“I agree. Thank you. Now, as for everywhere else… We’ll just have to take that as it comes. Maybe Kennedy could go with you to the store and places like that if I’m not available. Or to visit your mom…”
“No, I’m not putting your sister in the path of someone like Brent. And I’m definitely not putting your nephew in that situation either.”
There was too much sense in that statement for me to really argue, so I settled for reiterating that she had to carry her pepper spray at all times. I still planned to talk to someone at her mother’s nursing home, and for the rest of the time… Well, I’d just make sure I was with her as much as possible. Even if it meant having to work from home or delegate a bit more.
I still doubted that Sullivan would be deterred by a no-contact order, but we’d show him that Charlotte wasn’t alone and vulnerable, that she had someone watching over her. Someone who had already planted their fist in his face once and wouldn’t hesitate to do it again.
Twenty-Four
Charlotte
With all the chaos following Sullivan’s little vandalism stunt combined with my normal work schedule, it was several more days before I had a full afternoon free to spend with Mom. It had taken a little time to secure a new vehicle as well, since Eli had successfully talked me into letting the Chevy go for good.
I hadn’t gone for the pricey BMW he would’ve happily bought for me, but the mid-size Toyota I’d chosen certainly met his requirements of ‘newer and safer.’ Granted, its windows would fare no better against a baseball bat, but that’s what insurance was for. And even I had to admit that my old car had definitely been on its last leg. Now that I didn’t have to worry about finding my own apartment or paying the majority of Mom’s medical bills out-of-pocket, a monthly car payment wasn’t so scary.
It was the last Saturday of September, and Mom had been in her new home for almost a week now. To my relief, she seemed to have handled the transition remarkably well. She was a little more alert, and I was sure I’d seen a flicker of recognition in her eyes when I walked into her room today.
I also really loved the staff members I’d met so far. Not that the staff at the last place had been incompetent or anything, but everyone at the new facility seemed to anticipate my mother’s needs even before I did. They were all so knowledgeable and diligent. More professional too, which I greatly appreciated. It was a stark contrast to the informality of my small hometown, where everyone offered unsolicited opinions and thought they were entitled to know intimate details about your personal life.
I spent a good three hours sitting with Mom, feeding her lunch and talking her ear off about my new job and the amazing man I’d fallen in love with. I left out everything to do with Brent, of course, on the off chance that she understood more than anyone realized. There were occasional flickers of comprehension in her eyes, but she never spoke. I wished so much that she could’ve met Eli before her strokes, or at least before the last one put her in this state. I knew she’d been worried about me being out in the world on my own, and I was sure she’d have liked Eli. He was so protective, and that would’ve pleased her.
I headed out once Mom was in bed for her afternoon nap. I had plans to meet up with Kennedy to shop for a dress for the sock hop, which was now just two weeks away. We’d agreed to try our luck at a vintage clothing store in Seminole Heights first, hoping to find something that would fit the fifties theme. When I spotted her outside the store, I was somewhat surprised to see she wasn’t alone. The sight of Ethan’s stroller was expected, but I didn’t immediately recognize the dark-haired woman standing next to her. She had a cheerful smile on her face and a toddler on her hip.
“Hey, Charlotte! Glad you could make it,” Kennedy grinned, greeting me with a hug before she gestured to the stranger. She introduced the woman as her sister-in-law, Miranda, and I recalled Eli telling me that Kennedy had acted as a surrogate, presumably for the adorable little girl in Miranda’s arms.
“It’s so great to meet you!” Miranda beamed. “This is Kinley.”
“Hi,” the little girl said promptly.
Kinley had a sweet smile, a head of dark curls, and big brown eyes. She was dressed like she’d just walked out of a Baby Gap ad and, unlike most two-year-olds meeting someone new, seemed to lack any trace of shyness. I replied in kind and gave her a friendly wave, and she took it as a green light to tell me what sounded like every detail of her life. She kept up a steady stream of chatter as we all entered the store, but I was only able to follow about half of it. I tried to respond a few times, but Kinley didn’t seem to need any feedback.
