10
Charlotte
People fill the plane’s aisle, and I sit patiently staring out the window. Memories swirl in my mind as I reminisce about the week in St. Kitts.
“Miss, you must leave the plane now,” says a voice a distance away.
I shake the thoughts from my head and look up at a flight attendant standing at the end of the aisle. I’m the only one left on the plane.
“Sorry,” I mutter, and roll my suitcase down the aisle and through the tunnel.
There’s another long queue at customs until I finally reach the gray doors, and the fluorescent lighting of the airport terminal hits my eyes.
“Mom! Mom!”
Charlie’s voice sends a jolt through my body and immediately all my thoughts scatter and all I can think about is holding him in my arms.
“Charlie,” I cry and drop to one knee. He barrels into me, and I nearly fall over from the impact. “Oh, Charlie! It feels so good to hug you again. ”
I run my fingers through his hair, and although there are knots in it, the familiarity soothes me. A kiss to the top of his head confirms his shampoo scent, and the happiness of smelling the familiar fragrance is so unexpected tears press behind my eyes.
Jane stands behind Charlie, her arms open. “Welcome back.”
I smile and get up to hug her. “Thank you.”
Sage sidles up next to me and bumps me with her hip. “That tan looks smoking on you, Char.” She crosses her arms, assessing my face. “Can’t wait to hear all about that bartender.”
I laugh. “There was no bartender, Sage.”
She pouts and purses her lips. “Why do you have to kill the dream so soon?”
I throw my arm around her and pull her in for a hug. “I brought you back a souvenir.”
“You did?”
I nod.
“Fine. All is forgiven, then.”
In the car, Charlie rapidly fires off all the details I’ve missed over the past week. “Uncle Austin took us for ice cream, and Anthony spilled it all over his Spider-Man T-shirt. We played catch every night before bed and never fell asleep before ten. Then—"
I shoot a quick look at Jane through the rearview mirror, and she’s hiding a grin. She knows how strict I am about bedtime and knows that would make Charlie’s week, so it’s hard to be mad about it.
“We played laser tag, and I was the leader in the whole arena. Can you believe that, Mom?”
He doesn’t wait for a response. “Anthony let me go first. I think that’s why I won. But it was so close. I promised him a rematch. Can I go over this weekend?”
“I just got back, and it’s already Friday, Charlie. I’m sure Aunt Jane and Uncle Austin have other plans.”
“Do you have other plans, Aunt Jane?”
“Charlie,” I admonish.
“No other plans, Charlie. It’s fine with me if it’s okay with your mom.”
“Please, Mom!”
Jet-lagged, I’m overwhelmed with the questions so quickly after a week of long walks on the beach. I probably should plan something with Charlie, just the two of us this weekend, but he’s excited to go back to Jane’s house and I guess I could use a couple of days to do laundry and ease back into the old routine. “Sure, Charlie. It’s fine with me.”
“Thanks, Mom!” He leans across the backseat and wraps his arms around my waist. “You’re the best.”
Sage takes Charlie’s carry-on out of Jane’s trunk and rolls it to the front door while Jane stays back with me. “Charlotte,” she says. “There’s something I’ve got to tell you.” Her voice is soft, as though she’s speaking to a skittish pet.
“This sounds ominous,” I tease.
“Well, it’s not exactly bad news, maybe just a warning.”
My head spins and my heart races. I’m feeling anxious and I’ve barely stepped through my front door. “Can it wait until tomorrow?”
“Yeah.”
“Okay, because I don’t think I can handle anything more than making Charlie something to eat before bed and taking a shower.”
“I understand.”
I roll my suitcase into the bedroom, and Jane follows. “Did you have a good time?”
I smile, remembering the past few days. “I had a wonderful time.” Sage joins Jane at the door. “Wait. Don’t tell Jane anything without me. Catch me up, what did I miss?”
“You didn’t miss anything. It was an amazing week. I sunk my feet in the sand, went on an off-road adventure, met a handsome man, danced on a bar top ‘Coyote Ugly’ style, I—”
“You danced on top of a bar?” Jane asks the same time Sage’s eyes bulge out, “You met a man?”
Jane looks back at Sage. “She met a man?”
“That’s what she said. ”
“What’s his name?”
“Caleb.”
“What does he do? Where does he live?” Sage and Jane ask at the same time and I don’t know who asked which question first.
“We didn’t talk much about ourselves. We both knew it would only last the week, and we just really enjoyed the resort and each other.”
“Oh, Char, that’s even better than the lifeguard.”
“I thought you wanted me to hook up with the bartender?” I tease.
She waves me off. “Same thing.”
