Chapter 5
“Yes, Mom. I know. I will. Okay. Bye. Love you.” Emily walks to the breakfast bar and hops up on a stool. “What are you doing tonight?” Looking down at the newspaper, she circles something.
“Oh. I have a few errands to run.” Going to the bar. Pleading for Charleigh to listen.
“Okay. Thought I’d make dinner. Let me know when. I’m gonna make a few calls to see about a job and an apartment. Then I’ll take a shower and unpack.” She smiles up at me, and it lights up the room.
“Look. I’m sorry about the circumstance but I am glad you’re here.”
“Me too.”
After I cleaned up the dinner dishes – her homemade enchiladas were amazing – I changed clothes into a pair of dress pants and a blue button up shirt and took off for the bar. I felt a little concerned leaving Emily, after all, she just got out of the hospital, but she said she was going to change into her pajamas and go to bed. She practically pushed me out the door. All the way to the bar I talked to myself as if Charleigh was in front of me.
“Good evening, Charleigh.”
“Go away.”
“Please, let me explain.”
“Nope. I heard enough.”
Okay, so maybe I played a little devil’s advocate. Who won? Not sure. I got to the bar before it ended.
Trying to find someone in a dimly lit bar is no easy task. Luckily, it’s Sunday night so there aren’t as many people. I walk around a few minutes but there’s no sign of her. I could go get a drink, but I’m not in the mood. The table I’d sat at the other night is empty so I sit down, still looking around. My phone vibrates and I look down at a text. The corner of my mouth lifts at the words before me.
“Lying here thinking about how good it feels to be home.”
“What can I get ya?”
My heart begins to speed up in anticipation as I look up only to be disappointed immediately. “Tonic and water with a lime, please.” The waitress smiles and nods and turns to walk away. “Pardon me. Is Charleigh working tonight?” She stops abruptly and looks at me from over her shoulder.
“Uh. Yeah. She’s here.” She looks around then back at me. “Could be on break or something.” I nod, saddened that I have to wait longer. I must clear the air with her.
After finishing most of my drink, I ordered another one and continued to grow anxious.
“That guy over there was asking about you.”
My head turns toward the bar counter, seeing Charleigh talking to the other waitress. Charleigh’s head turns my way, and I watch her immediately storm across the room. In the opposite direction. Scrambling from my chair, I power walk, seeing only her back as she walks into a hallway, causing me to speed up into a jog. Reaching the hallway, I see a door at the end closing and my jog turns into a run. As soon as I’m outside, I see her walk quickly into a small parking lot, increasing my speed until I grab her arm, spinning her around.
“Charleigh. Please. Let me explain.”
Shaking her head, she tries to pull her arm from my grasp. I’m not letting her go until she listens. “There’s nothing to explain. You don’t owe me anything.” She tugs her arm again but I strengthen my hold.
“Charleigh. I’m sorry if I hurt you. It was unintentional, believe me. The woman who called me is my sister.”
Her eyes widen as her brows raise up into her forehead. “Your – sister?” I nod, repeatedly. She seems to relax so I release her arm but take her hand. She changes her stance instantly, pulling her hand from mine, and folding her arms over her chest. “It really doesn’t matter. We barely know each other. You didn’t hurt me. I’m not sure why you thought you did.” She looks around then back at me, acting all indifferent. So cute.
I try not to smile, but it’s difficult. Crossing my arms over my chest, I smirk. “Then why did you run from me?”
Her eyes move around, looking everywhere but at me. “I – didn’t. I was….” She raises her chin up at me. “I was going to my car. I needed to get – something.” Adorable.
It’s becoming more and more difficult to keep a straight face. “Oh, really? In the middle of your shift? What is so important you had to get it at the precise time you turned and saw me sitting at the table?” A light blush covers her cheeks, making her more beautiful. If that’s even possible. “Were you perhaps – jealous?”
Her eyes snap to mine. “What? No! Why would you think that?”
I step closer, her eyes looking up since I’m a few inches taller. I take her hand in mine and smile. “It’s okay if you were.” I look down at her throat, watching her swallow then back to her eyes. “Charleigh. You’re the first woman I’ve even wanted to get to know since – well, since my divorce. It’s been difficult for me to even want that. I’ve pretty much hidden away in work and my daughter, not even wanting to go out.” Her eyes soften as she squeezes my hand. Reaching down, I cup her face. “I would really like to get to know you,” I whisper.
She nods, ever so slightly. “I’d like that too.”
I can’t seem to stop smiling as we stand there staring into each other’s eyes for what seems like several minutes. “Well, I…. I guess I should get back to work,” she says, softly.
Turning around, I keep her hand in mine and we start walking back to the door. “I’ll walk you.” Once inside the small hallway, I face her. “Would you like to come over for dinner this weekend? When do you work? We could make it lunch if you need to work in the evenings. What do you like to eat? I could grill out something. Hamburgers. Chicken.” I stop, my eyes widening at my rambling. We both burst out laughing. Taking her other hand in mine, I smile. “Guess I’m not used to – this.”
Her laughter is music to my ears. “I’m kinda glad you’re not used to this. It’s – cute.”