“Don’t feel bad if you have to talk over her,” Miranda laughed. “If you wait for your turn to talk around Kinley, you’ll never get to say another word.”
I laughed and began to poke through a rack of clothing, still not entirely sure what I was looking for.
“Are you shopping for the same event?”
“Yeah, Kenn and I both need new outfits. She needs something because she was pregnant last year, but this is the first year I’ve had a reason to go. My mom has gotten involved with HOP now too, and she wants me and my husband there. Plus, Donovan is an official benefactor because of his food and money donations, so… It’s basically become a family event as much as a charity fundraiser.”
“Well, it’ll be nice to know more people there. I’ve never gone to anything like this. I think the last time I shopped for any kind of costume was for a Halloween frat party,” I admitted with a chuckle.
That party had been in my senior year of college, and I’d left school less than a month later when Mom had suffered her first stroke. Now, it felt like looking back at memories from someone else’s life. It was a different era, and I’d been a different girl.
We all chatted happily as we shopped, holding up various articles of clothing for approval. It was nice to be included, even if it did feel a little odd. From what I could remember Eli telling me about Miranda, she and Kennedy had been friends for many years. This sort of outing was probably something they were used to doing together, but they seemed to welcome me into the fold with open arms.
“Charlotte, how are things going with Eli? Is he behaving himself?” Kennedy asked kindly. Miranda spoke before I could answer, shooting me a wink and a devious grin.
“I’ve always thought he looked like he’d be good in the sack.”
“Good in the sack?” Kinley parroted loudly. Miranda shushed her, and I stifled a laugh as several other shoppers looked at us with varying expressions of censure and amusement.
“I wasn’t asking about that,” Kennedy said quickly, rolling her eyes at Miranda. “I absolutely do not need to hear details like that about my brother.”
“It’s good,” I chuckled, draping a potential dress over my arm. “It’s going really well, all things considered.”
“What’s that mean? All things considered?” Miranda asked with a frown of concern. I shrugged casually, wishing I’d left it at ‘good.’
“I’ve had some trouble from an old acquaintance who couldn’t take no for an answer.”
“Sullivan, right? Donovan told me about it,” Kennedy added.
“Yeah.”
“He always did give me the creeps.” Kennedy gave Miranda the abridged version of Brent’s behavior while Kinley kept up a steady stream of babbling, either indifferent or unaware that no one was really listening. When Kennedy explained that Brent had recently taken a baseball bat to my car, Miranda spoke without thinking.
“Holy shit!”
“Holy shit!” Kinley shouted. She giggled as Miranda put a hand over her mouth, cringing.
“The daycare teachers will be giving me the stink-eye for that one on Monday,” she muttered. “I always hesitate whether or not to correct her. Half the time, she’ll just forget. But if I make a big deal out of it…”
“I think it’s pretty normal,” I assured her, trying not to laugh at her predicament.
“Yeah. Anyway… I can’t believe the guy w
as dumb enough to actually take a bat to your car, especially in such a public place. He had to know there were cameras.”
“I’m not sure he really even cared.”
“Maybe you should carry a bat of your own. I’ve got an extra you can borrow,” she offered. Kennedy snorted in amusement but didn’t say anything. I laughed too.
“I think I’ll stick with my pepper spray for now. Please, don’t suggest that to Eli. He already wants his security guys escorting me everywhere.”
“I don’t blame him,” Kennedy interjected. “Donovan would be the same way.”
“Gabe too. That’s some next-level sh— Um… stuff.”
It took us another hour to work our way through the store’s surprisingly diverse inventory and cycle through the fitting rooms, but our efforts paid off eventually. I found a dress I was pretty happy with, and I suspected Eli would like it too. It was a pin-up style halter dress with a sweetheart neckline and a flared skirt that ended just above the knee. It was a rich, deep red color with tiny white polka dots, and the fabric-covered buttons ran the entire length of the front of the dress.
