The Husband Maker Boxed Set

by White, Karey

  I shrugged and kept chewing, even though I had already swallowed.

  “Have you seen that new Reese Witherspoon movie?” I asked.

  “Nice try,” Aleena said. “Let’s talk about Scotland. When are you going?”

  “I’m not,” I said.

  “You really should,” Aleena said. “What a great chance to see another part of the world.” Aleena turned to Angus. “He’s invited her over and over and she keeps putting him off.”

  “Why?” Angus turned to me.

  “I’m busy. I’ve got lots of projects going on at work.”

  “Oh please. That’s not why you’re not going.”

  I gave Aleena a pointed look, but she wasn’t looking at me, so she didn’t see it.

  “Why aren’t you going?” Angus asked.

  I took another bite of salad. “I think she’s not going because she’s afraid she’s falling for him and a boyfriend in Scotland is pretty inconvenient.”

  “I’ve never said I’m falling for him, but you’re right. Scotland isn’t convenient.”

  “Maybe he’ll move back here,” Angus said. “His brother did.”

  “And that’s why he won’t,” I said. “He doesn’t want to leave his mom and the family business.”

  “Maybe you could split your time between here and there.” Finally, Aleena looked at me and I gave her a “shut up” look. “What? I’m just trying to help you work things out. Maybe the fortune meant long-term romance.”

  “What fortune?” Angus asked.

  “Charlotte’s fortune cookie that said ‘romance will come to you from foreign lands,’” Aleena said.

  “First of all,” I said, “that was your fortune. Second, I don’t believe in fortunes. Third, let’s talk about something else.”

  “Why?” Angus asked. “He seemed like a nice guy.”

  I sighed. “He is a nice guy. A nice guy who lives in Scotland.”

  “Who’s invited you to come visit,” Aleena said.

  “I think you should go,” said Angus. I stared at him. When I realized my mouth was hanging open, I hurried and clamped it shut. “What?” Angus looked at my surprised face. “Has he asked you to marry him and move there forever?”

  I shook my head. For some reason, I had expected Angus to discourage me from going. I would have thought he would disapprove. I’d have imagined him saying, “Don’t follow a guy halfway around the world unless you mean business.” But instead he was telling me I should go.

  Angus and I looked at each other for longer than was comfortable. I could feel Aleena’s eyes on us, and I wanted to look away, but I needed to read what was behind Angus’s words. Finally, he lowered his eyes. “Just go. There’s nothing here to stop you.”

  What did he mean? My family was here. My friends were here. My job was here. There was plenty here to stop me.

  I laughed, but it sounded fake. “If I didn’t know better, I’d say you want me to move to another country.”

  Angus shrugged. “Just want you to be happy, Charlotte, and you don’t seem to be happy with what you’ve got here.”

  I took a drink of water and blinked hard, determined not to cry.

  I think Aleena sensed the need to change the subject, because she piped in with a funny story about one of the waiters at work. We all laughed, but it didn’t feel like friends laughing. It felt forced and tense.

  When they had first agreed to stay, I had thought maybe we could watch a movie or play games after dinner, but now I just wanted them to go. “I’ve got these dishes,” I said when we were finished eating.

  “We can help you,” Aleena said.

  “No.” It came out a little more forcefully than I had meant for it to. “Really. You guys had plans, and I’ve already interrupted them enough.”

  “If we go now we can probably make a movie,” Angus said.

  “What about the cookies?” Aleena asked.

  “Charlotte, do you mind if we split the dough and take some with us?” I didn’t need to answer because Angus was already dividing it.

  “Here,” I said, handing him a freezer bag.

  Aleena looked confused as we divided the dough. I didn’t look at Angus and I’m pretty sure he was avoiding me, too.

  “Thanks for dinner,” Angus said at the door. “Tell Gina the lasagna was delicious. And be sure Will sees I brought back the GoPro. I don’t want him thinking I still have it.”

  “I’ll tell them,” I said.

  Aleena hugged me goodbye and followed Angus down the sidewalk to the car. I felt a flood of relief when they pulled away and turned the corner.

