Charlotte (Marked Heart #2)

by M. Sembera

  Auggie was about to knock on the bathroom door when it slowly opened. The most glorious scent flowed with her as Charlotte stepped out. Wearing the grey cotton shorts and black v-neck that he bought her, her hair was still wet. He'd never seen her hair wet before.

  Glancing at him as she made her way to the living room, she teased, "Hey there creeper."

  Following behind her, he defended himself, saying, "It seemed like you were taking a long time, I was worried."

  "How dangerous is your bathroom?"

  Ignoring her smartass question, Auggie asked, "How's your head? Did everything fit okay?"

  Turning to face him, she replied, "Better and yea, except for those awful underwear you got. They're dang near as big as the shorts I'm wearing."

  Messing with her, he used her own words to taunt, "Awe...don't be mad."

  "I'm not," she said with a smile before sharing, "I'm not wearing them."

  Auggie's entire body begged to know the answer as he questioned, "Them or any?"

  "Interesting question."

  "Are you going to answer it?"

  With an all too confident sigh she replied, "I think I'll just let you wonder."

  On impulse, he blurted, "Stay."

  Charlotte gave him a serious look before taking a step back.

  She stared at him for a long moment before pulling the side of her shorts down, revealing she was, in fact, not only wearing panties, she was wearing the ones he bought her.

  Shaking his head, he smiled, saying, "You just showed me your panties."

  A soft smile appeared as she questioned, "Why do you keep asking me to stay?"

  "That's a dumb question."

  Back to an old familiar tendency, Charlotte gave the bottom of her shirt a tug before griping, "I know it is but I asked it so I would appreciate you giving me an answer," as she sat down in his chair.

  Auggie watched her cross her legs and glare at him.

  "Alright. Instead of doing this woman thing you do, where you try to coax something out of me, why don't you just say what's on your mind."

  With a frustrated sigh, Charlotte snapped, "I'm not trying to coax anything from you. And if I was, it would be because getting a little clarity from you is nearly impossible."

  Irritation coated every word as he replied, "You are leaving. I know this because you feel the need to keep reminding me. Every damn time I have to hear you're leaving. It's like your little way of diggin' at me."

  Hopping to her feet, she fussed, "Why do you keep asking if you don't want the answer?"

  "When I say stay I'm not asking you. It's not a question."

  Shaking her head at him she quickly tried to make her way past him.

  Stopping her, he caught her by the arm, explaining, "I know you're not going to, but I can't help it. I don't want you to lie to me, but that doesn't mean I want the truth either. I need to say it because I have no idea what I'm gonna do when you go."

  Charlotte's eyes reflected the feeling behind his words as she stared at him. He wanted to kiss her but instead Auggie pulled her against him as tight as he could, wishing he wouldn't have to let her go.

  ~

  Parked under the carport, Charlotte tried to gather her thoughts before walking into the house. It wasn't the disappointed look she would get from Emerson or the questions Amila would ask that was bothering her, although it would be great if she didn't have to deal with them right now. All she was supposed to do was help Auggie get out more. That day at the hospital, William told her how worried he was that his brother would never see past the end of his own nose, as he put it. Anyone in their right mind would agree he was an ass, but William was right, he had a good heart and there was so much more to him than the rude bartender she thought she knew. She promised William she would show Auggie that not everything in life is cut and dry, that stepping outside your comfort zone doesn't just make you uncomfortable, it makes you want more out of life.

  Dwelling on her last conversation with William, she already fulfilled her promise. She had fooled herself into thinking Auggie would be a fun way to pass the time until she left. Killing time wasn't what she was doing with him. It was more like savoring time. All of the sudden, something Penny said shook her insides causing her to roll her window down in case she threw up. That day at the hospital wasn't for William, it was for her. She was the cut and dry ass refusing to step outside her comfort zone. The metaphorical more that Trace had always spouted wasn't more at all. It was a progression of the same thing. That's why she was so content with him. Auggie made her uncomfortable from the beginning, and it was because he was the more life had to offer. Charlotte's revelation pushed every feeling she had buried deep down inside to the surface as she acknowledged that the Caffrey men weren't the only ones that went down hard when they fell.

