The Girl in Hemingway's Studio

by Carolyn Grady

  After saying good-bye to his Mom, he went home and listed the statuettes on eBay and Craig’s List. Unfortunately, what Eric didn’t realize was that interest was waning in collecting Hummels, and most of the figurines wouldn’t sell for anything close to what he was expecting. The next time he went over to his mom’s house, he took three more Hummels.

  Marcus also ransacked his closets and garage for items to sell. He had better luck when he went through Alexis’s closet. He remembered his wife telling him the story about Judith purchasing the light-blue Christian Louboutin pumps to match the dress she had bought for her dad and Judith’s wedding. He found the box with the $845 price tag. He took the shoes out of the box and put it back in Alexis’s closet. He didn’t think she had worn the shoes since her father’s wedding, but would keep the box on the shelf so she wouldn’t notice they were gone. Marcus also found Charlotte’s black Stuart Weizmann sandals that Judith had purchased for her. He remembered Charlotte giving them to Alexis when she moved to New York. Charlotte didn’t want them anymore. Excitedly, Marcus went to the computer and entered the two pair of shoes on Craig’s List. He sold both pairs in less than an hour, but both of his buyers wanted the boxes to be included. As he pulled down the boxes, he hoped Alexis didn’t inspect the items in her closet very often. Marcus breathed a sigh of relief as he calculated he had enough money to make the Anthony’s February payment. He still had to find the money to repay his mother’s loan.

  CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE

  Charlotte’s Visit

  Early in February, Alexis got a call from her sister. Christopher’s attorney wanted her to be available for a deposition in Ashley’s custody case. Charlotte wanted to know if she could stay with her and Marcus. Since she hadn’t seen her daughter in over six months, she was going to ask Christopher if she could spend time with Ashley. Alexis rolled her eyes as she agreed. After hanging up the phone, Alexis called Christopher to let him know what Charlotte had said. She didn’t want to be caught in the middle of this dispute.

  Charlotte arrived on Valentine’s Day, and Alexis met her at the airport. Christopher graciously had allowed Alexis to pick up Ashley from school so she could see her mother. Charlotte was waiting on the curb with three large suitcases, a huge present wrapped in red paper, and a large stuffed dog. Ashley was very quiet when she first saw her mother and then she started to cry. Charlotte opened the back door to where Ashley was sitting in her car seat and handed the present and stuffed white dog to her. She kissed her daughter and sat next to her while Alexis struggled to put Charlotte’s luggage into her trunk. Alexis greeted her sister as she slid behind the steering wheel and pulled away from the pickup area. She smiled as she looked in her rearview mirror to see Ashley with her arms folded and pulling away from her mother.

  “How have you been, Charlotte?” she asked.

  “I’ve been good. I really love New York City and my job. You know one of the managing editors, Agnes O’Hara, has taken a special interest in me. Just the other day, she asked me to help her in laying out the display pages for next month’s issue. That’s the department where I’m hoping to eventually land a job. I think I have a real chance of advancement and earning more money.” Charlotte edged closer to her daughter, but Ashley kept her arms folded and looked out of the side window.

  “Aaron and I are so happy, we were just meant to be together. But I miss Ashley, and I would love it if I could take her back to New York with me.” Looking at her daughter who was now looking straight ahead and not looking at her mother, she asked, “Ashley, wouldn’t you love living in New York?”

  “No. I want to stay here with my daddy and Darcy.”

  “Who is Darcy?” Charlotte asked as she looked at her daughter and then at her sister.

  “She’s going to be my new mommy,” Ashley announced and smiled.

  “Alexis, who is this Darcy?” Charlotte insisted with force.

  “Charlotte, I think you need to talk to Christopher. He’s coming over after work to pick up Ashley and you two need to talk privately.” Oh, dear did I get myself in a mess? I thought bringing Ashley with me was a good idea. Now I see it was a terrible idea. I should have picked up Charlotte and talked to her before Ashley saw her.

