“Perfect. I’ll win hands down.” Lizzie cradled the phone between her ear and shoulder, slid a Diet Coke out of the refrigerator, popped it open and took a long grateful swig.
“Don’t be so sure,” challenged Kay. “I’ll win the pity prize today.”
Ready to engage in the tradition that had started their freshman year as college roommates, Lizzie took first stab at the prize. “I’m so frustrated. I’m afraid I wasted an entire morning with Charlie. I was so sure he’d like my idea.” She gulped her drink.
“What idea? How’s he doing? I think about him all the time. He’s got to be miserable.”
“Yeah, he’s miserable all right. That’s why I was there this morning. I must be naïve, but I thought if I could get him excited about doing a book with me, he’d go back to work and stop being a hermit.”
“Are you writing a book?”
“No, no, nothing like that. I have some photos that I took for fun, enough to fill up a coffee table book. You know Charlie’s been hounding me to work together with him on a project for years.” Lizzie drained the soda can and paced between her kitchen and living room. “He was so passive aggressive. Wouldn’t even look at the photos. He virtually kicked me out of the house.”
“What did he say?” Kay asked in a soft voice.
“Almost nothing.” Lizzie sighed. “That’s the point. He’s such a thick Irishman. All he did was grunt no. I’m not proud of myself, but I lost my patience and left.”
“Don’t worry, sweetie. He’ll come around.”
“There
are
some encouraging signs that he might. I left Marty behind for a half hour or so while I walked off some of my frustration. When I went back to get her, his brother told me he was taking a shower. I’m afraid to get too hopeful but…”
“You see?” Kay’s voice was hearty with optimism. “It’s a really good sign.”
A comfortable silence between them, Lizzie let Kay’s assurances sink in and take hold. With the sun-shimmered Chicago River forty floors below, she stared out the windows only half-seeing the city in which her condo was suspended. Her disposition had improved, but helping Charlie was a bust. At least her earlier anger had faded.
She smiled as if she could see the patient, sweet expression on Kay’s face that had always been there for her when she needed it. “I’m hogging all the pity. Your turn in the contest, Kay.”
“Ooh, I can take my turn now? You’re going to owe me big time because I am one, pitiful person.”
Lizzie laughed. “Go ahead. I’m sorry. You started this party. It should have been your turn first.”
“Well. I’ve gained forty pounds and I’m only in my second trimester. My ankles are swollen. I look like Miss Piggy in high heels. What am I saying? The only shoes I can get on are Scholl’s exercise sandals. My picture alone defines the word cranky. No. Change that. The word’s crankiest.
And
. The doctor told me this morning that I’m carrying twins. Good Lord in heaven. I don’t know whether to laugh or cry.”
“Twins? Oh my God. Kay, that’s amazing. This is wonderful. What did the doctor say?”
“He hovered a bit and didn’t like my blood pressure readings. I’ve got some instructions to follow. And for sure he wants to do a C-section when they’re big enough. No big deal. My doctor’s very good. I trust him.”
“Promise you’ll follow those orders, okay? I can’t wait to hold them.”
“I’ll be good. And I can’t wait to hold them, either. Because then they’ll be out of me.”
Kay’s infectious, healthy laugh reassured her. If anyone could handle what might be a difficult pregnancy, Kay could.
“I’m still in shock, I think…I haven’t even told Mick yet. I figured I’d plop some candles on the table and tell him over dinner.”
“I know Mick. He’ll be over the moon.”
“Do you think? Yeah, I think you’re right. It is amazing. But I still win.”
“Okay. You win. What do you want for a treat?”
“Fannie May chocolates. Any kind. Minimum, two pounds. You can bring them to Boston when you come to the reunion in a few weeks.”
“Sneaky. You know you can’t drag me to that reunion. The only classmate I care to see from college is you. And thank God we don’t need reunions to do that. But I’ll gladly Fed Ex the chocolates now that you’re eating for three.”
“Lizzie, please come. I didn’t know I’d be pregnant when I volunteered to run this thing. I’m always so tired, I’m afraid I won’t even be able to stay awake for the whole gala. I’ll probably keel over snoring into my potatoes duchesse. You’ve got to come. I need you, Liz.”
“Are you going for two boxes of Fannie May? You already won the pity party. I can’t take the guilt trip.”
“Lizzie, Wallace will be there.”
Well, hell
.
