We lean into one another as we pass the bottle, through thick and thin, here we are, with our eyes fixed to the sky. The stars shine brilliantly. Our futures, they do too.
20
Charlie
We finally make it back home as the sun begins to rise and reality sets in. My muscles and heart ache with the hard truth of everything that happened.
I sit in the bath that Spencer draws for me, the jets on, meant to relax me. But my body is too tense, and I stare numbly at my fingers. They’re raw from gripping onto the ledge, my manicure shot to hell, but I’m alive - and so is Daphne. That’s the most important thing. Even though I know she has a hard future ahead of her. Part of me wonders how anyone can ever get over something so devastating, knowing in a way that they’re responsible for another person’s death.
Spencer gets in the large jacuzzi tub behind me and pulls me back so I’m leaning against his chest. He takes my hand in his gently and studies my fingers. “That looks painful.”
“I’m okay.” It’s more the emotional pain that I’m struggling with now. “I still can’t believe Daphne hid that from me all these years. We were roommates when it happened.” I shake my head. “To live with that and not have anyone to talk to...”
“She’s still at fault, Charlie. She may not have been driving the car, but by not saying anything she’s guilty of omission.”
“I know.” And I do, but I can’t help but feel sorry for her, and for the torment she must’ve been going through, especially after she found out that Shannon had still been alive when they drove away. That one phone call may have saved the girl’s life. “What will happen to her?”
“I’m not sure.” Spencer runs his knuckles over my shoulder and down my arm. “Her parents have money, so I’m sure they’ll get a good lawyer. But it’ll mean more press...more media coverage.”
“I’m sorry. I know this is hard on you.”
He sighs. “I just hope this is the last surprise. Not sure my heart can take anything else.”
I twist in his arms. “I know.”
His fingers tangle in my damp hair. “I wanted this night to be perfect for you.”
“It was. Or at least it was until I was dangling over the side of a building,” I tease, but I can tell he doesn’t think it’s funny.
He grunts. “I can’t have anything happen to you, Charlie.”
I turn in the tub, facing him. Needing to look in his eyes, needing him to see my heart, in all its ramshackle glory. I’ve somehow pieced together meaning in all of this. As my fingers slipped from the ledge, as I wondered if I would make it. As life flashed before my eyes, I saw what I needed to see. I know what I need to know.
We’re going to be okay.
“You can’t protect me from everything, from life. Isn’t that the lesson in all of this? We have to keep living, loving, doing our best no matter what. Because Spence, there are no guarantees. Tonight, it was a blindside. We didn’t see it coming. But we got through it.”
“And if we hadn't?” Spencer asks, his words raw. “If you had fallen… if I had lost you...”
“Then we would have known we had lived each day to its fullest. We wouldn’t have regret, we would have memories so beautiful,” I tell him, drawing closer to him, my hands on his chiseled jaw. “We would have this love, the love we found.”
He kisses me then and I know he understands. Yes, it’s messy. Losing Ethan and losing my mom, it was tragic. It was too soon, and their deaths leave us with a missing piece to our hearts.
But also, their lives gave us so much. The time we had, we will never forget it.
“I love you, Charlotte Hayes,” he says as he cradles me in his arms. We stand silently from the tub, his arms lifting me up, and he dries me off without a word. He carries me to the bed and my heart is so full that it could burst.
He knows. He knows me.
He takes me, softly and slowly. Caressing my skin in a way that sends shivers up and down my spine, sends warmth to my heart. “I love you,” I moan as he opens me up, as he enters me. It’s soft and tender and exactly what we need.
His fingers lace with mine, pinning me to the bed, my breath shallow, his eyes heavy with need. I feel his pulsing length inside me, hitting me to my core, my deepest place. I moan, gasping for breath.
“Oh god you feel good,” he tells me, his mouth on my ear. I give myself over to him. Every inch of my being, my soul.
We move together in sync, in a rhythm that is better than any playlist we could ever come up with.
The song of our hearts leading the way. Guiding us home.
Epilogue I
Spencer
Two months later...
We sit in chairs, behind the lawn of Nassau Hall as the prestigious Princeton University commencement ceremony begins. The graduation class wears black gowns and caps, and as I sit in the audience, I wait anxiously for Charlotte Hayes’ name to be called.
Daniel is at my side, along with Ava and Prescott, and when my girlfriend finally walks across the stage, I stand, clapping. So fucking proud.
She did it. With honors. With pride. With so much integrity it makes me want to be a better man. She fought for this day for most of her life. Pulling up her bootstraps and making her dreams come true all on her own. Fuck, I wipe my eyes, emotional as she shakes the hand of the president. Everything about this moment is being captured on Prescott’s camera and I look at Daniel, his eyes brimming with pride and tears. She did it, our Charlie did it.
And the thing is, it’s just the beginning. Charlie is going places and dammit, I’m going there with her.
After the pomp and circumstance, we finally make our way to Charlie. She’s posing for a photo with Jill’s mother, but when she sees me, she leaps into my arms, smashing the bouquet of roses I have for her.
“You are so fucking amazing,” I tell her, spinning her around, her feet off the ground.
