Chapter 31
CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE
CHARLIE
“ T his is heaven.”
I couldn’t help but grin. “Told you swimming would help.”
She cracked one eye open, fixing me with a playful glare. “Don’t get cocky, Delacroix. I still haven’t forgiven you for the baby skates.”
I chuckled, about to retort when the shrill sound of the doorbell cut through the tranquil atmosphere. Emma’s eyes flew open, a flicker of panic crossing her face.
“Relax,” I said, standing up. “I’ll get it.”
I headed into the house, begrudgingly leaving her floating peacefully. Her eyes closed, and a contented smile played on her lips.
A delivery guy handed me a large box covered in Canadian postage stamps.
“What did you order now?” Emma asked as I made my way back to the pool, grinning like a kid on Christmas morning.
“I didn’t order anything.” I set the box down on a nearby table. “It’s from my sister.”
“Oh, is this one of those care packages you mentioned?” She swam to the edge of the pool, propping her arms on the ledge.
I nodded, reaching for the box cutter. “Yep, right on schedule. V’s never missed a quarter since I moved to LA.”
“And why exactly do you need care packages? Isn’t everything better in LA?”
“Oh, Em,” I sighed dramatically, reaching for the box cutter. “There are some things even Hollywood can’t improve upon. Like proper maple syrup, ketchup chips, nanaimo bars and...” I paused for effect, pulling out a familiar, purple-wrapped bar, “Canadian chocolate.”
Her brows shot up. “You can’t be serious. What’s so wrong with American chocolate?”
“Everything,” I muttered, unwrapping the bar. The rich, sweet scent of cocoa filled the air, and I couldn’t help but close my eyes and inhale deeply. “Fuck, I’ve missed this.”
When I opened my eyes, Emma stared at me, a mix of amusement and curiosity on her face. “You’re ridiculous, you know that?”
“Maybe,” I conceded, breaking off a square. “But I’m also right. Here, try this.” I crouched beside the pool, holding out the piece of chocolate. “Open up.”
Emma hesitated for a moment, eyeing the chocolate suspiciously. Then, with a resigned sigh, she opened her mouth. I placed the square on her tongue, my fingers brushing against her lips for the briefest moment. The touch sent a jolt of electricity through me, and I had to resist the urge to lean in and taste the chocolate myself — straight from her mouth.
Her eyes widened as the chocolate melted on her tongue. A soft moan escaped her, and I had to shift uncomfortably, my mind instantly going to places it shouldn’t.
“Okay, I’ll give you this one. It’s pretty good.”
I grinned triumphantly. “Only pretty good? You can do better than that.”
She laughed, the sound light and carefree. “Fine, it’s amazing. Happy now?”
“Ecstatic.” I broke off another piece for myself. As the rich flavour burst on my tongue, a wave of nostalgia washed over me. Memories of cold winter nights, hot cocoa, and Veronica’s laughter.
“You okay there?” Emma’s voice pulled me from my reverie. “You looked a million miles away for a second.”
I nodded, offering her a small smile. “Yeah, just... remembering. This stuff reminds me of home.”
She reached out, placing a wet hand on my knee. “Tell me more about it? Your home, I mean.”
The gesture, so simple and yet so intimate, made my heart skip a beat. I covered her hand with mine, marvelling at how natural it felt.
“Well, it’s nothing like LA, that’s for sure.” I shuffled around until my feet dipped in the water and Emma rested her chin against my knee. “Huntsville, Ontario. Small town, lots of trees, lakes everywhere you look. Winters that make you question why humans ever settled there in the first place.”
She chuckled, her thumb absently tracing circles on my thigh. “Sounds beautiful.”
“It is. Especially in the fall when all the leaves change colour.” I shook my head, a sweet ache in my chest from missing a place and a time that could never exist again. “There’s this place where they make a skating trail that winds through the forest. V and I used to spend hours there, racing each other, pretending we were Olympic speed skaters.”
“That sounds magical.”
I nodded, a wistful smile tugging at my lips. “It really was. Especially at night when they’d light it up with torches. The way the flames would flicker off the ice, casting shadows through the trees... it was like stepping into another world.”
“I can’t even imagine,” Emma said, her voice tinged with a hint of longing.
“I’ll take you there someday,” I said before I could stop myself. The words hung in the air between us, loaded with implications neither of us were ready to address.
Clearing my throat, I quickly changed the subject. “Anyway, want to see what else V sent?”
Emma nodded, pushing herself up to get a better view of the box. I started pulling out items, explaining each one.
“Ketchup chips — don’t knock ’em till you’ve tried ’em. Coffee Crisp bars — the best chocolate bar you’ve never heard of. Oh, and these,” I held up a small container, “are butter tarts. They’re like tiny pecan pies, but a million times better.”
