Chapter8
Charlotte made a point of staying out of any room that Evelyn was in, and when Elaine brought Abbie back, Charlotte was ready with the car. She put Abbie into her car seat and took her to a park down the road. They played for a long while, and just when it was time to leave, Charlotte sat Abbie down on a park bench to talk with her.
“There’s a woman at the house.” Charlotte told her.
“Who is it?” Abbie asked curiously.
“Her name is Evelyn.”
“Ebbalin?”
“Yes. She wants to see you.” Charlotte said, wishing she was explaining almost anything else to her.
“Okay.” Abbie seemed indifferent.
Charlotte wondered how much more she should tell the little girl, and then decided that moderation was best. She only needed to know that much at that point.
“Okay, well, let’s go meet her.” Charlotte said quietly, helping Abbie down from the bench and heading for the car. She wasn’t happy about it, but she knew that it was going to happen at one point or another.
They drove back to the house and Abbie held Charlotte’s hand as they walked through the home, looking for Evelyn.
“Where is she?” Abbie asked as they checked Evelyn’s room upstairs, the kitchen, and the other rooms where the woman might be. Charlotte frowned.
“I don’t know. I guess she isn’t home.” She replied in surprise. “She will be here later.”
“Okay. Can I go play tea party?” Abbie asked hopefully.
“Yes.” Charlotte answered, and just then there was a knock at the door. She glanced at it and then looked back at Abbie. “I’ll come up in just a minute.” Abbie nodded her head and went upstairs while Charlotte went to the front door.
She opened it to find a tall, well built man with blonde hair and blue eyes. He had movie star good looks and a bright smile.
“Hello.” She said, holding the door in her hand.
“Well hello!” He gave her a flirtatious smile. “I was hoping to find Brady home. Is he here?” he asked, raising a brow slightly.
Charlotte shook her head. “No, I’m sorry. He’s not home just now.”
The man looked disappointed. “Oh, that’s a shame. I’m sorry, I should have introduced myself first.” He reached his hand out to her. “I’m David. David Wright. Brady and I were college buddies.”
“Hi David, I’m Charlotte.” She replied, shaking his hand.
He turned his head a little and gave her a curious look. “Are you the lady of the house?” He asked, his interest obviously piqued.
She smiled a little and shook her head. The idea of being the lady of the house was so far from the reality of what she really was and had been, it was almost laughable. “No, I’m the nanny.”
David raised both of his brows. “My goodness! If I had known old Brady had such a beautiful nanny, I’d have dropped in to visit him a lot sooner!” He winked at her and she felt the smile on her face grow a bit as her cheeks warmed some.
“Actually,” he continued, “I was hoping to surprise him. We haven’t seen each other in ages. I know he’ll get a kick out of it. So, do me a solid would you, and don’t tell him that I stopped by. Would you mind? I’ll come back around and hopefully bombshell him then.”
Charlotte laughed a little. “I won’t spoil your surprise.” She promised, liking the good humor David exuded.
“You’re a good sport, lady. I appreciate it.” He grinned, turning to leave and then stopped, coming back up to the door and raising his arm to lean against it. Giving her a flirtatious look, he cocked an eyebrow. “You know, if I was going to be real gentleman and thank you properly for keeping my secret, I would take you out to dinner. What do you say, Charlotte? Give a poor sap some dignity and let me escort you out for a fine meal and some good conversation?”
She blinked in surprise. “I… dinner?” she was totally caught off guard. “I really shouldn’t.” She gave him a little sympathetic smile. “Thank you, though.” She was thinking right away of Brady, and it tugged at her heart.
David crossed his arms over his chest and lifted his chin in a challenging way. “Are you seeing someone else?” He asked directly, but politely.
Charlotte stopped short. She realized that she wasn’t seeing anyone, officially or in secret. Brady had made love to her; used her all he wanted, and then tossed her aside without another thought. He had gotten all that he wanted out of her. He had no more use or desire for her any longer. Pain etched its way over and through her heart, feeling as if it was crushing her from the inside. From the far recesses of her mind, Rita’s words came back to her like a quiet whisper in her ear. ‘The best way to get over one man is to get under another’.
