Calling Charlie

by Pamela M. Kelley

  “That sounds good. I’ll do the same.

  When Maggie returned, she looked happy to see Josh, and took his order for a Jack and coke and burgers for both of them.

  “Ivy’s about to start singing.” She set Josh’s drink down and ran off to help several new customers that were lining up for drinks. There were no empty seats now at the bar, and most people were watching as Ivy stepped up to the mic and the music began. Charlie was quickly impressed. Ivy had a clear, soulful voice and a special quality that reminded him of his sister. He’d have to bring her by to hear Ivy when she was in town next weekend.

  It didn’t take long for their burgers and they were cooked perfectly. They ate while Ivy continued to sing. She took a break after a few more songs and Maggie said she’d be back in a while for a second set.

  “She’s really good. You were right.” Charlie ate his last French fry and reached for his beer to wash it down. His glass was just about empty.

  Maggie glanced at the glass, “Would you like another?”

  “Maybe just one more. Thanks.”

  “So, where did you go again this weekend?” Charlie asked Josh.

  “Up to my dad’s place in the mountains. It’s just sitting there empty, and he said I could go there anytime. I thought it might be good to get away, do some fishing and relax. Clear my head.”

  “And was it? Relaxing?” Charlie hated fishing. He thought it was about the most boring thing imaginable.

  “It was all right. I didn’t catch a single fish and got a little stir crazy when I got back to the house.” He reached for his beer and took a big sip. “I didn’t think I’d miss her so much.”

  “Maggie?” Charlie was watching her pour a draft beer.

  “No! Liz.”

  “Oh, of course.”

  “I think she’s furious with me. She’s not calling me back.”

  “Can you blame her? You dumped her.”

  “But, I didn’t. Not really. I was happy with things the way they were. They were great.”

  “So, you’ve decided to marry her, then?” Charlie thought that was an excellent decision. He fully approved.

  “What? No. I haven’t changed my mind about that. I mean, maybe someday, but not yet. I’m not going to be forced into anything.”

  “So, what are you trying to do, then?”

  “I just want things to go back to the way they were.”

  “Hm. It doesn’t seem like she wants that.”

  “No. Not yet. But I’m optimistic that she’ll change her mind and come around. Maybe she’s missing me, too!”

  Charlie shook his head. How could his smart friend be so dumb when it came to women? Not that Charlie was an expert, but it didn’t seem likely that Liz would decide to change her mind.

  “Are you doing anything special on your day off?” Josh asked Maggie. She was leaning against the bar, pouring herself a glass of water.

  “Running errands, relaxing. I’m thinking about seeing a movie. What about you?”

  “I don’t remember the last time I went to a movie. I like to be more active. I might try to get some more fishing in. See if my luck is any better tomorrow. Do you fish?”

  Maggie laughed. “No. I’m terrible at it. But it’s supposed to be beautiful tomorrow. I bet it will be a great day. Hope you catch loads of fish.”

  Josh watched as Maggie went to welcome two new customers on the opposite end of the bar.

  “She’s really a great girl. Beautiful, too. Maybe when Liz sees me with Maggie, she’ll realize what she’s missing.”

  “Liz is going to Spinazolla?” Charlie hated to see Maggie caught in the middle of Josh’s game-playing.

  “She never misses it. She’s the one that introduced me to it. I’m sure she’ll be there with her friends.”

  “What if she brings a date?” Charlie said.

  Josh scowled at the suggestion. “I don’t think she’d do that. It’s too soon.”

  “That didn’t stop you. Oh, I’m bringing Hannah with me. She’s coming home that weekend.”

  Josh perked up. “Great, we can all go together. I’ll have my assistant book us a car.”

  “Sure, that sounds fun.” Charlie rarely had more than two drinks, but recognized that it was smart to hire a driver, anyway. At tasting events, it was hard sometimes to know how much you’d actually had as the small sips they poured could add up quickly.

  They stayed through Ivy’s second set and by then Josh was yawning.

  “I think the day has caught up to me, sitting in the sun all afternoon and then the long drive back. I’m going to head home.” Charlie was ready to go, too.

