by Tamie Dearen
“I don’t know. He was so rude to you at the wedding. I can’t believe you even agreed to help him out by watching Chloe. So I can’t help wondering if you still have feelings for him.”
“Emily! We never actually even dated.”
“Now that’s totally untrue,” Emily said. “As I recall, he kissed you twice. According to our dating rules, that means you had two dates, at least.”
“That’s a technicality,” Charlie retorted. “Seriously, you’ve got to help me. Saturday night, Olivia was suggesting Josh and I might get back together. If she thinks it could happen, she’ll never trust Josh.”
“But you’re really sure you don’t have feelings for Josh?” Emily pushed. “Because...”
“I’m not in love with him.” Charlie set her glass down with a little more force than necessary, splashing her tea on the table. She grabbed a napkin to wipe her splatters while she scrambling to determine the best way to convince her sister. “Look Emily, I’m really not in love with Josh. Really. If I were, would I be thinking about asking Derek to go on the ski trip?”
“Derek from Saturday night?” Emily’s jaw dropped open. “You’re taking him with us on the ski trip? And Steven’s okay with it?”
“Well, I haven’t actually decided whether to ask him or not. I was going to ask your advice. Steven said I could bring him. He met him last night, and I guess they hit it off. Evidently, Mom thought I might want a guy along since you and Grace and Olivia will all be paired off. Do you think it’s a good idea?”
“Do you like him?”
“He’s okay, but he’s very aggressive. My big concern is that he’ll take an invitation as meaning we’re a couple. He’s the kind of guy who might date me for a month and then ask me to marry him.”
“Hmmm. That’s bad, I guess. Unless you really like him, and then maybe you’ll fall in love and want to marry him.”
“You know me, sister. You know it takes me forever to fall in love.”
“And who have you ever been in love with?”
“No one,” Charlie glowered. “Because they’re always gone before it can actually happen. It could happen with Derek, I guess. But he’d have to be willing to wait a couple of years.”
“I think you should bring him.” Emily gave a sharp nod.
“Even after what I told you?”
“Yes, because we can use this to convince Olivia you’ve moved on and there are no feelings left between you and Josh.”
“But wouldn’t that be like using him?” Charlie asked. “Derek’s a nice guy. I don’t want to lead him on.”
“If he’s as forward as you say, you’d better have a long talk and lay out a few ground rules.”
“He already knows some of the rules.” Charlie chuckled. “Thanks to Hannah.”
“I really think this could work. But Olivia and Josh need to see you guys together, looking like more than friends.”
“No way. That would make things move too quickly between Derek and me. Unless...”
“Unless what?”
“Unless I told him a little about what was going on. Something tells me he’d be more than willing to do a bit of role play that included a kiss or two if I told him I needed to convince Olivia there was nothing between Josh and me.”
“You don’t think he’d feel used if you only did it to prove a point.”
Charlie rolled her eyes. “I doubt it.”
“ABSOLUTELY!” SAID DEREK. “You can use me all you want. In fact, I should probably come over and practice before we leave on the ski trip.” He laughed, while Charlie tried to keep the conversation serious. She’d called him as soon as she finished wiping the lasagna remnants from the kitchen and the kids.
“Derek, you do realize we’ll still only be friends? We won’t be dating, even though we’ll act like it on the trip.”
“Technically, if I kiss you, it’s a date. So we will, in fact, be dating when I kiss you. I’m sorry. I can’t change the rules.” He laughed again, and this time Charlie couldn’t help but join in.
She caught her breath. “Okay. But seriously, I’ll feel terrible if you get hurt from this. I don’t want you to think I have feelings for you.”
“Or you might fall for me and get your feelings hurt. Despite your high opinion of yourself, it goes both ways.”
“I didn’t mean it that way.”
“Charlie, you worry too much. I like you. I’m not in love with you. We’ll be friends-with-kissing-benefits. That’s all.”
“But we’re not going to kiss all the time.” Her voice betrayed a bit of panic. “Just once or twice when Olivia’s around.”
“And Josh. He needs to see it, too.”