Lizzie’s heart raced and her palms dampened at the prospect of seeing him. “Mother of God, Kay. There’s no way I’m going to this thing.”
“He’s divorced again, honey. Maybe the reunion is a good opportunity for you to put this behind you. Don’t you want to know for sure?”
Divorced again
. A crazy hope flitted through Lizzie.
Maybe he still loves me. Maybe his marriages have failed because of me.
I can’t go there.
“I don’t think it’s a good idea for me to see him again, Kay. Especially alone, and you know I’m not dating anyone. Pathetic, isn’t it?”
“Well, how about I fix you up for that weekend? I can think of at least three of Mick’s friends who would make good prospects.”
Lizzie snorted a laugh. “Now that’s appealing. The last time you fixed me up was such fun.”
“Ouch. I guess I deserve that.
But
I have apologized many, many times and eaten every kind of crow imaginable, for fixing you up with Wallace in the first place. Look, Lizzie, I think you should face this thing. Either the two of you are meant to be together or you’re not. I hope not, because I haven’t forgiven him for leaving you without a word on graduation day, even if you have. You’ll never move on if you don’t resolve this thing with him. Besides, I need your help. Please just come.”
How could she deny Kay help? “I promise if I can find a date, I’ll come. And I’ll ship the Fannie May tomorrow anyway.”
The call waiting tone sounded. “Oops, another call. I’ll talk to you soon. Love you, Kay.”
“Love you, too.
Ciao, Bella
.”
Lizzie fumbled with the buttons on the cell phone.
Stupid thing
. “Hello? Hello?”
“Lizzie?”
The raspy voice on the other end registered. “Charlie?”
It can’t be.
He hadn’t called her in six months. All communication with him had been one-way.
“Yeah, it’s Charlie. Listen, Liz. I’m a real jerk. I’m sorry for the way I acted this morning and the past couple of months. You don’t deserve it. I know you’re trying to help me. I think your photos are great. Maybe we
can
work on a book together sometime soon.”
“Wait a minute. Who are you and what have you done with Charlie Clark?”
He chuckled. “Funny girl. I am sorry. For everything. I owe you, Liz. Forgive me?”
“Forgiven. And I think there’s a way you can repay me for all the abuse you’ve shoveled out.”
“Name it. Flowers every day, an endless supply of Starbucks. Nothing is too good for you.”
“I just might take you up on all that.” She laughed, giddy that he had taken the initiative to dial the phone. “But if you’re feeling generous, how about coming to Boston with me to my ten-year college reunion?”
“I’ve never gone to my own reunion. Have I been that big a problem that this is the only way to make it up to you?”
She was tempted to tell him that he had scared her so much she had considered arranging an intervention with a mental health professional. Lizzie didn’t blame him for his recent behavior, but she didn’t feel guilty asking him to go to the reunion to “make it up to her”, either.
“Kay needs me to go to this thing. And I need a date. Wallace will be there and you know enough of that sad story to understand why I can’t face him alone. Please, Charlie. I wouldn’t ask if I weren’t desperate.” Plus, this would get him out, and she could keep an eye on him. He needed to be in social situations. Her poor Charlie.
Dead silence, then, “OK…” He sounded like she had asked him to face a firing squad. “When is it?”
Lizzie couldn’t believe her luck. “Wow, thanks, Charlie. It’s the first weekend in October.”
“That’s over a month away.” He sounded optimistic. “You’ll have time to find someone else to go with you instead.”
“Doubt it. I’ll be on assignment in Africa and then to Central America. I’ll pay for everything, Charlie. I promise we’ll have a good time. Kay and Mick are a lot of fun.”
“I’m not sure you can count on me. But I’ll do it for you. And I wouldn’t think of letting you pay. As I said I owe you.” Charlie’s voice cracked with emotion. “Thanks again for the idea for the book. I’m very grateful. I love you, Elizabeth Moran.”
His affectionate tone brought tears to her eyes. “I love you, too, Charles Clark. I’ll call you when I get back.”
“Be careful wherever you go, okay? Maybe pack a weapon.”
“Ha! My press pass is my shield. That, and the military guards I always obey to the letter. I’ll keep my eyes open. I always do.”
Possibly opening up a wound again, she continued, “I’m going to visit the orphanage after I’m through with this assignment. I want to keep the annual tradition going.”
Inhaling deeply she held her breath waiting for his reaction. Her shoulders tightened.