The idea was appalling to her at first; she couldn’t even imagine making love with anyone but Brady, but their last night came flooding into her mind. The way he had held her, the passion they had shared, and then his cold cruelty as he told her that it was the last time and that their contract of intimacy was done. She thought of the ache in her body and heart then, and ever since then, that had been plaguing her. He was done with her, and if she was ever going to get over him, she realized that Rita was right, she was going to have to distract herself with another man. She might not need to get underneath another man right away, but she could certainly go out to dinner with one and divert her attentions from Brady to just about anyone else. It would give her some peace of mind at the least, and some happiness at best.
She gave David a warm smile. “You know what, I will go to dinner with you. I think that would be a lot of fun. Thank you for asking.”
He grinned and set his hands on his hips. “That’s great! What night works best for you?”
“Friday. I’m off Friday night.” She felt a sense of freedom in telling him that she would go. She wasn’t tied to Brady any longer, at least not romantically. She could go out on a date if she wanted to, and the more she thought about it, the more she wanted to. There was a good looking, friendly, funny sort of man who was interested in her. It might even be a little salt in the wound to Brady that the man was an old friend of his. If Brady didn’t want her, then someone else would. Someone else already did, and she was going to take a hold of the opportunity and get over Brady, no matter how hard it was.
“Friday is good!” He said thoughtfully. “I have a business meeting in the city on Friday. Would you mind meeting me at the restaurant? It would save the drive all the way back out here.”
“Of course. That’s no problem at all. I can drive into the city.” She nodded. He was right. It was the best plan. “What restaurant?”
“Do you like chocolate?” he asked with a grin. “It’s been my experience that most ladies do.”
She grinned. “I love chocolate.”
“Well, why don’t we meet at Max Brenner’s chocolate restaurant. Seven o’clock. It’s on the corner at 14th and Union. They’re open until really late too, so we can stay as long as we like. Marvelous drinks there as well. What do you think?” He looked at her with happy anticipation.
“I think that sounds like a date!” She laughed and reached for his hand to shake it. “Thank you. I’m sure it will be a lot of fun.”
“I promise you that!” He told her. “Just remember your promise to me, and keep it under your hat that I dropped by. I really do want to surprise old Brady.” He chuckled and shook her hand.
“I won’t spoil your surprise. I promise.” She waved goodbye to him. She had a surprise of her own for Brady. She was going to go out on a date with his old college buddy. She wondered what he’d think of that when he found out. Maybe it would twinge his heart just a little bit, when he knew that she would be with someone else.
She closed the door and went up to the nursery feeling for the first time in a while as if she was walking on air. She sat down with Abbie and had a lovely tea party with her.
Two hours later, Evelyn came home from a shopping trip, her arms loaded with bags from some of the most elite stores in Manhattan, and she went to her room, passing right by the nursery. She didn’t come back out until it was time for dinner. She came into the kitchen to find Brady, Abbie, and Charlotte preparing the evening meal together.
“Well, there you all are.” She bubbled happily, gliding in on high heels and wearing a skin tight, nearly sheer, thin sweater dress. It hugged all of her curves and gave an ample view of her breasts.
All three of them looked at her as she walked over to a bottle of wine and opened it, pouring a generous amount into a wine glass. She took a long sip and swallowed it blissfully. “Divine.” She murmured, eyeing Brady coyly.
Charlotte watched her, thinking awful things and wishing with everything in her that she wasn’t there at all.
Brady only shook his head and went back to his cooking. Abbie looked at Charlotte. “Who is it?” She asked.
Charlotte sighed. “That’s Evelyn.” She answered.
Abbie turned and looked at the woman, and Evelyn finally took notice of the little girl sitting on the counter, holding on to a measuring cup.
“Well this must be little Abigail. Hello, darling.” She cooed from across the room. Carrying her wine glass in her hand, she strolled over to the spot where Charlotte and Abbie were, not far from Brady. “You’re a lovely thing, aren’t you!” She smiled, moving to stand beside Brady.
She placed her free hand on Brady’s lower back and began to stroke it. “We did make a pretty baby, didn’t we?” She turned and looked up at Brady adoringly. “We certainly enjoyed making her!” She giggled and sipped her wine.
