12. Troy
Troy
Time has flown by since my arrival back. I’ve just been so busy trying to set the restaurant up and deal with all the paperwork that comes with it. I hired a sous chef ready to start working as soon as I get up and running, and I’m already advertising for waiting staff.
Because of all that, my grandmother’s birthday celebrations have completely slipped my mind, which is the very reason why Milly is currently standing in my kitchen.
“How could you forget?” she demands, throwing out an expressive gesture.
“I haven’t exactly been sitting here twiddling my thumbs, Titch. I’ve been busy.”
“You haven’t seen her in ten years, Troy.”
“Have I said I’m not going?” I point out. “No. I simply forgot.” I grin at her. “Which is why I have such a great little sister to remind me of these things.”
She gives me a wry smile and shakes her head. “How is everything going with the restaurant, by the way?” she asks.
“Great. I’m getting staff on board, the cleaners have done a fantastic job, and there’s a whole load of deliveries arriving next week. It’s really starting to take shape.” I beam at her.
She smiles back with delight. “You’re getting excited.”
“I’ve been excited since I decided to do it, but yes. It’s beginning to feel more real.”
“I’m glad you’re happy, Troy. Truly, I am.”
We talk about the restaurant for some time afterward until Milly announces her departure.
“So, I’ll see you at Grandma’s on Saturday at two o’clock?”
“I’ll be there.” I smile.
“Oh,” she says as she’s stepping out the door, “just one more thing. Grandma now thinks you and Charlie are back together. She’s looking forward to seeing her on Saturday.”
“What?!” I blurt.
The smile falls from her face at my reaction, which it should; at this very second, I’m furious.
“And how the devil did she get that idea?” I demand.
“It’s only one birthday party,” Milly tries to reason with me. “Can you not just pretend for her?”
I’m so shocked at my sister’s blasé attitude that I can hardly think, let alone speak. The birthday party was already going to be trying, having to meet and greet all my relatives again all at once. Now, I’m supposed to pretend I’m back with the woman whose heart I broke?
“Does Charlie know?” I ask as the thought occurs to me.
Milly looks a little timid. It’s not an expression I see from her often. She shakes her head.
“Right.” Taking her by the arm, I march her out to my driveway.
“What are you doing?” she says, trying to pull away.
“We’re going to see Charlie.”
“Troy, you can’t,” she say half laughing, still fighting my grip.
“Watch me,” I spit.
I know Charlie is home because her car is in the driveway. I hustle Milly in front of me, and we finally reach Charlie’s front door. I’m angry, and I have to temper how hard I knock on the door. I don’t want her thinking it’s the cops or something.
A few seconds later, we’re welcomed by a bewildered smile. Before Charlie has a chance to speak, I growl, “Milly has something to tell you. Can we come in?”
Charlie opens the door wider, now frowning as she gestures for us to enter. With a nod of thanks, I march Milly into Charlie’s kitchen. When I turn, I see that Charlie has entered the room behind us.
“Tell her what you just told me,” I say to Milly.
Milly looks worried, but I don’t care. I told her not to get involved with my private life when I arrived, especially where Charlie Woods was concerned. Grandma would only think Charlie and I were back together if someone told her, and it sure as heck wasn’t me.
“Tell her,” I press.
“What is going on?” Charlie says.
Milly takes a huge breath in and then blows it out. “Grandma thinks you and Troy are back together. She also thinks you’re coming to her birthday party,” she says in a rush.
“What?” Charlie blurts.
“That’s what I said,” I say.
“And why would she think that?” Charlie is now looking at Milly knowingly.
“I don’t know,” Milly says weakly.
“Oh, come on, Milly. I think all of us know the answer,” Charlie says.
“All right. Well, I might have mentioned to Mom how well you guys were getting along.”
“And Mom just jumped straight to assuming that we’re dating?!” I snap. “I find that very hard to believe.”
“Listen, it doesn’t matter,” Milly says, trying to squirm her way out of it. “Grandma thinks you’re together. Can’t you guys just pretend for one afternoon?”
“No,” Charlie and I say in unison.
Milly looks from me to Charlie and back again.
“You know she’s eighty years old, right? You know it’ll break her heart if she finds out it isn’t true? She always loved you, Charlie,” Milly says, now turning toward her best friend. “She might not be here this time next year, and —”
“Oh, come on, Milly,” I say, cutting her off.
“I’m serious,” Milly retorts. “She’s on medication for all sorts of stuff. We don’t know when she might leave us.”
I’m still completely adamant that I won’t be playing Milly’s game, but as I glance at Charlie, I can see her wavering. Then I think of her mom. While I want to throttle my little sister for being so manipulative, I can’t help but wonder if Charlie is thinking of how swiftly her mom died.
The cancer spread so quickly that she was dead four months after the diagnosis, leaving Charlie, a young girl of fourteen, to deal with losing one of her parents. The better one, as it happened.
“When is it?” Charlie asks. “The birthday party—when is it?”
“Saturday afternoon,” Milly says. “You don’t even have to stay long if you don’t want to, Charlie. You can make an excuse that you have to work or whatever.”
Charlie doesn’t speak for a long moment, and the silence in the room is deafening. I’m still livid, but I can see hope on Milly’s face. When we’re finished here, we’re going straight back to my house so I can yell at her in private.
“All right,” Charlie says eventually. “But I’m only staying for as long as I need to.”
“Yes, yes, of course,” Milly says excitedly.
I drop my shoulders and shake my head. “You don’t have to do this, Charlie.”
“I know,” she replies. “But Milly is right. Your Grandma was always very good to me, and this last year, her health has deteriorated. What’s the harm if it’s going to make a nice old lady happy?”
I can’t argue with that, but at this moment, my thoughts are not really on the idea of arguing. I’m just so blown away by Charlie’s kindness. I shouldn’t be surprised; she’s always had this pure soul. It’s one of the things I always loved about her. But to put herself in such a position just to make my grandma happy is on a whole other level.
“Then I suppose that’s settled,” I say.
“Are you all right with it?” Charlie asks, looking at me warily.
“Do I have a choice?” I reply. “I’m going to look like an insensitive idiot if I refuse now.”
“I’m sorry,” Charlie says, looking apologetic.
“You have nothing to be sorry for,” I say before turning my attention to my sister and scowling. “That’s someone else’s responsibility.”
“Yes, well. We should go,” Milly says, throwing us a quick smile. “Bye, Charlie.” A second later, Milly has left the kitchen, presumably heading for the front door.
For a moment, I don’t move. I’m looking at Charlie, and she’s looking at me. “She was out of line, Charlie. I’m sorry she’s pulled you into this.”
Charlie shrugs and gives me a wry smile. “This is Milly. She is a law unto herself.”
“She’ll be a buried law if I get my way,” I growl.
“Don’t be mad at her. She’s doing it for your grandma.”
And in that moment, I realize that there’s another thing that hasn’t changed about Charlie Woods. She is still as innocent and na?ve now as she was when we were together. By her soft expression, I can tell that she truly believes Milly is doing this out of the goodness of her heart. I, on the other hand, know exactly what she’s doing.
My younger sister is trying to push me and Charlie back together.