by M. Sembera
Before Auggie made it back to his chair, Braden shared, "I'm thinkin' about making an appointment with Kieran. I still have it."
Recalling the heart Braden had their mom draw the night he was going to propose to Lily, Auggie discouraged, "She's still married."
Braden shot him a dirty look, saying, "Jackson got his while Ren was still married."
"I know you're not comparing her to Ren," Auggie snapped.
"Still have a little crush on her do ya?"
"Want me to put you through the door again do ya?"
"Don't know. You still hidin' her picture in your underwear drawer?"
Remembering the crazy crush he had on Ren during his teenage years, he had long since grown out of it. Ren was gorgeous, but it was her attitude that had been most attractive to him. He respected her. Auggie never thought he would meet a woman that compared to her, until now.
Focusing back on his brother, to keep his thoughts of Charlotte at bay, Auggie fussed, "Man you know damn good and well, Lily's gonna go back with him the minute he's out."
Standing up, Braden argued, "I already told you, she's gonna ask for a divorce."
"Why ask? Why wait for him to get out? Why not file for divorce now?"
Braden appeared hurt as he replied, "Why not be my brother and have my back?"
"I always got your back, just like the first time around."
"That's not gonna happen again."
"The girl that cheated on you is cheating with you and you think things will somehow turn out different?"
"She was mine first!"
"Is that what this is? A pride thing? You tryin' to get back at Keven for doin' her behind your back?"
"Like your hard-hearted ass would understand," Braden snapped, turning towards the front door.
"I'm your brother."
"Act like it then." Pulling his cellphone out of his back pocket, Braden replied, "Lily texted, I gotta go."
Shaking his head, Auggie said, "Be careful."
"You know I will."
Thinking to himself 'Damn fool', Auggie gave his brother a nod.
~
Charlotte arrived home to find Emerson and Amila waiting in the kitchen for her. She had hoped to go straight to her room. Maybe scream into her pillow. Definitely think about the kiss. Now she was stuck in the kitchen having a conversation with her parents.
"Lola's friend invited her to spend the night," Amila shared with an apprehensive expression on her face before Emerson stated, "We would like to talk to you."
Thinking, 'What is this, an intervention', Charlotte stood next to the kitchen table where Emerson and Amila sat, saying, "I would like to go to my room."
Emerson cleared his throat before questioning, "Where have you been?"
"Out."
With a disapproving stare, he stated, "You cannot tell us where you were?"
Glancing at Amila's sweet yet concerned smile, Charlotte replied, "I can. I just choose not to."
"Because you think we will not approve?" Emerson replied.
With a loud huff, Charlotte assured, "Because I am a grown up and it's none of anyone's business what I do. And trust me, approval isn't something I need."
Amila quickly broke in, saying, "Charlotte, we know you are a grown up but you are also back under our roof and it's common courtesy to be respectful."
"I'm not trying to be disrespectful."
Emerson stood up, "It must come naturally to you then because that is exactly what you are being."
Counting backwards from ten in her head, Charlotte focused on Amila, asking, "Is this because I got a tattoo?"
Emerson answered before Amila had a chance to, "We are having this conversation because you brought a very nice and respectable man home to meet us and as soon as he left, you have been going out doing God knows what."
Amila chimed in, saying, "We just want to make sure you are okay," as she gave Emerson a 'That's enough' stare.
As Charlotte felt herself growing angrier at Emerson's statement, she looked at Amila and informed, "Since Lola's not coming home tonight, I'm going out. I will call if I stay the night somewhere, so you don't worry." Then glaring at Emerson, she stated, "As far as where I go and what I do while I'm there, that's not any of your business."
Charlotte started to walk out of the kitchen, when the phone rang.
Amila answered the phone, motioning for Charlotte to stay.
While Amila seemed to be listening to whoever was on the line, Emerson lowered his voice, saying, "Trace called after you left. He said he may have upset you and would like to apologize."
Charlotte could not believe what she was hearing.
Amila walked up and handed Charlotte the cordless, saying, "Sorry is just a word," loud enough so Trace could hear her.
Charlotte's hand started to shake as she took the phone, answering, "Hello."
"My lovely, please forgive me."
Glancing between Emerson and Amila, who clearly were not going to leave the room, Charlotte replied, "Why should I."
Trace's voice was low as he explained, "I was shocked. Much like you were when I shared something I enjoy with you and you found it unpleasant."
"I don't feel we are on the same page with that," she replied, filtering her answer in front of her parents.
"I know your environment there is trying. I understand. I am also suffering. Being so far from you has affected me in many ways. I do apologize for overreacting. My behavior was uncalled for. Please take the time you have left there to think things over. You and I have a significant amount of time invested in each other. You do not have to forgive me. All I ask is that you consider the time we have spent together and recognize whatever takes place while you are away will have no bearing on your life once you are home."
Charlotte took a moment to consider what Trace was saying.
"You are coming back?"
"Yes," she replied, reminding herself that this town and the people in it were temporary for her.
"Then please my beauty, do not decide anything until I return for you."
