by Kayla, Mia
She bent down, lifting my chin with the lightness of her fingertips. “I love you and everything about you, and my biggest mistake, my biggest downfall, is not making you believe that. For you to even consider that I’d do such a thing … because I would never …” She sighed. “I just wanted to make sure that you were taken care of, that you’d have a stable future.”
I placed my hand over hers on my cheek. “I know, Mom. I understand.”
After a beat, she kissed my forehead before motioning around the room. “We have everything now though, right? Life should be perfect, but it’s not, is it?” Her smile was sad. “You’re unhappy. I can see it. I see the tension between you and Sandy. I just … I want everything to be okay. For everything to pan out for us. When your dad was alive, he made sure everything was okay, and I only want to do the same, baby girl. I want to make sure you’re okay.”
“And I want to make sure you’re okay too, Mom. That you’re happy.”
Her eyes crinkled, showing her years of wisdom. “I am happy. How can I not be … when I have you?”
The first of many tears fell, both of us a crying mess now.
She bent down again, and we held each other’s hands, letting all the emotions spill onto the table.
“I’ll do better. I promise.” Then, she pulled me into a hug and tenderly kissed the top of my head. “I’ll be there.”
My throat was choked full of emotion that I couldn’t speak, and I buried my head into her shoulder, my tears soaking her shirt.
She ran one light hand through my hair. “There is nothing that will make me miss it. Nothing, okay?”
I nodded. “Okay.”
Chapter 26
Charlie
Today was the day. The day that I’d been saving for, the day where I’d show the world that I had talent, just like my dad had told me I did.
The doors opened at seven, and I would show up at eight. That was the deal.
But every second felt like hours as I paced the hallway of Connor’s living room, gnawing at my bottom lip.
Connor had helped me in the wee hours in the evening to move and hang everything up at the place. The exhibit was perfection personified. Still, I couldn’t shake my nerves.
“Gray tie or blue?” In a sharp gray suit and blue button-down shirt, Connor strolled in, holding up two ties.
I scrunched my face and shook both of my hands out. “I-I don’t know.” I peered up at the ceiling and blew out a breath. “It doesn’t matter. Everything looks fine.”
Taking a few short, shallow breaths, I paced the room again, retracing my steps.
“Charlie.”
When I turned to face him, he approached and reached for my elbows, pulling me in. He leaned in, his head so close to mine, and smiled. “Breathe.”
But I couldn’t. Instead of breathing, I inhaled and held it there for a long time, most likely turning all shades of unhealthy.
He gave me a little shake. “Baby, you’re turning blue. Breathe.”
I exhaled but didn’t let all the air out. “I can’t.”
“You’ll die if you can’t.”
“I don’t know if I can do this. I mean, even if Nui doesn’t show up, other people will be there. Alyssa and Casey invited their family members.” I closed my eyes, the heightened anxiety making me want to throw up.
He pulled me into him, his lips brushing against my temple. “I wish you had the same level of faith in yourself that I have in you.”
And right then and there, he was my father, pushing me to be the best, to share my art with the world.
I lifted my chin and rested it against his chest. “You remind me so much of my dad.”
He chuckled and raised both brows. “And that is just weird. Please don’t say that.”
“But you do.” I kissed his chin. “You make me feel so much better about myself. Like I’m meant to do this.”
He angled closer until his eyes were intently locked on mine. “Charlie, you’re the most talented person I know. And I’m not just saying that. Alyssa and Casey and everyone in the office knows you are. Your father knew you were. All you need is to believe in yourself. It will be amazing, I promise.”
He leaned in, sweetly kissing me on the lips. “You’re going to kill it tonight. Now, tell me … since I’m meeting the Ps, gray tie or blue? I’m a little nervous. You know I haven’t been introduced to parents in a long-ass time.”
I sighed. “Gray.”
But what I really wanted to say was … why did it matter? What was meeting my mom and stepdad going to do for us? He’d be gone and out of my life before the end of this month.
“I hope they like me.” He smiled all teeth, and it was boyish and cute and all kinds of handsome.
It was all too much to take, so I patted his lapel down. “They’ll love you. Just like I do.”
Connor
The exhibit was packed with art buffs and spectators, all perusing and enjoying my girlfriend’s creations. As Charlie fidgeted by my side, I fiercely held her hand as people congratulated her, and asked her about specific pieces.
The walls were painted a faint, light gray, and all around, her paintings were hung up. Mostly abstract, but some of people, men, and random photos.
No doubt she was nervous. It was in the way her shoulders cowered inward and the way she nodded with this forced smile, but what she needed to do was push out her chest and own it, own her talent and not be shy.
Part of me wanted to scoop her up and take her somewhere, away from all this anxiety, and the other part of me knew this was good for her.
I stepped back and watched as two people approached her.
They pointed to a painting where the blues and greens and yellows splattered into a ball that exploded like fire. After a beat, she dropped her hands and gestured to the work of art. The more time that passed, the more animated she became, to where her shoulders shook from laughter as she pointed to the painting.
I had to ask her what that was about, where she had gotten her inspiration.
