Page 72 of Take Two

“Drop it,” Mary Leigh says. “Take my advice and be happy for your brother. Welcome Violet into this family and stay out of it.”

“I have a bad feelin’ about this, Mama, and I’m worried sick about it. I don’t trust this relationship, and I don’t trust Violet not to—”

“Shut up,” Charlie snaps as he finally stomps down the long hallway, nearly dragging me with him.

Mary Leigh hangs her head and puts a hand to her forehead. Colt stands there like a statue as he watches us approach. His face is void of all color.

“You’ve said enough,” Charlie snaps. I thought he’d be angrier, but he sounds calm, which worries me.

Colt runs a hand over his flushed face and says, “Look, I was just talkin’—”

“I heard what you said.” Charlie takes a deep breath and puts the orchid on the kitchen island. “Mama, Violet picked this out for you. I hope you like it, but we’re not stayin’.” He heads back toward the garage. His hand is like a vice grip around my wrist. We barely make it three steps before we hear several sets of feet.

“Oh, good. You guys are here. The boys are starving, so let’s eat,” Vickie says.

Charlie stops abruptly before he turns around. His jaw is clenched and his brows furrowed. I see a bit of the Charlie he alluded to when he took me to his AA meeting. There’s a fury rolling off his body, and I know he’s fighting for control not to unleash it, and as much as Colt deserves it, the rest of the family does not. I take my free hand and rest it on his bicep.

“We’re not stayin’ for dinner,” is all he says to Vickie.

Vickie looks from him to me and the rest of the adults in the room. “What do you mean you’re not staying for dinner? What happened?”

“Why is Uncle Charlie mad?” Evan asks.

“No!” Johnny says as he runs to his uncle. Charlie lets me go long enough to pick him up and kiss his cheeks.

“Your husband and his big fat mouth happened.” Charlie hands Johnny back to Vickie. “Mama, maybe you can bring the boys by the restaurant tomorrow, and I’ll spend time with them there.”

“Charlie, Violet,” Mary Leigh says. “Please stay. We can—”

“Will someone tell me what on earth is going on?” Vickie demands.

“Your husband just doesn’t listen. That’s what’s going on,” Mary Leigh says. I watch as she points at Colt, who flinches at his mother’s sharp tone. “I told you to keep your mouth shut but no. You never listen. That’s always been your problem. Just like you didn’t listen to me before Vickie dumped you.”

“She never dumped me,” he says.

“He was here running his trap about Charlie and Violet, and they overheard,” Mary Leigh says.

“I was having a private conversation with my—”

Vickie interrupts her husband before he can finish. “You what?” she practically yells. “What did you say?”

Charlie takes my wrist and pulls me toward the door. I should be happy that Vickie and Mary Leigh are giving Colt hell right now, but I feel as if someone just punched me in the stomach.

“You said what?” Vickie yells. “What in the world is wrong with you? Do you realize that Charlie is a grown man who doesn’t need—"

Chapter 39

Charlie

“Who the hell ishenot to trustme?” Violet asks. I can feel the indignation and confusion oozing out of her. I want to reassure her that what we overheard was a misunderstanding, but I won’t lie to her or myself. I know what I heard, and she does too. “What have I ever done other than be good to you? All I’ve done is care about you, listen to and support you, and he questionsme? I know he’s your brother, and you love him, but I don’t like him. I’ve tried, but I’m done. I’ll never get between you and him, but I’m done trying to have a friendship with him.” She crosses her arms and looks out the passenger window. I rest my hand on her thigh to try and calm her.

“I’m sorry, darlin’,” I say as visions of beating Colt to a pulp flash through my mind.

“I don’t evenlikebasketball,” she says. “I don’t care for athletes or celebrities. Do you know why? Because of their giant fucking egos,” she says before I get a chance to respond. “And his is so big that he created a narrative where I tricked his wife into being my client so I can get my hands on you to be close to him. To what end? What is he really insinuating? That I can’t love you for you? That he must factor into our relationship? He’s psychotic,” she says. “Not to mention narcissistic and a complete ass. It’s a mystery how anyone can stand him.”

“I know, baby,” is all I can think of to say.

“And for the record, Charlie, I’ve never had to trick or manipulate anyone to be with me. I’ll bet a million dollars that your brother is the manipulative one. I’m still irritated at how he manipulated an invitation to my apartment that night you met my parents. And do you know how many rich men I come across in New York City? Far richer than his sorry ass. Hundreds. I’m talking about hedge fund managers, CEOs of Fortune Five Hundred companies, venture capitalists, and trust me, if I wanted one, I could have had one.” She crosses her arms again and looks away while I drive.

---