  And then I felt abandoned. I had just spent time with my two closest friends, and I felt utterly alone.

  Emily began crying and I was grateful to hear it. Maybe caring for her would keep me from analyzing what had just happened.

  Cuddy was just finishing up a haircut when I stopped into his shop. He had owned the barbershop just below my apartment for more than forty years and he was one of my favorite things about where I live.

  “Charlotte. Sit down. I’m nearly finished and then I’ve got a break for a few minutes.”

  I put my bag of groceries on the counter and sat down in one of Cuddy’s three barber chairs. A man who looked to be in his late twenties or early thirties sat in another chair. Cuddy’s gnarled hands worked quickly, shaving the man’s neck. He brushed off the loose hair and squeezed a dab of Brylcreem, rubbing his hands together and then working it into the short strands. Then Cuddy worked his magic with a comb, and the man looked ready for a walk down the red carpet. Cuddy led him to the cash register and took his payment before shaking the man’s hand.

  I liked watching Cuddy work. Despite his age, his carriage was tall and elegant and he was a perfect gentleman.

  When the customer was gone, Cuddy turned around and smiled at me. “Charlotte, this is a nice surprise. How are you?”

  “I’m doing well. I just went grocery shopping, and when I saw these, I thought of you.” I pulled out a package of Oreos. I knew Cuddy loved Oreos.

  Not long after I had moved into my apartment, a bouquet of flowers had been left at Cuddy’s Barbershop for me. It was a stunning arrangement of Juliet garden roses, and Cuddy had been excited for me to get home so he could give them to me. I had carried them upstairs in a perfumed euphoria, eager to open the card and see what the occasion was.

  I had been dating Brad for about two months. It had been a casual relationship based on our mutual excitement to be college graduates. Brad’s last name was Emell, which meant that during our college graduation ceremony, we were seated beside each other. We talked about our excitement to get out in the real world, and I coveted his long eyelashes. Just before we threw our caps, he had pulled out his cell phone and asked if he could have my number so he could give me a call. He seemed nice and I was feeling a little giddy about graduating, so giving him my number seemed like a good thing to do.

  Brad landed an advertising job while we were dating and it crossed my mind that maybe this lavish bouquet was to celebrate his first full week on the job.

  I put the flowers on the counter and pulled the card out of the little envelope.

  Charlotte,

  Thanks for helping me kill time while I waited for Ashley to get home. It’s been fun. Maybe I’ll see you around.

  Brad

  What? This was the first time he had ever mentioned Ashley. If I’d had stronger feelings for Brad, I would have been disappointed. As it was, I was just incensed. I ran into Brad and Ashley at Bed, Bath and Beyond several months later. They were filling out their wedding registry. Brad introduced me as a girl from one of his classes, even though we had never been in a class together.

  I still think of Brad as one of the biggest jerks I’ve dated.

  The morning after the flower delivery, Cuddy stepped out of the barber shop and asked me what the occasion had been. I told him it was a very beautiful breakup bouquet. Later that day, when he closed up the shop, he rang my bell and
said he had something for me. I went down to meet him, and he handed me a package of Oreos.

  “These are my favorite. My wife, Belle, used to get these for me if I was having a hard day. I thought they might cheer you up.”

  I had hugged him and then opened the package right there on the doorstep and given him a few.

  I love Cuddy.

  “Oh, Charlotte, you don’t have to buy me Oreos.”

  “Actually, I wanted a few but I didn’t want a whole box, so you’re saving me from myself.”

  “Well, let’s get you a few.”

  Cuddy opened the package and I took three Oreos. “Thanks.”

  He shook his head. “Silly girl.” He ate a cookie. “I wish I had a single grandson. I would like to make you part of my family.” This wasn’t the first time he had said this.

  “We’ll just pretend I’m your grand-daughter.”

  “I like that.” He gave me a grand-fatherly smile.

  The front door opened and two men entered the shop.

  “I’d better get the rest of these groceries put away,” I said.

  Cuddy patted my back. “Thank you for the cookies.”

