Page 57 of Reckless Chances
Epilogue - Charlie
“Are you ready?” Emmashouted from the kitchen.
“Remember, you don’t have to yell,” he laughed and leaned over the railing from the loft. Emma had moved into the tiny home three weeks earlier when Jimmy returned from his trip to Alaska.
“Are you ready?” she mouthed.
“Smartass.” Charlie came down the spiral staircase and jumped the last couple of steps to meet Emma. “What do you think?”
Emma adjusted his bowtie. “I think you look like a hipster.” She kissed him and then patted the front of his shirt.
Charlie stretched out his suspenders, letting them snap to his chest and then grabbed Emma from behind, pulling her in close. He still smelled her pillow when she got out of bed in the morning, but the real thing, the source, her neck was even better. He nipped at her shoulder, her silk sheath dress was the same pale yellow as the peonies she’d planted in their garden. “You look beautiful,” he whispered in her ear.
She blushed and turned to nuzzle into his chest. Charlie didn’t think he’d ever get tired of feeling her in his arms. He looked at his watch over her shoulder, “We should go,” he said. He crooked his arm. “M’lady.”
“M’man,” she laughed and slipped her hand into his arm.
“Wait just a minute.” Charlie patted her hand and removed it from his arm. “I have something for you.”
Emma tilted her head. “What? Charlie, we’re going to be late for your grand opening.”
He smiled; he’d been excited about this surprise for Emma since the night before when he’d set it up. He held onto both sides of the plywood that had served as the door to his tiny home since he moved in and shifted it to the side. Behind the plywood was a hand-carved solid oak Josh Johnson original door complete with a handmade wrought iron handle. “We can’t be late when we’re leaving through a bonafide real door,” he grinned and his cheeks felt so full they might pop. One of Emma’s conditions for moving in was the installation of a proper door. She was capable of sliding the plywood back and forth, and screwing it shut or open with the screwdriver anytime they came or went, but she hated it.
“Oh, Charlie. It’s beautiful,” she gushed. She ran her fingertips over the carving on the door, a bear and a husky sitting side by side looking up at the moon.
“Josh is making more for the brewpub.” He admired the handiwork over Emma’s shoulder.
Emma flicked the locking mechanism back and forth. “It even locks,” she smiled wryly.
“Only the best for my flower girl,” he growled and slipped his hand behind her neck, pulling her lips to his. She moaned into his mouth and pressed herself against him.
When she pulled out of his embrace, she stroked the side of his face. “When are you going to stop calling it the Brewpub? You finally decided on a name, you should use it.”
“Habit,” Charlie hooked his thumbs under his suspenders, also another habit.
He opened the door with a flourish. “The Beardog Brewery Grand Opening awaits.”
Emma traced her fingers along the door and Charlie grabbed her hand to help her as she stepped down the rickety temporary stairs in her high heels. “Those are next.” He jumped out of their home and pulled the door shut behind him.
“I thought that Jason was here.” Emma looked down the laneway.
“He said that he was only a minute away.” Charlie held his hand over his brow, looking for any sign of his brother. “He’ll be here soon.”
While they waited, the two of them walked through the garden that Emma had planted. He had surprised her with the door, and she had surprised him with the garden. In addition to the hops he had planted, she sowed tomato, cucumber, peas, and a bunch of flowers. She told him what they were, but other than the daisies, and the peonies, which he knew were her favorite, he just referred to them by their color.
A plume of dust appeared in the field. “There he is,” Charlie pointed and then waved. Jason brought the car to a stop and Charlie opened the passenger door for Emma. Back when they first got together, there was no way that the two could’ve been in the same room together – now they were as tight as a brother and sister. “Hi, Jason,” Emma kissed him on the cheek. “Hi, Em.” He smiled.
“Nice bowtie, Chuck.” Jason glanced in the rearview mirror.
“Nice face you jerk.” It was immature, but it was the best that Charlie could come up with. In reality, his brother looked great. He had quit drinking the day after the bachelor party. It turns out the asshole part of his brother only showed up when alcohol was involved. He came to visit every couple of weeks, and every time he showed up, he looked healthier, and happier – and tonight had even offered to be their designated driver.
Emma’s phone chimed and she checked her messages. “Jenni said that everything is all ready to go.” She turned, the seatbelt straining at her shoulder. “Are you excited?”
“I’m a little nervous,” he said. He wiped his sweaty palms of the front of his dark jeans.
“Don’t you worry, Jenni is on top of everything.” When Jenni found out that Charlie didn’t have his grand opening party planned, she stepped in and completely took over. When Charlie saw Jenni’s spreadsheets and mood boards, he knew the grand opening was in good hands.
As they pulled up to the front of the Beardog Brewery he could see shadows of people already inside. His heart started to race. “People aren’t supposed to be here yet.” He clicked out of his seatbelt, panic starting to rise, and hopped out of the car. He opened to door for Emma and offered her his hand.
