by C. S. Janey
"How did you know I was here?"
"I didn't. I live just beyond the trees and was walking the path when I reached the end and saw you standing in the water."
Lifting her right brow in disbelief, she stared at him. "You live just beyond the trees? When did you move there?”
He beamed, looking her right in the eyes. "Since I bought the house five years ago when I decided that living here forever was something I wanted to do. I knew I couldn't ever leave the place where I had met the love of my life."
Charlotte laughed then, amused at his gall in calling her the love of his life. Cutting around him, she walked over to pick up her socks and shoes; spotting a bench that was a bit of a walk away, she headed towards there without saying anything to Trevin.
"Where are you going?" He quickly followed behind her, determined to get her to talk to him.
Sitting down on the bench, she still said nothing, putting on the socks and then the shoes while pointedly ignoring him.
"Charlotte, talk to me, please. Why did you laugh at what I said?"
Glancing at him, she sighed and turned towards him so she could see his face. "I was laughing at you saying I was the love of your life. I certainly don't feel like that was true then so it certainly cannot be true now." She pointedly looked down at his left hand and then back up at his face. "Did you ever get married?"
Trevin shook his head. "I dated but never quite found someone I could feel that way about again. I never really thought about it consciously and can admit I probably self-sabotaged all of them in some way."
Not knowing what to say, Charlotte looked down at her clasped hands and her own bare left hand. She'd taken off her ring only after she had left to come back to her hometown.
After a moment, he questioned her in kind. "You said your husband died. What happened? Were you happy together?" When she jerked her head up to gape at him for his daring in asking that question, he shrugged. "You don't have to answer. I was just curious."
Seeing her squeeze her eyes shut, he was about to change the topic when she suddenly blurted out, "He was gay."
~*~
When Trevin said nothing after she blurted out that her husband was gay, Charlotte opened her eyes to look at him. His mouth was hanging open, the look on his face giving away his astonishment.
Realizing that she had rendered him speechless, she couldn’t help but laugh.
Snapping his mouth shut, he eyed her skeptically. "Please don't mess with me like that. Are you serious?"
"Yes, I'm completely serious,” she declared, pulling her jacket tighter around her, suddenly feeling chilly. "We got married a year after I left and everything was going fine, or so I thought. After the birth of our son, he became distant and things just changed."
She could see his eyes widen at the mention of her son but she continued on before he could say anything. "I didn't understand but I was so preoccupied with Douglas and he worked more and more over the years so I just didn't say anything. I thought he was tired from working so much and that this was how married life was, especially after a baby. When it kept on, I become really suspicious and went through his things. A couple weeks before he died, I found some sites where he had listed a profile that explained in explicit detail what he wanted in a man."
She shifted, crossing her legs as she grimaced at the recollection. "I confronted him and he tried to deny it, but it all finally made sense and I told him to tell me the truth. So he did, telling me he wanted to divorce just a few days later. He died not long after in a car accident." With that, she released her jacket and looked down at her hands, then back up at Trevin. "I just kept thinking, how could I not have known, you know?"
Nodding, he scooted a bit closer and grabbed her left hand to hold it, interlocking his fingers with hers before speaking.
"You couldn't have known how he was if he wasn't up front with you and had hidden it from you." He paused and then grinned at her. "You have a son? How old is he?"
She smiled back at him, his grin infectious. "He is five. He started school this year."
"Ah, so that is why you were at the school that morning.” At her nod, he looked down at their entwined hands. “Does he look like you?"
"No, he looks more like his father. Jack was quite thrilled with that."
Trevin paused for a moment, and then gaped at Charlotte. "Jack? You married that Jack?" He let out a hoot of laughter as she nodded.
"What do you find so funny?"
"I'm just so shocked! I would have never guessed you'd marry Jack and should have realized you may have turned to your best friend to help you leave. Damn, he was gay? Wow!" he exclaimed, still chuckling.
At this, Charlotte couldn't help but nod and giggle at his response.
When he finally got over his initial amusement, she spoke again.
"Jack had been coming over to visit that evening anyway. He was planning to leave town to go back home because he needed to work and I was so upset he feared leaving me behind; he knew if he didn't take me with him that I would just find somewhere else to go." She stated, shrugging. "I asked him why he had proposed to me if he had known all along and he said he was trying to pretend to be normal. When I told him I wouldn't have been upset that he was gay, he informed me that it wasn't my reaction he was worried about and apologized for not trusting me although it didn't make the fact that he married me hurt any less."
"Of course you were hurt. He married you under false pretenses and you thought he truly felt about you as one would feel about their lover." Like how I feel about you, he thought even as he knew he couldn't share those feelings right now. "I understand."
She squeezed his hand that was still holding hers. "Thanks. Not even my mother knows the truth about my marriage and I can't find the heart to tell her." Just then, she looked down at her watch and noticing the time, jumped up. "I'm sorry, I have to go!"
"Okay. I really would like to see you again Charlotte." Feeling nervous, he was afraid she would reject him but he still asked, "Will you go out on a date with me?"
Looking at him with stricken eyes, she shook her head. "I'm not ready for that Trevin. I'm sorry. It was nice to sit here and talk though. Thanks for listening to me."
