Love Renewed (Love Trilogy)

by C. S. Janey

  Seeing Charlotte’s eyes fill with tears, Trevin looked away as his guilt ate at him, but he finished what he was going to say. Shelby was still silent in his arms as her head came up just as he spoke again. He figured that she deliberately avoided looking at Charlotte.

  “I befriended her again after the accident, but she did not know what happened and neither did her mother, so I did not mention the argument,” he looked down at Shelby then, seeing her eyes blazing anew at his mention of the information he had withheld from her. “Shelby came over here early this morning to tell me that she had remembered - after all this time, which is a miracle all on its own.”

  Sniffling, Shelby pushed against his chest. Looking down at her again, he scowled. “I will let you go if you promise to refrain from physical violence. None of this is worth hurting somebody over, do you hear me?” At her nod, he released her and she stood up abruptly. He watched as she crossed her arms, facing both of them defensively.

  Charlotte was the first to break the awkward silence. “I’m sorry, Shelby. I had read about the accident but I had no idea it was you. I wouldn’t have made that remark…”

  Trevin saw Shelby shrug as if it didn’t matter. “It’s okay. Everybody here in town knows me so it is hardly ever something that needs told to people. I tend to forget that not everybody was around, although I figured Trevin would have told you before now.”

  “I was going to,” Trevin explained. “I just hadn’t gotten a chance to get around to it and well, you both ended up showing up here today for different reasons. So, now it is all in the open and the question is can all of us finally move past this whole disaster?” He raised his eyebrow at Charlotte who looked down at the ground without replying.

  Shelby gave Trevin a weak smile. “I guess. I’m sorry for accusing you of having something to do with the accident. I will leave you two alone now.”

  “Hey Shelby?” When she turned around, he smiled. “Thanks. And no worries. We’ll talk later, okay?”

  She nodded at him without saying anything and then headed out. Trevin, letting out a sigh of relief, walked over to Charlotte and placed his hand under her chin, gently tilting her face up to look at him. Her eyes were slightly red and watery.

  “Are you all right?”

  “I am fine, although I think I have much to think about. We will have to talk later. I was already here longer than I meant to be and I promised Douglas we would go to the park today.”

  Don’t try to convince her to stay here just a bit longer. Let her go for now. She’ll be back. He smiled at her. “Okay. We will talk later though, right?”

  “Yes,” she affirmed, smiling even though it was a bit wobbly. “I will see you later.”

  Leaning down slightly, he gave her a sweet close-mouthed kiss on the lips before removing his hand and stepping back.

  Then he watched her walked out, closing the door softly behind her.

  He let out a sigh of relief, wondering how the hell that had ended up being so easy.

  Chapter Ten

  Sitting on the bench at the park, Charlotte watched as Douglas romped around the playground all on his own.

  She had pushed him on the swing for a bit but when he had gotten tired of that, he told her he was going to explore the playground equipment. So she took that as a hint to leave him be for now and to go relax.

  This wasn’t new, as Douglas would often get tired of interacting with her and want to play on his own at the playground, so she always came prepared with other things to do. Pulling out her e-reader, she was searching for a book to occupy her time when two little shadows appeared at her feet.

  Glancing up, she saw Douglas standing there along with a little girl she didn’t recognize. The little girl had shoulder length blond hair and bright blue eyes. She smiled when Charlotte looked at her but didn’t say anything.

  “And who might this be, Douglas?”

  “Mommy! She said her name is Elsie. I was checking out the bugs over there,” he said as he pointed towards a group of trees not far away. “She came up to me and started to play with me by following me around! But, I told her it was snack time and then she followed me over here!”

  Laughing, Charlotte could tell that the little girl trailing after him had annoyed him by his words, although he also had a major scowl on his face. Pulling out the food from her bag, she pat the seat beside her.

  “Come sit down and eat, Douglas. And as for you Elsie, where is your mother?” When the little girl just looked at her with wide eyes, Charlotte smiled. “I wouldn’t mind giving you a snack but I have to make sure it is okay with your mother first.”

