CHAPTER 30
Breakfast was a little awkward. I sensed that Shannon was looking for a sign that Charlie and I had talked about the test. Silently, I decided that I was going to wait. I wanted to see what he’d be like when we got back to New York. Our flight was early tomorrow, and what was just one more day, right?
After breakfast, we cleaned up and Charlie asked me to take a walk.
We started walking in silence around the lake.
“So, I have this thing in LA next week. Friday. A screening for Book Ends. I’d love it if you would come.”
He was asking me to fly across the country for a screening? Okay, maybe now was the time.
“Chase—”
“Charlie,” he interrupted.
“Chase,” I insisted. I winced as his face fell. But it had to be done. “I think we need to face facts. We are just two very different people, I’m just out of a bad relationship and was looking forward to being single for a while, and…” I couldn’t finish. The look on his face choked me up.
“Phoebe, I’m trying here. This isn’t normal for me. Opening up and all. Risking things…But for you I want to change. I… I…”
“We can still be friends,” I tried.
“Fuck! Not the ‘we can be friends’ bit. No. Phoebe… what we have… It’s real! It’s not some passing whim. What I feel, when we are even just making breakfast, it’s amazing. The sex, well, I don’t think I have to tell you that what we have there is off the charts. You get me. I think I get you. We fit. We connect. We. Are. It.”
He was right. How could I deny it? But when he learns…
“What happened from last night on that pier to this morning? What happened that caused you to change your mind? I can’t keep up with you.”
“It’s not that simple, Chase.”
“It’s Charlie, damn it!” he spat back. His eyes grew dark. “I don’t care what you say, Phoebe. I love you, and you love me. It’s that simple.” He cupped my face and I couldn’t help but to lean into his large, strong, capable hand. He brushed his thumb over my lips, and my insides coiled. He looked deeply into my eyes with his amazing violet-blues and I teared up.
Why was I doing this? Why was he doing this?
“Tell me,” he whispered, then placed a gentle kiss on my lips. “Tell me what I can do to fix whatever it was I did wrong. Tell me what I have to do to not lose you. I can’t lose you, Sweets.”
My heart pounded against my chest. I wasn’t sure if it was because Chase was so close, and touching me, and his voice, and those eyes… or if it was out of pain for Chase, and his plea to ‘not lose’ me…I thought of his dad, his step-dad, Abbie, and now his mom was facing mortality.
“I love you, Phoebe. You don’t have to say it back, but know that I love you. And I will do anything to prove it,” he said, his southern drawl really coming forward now.
I couldn’t hold the tears back anymore. I hiccuped and the tears that had been damming, burst from my eyes. Chase… Charlie… pulled me in tight. His arms and scent soothing me the way nothing else in the world could. I loved how his scruffy chin brushed on my temple. I wanted desperately to tell him that he was right. But I was so scared. It was only a matter of time.
A phone started ringing. It wasn’t my phone. It was Charlie’s.
“Shit. That’s Michael,” he said reaching for his back pocket. “I’m sorry, but I have to take this. Either the apartment his gal found accepted my offer or has a counter offer, or it’s about NYU. Or both. I’m serious about sticking around for you, Phoebe. You’ll see. I’m not acting.”
“I’ll let you talk to him privately. I have to use the ladies room, anyway,” I said, and I headed to the house.
I spent the afternoon hiding in the kitchen with Shannon. We baked a storm of cookies for a fundraiser her church was having. Thankfully, she didn’t push me about the looming 600-pound gorilla. Charlie, graciously giving me space, popped in stealing cookies from time to time, but he spent the afternoon back in the garage trying to get the T-bird running.
When it came time for dinner, I was exhausted and only slightly curious as to why we hadn’t talked about what we were going to cook for dinner. Just as I was about to ask, a horn honked outside. Shannon’s face brightened and she gasped, drawing her hands to her face. “He did it,” she muttered.
Not even removing her apron, she dashed to the front of the house and out onto the porch, and I was right behind her. There sat Charlie, in the red Thunderbird convertible, in the driver’s seat of the car purring like a wildcat. He revved the engine and Shannon shot down the stairs to admire the car. She slipped into the front seat. Charlie shot me his stellar smile, the one that showed just how happy he was, and blew me a sweet kiss, and the two took off, laughing.
