Page 11 of Eighteen Bowties and Counting

“The two of us.”

“You can think on it,” he said. “Talk to your brother. Your mama. Whatever. Whoever. I can show you the cabin and you can pick either of the two empty bedrooms. We’d each have our own bathroom, but yours isn’t in your room. We’ll obviously have to share the kitchen and living room, but we could set you up in the loft with a TV room or whatever. I’m—well, I’m going to stop talking now and let you have a chance.”

“I—well, to be honest, I don’t know what to say.”

“Think about it,” he said. “Come back out tomorrow if you want to see the cabin. I’m around, and I can run over to the cabin anytime.”

Charlotte turned around and looked back down the hall toward the living room. “I—what about lunch again? What if I brought it for the two of us?”

Beau let several seconds go by. “Like a date?”

“A date?”

“Forget it,” Beau said quickly. “Yes, absolutely. Bring lunch, and I’ll show you the cabin.”

“All right,” ghosted out of Charlotte’s mouth.

“You’ve got my number?” he asked. “Call me when you get here.”

“Okay.”

“Okay,” he repeated, his voice brusque and business-like now. “Great. Good-bye.” He hung up, and Charlotte stood there, staring at the wall.

“Live with him,” she repeated. “Like a date?” She flew into gear then, her breath hitching as she ran down the hall and into the kitchen. “Felicity.”

Her sister-in-law had finished packing their picnic lunch for tomorrow’s outing, and Charlotte had no idea where she’d gone. The summer evening sunshine still leant plenty of light to the day, and she hurried out onto the deck.

Felicity sat there with a glass of sweet tea, both dogs, and Mason. She looked up and immediately set her tea down. “My goodness, Charlotte. What’s wrong?”

Charlotte froze, not wanting to talk about this in front of Mason. But he’d seen her too, and he actually got to his feet. “You’re going to pass out,” he said. “Come sit down.”

“I’m fine,” she said, though she did feel a bit lightheaded.

Her brother moved her to his chair and loomed over her. “What’s going on? Did you get the job?”

She nodded, a certain numbness spreading through her. “I got it.”

“That’s great news, honey,” Felicity said, and she patted Charlotte’s arm. She’d been nothing but kind to Charlotte all these years, and Charlotte loved her nieces and nephew. They all had a hint of red in their hair which came from Felicity, as well as their super Southern streak, as she hailed from Alabama.

“Don’t get all worked up about it,” she said. “This is good news.”

“Yes.” Charlotte looked at her, suddenly seeing everything. “I won’t be living with you guys anymore.”

“Is that what you’re worried about?” Mason sat down on the end of the lounge chair. “Char, you wanted this.”

“I know,” she said. “I’m just saying—that’s not what I’m saying. I’m not upset about it.” She gave her light-haired brother a glare. He shot it right back at her. “I’m saying, I got the job, and I’m taking it.”

She didn’t need to discuss living with Beau Peterson with anyone, least of all her older brother who’d once told her to stop making moon eyes at the cowboy. He’s nothing but a flirt, Char. Stay away from him.

As a fifteen-year-old, she’d listened to her brother. Not that she and Beau had ever had much opportunity to be around one another.

They did now—and Mason had absolutely no say in it.

“It comes with a cabin,” she said. “I’m—” She couldn’t speak through her sudden smile. She started to laugh, a hint of mania accompanying the rush of emotions streaming through her. “You guys know I love you, right?”

Tears filled her eyes, and she simply couldn’t feel this much and not have a release. “I’m going to miss you and the kids terribly, but I’m—I’m ready for this.” She reached out and grabbed onto Mason’s hand. “I can do this.”

“I never said you couldn’t.”

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