Chapter 31
Sherry
I finally got the call from Charlie and though I didn’t actually get to talk to him, he did leave a pretty long message. My plan had worked and I hoped that this would be a surprise that would be a good thing. I wanted to mend all bridges and I really hoped that I was going to be able to. I hated fighting with him, so I was hopeful that things would all work out.
He was going to pick me up in a few hours and I changed several times because I wanted to look good for Rex, but not too overtly so that he knew why I was dressing the way I was dressing. He most likely was still not okay with us being together and with the news I had, it didn’t seem like a good time to be rocking the boat.
Charlie was there on time, like always, but he wasn’t down for a heart to heart. We practically didn’t even talk the whole way and it was only when we were in Hartford that he said anything.
“I just want you to know that Rex is going to be here. If you could keep it together and not embarrass us both, I would really appreciate it. Mom and dad don’t need to know about your little indiscretion.”
I was angry at him for the way he was acting and I finally came out with it. Charlie was going to be the first person I told and I can’t say that I was too happy about it going down like this, but I knew that this was the way that it had to be.
“Look, they are going to find out about it. There is no way that I am going to be able to keep it a secret.”
“Why not?”
“Because we are going to have a baby Charlie and I have to tell them at some point. You know how mom is. She sniffs out the truth and she is not going to let it rest if I don’t tell her soon. I am already a couple of months along.”
I looked over at my brother and I swear it looked like he was going to hyperventilate. “What?”
“We are having a …”
“Oh my God, don’t repeat it. I got it the first time. What the hell Sherry. When you mess up, you really go for it don’t you?”
“That’s a bit harsh, don’t you think?”
“Not at all. My sister is going to have my best friend’s baby. I think there are day time talk shows that cover this sort of thing.”
He was not taking it well, but I hadn’t expected him to. I didn’t know what to say, but again I didn’t have to worry about that because he was far more worried about the news that I just gave him. It was slowly working itself out in his head.
“Does Rex know? That son of a bitch didn’t tell me anything when I called him. I can’t believe mom made me invite him to dinner.”
“Oh, so Rex is going to be there?”
“Yes, and I get the feeling you were the one that had mom sic on me, aren’t you?”
I was guilty as charged, but I wasn’t going to admit it, not yet. Not until we were okay again and he had forgiven me what happened. I was in love. Couldn’t he see that?
“No, I didn’t and no I haven’t told Rex. I haven’t seen him since…” I stopped, thinking about the moment that had changed everything. It was a moment that I had pushed for because I wanted him so badly, but now I was paying for that moment of madness. I was going to pay for it for a long time if current status was any indication.
“Don’t. We don’t have to go there. I know what you were doing when I walked into my office. We don’t need a recap on that.”
“Well, I haven’t talk to him since. I don’t know what you said to him, but he won’t return any of my phone calls, so there is no way for me to tell him.”
He had a smug look on his face and I could tell that he was pleased about that little tidbit. I for one wasn’t. I was nervous to see Rex and I hadn’t planned to blab my mouth to my brother, but it just seemed like the thing to do. It was the only way I was going to get him to shut up about it all and just accept it. He had to know that we weren’t going to be able to forget about what happened. I was going to have Rex’s baby and that was all that he needed to know. Everyone was just going to have to get used to the idea. I still wasn’t there yet, but I knew that I would be soon enough.
“I don’t know what you were thinking Sherry. You know what kind of a guy Rex is. He is a good friend, but he has never been good with women. That is why I didn’t want you messing with him. If I would have known, I never would have let you stay with us.”
“I think I love him Charlie.”
Charlie gritted his teeth and focused on the road ahead. “Well that is going to be your first mistake. I have known Rex for a long time and he has never loved any of them.”
My heart sank with his words. Maybe he was right and I was just wishing on a star that didn’t exist. I knew he was a player. I just didn’t know that it was going to turn out like this. I had started it out of lust, but now it was so much more. The feelings I had when I was younger were amplified and we were going to bring a child into this world together. I remember long ago thinking that I wanted to one day have his baby. But even then I hadn’t thought that it could actually happen.
“What about this great guy that was supposed to be coming here to live with you? Dennis was his name?”
“I told him not to come. We broke up before he came down.”
“So you were already with Rex then?”
“Does it matter?”
Charlie shrugged. “Not really. I just wonder how long it took you two to betray me.”
I sighed loudly and looked out the window. No, Charlie still wasn’t over the betrayal it seemed. I started to wonder if he ever would be.