Daniel gets her next and he pulls his little girl into a warm embrace. “Your mother would have been so proud, Charlie.”
She nods, her eyes glistening with tears. “I know. But I’m so glad you’re here, Dad. So glad you’re staying for another few weeks.”
He laughs. “We’ll see how this Michigan boy does in this fancy-schmancy beach town.”
“Nantucket isn’t fancy,” I tell him. “Down to earth, with clam bakes and sand dunes.”
“Right,” Charlie laughs, jabbing an elbow at my rib. “And multi-million dollar beach properties. Totally chill.”
Ava comes over, giving her a hug, and Prescott hands Charlie a bouquet of tulips. “Can’t wait for the after party.”
“When do you guys head off for Australia?” Charlie asks.
“Not until tomorrow afternoon. Plenty of time to celebrate tonight.”
Jill and Connery come over, beaming - and I know Jill is still a little flabbergasted that she is finishing her education at Princeton with a boyfriend. Especially a guy like Connery, old- money and a trust fund as big as mine, though he’s never flashy about it.
“So good to see you, sweetheart,” Daniel says, giving Jill a hug. “And it’s high time I met this boyfriend of yours.”
While they are chatting, I wrap my arm around Charlie. “I’m so proud of you.”
She looks up at me smiling. “Thanks, Spencer, I couldn’t have done it without you.”
“Not sure about that,” I say, wrapping my arms around her. “You were always going places.”
“You guys will be at the party, right?” Connery asks, hustling over. “My parents went all out. They think this is my crowning achievement.”
“We wouldn’t miss it,” Charlie says. “And it’s so nice of them to do this for you. For all of us.”
“We’ll see you there, Connery,” I tell him. But I know we won’t be there for awhile.
We have a very important stop to make first.
* * *
“Why are we downtown?” Charlie asks as we pull into a parking spot. It’s a beautiful summer n
ight and the day has been nothing but celebratory. I run my hand over the black box in my suit coat, ready to ask the one question I’ve been wanting to ask for months.
Now is the time. I didn’t want to distract Charlie as she was finishing her coursework, but now she has her degree. Now I can ask.
After the commencement, we went for lunch with Daniel, Ava, and Prescott. The fact my parents didn’t join us was a hard pill to swallow, but ever since I went public about Ethan’s crime, they haven’t spoken to me. Bitter is the understatement of the century.
Ava has kept in touch with Mom, but it’s stilted. We’ve gone backwards so many steps. For awhile there, it meant so much to me to have their respect and approval, but now it isn’t something I seek, or will ever seek again. It’s both relief and heartbreak.
It’s sad not celebrating tonight with them. Never in a million years did I think this day would come without them involved. And once it happens, I’ll never be able to edit them into this moment.
When I asked Daniel permission to marry his daughter, his eyes grew glassy. He said it made the most sense in the world. That he knew he wasn’t losing a daughter, but instead, gaining a son.
Now, we’re here. And I’m taking Charlie’s hand in mine, leading her to the record store.
“This is random,” she says as I push open the door. The owner gives me a nod and dims the lights.
The entire shop is filled with our friends and family. Everyone who was at graduation has returned - for this moment. The one I pray Charlie will never forget.
“My Girl” by The Temptations is blaring through the sound system, and there are a thousand twinkly lights strung up in the shop.
She turns to me, shaking her head in bewilderment. But it shouldn't be confusing. Falling in love with her was the easiest thing I’ve ever done.
“What is this?”
I lead her to the center of the shop, amid rows of records, where rose petals cover the floor.
“Spencer?” she gasps.
“Charlie Hayes, I love you. So damn much.”
She presses her hands to her heart, and she chokes out, “I love you too.”
“I fell in love with you hard and fast, when we’re together the world makes more sense. You make me laugh, make me cry, remind me how precious life is. And I want to spend that life with you.”
“Oh my god,” she whispers as I drop to bended knee and pull out the little black box.
“We both love music and I want the song of our lives to be sung to the same melody.”
She smiles as tears run down her cheeks.
“I’m corny,” I add, chuckling. “But we both know that. And the thing is, it’s the truth, Charlie. I want to marry you and be the rhythm to your blues. The punk to your rock and the R to your B.”
Her shoulders shake with laughter, her smile so wide and our friends, who are standing around us laugh.
I pull back the lid of the box in my hands, revealing an antique five carat emerald cut diamond ring. Looking up at the woman who gives my life meaning in so many ways, I’m more sure of my words than I’ve ever been in my life. “Marry me Charlie. Be my wife.”
She’s reaching for me, and I stand. Her lips are on mine before she answers. Her mouth telling me that she wants this as much as I do.
“Yes. I will marry you, Spencer Beckett. All I want is to be yours.”
“You are,” I tell her, slipping the ring on her finger as everyone claps, cheering. Taking photographs as I pull Charlie into another kiss. The music of The Temptations fills the shop and I kiss my fiancée, with the promise of forever.
Epilogue II
Charlie
Five Years Later...
Balloons and streamers fall around us, and the crowd of loyal supporters, and friends and family cheer as Spencer’s name is announced on the jumbotron behind us.
