Page 12 of One More Chance
“Tabby Cat. I like it. One of Charlotte’s nicknames I’m guessing?”
Tabitha nodded shyly.
“Let’s grab a table in the back, it’s a bit quieter back there.”
The three of them sat down at one of Josh’s handcrafted wooden tables. Charlotte ran her hands over the heavy piece of furniture, “That man certainly is good with his hands.” She winked at Megan.
Megan opened her eyes wide and jerked her head toward Tabitha. “Yes, he is great at working with wood.” Megan’s attempt to steer the conversation back to one appropriate for a ten-year-old failed miserably and Charlotte giggled. “If you say so.”
“Now,” Megan said sternly. “What can I get you two for lunch? Tabitha, the menu is on the blackboard behind the counter. Can you read it?”
“Yep.” Tabitha’s eyes were trained on the menu. “May I please have a grilled cheese sandwich and a hot chocolate?”
Charlotte turned and squinted her eyes at the menu. She was only thirty-three for god’s sake, but she couldn’t make out the writing. “Do you have any quiche today?”
“You betcha,” Megan quipped. “Quiche Lorraine is the special today.”
“I’ll take one of those with a green salad, and a cappuccino please.”
“Coming right up.” Megan went back to the counter and rang their order in. When she came back with the steaming hot drinks, Tabitha was going into all the details about her ski lesson.
“How was the mountain this morning?” Megan asked as she set down the drinks.
Charlotte was about to launch into a tirade about running into Logan Brush when she noticed the sparkle on Megan’s hand and the whole reason for their meeting came rushing back to her. “Let’s see that rock,” Charlotte demanded and held out her hand.
Megan giggled like a schoolgirl and placed her left hand in Charlotte’s. Charlotte ran her fingers over the delicate band and small diamond. “Where is it?” she joked, squinting at her hand. Megan tried to pull her hand from Charlotte’s grip, but she held on tighter, “It’s beautiful, Meg,” Charlotte said, and she meant it.
Megan had been through so much over the past few years, Charlotte knew Josh could’ve given her a tinfoil ring and Megan would’ve worn it with pride. They were soulmates, anyone could see it as plain as day, and that made Megan’s modest ring one of the most beautiful that Charlotte had ever seen.
“Megan is having a baby and getting married,” Charlotte explained to Tabitha. “Although, I’m not sure in what order...”
“Josh and I wanted to wait until the baby came, but, well, we just can’t wait that long. I also want to do it before I’m a whale.” Megan’s eyes sparkled as she held Charlotte’s hand. “Are you free on April 10?”
“April 10th? Holy moly, you two don’t waste any time, do you?”
“I know that it’s last minute, but it’s going to be small, and everything is organized. But I need to know if you are free that day.”
“I’ll make sure I’m free, you don’t need to plan around me.”
Megan grinned at her friend, “I need to make sure that my maid of honor will be available on my wedding day.”
Usually stalwart, Charlotte felt the tears spring up in the corners of her eyes. “Of course,”
“Wait,” Megan interrupted. “Before you say yes –”
“Stop it. It doesn’t matter. Nothing could stop me from being there for you.”
Megan sighed and Charlotte saw her eyes drop; she traced her fingertips along the wood grain in the table.
“What?” Charlotte demanded. “Out with it.”
“Well, I’ll totally understand if you don’t want to do it...” Megan’s voice trailed off.
“Spit it out.” Megan was her best friend, it was an unspoken rule that Charlotte would be her maid of honor, and if Charlotte ever got married in this lifetime, that Megan would be hers.
“Josh has asked Freddie to be his best man.”
“Okay. That makes sense, they’re friends.” Tabitha was watching the exchange with wide eyes, spooning the whipped cream off the top of her hot chocolate.