Brady wouldn’t look at Evelyn, but he didn’t pull away from her either. He only continued to cook dinner. Abbie watched Evelyn and reached for Charlotte’s hand.
Evelyn looked from Brady, who wasn’t paying attention to her, over to Abbie. “Well young lady. I’m your mommy.” She smiled and walked over to Abbie.
Abbie shook her head, her pigtails swinging. “No! Charlie is mommy!” She announced defiantly.
Evelyn’s face grew stony and she turned her head, glaring at Charlotte. “What have you been telling my daughter?”
“I didn’t tell her that. I told her that you were her mother. Brady told her the same thing. She has it in her head that I am her mommy and we’ve been trying to correct her. She just hasn’t changed her mind yet, Evelyn.” Charlotte told her coolly.
“Ebbelin!” Abbie raised her voice and pointed at her mother.
Evelyn looked at Abbie. “Abigail,” she said sternly, “I am your mommy. You call me mommy.”
Abbie shook her head. “No!”
Brady stepped in and picked Abbie up off of the counter. “Take your time with her. She might not do it as soon as you’d like, but eventually you may be able to get her to call you mommy. For now, you’ll just have to settle for Evelyn.”
There was an uneasy strain in the air during dinner that night, and Abbie was more defiant and misbehaved than she normally was. The meal was cut short, and Brady took Abbie up to have her bath and get ready for bed. Abbie insisted that Charlotte go with them, and Evelyn was left to herself.
Charlotte and Brady kept their distance from each other as much as they could during bath time, story time, and as they tucked her in; neither of them really looking at the other. Abbie didn’t seem to notice. She was happy that they were both with her, and she didn’t say a word about the other woman in the house.
Charlotte was relieved the next morning when Elaine showed up before breakfast to pick Abbie up for her weekend visit.
“I know I’m early, but considering the circumstances, I thought that it would be best. I’m sure you agree.” She looked knowingly at Charlotte.
“Oh, I couldn’t agree more. Perhaps you could keep her until after naptime on Sunday?” She asked, looking at Elaine pointedly. “Any time that she can be away from this house right now is good.”
“Don’t I know it.” Elaine nodded. “I’ll see you late on Sunday. Perhaps just before dinner.”
Abbie hugged and kissed Charlotte goodbye.
“I love you, Charlie,” she said sweetly, gazing at Charlotte with big green eyes.
“I love you too, baby girl! Goodbye!” Charlotte closed the door and watched with a sad and relieved heart as Elaine drove away with Abbie.
She went back into the quiet house and headed for her room, glad that she was going to have a date that night, and thinking that she could do even more than that with her day off. Picking up her phone, she called her best friend.
“Rita?” She asked, smiling at the familiar sound of her friend’s voice.
“Charlotte! How are you girl?” She asked happily.
“I’m… ugh. I’m alive. Listen, I’m coming into the city today. I have a date with a guy, if you can believe that. I thought I would see if you’re free for lunch since I’m headed that way. I miss you. I would love to see you!” She exclaimed hopefully.
“Oh great! I’m free today. That’s great! Let’s have lunch!” She agreed. They chose a little café in midtown and Charlotte showered, dressed, and drove out to meet her best friend there.
Charlotte was already sitting at a booth with a cup of coffee in her hand when Rita came soaring through the door, her colorful flowery shirt billowing behind her. Her hair was cut close to her head; short curls not quite reaching two inches in length. Her round face was made rounder by her wide smile, and it lit up beautifully with her bright brown eyes.
Her skin was slightly darker than Charlotte’s, her body much fuller, and she stood about three inches shorter than her best friend. She was a ball of energy, happiness, and brilliance. She waved her hand and called out, making Charlotte smile broadly.
“Oh!” She stood up and hugged her friend tightly. “I am so glad to see you! I’ve missed you! I don’t get into the city nearly as often as I should. I’d have you come out to the house, but it’s kind of crazy there lately. I should have had you out before. How are you?” Charlotte asked, standing back and looking Rita over.
Rita grinned and wiggled a bit. “I’m fabulous. I am getting so much done at school and I’m seeing a good-looking boy who plays on the football team. I’m having a great time. Now, we know I’m good. You don’t look so good though, so I want to hear what’s going on, and I definitely want to hear all about your date tonight! Who is it? What’s his name and where did you meet him?”