A bit overwhelmed by her own thoughts, she replied, "Okay," and hung up the phone.
As Charlotte set the phone down on the table, Amila asked, "Are you alright honey?"
Nodding, she walked past Emerson and Amila and headed to her room.
There was a lot of truth in what Trace said. Whether she ended up accepting his proposal or not, this was not her home and she had no intentions of staying.
~
Fighting the same battle with the dreaded ledger book as he had before Charlotte intervened, Auggie got up from his kitchen table and grabbed a Guinness out of his refrigerator. He thought about calling her then quickly decided against it. He wasn't about to let her think he couldn't handle things without her. If she had been interested in the least she would have stayed.
Just as he was about to sit down at the table and get back at it, there was a knock at his door. Taking a seat, he figured it was Braden. It was unlocked so eventually he would let himself in once he got tired of knocking.
Focusing on the ledger, Auggie asked, "Change of plans?" when he heard his front door open.
"Something like that."
Auggie quickly looked up and almost fell out of his chair when he saw Charlotte step in and close the door behind herself.
"I thought you were Braden."
"Oh-kay."
"He was here earlier."
Nodding, she made her way to the table.
Confused Auggie had no idea why she was there or why she dressed the way she was. Standing next to the table without taking a seat, Charlotte was wearing a pair of black slacks and a grey v-neck t-shirt. He would never have guessed she owned a pair of pants, but he figured it was her way of saying keep your hands to yourself.
~
Charlotte eased herself into the seat next to him. After several occasions when Auggie made disapproving comments about her wardrobe, now that she was dressed a bit more modest he was looking at he
r like she was wearing a trash bag.
"Need some help?" she asked, glancing at the ledger.
Scowling at her, he griped, "Nope."
Deciding the kiss was an error in his judgment, she stood back up, saying, "I'll just take my heels and go then."
He gave her a blank stare before standing up and walking to his room. Shaking her head at herself, she felt stupid. She knew what was going on and she didn't appreciate it one bit.
Standing in the living room, Charlotte waited for her heels. Once she had her favorite stilettos back, she would tell him off and then finally be done with this particular member of the Caffrey family once and for all.
"Here ya go," Auggie said, handing them to her.
Snatching them out of his hand, Charlotte did a quick inspection to make sure nothing had happened to them in his care.
"Look a... earlier."
Hugging her heels tight to her chest, she assured, "I had a moment of uncertainty."
"Is that right?"
"Yes. So don't put yourself out. I don't need pity from someone like you."
"Someone like me? I don't do pity so don't go thinkin' I would feel sorry for you. Even for a second."
Furious he wouldn't admit what she had decided he was guilty of, Charlotte questioned, "Then what was it?"
"Uncertainty," he replied with a sarcastic expression.
Nodding, Charlotte said, "Well, that's it then."
~
Standing in front of Charlotte, Auggie couldn't believe she thought he felt sorry for her or that he would kiss her out of pity. She's the one that walked out earlier. Deciding she was working some sort of angle, he was tired of having to defend himself to her.
"That's it? That's all you have to say for yourself?"
Charlotte's mood had noticeably shifted as she replied, "What would you like me to say?"
"Unbelievable," he blurted throwing his arms up in the air before correcting himself, "No, I do believe it. You have been tormenting me since the moment you got back to town..."
Cutting him off as she shoved her finger in his face, Charlotte fussed, "You are the one that has been ridiculous this whole time."
"I'm ridiculous?" he shouted at her before taunting, "Augustus, let me help you. Let me strut around your house in next to nothing. Augustus, take me to a club. Let me rub up against you every single chance I get. Augustus, I'm gonna mess with you as much as possible but wait I don't like to be picked on. Augustus..."
"If I'm so horrible then why did you kiss me?"
Having reached his breaking point, Auggie snapped, "'Cause you're sexy as hell especially when you're not tryin' and I can't get you outta my damn head."
Taking a deep breath, she spouted, "I'm leaving."
Instantly thinking, 'Good riddance', Auggie waited for her to walk out.
The longer he stood there waiting for her to leave, the harder it was for him to be happy about her walking out of his door. Why wasn't she going? She was just standing there looking like there were a million things going through his mind without saying a word.
Feeling her presence and her silence pulling him closer to her, he asked, "Why did you let me kiss you?"
Her voice was soft as she replied, "You make me feel... I'm leaving."
Scowling at her he wondered 'Feel what, good?' as he said, "You haven't left yet. Answer me."
~
Something clicked and Charlotte realized he was right. She hadn't left yet. Why spend the rest of her time here miserable when she could be spending it with him. There was no big decision to make there. He'd kissed her, not proposed. How was she supposed to make the right choice for the rest of her life when she's holding out on herself.
"Kiss me."
Without hesitation, Auggie's hands slid to the sides of her face as his lips pressed against hers.
A slow sideways smile spread across Auggie's face as Charlotte opened her eyes.
Feeling a smile of her own forming, Charlotte shared, "Good. You make me feel good."
Auggie closed his eyes and leaned his forehead against hers for a moment before reaching down and taking her heels away. After carefully setting them on his coffee table, he wrapped his arms around her waist and pulled her against him.
