Page 55 of One More Time

Charlie cleared his throat. ‘Shall we sit?’

‘Yes, I think that’s a good idea.’ She glanced toward the settee they’d spent countless nights cuddled up in together, in what felt like another lifetime. ‘I think we’ve got a few things to talk about.’

Wandering toward it, Charlie took a seat and she sat beside him. She crossed her legs, and her hands came to rest on her knee. ‘So, first things first. I suppose you know about Rodger and me?’

‘Yes, Marty filled me in.’ He adored the way the rosy hues of the setting sun shone in her eyes. ‘Thank you for sending him to pick me up.’

‘I wasn’t going to let you make your own way back, Charlie. And I’m glad he told you, because I asked him to, if he was comfortable in doing so.’ She paused, looking toward the twilight sky before she drew in a breath. ‘Rodger was there for me and the kids, Charlie, and they’ve grown quite fond of him over the years, as have I.’ She turned back to look at him. ‘So I hope you can let go of your animosity. I’ve said as much to him. I want us all to move forward, at the very least for the children.’

Charlie was speechless. They were so close, and she was so strikingly beautiful in every single way. He wanted nothing more than to lean in and kiss her. But he didn’t have the right to, or even a hint of an invitation.

‘Charlie, did you just hear what I said?’ Frustration crinkled her eyes.

‘Sorry, yes. I promise I’ll do my upmost best to be courteous in his company.’ His jaw worked as he imagined doing just that.

She breathed a sigh of relief. ‘Thank you. That means a lot.’ Her appreciative smile was filled with the glowing warmth of her heart – one that had once only had room for him.

‘I’d do anything for you, and the children.’ Charlie arched a brow. ‘But, just between you and me, that doesn’t mean I’ll ever like the man.’

She nodded. ‘I know. I don’t expect you to.’

Suddenly realising his lack of hospitality, he sucked in a breath. ‘Oh dear, I’m so sorry, Grace, I haven’t even offered you a drink. It’s just, well, I’m not used to playing host anymore.’ He stood to go and make her something. ‘I can do coffee, or tea, or juice …’

‘No, I’m good, thanks, Charlie.’ Grace chuckled as she patted the seat. ‘Sit back down and relax.’

He did, but a little bit closer to her this time.

After more conversation about the kids and how they were all doing at school, and how well the tearoom was doing, they fell into a companionable silence as the sun gave way to a star-studded night. Charlie silently captured the moment with her by his side and tucked it away in his heart – it was a perfect end to the first day of the rest of his life.

Eventually sneaking a lengthy sideways glance, Charlie broke the quiet with a soft chuckle. ‘Do you remember that time we fell asleep on the beach and woke up to a wave crashing over us?’

To his delight, the memory made her smile. ‘Oh, yes, how could I forget it?’ she chortled. ‘We were both soaked to the skin and my shoes were nowhere to be seen, so you piggybacked me all the way home then ran me a nice warm bubble bath.’

‘I most certainly did.’ Something hidden inside his heart began to stir, as if waking from a deep slumber. ‘I loved getting your letters each month, Grace, so thank you for sending them. I read each one hundreds of times.’ He wasn’t about to tell her how he depended on receiving his monthly updates in her cursive handwriting, or how he would kiss the pages countless times, with tears in his eyes. ‘And the photos of the kids as they were growing up … my goodness, I cherished each and every one of them.’ He sighed. ‘They really helped me through from one day to the next.’

‘I’m glad they brought you comfort, Charlie. It was the very least I could do.’ Her smile was gently sympathetic. ‘So, when are you going to come and visit the children?’

Nervous tension gripped Charlie’s stomach. ‘That’s up to you, Grace, and the children, not that we can call Hope a child anymore, at nineteen.’ He rubbed the stubble on his jaw.

‘I don’t have to go in to the teahouse tomorrow, so how about you come around for some afternoon tea? Rodger will be playing golf,’ she added when he hesitated.

‘I’d love that, but are you sure the children want to see me?’

‘Yes, Charlie, they do, but just bear in mind that it’s going to take some time for them to become comfortable with you, given how long it’s been.’ She bit her lip and glanced away, blinking fast. ‘It’s been tough for them, living with the stigma of a father in prison.’

Charlie hated himself for putting Grace and the children in that position, but he couldn’t rewind the clock. All he could do was use the time he had to make up for it. ‘I totally understand, and I’ll be sure to give them as much space and time as they need.’ With raw emotion rising, he got caught on his words. ‘The most important thing is that they’re happy.’

Grace nodded. ‘It’ll be slow and steady with Hope and the boys, I think. But for Ava, she’s still young enough to be sweetly innocent, and a little more ready to love her daddy.’ She looked to her hands, clasped tightly in her lap. ‘I’ve made sure to talk about you as often as I could, and tell them what a wonderful husband and father you were.’ When she brought her eyes back to his, they were filled with so much tenderness, and so much heartbreak. ‘We’re all human and we all make mistakes, Charlie. You were in the wrong place at the wrong time.’

Choked up, Charlie took a lengthy moment to respond. ‘You are one amazing woman, Grace.’

She offered him a wispy smile. ‘I don’t know about that, Charlie. I just want my family to love each other.’ She looked as if she were holding tears at bay. ‘Because, like I’ve instilled in each of our four beautiful children, life is too short for holding onto any resentment.’

If she burst into tears, he’d have no choice but to take her into his arms and comfort her. ‘Like I said, you’re an amazing woman.’ He took a breath in a bid to stop his own tears from rising. ‘While we’ve got this moment to ourselves, can I ask, did you end up filing the divorce paperwork I posted back to you?’

‘I, um …’ She blinked owlishly then glanced down at her wrist. ‘My god, is that really the time?’

‘I don’t know, I don’t have a watch.’ He leant in, and his brows rose. ‘Wowsers, it’s almost eight. We’ve been sitting here for a couple of hours.’