  28

  Family

  Waking up to a note laying over her cellphone on her dresser from Amila that said, 'Come to the dining room when you wake up', Charlotte knew when she got home the day before and they let her go to her room without saying a word was just too easy. Brushing the note onto the floor, she picked up her cellphone and saw a text from Auggie.

  A: Good Morning!

  She smiled, texting back.

  C: It's afternoon now ;) but Hello anyway.

  Charlotte started to get up when her phone vibrated in her hand.

  A: I sent that 2hrs ago.

  C: Just woke up.

  A: Geez lazy. Come see me.

  C: Can't, got a meeting with the parents :/

  A: ????

  C: I'm sure they're mad about yesterday and the day before. Sorry.

  A: Tonight?

  C: I'll let you know.

  A: If you can't can I call you? I hate text messages.

  C: Yes :) I'll let you know in a little bit.

  A: Okay. I'm going back to sleep then. Bye.

  C: Bye.

  Tossing her phone on her bed, she walked to her bathroom.

  Charlotte took her time brushing her teeth and getting dressed as she delayed the inevitable, 'You're a grown up but we're still going to tell you what to do' talk. Stepping out of her room into the hallway, she headed for the stairs when Silvia popped out of her room.

  "Dad is really mad at you," she warned.

  Rolling her eyes, Charlotte mumbled, "Yea, what else is new," continuing on her way.

  Down the stairs and through the kitchen, she stepped into the dining room to find Amila and Emerson waiting on her.

  Looking at their faces, Emerson's disappointed and Amila's concerned, the usual, Charlotte wondered how long they had been sitting there waiting.

  Sliding into a chair at the opposite end of the table from them, she asked, "What's up?"

  "Where were you?" Emerson questioned in a harsh tone.

  Charlotte tried to keep a straight face as she replied, "Upstairs in my room."

  Amila looked down, fighting a smile of her own as Emerson stated, "There are rules in this house and we expect you to follow them."

  Narrowing her eyes at Emerson, she questioned, "What rules did I break?"

  "You stayed out all night."

  "I texted Amila and let her know I wasn't coming home."

  "You were out drinking."

  "I'm over twenty-one."

  "You are being irresponsible."

  Charlotte gave him a stupid look, saying, "That's your opinion."

  Emerson appeared flustered as he stressed, "Staying out all night, getting drunk and tattooed is not responsible. It is disrespectful to us."

  Standing up, she replied, "I'm sorry you don't agree with my choices but to be clear, I got a tattoo and I was sober when I did. Yes, I had too much to drink and didn't come home. That was the responsible thing to do. I wasn't going to drive after I had been drinking. And I also happen to think not coming home drunk, where my underage brothers and sisters live, was pretty damn respectful."

  Emerson stood up too, barking, "Do not curse at this table."

  Fr
ustrated, he wasn't even listening to her, Charlotte yelled, "Why am I always wrong? It doesn't matter what I do you're going to find something wrong with it."

  He shouted back, "What am I supposed to think?"

  "More of me than you do," Charlotte snapped as she started to walk out.

  "Both of you sit back down, "Amila ordered in an 'I'm tired of this' tone.

  Doing as he was told, Emerson turned to her, saying, "We agreed that..." before she cut him off, correcting, "I agreed to sit in here while you talked to her. That's not what you're doing."

  Looking like a scolded child, Emerson placed his hands in his lap frowning at her.

  Amila focused on Charlotte, staring at her until she sat back down. With a loud huff, she crossed her arms, taking a seat.

  "Now Charlotte, you have to look at this from Emerson's perspective. He's worried because he loves you. You can't just turn off feeling parental once a kid hits eighteen."

  Charlotte started to say something when Amila held her finger up in a 'keep your mouth closed' fashion.