  Once they drove up into Alexis’s driveway, Ashley was already opening her big present. It contained three sweaters and two pairs of jeans and a skirt. Ashley loved clothes and couldn’t wait to try on her new outfits. For the moment, she seemed to forget how mad she was at her mother. Charlotte ushered her daughter into the house. Alexis followed behind rolling one of Charlotte’s large suitcases. They walked to the back of the house,

  “Charlotte, I hope you find the guestroom comfortable. Would you like to help me with your other two suitcases?”

  “Sure,” Charlotte smiled as she looked at her daughter trying to take off her clothes. “Ashley, why don’t you help me and Aunt Alexis bring in Mommy’s suitcases and then I’ll help you try on your new clothes?”

  Ashley agreed as she laid her new clothes on the bed and ran through the house to help bring in the suitcases.

  After they walked back into the house, Charlotte and Ashley stayed in the bedroom talking and laughing while Alexis walked into the kitchen to give them some much needed privacy. As she was fixing a snack to take into the bedroom, Marcus walked into the house.

  “Is your sister here?” he asked.

  “Yes, she’s in the guestroom with Ashley. The reunion started a little bumpy, but I think they may be reconciling. Let’s just give them a little more time alone.”

  “I know I would have been more than a little angry if my mother had left me and Eric and ran away to another state,” Marcus remarked as he picked up a cookie from the plate Alexis had just arranged. “But, of course, that would have never happened, our mother loved us with her whole heart and soul. Poor Ashley doesn’t have that guarantee. Sorry, Alexis, but your sister is more impulsive and inconsiderate than responsible.”

  Alexis looked at her husband and laughed, “You don’t think I know that? Charlotte has been like that as long as I can remember. Unfortunately, Dad and I always forgive her, and she continues to act the same way. I think if our mother had lived, maybe things would have been different, but I’m not sure if even my wonderful mother could have changed Charlotte’s selfishness.”

  When Christopher walked in the Caldwell’s front door, Charlotte and Ashley had made up and were laughing and talking. Ashley had her new sweater and jeans on and they fit perfectly. Charlotte stood up when she saw Christopher.

  “Hello, how are you?”

  “Fine, Charlotte. How was your flight?”

  “Fine, can we talk for a few minutes? Privately?”

  “Sure, let’s go out to my car; it’s in the driveway.”

  “Mommy, Mommy,” cried Ashley. “You’re not going to leave me, are you?”

  “No, darling. I’ll be back in a few minutes. Daddy and I just need to talk.”

  After about half an hour, Christopher and Charlotte walked back into the house. Christopher asked Ashley if she was ready to go home and helped her gather her things. Charlotte slumped back in one of the chairs in the living room with a despondent look on her face. Ashley ran over to her mother with a big hug and kisses before she left with her dad.

  “Don’t leave, Mommy. Can I see you tomorrow after school?”

  “Don’t worry, darling; I’ll be here.” Charlotte grimaced as she looked at Christopher.

  After her ex-husband and daughter had left, Charlotte walked into the guestroom and slammed the door.

  “This is going to be a delightful visit,” remarked Marcus as he looked at his wife.

  Charlotte sat on the window seat and thought about her new life. It had happened again, actually twice. She did love Aaron, she really did, but his flashes of anger reminded her of her first husband. Jordan’s fits of anger were almost a weekly event and ended with the loss of her baby—the baby Jordan never wanted. Charlotte didn’t trip and fall down the apart
ment stairs; Jordan pushed her after a heated argument about money. Charlotte suspected her mother had a hunch that the miscarriage wasn’t an accident of nature.

  If only she could discuss this with Alexis, but she noticed a lot of tension between Marcus and Alexis and suspected they were having discord in their own marriage. Charlotte sighed and questioned herself, actually, how many times is too many? It only happened three times, and they were quick bursts and it was over, she rationalized. Aaron was always sorry, so very sorry.

  Yet, Charlotte could see her mother’s face as clear as the day after Jordan had hit her the first time and left a bruise on her face and arm. She tried telling her mother that she fell in the shower.

  But her mother didn’t buy the lie; she examined her daughter and gave her a hug, “Not even once, Charlotte. Never allow a man to hit you, not even once. You leave. You will always have a place to live. Please, come home.”