“No, Josh is in love with Olivia already. But she doesn’t believe it because Josh and I had something between us a long time ago.”
“A long time ago?” Derek said, obviously unconvinced.
“Actually, he had feelings for me. I never really had feelings for him, except for friendship.”
“And you actually believe what you’re telling me?”
“Of course I do—it’s true.”
“Whatever you say, my little F.W.K.B. I’m seriously pumped about going on the ski trip. Are you sure I don’t have to pay anything? Even my plane ticket is paid for?”
“Well, yes. Because we’re all going on Steven’s jet.”
“Awesome! That’s so rad! Don’t worry, I won’t fall in love with you. I’m in love with your stepfather.”
“I didn’t even ask if you could actually ski. I assumed so because you made the mogul comment.”
“I’m good. But don’t fret about it—I’ll wait for you at the bottom.”
“I don’t suppose you’d like to make a wager on who’s a better skier?”
“Hmmm... I seem to remember you saying you lived in Colorado before you came here. So I’m going to go with answer B. No. And that’s my final answer.”
“You have chosen wisely,” she said, in her best Monty Python and the Holy Grail voice. “And you’re okay with the huge group that’s going, including three two-year-olds and a nine-year-old, all staying in one big house?”
“The last time I went skiing, there were seven guys sleeping in a one bedroom condo. I think I can handle the crowd.”
“And the kids?”
“I don’t know much about babies, but my step-brother is ten, and we get along great. Seriously, Charlie. I can’t believe you asked me to go, and I can’t believe Steven Gherring is paying for it. I swear to you, I won’t complain about anything.”
When Charlie hung up, she felt great about inviting Derek. He’d be fun to have around. And he seemed enthusiastic about helping convince Olivia she was interested in him instead of Josh. Maybe a bit too enthusiastic. But all in all, she’d made a good decision.
“Hey, kids. You want to help me make chocolate chip cookies?”
As always the three were enthusiastic about any new adventure, so there was a lot of running and jumping and screaming involved in heading toward the kitchen. She made sure all their hands were washed clean before letting them help her measure and mix the cookie dough. The entire process took about three times as long as usual, and they lost interest before all the ingredients had been added. But they had a good time emptying the pots and pans from the drawer and climbing inside.
She’d just put the first batch in the oven when she heard a knock at the door. Baffled, she ran to answer it.
“Grace!” she exclaimed, pulling her into a hug. “Did you have a great time on your trip? I can’t believe you came to see me.”
Before Grace could answer, a scream sounded in the kitchen. Charlie hurried in to find Chloe crying. Charlie scooped her up and examined the finger she held out. “Did you hurt your finger?”
“No! Ew-wis did it!” she answered, as a huge tear rolled down her rosy cheek.
“Oh, no! How many kisses does it need? Two? Or Three?”
“Thwee!”
Charlie placed three flourishing kisses,
“One! Two! Three!” Then she started kissing her neck, “Four! Five!” And she kissed down onto her tummy, “Six, Seven!” Soon Chloe’s tears had become hysterical giggles.
As she put her down on the floor, Ellis and Micah came over. “Do me! Do me!” they demanded. She proceeded to kiss them on their tummies until they rolled on the floor with laughter.
She stood up and dusted off her hands, smiling at Grace, who’d followed her into the kitchen. “Crisis averted,” she said.
Grace stared at the adorable blond-headed girl. “Is that Chloe? What’s she doing here?”
“Yeah. You met her already?”
“We met her last night at Josh’s. He was trying to explain about the custody thing.”
“It’s terrible, isn’t it? I mean the timing’s really awful. Now he’s having to rush things with Olivia.”
Grace chose her words carefully, watching Charlie’s reactions. “Yes. And I think it’s a terrible idea.”
“What’s a terrible idea?”
“Olivia marrying Josh. It’s a terrible idea.”
“It’s only terrible they’re having to rush into it.” Charlie continued to place balls of cookie dough on the baking sheet as she argued. “If it weren’t for the custody thing, he’d have plenty of time to prove how much he loves her.”
“How much he...” her voice trailed off. “You think he loves her?”
