Seven Days

by Charles, Rhoda

  This past week he had observed a closeness between Julian and Carolyn that he didn't recognize from before he had left Philly. Now with the incident at Cera's Place and the talk he had with Julian at the bar, Rhys was curious about her role in the breakup.

  Unsure how to put it, he asked her point blank. “Carolyn, do you know how Julian feels about you?”

  Luke's head popped up. His eyes were wide with surprise but not nearly as wide as Carolyn’s.

  “I'm not sure I understand your question.”

  “Julian thinks he's in love with you,” Luke blurted out, and Rhys gave him an irritated glance.

  “What?”

  Rhys nodded, “It's true.”

  “But as I was saying earlier,” Luke explained, “if you'd been in the room you could have told him that you're not interested in him and he probably would have come to his senses and realized he was just nervous.”

  “Come on,” Rhys interrupted his brother, “You really think this was about nerves? Julian's not the nervous type.”

  “The point is that Carolyn's not in love with him. Maybe if she were there she could have told him, and this fantasy he had might have been dealt with.”

  “Wait...wait!” Carolyn had to stop the conversation. “What do you mean?”

  In hindsight everything was clear to Rhys, “You never suspected that Jules liked you?”

  “We just figured you weren't interested,” Luke added offhandedly, as if this was all old news. It was to them, but Rhys saw that the knowledge was new for Carolyn.

  She looked from him to Luke and back again. “Well, how long has this been going on? I mean he's been with Milan for years and before her...well, he was never alone for long.”

  “Carolyn, it's been like forever,” Luke stated.

  “How come no one ever said?” she asked, in a little girl’s voice that made Rhys want to hug her. He almost did, but the door opened, Julian walked in and all eyes turned his way.

  Conversation stopped when Julian entered and three sets of eyes turned in his direction. His own found Carolyn and he tried to determine if the brothers had disclosed all his secrets. He couldn't be sure.

  “So I guess you were talking about me.”

  Julian pushed the door closed and limped over to an empty chair. When he had left Milan, he suddenly felt the chill from his wet clothes seeping into his skin. He returned to his room, wrapped his cast in plastic and took a steaming hot shower. The water nearly scalded him but he kept the temperature where it was, needing to feel something of the world around him. It had been a rough night and he was emotionally drained and physically tired, yet all he wanted to do was see Carolyn.

  “Well, it is all about you, isn't it,” Rhys tried to lighten the mood.

  Julian half smiled and stole another glance at Carolyn.

  “So do we all know everything?” When no one responded he continued, “Well, I know that I got myself into it deep this time,” he let out a big sigh.

  “Jules, what happened?” Carolyn asked as if she were holding broken glass, afraid to close her hand on the topic lest she cut herself. He didn't know where to start and while he pondered the events of the evening, Luke asked an elephantine question.

  “How's Milan?”

  He’d grown tired of Luke’s attitude by now but was not about to be distracted. “To be honest, she wasn't too good when I left her.”

  “It had to be done,” Rhys said, but Luke disagreed.

  “How can you continually defend him? Can't you see what he's done?”

  The escalating tension distressed him. Coming between these two was the last thing Julian had ever wanted, yet the collateral damage was piling up.

  “Luke, please!” Rhys said with a hard edge. “This is complicated to say the least.”

  “Yes, it is,” Luke fired back. “I’m going to go tend the injured party. Remember her?” The door closed behind him with a thud. They sat in the silent wake of his exit looking across the room at each other. Finally, Rhys got up.

  “I’m going to go call Cera and check on things. She had to work tonight, remember?”

  Julian let the statement wash over him as it really meant very little. He already knew Cera was working. Why Rhys felt the need to repeat that information eluded him when there were other, more pressing things at hand. He studied his hands while waiting for Rhys to leave so he could talk to Carolyn. All he needed was some time alone with her to explain everything and then see if she would have him.

  Rhys hadn’t moved and Julian looked up wondering why his friend was waiting. Oh, he thought catching Rhys’ eye. The man had a message to deliver. In all their years of friendship, they’d never had to navigate the space between family and friend, but in this moment Rhys was letting him know that no matter their history, there was a difference. If he hurt Carolyn, Rhys would be coming for him.

  Julian nodded once and Rhys smoothed the hair on his sister’s head. “I have my phone if you need me,” he told her and left the room.

  CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

  She thought he’d come back when she heard the knock on the door until Luke’s gentle voice ruined the fantasy.

  “Milan it’s me. Can I come in?” he knocked a second time.

  Not the man she wanted to see. He was, however, a man that Julian could learn a few lessons from on how to treat a lady—a fiancée. Her engagement ring sparkled on her finger. She’d been staring at it, trying to figure out how something so beautiful no longer applied to her.

  He knocked again and she took her time getting to the door, knowing that the comfort she needed was not outside waiting for her.

  “Hey,” he cooed when she cracked the door, “I wanted to check on you. How are you doing?”