My brows raise high. “Cute?” She laughs again. “I’ll have you know I’m dashing, handsome, possibly debonair, anything but – cute.” Her laughter is infectious. “Well, I’ll let you…. I’ll call you about this weekend.” She nods and as I release her hand and watch her walk away, I take a big deep breath, feeling better than I have in so long.
“I think I handled that rather well,” I murmur as I start walking to get to my car as fast as possible.
A couple of days later, plans were made for Friday night with Charleigh. I told her I’d come pick her up but she insisted she would drive so I texted her my address. By Friday, I was so nervous Emily just laughed at me. “You’ll be fine, Greer. Seriously, you act like it’s your first date ever.”
“It’s not really a date, Em.” I growl. How dare she make fun of me?
I walk by the breakfast bar carrying a foiled covered cookie sheet filled with marinated chicken breasts and hamburger patties when she grabs my arm, stopping me. “It is a date. She’s coming here and you’re cooking dinner for her. It’s okay to be nervous, Greer. It’s been awhile, ya know? It’ll be fine.”
I nod, shakily. “I know. I know! I’m okay.” I start to walk to the back door and stop, looking over my shoulder. “And for your information, in my world, a date is when a man picks up a woman and takes her out somewhere nice. Possibly a candlelit dinner then perhaps a little dancing and drinks after.”
She rolls her eyes. “Quit being so stuffy!”
Chuckling, I walk out the door to man the grill.
It isn’t really a date.
Is it?
As I walk inside, I hear the doorbell ring. The palms of my hands begin to sweat instantly. “Aunt Emawy!!!!” The sound of my precious daughter causes me to relax immediately.
“What are you doing here?” The sound of Gianna’s snobby voice makes me tense up as I reach the doorway.
“She’s visiting. Not that it’s any of your business.” I growl.
“Daddy!” Embry twists in Emily’s arms until I take her into mine.
“Princess. I’m so happy you’re here,” I say then kiss her cheek.
“I’ll be here Sunday night. Seven sharp. Don’t keep me waiting.” Like she’s not been here at that time every other weekend since I moved out. I’ve told her over and over I’d come pick up Embry and/or bring her home, but she won’t have it. Guess she’s trying to keep me from going over to the house. Who knows what’s been going on there in my absence. Shivers. I smile as I slam the door in her face. “Why don’t you go wash up? It’s almost dinner time.”
“I’ll help you!” Emily exclaims.
“Yes!” I watch two of my favorite people hold each other’s hands as they walk toward the hallway. “I’m so glad you’re here, Aunt Emawy.”
“Me too, little bug. Me too.”
My heart is full as I begin to turn to go to the kitchen when the doorbell rings. Fuck! Did the witch forget something? Maybe wanting to berate me about something else? I pull the door open, ready to let her have a piece of my mind. “What now?” I snap then clamp my mouth shut quickly. “Oh. Charleigh. I’m…. I thought you were….” Stepping back, I smile. “Please. Come in.” She steps in, shyly, and I close the door behind her. Smiling, I wave my hand out toward the living room. “Please. Sit. Would you care for something to drink?”
She walks to the couch and sits down. “Just a glass of water would be nice. Thank you.”
I start walking to the kitchen. “I apologize for the strange greeting.” I laugh, hoping to ease my stupid mistake. “I….”
“Who are you?”
Stopping abruptly, I turn around. Embry is standing in front of Charleigh. Confusion clearly on Embry’s sweet face. Charleigh doesn’t skip a beat and leans forward, sticking her hand out. “I’m Charleigh. We met at the grocery store.” She smiles. “And who are you?”
Embry puts her small hand in Charleigh’s. “I’m Embwy.” With her free hand, she points to herself. “I’m thfree.” She tries to hold up three fingers but only manages two. Charleigh smiles and takes Embry’s raised hand and pushes up a third finger.
“Well, nice to meet you, Embry.”
“Come see my room!”
Charleigh laughs as she stands while Embry tugs on her. “Do you mind?” she asks me.
Raising my hands as if to surrender, I chuckle. “Far be it for me to get in the way of female bonding.” Her smile is utterly breathtaking as she’s led by Embry around the couch.
“Oh!”
Emily walks into the living room, almost colliding with Charleigh and Embry. “Charleigh, this is my sister, Emily. Emily, this is Charleigh.”
“Nice to meet you,” Charleigh says, bent over a little in order to hold on to Embry’s hand. “Embry is taking me to see her bedroom.”
Emily puts her hands on her waist. “Well, you must be pretty special. She hasn’t even shown me her room yet.”
“Come with us, Aunt Emawy!” Embry bounces up and down.
“Well, if I’m not intruding.” She tells Charleigh.
“Heavens no. The more the merrier, right, Embry?” Charleigh responds looking down at her lit up face.
“YES!!!” Embry squeals.
The ladies leave me to my own devices so I go work on dinner. I feel so relieved for some reason, like Embry and Emily’s approval mean everything. Especially Embry’s. I’m almost giddy. Except for the fact that – I’m waiting for something bad to happen. I mean, this is too good to be true, right?
Is Charleigh really a kind person or is it some kind of façade. Like Gianna?
Give her a chance. Now, I’m scared again.