“Of course he does—he told me so.” Charlie’s voice dipped a little. “I mean, why wouldn’t he love Olivia? She’s beautiful and smart and she loves medicine, just like he does.” Her jaw muscles flexed. “Once she gives him a chance, she’ll see he really loves her.”
“Charlie... I don’t know how to tell you this. But Josh doesn’t love Olivia. He only wants to marry her for a year so he can get custody of the kids.”
“You’re wrong. Why would he tell me he loved Olivia if he didn’t?”
Grace pondered this question. Why indeed? Why would he feel the need to convince Charlie he was in love with Olivia? Unless he was trying to cover up his feelings for Charlie?
“Let’s say you’re right,” said Grace. “Why would he offer to marry her for only a year?”
“Because by then, he’ll have time to prove it to her. Once she lives with him and sees what a great dad he is, and how he loves his kids, and how he loves her and how he’s faithful to her, she won’t want to end the marriage.” Charlie spoke with the enthusiasm of a statesman, her eyes glimmering with adulation. “She’d be a fool to give it up.”
Grace bit her lips. Olivia’s right—Charlie’s ridiculously in love with Josh. There’s no question about it. And I have a strong suspicion Josh is still in love with Charlie, too.
“Okay Charlie, I’m convinced.” She chuckled inwardly. She hadn’t said what she was convinced of—only that she’d been convinced.
She watched the tension melt from Charlie’s face. “So now we need to persuade Olivia,” Charlie said. “And we can do it on the ski trip.”
“DO YOU THINK SHE REALLY made cookies?” Jace asked Josh as they rode up the elevator.
“I bet she did. She usually keeps her promises.” He certainly hoped she’d found time to make the cookies while watching the toddlers, or they would have one disappointed little boy on their hands.
Jace pushed past Charlie when she opened the door. “Did you make the cookies?”
“I did. There’s a fresh batch on the kitchen counter. Right out of the oven. Do you want a glass of milk?”
“Yeah!” Jace bounded for the kitchen with Josh and Charlie trailing behind. Charlie poured a tall glass of milk to accompany the cookies she handed him.
“Only two right now. But I’ll send some home with you for after dinner.”
“Can you come to our house for dinner?” Jace asked.
“Thanks for asking,” she said, with an awkward glance at Josh. “I have to pack my suitcase tonight. Maybe some other time.”
“These are the best chocolate chip cookies I’ve ever had,” Jace declared, sporting a milk-mustache. “I wish you could make me some every day.”
“I’ll make cookies while we’re on the ski trip. You can have some every night.”
“You promise?”
“I do. I promise.”
“Uncle Josh said you keep your promises.”
He needed to watch what he said around Jace in the future.
“Well that was a nice thing for your uncle to say. Do you want to play with the little kids? We made play dough today.” Josh followed Charlie and Jace to the sunny area where the toddlers were playing on the floor.
“I’m not sure if they’ve played more or eaten more,” Charlie admitted. “They mostly like to squeeze it between their fingers and smash it on each other. But it’s mainly flour, so it won’t hurt them. But Chloe might not be hungry tonight,” she explained to Josh with an exhausted smile.
“How do you know all this stuff?” Josh asked, wondering if there was a book he could buy. He was certain Olivia wouldn’t be interested in learning Charlie’s tricks.
“I don’t know. Over the years I’ve always taken care of kids, and I’ve picked up things here and there.”
Jace held up a lumpy figure. “Aunt Charlie, this is you. Do you like it? Your hair is blue because there wasn’t any brown play dough.” His blond brows creased as he awaited her verdict.
“I love it. I’ve always thought it would be fun to have blue hair.”
Jace smiled with satisfaction.
“It looks just like you,” Josh joked. Charlie whacked him in the arm with her fist.
“Aunt Charlie, are Micah and Ellis your babies?”
“No. They’re my brothers.”
“Really? But you’re so old!”
She laughed, “Yes, I’m very old. I’m twenty-five. But we have the same mom. You’ll meet her on the ski trip. You’ll like her, and she’s gonna love meeting you.”
