Chapter 14
Charlotte
Tip #14: Nothing says you’re emotionally stable like taking advice from someone whose guppies have their own population crisis.
T he scent of fish food filled my nostrils as Ella and I meandered down the pet shop’s fish aisle. Tanks bubbled and hummed, creating a soothing aquatic background sound. I gripped the cool metal handle of our shopping cart, watching Ella scrutinize a glass tank.
“Charlotte, what do you think? Is this one big enough?” Ella tapped the glass, her brow furrowed.
I tilted my head. “At the rate your guppies are multiplying, you’ll need half a dozen of those by the end of the month. You’re one step away from opening SeaWorld: Ella Edition.”
Ella’s shoulders slumped. “Maybe I’m not cut out to be a fish mom. I feel bad about selling my guppies back to the store as feeder fish, but I’ll never get them to stop reproducing now that I have so many of them.”
“Hey, you’re a better fish mom than I am a crafter,” I said, thinking of my growing pile of tragic projects. “At the rate I’m going through hobbies, I’ll have to fall back on puzzles or baking.”
Ella patted my arm as she shuffled past me and the cart, her eyes locked on a display of tacky tank decorations. “Cheer up, crafting queen. We’re hitting up the craft store after this, remember? We’ll find you a new hobby, and we can ask the employees for the most beginner friendly crafts, ones you can’t screw up.”
I pushed the cart after her, its wheels squeaking in protest. “Is there a craft that’s good for letting out aggression?”
“There’s felting or punch needling.” Ella examined a truly hideous mermaid statue. “But fair warning, both involve stabbing sharp needles into things, and you could end up with an injury or two.”
“Perfect.” I decided. “Sign me up for the stabby crafts. That’s exactly what I need.”
Ella plucked up the mermaid—a gaudy monstrosity with neon orange hair, a misshapen tail, and a vibe that was more Monster From the Blue Lagoon than Little Mermaid —and plopped it in our cart. “Mm-hmm. You have been pretty riled up since Isaac dropped the dating bomb on you last night.”
I clenched the cart handle and a nervous laugh escaped me. “I’m a little… unsettled. But can you blame me?”
“No.” Ella shook her head sagely. “Most people stick to the classics: roses, chocolates, hiding their slobbishness until it’s too late for your significant other to leave. Leave it to Isaac to buy you a delicatessen and declare he wants to date you like it was a business merger.”
“It’s so unexpected.” I braced myself on the cart. “I mean, it’s Isaac. He’s not just my boss, he’s a Warner. While they’ve always been welcoming, I’m really aware that whenever I do anything with them, it’s a visit, and when the clock strikes twelve, the magic fades and I have to come back to reality.”
Ella moved down the aisle to scrutinize the rows of fish food. “You know, in hindsight I’m surprised Isaac didn’t make a PowerPoint, selling himself as a potential boyfriend. I can see it now! Slide one: Reasons Why Charlotte Should Date Me. Bullet point one: I’m really rich.”
I chuckled, but Ella was on a roll now.
“Bullet point two: I have a thing for watches, so I’m easy to shop for.”
“That’s true, actually,” I said.
“Bullet point three,” Ella continued, “I can audit Excel spreadsheets and rip into accounting for making an obvious mistake at the same time. Isn’t that sexy?”
Ella’s humor melted the edge I’d had ever since Isaac dropped me off last night, and I laughed, leaning against the plastic shopping cart.
Ella fixed me with a knowing look. “But seriously, Charlotte. You’re usually unflappable and calm no matter how dire the situation is. I’m surprised that Isaac Warner’s profession of undying love could crack your sense of professionalism and turn you into a hot mess.”
I scowled. “He didn’t profess his undying love. And I am not a hot mess. I’m… lukewarm clutter. Isaac might have surprised me, but this changes nothing.”
Ella patted my back sympathetically. “There, there. At least you’re not alone in your lukewarm clutter-dom. You’ve got me, and I promise I’ll only laugh the first time you tell me about Isaac’s latest romantic gesture.”
I sighed, pushing a stray strand of dark hair behind my ear. “Isaac’s feelings are so unexpected and out of character for him. He’s not the romancing type, and he doesn’t do grand gestures.”
“Oh, so that’s why he bought Mad Picnic Party,” Ella sarcastically said. “Because it wasn’t a grand gesture, it was just mid. It only took a few days and who knows how many hundreds of thousands of dollars to pull off. Talk about low effort.”
“Ella.”
“I’m sorry, I’m trying to point out the obvious,” Ella said. “I barely know the guy, and even I can tell he’s serious about everything he does.” Ella selected a giant plastic jug of fish food and set it in the cart by the ugly mermaid. “Isaac bluntly telling you how he feels? That’s him locking on to a target.”
I mashed my lips together and shoved the cart forward. “You can’t let me even pretend the problem doesn’t exist, can you?”
“Nah, I care for you too much to do that. Besides, didn’t you say you wanted a social life and a chance for romance? Looks like one of those dropped right into your lap.” Ella winked as she pulled the cart—and me—along, making a U-turn in the crowded aisle.
“Yeah, but this isn’t exactly what I had in mind when I said I wanted to start dating again,” I said. “I was thinking more along the lines of awkward coffee meetups and downloading a dating app, not my boss—whom I’ve spent more hours with than even you given how much overtime we’ve put in—proposing a relationship.”
Ella shrugged and grabbed a container of water test strips. “Look on the bright side: Refusing to date Isaac is probably easier than resisting everyone begging you to stay at Warner Print.”
I sighed. “That’s true. I don’t really want to leave everyone, whereas I know a relationship with Isaac would fail since he’s up-front about his priorities—Warner Print would always come first.”
“It’s a shame,” Ella mused. “He’d be a real catch if not for that little wrinkle.”