  Charlotte thought about her mother and wished she were still alive. She wished she could talk to her and maybe be reminded she had a safe place to go if she ever needed it.

  But Aaron was different than Jordan. Aaron was so generous, loving, fun, and rich. However, his ex-wife, Suzanne, was suing him for full custody of their son; trying to take away Aaron’s unsupervised visits with Jack. Charlotte remembered a quick warning, the only private conversation she ever had with Suzanne. Charlotte was walking into their apartment building as Aaron’s ex-wife and son were walking out. “Charlotte, don’t allow him to ever hurt you. All the money in the world is not worth your safety.”

  Similar words she had heard from her mother so many years ago.

  CHAPTER THIRTY-FOUR

  Complications

  After dinner, Marcus excused himself to go and meet his brother. Tomorrow was February 15, and they needed to be sure each had enough money for Anthony’s goons.

  “Marcus, what are we going to do for next month? I can’t keep taking stuff out of Mom’s house and selling it.”

  “What? You’re stealing from Mom? I hope you’re not taking her Hummels.”

  “Not stealing, just borrowing. How can you and Alexis not have more money? For Christ’s sake; Alexis is a tenured professor and you’ve been working steadily for months.”

  “Eric, you forget how our esteemed governor and his insensitive legislature have dismantled Arizona’s educational system, especially the community colleges. The State of Arizona no longer funds them and has also drastically cut financial support for the three universities and all K-12 public schools. Alexis hasn’t had a raise in years; I doubt if I will get a cost of living raise or a step for experience this next year. We are still paying for the remodeling we did on the house and I have student loans.”

  “Hopefully,” Eric said without any trace of optimism. “The weather in Missouri will clear up, and the surveys and core study can be completed before the March payment is due. Maybe we should have just sold the mine to Sam and let him worry about it.”

  Marcus gave his brother an “evil eye” look as he muttered, “Ya think?”

  Charlotte’s visit lasted five days, and Alexis heard snatches of her conversations with Aaron. Alexis surmised that Aaron was not at all interested in having his girlfriend’s daughter live with them in New York. Aaron, like Charlotte, didn’t have room in their busy, fun lives for their own children. Charlotte mentioned that Aaron only saw his son one afternoon a month and complained about it.

  Charlotte would drop Alexis off at ASU and take her car to pick up Ashley after school, and they would spend the afternoon doing fun things. Charlotte would take Ashley to the mall where she would purchase cute outfits for her daughter or to the park where Charlotte would push Ashley on the swings and they would talk. Ashley loved having her mother back in her life, but had no idea it was only for a short time.

  The morning of the deposition, Alexis sat in the guest room’s window seat as Charlotte finished getting ready. She was wearing a pair of black wool slacks and a beautiful slanted ribbed pink sweater with an asymmetric hem.

  “I forgot how toasty Phoenix could be in February. The clothes I brought are almost too warm.”

  “Charlotte, those pants and that sweater are gorgeous. I know the shopping in New York City must be fabulous.”

  Charlotte looked down at her outfit and smiled, “Actually the slacks are Givenchy, and the sweater is a Stella McCartney. Aaron bought me this outfit when we were in Paris for Christmas.” Charlotte sat down beside her sister. “You have no idea how generous he is with me. He is such a wonderful, loving, fun man. I’m having the time of my life.”

  “I’ve noticed the clothes you brought on this trip have been spectacular.” Alexis laughed a little, “I think you may have out-classed our Judith. When we went over there for dinner the other night, she looked a little disheartened when you walked in.”

  “I hope so, she was so mean to me when she found out that I was moving to New York. You know, at first, I was upset when Judith started planning that fabulous wedding for me and Christopher, but there was no way our father could have afforded such an extravagant affair. Judith and I became friends after that and we enjoyed each other’s company. We would go to lunch together, she would take me shopping, and always asked my opinions on her outfits. I thought we had built a good relationship. Then all of a sudden she treats me like a hussy. For heaven’s sake, it’s not like she lived a pure and innocent life. Dad is her fourth husband; I was crushed when she treated me so poorly.”