As I continued to unpack the box, my hand brushed against something soft. Curious, I pulled it out, revealing a worn, slightly faded stuffed moose.
“No way,” I breathed, staring at the toy in disbelief.
Emma tilted her head, studying my reaction. “What is it?”
I held up the moose, a lump forming in my throat. “This is Mr Antlers. He was my favourite toy when I was a kid. I thought I’d lost him years ago.”
“He’s cute,” Emma said, reaching out to touch one of the moose’s fuzzy antlers. “But how did your sister get him?”
I shook my head, still in shock. “I have no idea. Last I remember, he disappeared during one of our moves. I was devastated.”
As I turned the toy over in my hands, a small piece of paper fell out. I picked it up, immediately recognising Veronica’s handwriting.
“Found this little guy while helping Mom clean out the attic,” I read aloud. “Thought you might want him for old times’ sake. Maybe he’ll keep you company in that big, empty house of yours. Love, V.”
I looked up from the note to find Emma watching me, her expression open and understanding. “That’s really sweet of her.”
“Yeah,” I said, my voice thick with emotion. “V always did have a knack for sentimental gestures.”
Her hand found mine. “Tell me about Mr Antlers.”
I ran my thumb over the moose’s worn fur. “Well, I got him on a camping trip when I was about five. Dad had promised to take us fishing, but it rained the entire weekend. We ended up spending most of the time in this tiny gift shop near the campground. I saw Mr Antlers and fell in love instantly.”
“Let me guess,” Emma said, a teasing note in her voice. “You named him yourself?”
“Hey, don’t mock my five-year-old naming skills. I’ll have you know he was the envy of all the other stuffed animals.”
Her eyes sparkled with amusement. “Oh, I’m sure. The most popular moose in all of Ontario, no doubt.”
“Damn straight,” I said, puffing out my chest in mock pride. “He was the king of the toy box.”
Her laughter echoed across the water, light and carefree. It amazed me how quickly she’d gone from self-conscious and hesitant to relaxed and playful. The pool had worked its magic, easing her aches and lightening her mood.
“Want another piece?” I asked, breaking off another square of chocolate.
Emma’s eyes lit up. “Oh, go on then. Since you’re twisting my arm.”
I placed the square on her tongue and she moaned again as if it were the first piece. The sound went straight to my groin, and I shifted uncomfortably.
“You know, this reminds me a bit of the chocolate I used to have back in England.”
“Oh yeah? Tell me more.”
She smiled, a wistful look crossing her face. “Well, we had Cadbury Flakes, but they tasted nothing like the ones you can get here. They were crumbly milk chocolate bars that melt in your mouth with just the right amount of sweetness. I used to beg my mum to buy them every time we went to the shop.”
“What other British treats did you like?” I asked, genuinely intrigued. Emma rarely talked about her childhood, and when she did, it was almost never with that happy twist of her lips.
“Oh, there were so many.” A faraway look settled over her features, a gentle smile playing on her mouth. “Jaffa Cakes — these little cake-biscuit things with orange jelly and chocolate on top. But I haven’t had them since my aunt moved me. I remember being disgusted when I first tried the American versions.” She shuddered.
I grinned, enjoying this glimpse into her past. “We’ll have to see if we can find some of those here. I bet there’s a British import store somewhere in LA.”
“You don’t have to do that.” Then she smirked. “I will say, though, your Canadian chocolate is pretty damn good. But don’t tell anyone I admitted that.”
“Your secret’s safe with me,” I promised, winking at her. An idea struck me, and before I could think better of it, I reached for my phone on the nearby lounge chair. “Hey, speaking of Canadian things, want to meet my sister?”
Emma’s eyes widened in alarm. “What? Now?”
“Yeah, why not?” I nodded, already pulling up Veronica’s contact. “It’ll be fun, and I should let her know the package arrived.”
“Charlie, wait?—”
The familiar beeping of the video call filled the air. Emma glared at me, her cheeks flushing. “Charlie,” she hissed through gritted teeth, “I’m in a bikini. In a pool. This is not how I imagined meeting your family.”
I paused, realising the awkwardness of the situation. “Oh, right. Sorry, I didn’t think?—”
But before I could finish, the call connected, and Veronica’s face appeared on the screen.
“Hey, brother!” Veronica’s smiling face filled the screen, her dark hair pulled back in a messy bun. “To what do I owe the pleasure?”
“Hey, V.” I angled the phone so she couldn’t see Emma yet. “Got your care package today. Perfect timing, as always.”
She beamed. “Glad to hear it. Did you like the surprise?”
“Mr Antlers? Are you kidding? I love it. But how did you find him?”
She laughed. “Found him tucked away in a box in Mom’s attic. Thought you might like to know he lives.”
I chuckled. “You were right about that.”
I watched Emma as she ran a hand through her damp hair, trying to make herself look presentable. The sight of her fussing over her appearance to meet my sister made my heart skip a beat.