“Right…” His voice barely above a whisper. “Should be plenty hot there this time of year. Travel safe. Tell Becca I said hello.”
“Sure. I’ll talk to you when I get home.” Hanging up the phone, Lizzie exhaled, relieved.
God, it’s good to have a normal conversation with him.
Lizzie stepped toward the bank of windows in her living room. She stared at the patch of Lake Michigan visible between the steel and concrete forest of buildings. A single, tiny white sail full of wind moved on the blue waters in front of the Gary, Indiana smoke stacks, which smeared the sky on the far shore ash gray.
Metal screeched as the el train’s brakes clenched and held below her. A parade of boats glided on the river, and a serenade of warning bells clanged as metal bridges opened and closed to let taller vessels through.
Despite the constant noise of the city, living in her condo in the clouds always calmed her.
With Charlie’s help, maybe seeing Wallace was a good thing.
Chapter Three
Jack checked the time and drummed his fingers on the edge of Charlie’s desk. Never able to sit still for long, he stood and paced in front of the window while Charlie made a phone call. Tapping his wristwatch a few times, he widened his eyes and fixed a pointed stare at Charlie just in case his brother hadn’t figured out by now how impatient he was to get going.
“Sorry Jack. No answer on her cell phone. It’s not like Lizzie to be late.” Charlie held the phone toward Jack.
“Well, bro, the lady has fifteen more minutes to show before I’m out of here. I have to go over the plans for the Global Commerce Building.” Jack continued to pace around the room.
“I’m so proud of you. The drawings you showed me are awesome. I knew you would be awarded the bid.” His brother hung up the phone and leaned back in his large leather chair.
“Haven’t gotten it yet. You’re thinking of the Freedom Center in Boston. The stakes for the GC Building are the same. We’re up against the same firm. I can’t tell you how much I want this one, too. It would be very satisfying to beat them out again. The head guy is a real jerk and does shoddy work.” Jack’s stomach twisted at the thought that his unscrupulous competitor could win this bid.
“I guess you’ll be spending a lot of time in Boston.”
“Guess so. I’ll be back and forth for the next two years, but I’ll still be here the majority of the time.”
“Are you going back again soon?”
“Why the sudden interest in my travel plans?”
“I want to ask you a favor.”
“Sure. Go ahead and ask.”
Charlie hesitated. He still had a pleasant smile on his face that had Jack smiling back at him in encouragement.
Oh Charlie, you’re not fooling me.
He was too thin, almost frail, and the dark circles under Charlie’s eyes made him look worn out despite his clean-shaven face and crisp pale blue shirt.
Look what happens when you give your heart to a woman, Charlie.
Jack banished the mental picture of their father’s grim face. At least Charlie was capable of masking his pain with a smile. Dad had never thought his sons deserved the effort.
Determined to do whatever necessary to keep Charlie from falling into the same gray existence, Jack spurred Charlie on, “Anything for you. What do you need?”
Charlie gave him a shaky grin. “I think you better hear the favor before you agree.”
“How bad it could it be?” Jack furrowed his brow and chuckled. “It’s legal isn’t it?”
“In a moment of gratitude I made a promise to Lizzie, and there’s no way I can keep it.”
“OK. Why not?”
“Because it’s next weekend, and it’s too soon. But I can’t break the promise. I told her I’d do anything to make up for the way I treated her, and she isn’t asking anything unreasonable. It’s just that I can’t do it, that’s all.”
“I’m still lost here. What’s happening next weekend?”
“I agreed to take her to her college reunion in Boston. I’m not ready to be in a social situation without Mari. I still have to push myself to get dressed each day.”
“No big deal. Just tell her you can’t make it. She knows what a difficult time you’re having. Let her find someone else to take her. Or she could go alone, right?”
“You don’t understand. Some guy hurt her back in college and he’ll be at the reunion. She doesn’t want to go alone.”
“What’s wrong with her? Why can’t she get a date?”
“Don’t be stupid!” Charlie pointed to the picture on the credenza behind him. “Look at her. She’s beautiful. Any man would jump at the chance to go out with her. She needs someone she can count on for this. Someone she trusts.”
“I must be dense. What does this have to do with me?”
“Would you take my place and go with her?”
“Oh come on. You’re kidding right? I don’t even know her.” He eyed Charlie’s photo of her, long brown hair, a sprinkling of freckles on pale Irish milky skin, and vivid green eyes. He remembered her long legs in shorts and the soft collision with her at Charlie’s.