Charlotte laughed and sat down. “That’s a lot of questions. Maybe we’ll ask for a pot of coffee and get started on it.”
Rita waved at the server and a few minutes later, there was a steaming carafe between them and Rita had a full mug of coffee before her. She poured some creamer into it and stirred, swirling it until the coffee was the color of caramel.
“Okay, now tell me what’s going on. Start with the trouble at the house. Bad news first, and then we can get to the good and juicy part about your date tonight.” She lifted her cup to her lips and watched Charlotte across the table from her, waiting to hear it all.
Charlotte sighed and her shoulders drooped. “Well, remember how I told you that Brady said that Abbie’s mom is dead, but there were no photographs of her in the house or any sign of her? I always thought that was so strange, but now I know why.”
Rita raised an eyebrow with interest. “Why?”
“Because she’s not dead.” Charlotte answered. “She followed me to a park and then a restaurant, spying on Abbie and me, and then she showed up at the front door of the house, announcing that she was Abbie’s mother. She had a birth certificate and she shoved that in my face. That was when I found out that Brady has been lying to me this whole time. I was furious with him, even though I can kind of understand why he did it. I guess that she cheated on him and took off with his business partner. Devastated him and broke his heart.
He kicked her out and divorced her. Then after no word for so long… since Abbie was six months old, she just shows back up on the doorstep demanding to talk with him and acting like the house is hers, and acting like he is hers, and being a complete bitch to me! She hasn’t taken any interest in Abbie at all! You’d think the woman would be so excited to see her, so ready to be back in her life and get to know her, but no. There’s just nothing there. She doesn’t seem to care about her at all! She’s awful! Brady’s mom, Elaine, doesn’t even like her. She wants her gone more than I do!”
Rita waved her hand in the air. “Wait a minute. What do you mean wants her gone?”
Charlotte’s eyes widened. “She’s living in the house! Can you believe it? I don’t know everything that she said to Brady or what she might have told him to convince him, but whatever it was, it worked. He let her move in the very next day after she talked to him, and he’s letting her live there until she gets on her feet. He says it’s to keep an eye on her while she’s reacquainting herself with Abbie, but I think there might be something more.”
Rita frowned. “My god, what a mess!” She shook her head. “So what’s going on with you and Brady amidst all this craziness?”
Her shoulders sagged and she looked down dejectedly. “We’re done. He spent one last night with me, the night before she moved in, but then after that it was over and we were done. I was so furious about it. I still am. I can’t understand what went wrong, but as soon as she showed back up, he let her move right back into the house and he didn’t want to be with me anymore, not at all. That one last night before she moved in, and it was done. He said he didn’t want anything between us while she was in the house. He just used me as long as he wanted me, and when his ex showed up and wanted him back, I was back in the nursery instead of in his bed.”
“I knew it. I knew that it was too good to be true. You don’t deserve that at all honey. I’m so sorry that’s all happening. What a horrible mess!!” Rita grumbled. “Are you going to stay there? I’ll tell you now, you’ve already put up with more than I would have if I was in your shoes. You’re not going to stay there, are you?”
Charlotte sighed. “I wish I could leave, because I sure as hell want to. Things are so awkward now between Brady and I, and putting up with Evelyn is a huge pain in the ass, but that sweet little baby girl is there, and all I want to do is protect her from her own mother. I can’t stand the thought of Evelyn being near that baby, and to be honest, neither can her grandmother Elaine. We both want Abbie as far away from Evelyn as possible. If I leave, she’ll be left to Evelyn and that’s just more than I can bear, so no. I can’t really leave. When Evelyn is gone, if she ever goes, then I will go, but until then, I’m going to stick by that baby’s side. I love her and I’m not going to leave her to the likes of that cold, heartless, cruel woman.”
“You are a saint.” Rita moaned, sipping her coffee. “I can’t believe that you’re going through all of that. What a mess. And for Brady to have just used you all of this time and then toss you aside as soon as his ex shows up, that’s just awful!”
