Southern Belles, a Novel About Love, Purpose & Second Chances (9781310340970) (40 page)

“You know that running off with your best
friend’s fiancé is a major offense in the south, right?”

“We had something special and you have to
know the truth.” He persisted.

“Ahhh, okay; I can pick you up on the corner
of Oak and Main—it’s about a block away from here, midnight
tomorrow.”

“Thank you.” He smiled as I felt my breath
fade away again.

“Mommy!” Lucy insisted again.

“Okay, sweetie, I’ll be right there. “I’ll
see you tomorrow Skylar, I mean, Christian.”

“Wait, Charlotte…” Skylar paused, “is Lucy
mine?” He asked reaching towards my arm once more.

I hesitated a moment not sure how to
answer.

“Is she?”

I nodded yes and turned to help Lucy in the
bathroom.

I helped Lucy finish up and we made our way
back to the dining room with the rest of the party. Christine and
Bev were now talking with CeCe about the spa day planned for all
the bridesmaids and mothers of the bride and groom tomorrow. I
couldn’t wait to tell Richie about the spa day—he was going to love
hearing about a day to get pretty with all the girls. James had
planned a day of golfing for all the groomsmen and Sidney, Skylar’s
dad. I was feeling nauseated with all the plans. I watched CeCe
interact with Skylar and kept a close eye on him as he equally
observed my exchanges with Eric. And Eric was nothing more than
kind and sweet during all of the evening and seemed clueless to the
truth behind my facade. He reached out to hold my hand during
dinner and anything that had been there before was nothing more
than purely friendship now. My heart ached, watching CeCe revel in
her joyous upcoming nuptials with the man my heart knew was the
only one I’d ever given it to. I sat making small talk to get
through the rest of the evening. Lucy was the most animated I’d
seen her in a while and provided entertainment for all. Skylar
watched her almost ceaselessly as she bounced around, speaking
articulately for a three year old. She warmed the hearts of
everyone around the dining table with her smile and humor. I
glimpsed over several times to see Skylar grin at her vibrancy.

“I’m so glad to be home and that you got to
meet my man.” CeCe said in a funny voice, to me, just before we got
ready to leave.

“I’m so glad you’re home too CeCe; I’ve
really missed you. Thank you for the dinner invitation.” I smiled
faintly. “Your hair is very pretty too.”

“Thanks. Eric has gotten even better looking
since Christmas.” CeCe smiled, hitting my shoulder in a playful
manner.

“Yeah he has.”

“So, tomorrow we’re going to meet Christine
and Bev at the spa. My dad and Christian will drop me off at your
house before they go to the clubhouse. You don’t mind driving do
you? I figured you, Richie, and I could all drive together from
there.” CeCe looked for my consent.

“Ahhh, sure, that’s fine.” I said, hoping
that Richie didn’t say anything to our family.

“Perfect, we’ll be over at nine in the
morning.” She said, kissing me on the cheek.

“It was a pleasure to meet you.” Skylar
said, extending his hand towards Eric’s.

“It was nice to meet you.” Eric smiled.
“CeCe you look beautiful and we’re happy for you two.” He
continued.

“Thank you Eric.”

“It was really good to finally see you.
CeCe’s told me so much about you.” Skylar grinned as he leaned in
to hug me goodbye.

I remembered how he held me in his arms so
long ago. I never thought I would feel it again and after years of
wondering I was not sure if I ever wanted to. But now, face-to-face
unexpectedly, I wavered in my angst against him. As his arms
wrapped around mine, I could feel the heat from his warm embrace
fall over my body. His muscles clinched tightly around me and I
felt my body go limp. I straightened up quickly in my moment of
weakness and said, “it was nice to finally meet you too
Christian.”

“Lucy dear, are you ready to go?” Eric
called.

“I’m coming. I just need more hugs first.”
She said as she squeezed CeCe’s neck once more.

“I love you Lucy Grace.” CeCe said kissing
her rosy red cheeks goodbye.

“See you at nine CeCe.” I said, hugging her
goodbye.

“See you Char; we are going to have so much
fun the next two days.”

“We sure are.” I smiled, feeling my heart
slump down inside my chest.

“Bye guys; drive safely.” Bev called from
the foyer.

