Chapter 38
38
C hloe squeals as soon as she sees me. The elderly man seated one table over sends a disgruntled glance in our direction before returning his attention to the newspaper spread across the table.
“You’re here !” Chloe flings her arms around me as soon as I’m within hugging distance, squeezing me so tightly that I’m concerned my ribs could crack.
“I’m here,” I say into her hair. She’s cut it since I saw her last, the ends barely brushing her shoulders.
Chloe returns to her seat, literally bouncing in place as I sink down opposite her. “The waiter recommended it,” she says, nodding to the two bowls of green soup on the table.
I lean forward and sniff. “What is it?”
“Cucumber gazpacho with honeydew melon and lemon verbena.”
“Hmm.” I swallow a spoonful. “It’s really good.”
“Right?” Chloe scoops some up too. “ So ? Are you moving to Ireland?”
“I haven’t decided,” I tell her.
“When is the interview in DC?”
“Friday.”
“Wait. Does that mean that you’ll be here another day?”
“I, uh …” I swish my spoon back and forth in my soup, creating tiny waves. “I haven’t decided yet.”
“Did he ask you to stay?”
My gaze snaps up, eyes absorbing Chloe’s knowing expression. “What?”
She rolls her eyes, then reaches for her water glass. “You just happened to end up in England as part of your work trip to Dublin? Come on, Lili. If you want, I’ll pretend to be oblivious. But we both know why you’re here, and it’s not to have lunch with me.”
I exhale. “I wanted … closure.”
“And? Have you gotten any?”
“No.” I glance at the old man absorbed in his newspaper, then back at Chloe’s knowing expression. “Every time I think it’s the end, it somehow turns into another beginning. He’s … it was supposed to be a fun fling this summer after the Claremont Park stress. I feel like I need to land this big, important project to prove that—to keep proving myself. I’ve been worried about what to tackle next for weeks, and Charlie made me forget about that. It’s not fun anymore. I mean, parts of it are fun, but the rest is confusing and overwhelming and scary. He listens to me, and he pays attention, and then there are also moments where he just knows what I need. I thought I’d come here, and it would be weird and uncomfortable and … over , and it isn’t.”
“You’re in love with him.”
I drop the spoon. Rest my face in my hands. “I know,” I groan toward the tablecloth.
“Fran told me he came to the hospital.”
I lift my face enough to see her again. “You guys were gossiping about me?”
Chloe smirks. “We’ve been gossiping about you since he dared you to go on a date with him, Lili.”
I roll my eyes. “That’s not exactly what happened.”
“That’s exactly what happened. And don’t think we didn’t all notice that was the slowest you’ve ever driven. When we raced in Monaco for Jasper’s twenty-first, Tripp was the only one who beat you.”
“So? I was a little rusty.”
Chloe’s eyes dance as she leans forward. “Don’t lie to me. I’m not saying you could have beaten him?—”
“Rude,” I interject.
“But you sure didn’t try very hard. Because he fought for you. Look, I love Cal—I do—but he took you for granted. He assumed years of friendship equaled a perfect relationship with minimal effort. Charles wanted you, and he made sure everyone knew it. There’s a big difference.”
“I don’t know what he wants,” I admit. “He’s never been in a relationship. He’s planning to marry a woman dying to be a duchess. He just left in Saint-Tropez, like I was a hotel reservation with an enforced checkout time.”
Chloe’s forehead wrinkles. “He didn’t tell you why?”
“Tell me why? What are you talking about?”
She sighs. “One of the partners at Theo’s firm told him that Grace Marlborough had a stroke a couple of weeks ago. She spent a few days in the hospital.”
“Grace?”
“His grandmother.”
“Oh.”
His grandmother had a stroke.
That explains why Charlie left France so suddenly. It doesn’t explain why I’m just hearing about it now.
Why didn’t he tell me?
The simplest explanation is that he didn’t consider me important enough to confide in. But then why did he fly to New York a week later? Why has he made me feel like a welcome visitor ever since I showed up on Newcastle Hall’s massive doorstep?
None of it makes sense, and I haven’t pushed for answers because I know it will pop this pleasant bubble I’ve been existing in since I arrived in England.
But I refuse to leave without getting them. I won’t get on the plane tomorrow without knowing exactly where we stand.