  Milan pasted an obvious fake smile on her face, “Just great, please come in,” she swung her arm in exaggerated invitation.

  Luke entered and centered himself in the lighted side of the room. He didn’t say anything about the broken lamp by the door. “I know what happened. Is there anything I can do? Are you okay?”

  Her laugh was bitter. “Am I okay?” She stared him down until he shifted on his feet. “Maybe I should ask you that question. Do you feel better now that you’ve come to see the jilted bride?” She held out her arms and slowly twirled. “You’ve done your civic duty, Luke. You can go now.”

  “I’m not here out of obligation. I came because I care. I was worried.”

  She eyed him then plopped onto the bed, wishing he would leave.

  “I know this won’t break you, but it’s got to hurt. Come on, this sucks. Do you really want to be alone? I’ll leave if you do. Or,” he went over to the door and looked at the broken remnants, “I’ll just sit here quietly and protect the breakables.”

  He managed to get a smile out of her and she thought for a moment that just maybe there might be some sun at the end of her long night.

  “I didn’t see this coming. Not tonight,” she said, still splayed on the bed. “Maybe Sunday when I thought he had cold feet, but things had been going well since then. I shook it off,” she shut her eyes, “he blindsided me.”

  “I’m sorry about that.” She felt the bed dip as Luke sat at its foot, giving her space without leaving her alone.

  She lifted her head, “Did you know?” Watching him formulate his answer was all she needed. She kicked him. “You knew! And you didn’t tell me,” She kicked him again. “Nice. Get out of here. Pity party’s over!”

  He grabbed at her legs. “No, I didn’t. Milan, I didn’t! I was thinking about this past week and trying to remember if there had been any clues. Stop kicking me. STOP!” she ceased as if she’d suddenly been unplugged and just lay there, drained.

  Luke thought about Carolyn and Julian on the back porch; the kiss at Cera’s Place; their silent communications throughout dinner tonight. There had been clues, but they all involved Carolyn and he would not put her in Milan’s line of fire.

  “I thought he was just getting nervous, I had no idea he was thi
nking of calling it off. If I’d known I would have told you.”

  She had been watching him through slivered eyes as he answered, but closed them when he finished. He let her be.

  “I’m so tired,” she finally uttered and he thought she was asking him to leave, but she kept talking. “Weddings are exhausting; imagine if I’d actually had one.” Milan lifted her head and gave him a half-smile, half-grimace. She looked around the room, “I just want to go home. Will you help me do that?”

  “Of course.”

  He’d do anything for her.

  Milan showered while he packed up her things. It was a morning wedding, so the bridal party all had rooms filled with their necessary ceremony and reception gear. By the time she came out of the bathroom he’d already made one trip to the car. The only item left was her gown.

  She wouldn’t let him carry it, but he helped her package it very carefully in the garment bag. She smoothed her hand along the silk, almost reverently, and then zipped it up. They made their way through the lobby, he holding her purse while she carried the voluminous garment bag draped across both arms as if she were transporting a person. In the parking lot she placed the bag carefully across the back seat of her car then strapped herself into the passenger seat, letting Luke drive.

  She was quiet on the ride down the Schuylkill Expressway into Center City and he wished there was something he could say to lift her mood. When he pulled them off the highway she perked up and seemed to focus on the activity on the streets.

  “Hey, wait. What’s that?” she said craning her neck to look at something they’d passed. “Turn around.”

  Luke went around the block of one-way streets and cruised by the building that had caught her attention. “Well, would you look at that. Pull over,” she ordered and started digging in her purse.

  Luke did as told then peered out the window. They were at the restaurant where Julian worked, except it now had a shiny new sign on it that read Milan’s.

  “Guess that was the huge surprise he had for me. Funny how he trumped himself,” she muttered into her bag. “Here it is,” Milan pulled out a metal ring with a single key on it. She rubbed her thumb against the flat of the key for almost a minute then as if she’d come to a decision, she folded her fingers to form a fist around it. She hopped out of the car, grabbed the garment bag from the back seat and told Luke she would be right back.

  Milan had never been in the restaurant alone, much less at night after hours. It was dark except for the red glow from the exit signs at the doors. That was fine; she didn’t need any light for what she planned.

  She made her way to the chef’s table, a large circular booth near the kitchen. This was Julian’s favorite seat in the place. She unzipped the garment bag and let yards and yards of white silk slip through her fingers. Her dress was so pretty. She really loved it.

  Milan held the dress up to her body and stared at her reflection in the window. Julian would never see her in it. No one would. Except her sister. And Luke. She remembered her portrait sitting. Just a few days ago her future was a completely different picture than what it was now. Thank you, Julian.

  She dropped her hands and let the dress drag across the floor as she went back to Julian’s booth. Carefully, she draped the gown across the table, spreading the train so that it curved along the leather seat. When she had it just as she wanted, she took a moment to admire the tableau. It was perfect.

