“Come for dinner?” she asked, wrapping her arms around his neck and kissing him
“Wouldn’t miss it… tell your mom I’ll be there… in case she wants to invite some of her friends,” he said with a wink and a grin.
Releasing her, he turned his hat around backwards and put his sunglasses on before tearing out of the apartment complex on his bike.
She watched him until he was out of sight before getting in her car and heading the other way toward home. She laughed when she realized she was still grinning like a crazy person.
Walking into the kitchen, Carla gave her a knowing look but didn’t say anything. She could swear Carla grinned before turning away, “So how is Chuck today?”
“He’s working but he said he would be here for dinner,” she replied.
Her mother smiled and said, “I’m glad to hear it.”
Meredith helped pick up the yard from the party, skim the pool, check the chemical levels and then wash a load of pool towels.
Then she headed up to her room to try and get some of her school work finished. After getting all the online assignments done that she could, she went in search of her mother.
“Mom… is there anyway Aunt Shelby can sit with the boys when they get off the bus on Thursday and Friday and possibly a few days the next week too?” she asked after finding Carla in the kitchen making a shopping list.
“I already took care of that last night… Grandpa told me that Chuck will be out of town starting on Thursday and wasn’t sure when he would be back. I didn’t know what your work and school schedule would be like so I asked Shelby and she agreed,” Carla said. “I guess that means you’ll be going to New York with him?”
“We had a great talk last night. The whole group ended up going to his apartment since the bar was so crowded. We sat around talking for quite a while and when everyone left I got to see some of his paintings,” she said. “One of the paintings gave me some insight into why he says and does the things he does.”
“Oh yea?” Carla prompted.
“The idea of us still caring about him after what happened on Friday is so foreign to him. He’s so used to screwing up once and being tossed out he’s come to expect it,” she said, turning and leaning her back against the counter top near the stove.
“I talked to Grandpa a little bit about his past at the party and I must say it just broke my heart. Yet most times you’d never know it… he’s light hearted, caring, funny and just all around sweet,” Carla said.
“Yes, but he doesn’t trust anyone. We talked about that last night and it was like stepping out of a dark forest into the sunshine of a meadow. He’s agreed to let me in on what is going on with him rather than always pretending everything is fine when it’s not. He wants a better life so badly and I feel guilty for having taken my life for granted all those months…” she said, looking at her mother.
Carla only smiled and then added a few more items to her list. She helped her mother make hamburger patties to grill while they talked more about the trip to New York and about Chuck. It seemed Chuck had grown on Carla and the boys nearly as much as her.
Her heart skipped a beat upon hearing his motorcycle pulling into the driveway. Ben and Matt raced down the stairs and ran for the front door. A few minutes later the three of them entered the kitchen.
Ben was sitting on Chuck’s foot hugging his leg, making it nearly impossible for him to walk. Matt was talking a mile a minute at Chuck about trying out for football at school.
“Boys, wash up for dinner,” Carla said.
“Yes, ma’am,” Chuck smiled at her and headed for the sink after Ben stood up and released his leg.
Her mother smiled back and shook her head. Meredith followed him over to the sink. “How was your day?” she asked.
After drying his hands on a towel he pulled a folded piece of paper out of his back pocket and handed it to her. “It sucked ass,” he said before pulling out a quarter and dropping it in the swear jar. Then he turned and began pulling plates down out of the cabinet.
Startled she took the paper and unfolded it. Carla being nosy stepped up behind her to read. The paper was an eviction notice… not from nonpayment but for not being on the lease agreement.
Dana’s name was on the lease and since she no longer lived there, he could not just assume the contract but was required to sign a new one. A new lease application was fastened to the document. One question on the application was highlighted… have you ever been convicted of a crime?
“JC’s death is all over the news and another tenant remembered seeing him hanging around my apartment. I found this stuffed in my mailbox when I went back to shower and change after work. How’s that for sharing?” he asked sarcastically.
“Don’t be ugly, Chuck,” Carla admonished. “It’s completely understandable that you would be upset over this but why don’t we sit down and have some dinner and talk about your options, instead of lashing out in frustration.”
“Sorry,” he muttered looking at the floor.
“Boys set the table. Meredith, get some drinks and, Chuck, can you get the buns and condiments out and set them on the table?” her mother asked, heading outside to the grill with a spatula and a plate in her hand.
“I’m sorry,” he whispered into the back of her hair. “It’s just every time I start to get ahead…”
Turning she wrapped her arms around his waist and hugged him, “I know.”
“This makes it better though,” he said grinning down at her.
Dinner progressed with the boys talking nonstop about Matt joining the football team at school. When they’d finished they went to find a football and change into their swim trunks. Her mother got up and sat in the chair on the other side of Chuck.
“Fill out the application and turn it in. Be honest about your conviction… if they deny you it’s because they denied you… not because you didn’t try. I know you leave for New York on Thursday so leave your apartment key with me. The boys and I will pack up the living room and kitchen items in case you’re gone longer than expected,” Carla said. “If you are unable to find something suitable by the time you have to be out, you can stay in the guest bedroom for a bit until you do find a place.”