  "And Emerson, how is she supposed to feel. You rarely talk to her and when you do it's to tell her how disappointed you are in her."

  The dining room was silent for several minutes before Amila stood up.

  "I expect the two of you to talk to each other. Not yell or be defensive. Talk," Amila informed before stepping out of the room.

  Charlotte and Emerson watched Amila close the doors to the dining room before he shared, "I do not like it when she does that."

  Nodding, Charlotte agreed, "When she puts you in your place."

  "Yes."

  With a slight smile, she added, "And you can't even argue because of the way she says things. She makes you feel bad for being wrong in the first place."

  "Exactly," Emerson replied before saying, "We probably should do what she says."

  Charlotte took a breath, saying, "I don't have anything to say."

  Emerson nodded at her before resting his hands on top of the table.

  Tapping his fingers against the table, Emerson glanced around the room. Charlotte watched his eyes soften as he smiled.

  "Roberts is not the most upstanding last name around."

  Confused, Charlotte replied, "Could have fooled me."

  Smiling wider while shaking his head, Emerson informed, "It's powerful and infamous, not upstanding."

  "Is that so?" Charlotte said, finding that somewhat humorous.

  With a slight nod, he shared, "It is. My father was a powerful man. He was highly respected. That does not mean he was respectable."

  "Like you?" she sarcastically asked.

  "I try to be. I like to think I am a better father than he was, but I imagine you feel differently."

  "Hmm..." Charlotte pondered before questioning, "What was he like?"

  Emerson chuckled, replying, "Always disappointed in me."

  Raising her eyebrows, Charlotte said, "Well..."

  A heavy sigh preceded a laugh as Emerson admitted, "No need to rub it in, I know what it feels like to be on your end of things."

  Charlotte nodded before asking, "Why did you name the foundation after him if there were hard feelings between y'all."

  "He was an orphan that never got adopted."

  Surprised at that fact, she replied, "Oh, so he didn't have any family."

  Emerson appeared uncomfortable as he shared, "He had an older brother that was adopted."

  "They lost touch? You don't keep in contact with him?"

  With a serious expression, he replied, "No. They stayed in contact with each other. I was not aware he had a brother until a few months after my father died. His brother is also deceased."

  "I'm sorry," Charlotte said, never before thinking Emerson's life was less than perfect.

  Sitting up tall, he assured, "Don't be. I'm not."

  "What happened?"

  Relaxing as he spoke, Emerson appeared satisfied, saying, "He was shot in the face."

  Confused by the way he answered, Charlotte asked, "By who?"

  Clearing his throat, he replied, "Someone who is also now deceased," before a warm smile covered his face as he bargained, "What do you say, for Amila's sake, we reach a compromise."

  "Okay..."

  "I'll be less of an uptight authoritarian and you can at least pretend to be happy you are a part of this family."

  Charlotte thought for a moment before agreeing, "Well now that I know we really aren't an upstanding family, I don't need to pretend."

  Emerson laughed as he stood, asking, "Would you like a hug?"

  Shrugging a shoulder at him, she replied, "No thanks but thanks. Okay?"

  Another warm smile appeared on his face as he nodded before walking out of the dining room.

  Oddly pleased with the way her conversation with Emerson went, Charlotte wondered if it was an indication that she should stay. She always had Amila and Lola, now Silvia seemed to be coming around. Jenna was quiet with her nose always stuck in a book. Max and Luke had no time for her but were still nice. Trent was away doing good deeds however his return wouldn't change anything. She started to feel like she was really part of the family. Not to mention, she had friends. Always Ren, and Penny now too. When she thought about Auggie, it occurred to her there were more reasons for her to stay than to go.

  As much as she wanted to see Auggie, her new found feeling of belonging prompted her to text him.

  C: Hey, family time tonight. See you tomorrow :)

  When he didn't text back right away, she figured he was still asleep. Rounding up her sisters, Charlotte had them follow her back downstairs.