“So, you didn’t exchange numbers?” asks Jane.
I shake my head.
Sage waggles her eyebrows. “Sounds like they exchanged a lot more than that.”
Normally, I would give Sage an admonishing look, but I grin widely instead. “We did. And it was amazing.”
Sage presses her hands to her heart and closes her eyes. “Tell me more.”
I chuckle. “Well, the front desk mixed up the rooms and put me in his room. When I walked out of the bedroom in my bikini, he was sitting in the living room on his laptop wearing a full suit, looking all hot and sexy.”
“Damn, this stuff never happens to me. ”
I laugh. “It never happens to me, either.”
“Then what happened?”
“Well, I was ready to grab my things and leave, but he insisted he preferred the quieter room and that I stay in the suite.”
Sage throws her hands up in the air. “Who does that? I can’t believe it. There’s no way he actually preferred the smaller room. He was being a gentleman.”
I thought the same thing, but hearing Sage confirm it warms my heart. I couldn’t remember the last time a man had done something so selfless for me.
“So, how did you two end up, you know… Did he knock on your door later that night and help tuck you in?”
“No,” I chuckle. “He invited me to go on an off-road adventure with him the next day, and I agreed.”
“I’m surprised,” says Jane. “You hate sitting in the backseat of my van.”
“I know, but I promised myself I would be ‘Opposite Charlotte’ this week.”
“Opposite Charlotte?”
“Yes. I did things I normally wouldn’t do, and it paid off.”
“You look tired but happy, Charlotte. I’m so glad.” Jane pulls me into her arms, and I hug her back.
“Hey, don’t forget about me.” Sage wraps her arms around both of us. “Shame you didn’t get his number. Sounds like he was good for you.”
“The trip was good for me. Thank you both for gifting it to me.”
Jane squeezes me tighter. “You’re welcome.”
I pull away from their embrace and square my shoulders. “Okay, I’m feeling better. Hit me with your news, Jane. I’m ready.”
Jane looks at Sage, and she bites her lip. Sage is never coy, so the gesture raises alarm bells in my head.
“What is it?” I ask. “It can’t be that bad. Charlie is safe and the two of you are okay. Is it my parents? Did something happen while I was away?”
Jane shakes her head. “No. No, I’m sorry to make you worry. You’re right, it’s not that bad. I’m probably just making a big deal about it.”
“About what, Jane? Tell me, I can’t take another minute thinking the worst.”
What if one of my students was hurt or their parents? What if the school burned down?
My mind conjures the wildest images.
“Jason is in town for his sister’s wedding next weekend.”
“Jason?” My head goes blank and my heart pounds against my chest. “Charlie’s father?”
“Yes. ”
My fingers trail to my collarbone, and I stare at a mark on the bedroom wall, as I envision the man who left me pregnant and heartbroken more than ten years ago. “This isn’t the first time he returned. He’s come a couple of times before. I’m sure we’ll avoid each other as we have in the past.”
Jane’s voice is low, as though she can barely get the words out. “He asked to see Charlie.”
I snap my head in her direction. “What? When? Did you let him? You should have called me Jane. I—”
“Calm down, Charlotte.” She places her hands on my shoulders and walks me to the bed. The back of my legs hit the mattress, and I sit. “We didn’t let him. He approached Austin after spotting them in town, but the boys were in the car already. Austin told him you were away and that he wouldn’t allow him to meet with Charlie without your consent.”
“Thank you,” I whisper, as I control my temper and all the emotions rushing through me. I couldn’t even name them all, just that it feels as though something were choking me.
“Why now? Why does he want to meet Charlie now?”
Jane shakes her head. “I don’t know, but I wanted to warn you. I knew this would be shocking, and I hoped to give you some time to sort through it before making your decision. ”
I nod, hearing Jane but no longer listening as panic sets in.
Does he want to fight me for custody now? Is he going to take Charlie from me?
“Charlotte, don't do this. Breathe.”
“Shit, Jane. You should have waited until she got some sleep.”
“I’m not tired,” I say. “I’m scared. No, I’m not scared. I’m terrified.”
Jane sits next to me and holds my hand. “We are here for you and Charlie. Jason’s only in town for the wedding. I think he just wants to meet his son. I wouldn’t take it for anything more than that.”
“Charlotte, honey. Jason never wanted to be a father. I don’t think that’s changed,” says Sage.
I didn’t want to be a mother either, but when I held Charlie in my arms, everything changed. I changed.
“Thanks for telling me, Jane. I’m prepared now. There’s no way I’ll let Jason speak to Charlie. He made his choice ten years ago.”