Chuck looked at Carla in shock. “You would help me and even let me stay here?”
“Of course,” her mother replied.
“But why?” he asked perplexed.
“Because you help me with the boys and organize my household probably better than I do. This is my way of returning the favor,” Carla replied with a smile.
“I do that because I have to,” he said.
“No you don’t, Chuck. You could come here and sit in a chair the whole time waiting for your time to be up. Instead you make home cooked meals for my boys, play games with them and talk to them. Those are not the actions of someone being forced to do something they don’t want to,” her mother said.
Chuck looked thoughtful for a minute and then smiled one of his breath taking smiles at Carla and said, “Thanks, hot stuff.”
Her mother laughed out loud and then smacked his arm playfully before standing up and starting to clear the table. Meredith and Chuck helped and he kept sneaking peeks at her mother out of the corner of his eye as though he expected her to change her mind at any moment.
When she caught him and gave him a knowing look he smiled, “Sorry… I’m trying really hard… old habits die hard and all that.”
Tuesday afternoon her cell phone rang and the display showed it was her grandfather.
“Hey, Grandpa,” she answered.
“There are some people who’ve come down from New York to escort Chuck and his friends back for this trial. One of them is his attorney, Rebecca Waters. I’ve been in court all day and she had called requesting a meeting. I was wondering if you could order some takeout and I’ll pick it up on my way there. I thought meeting her there with Chuck present would be good. Can you and your mother take care of that for me?” he asked.
&n
bsp; “Sure Grandpa… what time will you be here?” she asked.
“Will six o’clock leave you enough time?” he asked.
“That’s plenty of time. See you then… love you, Grandpa,” she said.
When Chuck showed up after getting off work he had one of his paintings he’d covered with a sheet strapped to his bike.
Grandpa Patterson pulled up with two passengers just as Chuck made it to the front door. She opened the door for him and he stole a quick kiss as he stepped inside before looking out the side window.
“What’s that?” she asked, pointing to the wrapped up canvas.
He only winked at her and continued looking out the window as a man and a woman made their way up the walk to the front door, escorted by Grandpa Patterson. Carla came to see why they were standing around in the foyer.
When Carla opened the door and they filed in the man held his hand out to Chuck. “Chuck, good to see you.”
“Detective,” Chuck said, shaking his hand and then handing him the painting said, “Hold this please.”
Then turning to the petite blonde woman who appeared slightly older than Carla he picked her up and swung her around.
“Chuck!” the woman said in shock. “I’m glad to see you too but please… put me down.”
Setting the woman on her feet again he took the painting from the man and then handed it to the woman.
“For me?” she asked Chuck.
“Yep,” he said smiling from ear to ear. “I wanted to thank you for everything. I know Dickie paid you for your services but this is from me.”
The woman blushed and wouldn’t look at Chuck but gently took the sealed up canvas and began to unwrap it. Once she had it un-wrapped Carla stepped forward and took the sheet as the woman held the canvas up. The color drained from her face and she looked at Chuck and then back at the painting and then back to Chuck again.
“Did you paint this Chuck?” she asked in astonishment.
“Yea, it’s for you,” he said still grinning.
“Richard said you painted but… this is amazing,” she finished breathlessly.
“Dickie’s been giving away my secrets, huh?” he teased. “Did he also tell you his own secrets… he has some mad Rambo combat skills.”
The woman blushed and then smiled as Carla stepped up beside her again to look at the painting. Grandpa Patterson said, “Detective Sanders, Ms. Waters, this is my daughter Carla and my granddaughter Meredith.”
Meredith shook hands with them both and noticed that Detective Sanders was checking out her mother. When the introductions were done she made her way over to where her mother and Ms. Waters stood looking at Chuck’s painting. The painting was pure Chuck… it said what his words could not.
It showed Ms. Waters and Chuck sitting at the defendant’s table of a courtroom. Chuck had an angel sitting on one of his shoulders and a demon on the other. The angel was bigger than the demon and was on the shoulder closest to where Ms. Waters sat.
The angel was looking at Rebecca as though pleading for help while the demon was whispering in Chuck’s ear. Ms. Waters looked as though she was about to give in to the angel’s pleas for assistance.
His ability to capture lifelike images with a twist was nothing short of amazing and he seemed oblivious to it. Glancing at him she could see him talking about motorcycles with Detective Sanders. They were laughing like old friends and even Grandpa Patterson seemed to be enjoying the conversation.
“Would you like something to drink Ms. Waters?” she asked.
“Iced tea would be wonderful and call me Becca,” the woman said with a smile.
“Let me set this over here for you,” Carla said, taking the painting.
“Come on, Becca, I’ll get you something to drink,” Chuck offered his arm to her and she looked at him skeptically.
“Are you feeling alright today, Chuck?’ Becca asked him.
“Just happy… thanks to you,” he said with a grin and led her down the hall to the kitchen.
Turning she noticed her mother was still staring at the painting. Detective Sanders walked up behind her mother and leaning down said, “Amazing isn’t it?”
