“You’re letting yourself lose again, and this isn’t a contest. Cal seems partial to you. Charity is not a threat. What happened in high school is ancient history.” Lillian swatted Bryony’s hip as she walked to the office.
“Ancient history,” Bryony said, glancing over at the table where Cleopatra and Salome rose to put on their coats. Neither of them looked back before leaving the coffee shop.
Bryony plodded through the rest of the day, dreading the hour when high school students would rush in. She knew Cal would show up, and he did, right on schedule.
“What can I get for you today?”
He leaned on the counter, closing the distance between them. “Will you have dinner with me tonight since we can’t do the movie on Friday?”
So, no obvious blow back from her efforts on his behalf, which was a relief, but he seemed completely unaware of her mood, which made sense. How could he have known that she just found out he was tangled up with her worst memories? She wanted to be with Cal. She knew she did. With tough resolve, she decided she could not let Charity get in the way one more time.
Just as she started to accept his invitation, Cal said, “I’ve been invited for dinner at the Hendersons. Chuck and Charity. Do you know them?”
Bryony choked back the affirmative reply on her lips and stumbled over her words. “Casually, it’s a small town.”
“I’d like you to come,” Cal said. “I got some bad news at school today.”
Had Mitch given him a hard time about canceling on trivia? Cal spoke again before she could ask.
“Mitch told me the school board will probably cut funding for the work study program next year. Cut it completely!”
“That’s terrible,” she said, doing a miserable job of feigning surprise. Mitch had warned her, and she had failed to pass on the information to Cal. So much for being a bridge. Too much pressure, and she collapsed because there was no way to maintain integrity with both of them at the same time. “Todd’s been great for us.”
“Right?” Cal straightened his back, and Bryony could see the taut muscles in his neck. Trim, fit, attractive, intelligent, and right in front of her, asking her to be with him. “I need to meet with Chuck,” he continued. “Will you join us? I’d like your support.”
“Chuck and you need to discuss business,” Bryony said. No way was she going to dinner at Charity Henderson’s house. “You and I can get together when you return from Cleveland.”
“I’d really like you to come,” he repeated. “And you’re still welcome to come with me to Cleveland.”
Conflicting thoughts pushed hard against the deep confusion of not knowing what to do next. Bryony’s feelings were all over the place, riding high from the past few weeks of being with Cal, lower than low from the news of Cal’s connection to Charity through Chuck.
And Cal seemed oblivious. He just kept talking.
“Sorry. I know it’s rude to continue asking after a woman says no, but about tonight, I asked Charity if I could bring a date, and she said she would love the company.” He leaned forward again and stage-whispered, “Their house is enormous. Pool table, ping pong, theater room with a huge TV, a sauna. I’m sure you two could find something to do while Chuck and I talk.”
Spending an evening with Charity Henderson in her pretentious home topped Bryony’s list of not-going-to-do-that-ever. “I’ve been feeling a bit off today,” she said, her voice catching.
Still oblivious, Cal countered with, “Sure I can’t change your mind?” He cocked his head, wrinkles bunching the skin on his forehead.
Warmth returned to her midsection. “Did Bailey teach you how to beg with your eyes?”
“I’m not good at it, am I?” Cal asked.
On the contrary, those lovely blue eyes almost convinced her, but she stood firm. “You and I can reschedule. Do you want to order something?”
Cal looked around at the three young people waiting for their turn to order. He again faced Bryony. “No, thanks. Bailey calls. I’ll call you later tonight?”
“Please do.” The warm feelings bubbled inside again. He waved and ran, technically jogged, to the door.
When the line of teenagers dwindled, Lillian laid her hand on Bryony’s shoulder and smiled. “That’s funny,” she said.
“You heard?” Bryony asked.
“The universe conspires to help you release grudges.”
“Would you stop?”
“I have always said you won’t find your soul mate until you forgive Charity Beaman for stealing the love of your life right out from under you.”
“Chuck Henderson was not the love of my life.”
“Now you’re talking sense,” Lillian said. “Maybe the world is in order, and you weren’t meant to meet your soulmate until now. Maybe Chuck and Charity were meant to be together all along. Maybe the love of your life is Cal.”
“I hope not,” Bryony said, the words reflexive, untrue.
“Will you listen to yourself?” Lillian flicked her fingertips across Bryony’s upper arm. “If you let Cal Forster slip away, I will never forgive you.”
No words came. As much as she would like to protest, Lillian was right.
“Look.” Lillian patted the place on Bryony’s arm still stinging from the flick of frustration. “I know Charity was mean to you from the beginning. Her first day in a new school, she saw you and Chuck sitting together at lunch, and she set her eyes on him. I’ve always told you, she saw you as a threat. But Charity seems different now. She’s changed in the last few years. I see her as approachable now, less regal.”
“If a snake sheds its skin, it’s still a snake,” Bryony said.
“That is harsh, my friend. I think you would be happier if you could let go of old grievances. People can change.”
Again, Bryony had no words. Lillian made sense, and Bryony admitted, at least to herself, pining for Chuck Henderson had become so much a part of her life she didn’t notice it, like she didn’t notice her heartbeat, or her breathing.
She remembered how Nathan’s defection hurt in large part because it reminded her of Chuck choosing Charity instead of her. Every man she ever dated had been compared to the man she lost before he was a man. Except for Cal.