“He said it was just business. I guess it was for him. I know that you told me not to get my heart involved, Rita, but I couldn’t help it. I did get too involved. I fell in love with him and it broke my heart. Now look… I’m alone and hurt and I’m so, so angry.” She closed her eyes and bit her lip. After breathing in a long deep breath, she opened her eyes again.
“But I was listening when you told me that I could get over him by going out with another guy, so that’s what I’m going to do. I’m going to go out on a date tonight with a guy named David. He’s one of Brady’s old college buddies. We’re going out to a restaurant here in town tonight, and I’m going to have a great time. I’m not sure I’ll get underneath him, but I’m sure as heck going to allow him to distract me.” She gave Rita a smile.
Rita sighed sadly. “Oh honey. I’m so sorry. I thought that this was such a good thing for you for so long, but it’s just not, is it. It’s just not. I hope you have a good time tonight. Is he nice? This guy David?”
“Yes. He’s nice, he’s good looking, and he seems really fun. I’m actually looking forward to it.” Charlotte answered with a smile as she wiped a little tear away from the corner of her eye.
“Well I hope you have a great time. Let him distract the hell out of you.” Rita smiled at her.
“Oh, I have every intention of doing that.” She answered, reaching for her coffee. “I’m going to have a great time, no matter what.”
They caught each other up on all of their other news, and finished their lunch together, promising one another that they would meet up again soon. Charlotte went shopping, picking out some new clothes and shoes, enjoying herself a bit, and even stopping to get a pedicure and manicure so that she’d be looking her best for her date that night.
She wore a new dress; a soft butter-cream yellow slip of a dress that buttoned up the back and fit her form well without giving too much away. She liked the way that it made her chocolate skin glow with a golden light. She had her hair braided while she was getting her nails done, and by the time she walked back out onto the street, she felt like she looked like a million dollars, and she did.
At seven that evening, she was waiting in the foyer of Max Brenner’s chocolate restaurant, feeling a little giddy, like she used to feel around boys in high school, when they flirted with her. Exactly at seven o’clock, David walked into the restaurant and stopped in his tracks when he saw her, giving her a shake of his head and emitting a low whistle.
“My goodness, you’re breathtaking, standing there looking like that. I couldn’t have dreamed you so beautiful.” He gave her a genuine smile and held his arm out for her. She slipped her hand through the crook of his arm and walked with him to the hostess station. They were seated upstairs near a window, looking out onto the street below and the city beyond.
She was a little nervous, but it was mixed with excitement and anticipation. She was looking forward to having some fun, and having it without any strings attached. They ordered their meals and drinks, enjoying a few chocolate treats before dinner arrived and again after they had finished their meals.
They talked about a few things, but mostly David asked her questions about herself. He seemed fascinated with her, truly wanting to know all that he could find out about her, holding her gaze with his, laughing at the fun things that she said, admiring her accomplishments and offering sympathy for the things that hadn’t gone as well as she had hoped.
It felt to her as if she had found a friend; a confidant, and she was so glad to be able to spend the time with him, no matter what happened. He was just as glad, never once looking at his watch to check the time, or rushing the server for the ticket when they were done, and even stretching their meal out more than an hour after they had finished eating.
When they left the restaurant, he pleaded with her to take the train with him to the High Line, and they walked along the lofty park, two stories above the streets of New York City, talking and laughing and truly enjoying one another. He bought her an ice cream from a shop on the main street below, and then they went back up to the airy park and kept walking. When their ice creams were gone, he took her hand in his and held it, weaving her fingers into his. She let him, liking the feel of it, and ignoring the wish in the back of her mind that it could be Brady walking next to her, loving her company and wanting to spend time with her.
The evening grew late and David finally gave in and took Charlotte back to her car. As they stood there, both with wide smiles on their faces, he leaned close to her and held his hand to her cheek. “I’m so glad that I took a crazy chance and asked you out to dinner. You are quite a remarkable woman. This has been an amazing evening. Thank you.” He bent down to kiss her and her breath caught in her chest. She felt a wave of panic shoot through her unexpectedly, and she turned her face just before his lips touched hers. He wound up kissing her cheek, and she looked back at him apologetically.
“I’m so sorry. I… I guess maybe that’s a little fast for me.” She replied sweetly.
