28. Charlotte Greatest Hits
Charlotte Greatest Hits
“I feel guilty for not going to visit Bill today,” I said to Alice as I helped her set the table.
“You went yesterday, Charlotte,” Grace said. “You have a job and a child to raise. You’re doing your best.”
She had a point. Even still, that longing I was used to now, that felt like a part of me, swamped me. What I wouldn’t give to be back in my house with my husband. Or, well, anywhere with my husband for that matter. Anywhere but jail, that is.
It was so incredibly frustrating. Everyone seemed to be Team Bill and public perception was shifting in a way that I did think could be helpful for us. I just wanted it to be helpful faster .
Julie walked down the steps, groaning, her three clean little ones trailing behind her.
At that exact moment, there was a knock at the door. Her ex, Houston, very rarely showed up when it was his time with the kids. She never even told them anymore when he was supposed to come. But it appeared that tonight was the exception to the rule. Alice crowed over how fresh and clean the girls were as Julie opened the door and said, “Only three hours late. Not bad.”
“Why do you always have to start with me, Jules? Seriously,” he said. “I was working overtime so I can afford to pay you. Isn’t that what you want? Child support?”
Julie put her hand to her heart. “Oh, yes. When I was a little girl all I dreamed of was that I would find a wonderful man and bear his three children so that maybe one day he could pay me child support!”
Brenna was watching her parents, so I went to her, scooped her up, and said, “Mommy and Daddy, I think Miss Brenna is all ready!”
They got the hint and were suddenly all smiles. “Who wants Chick-fil-A?” Houston asked with top-dad enthusiasm.
“I do! I do!” they said in unison.
I laughed as Grace visibly shuddered.
“Remember that Mommy has the girls all nice and clean, so maybe no play place tonight,” she said, smiling through gritted teeth.
Houston rolled his eyes but said nothing. He picked Audrey up and kissed her cheek. “All right, princesses. Let’s go get some dinner!”
“Can we get ice cream, Daddy?” Jamie asked as they walked out the door.
“Of course!” he said. “It wouldn’t be Daddy night without ice cream.”
Julie shut the door, leaned against it, sighed deeply, and said, “It must be so great to come pick up three clean children, do all the fun things with them, and then drop them off, exhausted, sugar-laden, and overstimulated from too much TV.”
Grace walked away from the kitchen to hug her. “No, it’s not. Because you get the real stuff, the good stuff, the pride of knowing that you are parenting three gorgeous girls to the best of your ability and helping them grow into strong, healthy, well-adjusted adults. He doesn’t get to have that.”
Julie nodded resolutely. “You know what? You’re right. You’re totally right.”
Grace looked up at the oven. “Dinner won’t be ready for another thirty-six minutes.”
Alice had already pulled a bottle of rosé out of the fridge. We followed her to the porch and sat down in the comfy chairs, looking out over the ocean. She handed me the first glass of wine. “I think you’re doing great, Charlotte,” she said.
“I think the plan is working,” Julie added.
I nodded. “I definitely think people are at least skeptical about Bill’s guilt, which is good. But I was kind of hoping something bigger would have happened by now.”
“I know, sweetie,” Alice said. “So were we.”
“But good things come to those who wait?” Grace asked skeptically.
“Worked for Alice,” I said, grinning at her, trying to change the subject.
She smiled but didn’t say anything. Juniper Shores Socialite had had a ball discussing Alice and Elliott’s potential marriage timeline this week. But I couldn’t read Alice’s take on the situation, and I didn’t want to pry.
“What about you two?” I asked. “Any loves on the horizon?”
Grace scrunched her nose. “I am sadly, pathetically, awfully hung up on my not-quite-ex. I can’t move on from him, and I know I should be able to, but there’s this part of me that clings to the shred of hope that he was having a midlife crisis, he’ll come to his senses, and I’ll get my family back. So, if a man so much as smiles in my general direction, I practically snarl at him.”
I laughed, and Alice said, “She’s not kidding.”
“What about you, Jules?”
“Oh, after Houston, what man could possibly live up to my expectations?” she asked dryly.
“So that thing on Juniper Shores Socialite about you getting back together with him…” I started.
She groaned. “Totally, completely false.” She paused. “But, seriously, I think I’d like to find someone, but I don’t have time to date.”