  Maggie brought them their check, and they both put enough cash down to cover the bill and give her a generous tip.

  “See you next Saturday,” Josh said as they stood to leave.

  “I’m looking forward to it. And Charlie, I hope I’ll see you tomorrow for the matinee?”

  “I’ll meet you there a little before two.”

  Josh raised his eyebrows at Charlie as they walked out. “You’re going to a movie with Maggie tomorrow?”

  “She didn’t want to go alone. And it’s a movie we both wanted to see. You don’t mind, do you?” If he did, Charlie would call Maggie and cancel.

  But Josh laughed. “No, of course not. I was just surprised. You know I hate going to movies. And you guys are friends. I know I don’t have to worry about you moving in on my girl.”

  Chapter 6

  Maggie woke Sunday morning feeling unusually cheerful. She tended to be a morning person, anyway. She liked getting up early and enjoying her coffee in the quiet peace of morning, before her day got underway. And on Sundays she could linger even longer, have a second or third cup of coffee, surf the internet and catch up on her friends’ Facebook posts and the headline news.

  She looked around her cozy condo and the kitchen that she was itching to remodel. She’d bought the condo a few years ago and it suited her well. It was walking distance to Quinn’s pub and had two bedrooms, a living room that opened into the kitchen and a small patio that overlooked a grassy backyard and a small pond. She’d gotten it for a good price, but the kitchen badly needed updating. The cabinets were dark wood and the counters beige Formica.

  Eventually, she’d like to paint or reface the cabinets to a lighter shade and upgrade the counters to granite or quartz. She really wanted honed marble. She loved the sleek look of it and the smooth feel, but everyone warned her that it was too porous and easily stained. To prove them wrong, she’d brought a marble tile home and tested it. Sure enough, everything made a mark. But she still longed for it, someday. She’d just have to be really careful.

  While her laundry was in the dryer, Maggie tried out a new online yoga video, then showered and headed to the market for her weekly grocery shopping. Once everything was put away, she made herself a peanut butter and jelly sandwich and went to change into the perfect outfit to go see a movie with Charlie.

  She’d been intrigued and excited that he was interested in seeing the same film and so quickly agreed to meet her there. She’d mentioned it to Josh before they left because she wanted to be upfront, so he wouldn’t have any reason to be upset with her or with Charlie. After all, they were just two friends going to see a movie, right? Never mind that she wanted more than that.

  Charlie was hard to read, though. Her heart had skipped a happy beat when he walked into Quinn’s the night before. She’d been surprised and a little disappointed when Josh joined him. She kind of wished that she hadn’t agreed to go out with Josh again as the spark just wasn’t there for her, and she didn’t think it was for him, either.

  But, she was looking forward to going to Spinazolla, especially as Charlie was going with them, too. He’d mentioned that he was bringing his sister and had said that he’d love to bring her to hear Ivy sing sometime. She knew that might give Ivy a nice boost of confidence.

  She stood in front of her closet for a solid five minutes, debating and rejecting differen
t options for what to wear for her non-date with Charlie. She finally settled on her favorite jeans that made her look a few pounds slimmer, and a light blue and white striped cotton sweater. It was pretty but casual.

  For makeup, she just added a bit of mascara and a swipe of soft pink lipstick. And then she was off. The movie theater was right around the corner from Quinn’s, so it was walking distance for her. It was sunny but slightly cool, typical April weather. She grabbed a light jacket and started walking.

  When she arrived at the theater, Charlie was waiting outside and smiled when he saw her. He was wearing a brown leather jacket over jeans and a navy blue New England Patriots shirt. The blue of the shirt and the sunshine made his eyes appear very blue. She hadn’t noticed that before. She also liked the way his smile made tiny laugh lines appear beside his mouth and eyes. When Charlie smiled, it lit up his whole face, and then when he spoke, his voice gave her the shivers.

  “I didn’t realize you lived close enough to walk.”

  She nodded. “I live less than a mile from Quinn’s. As long as the weather is nice, I walk to work most days. Where do you live?”