Chloe seems to sense I need a break from discussing Charlie and pelts me with questions about New York.
I fill her in on some of the antics of our friends—Bridget is now dating a guy in a band, and Jasper might move to Miami permanently—and about Mom and Dad’s return to New York. Dad started back at Kensington Consolidated a week ago. Kit’s first day is on Monday.
Chloe tells me about the solo honeymoon she and Theo are planning—they’ve narrowed destinations down between Paris and Santorini—and the part in the play she just got.
By the time we finish brunch, my cheeks hurt from smiling so much. It’s been too long since Chloe and I got to visit together like this, just the two of us.
I’m taken off guard by how natural it all feels. Waking up in Charlie’s king-sized bed, eating breakfast with him and Blythe, driving into London together. How easily I can picture it as my everyday life.
Chloe gives me a long hug, then rushes off to a rehearsal after making me promise to keep her updated.
I don’t need to clarify what she wants updates on.
It’s still fifteen minutes from when Charlie said he’d pick me up, so I walk to a nearby park. I’m not sure if it’s the same one Charlie was talking about at The Beach House, but it looks awfully similar. There’s a fountain and lots of walking paths.
Unlike yesterday, it’s clear and sunny out. I stroll slowly in my heels—Charlie would never let me live it down if I tripped and landed in the hospital a third time this summer—enjoying the soundtrack of voices and birds chirping.
I take a seat on one of the metal benches right as my phone begins buzzing in my pocket. I pull it out, expecting to see Charlie’s name—telling me he’s running early or running late—but it’s not.
It’s my dad.
I answer immediately, worried something is wrong. It’s six a.m. in New York.
“Hi, Dad.”
“Hey, honey.” His voice is even and calm, which slows my racing heart some. But I ask, “Is everything okay?” just to be sure.
“Everything’s fine. Your mom went to Boston with Hannah for a fundraiser, so I’ve got the penthouse to myself. I thought I’d try you since your brothers won’t be up for several hours.”
“So, I was your third choice?” I tease.
Dad chuckles. “Never. You’re all tied for first place.”
“Uh-huh. That’s realistic.”
“How’s Dublin?”
I adjust the folds of my dress. It’s one of my favorites—green and pink silk with a flared hem and a bow in the front. We’re headed to what Charlie called a garden party next, so I dressed up a little extra before brunch.
“I’m in London actually.”
A pause.
“For work?”
“Nope.”
Another longer pause.
“I like him.”
“Like who?”
“Charles.”
I fumble for words. “What do you—how did you …”
I’ve never mentioned Charlie to my dad. And I haven’t discussed him with Mom since that one night after dinner.
“I know it’s probably not cool to get your father’s approval. But he has mine, if it matters.”
“Of course it matters, Dad.”
My throat is thick with emotion, and he has to clear his before saying, “It’s been a good trip?”
“Yeah. I’m only here for one more day. My last interview is in DC on Friday. For the museum project. Then, I’ll have to make a decision.”
And not just about my job.
“I had a meeting with Curtis Brentwood the other day. He lives in Chicago and was raving about Claremont Park.”
“He was not.”
“I swear. Said he takes his son there all the time. And either he should be an actor instead of an investment banker or he had no idea you’d designed it because he seemed shocked when I told him.”
“That’s nice.”
“Yeah, I thought so too.” I can hear the smile in his voice. “Also, your mom and I are going to an animal shelter when she gets back.”
“You’re really getting another dog?” I figured it would fall by the wayside with my parents’ busy schedules.
“That’s the plan,” he tells me. “We spent so long getting you kids self-sufficient, but turns out, we kind of miss having someone to take care of.”
“I’m glad for you guys,” I say. “This new phase, it seems good.”
“I agree. And I’ll let you get back to your trip. I just wanted to check in.”
“Thanks, Dad.”
“I’ll see you when you get back to New York?”
“Yeah, you will. I want to meet my new sibling.”
He laughs. “Is Hallsen Vet accepting new cli?—”
“ Dad . Mom already asked, and it’s not funny.”
“Sorry.” He doesn’t sound the least bit sorry. “Have a good rest of your trip, honey. Love you.”
“Love you too,” I reply, then hang up.
I enjoy the sun’s warmth for a few more minutes.
Then, I stand and head toward the corner where I’m supposed to meet Charlie.