“She will? Why?”
“Because Ellis and Micah are her first boys, so she doesn’t know anything about little boys. You’ll be able to teach her all sorts of things about what little boys like. You won’t mind helping her, will you?”
“No. I’ll teach her everything I know,” he pledged with a serious tone. “Hey, Aunt Charlie? Do you have any kids?”
“No. I’m not married. I don’t have any of my own kids, so I only get to play with other people’s kids. That’s why it’s nice your Uncle Josh is sharing you and Chloe with me.”
“So why don’t you want to marry Uncle Josh, then? I wouldn’t mind being your kid. And Chloe likes you, too.”
Josh felt the blood rush to his face. Charlie’s cheeks were bright red as she quickly answered, “I’m sure I can still play with you after Uncle Josh and Aunt Olivia get married.”
Jace frowned. “But Uncle Josh said—”
“Time to go,” Josh interrupted, hurrying to grab Chloe’s diaper bag. Charlie scurried around as well, quickly packing some homemade cookies for Jace to take home.
“But I wasn’t finished with my turtle,” Jace complained.
“No problem,” Charlie said, placing a large quantity of green play dough in a zip-lock bag and handing it to Jace.
“Thanks, Charlie,” Josh said as he escaped out the door with Chloe. “Come on, Jace. We’ve got to go.”
“I’m coming.” Jace’s lower lip was pushed out. On his way out the door, he tugged on Charlie’s arm and when she bent over, whispered something in her ear, at which her face flushed again.
In the elevator, Josh asked warily, “What did you say to Aunt Charlie?”
“Nothing,” he said, lifting his chin and clamping his lips shut.
GRACE HUGGED EMILY when she opened the door. “Thanks, for having me over for dinner. Brad’s pulling a double shift to make up for having so much time off. Hey Big Brother.” Though she stood on tiptoe, Spencer still had to stoop to give her a hug.
“You don’t have to teach at all this week?” he asked.
“No, we go
t a sub for the whole time instead of me coming back for two days before the Christmas break. So I’m off until school starts again in January.”
Emily said, “We looked at the twenty pictures you put up from the honeymoon trip. Surely you’ve got more.”
“Yeah, Brad went crazy with his new camera. We have about a thousand,” she chuckled. “Now he’s editing, so who knows how long it will take to go through all of them.”
“I made your favorite for dinner,” said Spencer. “Fried chicken strips and baked sweet potato chips.”
“Yum! I can’t wait. But I think I gained ten pounds on the honeymoon. I really need to lose a few pounds. Speaking of losing a few pounds... Do you think Charlie’s okay? She looks like she’s lost weight to me, and she didn’t have any extra on her.”
Emily looked concerned. “Do you think so? She’s probably a little stressed, watching the twins and all.”
“And now she’s watching Chloe, too,” Grace said, watching for Emily’s reaction.
“You know about that?”
“Yes, we got the lowdown from Josh last night at his apartment. And we met both kids.”
“Do you think Olivia’s going to marry him?” asked Spencer.
“Right now she says she won’t.”
“I don’t think she should.” A deep crease appeared on his forehead.
“But Josh loves her.” Emily gave his arm a soothing pat. “Once she realizes that, everything will be fine. I don’t want her to throw away their whole relationship because of this complication.”
“Olivia doesn’t believe that Josh loves her,” Grace ventured.
“Neither do I,” Spencer agreed. “I don’t think he’d be planning a short-term marriage if he was in love with her. He’s just using her.”
“But Spencer, he told Charlie he loves Olivia. He only needs a chance to prove it to her,” said Emily.
Grace decided to throw out a bone and see what happened. “Olivia thinks he still loves Charlie.”
“Well if he does, he certainly has a funny way of showing it,” Emily retorted. “He was pretty rude to her until he needed her to watch Chloe for him. I wouldn’t have blamed Charlie if she’d sent him packing when he showed up with Chloe. But she loves kids. I really think that’s why she’s so gung-ho about helping Josh convince Olivia to marry him. She said she can tell how much he loves Jace and Chloe, and she really wants him to get custody.”