“Oh no, I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have assumed that I could kiss you so quickly. I want to, obviously, but not until you’re ready to. It isn’t any fun unless both people want to.” He winked at her and leaned down, kissing her cheek again.
“For now, that will do just fine. I’ll wait until you want to kiss me, too. It will happen.” He winked at her confidently. “I like you. A lot. So, I don’t mind waiting at all.” He touched his finger to her cheek, his eyes caressing her face in places she knew his lips wanted to caress her. “You’re worth waiting for. I can tell.”
She liked feeling wanted, she liked to hear the compliments that he gave her, and she knew just why she pulled away. It was her heart. It was wrapped up in Brady, and she scolded herself, telling herself that she was going to have to let David untangle it if she ever expected to be happy again.
“This was an amazing night. Thank you so very much. I hope we can do it again.” She smiled at him and leaned up, kissing his cheek in return.
“Oh, we’re doing this again.” He promised her adamantly. “I’m not letting you go anywhere!” he took her hand in his and brought it to his lips, kissing the back of it lightly before he tucked her into her car and closed the door.
He waved sweetly as she drove away, and she found herself grinning as he grew smaller in her rearview mirror. She gave her head a shake, wondering how she had gotten lucky enough to meet a great guy like him just when she needed someone to pull her out of the awful funk that she had gotten herself into.
She thought about both of them all the way back to the house. How she had fallen for Brady and how he had only wanted her body and never her heart, and how he had used her and hurt her. She thought about how she practically put the knife in his hand when she signed his sex contract, agreeing to give herself to him for money, knowing that he wasn’t going to love her, knowing that he was never interested in any kind of romance with her.
Rita had been right, she told herself. She should never have let her heart get tangled up in emotion. She should have worked harder to keep the physical and emotional aspects of her relationship with Brady separate. Either that, or she never should have let herself enter into intimacy with him to begin with. Her heart ached for what they had shared and what she had hoped that they could share, but he had thrown it all away. None of it mattered to him. She didn’t matter to him, and she had to find a way to come to terms with it.
The easiest way to do that was going to be to follow Rita’s advice, and to date someone else, anyone else, and she didn’t care that David was an old friend of Brady’s. He liked her, he wanted to spend time with her, and he was interested in her, which was far more than what Brady wanted from her, which was nothing at all. If it caused a problem between David and Brady, then that was going to have to be something that the two of them worked out. She didn’t care about that; she was focused on healing, on taking care of herself, and on protecting her heart from further heartbreak.
But as she pulled into the garage and felt the familiarity of coming home, her resolve faded. Still, even after all of the pain that he had caused her, she couldn’t stop the gravity in her heart toward him. She wondered if perhaps they might talk it out. They might work it out. They might be able to come to some sort of understanding. She wondered if maybe he didn’t realize just how she felt about him, and she wondered that if maybe if he did, he might react differently. He might give them both a chance. She wondered if she should tell him. After all, she told herself, nothing would change if he said he didn’t care for her, if he said he didn’t care that she loved him. All the same, there could be a chance that he might care for her as well.
Her heartbeat picked up. The possibility of him saying yes warmed her and she told herself that she had to ask him. She had to tell him that she loved him and ask him how he felt about her. When she knew for certain, then she would have a clear path forward. She would know if she should let him go altogether and turn her focus toward David, or even leave them both alone and just go out on her own.
Charlotte reached the top stair at the landing and looked down the hallway toward his bedroom. Taking a deep breath, she made herself go forward, walking one step after the other until she reached the double doors to his bedroom, closed before her.
She reached one hand to the door handle, closing her fingers around the brass and was about to turn it, when the last words he spoke to her in that bedroom came back to her. Words about not wanting anything further with her, about nothing being between them, about their intimacy being nothing more to him than just business. She remembered the coolness in his eyes and how easily he severed the bond between them. She let go of the door handle and turned, her courage gone. She walked back down the hall and went to her bedroom, tears stinging her eyes, confusion tearing at her heart.
Charlotte undressed and brushed out her long wavy hair, slipping into her nightgown and then curling up in her bed. She didn’t want to, but there was no other release, so she cried for a long while until she wept herself to sleep.