"No problem, Sprite. Any time," he drawled, leaning down and kissing her cheek before turning on his heel and heading back to his house.
Charlotte touched the spot on her face that he had kissed, watching him walking away and wishing she had said yes. How would she find out the truth of what really happened if she didn’t spend time with him?
Admitting to herself that it wouldn't hurt to spend a little more time with him today, she thought quickly of a way to make it not seem obvious.
"Wait!" She yelled after him, causing him to stop in his tracks and turn around.
He lifted an eyebrow, waiting to hear what she had to say.
"Would you be willing to give me a ride home?"
He smiled, his eyes lighting up at her unspoken invitation.
"Anything for you, Sprite. Follow me," he waved her towards him. When she reached him, he grasped her hand once again in his, and whistled a tune all the way back to his car.
Chapter Six
Even though it was only a ten minute drive to take Charlotte home, Trevin decided that he wasn't going to let this opportunity pass him by. He had to tell her what happened all those years ago. As they pulled away from his house, her head was turned away from him, looking out the window with hands clasped in her lap. Just as he had gotten up the nerve to speak, she turned her head towards him, smiling and nodding pointedly at the little diner they had just passed.
"I remember how we used to go there every Friday night during my senior year of high school; they knew you and I by our names," she sighed at the memory, and then laughed. "I especially recall the time you slipped in some monopoly money in between the bills to pay for dinner and the waitress ran out of the restaurant to give it to you as if you needed it back."
<
br /> Trevin chuckled. "I did need it, for my game! The look on her face was great, though!"
"Yes it was. I will have to take Douglas there for dinner sometime soon. He would enjoy the food, I think. Is it still as good now as it was back then?"
Turning on the street that led to her house, Trevin put aside the idea that he would get to talk to Charlotte about what happened and said, "The food is delicious. Of course, they have new stuff but they still make the best pizza in town. Your favorite is ham and bacon if I remember correctly."
Pulling into her driveway, he turned off the engine and turned his body slightly to face her.
"You have an excellent memory, Trevin, as usual. That is still my favorite pizza and always will be," she commented, putting one hand on the door handle, the other swiping her hair out of her eyes. "Thanks for the drive home. I appreciate it."
"It wasn't a problem. I would do it any time even though I know you really didn't need a ride," he said, giving her a wink.
The blush crept up her neck and into her face, causing Trevin to laugh out loud at her sudden embarrassment. As he tried to smother his laughter, a small smile found its way to her face.
"I guess I was rather obvious then."
"You were but you won't find me complaining. You are so adorable."
Charlotte rolled her eyes, even as his compliment made her skip a beat. "I'm a twenty-nine year old mother of a five year old boy. I do not qualify for the adorable category."
"Sure you can, Sprite. You are also beautiful but I find the fact you still blush to be absolutely adorable," he admitted, raising a hand and tucking a piece of escaped hair behind her ear, staring into her eyes so she knew how serious his compliment was.
She looked away first. "Thank you. Do you want to come in for dinner? I am not sure what we're having yet but mom always makes extra food anyway. She sure loves leftovers." Charlotte blushed again, realizing she was babbling like a schoolgirl.
"Of course I’d love to stay for dinner. Anything to stay around you a bit longer," he said as he removed the keys from the ignition and got out of the car. After closing his door, he walked around to her side to let her out as well.
"Always the gentlemen," she teased him, swinging her legs out of the car and standing up swiftly. This put her rather close to Trevin, who hadn't stood back once he'd opened the door.
Leaning in slightly, he whispered in her ear, "You know that's only true when we're not naked." Turning his head back to look at her face, he was tempted to kiss her right there in the driveway.
Trevin couldn't resist the urge to pull her closer, however. Placing his left hand on her lower back, he brought her against him, her gasp delicious and sweet sounding to his ears as she instantly wrapped her arms about his neck. Using the other hand he closed the car door first then slid it under her jacket, where it met his other hand as he wrapped her tightly in his arms.
"There is nothing in the world that compares to holding you in my arms," he ground out before looking into her lovely face again. "I'm not just saying that either, Sprite. You always fit just perfectly in them." It took all his self-possession in that moment to just stand there and not kiss her very delectable looking mouth.
Charlotte hadn't said anything. She was staring at his lips as he spoke, a small smile visible on her lips as her breathing became slightly heavier than it was just moments before. She knew how much he wanted her right in that moment and oh, how she felt the same. His kisses were addicting, like a favorite kind of chocolate she just never became sick of eating. She wanted him, even though she felt it might be unwise to let him so close to her so fast.
Licking her dry lips, she swallowed and looked up into his eyes. "You always had the perfect arms to be held in."
Her words plus the licking of her lips only made him focus on her lips hungrily and he felt like a dying man who needed the thirst of water only she could provide him. He knew he had to quench his thirst before taking her inside.
"Step back," he murmured to her. When she looked at him in confusion, he simply said, "Against the car."
In sync, he stepped with her as well until her back was against the car. Bringing his hand up to grasp the back of her neck, he brought his face close to her where her mouth was slightly open, begging for his kiss as she made a soft incoherent sound in the back of her throat. Neither of them were aware of their surroundings and just as their lips were about to touch, a voice rang out.
