Page 38 of Love By The Falls

I throw my arm around her and pull her in for a hug. “I brought you back a souvenir.”

“You did?”

I nod.

“Fine. All is forgiven, then.”

In the car, Charlie rapidly fires off all the details I’ve missed over the past week. “Uncle Austin took us for ice cream, and Anthony spilled it all over his Spider-Man T-shirt. We played catch every night before bed and never fell asleep before ten. Then—"

I shoot a quick look at Jane through the rearview mirror, and she’s hiding a grin. She knows how strict Iam about bedtime and knows that would make Charlie’s week, so it’s hard to be mad about it.

“We played laser tag, and I was the leader in the whole arena. Can you believe that, Mom?”

He doesn’t wait for a response. “Anthony let me go first. I think that’s why I won. But it was so close. I promised him a rematch. Can I go over this weekend?”

“I just got back, and it’s already Friday, Charlie. I’m sure Aunt Jane and Uncle Austin have other plans.”

“Do you have other plans, Aunt Jane?”

“Charlie,” I admonish.

“No other plans, Charlie. It’s fine with me if it’s okay with your mom.”

“Please, Mom!”

Jet-lagged, I’m overwhelmed with the questions so quickly after a week of long walks on the beach. I probably should plan something with Charlie, just the two of us this weekend, but he’s excited to go back to Jane’s house and I guess I could use a couple of days to do laundry and ease back into the old routine. “Sure, Charlie. It’s fine with me.”

“Thanks, Mom!” He leans across the backseat and wraps his arms around my waist. “You’re the best.”

Sage takes Charlie’s carry-on out of Jane’s trunk and rolls it to the front door while Jane stays back with me. “Charlotte,” she says. “There’s something I’ve got to tellyou.” Her voice is soft, as though she’s speaking to a skittish pet.

“This sounds ominous,” I tease.

“Well, it’s not exactly bad news, maybe just a warning.”

My head spins and my heart races. I’m feeling anxious and I’ve barely stepped through my front door. “Can it wait until tomorrow?”

“Yeah.”

“Okay, because I don’t think I can handle anything more than making Charlie something to eat before bed and taking a shower.”

“I understand.”

I roll my suitcase into the bedroom, and Jane follows. “Did you have a good time?”

I smile, remembering the past few days. “I had a wonderful time.” Sage joins Jane at the door. “Wait. Don’t tell Jane anything without me. Catch me up, what did I miss?”

“You didn’t miss anything. It was an amazing week. I sunk my feet in the sand, went on an off-road adventure, met a handsome man, danced on a bar top ‘Coyote Ugly’ style, I—”

“You danced on top of a bar?” Jane asks the same time Sage’s eyes bulge out, “You met a man?”

Jane looks back at Sage. “She met a man?”

“That’s what she said.”

“What’s his name?”

“Caleb.”

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