  The sun was blinding when I stepped back out on the sidewalk. I turned to my right to unlock my door, and there stood Kyle, ringing my doorbell. I had practically run into him, so there was no slinking away and hiding.

  “Charlotte. Hi.”

  “Hi.”

  He looked good. So good. He wore a pair of gray chinos and a maroon Henley with the sleeves pushed up almost to his elbows. I looked down at my purse. I couldn’t handle looking at his eyes. Or his smile. It occurred to me that as good as he looked, it might have been hard to live in the shadow of his dazzle.

  “I hope you don’t mind that I stopped by to see you.”

  “No. No. Not at all. Of course not.” Shut up, Charlotte.

  “Good. You’ve been on my mind and then I saw Jayne and Trent a couple of nights ago. I asked how you were doing, and she said I should ask you.”

  “She did?” I wasn’t sure what Jayne was thinking. Was she respecting my privacy? Or did she think she could reignite what we had?

  “Have you had lunch?”

  I couldn’t believe Kyle was standing here. I had wanted to see him for so long, and now that he was here, I didn’t know what to do.

  “Um . . .”

  “I just want to talk to you. Just an hour or so. Unless you’ve already eaten.”

  I shook my head. “I haven’t. Let me go put these groceries away.”

  “Of course. I’ll just wait down here. I thought we could walk to Anthony’s and get a sandwich.”

  “I’ll be back.” My hand shook as I unlocked the door. I didn’t hurry. I needed a few minutes to mend my nerves. I put the groceries away and took a minute to brush through my hair before I went back down. I stood inside the door for a minute, my hand on the knob, and took a few deep breaths.

  “Ready?” Kyle asked.

  “Sure.”

  The walk to Anthony’s was as awkward as any walk I had ever taken. I left a couple of feet between us. The last thing I wanted was to accidentally touch him. Did he know I knew he was engaged? Would it be best to let him tell me and then congratulate him, or should I get it out there in the open? Would he act overjoyed or sheepish?

  I wanted to turn around and walk back to my apartment.

  When we arrived at the restaurant, Kyle held the door. I felt him glance at me while we waited in line to order our sandwiches, but I kept my eyes pinned on the menu board on the wall. After we ordered, we sat down at an empty booth to wait for our food, and I really looked at Kyle for the first time since he had startled me on the sidewalk. He was still handsome. His hair was a little shorter than it had been while we were dating. It was combed neatly in place and looked very polished.

  “Congratulations,” I said and smiled what I hoped was a genuine-looking smile.

  “Thank you. I thought you probably knew, but I wasn’t sure.”

  “I’ve known for a while.”

  I twisted my hands in my lap, glad he couldn’t see them. They would certainly give away my flustered state of mind.

  “Wyatt was wondering if Angus knows.”

  “He does.”

  Kyle nodded. “It was crazy how it came about. Mom had hired Wyatt to plan a Christmas reception at our house.” I noticed that he said “reception” instead of “party.” Maybe politicians don’t have parties. “She was there at the house working with Mom when I stopped in one afternoon. We talked for a minute that day, but not much. Then she was there at the reception, working, and after it was over we went out for coffee and hit it off.”

  “I was surprised when I first found out, but after I thought about it, it seemed like a really good match. She’ll be a good wife for you.”

  Kyle nodded again. “She’s great.”

  A waiter brought our sandwiches to the table. I cut mine in half and took a bite.

  “How have you been, Charlotte?”

  I didn’t tell him how much I had missed him. I didn’t tell him how many times I had looked at his pictures or how many times I’d almost called him. I didn’t tell him how many days I had spent crying or that, even now, it was hard to look at him without feeling the loss.

  “I’m good.”

  “Are you dating anyone?” Kyle looked earnest and I knew if I said I was, it would assuage his guilty conscience. Not that Kyle had been at fault. I had initiated our breakup. But I knew there was probably some guilt that he had moved on so quickly. I’ve always been uncomfortable with the discomfort of others, and I didn’t want Kyle to feel bad.