  “I’m near Bear Lake. I had a house built and moved in about a year ago. I love it out there. It’s maybe ten minutes to downtown, but a little quieter and I have a nice, big yard.”

  “That sounds lovely.” She smiled. “I hear the fishing is good on Bear lake.”

  He laughed at that. “I wouldn’t know.”

  They went inside. Charlie bought the tickets and Maggie insisted on buying their popcorn and drinks. They got a large with extra butter to share and two waters, then made their way into the theater. Charlie told her to pick the seats, and she led them toward the front and in the center. There were a few people waiting for the movie to start, but it wasn’t crowded.

  They settled into their seats and Maggie balanced the tub of popcorn on her lap. The previews started a few minutes after they sat down and soon they were engrossed in the movie. Maggie was still very aware of Charlie by her side, and now and then his hand brushed against hers as he reached for more popcorn.

  The movie was an edge-of-the-seat action suspense thriller and Maggie was a little embarrassed when more than once, she jumped in her seat when something unexpected happened and then Charlie softly chuckled. As they walked out of the theater when the movie ended, she apologized for being so jumpy.

  “I probably should have warned you. That always happens. It’s a good thing we didn’t see a horror film or I might have jumped right into your lap.”

  He laughed. “Maybe I wouldn’t have minded that.”

  She glanced at him and he winked at her. She knew he was just teasing her, but there was something about the way he said it that gave her hope that there might be some interest there.

  “It’s a beautiful day. Do you want to walk around a bit? I wouldn’t mind getting an ice cream at Smith’s,” Maggie said.

  “Sure. You never have to ask me twice about ice cream.”

  “Bethany was talking about her strawberry ice cream cravings the other day and I’ve wanted one ever since,” Maggie admitted as they reached Smith’s, the coffee shop that also sold ice cream and old-fashioned penny candy. The front door opened and an older couple walked out holding two ice cream cones.

  “Well, hello Maggie and Charlie, right?” It was her mother and her constant companion, Harry Peterman.

  “Nice to see you, Mrs. Quinn,” Charlie said politely.

  “We just came from seeing the new Jack Raven movie.” Maggie answered her mother’s unspoken question. She could tell her mother was dying to ask more, but it wasn’t the time.

  “Isn’t that nice? We went to Quinn’s for lunch after church, like we usually do. You should join us one of these Sundays, Maggie.”

  “It has been a while,” Maggie agreed. She went to church in spurts. She was all in for a few months and then didn’t go for a while. When she did, it was a given that Sunday lunch would follow at Quinn’s and sometimes, she felt like she spent enough time there during the week and treasured the solitude of her Sundays at home.

  “Well, we’re off. I forced Harry to get an ice cream and the agreement is that we walk it off now by strolling through the park. See you tomorrow, honey.”

  “Your mom seems sweet. Is that her boyfriend?” Charlie asked once they were inside and looking at the array of ice cream options.

  “She is. We’re not entirely sure what Harry is. She’s not admitting to anything, but they are pretty much inseparable. It’s been over ten years now since we lost my dad, so we’re all happy for her. They knew each other from years ago and reconnected recently.”

  Maggie ordered a small strawberry cone and Charlie got a classic hot fudge sundae with vanilla ice cream, whipped cream and nuts. They took their desserts outside and sat by a space heater that kept them warm while the cool-ish breezes drifted by.

  “I know it’s been a few years now since you lost your wife. I can’t imagine how hard that must have been. How did you know when you were ready to date again?”

  Charlie swallowed a bite of ice cream and thought about the question. “I haven’t actually dated anyone yet. Since the accident. Josh has been pushing me for over a year to get out there. But, I haven’t felt ready until recently. Now, I’m at least thinking about it. Meredith and I were together since we were kids. Neither one of us ever dated anyone else. So, I’m really not good at this,” he admitted. His voice cracked a little and Maggie had to fight the urge to give him a hug.

  “I think you’ll do just fine. There’s no shortage of women for a good guy like you,” she said impulsively. His face turned red and he focused on his ice cream.

