Interrupted (The Progress Series)

by Queau, Amy

  “That must be refreshing for you,” Karal said.

  “Huh?”

  “Well, you were the only thing people were talking about for months! You, Jesse, your weight loss, the way guys hit on you at the bar—Charlie, YOU were the loop.” She laughed.

  “I suppose. Now that the roller coaster in a hurricane on the lip of an erupting volcano that was “Jesse” is over, life for everyone has resumed to normal.”

  “Have you heard from him?” Karal asked.

  Charlie shook her head. “No, I doubt I’ll ever speak to him again. Which, is probably for the best.”

  “Good girl.” Karalee winked.

  *

  Swallowing her sorrow was easier to do than she thought it would be. Even with the horrible news of her father, she had successfully buried the morbid thoughts in order to stay strong for her mother and sister.

  “…It’s just that…I don’t know what I would do without him,” Sabrina said between gasps.

  “You don’t know what’s going to happen. He could pull through like last time.”

  “Do you really think so?”

  “It’s very possible, Breen. Dad is strong, and Mom and I are taking good care of him.”

  “I’ve been a mess, Char. I haven’t gone to any of my classes since I found out. Do you think I should come home?”

  “Totally unnecessary. Things aren’t bad right now. You know I’d tell you if they were.”

  “Mom told me that he starts chemo and radiation next week,” Sabrina’s voice grew quieter.

  “I know what you’re thinking and I don’t want you to worry about it. I told you, I’ll call you and let you know how he’s doing. Hopefully it won’t be as bad as last time.”

  *

  All of the conversations were the same. Sabrina had been calling Charlie every night to cry, and cry, and cry some more.

  The days of her father’s skin fading to gray and endless nights of vomiting were on the horizon. She tried not to think about the things that would drag him down, the things that would eventually suck every last breath from him. She tried to concentrate on the memories she would always cherish, and on making as many more as she could before he was gone.

  She spent the week packing the rest of her things, and every minute burned through her at the thought of spending another Sunday with Sam.

  It’s Sunday today. :) Can you meet me at this address at 11am? 4309 Jefferson Boulevard in Prior Lake. xx Sam

  Yes, yes. YES I can.

  Sure. What are we doing today?

  Dressed in a pair of jeans, she glanced down wondering if her attire would be appropriate for the day’s events.

  It’s a surprise. Dress casual. See you in a bit.

  She squealed.

  Did I seriously just squeak? Oh my god, I’m such a girl. She gleefully smiled as she finished her bowl of cereal quickly. Bill peeked at her from just beyond his newspaper and chuckled.

  “I think our little girl is falling in love,” he mumbled to Karen, too soft for Charlie to hear as she rushed out the door.

  *

  Twenty minutes early, Charlie parked in front of the strip mall, puzzled at where he’d want to meet her. There were three storefronts: the first a Laundromat, the second a Chinese restaurant, and the third was what could only be explained as a dojo. She double-checked the address he had sent and looked at the numbers on the doors.

  The dojo?

  Charlie stepped out of her parents’ truck and flicked her cigarette butt into the parking lot. She took off her sunglasses and glanced at the sign above the door. Written in Chinese, the letters were beyond her comprehension.

  Four men walked out the door with duffle bags in their hands as she caught the handle and walked inside.

  Two walls were covered in mirrors and there were faded, multi-colored mats on the floor. Samuel was standing in the center of the gym and another man stood just to his left.

  Once her insides calmed after the first sight of Sam in a black martial arts uniform, she stood against the wall and watched his body move. Gracefully balancing on one foot, in a slow sweeping motion he lifted his opposite leg, bent at the knee. Focused on nothing in the room, he brought his arms together as though he were praying, still showing immense self-control in his stance—never wobbling, never falling. Position after position, Sam was weightless while concentration never left his body. It was a beautiful thing for her to witness; she could almost feel the serene energy bouncing off the walls and through her, filling her with gratitude and peace.

  Samuel paused and nodded in the direction of the man near him. The man nodded back and charged Sam with as much force as he could muster. Charlie suddenly felt as though she needed to warn Sam, calling his name as the man collided with the palm of Sam’s hand. The man stopped suddenly and was thrown backward, down to the mat.