  At that, Elsie twirled around and took off running while Douglas dug into his snack. Shading her eyes with her right hand, Charlotte followed the little girls path across the park where she stopped right in front of a woman with dark hair. It was only a matter of seconds before both of them started heading back towards her. Charlotte recognized the woman Elsie was with as she approached.

  “Charlotte! Isn’t it such nice weather for a mid-September day?” Gwyneth greeted her with a smile.

  “Yes, it is a nice day for sure. Are you Elsie’s mother?”

  Shaking her head in denial, Gwyneth chuckled. “No, I don’t have any children. This is my brother’s daughter. His name is Samuel. I take her out every Sunday to spend girl time with me and today, she decided the park was where she wanted to go.”

  “Oh, I see. Well that is very sweet. Elsie came over with Douglas at snack time so I told her I needed to make sure it was okay to give her some as well. We didn’t disturb you, did we?”

  “Oh no! I had just gotten done talking to a co-worker who was in the middle of a crisis on the phone and freaking out,” she replied with a grimace, taking a deep breath before speaking again. “Nothing like having work being able to find you even on the weekends. And yeah, no problem with the snack.”

  “Hear that Elsie? You get to have some Goldfish crackers too! Sit next to your aunt, please. Walking around while eating is not a good idea.”

  Elsie took a seat, but she squeezed next to Douglas, throwing him a glance that had Charlotte giggling. Gwyneth noticed it too and sent Charlotte a knowing smile. As the kids ate their snacks in earnest, Gwyneth spoke again first.

  “So, how did it go with Trevin the other night? I’m really curious but don’t be afraid to tell me to mind my own business!”

  Feeling her face instantly flush with embarrassment, Charlotte cleared her throat. “What makes you think anything happened?”

  “You kissed him right in front of me so I wondered if anything else happened. You two disappeared rather quickly. Lucien and I were taking bets on what you two were doing,” she admitted with a mischievous grin on her face.

  “Oh, wow! Well, it didn’t go so well. He wanted to talk about what happened, I panicked and we left so I could go home. Then he said something while he was angry that made me…” she paused as the kids looked up from their snacks.

  Jumping up from the bench, Douglas spoke first. “I’m done eating! I’m going back to look at the bugs!” He took off running before Charlotte could respond and Elsie ran after him.

  “They ate those pretty fast,” Gwyneth noted with amusement.

  “Douglas usually does. He doesn’t like to miss a thing and probably found something interesting with those bugs.”

  “He is cute and he looks a lot like you.”

  “Thanks! He definitely has some of my traits but he looks more like his father.”

  “You’re welcome. So…what did you do to Trevin?” Charlotte looked up at her to retort but saw Gwyneth was just kidding around.

  “I slapped him and then got out of the car before he could respond.”

  Now it was Charlotte’s turn to laugh. Gwyneth’s mouth had dropped open in surprise, her eyes round in her face.

  “I already apologized when I went to his house this morning before coming here. That is when I met Shelby.”

  Recovering from
her shock, she nodded. “I see. It doesn’t surprise me. Shelby being at his house is nothing new.”

  “What do you mean? Is she always there?”

  “Oh, no! She does tend to hang around him more than anybody else, but I think Trevin does it out of some misplaced sense of guilt. He blames himself for the accident.”

  “Yeah, he said it was his fault because they had argued and she was so upset she apparently couldn’t think straight. I hadn’t really gotten to think about it since I went from there to picking up Douglas and coming here.”

  “I told him that ten years is long enough to feel guilty and he needed to tell her they couldn’t hang out all the time. He refuses but I personally think something isn’t right.”

  Hearing something in Gwenyth, Charlotte couldn’t resist asking about it. “What do you think isn’t right about Shelby?”

  “Do you promise not to mention this to Trevin? I doubt he would believe my thoughts on this.”

  “I promise.”