“Yes… he has an incredible talent for someone who never went to art school… never even graduated high school,” Carla replied.
“Do you like art?” he asked her mother.
Grinning at the man’s obvious attempts to gain her mother’s interest, she turned and followed Grandpa Patterson into the kitchen. She and Chuck began setting the food out. She had fed the boys earlier and they were in the basement playing video games so the adults could talk.
Detective Sanders and Carla entered the kitchen a few minutes later. Looking at Chuck the Detective said, “So Dickie has some combat skills, huh?”
“Mad Rambo like skills… he can choke you out before you know what’s got you and he’s pretty buff too,” Chuck said, smiling at Becca.
Becca blushed again and went to sit near Grandpa Patterson at the table and began making small talk. Her mother brought out a bottle of wine and handed it to Chuck. He appeared perplexed and just looked at Carla.
“Here, Chuck, allow me,” Detective Sanders offered.
Chuck handed him the bottle and then helped her set the serving bowls of food on the table and ensure everything was ready for dinner.
Chuck held a chair for Meredith and then sat next to her and she could only smile at his attempts to be proper. Her mother and the detective soon joined them.
“So the reason I asked to meet with you is that I understand you spoke with Chuck in your private chambers just this past Saturday,” Becca said to her grandfather while taking dainty bites of her food.
Chuck looked up nervously and his eyes darted back and forth between her grandpa and Becca.
“Yes, that’s correct. I actually called your office on Friday… and they advised that you were on extended leave. I did not know how to contact you and felt it was imperative that I speak with Mr. Reynolds both to ensure his safety and also that of my family,” her grandfather replied.
“I would hope it goes without saying that anything my client may have said implicating himself in any criminal activity will not culminate in charges or further probation oriented issues,” Becca said, eyeing her grandfather sternly.
“I am well aware of the law, Ms. Waters, and I can assure you that I have no intention of charging your client with any crimes or extending his probation in any way. Actually, I was prepared to offer your client a deal of sorts,” Grandpa said. “May I?”
“Of course,” Becca replied, sipping her wine.
“Mr. Reynolds, I’m prepared to offer you a choice in how you finish out the terms of your probation. Once you obtain a General Education Diploma, should you decide to further pursue your education, I am prepared to subtract two hours of community service for each hour of class time you spend in that pursuit,” Grandpa said, turning to Chuck. “Would that interest you at all?”
“So we’re back to Mr. Reynolds, huh?” Chuck asked. “That’s just great…”
Hearing the tone of dejection in Chuck’s voice she looked over at him. Sighing heavily he pushed his plate away and slouched back in his chair. “And here I thought we were tight,” he finished sarcastically.
“Contrary to how this may appear Chuck, my father and Ms. Waters are here for business. It just so happens they are meeting here rather than at a restaurant or in court. Sometimes it is necessary in a business situation to revert back to formal titles,” Carla explained. “Therefore, I must insist that you be respectful at this dinner table.”
“Sorry,” Chuck said, glancing at her mother and then sitting back up straight.
Looking back at Becca and her grandpa their mouths were gaping open and they stared at Chuck. Becca seemed to give Carla a nod of silent acknowledgment…or approval.
“Do I have to answer now?” Chuck asked.
“No, Chuck, you think about it for a while,” Becca said and then turning to her grandpa continu
ed, “We will have an answer to you upon his return from New York. I will assume responsibility for him during his time in New York and I will see that he is returned to complete his community service hours in compliance with the terms of his probation.”
“How long do you expect the trial to last?” Grandpa asked Becca.
“We expect no more than a week. The case is pretty cut and dried but the defendant is former FBI and so we have to do this by the book,” Detective Sanders interjected.
A sniff from her mother brought all eyes back to her. “Sorry… I’m going to miss him just as much as my daughter,” she said. Then seeing the incredulous looks she was receiving added, “I did the same thing every time Meredith left to go back to college… I’m sorry…”
Chapter Seventeen
Thursday morning found her riding behind Chuck on his bike heading for New York. Lilly was driving the camper. Lilly’s sister Sherri and Dana, who had to care for the baby, rode in the camper as well. They had all insisted that she ride on the bike with Chuck for a while since she’d never done it before.
Becca and Detective Sanders followed the camper in what appeared to be an unmarked police car. Bobby and Tommy rode their bikes side by side leading the entourage while Dickie rode beside her and Chuck on his own bike. It was a beautiful day as they traveled along the I-95 corridor. Leaning forward she hugged Chuck gently and relaxed against him.
By lunchtime she was ready for a break from the bikes and opted to ride with Lilly, Sherri and Dana in the camper for the rest of the day. When evening fell they headed to a campground that Tommy had selected and mapped out for everyone. Once they had arrived and set up the camper those who would be testifying in the upcoming trial followed Detective Sanders and Becca to a hotel a few miles away.
As they stood in the lobby waiting for the clerk to provide them with four rooms, Lilly grabbed her stomach and caught her breath all at once. Bobby went to her immediately with a dark scowl on his face.
“What’s wrong?” he asked in alarm.
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