  Sam turned at the sound of Charlie’s voice and saw the rigid expression on her face as her hand covered her mouth in terror.

  “Again!” the man shouted as he stood up, taking a defensive pose.

  “Hey baby, you’re early,” Sam said, approaching Charlie and wiping the sweat from his brow.

  “Are we done, then?” Samuel stopped and turned to look back at his attacker.

  “Hang on.” He put his finger up to Charlie and jogged back.

  Taking a bow in respect to his Sifu, he rushed back over to Charlie still standing in the entryway.

  She smiled. “What is this place? I didn’t know you did karate.”

  He laughed. “It’s not karate, it’s Kung Fu…Wu Shu.”

  Oh, my little Kung Fu warrior. Such a geek, so cute.

  “Is this your plan for today? Showing me how to fight? You forget, I’m a little handicapped,” she said, lifting her cast.

  “No, Charlie,” he said, laughing and shaking his head. “I’m not going to show you how to fight. I thought we could get some lunch next door. But you’re early.”

  “Yeah, sorry. I was a little…eager to see you.”

  “Well then,” he took a step closer to her and wrapped his arms around her waist “You’re forgiven.” He smiled and rubbed his thumb on her cheek. “Please remember how easily I forgave you just now, so that it makes it easier for you to forgive me in about ten minutes.”

  “And what will I be forgiving you for doing?”

  “In ten minutes, we’ll be meeting my mother for lunch.”

  *

  After a quick shower, Sam walked back out into the gym in a button-down and jeans, carrying his duffle bag. His hair was still glossy as he combed it with his fingers, trying to shake it out to dry.

  Charlie crossed her arms across her chest and cocked her head to the side. “Your mother?”

  “She’s harmless. And don’t worry, she’ll do most of the talking.” He grabbed the door and opened it for her. “Besides, nothing can squash sexual tension faster than having your mom in the room. If I have to wait another three weeks—”

  “Oh, I see! Using your mom as a crutch, eh?”

  “Believe me, I’m going to need all the help I can get,” he said, throwing his duffle in the bed of his truck. “C’mon, she’s already here.”

  Walking into the restaurant, Charlie had to duck to avoid hitting the Chinese spherical lanterns hanging from the ceiling. The dining area was much smaller than it looked from the outside, making it easy to spot Samuel’s mother seated at a table in the corner.

  A woman in her late forties sat waiting, dressed casually in jeans and a sweatshirt. Her dark brown hair hung to the middle of her back. One thin silver streak flowed from the part in her hair, all the way down.

  “You must be Charlie. Hello, I’m Maxine. Sam has told me so much about you,” she said while reaching to shake Charlie’s hand.

  “Hi, Maxine—”

  “Oh, call me Maxie. Sit, sit. So Charlie, Sam says you’re a waitress over at The Crimson Cellar. Great pizza. You know, the first time I went there was almost ten years ago, though I’m sure you weren’t w
orking there, then. I got the most amazing goat cheese and artichoke deep dish, and the sauce! Oh god, the sauce is to die for! Do you know what they put in it? Is there a secret ingredient?”

  Wow. I gotta be paying attention here. This woman can talk.

  “Um, pineapple, I think.”

  “No kidding? I would have never guessed pineapple! You know, I have the greatest recipe for a pineapple upside down cake, it was Sam’s favorite as a kid. I can only handle so much of it—”

  Sam put his hand on Charlie’s leg and gave a quick squeeze. She looked over at him just as he gave her a wink.

  *

  The afternoon faded away with Maxies’s ramblings. Charlie was surprised to discover that Maxie was quite the mystic, interested in the metaphysical, spirits and past lives, and ancient Native American theories and traditions. It was almost two o’clock by the time Maxie caught her breath.

  “Excuse me, ladies. I’m going to use the restroom,” Sam said, standing to stretch his legs. “Then we should probably go. What do you think, Charlie?”

  “Sure.” Charlie nodded.

  After Sam left the table, Maxie leaned in toward Charlie. “So, what are your intentions with my son?”

  Whoa. I wasn’t expecting that question.

  “I’m not sure what you mean.”