  “Charlotte,” explained Alexis. “I think Judith was frightened that she would be responsible for Ashley. I thought she was rather nice to you at dinner on Wednesday, didn’t you? Once Christopher stepped up and took over the responsibility for your daughter, Judith relaxed a little. The occasional babysitting duties are okay, especially since Dad does all the work.”

  “Yeah,” admitted Charlotte. “Dinner was fine. You know, I met Darcy the other day when I dropped off Ashley at Christopher’s apartment. I wanted to hate her, but she is a lovely person. It appears that Christopher is deeply in love with her. And she really seems to care about Ashley.”

  Then Charlotte smiled at her sister and admitted, “You know Christopher is a good man. I was horrible to him when we were married. I was a selfish brat. I don’t hate him, and I appreciate he is taking such good care of our daughter. I wish him happiness in his life; he does deserve it.”

  “Amen, sister,” Alexis said with some smugness.

  On Sunday morning, Alexis dropped off Charlotte at the airport, this time without her daughter. Alexis felt bad that Christopher would have to be the one to explain to a distraught Ashley when she discovered her mother had left again. Driving home from Sky Harbor, Alexis turned her thoughts to Pablo and his exhibition. She received the special tickets from the Phoenix Art Museum for the gala event on March 11. When she told Marcus, he was unenthused, and she noticed he was going back into his dark funk. She surmised the weather in St. Louis hadn’t cleared, and the surveys of Uncle Fred’s mine were at a standstill.

  As the Delta plane turned toward the east, Charlotte watched the Phoenix skyline fade away and she thought about her future. She didn’t realize how much she missed her little girl until she saw her again. Ashley was beautiful, charming, and funny. Charlotte’s love for her child had grown stronger; it hadn’t faded with time. She thought of Aaron and how much she loved him. Yes, he had his faults, but maybe she could suggest they go to counseling and he could learn ways to control his violent outbursts. Maybe, in time she could bring Ashley to New York to live with them, at least for a few days several times during the year. After all one year from June, she would be forty. Forty—how could that be possible? She still felt like a young girl. She was still beautiful, but wealthy, distinguished men didn’t want forty-year-old girlfriends, they want an ingénue, a beautiful young girl.

  CHAPTER THIRTY-FIVE

  The Perfect Dinner

  Aaron met Charlotte as she walked out of the Security area. He was carrying an ar
mful of roses. Charlotte smiled and ran up to him. He grabbed her and they kissed “hello.”

  “How was your visit? I noticed you returned alone,” Aaron smiled as they parted.

  “It was a good visit. I miss my little girl, but she is happy in Phoenix. I’m not sure disrupting her life would be the best thing for her.”

  Aaron picked up Charlotte and swung around and around crushing the beautiful red roses.

  “Charley, you and I are so perfect together. We don’t need anyone else to be happy. We just need each other.” Aaron was beaming as he passionately kissed her again.

  Charlotte smiled a half-smile, not quite sure if she agreed with Aaron’s assessment.

  Together they walked to the baggage carousel and waited for Charlotte’s suitcases. Aaron talked nonstop about his job, his latest article in the New York Times, how much he missed her, and all the things he had done to the apartment that he thought she would love.

  “You take more luggage on a trip than anyone I have ever met,” Aaron said as he lifted the huge suitcases off the conveyor belt. Flagging down a porter to take care of the luggage, he pulled out his iPhone and punched his Uber app to order a Black Uber. “I remember when you moved into my hotel suite in Key West, I was so glad I had an extra room just for your suitcases.”

  Charlotte smiled, “I like to be prepared for any occasion.”

  “Well,” Aaron smiled mysteriously. “I’m so happy that you deplaned so beautifully dressed. Your outfit is perfect for the place where we are going to have dinner. I can always count on you to be flawless in your taste of clothing for every occasion.”

  The Uber slowed and stopped in front of them a few moments after they exited LaGuardia. Charlotte’s suitcases were carefully placed in the trunk of a late model, black Cadillac Escalade by the stylish-attired driver. Aaron instructed him to drive to his apartment. Then turning to Charlotte he explained, “Charley, we are going to drop off your luggage at our apartment. Did you want me to get your long, warm coat?”