  “That’s really kind of you to say.”

  “It’s true.” She paused and then took a chance to let him know how she really felt. “If you’d asked me out before Josh did, I would have happily said yes.”

  “Really? Well, that’s good to know.”

  “When he asked me out, I also had no idea that the two of you were friends.”

  Charlie laughed. “I think I was even more surprised when I saw that those flowers in the bar were from Josh. Last I knew, he was practically engaged to Liz Cunningham. How did he happen to ask you out?”

  “He came into Quinn’s one night for dinner, and he seemed really down at first. He was by himself and was furiously texting to someone. He had a few drinks and a sandwich and when the bar emptied out, he stayed around talking to me and cracking jokes. He can be pretty funny when he wants to. He was easy to talk to, and his mood seemed to change from being down to in a great mood. When he suggested dinner, I knew it would be an entertaining night. And it was.”

  “She gave him an ultimatum,” Charlie said. “And Josh is used to things going his way, calling the shots. It threw him off. He didn’t react well, and she ended things.”

  “He did seem a little preoccupied at times,” Maggie said. She remembered how Josh kept glancing at his phone, as if he was waiting for a text message that never came.

  “He’s a great guy, and my best friend. I just hope he comes to his senses about Liz. I was surprised that he asked you out. I think he’s trying to deal with losing Liz, and he’s not going about it the right way. That didn’t come out right.” Charlie looked worried that he’d insulted her, but Maggie touched her hand lightly on his arm to reassure him.

  “It’s okay. I know what you meant.” She took her last bite of ice cream and stretched her legs. Charlie’s sundae was already gone.

  “I think your mother had the right idea to walk this off. Shall we?” Charlie stood, and she followed him to the sidewalk. They strolled down Main Street for a while, then turned and made their way back on the opposite side. Maggie stopped in front of Paws, the local pet shop. There were several kittens in the window, rolling around and looking adorable.

  “Do you have any pets?” Maggie remembered him mentioning that he had a big yard. Maybe he had a dog.

  “Not really. I mean, not officially. Th
ere’s a huge neighborhood cat that comes by every day and I’m not sure if he’s feral or actually belongs to someone and just likes to make the rounds. I think he’s feral, though, because he comes every day for food. And in the winter, he snuggles into a heated cat house that I got for him. I’ve invited him in, but he won’t take that step.

  “What’s his name?” Maggie wondered.

  “I have no idea. He doesn’t wear a collar. I started calling him Tank, because he’s so huge. He doesn’t seem to mind it.”

  “That’s cute.” Maggie looked back at the kittens. “I’ve been thinking about getting a new cat. It’s been a few months since I lost my last one. I adopted Lucy from a shelter when she was six and had her for eleven years.”

  “Maybe you should get a kitten this time?” Charlie suggested as the littlest kitten, a fluffy gray ball of fur, pressed its nose against the glass and Maggie’s heart melted.

  “Hmm, maybe. We’ll see.” As tempted as she was, Maggie needed to think this through. She’d never had a kitten before and had always adopted older cats. She liked rescuing them as she knew it was harder for them to find good homes.

  “You could always get two, an older cat and a kitten to drive it crazy.” Charlie laughed as they continued walking toward his car. The air was starting to get cooler and Maggie shivered.

  “That jacket doesn’t look very warm. Why don’t you jump in and I’ll drop you at home. You’ve gotten enough walking in.”

  “I’ll gladly agree to that.” Maggie climbed into the passenger side of Charlie’s car. It was an older Volvo sedan, with comfortable leather seats. A few minutes later, he pulled into her condo complex and she directed him to her unit. There were a dozen or so condos and she had one on the end.

  “Thanks for suggesting the movie, and the ice cream,” he said as she grabbed the door handle.

  “I’m glad you were able to make it. See you on Saturday.”

  “See you then.” Maggie walked to her door and looked back. Charlie was still there, waiting for her to go inside before driving off. She waved as her key turned in the lock. It had been a really nice day. It may not have officially been a date, but she was hopeful that soon, maybe that would change.