When someone shoved at my shoulder, I flipped around to find my brother sporting a sly grin.
“Look at you, all suited up, and it’s not even your show.”
My focus went back to Charlie. “Meeting the parents.”
Kyle let out a low, hoarse whistle. “That’s pretty serious stuff, dude.”
“Yeah.” But we were pretty serious stuff.
“So … you’ve convinced her to move to New York with you?”
“Not yet.”
He laughed, and it irked me. “What does that mean?”
“I’m still trying to convince her, and I’m not giving up.” When was there ever a time where I didn’t get what I wanted? “She just upped and left her life in Wisconsin to move here, and I get that, but that doesn’t mean she can’t adjust to New York. I just have to persuade her that there are better opportunities in Manhattan. Plus, if I talk to her mom and—”
“Don’t go there.”
I flipped to face him, my muscles tightening.
He grimaced. “I’m telling you right now, you go there, and it will be bad.”
I huffed, frustrated, knowing I didn’t have that much time left to convince her. “And of course, I’m going to feel her mom out first before I tell her about New York.”
He paused, opened his mouth, and shut it again. “Okay, your funeral.” After a shake of his head, he patted me on the shoulder. “Please, do not use feel her mom out in the same sentence.”
Normally, I would have laughed, but his earlier comment had put me in a foul mood.
Thirty minutes later, I was still watching Charlie from afar. She had a dozen people lined up to meet her, the artist, and I stood, taking it in like it was my very own exhibit.
When my phone buzzed in my pocket, I reached in and put it to my ear.
“Connor, honey? Where are you?”
It was Nui, and my eyes searched for Charlie at the far end of the room. “It’s in the Theatre District�
�232 Madison. Are you here?”
“I landed at O’Hare an hour ago, and it was a pain in my ass to get an Uber. When I finally did, he looked like a creeper, so I hopped out of the car and got into another Uber. Then … it was just bad. Anyway, I’m here.”
“You’re here? Okay, come in. I’ll get Charlie.”
I started walking toward Charlie, but there were a few people talking to her. When I waved at her, her eyes met mine. She placed a hand on the older woman’s forearm and excused herself.
“Hey, baby.”
Charlie’s smile was so relaxed and at ease until I ducked my head and whispered in her ear, “Nui is here.”
“What?” Her eyes went wide.
“She’s walking in.”
Charlie gripped my hand with such force that it cut off the blood flow. “Where?”
I tipped her chin up. “She’s in the front.”
She gritted her teeth together, and before she had the time to muster words of nervousness, Nui appeared in her four-inch stiletto heels and her Louis Vuitton purse, which I was sure was the latest version.
“Connor …” she cooed as though we were the best of friends. She pressed her cheek against mine and then to the other cheek like the Europeans we weren’t.
When she stepped back, she smiled and gave my girlfriend a once-over. “And you must be charming Charlie …”
She extended her hand, and Charlie shook it graciously.
“Yes. And I love your work. I follow you on social media, and I love the artists you feature.” Charlie’s voice heightened with excitement.
“And you are one of the talented artists that I want to feature on my blog.” Nui spread her arms and turned in an exaggerated circle. “Look at this. I mean, the depth of these abstracts and the paintings … you’ve caught great detail on some of them.” She pointed to the other end of the room. “There’s one there that’s breathtaking. It’s of a daughter and father.”
Charlie’s smile widened. “That’s me and my dad.”
“There is so much emotion there, just from his stare. It’s pouring out of him in waves. Endless waves.”
Charlie sucked on her bottom lip, teetering back on her heels. “Yeah … it was one of the last pictures we took together before he died.”
Nui’s smile slipped and she leaned into Charlie. “He’d be so proud of you. Your artwork is …” She paused for dramatic effect, which was signature to Nui. “One word: remarkable.”
Charlie let out one long breath, and her shoulders relaxed.
“Charlie.”
My head turned to the woman who had called her name. It was Charlie’s mother, I had no doubt. Because twenty-five years from now, I could see Charlie standing in front of me, stunning as ever, her eyes a vibrant emerald green.
Charlie’s mother’s face was exuberant, smile wide, eyes bright. “Look at this, honey. It’s amazing.”
Charlie bit her bottom lip, nervous, but as soon as her mother took her in and wrapped her arms around her in a hug, Charlie’s whole body relaxed.
“Look at all of this.”
Automatically, I smiled. ’Cause, shit, this was all Charlie had wanted from her mother—acknowledgment of her work.
Her mother pulled back and cupped her face with a lightness of her fingertips. “I’m so, so proud of you, honey.” She motioned to the spectators around the room. “Look at all the people who have come to see your work. It’s a full house.”
Charlie laughed. “Yeah, I’m pretty shocked. I wasn’t expecting this type of turnout.”
“Kid, I wish your dad were here to see this. I’ve been walking around for ten minutes, looking for you, just listening to random people admiring your pieces.” She leaned in, squeezing Charlie’s hand. “Good job, baby girl.”
They shared an emotional-filled glance.
After a beat, Charlie turned to us. “Mom, this is Connor, and this is Nui.”