“So, I might have been keeping a secret too.”
Veronica’s brows shot up. “Oh?”
“Yeah. There’s someone I want you to meet.” I turned my body, pulling my feet from the pool and shifting until Emma fit into the screen behind me. “V, this is Emma. Emma, meet my sister, Veronica.”
Emma waved shyly from the pool, a nervous smile on her face. “Hi, Veronica. Nice to meet you.”
Veronica’s eyes widened, a grin spreading across her face. “Oh! Hi! I didn’t realise Charlie had company.”
Emma blushed. “I’ve heard a lot about you.”
“Really?” Veronica’s brows shot up, her gaze darting between Emma and me. “That’s funny, because Charlie here hasn’t mentioned a word about you.” She fixed me with a pointed look. “Care to explain?”
I cleared my throat, feeling like I was in the hot seat. “Well, uh, Emma and I... we met at a wedding a few months ago. She’s staying with me for a bit.”
Her eyes narrowed suspiciously. “Staying with you? That’s new. You’ve never had a girl stay over for more than a night or two.”
“V,” I warned, feeling my cheeks heat up.
Emma laughed nervously. “It’s not quite like that. I’m actually?—”
“Pregnant,” I blurted out, unable to hold it back any longer. “We’re expecting a baby.”
Veronica’s jaw dropped, her eyes widening in shock. For a moment, she just stared at us, speechless. Then, all at once, her face lit up with excitement.
“Oh my god!” she squealed, her voice so loud I had to turn down the volume on my phone. “Are you serious? I’m going to be an aunt?”
I nodded, a grin spreading across my face despite my nerves.
“This is amazing!” A wide smile stretched her lips. “How far along are you? Do you know if it’s a boy or a girl yet? Have you picked out names?”
Emma laughed, her earlier nervousness seeming to melt away in the face of Veronica’s enthusiasm. “We’re about twenty- four weeks along. We don’t know the sex yet — we’re keeping it a surprise.”
“Twenty-four weeks?” Veronica’s happiness tapered off and she grimaced. “Why didn’t you tell me sooner? Have you told Mom?”
I winced, rubbing the back of my neck. “Not yet. I’m working up to it.”
She rolled her eyes. “You better do it soon, or I might let it slip next time we talk.”
“You wouldn’t dare,” I growled, but there was no real heat behind it.
“Try me.” She smirked. Then her eyes crinkled at the corners, softening as she turned her attention back to Emma. “You know, it’s really nice to finally meet one of Charlie’s girlfriends. He’s always been so private about his love life.”
The words hung in the air. Emma’s smile faltered, and I glanced at her, noting the flush creeping up her neck.
“We’re not actually... I mean, Emma and I aren’t...”
Emma’s gaze met mine, a mixture of emotions I couldn’t quite decipher swirling in her eyes. I cleared my throat, trying to find the right words.
“V, Emma and I aren’t together,” I finally managed. “We’re co-parenting.”
Veronica’s eyebrows shot up. “Oh! I’m sorry, I assumed... I mean, you’ve never introduced me to any of your girlfriends before, so I thought...”
“Yeah, well.” I rubbed the back of my neck, my face burning. “I never introduced you to any of them because they weren’t... you know, serious. Or future-worthy.”
The words left my mouth before I could fully process them, and I froze, realising what I’d implied. I glanced at Emma, trying to gauge her reaction. Her eyes widened, a flicker of surprise — and something else I couldn’t quite read — passing across her face.
An awkward silence settled over us, broken only by the gentle lapping of water against the pool’s edge. I scrambled to change the subject, my mind racing.
“When are you planning to visit?” I asked, my voice a little too loud in the quiet. “You know, to meet the baby and spoil him rotten?”
“Or her.” Emma scoffed.
“Oh, I’m already planning my trip.” Veronica picked up on my desperation and ran with it. “The second we’re off the phone I’ll have flights pulled up and an order started for baby gifts.”
Emma laughed, but it sounded a bit forced. “You really don’t need to buy anything.”
“Nonsense.” Veronica waved her off. “It’s my duty as an aunt to spoil this child. Besides, someone needs to make sure they grow up with proper Canadian values.”
I rolled my eyes. “And what values would those be? An unhealthy obsession with hockey and maple syrup?”
“Exactly.” Veronica nodded solemnly. “I’m glad you understand the importance of our cultural heritage.”
I watched her as she laughed at another of Veronica’s embarrassing stories about our childhood, her hand absently tracing circles on her swollen belly. The sight made my chest tighten with a mixture of emotions I hadn’t quite prepared to name.
As much as I appreciated our friends-with-benefits arrangement, it wasn’t enough. Not for me. But how could I tell her that without scaring her away? Emma valued her independence fiercely. The last thing I wanted was for her to feel trapped or like she’d lost any more control of her life.