“Thanks Mrs. Crawford; see you
tomorrow.”

Eric helped Lucy out to the car, under his
sweater, while the rain continued to beat down. He came back for me
next and ushered me to the car, opening my door, and helping me in
before running around to the other side. An image of a blurred CeCe
and Skylar stood on the front porch arm-in-arm, while they waved
goodbye to us. I watched from behind my rain-soaked window view.
The rest of the short car ride home Eric and Lucy talked about
‘Auntie CeCe and her Prince Christian’ as Lucy nicknamed him. I sat
quietly, listening to them banter about CeCe’s wedding and Lucy’s
dress. I had my own conversation waging within me of what to do. No
matter what happened, people that I loved, would be hurt. If I
remained quiet, I knew I would grow bitter with CeCe and myself. I
thought about Eric—he was so good to me. He didn’t deserve to be
strung along. If I had never known Skylar he would have been the
most perfect choice for me. He was everything that a healthy woman
and her parents would want for their daughter. Even if I never told
CeCe the truth about Skylar, I couldn’t continue on with Eric. I
knew that I couldn’t give him all of me. On the other hand, if I
told CeCe, she would be hurt and angry. There was no guarantee that
anyone of us would end up happy. Skylar obviously loved CeCe enough
to ask her to marry him. I could end up causing strife for a
lifelong marriage of doubt and mistrust between them. I wanted the
best for my best friend. I just didn’t want it with Skylar. The
more I thought about my dilemma the more I became confused and
upset. My mind wondered back to CeCe. She had kept things from me
once when she thought I’d disapprove of her decision. Did she
secretly know that Skylar was Christian? How many guys are named
Skylar that have a home somewhere in this area? I remembered him
telling me he had a home somewhere near here. How could she not
have known? Of course, CeCe only listened to about half of what I
ever said. She was somewhat obsessed with herself. I felt a sense
of guilt with myself for the last several thoughts. CeCe was my
best friend—of course she didn’t know. She was happy in love and
completely oblivious of her best friend’s plight. She never did
anything out of spite and was happy for Eric and me. That was,
unless she was jealous that I started dating Eric—was that it? Did
she hunt Skylar down just to bring him back and taunt me with him?
My crazy mind was creating all kinds of drama. CeCe wasn’t that
kind of person despite my heartache and the delirium that had set
in.

“Charlotte, are you okay? You’ve seemed a
bit distant tonight.” Eric said as the car rolled to a stop in my
parent’s driveway.

“Yeah, I’m fine.” I said, trying to push
away all the thoughts interrogating my mind.

“I don’t know what happened but I’m pretty
sure that you’re just telling me you’re fine so I stop asking about
what’s really bothering you right now.”

He leaned in to kiss me. Eric was sweet and
kind and everything good. I felt his lips kiss mine, gently, as I
pulled back.

“I’m sorry Eric; I’m not being honest with
you. I’m not fine but I don’t know what I am right now.”

“Do you want to tell me?”

“I’ve got to get Lucy to sleep. It’s late.”
I said, turning around to see her leaning with her head to the side
of the car seat.

“She fell asleep a few minutes ago.” He
said, looking at me. “It’s okay Char; I want you to be honest with
me.”

“You’re so good to me Eric and I don’t
deserve you. You deserve a woman who’s going to give you everything
you give—back to you.” I said, feeling a heaviness building in my
chest.

“What do you mean?” He probed. “Why do I
feel like this conversation ends in you breaking up with me?”

I looked at him and saw the ache in his
expression. I felt sick for hurting this most wonderful man. “I’m
afraid so.”

“Did I do something wrong?” He asked
reminding me of the first day he kissed me.

“No, you’ve always done everything right.
I’m just not the person who can give you everything that you
deserve. You are a wonderful person and I’m very sorry for hurting
you.”

“Then if I’m such a wonderful man—what is it
Charlotte? Why not me?”

With a tidal wave of tears rushing down, I
looked up at him. “It’s Skylar. He’s back.” I said, feeling the
sobs caged within my ribs.

“Lucy’s dad?” He asked, appearing
confused.

“Yes.”

“When?” He focused on me, wiping my tears
with the sleeves of his shirt.

“Tonight,” I sniffled.

“Before dinner?”

“No.”

