Chapter Twenty-seven
Charlie checked her watch as she stood in front of the restaurant where she was meeting Sydney and her wife.
She felt like she had no life since all she did was consult with the SEC, and as such was early, as she was for everything there.
Her time with the SEC was dragging on longer than she or her legal team had believed it would, and it felt like she’d been there for five months rather than five weeks.
She kept thinking she was close to being done, and every time, they’d drop another pile of financial documents on her temporary desk for her to review.
Or they’d want her to write another declaration on what she’d found or more info they’d uncovered.
Thanksgiving had come and gone, and when she’d asked to take a few days off to fly to Gainesville to spend Thanksgiving with her parents, their response had been to fly her parents up, put them up in her hotel, and not give her any days off.
She knew she could’ve put her foot down, but she really wanted to get all this shit behind her, probably more than the SEC did, so she kept giving them what they requested.
At least DC was pretty during the holidays. She took her parents to see the National Christmas Tree on the Mall, the ZooLights, and the US Capitol Christmas Tree. She enjoyed spending time with her parents, reconnecting.
Yet, everything felt a little hollow without Harper. Since Harper had admitted she missed Charlie, they’d texted a little more frequently. Okay, daily. She smiled as her phone buzzed. It was an adorable picture of Franky lying on her back on the floor and making a silly face.
Charlie: I can’t wait to kiss that perfect face.
Harper: Any ideas when that’s going to be possible?
Charlie: Soon I hope. She finished that text with a crossed fingers emoji, and Harper hearted it.
It was true. She was pretty sure she’d be wrapping things up with the SEC soon.
She’d been there for what felt like forever.
But they were making progress. She was helping the SEC make a solid case against D.
B. Graves, so it would be worth it in the end.
“Hey, Charlie.” She turned and saw Sydney approaching while holding the hand of a very attractive woman with long brown hair and a lean build who moved with the grace of an athlete.
The SEC had kept her there for so long that Sydney and her wife had just moved back to DC, and they’d decided to get together for dinner before Charlie returned to Key West. “Great to see you, Sydney,” Charlie said as she hugged her.
“Charlie, this is my wife, Reagan.”
They shook hands. Reagan’s appearance didn’t match what Charlie’s expectation of what an Army officer would look like, but her firm grip and calloused hands did. “Great to meet you. I’ve heard a lot about you from Sydney.”
“Likewise.” Her smile was bright, and Charlie liked her instantly.
“Shall we head in?” Sydney asked. “I’ve heard great things.” She pointed to the Mediterranean restaurant behind her. Charlie was excited for Mediterranean as she hadn’t found a go-to spot in the Keys yet.
“So it sounds like maybe another week, and you’ll be heading home, Charlie. Are you ready?” Sydney said.
“That soon?” The SEC hadn’t given her any timelines directly.
“Yeah, I was speaking to the investigator today, and he said he was pretty sure you’ll be gone by next week, as long as you agree to be available for further discussions as needed. I think they want to wrap up as much of your portion as they can before Christmas.”
The thought of getting back to Harper before Christmas made her smile. “That would be fantastic.”
“I don’t think I’ve seen you smile like that since we met. Do you have someone waiting for you back in Key West?” Sydney said.
“I have a bit of a situation back there, yes, but it’s messy. Which is why I want to get back. Things weren’t in the best shape when I left.” She winced.
Reagan chuckled and took Sydney’s hand. “We’re quite familiar with messy.”
“We danced in and out of each other’s lives for fifteen years, with each time getting messier before we finally got our shit together.
But if they’re worth fighting for, stick with it.
You won’t regret it.” Sydney smiled at Reagan, and it was the cutest thing.
Her face softened in a way Charlie hadn’t seen from the tough-as-nails attorney who had gone toe-to-toe with the SEC on the terms of her immunity agreement.
“Harper and I have only been dancing around each other for almost a year. But it’s been slow. I’ve been trying to figure out who I am since I left D. B. Graves, and Harper has some…baggage she’s trying to work through too.” Though baggage might have been putting it a little mildly.
“Everyone has some kind of baggage that they’re carrying around, but when it’s right, love finds a way,” Reagan said.
“Look at me. I was so caught up in fear that I kept letting this one slip through my fingers.” She nodded at Reagan. “Until I thought she might be gone for good, and I realized I’d do anything to make it work.”
“And I angled to get this Pentagon assignment to be stateside again, so it’s easier for Sydney’s career. It takes a little work, but we figured it all out.” She smiled at Charlie. “And it’s worth it, right?” She faced Sydney.
“Right.” They kissed, and it was such a tender moment, Charlie’s heart ached with longing.
“You two give me a little hope, anyway. I used to be so focused on my career that I never took the time to date seriously. I had casual girlfriends I never thought about forever until Harper. And then, the SEC swooped in and fucked things up. Granted, I’m happy they gave me the opportunity to do the right thing, but them showing up on my doorstep wasn’t in my master plan.
Not that I had one.” She shook her head.
The last months since moving to Key West had been the first time in her life when she didn’t have a master plan.
“You can’t plan for everything,” Reagan said.
“Though you certainly try,” Sydney said on a laugh.
Reagan shrugged. “You can take the woman out of West Point, but you can’t take West Point out of the woman.”
“And I appreciate it. For the most part,” Sydney said with a grin.
Their give-and-take was true couple’s goals. Charlie enjoyed dinner with them and hoped that they’d stay friends once this mess with the SEC was over. She thought Harper would like them too.
When she went to use the restroom, she typed out a quick text: Having dinner with my attorney and her wife this evening. She thinks I should be done here within a week or so.
Harper: That’s great. Franky will be pleased to know her cuddle buddy is coming back.
Charlie: I can’t wait to see her. How are things at the bar?
Harper: Eh. Same old, same old. Business has been picking up though. I hired a new part-time bartender. Met a new food truck owner that does Middle Eastern street food, so they’re in the rotation now too.
Charlie: Yum. I look forward to trying it. I should get back though.
Harper: Are you in the bathroom texting me?
Charlie: Yeah.
Harper: You’re so weird. Go have fun
Charlie wanted to send a kiss emoji but settled for a thumbs-up.
Their thawing text exchanges were making her cautiously optimistic, and she could only hope that they were going to translate into Harper remembering her as the person she’d become since living in Key West and not the shell of a person that she’d been when she’d arrived.