“Mommy? What’s going on?”
~*~
The sound of her son's voice caused Charlotte and Trevin to jerk apart. Dropping his hands away from her, he stepped back and she walked around him, her face breaking into a grin as she headed towards Douglas.
"Hey sweetie! I've brought an old friend home for dinner," she explained, climbing the steps of the front porch and crouching down to his eye level. "Did you have a good time with Grandma?"
Douglas' face didn't change much, eyeing Trevin with suspicion while answering his mother. "Yes, she's funny. I like her. We're having pork chops for dinner, she said. She also said something else but I forgot."
"That's okay. I love pork chops!" She turned to Trevin. "I'm assuming you haven't gone vegan on me in all this time, have you?" Her eyes danced with merriment.
Chuckling, he shook his head. "No way! I am a big pork chop fan so I am safe in staying for dinner." Looking down at Douglas, he added, "That is, if you're okay with me staying as well."
Instantly looking at the ground, Douglas shrugged. He looked over at Charlotte who sent him an apologetic look before opening the front door. Trevin made a mental note to ask her why she had sent him that look later, thinking that was no reason for her to apologize for Douglas' apparent shyness.
"Let's go inside," she ushered Douglas through the door first, peeking back over her shoulder to smile at Trevin as she followed while he held the door open for her.
Hot on her heels, he entered the house, careful not to let the screen slam shut behind him.
Douglas took off, running towards the kitchen to tell his grandma they had a guest while Charlotte took off her jacket, hanging it on the hooks by the door.
"Should I take off my shoes?" He inquired, taking off his jacket as well and placing it next to hers.
"No, you can leave them if you want. It will allow for an easier escape if you find that necessary," she said with a soft laugh, her eyes widening when he proceeded to start slipping his shoes off. "What are you d--?"
He cut her off with a laugh of his own, admitting "I do not want an easy escape from you Charlotte," as he finished taking off his shoes.
Before she could reply, Douglas ran back into the room, causing her to turn back to him.
Anna was right behind him, stopping short in her tracks when she saw Trevin standing by the door. Covering her shock at seeing him, she smiled. Trevin shook his head quickly to indicate that he had not told Charlotte anything about the past yet. Her smile brightening, she addressed her daughter.
"I was wondering where you were at! Did your cell phone die, Charlotte?"
"No mom, I'm sorry. I had sent it to silence earlier when I left to go take my run and forgot to turn the ringer back on. Am I horribly late?"
"No! You are not late at all!" She looked from Charlotte to Trevin. "Hello, Trevin. It's been a long time, considering that we've lived in the same town all these years," she commented on this, accompanied by a chuckle.
"Yes ma'am." He didn't apologize as they both were aware that no apologies were necessary. "Charlotte has invited me in for dinner. I hope that is all right with you?"
"If it is okay with her, it is okay with me. So, why don't you and her take a seat in the dining room. Douglas and I were just about to take out the pork chops as the table is set and all the food is there." Looking at Douglas, she waved him towards the kitchen. "Come on Douglas, this old woman needs just a tiny bit more assistance."
"You're not old Grandma!" Douglas giggled as they walked out
of sight.
Letting out a sigh of relief that disaster hadn't broken out, Charlotte turned towards Trevin again, and lifting a brow as she pointedly looked to the window. "That was a close call out there. I think you should refrain from trying to kiss me while we're in the driveway here, don't you?"
"Sure thing, Sprite," he assured, taking her hand to walk with her towards the dining room. She didn't fight him, which made his heart beat just a tad faster with happiness.
Reaching the dining room, Trevin pulled out her seat for her; she murmured 'thanks' as she sat down and he took the seat next to her.
As they waited on Anna and Douglas, Trevin decided to tease Charlotte.
"Hey, I have a question for you."
"Yes?" She took a sip of the water her mother always served with dinner. "What is it?"
He smirked. "If I can't try to kiss you in the driveway...does that mean I can try to kiss you elsewhere?"
Before she could even scowl at him, her mother’s laughter filled the room.
"I don't want to hear it, you two. Now stop this talk before Douglas comes back in the room," she commanded, sitting down to the left of Trevin after placing the pork chops at the center, leaving Douglas the chair at the 'head' of the table.
Looking at both of them, Anna smiled while Charlotte blushed and Trevin started chuckling.
Douglas walked in and looked at scene with the all too keen eye of a child. "What is so funny?"
"Nothing, sweetie. Grandma was just teasing me. Now take a seat so we can eat."
Shrugging, Douglas sat down and started chattering away about his visit to the mall in the city with his grandma, his audience seemingly paying rapt attention.
Underneath the table, however, Trevin placed his hand on Charlotte's leg and left it there.
~*~
After finishing dinner, Charlotte and Anna were cleaning up when Douglas ran up to them. Trevin came in behind him and leaned against the door frame, regarding them all with a small smile on his face.
"Mommy! Can I go outside and play until it gets dark? Please?" His eyes were filled with excitement as he practically danced around the kitchen.