  All four of them gave a unanimous, "Ewww!" when they stumbled upon Emerson and Amila practically mauling each other in the kitchen.

  Figuring Amila was rewarding Emerson for doing what she asked, it was understandable but still pretty gross.

  Shaking off the disturbing image while Emerson and Amila smiled as if there was nothing wrong with that horrendous display they witnessed, Charlotte informed, "Amila, if you can tear yourself away from Emerson, we are having a girl's night."

  Pushing away from her make out partner, Amila cheered, "All of you? Together!"

  "All of us," Charlotte replied, making a circle with her finger that included Amila before fake frowning at Emerson as she said, "Sorry, no boys allowed."

  Emerson gave a laugh, saying, "I'll get the boys and find something for us to get into. I hope you ladies have fun."

  Squeals and giggles of excitement erupted from Amila and Charlotte's sisters as she smiled wide at the happiness her idea created.

  29

  C&A

  Rushing home from The Dog House, Auggie couldn't wait to see Charlotte. He had to laugh at himself for being so excited. He hadn't seen or talked to her in a whole day.

  He was going to call her the previous night but when he saw her text that said see you tomorrow, he figured she was busy with her family. It was fine at the time because he had spent the morning looking for something special for her and only caught around two hours of sleep before work. By the time he got off, he was so tired he laid down on the couch and passed out.

  Tonight, just as he started to close up, Charlotte texted him saying she was at his house along with the pictures she took of them drunk and laying on his floor. One picture in particular stood out from the rest. He was smiling while she kissed his cheek. Between that picture and knowing she was at his house waiting for him, he couldn't get there fast enough.

  Sprinting to his front door, he knew she had missed him too when he reached the porch and the door swung open. Standing there, waiting for him to get home, wearing his Dog House t-shirt and little red shorts was his girl.

  Lifting her off of the ground as he hugged her tight and kissed her he managed to say, "Gah, I missed you," in between kisses.

  "I like that," she assured as he put her down.

  "That I missed you?"

  Nodding with a smile, Charlotte pulled away before blurting, "Oh, I got yo
u something."

  "Lotte," he said, wishing she hadn't.

  Picking up a box off of the coffee table, she replied, "I know you don't like the idea of me buying you things but I still owed you one and when I saw this I had to get it for you." As he scowled taking the package from her, Charlotte swore, "It wasn't even expensive."

  Shaking his head at her, Auggie opened the box and pulled out a gray beanie.

  "Turn it over," she instructed as he gave her a confused expression.

  It looked exactly like the one he had on until he turned it over. In little white letters, C&A was embroidered on it. Instantly he knew, Charlotte and Auggie.

  As he stared at it, Charlotte said, "You don't have to wear it. I was shopping with Silvia, saw it and thought you'd get a kick out of it."

  Pulling the one he was wearing off, he tossed it at her, sharing, "Are you kidding? This is my new favorite."

  Auggie ran his fingers through his hair before pulling the new beanie on.

  Charlotte seemed pleased that he liked it which made Auggie like it even more.

  She eyed him, saying, "Looks good," before sliding his old one over her head, asking, "What about me?"

  Auggie wasn't sure what it was exactly but seeing her wearing his beanie caused all the air to leave his lungs.

  Scowling at him, Charlotte held out her hand and stated, "Augustus Caffrey."

  "You're too pretty to be me," he replied with a smile.

  Shaking her head, she pretend griped, "You wanna fight? Girls are pretty. I'm a man."

  Rolling his eyes, Auggie played back, "Okay big talker, let's go."

  Holding her fists up, she continued to make fun of him, saying, "Come on, I'll put you on your ass."

  Auggie picked her up and tossed her on the couch before pinning her down. They both laughed as he playfully kissed her face and neck. Stopping to catch his breath Auggie was suddenly aware of their position. She was lying underneath him with her legs wrapped around his waist. As his breathing slowed his heart rate picked up. Staring up at him, Charlotte's smile faded into a look of urgency.