“We would all chip in more with the girls!” I said. They were adorable, and the more Iris’s social life and activities took over, the less time I got with her.
Julie shook her head. “No, no. You guys are rock stars. I think, deep down, I just can’t imagine someone taking me on with these three tiny children.”
“That is an awful thing to say!” Grace said. “You are a catch! Any man would be lucky to snap you up.”
Alice and I nodded in agreement.
“Nice cheerleading,” Julie said, “but I think we know that this presents a lot of added challenges. So, unless someone falls into my lap, I am ignoring that part of my life.”
There was such a lightness about now, despite the heaviness of some of our circumstances. Maybe it was the constant, soothing rhythm of the tide rolling in and out. Maybe it was the gentle noise of cicadas humming and grasshoppers singing, the way it always made me feel so at peace.
The sound of the porch doorknob turning silenced us all. My beautiful girl walked through the door.
“Hi, sweetheart!” I said, pulling her onto my lap.
“Hi, Mama,” she said.
I kissed her cheek. “How was soccer?”
“It was good.”
“Did you spy for me?” Grace asked. “Did Merit really sit out at football?”
She nodded. “He did. I walked down there with him and made Coach promise me that he wouldn’t let him play.”
I squeezed her to me.
“What a good little mother you are,” Grace said.
“Now that I have you…” I said, deciding to bring up something I had noticed a few days ago but hadn’t gotten around to mentioning. “How exactly, might I ask, did you manage to get the clothes and shoes you’ve been casually pulling out and hoping I won’t notice?”
Iris made her telltale face, the one she makes when she’s considering whether she’s going to lie or tell the truth.
“Iris…” I said. “I will know if you’re lying.”
She sighed. “Chloe and Dabney have been letting me borrow things.”
I raised my eyebrows at her questioningly.
“What? You know we like to have all the same clothes.”
That was true. I was about to ask more when she said, “Oh! I forgot! Oliver is out in his car and needs to talk to you.”
I texted him. Come on in!
“How are things looking for Wednesday?” Alice asked. “Do you think you’re going to beat Central?”
“For sure,” Iris said. “We’re really looking strong.”
Oliver opened the porch door and said, “Uh, hi, everyone.”
I patted Iris’s leg. “Why don’t you go up and get your shower.”
“Because I stink, or because you don’t want me to be here for whatever Oliver is about to say?”
“A little of both.”
She smirked as she got up and left.
Oliver gestured to me. “Should we, um…”
I shrugged, pointing toward the open rocking chair. “Why don’t you sit with us. I’ll tell them whatever you’re about to say anyway.”
“Everyone in the beach house is family, and there aren’t secrets among family,” Julie added, winking at me.
Oliver looked confused as I said, “Beach house rules.”
“In that case, hi, I’m Oliver. I know Julie already, of course, from our story.”
Grace and Alice introduced themselves. Oliver turned toward the ocean and said, “What a spectacular view,” and Julie mouthed to me, He is hot.
I had to keep myself from laughing out loud. “Have you come bearing good news?” I asked. The raw hope in my voice embarrassed me.
“Potentially good news,” he said. “With all the hubbub around town about free Bill and whatnot, I’ve gotten some information that makes me feel like we could file a motion for bond reconsideration once I get discovery to use to my advantage too.”
Alice, Grace, and I looked blank, while Julie gasped and leaned forward. “Do you think the prosecutor will reconsider?” Then she looked at us. “House arrest,” she said. “He’s trying to get him out on bond.”
“Ohhhh,” we all said.
“Are you asking as a reporter or an interested friend?” Oliver asked, a touch of flirtation in his voice.
“Can’t I be both?” she asked.
Grace and I shared a look. I was, obviously, more interested in my husband’s prospects, but they were flirting, and it was noticeable.
“Not right now,” he said.
“We’re going to have him out of there in no time,” Julie said, obviously noticing the panic on my face. “So this is just a piece of the puzzle.” She nodded resolutely.
I nodded back less resolutely. My heart began to ache for the man who was always by my side, always cheering me on. I wanted to do more. I wanted to help. I wanted to save him. But with no access to his client files, with no knowledge of the evidence against him, there wasn’t much I could do but wait.
“Can I get you a drink?” Julie asked Oliver.
He smiled. “I can’t think why not.”
I almost laughed out loud. She had just asked for a man to fall into her lap. Now if only a huge piece of evidence would fall into mine.