“What?” It took a moment of silence.
“Christian?” He asked, leaning back in his seat.

“Yes. Skylar is his middle name. He began
using Christian after he finished college.” I said looking at
Eric’s broken expression.

“I don’t know what to say Charlotte.” He
said peering through the window with the raindrops steadily beating
down.

“I’m sorry Eric. I never thought I’d see him
again. Especially like this.”

“I guess that explains your upset stomach
tonight.”

I stared back speechless. Nothing I could
say could help him to feel better right now. “I didn’t expect this.
I don’t know what to do but I know I can’t drag you with me while I
try to figure it out.”

“Do you love him?” He searched my face.

“I don’t know.”

“Charlotte, when you love someone—you just
know. There’s something that’s undeniable—life-changing about that
person. You know when they’re the one—you just hope that they feel
the same way about you.”

“Eric, I’m so sorry.”

“Did you ever feel that way about me? Before
you saw Skylar tonight?” He asked warily.

“I came close to it. You’re the most perfect
guy in the world.” I said, reaching for his hand.

“Just not the perfect guy for you
though.”

“Eric.” I felt his heartbreak and hated
hurting him. “I gave something to Skylar that night that I’ve never
been able to get back. I thought I loved him. It wasn’t until I
never heard from him that I doubted what I felt. Tonight, on my way
back from the bathroom he stopped me. He told me that he felt
something special with me too and said he tried to find me many
times with no luck.”

“So, why is he marrying your best
friend?”

“I can’t deny he doesn’t love her. And I
don’t know what’s going to happen.”

“So what are you going to do about it?”

“He asked me to meet him tomorrow night—he
wants me to leave early from the Bachelorette party and give him a
chance to explain.”

“Are you going to?”

“I have to find out what happened—I need to
know. This is the father of my child.”

“You do need to know. But can you trust
him?”

“I trusted him once. I need to know the rest
of the story.”

“Okay then.” He said. “I just don’t want you
to be hurt again if it doesn’t turn out the way you hope it
does.”

“I don’t know what I’m hoping for. Honestly,
I’ve already hurt you and I don’t want to hurt CeCe and everyone
else involved.”

“Charlotte, the hardest choices we make in
life are always going to hurt someone. One day we will all look
back at the choices we made. Some of us will regret not fighting
for what was right in front of us the whole time, while others will
pay the price of settling for what life gives them. As much as I
didn’t want to hear what you said this evening, I needed to hear it
from you.”

“I did tell you that you were perfect,
right? And very smart and really handsome, right?”

“Yes, but you can say it again. You kind of
kicked the crap out of my self-esteem tonight.” He smiled back.

I reached to touch his cheek and stroke it
gently. “Thank you for everything; I really do mean
everything.”

“You’re welcome. You’ve only got one life
here and if I’m not the one you’re meant to spend it with—then you
should go after the one who is.” He said, tenderly grabbing my hand
and pressing it in to his lips.

I leaned into his chest and stayed there for
the next half hour as the rain drenched the earth all around us.
Eric kissed me gently once more before we left the car that
evening. Like a gentlemen, true to his character, he carried Lucy
in under his jacket and came back for me. I hugged him once more on
the porch before I waved goodbye to him hoping I made the right
decision. When I walked inside, just after 11 PM, my parents,
Grandma Rose, and all of my brothers were waiting up in the living
room.

“What is everyone doing up so late?” I
asked, surprised by my greeting. “I said you didn’t have to wait up
for me.”

“We want to know about Skylar.” My brother
Peter said.

“What? Richie, what did you say?”

“Don’t be mad with him. You know you’re
brother—he loves you and was concerned.” My mother said.

“And he can’t keep a secret obviously,
Richie.” I said shooting him the stink eye.

“Honey, did you talk with him?” Grandma Rose
asked.

“Not really. Does everyone need to hear
this—don’t some of you have to work early in the morning tomorrow?”
I said, eyeballing my brothers who were laid back on the sofas as
comfortable as toads on lily pads.

“Yeah, but this is way more interesting than
getting sleep.” Edward said.

“Mom, Dad, everyone does not need to hear my
crazy story. Please make them go to bed.”

“They’re adults—we can’t make them do
anything just like we can’t make you do everything we say.” My dad
said.