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And to be frank, I’m not sure I won.
Dad and I unload both cars and set the boxes outside the front door.
He looks at her old sedan and then gives me a pointed look. “This used to belong to Henry.”
Following his gaze, I nod at the mention of Charlie’s father.
“I wasn’t sure I'd make it uphill in that.”
“Yeah,” I sigh.
“She’s not planning on leaving town in it, is she?”
“Knowing Charlie, this is her Little Engine That Could.”
I offer to call him an Uber but he chooses to jog back into town, muttering something about feeling like a large dog in a puppy carrier in that thing and needing to stretch his legs.
I move the boxes outside her bedroom door, ready to knock, when my phone rings.
I look at the caller ID before answering. “Roger, how can I help you?”
“Tried dropping off the girl’s check. She didn’t show up for work. You sure this is the side you want to be on, Noah? At least you’re guaranteed to get paid workin’ for me.”
“I don’t work for anyone, I represent. Any reason you asked to see her instead of leaving her an envelope?”
There’s a beat before he answers. “Just wanted to make sure she’s…doin’ alright. Maybe we can work something out without getting attorneys involved.”
“One is already involved.” And getting pissed.
After what happened last year, when photos of Charlie at her place of work were snapped without her knowledge during a private moment with her best friend, I nearly lost my senses.
Roger practically stalking her there to have a few words is bringing out my protective streak. One I’ve only ever had for members of my family…and her.
I’m a lot like Levi when it comes to protecting who we care about. Levi is a natural protector. His town, his animals, his son. He does it with a passion.
I apparently…do it with fury. And threats.
“Fine. I’ll come back tomorrow.”
“I advise you not to make contact and just drop it off with her name on it.” I hang up.
Heaven knows she could use every penny.
My head calculates the amount of debt I know she’s in for funeral costs and student loans that have been getting deferred for the past few years. Hell, I even know about the personal loans she’s been refused. It keeps me up at night.
Knowing she had to stay in town to care for her mother instead of moving away years ago for a better job.
Knowing she’d never let me help her the way I wanted to.
My heart nearly leaped out of my chest when she asked about selling my share of the Inn. No doubt Pepper told her. Thankfully my brother didn’t tell his fiancée that I sold my shares to Dad so I could pay off Sara Whitley’s hospital bills.
The same outrageous dollar amount Pepper tried to cover when she agreed to marry her ex for one full year so Charlie could get the reward money.
Had Chase not witnessed Charlie tear up the check, I’d have never known about the debt she’d been bearing for her mother.
My brothers and I agreed to pay it off in full anonymously, but I took care of it before they had a chance.
Charlie was always mine to protect.