I sat on the porch steps and admired how close Charlie and his mom were. He knew how happy getting that car working would make his mom, and he didn’t give up. But that was his mom. Unconditional love of a mother and son. Would he take his love back from me when he learned of my shame? As I sat and worried myself sick over my situation with the pregnancy I never wanted, and Charlie’s proclamation, and feeling so welcome in this little family, and my job—omigod, my job. When we get back tomorrow and they all see what Charlie did to his hair, his beautiful hair, would I even have a job? And what was my mother going to say? And Dickwad? And… and… and…
I stewed for a good ten minutes before Charlie and his mom came back up the driveway, Shannon now behind the wheel. She parked the car, and Charlie jumped out and ran around to open the door for her. They came running up the steps laughing, arm-in-arm.
“Go get dressed, Sweets. We’re going to Spotlight Sam’s,” Charlie boomed.
Shannon squealed and kissed Charlie’s cheek. “I’ll let Brock know,” and ran inside.
“What’s Spotlight Sam’s?” I asked.
“Oh, a restaurant in town,” he said somewhat secretively, looping an arm over my shoulder. I eyed him warily as we pushed into the house. “It’s good. I swear. Just slip on a pair of jeans and shirt. Nothin’ fancy.”
We started up the stairs quietly. “Nice job getting the car running,” I said.
“Yeah,” he said, grinning from ear-to-ear.
We got to the top of the stairs and he pulled me into him, hugging tight. “When I put my mind to something, I can do anything.” He inhaled deeply, as did I. I enjoyed the grimy scent of the car grease and sweat… and licorice.
“Don’t shower,” he said. “I love that you smell of flour and sugar and chocolate and vanilla.” I couldn’t help but smile. Vanilla and chocolate were my favorite scents, too, in addition to Charlie. He kissed my temple and headed into the bathroom. “Fifteen minutes?” he asked. I nodded.
Twenty minutes later, Shannon needed an extra five, the three of us were in the Thunderbird. The backseat was cozy, but I fit just fine. Brock said he’d meet us there.
We pulled up to the restaurant and it was packed. Charlie found a spot in the back of the lot, and although he was nervous about leaving his precious new toy in the parking lot, his mother convinced him it would be fine. So, with a girl on each arm, Charlie led us to the front door of the establishment.
We took a step into the noisy, and electric atmosphere. Right away, the girl at the hostess stand perked up.
“Charlie!” she screeched and ran over giving him a huge hug then hugged Shannon, and shooting me an awkward smile. “Ohmigod! What did you do to your hair?” she asked rubbing his head. “Never mind. It’s hot! How long are you in town for?” she asked.
“Phoebe and I head back to New York tomorrow,” he said, pulling me into his right side, like he wanted her to know that we were together. I wrapped my left arm around his waist, staking my claim as well. At least my claim while I was in Georgia.
“Nice to meet you, Phoebe,” she said, extending a hand to shake. We shook hands quickly then she turned back to Charlie. “Still shooting that cop show in New York?” she asked. Man, I thought to myself.
She sure knows a lot about his schedule. Charlie just nodded.
“Buyin’ a place in New York, too. Gonna go to school with Phoebs. She’s an NYU student.”
“Wow,” Amy said, again giving me only a slight smile. “Lemme get you a table. Is Brock coming, too?” she asked, clearly trying to demonstrate just how well she knew Charlie and his family.
Shannon spoke up. “He’s bringing Susan, too. So that’ll be five of us, Amy.”
“Oh,” Amy startled, and looked at me nervously. I smiled back at her sadly, to show that I knew the story of Abbie.
A moment later, we were brought to a large round booth with black leather seats in the back corner of the main room. I looked around at the rest of the restaurant and saw that despite the full parking lot, there was still space in the joint. But what really caught my attention was the stage, and all the tables seemed to be facing said stage.
“Want me to put you on the list, Charlie?” Amy asked, thumbing over to the stage.
Charlie looked across the room, and shook his head. “I’ll take care of it. I see Zach is working the soundboard tonight?” Zach? Zach? Why was that name familiar? OH! As in the guy that was flirting with Charlie’s girlfriend the night she….??