It came with a crinoline underskirt I was thankful I’d only need to wear for one night, but I would need to pick up a strapless bra at the mall, which was our next stop. I also wanted to find some cuter heels than the ones I’d chosen for comfort at work.
Kennedy and Miranda had carpooled in Miranda’s SUV, so I followed them out to Lincoln Gardens, sparing only a brief glance for the parking lot I used to sleep in each night. We started in one of the larger department stores, and I found a bra easily enough. The girls encouraged me to get the matching corset as well.
“Again, as much as I’d rather not think about my brother’s sex life, I know he’ll appreciate that,” Kennedy said with a wide smile. I blushed a little but laughed when she went searching for one in her own size. She came back with two and tossed them both onto the checkout counter.
“Why do you need two of the same?” Miranda asked.
“The first one won’t last long once Donovan sees it.”
“TMI.”
“You asked!”
Once we’d finished our shopping, we decided to stop for a quick bite to eat in the food court. Kennedy nursed Ethan discreetly, and Kinley worked her way through a kid’s meal that mostly ended up on the floor. I listened quietly while Kennedy and Miranda traded kid-related anecdotes and commiserated over the joys and trials of parenting.
As I smiled and watched all of them interact, the feeling of displacement that had lingered around me all afternoon came into sharper focus. Not because I felt they were excluding me, but more because the whole experience was just so… different. I had multiple shopping bags at my feet and another in my car. I was eating an overpriced food court meal and chatting with two lovely women who had made every effort to make me feel welcome.
But just a few months ago, I’d been working two manual labor jobs, living out of a run-down vehicle, and pinching every single penny in order to take care of my mom. I’d shopped only in thrift stores and paid for a gym membership just to have a place to shower. Most of the food I’d eaten had been things I could safely store in my car, and many times, I’d simply gone without.
Now, I not only had a better car, a well-paying job, and health insurance, but I also had a kitchen to cook in, a bathroom to shower in, and a bed to sleep in. And the best part of all of that was the man who shared that bed with me. The man who’d done everything in his power to improve my situation and keep me safe.
I’d felt so alone in the world, but Eli had changed that too. He hadn’t simply given me a place to stay and a shot at a better job. He’d given me a home. A family. I may not have known his family all that well yet, but everyone had been so kind to me. Even his mother hadn’t been as awful as his prior warnings had led me to expect.
The friends I’d had in college hadn’t known how to support me when mom’s health had forced me to leave Gainesville, and I’d lost touch with them all fairly quickly. Aside from the occasional polite exchange with coworkers, I hadn’t had any true friends in a pretty long time. Watching Kennedy and Miranda interact made me realize just how much I’d missed it. I’d given up even more than I thought with my choice to be homeless.
We parted ways once everyone had finished eating, but we made plans to get together again soon. My mind was still occupied on the way home. For the first time since Mom had fallen ill, I found myself daring to believe that my life had truly turned a corner. I’d been afraid to trust that my change of fortune would be permanent. It seemed too good to be true. But each successive step I’ve taken toward a better life has made it feel a little more real.
True, Mom’s health might never improve, but she was safe and receiving the best possible care. I might never make it back to school to finish my degree, but I had a good job nonetheless. One I could be proud of. It was hard for anything, even Brent Sullivan, to cast too big of a shadow over my newfound happiness.
Every time I saw the love shining back at me from Eli’s eyes, my problems seemed to just fade away.
Twenty-Five
Eli
I frowned at the large mirror in my walk-in closet as I fiddled with my shirt, trying to decide whether or not to tuck it into the waistband of a pair of jeans that were already quite a bit tighter than what I’d usually agree to wear in public. Definitely untucked, I thought, tugging it free. A pair of black boots and a black leather jacket would complete the ensemble, and I’d tried to coax my hair into a period-relevant coif.
We were due to leave for the sock hop soon. Charlotte had locked herself in the guest bathroom and forbidden me to sneak a peek at her. She’d kept her outfit hidden too, but not before I’d spotted the lacy corset and garter set she’d be wearing beneath it. I had very detailed plans for that when we got home.