“Congratulations Congressman.” I smile up at my husband, so proud of everything that he’s accomplished.
He pulls me close, or at least as close as my protruding belly will allow, and kisses me hard. “I couldn’t have done any of this without you.”
“I know,” I tease, wincing slightly as the baby kicks me hard.
“You okay?” His expression turns serious and he places a hand on my stomach. Cameras flash around us, and I have no doubt the image will be all over the news tomorrow.
Surprisingly, the media ate up our story, loving the whole Cinderella and Prince Charming anecdote. My rags to riches, blue-collar narrative, and Spencer’s trust fund with a plan to change the world.
And he will.
Already he’s been fundamental in policy changes in healthcare and education, and now as a congressman he’ll have even more power to influence change. So, yeah, I’m pretty proud of him. And even more proud of the family we’ve become.
“It’s time for your speech,” Jill says approaching us on the dais. She’s been his campaign manager for two years now, and we both know he wouldn’t be standing here tonight without her.
I’m not sure how she juggles everything. Connery asked her to marry him a few months after graduation, and they had their first child ten months later. They have two little boys now, and another one on the way. But it hasn’t slowed her down a bit.
Another pain has a small cold sweat breaking out across my forehead, but I hide it the best I can. Squeezing Spencer’s hand, I kiss his cheek and nod for him to take the microphone. As he starts into his speech, I make my way off the stage.
Ava and Prescott are both waiting behind the stage, and my sister-in-law wraps her arms around me. “This is so huge. I just wish...” Tears fill her eyes and she blinks them away.
“I know,” I say, not needing her to say the words. She wishes her parents were here, and even though Spencer hasn’t said anything, I know he feels the same.
But Geoffrey passed away three years ago of a massive coronary embolism, and Suzanne hasn’t been the same since. She spends most of her time in Palm Springs, no longer doing the charity work that used to fill her time.
The Beckett foundation is in my care now. It wasn’t something I sought out. Actually I’d fought Spencer on it when he offered it to me. Running a multi-million dollar foundation was never something I’d considered. But after I graduated with my master’s degree and getting to know the foundation, I knew it was what I had to do, because the potential was so much more than what Suzanne had done with it.
Another pain makes my stomach tighten, and I squeeze Ava’s hand.
“What’s wrong?” Ava asks, frowning.
“Nothing.” I grit my teeth until the pain subsides. “I think the baby is celebrating with us.”
Ava rubs my stomach and smiles. “I can’t wait to meet my niece.”
Prescott chuckles, an arm resting over her shoulder. “Next you’ll be wanting one of your own.”
Ava smiles up at him, her eyes shining with love and adoration. “You’re the one who's been talking about it.”
“Really?” I ask. Sometimes Prescott surprises me. He still has his moments of assholeness, but he’s been good to Ava. They got married last summer on the beach in front of our Nantucket home. The same place Spencer and I said our vows four years ago.
Prescott winks. “Can’t have Spencer outdoing me.”
I roll my eyes and laugh as Georgia and Yates approach.
“Spencer is killing it out there,” Yates says as a cheer rings out from the crowd.
“Of course he is,” Prescott adds.
Yates smacks his back. “You’re not doing too bad yourself. It’s nothing to scoff at being a member of the U.S. House of Representatives at twenty-eight.”
Prescott just shrugs, and I know he has ambition for more. With Ava at his side, he just might get it.
My phone buzzes and I smile when I see Tatum’s number on the screen. I excuse myself from the group and take the call.
“Hey,” I say, finding a couch to sit down on.
“Shit, sorry,” he says. “I didn’t think
you’d pick up. I was just going to leave a message congratulating Spencer on his big win.”
“You’re not interrupting. I was actually looking for an excuse to find a quiet place and sit down.”
“You’re due soon, right?”
“Any day.” I rub my belly. “How are you doing?”
“I’m good.”
“That’s not much of an answer.” I take off one of my heels and rub my foot, which is slightly swollen and aching.
He sighs. “Not much to really tell.”
“Come on, you’re a big-time NFL star now, I’m sure you’ve got some stories. Are you seeing anyone?”
“Nah. Every chick I meet only wants me for my wallet or my...” He coughs.
“Oh, must be hard having all those girls throwing themselves at you,” I tease.
He grunts and changes the subject. “So, did you and Charming pick out a name yet?”
“Yes, but we’re keeping it a secret until she’s born. And I expect you to come see her.”
“You know I’ll be there.”
“Good. Because we want you to be her godfather.”
“Don’t you have to be religious or something?” he asks, but I hear the emotion in his voice.
I laugh. “You’re as religious as we are.”
“Yeah. I guess that’s true.” There’s a short moment of silence before he says, “I got a call from Daphne a few days ago.”
“How is she?” I feel terrible that we haven’t kept in touch, but after the incident at the ball, she refused to see me. She wrote me a letter a few years back, apologizing, saying she was embarrassed about what she’d done and she hoped that I’d forgive her, but I hadn’t heard from her again.
Forever Princeton Charming Page 12