Amy looked behind her and beamed a lovesick grin. Oh, so is Amy with Zach?? She’s not hot for Charlie? “Yeah,” she sighed.
“When are you two tyin’ the knot?” Charlie asked.
Amy waved her left hand with a modest engagement ring at us. “November. Thanksgiving. You’ll be back here, then, won’t you?”
“Wouldn’t miss it,” Charlie replied.
Man I was confused. She was engaged to Zach. At first I thought Amy totally had it for my Charlie. My Charlie? Could I be jealous? I was dumping him. This was going to be a long night.
Amy left and went over to Zach at the soundboard, and I turned to Charlie. “So, what’s the stage and ‘list’ all about?” I asked, using air quotes.
A giant smile broke out on Charlie’s face. “Karaoke. Wanna sign up and sing something? You gotta sign up early so your song doesn’t get taken.”
I literally laughed out loud, recalling when my high school choir teacher not-so-gently encouraged me to pursue music with something other than my voice. “Yeah… No. I don’t sing. Do you?”
“Man of many talents, Sweets.”
Yup. A really long night.
The look on Phoebe’s face when she met Always-Flirty-Amy was priceless. Phoebe was jealous. Which meant she cared. Which meant I had a chance. Tonight I was gonna rock that karaoke stage like nobody’s business and Phoebe would know that I was in this for the long haul. That we were not a passing thing. And she was going to be mine, whether she wanted to be or not. The gloves were coming off.
CHAPTER 31
After we ordered our dinners, we chatted easily, Brock filling us in on the new big customer that signed on for sunflower shipments, Shannon and Susan sharing stories about when Charlie was younger. I marveled at the family dynamics of Charlie and his family. Even Susan and I were included as if we officially belonged, being teased and questioned about our opinions.
At one point, Charlie got up and went over to talk to Zach. The two shared a hearty ‘bro-hug’ with the slaps on the back and booming laughs. I guessed that their history with Abbie was long buried. The two talked a good five minutes or so, more than a few times looking over at me. I could only guess what Charlie was saying. When he got back to the table, I asked what they were talking about, to which Charlie only replied, “You’ll see,” with a coy wink.
I didn’t have long to wait. At eight o’clock sharp, the house lights dimmed and the stage lit up like a rock concert. Zach bounded up on stage and grabbed the mic.
“Welcome to Thursday, Hayden’s Point!” he boomed like an Emcee of a concert, to an eruption of applause. “Y’all ready to sing?” The crowd unanimously whooped and hollered. “We’ve got a great list of songs lined up. Julie’s back tonight to defend her title as Pop Princess,” he said looking at his clipboard, “and Ole Man Joe swears he’s gonna hit that low note in Johnny Cash’s ‘Walk the Line’.” The crowd clapped. Seemed that karaoke was a regular past time here in Charlie’s hometown. “Y’all, we also have a special treat! Most of the world knows him as Chase Smythe, but we all know him as Charlie Smith…” the crowd hushed, “he’s in town, and tonight he’s on the board!”
A spotlight swung around and beamed on our table. Charlie waved to the thundering applause and flashed his paparazzi smile that I knew so well. He looked at me and winked, his smile changing to the one that reached his eyes…the smile he reserved for people he loved.
“Still the same Charlie, just a haircut,” Zach continued. “First though, we’re going to get you rollin’ with the main man, owner of Spotlight Sam’s, Sam Bailey!” The crowd clapped enthusiastically, Charlie leading the pack and whistling expertly. Out bounded a handsome guy about the same age as Charlie and Zach.
Charlie leaned over, and said over the crowd, “Sam and I were best buds growing up. He was one of the few kids my age who understood me. He was also an actor, wanted to go to Broadway. He has a fantastic set of pipes. While I was focused on TV, he was always the lead in school and town musicals here in Hayden’s Point. This—Spotlight Sam’s,” Charlie said, waving his hand across the restaurant, “is his way of making it.”
“Why didn’t he try to go sing on Broadway?” I asked.