  She backed away from the scene taking in everything until she was at the door. In the dim light, the white gown drew the eye through the darkness. Yes, this was right. She didn’t want to keep Luke waiting any longer than necessary, but she had one last thing to do.

  Milan chose a chair from the nearest table and dragged it to a spot by the hostess stand. She climbed onto it and then reached down to the bowl on the stand that held the custom matchboxes. She stuck two of the wooden sticks against the side and watched a flame spring to life. Reaching up she held it beneath a sprinkler.

  It wasn’t long before it started to rain in the restaurant. Water sprayed out from sprinklers throughout the building, wetting everything through, including her, but she didn’t care.

  She watched for a moment as her dress, waterlogged and heavy, slipped out of position. That was a small price to pay; he’d still get the message. She stepped off the chair, locked up and walked to the car.

  To his credit, Luke did not say a word.

  It was almost midnight when he pulled up in front of her apartment building. Milan’s was history. Julian was history.

  What was next? She looked at Luke who was again bringing her home after Julian had disappointed her. Luke, a man who wanted to be with her. She could stand to bask in some of that kind of attention. She’d earned it, hadn’t she?

  “I’ve got a packed suitcase and two tickets to Hawaii,” she said and looked at Luke, “You in?”

  CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO

  Carolyn had never much liked gray area, though she understood it and was right now enveloped in it. Her brothers had left her and Julian alone and now it was time for full disclosure.

  “Okay, so everyone’s made themselves scarce. I need to know, Jules. Did you call off the wedding because of me?”

  She had not meant to be so direct, but the words were out, no going back now. Julian, however, needed to ease into things.

  “If I said ‘Yes’...?”

  She held his gaze and forced herself to breathe. Julian’s actions and the things her brothers had told her led her to this nerve-racking and exhilarating conclusion, but still...

  The past seven days had been so confusing for her. Rhys had come home and her routine had fallen back into old patterns, but somehow her relationships had changed. Things were different and she was aware that she was witnessing the passing of an era. If Julian had called off his wedding because of her, then things were never going to go back to how they once were. Maybe that was a good thing. She felt the tension in her face ease into a tentative smile.

  “Well, I’m not opposed to the idea,” she surprised herself with the confession as she realized what she said.

  Julian reached for her as her words settled around them. “Carolyn, I’ve been so scared. I didn’t know how to tell you how I felt. I was afraid of ruining our friendship, but I tried to show you.”

  A memory of their kiss at the piano flashed through her mind. Yes, he had shown her.

  “This is crazy,” she sprung out of her seat full of nervous energy and started circling the room. It was too small to put any real distance between them, which was fine because she was tired of running away from him.

  “I know. Does this mean that you might feel the same way? That you might love me, too?”

  She stopped her manic wandering in front of him and he took her hands in his again, holding her the way she had gripped his own in the hospital.

  “Monday night at the piano bar was a revelation to say the least. Everything happened so fast and then you were gone. I do know,” she was suddenly shy, “that I felt more excited after one kiss from you than I had my entire time with Mark. I started to realize that I’d been trying to deny all sorts of things by just soldiering on. It’s worked for me in the past,” Carolyn smiled but then her face sobered.

  “But when you had your accident and I couldn’t make myself turn onto Lincoln Drive to get to the hospital, it became clear how much you meant to me. If I’d lost you that day...I don’t know if I could have recovered.”

  She swallowed hard, needing to digest what she was saying. She had been running from acknowledging any of this for the past week when the possibility of a relationship with Julian had started to become a reality for her.

  “I broke up with Mark on Tuesday. I had to leave him a voice mail because he’s so many time zones away. I was waiting until after the wedding to tell everyone,” she paused, “I didn’t do it because of our kiss. I did it because I knew Mark and I weren’t right. I know it was hard for you to leave Milan, especially under these circumstances,
but if it wasn’t right—”

  “It wasn’t right,” he repeated her words with meaning.

  “Then you were very brave,” she cupped his face with both hands and pulled him close, “and that’s just another thing I love about you, Jules,” she leaned forward and kissed him.

  “I love you too, Carolyn. I’ve waited so long to tell you.”

  “You’ve been telling me for years,” she kissed him again. “I finally heard you.”

  About the Author

  Rhoda Charles writes general fiction with elements of romance and mystery. She is a Bostonian by birth who migrated to Philadelphia and spent many years there as a writer and editor for a national entertainment magazine. She has a passion for all things Italian and enjoys film and theater. When she’s not driving up and down the east coast to visit family and friends, she’s at home working on her next novel while her dog, Bristow, sleeps nearby.

  About Seven Days

  Seven Days was my first attempt at a novel and it sat half-finished on my computer for over a decade while I wrote other things. The characters, however, never left me alone—Luke, I’m talking about you! Fifteen years later, I decided to revisit them and finish their tale. I hope they are as pleased with how things turned out as I am. If you’ve enjoyed this story, I’d love to hear from you. And if you’d like to download a deleted scene told from Milan’s point of view, please visit my website at www.rhodacharles.com.

  ~Rhoda