I had my spiel ready—how stunning she looked and there was no wonder where Charlie had gotten her good looks from. I was about to tell her that I’d been waiting to meet her, but I faltered a bit because Charlie had lumped me in with Nui, as though I were a friend.
I took a step forward, extending a strong hand to Charlie’s mother. “Nice to finally meet you.”
She eyed me for a moment. “Nice to meet you, Connor. I’m Olivia.” Then, she turned to Nui. “What did you say your name was?”
“Nui. I have to tell you, Olivia, I’m an artist myself, and your daughter’s work is beyond this world.”
They began talking about Charlie and individual pieces and which were Nui’s favorites.
As their conversation continued, my jaw tightened. I’d wanted a better introduction. I didn’t know what I had expected. I hadn’t expected for her to treat me like one of the people who had just shown up to her daughter’s exhibit. When I stepped into Charlie and placed a hand on the small of her back, she took a step forward.
What the hell?
Then, the next series of events happened so rapid fast that it took a while for me to take in what was going on.
Charlie
“Connor!” From my far left, walking toward us was Sandy, holding a champagne glass.
I had known Richard would be here, but why the hell was Sandy here? She didn’t even like me. Plus, she had an event at work today. And how the hell did she know Connor?
“Sandy?” Connor’s eyes flew wide open when Sandy wrapped her arms around him in a tight vise.
I gritted my teeth together in a smile, the type of smile that hurt because I was grinding my molars.
Richard strolled in right behind him. “Connor, I haven’t seen you in forever.”
It was as though I were in the twilight zone, watching Richard hug Connor as though he knew him … really knew him.
“Did you move back?”
“No, I didn’t, sir,” Connor said. “Just helping with the business for a bit. I’ll head back to Manhattan soon.”
Sandy adjusted her hair, pulling it all to one side.
“Nice pictures, Charlie. They’re … pretty,” Sandy cooed as though she were telling me I had a pretty dress on.
Richard pointed a finger toward me and then Connor. “So, you guys know each other from work. Connor, did you know that Sandy got Charlie the job at Colby’s?”
Connor coughed, almost as if he’d choked on his own saliva. “I didn’t know that.”
Connor’s eyebrows scrunched together, as though he were working something in his head, but I was slow on the uptake.
“How do you guys know each other?” my mother asked, motioning between Sandy and Connor.
“We dated in high school,” Sandy responded.
A dizzying current overtook my body, and for a moment, I couldn’t breathe. Only long-term relationship. In high school. Loved her, but it hadn’t worked out.
The dizzying current amplified until I swayed, and when Connor threw an arm around my shoulders, bringing me in, I fell into him simply because I thought I might faint.
“I should thank you then for bringing us together like this because … we’re dating.”
There were very few times I could recall where my life played like a movie on slow motion. It was an out-of-body experience, seeing it as though it was not happening to me but to someone else, unbelieving that it was my reality. When they’d pulled the plug on my father on his deathbed—my reality. My father’s funeral—my reality. My mother crying her eyes out for months after—my reality. And now, this moment—this exact moment—my new reality.
The moment Connor revealed that we were dating.
The moment that I realized that the person I despised the most had dated the person I loved.
Sandy’s glass slipped from her hand, shattering over the floor. “Wait, what?” Her voice was high-pitched and screechy.
The glass was everywhere.
Alyssa and Casey called out my name from a far corner.
When my mother bent down to clean up the glass, Richar
d told her to stop, but it was for nothing because she sliced her finger.
And I saw it.
The little drops of blood.
So, I fainted.
On the floor.
In front of everyone.
At my first exhibit.
“Good gosh, not again.”
It was Casey.
And that was the last thing I remembered.
Chapter 27
Charlie
Something cold and damp hit my cheeks … my forehead … my eyelids.
One of my eyes opened and then the other. I squinted against the white light, my eyes not fully open, adjusting to the sensitivity.
“Hey … beautiful.”
It was Connor.
My eyes flew shut again because the overhead lights above me had blinded me.
Where am I?
Am I at a hospital?
Then, it hit me.
Exhibit.
I shook myself from my dazed stupor and pushed myself off whatever I was lying on.
“Hey. Easy.” Connor placed his hand on my shoulder, guiding me back to lay on the couch, but I didn’t want to lie back down.
“Wait … no.” I was fully awake now, eyes open, noting the empty exhibit.
The patrons were gone. Nui was gone. My mother was gone.
“Where is everyone?” Panic threatened to choke me.
“They left. You’ve been out for the last two hours.”
Wait, what?
I stood, feeling unsteady but using the couch against the far wall, right below one of my paintings, for support. I gripped the top of my hair.
“Two hours?” My breathing accelerated, and I shook my head over and over again. “I missed it.” My voice trembled, and a lump formed in the back of my throat.
Months and months of work and money and effort and energy into this one day, and I … I had missed it. I’d missed it all.
My arms wrapped around my stomach, queasiness coming at me full force.
“Baby, it was a success.” Connor pulled me in, his hands on my forearms, but I was looking past him, toward my wall of paintings, toward the vast room with no one standing in it.