Charlie pointed to the side of the stage. There stood a beautiful woman sitting with three kids, a baby on her lap, and two older kids sitting next to her and applauding. The oldest seemed to be about eight years old. Doing some quick math…
“Junior prom,” Charlie shrugged. “It’s a shame really. Emma Sue wanted to be a doctor.”
My face fell. Hard. It was a shame that she got knocked up. That she wanted to be something. That Sam had aspirations and put those all aside because he got his girlfriend pregnant. Not that I cared two bits about Dickwad’s dreams, and not in a million years would I marry the asshole because of a baby, but everyone’s dreams were dashed—all because of an unplanned pregnancy. I wasn’t keeping this baby. No way. And no way could I let Charlie know I was pregnant. Surely he wouldn’t see it the same way as I did. I had been pondering an abortion off and on all day. I didn’t have any plans on being a mom, let alone one right now. I wasn’t sixteen like those girls on the MTV show, but I was a student.
Charlie saw my reaction and tried to save the day. “She works for the clinic in town, in the pediatric ward. I hear she’s great. Emma Sue and Sam are very happy. They make the rest of us hopeful.”
Sam had been talking to the audience the whole time, not that I had heard a word of it, but apparently he was done talking and the music started and he started belting out the song “Sweet Home Alabama.” Not the version I knew, by Kidd Rock, but the original one by Lynyrd Skynyrd.
But I didn’t hear much of the song. All I could think about was my shame. It was Charlie’s comment that convinced me. Charlie, Chase, or whatever else he could be called, and I didn’t have a prayer. Not to mention how a baby would derail my future in unimaginable ways. And a single mother to boot. I had to terminate this pregnancy. I needed to get back to New York and find a doctor.
The crowd had been right along with Sam as he sang, and when he was done, the audience applauded and whistled while he took on the adulation.
“Thank you. Thank you,” Sam said, quieting his fans. “I understand Charlie is out there?” Sam squinted and scanned the crowd through the lights. The audience helped him by pointing where the spotlight had previously shone. “Come up here, buddy!”
Charlie…Chase… leaned over and gave me a sweet kiss on the lips for the whole place to see, then scooted out of the booth and made his way to the stage, stopping and shaking hands with a few people as he went. Up on stage he looked completely at ease. Hugging and chatting with Sam briefly. I would have been like a deer in headlights.
“Whoo!” Charlie whooped, tur
ning to the audience and taking the microphone. “Yeah, I dunno about this stage stuff. I prefer the safety of standing in front of a camera. How do you do this, Sam?”
“Just sing it, man. Let it come from your heart.”
“Oh, I’ve got that one covered,” Charlie said, training his sights right on me.
I had to get out of here. This had disaster written all over it. I started to scoot out of the booth, but Shannon wrapped her arm around me and hugged me tight. “He’s got a great song to sing for you, hon.” My heart thundered in my ears. I doubted that at this point I’d be able to hear anything.
The music started up and it was a beat I vaguely recognized. Charlie started to sing, and the song registered to me. I remembered hearing it in a movie… Benny & Joon, from the early 90s. It was the song by the Irish group The Proclaimers. Everyone called the song the 500 Miles song, but was actually titled I’m Gonna Be. It was about how much he loves his girl, what he would do, and how far the guy would go to prove his love.
I started to sweat. I mean literally sweat. My face was coated in perspiration. My mouth went dry and I was having a hard time breathing. And worse, not only was I frozen to the spot, I was clutched in Shannon’s arms. I wanted out. All I wanted to do was to run out of here. I needed to leave, and I couldn’t. I don’t know how much time passed, but as the second “da da da da” part sounded throughout the space that seemed to be shrinking, Shannon’s grip loosened. I had my chance.
“I’ll be back,” I lied to her, and slipped out of the booth and ran outside, nearly knocking Amy over as she stood in the doorway between the hostess stand and restaurant, watching Charlie.
I wished I was back in New York City and was able to flag down a cab and get out of here. What was I going to do now? Was there an app for that? How was I going to get out of here? If I could get to the airport, I was sure I would be able to find a way to switch my ticket from tomorrow to tonight. Noting that clearly a cab was not going to just drive by like New York City, I pulled out my cell phone and started to Google search TAXIS in Hayden’s Point, Georgia.
Chasing the Dream: Dream Series, Book 3 Page 23