"I want you to stay the night."
Charlotte's entire being instantly responded to his words.
"Not tonight."
"Tomorrow?"
Sliding her hands up Auggie's chest and around to the back of his neck, Charlotte replied, "Don't ruin this."
His eyes reflected a genuine understanding of her request as he slowly nodded before pulling her into another kiss.
19
Rules
Penny was sitting on the front porch of their mom's house when Auggie walked up. Seeing her sitting on the porch swing holding the bottom of her long auburn hair in her hand as she skimmed her finger along the ends, something she only did when she was upset, he sat down next to her.
"What's wrong Henny Penny?"
Turning away from him, Penny grumbled, "Shut up Auggie."
"Come on, now," he urged nudging her a bit.
"Just go inside and leave me alone."
Shaking his head at her, Auggie stood up and headed into the house.
Wondering what Penny's problem was as he made his way to the kitchen, he could hear his mom banging pots and pans around.
"Hey Ma," he greeted as Sarah swung around and slammed a pot against the kitchen table.
"That girl needs to get her priorities straight."
Taking a deep breath, Auggie stepped towards his mom. This wasn't an unusual conversation. Every few months Sarah would get tired of Penny's lack of motivation and life goals.
Shaking her head at him, Sarah sat at the kitchen table placed her hand across her forehead, sharing, "Your sister has crossed the line this time. At least you have some sense."
"How am I in this?"
Sarah quickly stood up and turned toward the sink, saying, "The last thing she needs is to start running around with someone like Charlotte."
Deciding she was talking about the other night at the bar, he replied, "Ma, I..."
"And don't you worry, I told Sheryl I was sure you were avoiding a scene by going out to the car to speak with her. That girl sure has it in for you and I don't want the whole town to think your sneaking around with Charlotte Roberts."
Auggie shook his head and scowled as he agreed, "Yea."
With a heavy sigh, Sarah turned to him, assuring, "Don't get me wrong, I don't hold any ill will against her and neither should you. She just isn't for this family."
If Sarah only knew, 'Ill will' wasn't what he wanted to hold against Charlotte, she would probably disown him.
"Let me go talk to Penny, okay."
Nodding, Sarah hugged Auggie, "Maybe she'll listen to you."
The second Sarah let go, he headed out of the kitchen unable to look at his mom.
Once again, Sheryl was causing trouble for him and for no good reason other than, she could. As he made his way out of the front door Penny was on her way in. Shaking his head at her, Auggie shooed her back outside.
"I'm not allowed inside now?"
Frowning at her, Auggie snapped, "Calm down."
"It's not fair! She acts like y'all are saints and I can't do anything right."
With a slight laugh, he assured, "We're not."
"I know that, stupid," she blurted before griping, "I haven't even come close to doing what y'all have done. It's not fair."
"I know Pen, but you're the baby and mom's only girl," he reminded before teasing, "Except for Ailin but he's already married off."
Holding back a smile, she warned, "Don't do that, I'm mad right now."
Placing his arm around his sister, Auggie advised, "If you moved out, you wouldn't have to answer to her."
Penny shrugged his arm off of her shoulders and rolled her eyes.
As Auggie stood there staring at her, he realized she was exactly who he needed to talk
to.
"So you're a girl."
Penny instantly laughed, saying, "If I'm not, I know quite a few guys that are fixing to have a real identity crisis."
Scowling, he griped, "I don't want to hear that."
Pursing her lips at him, she replied, "Fine, yes Auggie I'm a girl."
Stopping a moment to think, he said, "Say I met someone..."
"Am I supposed to pretend I don't know who we're talking about?"
"I'd appreciate it."
Rolling her eyes as she shook her head, "Go on."
"How do I not ruin it?"
"What makes you think you would?"
Scowling at her, he said, "Walk with me out to my truck."
Making their way off of the porch, Auggie mentally questioned how much he really wanted to share with his sister.
"I'm not good at this Pen," he admitted.
"In case you hadn't heard, neither am I," Penny replied as they reached his truck.
"Never mind," he mumbled, reaching for the door handle of his truck.
"Okay, wait. What does she like?"
Shrugging, he replied, "She drinks beer."
"Seriously?"
Racking his brain, he blurted, "Clothes!" before sharing, "I've never seen her wear the same thing twice."
Taking a slow deep breath, Penny said, "Oh my goodness... Auggie, as simple as you are, women are a little more complicated than that."
"What do you mean?"
"Look, since you've never had anything steady, it's probably better if you take it back to high school," as he gave her a confused stare she added, "You know how did you get a girl to go out with you then?"
"I never asked."
"How did you go on dates then?"
"I didn't. Before I started working at the bar with dad, I'd go to a party and..."
With one hand against the top of her stomach and the other stretched out facing him, Penny stopped him, "No. Just... No."
"What?"
"I can't believe you're that guy."
"That guy?"
"Yea, the drunken mistake, my boyfriend cheated on me, the guy I like doesn't like me, make myself feel better, unreliable, don't call, get dressed and go home right after, only in it for himself guy."