  She saw Gwyneth take a deep breath before speaking.

  “I think she’s lying about having something wrong with her. I mean, I don’t think she’s lying about having been affected, but I do think she’s exaggerating it.”

  ~*~

  Utterly shocked at Gwyneth’s suspicions, Charlotte didn’t say anything for a few moments. Figuring there wasn’t much she could say in regards to it, she turned to Gwyneth with a question of her own.

  “Did you know that Shelby was the woman Trevin was kissing that day I found them?”

  “Yes, actually. Lucien was the one to tell me though, after I asked why she was always following Trevin around. Up until a few months ago, she would follow him to the bar all the time and just hang out.”

  Considering this, Charlotte could see why she was suspicious. “Why did she stop coming to the bar?”

  “Oh, I don’t know,” she shrugged. “I asked Trevin but he said he didn’t know either; he was just relieved she had stopped.”

  “Interesting.”

  “I know. I don’t have proof of her deception but something doesn’t seem right. Most of the time she comes across as everyone believes her to be - shy, childish, playful and oblivious. However, at other times…I don’t know, I get this weird vibe from Shelby when I can observe her while she is around Trevin. It’s as if she’s just waiting for the right time to ‘get well’ and have him all for her self.”

  At that moment, Charlotte knew that Gwyneth’s suspicions might have merit. Trevin had said earlier in the day that Shelby had finally remembered the accident after all this time - but ten years was a long time after an accident that had caused severe head trauma to suddenly recall something like that.

  Smiling at Gwyneth, she grabbed her bag and stood up. “I understand and I would still keep my eyes open if I were you. I’m sorry but I gotta run. It will be near dinner time when we get home and I’m sure my mother is cooking.”

  “Hey, no problem. Thanks for letting me keep you company!”

  Nodding she turned around to walk away. “Douglas! It’s time to go!”

  As he came running over, Elsie followed him as well. “Say goodbye to Elsie! Perhaps you can have a play date soon.”

  “I don’t think I want a play date! Bye Elsie!” Douglas ran off towards the car, leaving Charlotte behind, embarrassed.

  “Sorry! We are still working on manners!”

  “No worries. Kids are honest if nothing else.” Gwyneth laughed, pulling Elsie against her side. “Have a good night Charlotte. I’m sure we will see each other soon!”

  “I’m sure we will too! You have a good night as well.”

  Getting into her car, she watched Elsie sit on the bench while Gwyneth was saying something. Realizing something, she turned to look back at Douglas, who was buckled up and ready to go in his booster seat.

  “Douglas, did Elsie say anything to you besides her name?”

  “No, Mommy. She just followed me around but she didn’t say anything. It’s weird.”

  “Okay, thanks. That’s all I wanted to know.”

  Glancing back at both Elsie and Gwyneth, Charlotte started up the car while wondering why the little girl hadn’t spoken more than one word to Douglas or any of them the whole time they were at the park. Driving off, she let her mind wander off without thinking of anything specific.

  Finally arriving at home, Douglas unbuckled himself and hopped out while Charlotte moved a bit more slowly. He was inside by the time she managed to even finish getting out of the car and it was then that she noticed the car parked in front of the house.

  Something niggled at the back of her mind, just out of reach. The white car looked awfully familiar but she couldn’t place it.

  Douglas flew out of the house as she stood there staring at the car, trying to place who it belonged to in her mind.

  “Mommy! There is a man inside the house! He’s in the kitchen with Grandma!”

  “Did you see what he looked like?”

  Shaking his head, he stared up with her, his eyes wide with excitement. “No! I just heard them laughing and they sound really happy.”

  Charlotte felt confused now. Her mother had a lot of friends but she didn’t recall her mother saying anything about someone coming over tonight for dinner.

  “Well, lets go in and find out what is so funny then, shall we?”

  Douglas giggled at that, nodding before taking off running inside the house again. Charlotte walked a little slower, not really in a rush to spend the evening eating dinner with somebody she didn’t even know.