I took one last look in the mirror and shook my head with a sardonic laugh. My mother had better appreciate this. I couldn’t even remember the last time I voluntarily dressed in costume. I’d made an appearance at the event last year, but I’d refused to dress for the theme. Suits hadn’t really changed all that much in the past sixty-some years, right?
I went to the kitchen and poured myself a shot of tequila while I waited for Charlotte. I wasn’t much of a drinker, but I knew my mother’s friends were sure to be in attendance tonight. And they could make pretty much anyone long for a drink. I also fired off a quick text to my sister, who’d agreed that we should try to synchronize arrivals in order to minimize Mom’s theatrics. She loved to put us on display for her friends, and she rarely got an opportunity like this.
“I’m ready!” Charlotte called. I tucked my phone into my jacket pocket as I moved into the living room.
“I’m waiting.”
Holy fuck.
When she appeared in the archway, my mouth actually watered. I’d imagined her almost exactly like this just a few months ago, but my imagination hadn’t remotely done her justice. Her blood-red dress had a halter strap encircling her neck, and the neckline plunged to reveal a drool-worthy amount of cleavage. Her shoulders and arms were completely bare, and my hands itched to touch her gorgeous skin. The dress fit her snugly in all the right places, flaring out at her hips to a full skirt that danced around those sinfully sexy legs.
I knew her dotted panty-hose were connected to the tiny suspenders beneath her skirt, and her heels were higher than any I’d ever seen her wear to work. Thank God for that, because I hated the thought of my employees ogling her. The heels made her a few inches taller but still nowhere near my height. Her black hair was pinned back from her face on both sides and fell around her shoulders in thick, shiny curls. Even her makeup was different, with heavy eyeliner and cherry red lipstick. She looked like the sexiest pin-up model I’d ever seen.
“You look incredible,” I breathed. Charlotte’s painted lips quirked upward.
“Thank you. You’re looking pretty good too.”
“I can’t even… Wow. For once, I’m a
ctually excited to go to this thing, but it’s going to be the shortest party ever.”
“Why?”
“Because we’re going to excuse ourselves as early as possible so I can bring you home and do dirty things to you,” I grinned, closing the space between us in slow, predatory steps until I could wrap my arms around her waist. “I’d like nothing better than to hike this skirt up and fuck you against every wall in this apartment.”
Charlotte moaned longingly and swayed a little in my arms, gripping the lapels of my jacket.
“We should go before things get out of hand.”
I hummed in reluctant agreement and led her to the door, still staring at her as she grabbed her purse and sweater from the row of hooks in the foyer. She didn’t put the sweater on but merely folded it over her arm, which made me smile. It would be a crime to cover up all of that perfect skin.
As I drove us to the event venue, I caught her watching me with a familiar heat in her dark eyes, and I gave her a crooked grin.
“See something you like, Ms. Douglas?”
“You have to ask? You look hot in anything, but this… This is a good look for you. Especially the leather and the tight shirt and the boots… Have you ever thought about getting a motorcycle?”
“Would you like that?” I laughed.
“Maybe.”
“Would you ride bitch?”
“Dress like that, and I’ll ride anything you want.”
I laughed again and made a mental note to research motorcycles a bit. I’d never had much interest in them before, but I had to admit she’d planted a very nice image in my head. The thought of Charlotte in her own pair of boots and sexy leather jacket reminded me again just how snug my jeans were. Ouch.
The venue was crawling with more people than I would’ve expected. I parked as close as possible and kept an arm around Charlotte’s waist as we made our way to the entrance. An event photographer was stationed just inside the door, taking pictures of couples in front of a themed backdrop, so we paused for a quick photo before moving on. I didn’t much care for this kind of publicity and wasn’t thrilled at the thought of the picture winding up in a newspaper or some socialite’s Instagram, but it was for charity. With any luck, it might inspire a few more donations to the cause.
Fortune's Angel (Fates Aligned Book 2) Page 19
