Page 103 of When the Night is Over

Even my time with Ethan is heavy this weekend. We still have times when we’re goofing off or just spending quiet time side by side, but there’s business to attend to as well.

I decided to prepare my mother in advance. Taking Barbara’s thoughts on the matter into consideration, I agreed that springing a grandson on Mom could be a catalyst for heart failure. And it hits me, studying her face as she takes him in. This affects not only me, but every person in my life. With Mike and Brandon it’s the same. Ethan insists on introducing Moe to them on the video chat and Michael smiles through his tears when his nephew recalls what I told him about our brother. “Your Timmy, he sneezed?”

I’m grateful for the strength Charlotte’s steady presence has given me today.

“Is it just me, or do you feel like you went nine rounds with Tyson today?”

She laughs, pausing as a spoonful of ice cream is halfway to her mouth. “I’m about ready to pass out.” She takes the mouthful then passes the bowl back to me. “I was nervous as all get out to face your mother.”

“I’m glad I told her beforehand.”

“Absolutely. Can you imagine how that would have gone?You remember Charlotte, right Mom? She’s got a little someone she wants to introduce to you.That would have been horrifying.”

“She was always fond of you.”

“I hope she still is.”

“No worries on that front,” I assure her. “If I love you, she loves you.”

“Love me?” Wide-eyed, Charlotte looks downright panicky.

I take in a deep breath and place the bowl on the deck so I can focus on her. “I’m sorry if that makes you uncomfortable, and maybe I should have kept it to myself for now, but I do love you. I don’t believe I’ve ever stopped.”

“I see.”

“What’s wrong?”

“It’s just...You say you love me, but do you really even know me?”

“Come again?”

She’s distancing herself, the relaxed ease of a moment ago now gone. “We were together for four months. You were with Samantha for a year. Longer than a year, actually.”

“Stop with Samantha. I don’t want to hear her name coming from your lips. She means nothing to me. Do you get that? I never loved her.”

“What happened when you went back?”

I don’t want to do this now. I don’t want Samantha in this place with us. “Nothing.”

Charlotte’s face twists as she goes to stand. “After everything I’ve shared with you, you can’t give me anything?”

I make it to my feet first and take her forearms, slowly pulling her up and in close to me. I keep my voice low but there’s a hard edge to it that I can’t mask. “What do you want to hear? Do you want to hear that she cried? That she begged? She did. And I’m a bastard because I didn’t care. I fucking peeled her off me and left without looking back.”

Falling back a step, I release her. What I’ve revealed begins to sink in.

I left Samantha the exact same way I left Charlotte.

* * *

Charlotte

It’s hours later when he knocks on my bedroom door. He’s dressed in jeans and a sweatshirt, and I see the car keys in his hand. “Do you want me to go?”

“What are you asking me?”

“I’m just saying that if I were you, I’d want me to leave. I’m giving you the option. I’ll go stay at Lawrence’s tonight and I’ll head out after I have breakfast with Ethan tomorrow morning.”

“Is that what you want?”

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