  Entering the house, she took off her shoes and went up the stairs to put her bag in her room. Slipping on a pair of house shoes, she considered changing into something more comfy before deciding to wait and see who was here at the house first. She didn’t want to dress inappropriately for dinner.

  Heading back down the steps, she heard Douglas giggling from the kitchen and headed that way.

  The sound of a man’s voice filled the air though, causing Charlotte to suddenly pause in her walking, shocked to realize that she recognized the person that voice belonged to.

  Trevin’s father was in the kitchen with her mother.

  ~*~

  Charlotte hadn’t heard her mother laugh like she was right now in such a long time that she almost didn’t want to go into the kitchen and ruin it with her presence.

  Her mother had been alone for over six years following the death of her husband and Charlotte’s father. They had been happily married for twenty-five years before he had died just two months after discovering that he had stage four pancreatic cancer. The devastating diagnosis followed by his quick death had been so rough on her mother and although Charlotte had told her that she was going to make Jack move them back home, her mother had been adamant that it wasn’t necessary. Charlotte knew it had to be so hard on her mother but that she’d also have been angry if her daughter had upended her life just to live closer.

  To hear her laughing now was like music to her hears though. Anna laughed, often at Douglas’ silly antics, but nothing like how she was laughing now. And now that Charlotte really thought about it, the more she realized her mother had been super cheerful and upbeat lately - giddy almost…like someone who was in love.

  Oh boy. Charlotte couldn’t believe the thoughts that entered her head as she walked into the kitchen and saw Anna and Trevin’s father, Marcius, with their heads close together, giggling like schoolchildren. Is it possible they are dating? When did this happen? This is rather awkward.

  Clearing her throat to announce her arrival, they jumped apart like children who were caught and knew they were guilty. Her mother was the one whose face started to flush in embarrassment while Marcius just grinned.

  Douglas ran past her. “I’m going to sit at the table since dinner is almost ready!”

  Since his comment didn’t really warrant a response, Charlotte arched a brow at the scene in front of her. Marcius was the first to speak.

  “Hello, Charlotte,�
�� he greeted her, his voice loud and booming as he stuck out his hand for her to shake.

  Putting her hand in his and shaking, she nodded. “Hello, Marcius. I didn’t expect to find you here, that’s all. Are you joining us for dinner?”

  “Yes, actually. Your mother invited me earlier today when I called. I hope that isn’t a problem.”

  They were close enough that he called her and she invited him over randomly for dinner? I wonder if Trevin knows they apparently spend time together. Charlotte didn’t have any idea of what was going on, but hoped her face didn’t give away her confusion. “Oh no, not at all. I’m just surprised is all. I didn’t know that you guys knew each other.”

  Her mother smiled at Charlotte, her face and voice so full of joy and laughter as she spoke.

  “Of course we know each other. We have lived in the same town now for more than twenty years. We were bound to at least meet in all that time.”

  When Marcius chuckled and threw an amused glance at her mother, who blushed again, Charlotte knew something was going on.

  “Okay. I have to know because you’ve got me all curious, what with the blushing and the ‘at least meet’ comment you made. What is happening here exactly that I am unaware of?”

  They were glancing at each other, obviously trying to decide what to say to her. Charlotte put her hands on her hips, tapping her foot impatiently.

  Before they could answer, Douglas ran into the kitchen, a frown on his face as he asked, “Where is dinner? I’m hungry!”

  Laughing in spite of the irritation she felt at the confusion she felt, Charlotte ruffled Douglas’ hair before answering. “It will be coming in a minute. Please go back and sit at the table, sweetie.”

  He took off without an argument as Anna turned back to the stove, opening it up to pull out the meatloaf.

  “Here! Let me take that for you, Anna,” Marcius offered as he took the food out of her hands, and then glanced at Charlotte. “You can go to the dining room as well, if you’d like. Everything is there except this, so now we can finally eat!”