“Yeah,” I agreed slowly.
Ella was right. Isaac’s superior looks were standout with that mesmerizing combo of dark hair and gray eyes. Add in his tall frame, lean build, intelligence, and the wicked sense of humor he occasionally brought out, and any lucky girl would be a goner.
But I had my priorities, and I was going to stick to them. I’d already spent almost a decade at Warner Print. I wasn’t going to give it the rest of my life, no matter how handsome and charming Isaac was.
“I meant to ask you on the drive over here, but how are your trip plans coming along?” Ella asked, knocking me out of my reverie as she studied the different bottom sediments she’d need for her new tank.
My mood instantly brightened. “Great! I made my reservations this morning and got my hotels booked for Switzerland and Britain.”
“Ooh, fancy,” Ella cooed. “How long are you in Britain again?”
“Just for one night,” I explained as we circled back to the tanks. “I’m hoping to squeeze in a London museum or two before I fly to Switzerland.”
“I’m so excited for you,” Ella said. “You deserve this.”
I felt a warm glow in my chest. “Thanks. I can’t wait.” I glanced sideways at the tanks. “So. Have you decided which size you’re going to get?”
Ella groaned and dramatically covered her eyes with her right forearm. “No. I know a bigger tank would be nice, but Nate will lose it when he comes back from deployment and finds out I’ve turned into The Fish Lady. Can you imagine? A dozen tanks of guppies, multiplying like crazy?”
I reached in the cart to rearrange it so we had space for a tank. “You said when he comes back from deployment—does that mean you’ve gotten an update on his new orders?”
“Actually, yeah.” Ella’s voice took on a hesitant tone. “But it’s not finalized, so don’t take it to heart yet.”
I nodded. “Of course.”
Ella took a deep breath. “It looks like he won’t be on a ship anymore. They’re talking about stationing him at a naval base in Florida.”
My eyebrows shot up. “Florida? Does that mean you’d move?”
Ella nodded, her expression a mix of excitement and trepidation. “Yeah. To Florida.”
“Then you’ll get to be together again,” I said.
“Yes. In Florida ,” Ella emphasized. “With my luck I’ll end up with a yard full of alligators or something.”
I grinned. “Well, at least you’ll have some company when Nate’s at work.”
“Ha ha,” she deadpanned, but I could see the corners of her mouth twitching.
“I’m so happy for you—for both of you.” I gave her shoulder a squeeze. “You’ve been apart for too long. This is going to be great for you.”
Ella’s face softened, a peaceful look settling over her features that I hadn’t seen in ages. “Thanks, Charlotte.”
As I watched my best friend’s eyes light up at the thought of reuniting with her husband, I felt a bittersweet pang in my chest. I was thrilled for her, of course, but the realization that our time as roommates was coming to an end was a weight in my gut. We’d had such a blast living together, and I was going to miss her terribly.
“You know,” Ella said, interrupting my thoughts, “it’s kind of wild that we’re both starting new chapters in our lives, huh?”
I nodded, swallowing the lump in my throat. “Yeah, it is.”
“It’s going to be difficult, leaving you behind,” Ella said.
I smiled, warmed by Ella’s loyalty. “You’re sweet, but don’t worry. Actually, I’ve been meaning to tell you that I might have to move anyway.”
“Oh?”
“Yep. Those two positions I did phone and video interviews for? I’ve made it to the final round. They’re both in Wisconsin, but they’re about an hour from Fox Creek. I wouldn’t want to commute that kind of distance every day.”
Ella’s eyes widened. “Whoa, that’s a big change. Your family is in the area, right?”
“Yep.” I confirmed, fiddling with the sleeve of my sweater. “Mom and Dad moved to Fox Creek while I was in college, and I officially moved here straight out of college. It’s going to be… different.”
“You don’t sound thrilled about it.” Ella observed, her brow furrowing.
I shrugged. “I love Fox Creek and all the little towns around here. It’s going to be hard to leave.”
Ella nodded sympathetically. “Trust me, I get it. Leaving this place is going to break my heart too.” She paused, then asked, “Have you told your folks yet?”
“I have,” I said, a small smile tugging at my lips. “They were surprisingly supportive. I think they’re just relieved I’m finally leaving Warner Print and might actually work normal hours for once. They’ve been nagging me about my work life for years.”
Ella made a sour face. “Enjoy your parents’ happiness while it lasts. The moment you snag a boyfriend, they’ll start pestering you about marriage. And once you’re married it’s all, ‘When are we getting grandkids?’”
“It sounds like you’re speaking from experience.”
“Don’t even get me started,” Ella grumbled, her husky voice tinged with exasperation. “I haven’t told my mom about my guppies out of fear she’ll think it’s a sign I’m practicing for kids.”
“I don’t think anyone could think that after seeing how many fish you have,” I said, thinking of the hordes of fish back at home.
Ella abruptly planted her hands on her hips and scowled. “You’re right. So I’m going for the big tank! I might as well live it up with my fish before Nate gets back.”
“That’s the spirit,” I said. “We only live once, right?”
“Yes! And after this, we’re off to find crafts with which you can potentially maim yourself!” Ella declared.
I released a labored laugh as I helped Ella hoist the enormous aquarium into our cart, my arm muscles straining with the effort.
As we made our way to the checkout, a bittersweet feeling washed over me. I really was going to miss Fox Creek and the surrounding area. The quaint charm of Main Street, the familiar faces at Literum, the green tea cookies at 99 Tanuki, my fellow coworkers, and… of course I’d miss Isaac.
Regardless of his romantic feelings, he and Ella were my closest friends in Fox Creek. Leaving him behind was going to be harder than I wanted to admit.
But.
I wasn’t so regretful that I’d be willing to test a relationship with him.