  “I just want to know if you’re as serious about him as he is about you. I’ve never seen him like this before. He’s crazy about you. I thought someone should tell you in case your intentions and feelings weren’t mutual. You could avoid his heartache by leaving him now—that is, if you weren’t falling for him like he’s falling for you.”

  I know I should be having a serious conversation with her, but my insides are bursting right now. I absolutely adore Sam. And I love that he’s been talking to his mom about me. Okay, focus, Charlie.

  “I’m crazy about Sam, too.”

  Maxie sat back and assessed Charlie with a critical eye. “So you won’t cheat on him, then?”

  “Never,” she said without hesitation.

  Maxie nodded and smiled. “Good.”

  “Hey there, I’m back. Charlie, you want to get going?” asked Sam, standing next to the table.

  “Sure.”

  “Mom, it was great to see you. We’ll talk soon, okay?” He leaned down to hug her.

  “It was great to meet you, Maxie.” Charlie extended her hand.

  “Oh, give me a hug!” Maxie said, standing and throwing her arms around Charlie.

  “It was nice to meet you, too,” Maxie said, tightening the hug.

  *

  “See, I told you she was harmless,” Sam said as they walked to his truck.

  “You were right.”

  “Can you hang out for a little longer? I have to do some work tonight, but I’d like to be able to spend some more time with you today,” he said, standing with Charlie in the parking lot.

  “Okay. Well, I might need to move a few things around on my schedule, but...” Charlie laughed.

  “Good. I’ll drive. There’s something I want to show you.”

  “You’re not going to show me how to trim a bonsai tree, are you?” she asked, trying to hide her smirk.

  “No, Charlie. Come on, hop in,” he said, laughing.

  “Where are we going?”

  “The Conservatory,” he said. “Have you ever been there before?”

  “Oh, um, once when I was a kid, I think. I think my cousin got married there.”

  “Well, I was just there a couple of weeks ago. I saw something I thought you might like.”

  “Sounds good.”

  *

  Walking into the Conservatory, she immediately took in the aroma of sweet perfumed flowers, soil, and grass—much stronger than the smell that came from a freshly mowed lawn or a seasonal flower store. It was rich, refreshing and calming.

  Sam grabbed Charlie’s hand and they casually strolled down the pebbled path through rows of flowers in full bloom. Daylilies, daisies, tulips, and roses in bright reds, vivid purples, and brilliant yellows.

  “So, tell me more about Kung Fu,” she said.

  “You mean Wu Shu?” he asked.

  “Is there a difference?”

  “Yes. Well, I mean, they usually go hand in hand. Hmmm, how do I explain it? So, Kung Fu is a level of focus. It’s not what you consider the traditional terminology, which is usually associated with the Chinese martial art.”

  “Okay, I’m with you so far. Continue.”

  “Most people think Kung Fu is just a martial art. It’s not. In fact, it’s a multitude of things. It’s patience, focus, determination, and harnessing all energy to put forth your one hundred percent. It’s self-defense, discipline and breathing techniques. Wu Shu is the Chinese martial art. Kung Fu is what you use to achieve it.”

  “Wow. I feel kind of stupid for not already knowing this. So…how did you get into it?” she asked.

  “Oh, I got into it about ten years ago. My parents were fighting all the time and I needed something more constructive to do away from the house. I’ve always kind of been someone who keeps to himself, but if I wanted to concentrate on my art, I was always in my room. With two screaming adults just upstairs, my focus was constantly interrupted. So I found a cheap way to escape once a week. I don’t go every week anymore, but I try to get there once a month.” He squeezed Charlie’s hand and gestured to a stunning rosebush that stood before them. “This is what I wanted to show you.”

  Charlie turned and was fascinated by the tones of red and the vines of white and pink that streamed down each petal. “These roses are gorgeous.” She leaned in and sniffed the center of the flower.

  “Known for its strength and beauty, the Charlie rose is a mixture of cherry red and silvery pink. It’s a tall rose that makes a statement in gardens across the United Kingdom. Their fragrance is irresistible, and they’re nicknamed the Cheerful Charlie,” Samuel said.

  “Okay. How do you know this is called a Charlie rose? Are you some sort of genius? You’re like a walking encyclopedia,” she said. “No one just knows stuff like that.”

