoken about being exclusive, if that was what Charlie even wanted. Now that she was over this whole marriage thing, maybe she wouldn’t even want to be in a serious relationship.
Erica knew how much work meant to Charlie and she just had to hope that was all that was going on in front of her, a business meeting.
Erica took one last glance over at their table as their waiter brought them their drinks and then she finally tore her eyes away.
Chapter 40
Charlie sat on the couch with her feet up on the coffee table after a long day’s work. It had been a good day though. Lara had showed her the floor plans for her next project and Murray Real Estate were going to be the only real estate company working with her on the building.
It was strange though to come back to her apartment and find her mother cooking in the kitchen. It didn’t bring back warm childhood memories because she couldn’t ever remember her mother happily cooking dinner for the three of them.
She’d been shocked to see her mother sitting on this sofa yesterday, but Charlie got an even bigger shock when she found out over lunch that her mother had nowhere to stay while she was in New York.
She’d left her backpack downstairs with the doorman and those were all the belongs she had apparently.
Her mother had been practicing minimalism and she’d spent the last of her savings on a flight out here. That was the reason she hadn’t booked a return flight. Not because she was a free spirit but because she was broke.
“Charlotte,” her mother called from the kitchen. “This will be ready in five minutes if you want to get us something to drink.”
“Sure.”
Charlie didn’t know how she was going to survive the week living like this. She was used to having her own space and things with Erica were going well. Charlie didn’t need this distraction right now.
What if she’s staying longer than that? What if she thinks she’s going to stay here for a month?
Charlie brushed that thought away. There was no way that was what her mother had in mind. She would have said it up front. She’d just casually slipped it into conversation over lunch yesterday that she didn’t have anywhere to stay that night.
If she wanted to stay here for more than a few days, surely, she would have asked? Charlie didn’t know. She’d just take it as it came. If she had to she could easily fill her evenings with business meetings or spend the night over at Erica’s.
Erica… I’ve got to let her know that my mother’s staying here in case she thinks I’m avoiding her.
They’d been texting, but Charlie could really do with seeing her soon. She’d never felt that way about anyone before. She’d always kept things pretty casual, never longing to spend time with someone or wishing that she could wake up beside them every morning.
What is going on with me?
Charlie sat down across from her mother at the dining table. The curry she made actually smelled delicious and Charlie was looking forward to digging in. She hadn’t had much time to eat today.
“So how was work today?”
“Good. I got a new contract.”
“Really? Congrats.”
“Thanks. It’s a pretty big deal. It’ll mean a lot of work in the next few months, but it’ll be worth it.”
“I’m glad you love your work as much as you do,” her mother said. “Some people spend most of their lives searching for something that they’re good at, passionate about.”
“I know I’m lucky,” Charlie said with a weak smile. She hoped this wouldn’t end up as a lecture in the meaning of life and how there were more important things than work and money.
“In more ways than one it seems.”
“How do you mean?”
“Erica. She seems like a great catch.”
“She is,” Charlie said, a smile tugging at her lips.
“What does she do?”
“She’s uh… She’s a waitress but she has this amazing talent. She plays the violin and composes music. I heard her in Central Park the other day and I was completely blown away.”
“You should have her over for dinner some night. Let me get to know her before I head off again.”
“I will,” Charlie said, not entirely sure if she really would. She barely knew her own mother. Why would Erica want to get to know her?
Chapter 41
“Are you free to meet up for a drink tonight? I was thinking Fitzgerald’s…”
Erica read over the text again. She’d just gotten home a few minutes ago and had some leftovers for dinner.
She wasn’t in work until noon tomorrow so why not?
If she was honest with herself, she was dying to see Charlie. She hadn’t even gotten a chance to say goodbye to her yesterday when her mother had arrived, and Erica had wanted to make a quick escape.
She text Charlie back that she’d be there in thirty minutes and started getting ready.
Fifteen minutes later she was walking towards Fitzgerald’s, excited to be spending some time with Charlie.
When she arrived, Charlie was sitting in her usual booth down the back and Erica slid across the leather seat to sit across from her.
“Hey,” Erica said with a warm smile. After seeing Lara pull out some floor plans at The Mezz earlier, she’d forgotten all about the possibility of Charlie still being interested in her. It was clearly a business meeting.
“Hi,” Charlie said, her smile almost looked like it was filled with relief.
“Long day?”
“Yes… All my days are long now that my mother is living with me.”
“For how long?” Erica asked.
“I don’t know… I’m afraid to ask.”
A waiter stopped at their table and they each ordered their favorite whiskeys.
“Well, she’s probably staying for Christmas,” Erica said as she took off her winter coat. “It’s only a week away now.”
“I completely forgot about Christmas…”
“There’s lights everywhere… Music…”
“I mean, I knew it was happening… I just forgot how soon it was,” Charlie said as she finished the last drop of whiskey from her first drink. “Are you going home for it?”
“Yes… I usually do. My sister, Kelly, flies in from Seattle and it’s just the four of us but it’s nice. I love the city this time of year, the build up to Christmas… But when it is actually Christmas, I prefer to be at home.”
“You never mentioned your sister before.”
“And you never mentioned your mother,” Erica said with a smile tugging at your lips.
“We haven’t really done that much talking, have we?”
“Are you blushing?” Erica asked with a laugh. “That’s another first.”
The waiter arrived with two tumblers and Erica couldn’t take her eyes off Charlie. Her blue eyes were brighter than they normally were, her blond hair styled in waves that fell below her shoulders.
“I have a launch party this weekend,” Charlie said as she took a drink. “A new building. We’re working on the renderings now. I can’t think about Christmas until that’s over.”
Erica nodded. “It’s good to have that distraction. The first Christmas without someone you love is always the hardest.”
“You sound like you’re speaking from experience.”
“My grandmother. Last year was our first year without her… It’ll be easier this time.”
Charlie nodded. “I uh… This is probably going to sound strange…”
“Go for it.”
“I feel like a huge weight has been lifted off my shoulders.”
“Why?” Erica asked as she brought her tumbler to her lips.
“I don’t know. Just being here with you. Work’s crazy right now… My mother… I feel so much more relaxed now since you arrived,” Charlie said with a smile.
Erica nodded. “Maybe your father was a bit extreme with his will, about making sure you were married before you could become CEO but… You have to look after yourself.”
“I know… And spending time with you helps.”
“I wish my week wasn’t so crazy,” Erica said as she took another drink.
“Me too.”
“We’ll fit in at least one night together before I leave.”
“When are you going?”
“Christmas morning.”
“I suppose I should see what my mother wants to do…”
“She could surprise you… It might be a nice Christmas. You might have more in common than you think,” Erica said with a reassuring smile.
“I won’t hold my breath.”
Chapter 42
Charlie slid into the car that pulled up outside her building and sat next to Jules. They’d had a crazy week organizing this launch party, but it would be worth it.
It was easier to try and sell to a room full of people with the renderings right there. There was an added sense of urgency, knowing that anyone else in the room might also be submitting a bid for the apartment that you want.
“You look beautiful,” Jules said as they pulled off.
“Thank you. You don’t look so bad yourself,” Charlie said with a warm smile.
Charlie wore a turquoise dress that fell just above her knees, her hair in loose w
aves, and she’d added a few pieces of silver jewelry.
She thought she was going to be late. She had to convince her mother that she couldn’t come with her. It was strictly a business event and not a social one. Even with that distraction, she was still ready when the car arrived for her.