  “I’m sort of seeing a guy from Scotland.”

  “Really? Wyatt was sure you’d be dating Angus.”

  “Why would I be dating Angus?”

  Kyle shook his head. “Tell me about this guy from Scotland.”

  “Well, he’s there. In Scotland. So I guess we’re sort of attempting the long-distance thing.”

  “How did you meet?”

  I gave Kyle a brief rundown on how we met and how we were still communicating, much to my surprise. “He keeps inviting me to Scotland to visit.”

  “Are you going?”

  I sighed. “I’m not sure yet.”

  “Hmm,” Kyle said, his brow furrowed.

  “What?”

  Kyle shrugged and waited a minute, considering his words. “It’s just . . .” He wiped his mouth with his napkin. “I know I don’t have any right to offer my opinion, but . . .”

  “Just say what you’re thinking.”

  Kyle rubbed the side of his face thoughtfully. “Just try not to let things go on too long if you’re not sure you can live with the situation.”

  I stifled a gasp. He might as well have slapped me in the face. Did Kyle think I had let things go on too long with him? Did he think I’d led him on? I had been trying to convince myself I could make things work with the life he had chosen.

  I wasn’t sure what to say. I felt an impulse to defend myself, but I didn’t want to relive our entire relationship. Especially the breakup.

  “The situation?”

  “You know. The whole long-distance thing. One of you leaving your family. Your country. It wouldn’t be easy.”

  The conversation felt patronizing, but Kyle had always been too kind to talk down to me. He was probably concerned, and given our awkward circumstances, he was expressing himself as well as he could.

  “I know how hard it would be. That’s why I haven’t agreed to go visit him. If I do, I know I’ll have to make some hard choices. And I’ll have to live with the consequences.”

  Kyle smiled kindly. “We’ve been through that.”

  I smiled back. “Yeah. We have.”

  “I probably should have told you about my plans a lot earlier. It might have made things easier on both of us.”

  I shrugged. “But if we’d broken up earlier, we might have missed out on some great times. And you might never have met Wya
tt.”

  “That’s true.”

  “Then I guess it was all worth it.”

  Kyle looked into my eyes. “You always were such a good sport. I really hope you end up with someone amazing.”

  I laughed under my breath. “Me too.”

  I spent the afternoon cleaning the apartment. Mia had gone to her parents for the weekend and I was glad. It gave me a chance to work and think and try to clear my head. I didn’t turn on the television or any music. I needed to mull things over in my mind—both my surprising lunch with Kyle and my confusing feelings about Flynn.

  Even though I had been bugged by the way Kyle had said it, I knew he was right. I needed to make a decision about Flynn. I liked talking to him. He had become a good friend. But I didn’t know if I could ever move so far from everything I knew and loved. Of course, if I fell in love with Flynn, I wouldn’t be leaving everything I loved. I’d just be leaving almost everything, but I would have him.

  I took out my frustration on the tub and toilet, and by the time I was finished, the bathroom sparkled.

  Why was I even thinking like this? I liked Flynn, but I don’t think I could say I loved him. Yet. If ever. That was part of the reason I hadn’t accepted his invitation to come to Scotland. If I went and I ended up falling in love with him, I would be in another hard situation. No matter the outcome, I would suffer.

  Why couldn’t things ever be easy?

  My phone rang and I retrieved it from the bedroom. It was Aleena.

  “Please tell me you’re not doing anything tonight,” she said.

  I laughed. “Why? Is Angus working?”

  “Oh no. I’ve become one of those women, haven’t I?”

  “One of those women?”

  “You know. The ones that abandon their friends when they fall in love.”

  I paused, astounded. “You’re in love?”

  “Oh, I don’t know. Neither of us have said it yet, but you know what I mean. All your free time goes to the guy, and the friends end up on the back burner.”

  I recovered from my surprise. “Right. Don’t worry. I can handle the back burner.”

  “Do you want to take front and center tonight? Yes, Angus is working, but I’ve missed you and I think we have some catching up to do. Let’s go to dinner and see a movie.”