  “Well, I’ve always been interested in stuff like this because of my mom; she has a medicine wheel in her backyard.” He laughed at his mother’s eccentricity. “But no, Charlie, I’m not a genius. I was just reading the plaque.”

  She rolled her eyes and looked down at the words engraved into the metal sign. “Wow, that just wiped away any credibility for my intelligence,” she murmured. “See, this just isn’t fair. You’re doing all of these sweet things for me, and I haven’t done a single thing for you. I’m just not that creative, I guess.”

  “Oh, you’re plenty creative. I’m sure you can think of something,” he said, pulling her against him by her jean pockets.

  “So, tell me, Mr. Bordeaux, what can I do for you?” she asked insinuatingly.

  “Hmmm… I suppose you could kiss me.”

  “I could. But there are rules,” she said, releasing his grip on her pockets as she took a step back, teasing him.

  “You’re killin’ me, Charlie. Killin’ me.”

  She leaned over and gave him a brief kiss on the cheek. “There. That will just have to suffice.”

  *

  Samuel drove Charlie back to the gym where she gave him another quick kiss on his cheek before driving home.

  Chapter Seventeen

  The next day, Charlie started her new job. Her boss’s name was Kelly, and Charlie wasn’t her biggest fan. She was extremely strict and not as personable as Charlie had been used to in the customer service industry. But, Charlie was grateful to have a boss who told her exactly what she could expect from her and be able to criticize her if she was doing something wrong. There was a part of Charlie that respected Kelly’s crass honesty.

  Charlie was scheduled to work for a few hours every day. She was getting to know the property, memorizing the twenty-four buildings’ numbers and locations, and delivering late rent letters.

  Charlie arrived home from work
and Bill lay on the couch sleeping. The chemotherapy and radiation had merely made him tired so far, as it had only been a few days.

  “Oh, hey Charlie. How was work?” he asked, adjusting his posture on the couch.

  “Sorry, Pops. I didn’t mean to wake you.”

  “Oh, don’t worry about it. The hockey game is going to start in a few minutes.”

  “Where’s Mom?”

  “I think she went to the store. She should be back in a bit.”

  Charlie took her shoes off and hung up her jacket. “I’m gonna grab some dinner. Can I get you anything?”

  “No. I haven’t really been too hungry today.”

  Ignoring his answer, Charlie opened the cupboard. “How about I make a peanut butter sandwich? We can share.”

  “Sure, Charlie.”

  After throwing together the sandwich, she threw some chips on both of their plates and sat next to him on the couch.

  She took her first bite and Bill set his plate on the coffee table.

  “Charlie, I’ve been meaning to talk to you.”

  “Yeah, what’s up?” she asked, taking another bite.

  “I don’t want you worrying about spending time with me.”

  She stopped chewing and picked up the remote to mute the television.

  “What do you mean?” she asked.

  “Look, I know what you’re thinking. And you might be right. I don’t know how long I’m going to be around, or whether or not the cancer is gonna take me this time. But I know you, and I can see what you’ve been doing. You don’t need to spend every minute around here making sure you’re taking care of me or spending time with me.”

  Charlie swallowed and put her plate next to his on the table. She kept her head down.

  “We’ve had a lifetime of memories, Char. And I know how you feel about me; I love you too, kiddo. But, how horrible would it make me feel if you avoided spending time with your friends, avoiding making new memories, at my expense?”

  “I—” Charlie tried to speak.

  “No, listen to me, Charlie. See? This is what life is about. Life is making mistakes, falling in love, working your ass off, and partying your ass off just a little bit more,” he said as Charlie giggled. “It’s about laughter and jealousy; it’s about making the right choices and living with the consequences of the bad ones. It’s about experiencing emotion and all of the ups and downs that come with it. And for me, it’s about being able to come home and tell an exaggerated fish story to three of the most beautiful women I’ve ever had the privilege of knowing, and their eyes lighting up just when I’m getting to the good part.” Charlie fought a tear and nodded her head. “Charlie, I see what you’ve been doing, and I love you for it, kiddo. But we have a lifetime of those memories together. Don’t waste your time around here, avoiding the ones you could be making with the people out there. Besides, it’s not like I’m gonna drop dead tomorrow. We still have some time.”